Afternoon links: Things to oppose, to support, to do

Giant billboards at Gallery Place?

The owner of the Clydes/Urban Outfitters building at Gallery Place suggested giant video billboards which would protrude over the sidewalk, block views, and violate city codes. It’s probably illegal barring legislation, but residents are preemptively organizing to stop it.

Should Georgetown dream of seceding?

Carol Joynt wishes Georgetown could secede from DC, mostly so Georgetowners wouldn’t have to contribute tax money to anything that benefits others. We Love DC calls it “adolescent fantasy.” Georgetown Metropolitan suggests letting Georgetown tax itself on top of its DC taxes to pay for extra local improvements.

Support bag fees in MD

The Maryland legislature will hold its hearing tomorrow on their bill to charge 5¢ for disposable bags, like DC’s law. The Surfrider Foundation has an online email tool for Marylanders to ask their reps to support the bill.

Hear Monument Wars author Savage

Kirk Savage, author of Monument Wars and recent live chat guest, is the guest for a free lecture tomorrow evening, 6:30 pm at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (the Gallery Place building) and cohosted by NCPC. Also tomorrow night is the Next American City party and subscription offer.

Alexandria dispatch: Bikes and BRAC

Alexandria’s capital program is pretty dry, but the city is instituting a commercial real estate tax which could pay for new DASH buses, bike racks and more. Fairfax also wants Alexandria to allow an offramp through the Winkler Botanic Preserve for its drivers to get to the Mark Center BRAC site; Alexandria has said no. (Froggie) … Alexandria’s first budget hearing is tomorrow; ask them to support transit.  (Tip: Froggie)

Visit Arlington, go to summer 2009 festival

Arlington plans to expand its touch-screen visitor kiosks. Hopefully they’ll have Internet connectivity, unlike the one in Rosslyn, which Ode Street Tribune notes still shows events from last year. (JTS)  (Tip: JTS)

Who you calling a gentrifier?

Barry Farm (Re)mixed discusses whether she is a “gentrifier.” Neighborhoods have always changed; is this different? She replaced someone who wanted to leave; is she really forcing anyone out? Michael P. sends along a New York Magazine article arguing that “gentrification” doesn’t usually displace anyone. Instead, most new residents filled in neighborhoods that had lost population.