Breakfast links: Out of the way

Walmart hits a snag

A planned Walmart in Southeast, part of the Skyland Town Center development, could face an obstacle in a covenant that prohibits a new supermarket near an existing Safeway. The local council member wants the mayor to condemn the covenant, though Safeway says it doesn’t have an issue with it. (WBJ)

The boom slows

After several years of decline, the number of federal workers in DC rose, although the federal govern­ment is now less important to the District’s economy overall. At the same time, DC’s population growth is slowing, and it’s no longer at the top of the list of fastest-growing US cities. (District, Measured)

Shaw shows off

The Shaw neighborhood is a model for preserving affordable housing, according to Mayor Bowser and HUD Secretary Julian Castro. It remains to be seen if the new development adequately serves longtime residents. (Post)

$1 million in cash

A glut of buyers and all-cash offers are creating a bottleneck in DC’s real estate market. Houses sell in a matter of days for thousands more than their list price. New housing is still not enough to satisfy demand. (UrbanTurf)

To tow or not to tow

Local lawmakers want states to regulate predatory towing companies. Many of these towing companies serve private lots. Meanwhile, a new “TowIt” app lets you report cars that are parked illegally on the street. (Post, CityLab)

Traffic unicorns

Drivers believe many myths about traffic. Five myths about traffic are more roads mean less traffic, faster is better, changing lanes gets you there faster, traffic jams happen for no reason, and that Memorial Day is the worst. (Post)

Two tiers

Taxi drivers are suing the DC government over a law that they say creates a two tiered system. The DC Council passed a law with two sets of regulations, one for ride-hailing companies and one for taxi companies. (WAMU)

Split your ride

Split, a new carpooling app, recently launched in DC. Drivers pick up multiple passengers for each ride, and might ask customers to walk a couple blocks to get picked up. (Arlington Transportation Partners)

Unrest leads to backlash

Could recent events in cities like Baltimore and Ferguson lead to a law-and-order backlash against cities? Research shows that rioting in the 1960s often led to tough-on-crime policies rather than an emphasis on civil rights. (Post)