Breakfast links: Two men were working for WMATA and Amtrak—at the same time
Emergency Track Work by mosley.brian used with permission.
Two WMATA and Amtrak employess were arrested for double-dipping
The DC Office of the Inspector General arrested two men who worked at WMATA and Amtrak and spent four years “double dipping” by collecting pay from both companies while spending some shifts at Amtrak covering their WMATA job, and vice versa. (Faiz Siddiqui / Post)
The DC Council chooses to fund property tax cuts over homelessness services
The DC Council voted to spend an estimated $24 million in revenue from online sales taxes on lowering the commercial property tax rate, instead of on permanent supportive housing and other housing services for people experiencing homelessness. (Rachel Sadon / DCist)
Arlington and Alexandria leaders are still figuring out how to approach Amazon
In a town hall featuring activists, affordable housing developers and officials from Arlington county and Alexandria, participants expressed concerns about the power of local governments to influence Amazon, especially given Virginia's unfriendly labor laws. (Alex Koma / ARLnow)
A parking lot near Pentagon City will be built into apartments in anticipation of HQ2
A parking lot and small Verizon building that sit between Pentagon City and Crystal City in the new National Landing neighborhood will be turned into 235 apartments, ground floor retail, and an underground parking garage. (Nena Perry-Brown / Urban Turf)
There are big changes planned for Franklin Park in downtown DC
Right now, DC's second-largest NPS-owned square has crumbling pavement and a fountain that barely works. Now the National Capital Planning Commission will review plans for a cafe, a children’s garden and play area, a restored fountain, and more. (Michael Neibauer / WBJ)
MoCo councilmembers ask Maryland for more pedestrian safety measures
Hans Reimer wrote to the Maryland State Highway Administration and called on it to implement road safety measures, like lowering the speed limit on Georgia Avenue and having state roads comply with the new Montgomery County bike master plan. (Dan Schere / Bethesda Beat)
The Dulles Greenway could adopt location-based tolls over flat fees
Loudoun County and the Greenway could implement distance-based tolls on the road during non-rush hour times, after a Virginia State Supreme Court ruling upheld toll hikes through 2020. (Max Smith / WTOP)
A vote on the proposed hospital in DC’s Ward 8 was postponed
The DC Council tried to fast-track a new hospital from GW Hospital at St. Elizabeth's, plus an expansion of the Foggy Bottom hospital. Pushback from ANC 2A, nurses unions, GW University, and Howard University Hospital prompted several new amendments, and the council ultimately postponed the vote. (Cuneyt Dil / WCP)
Activists installed unofficial “Khashoggi Way” signs outside the Saudi embassy
An anti-Trump PAC installed unofficial “Khashoggi Way” signs on the block outside the Saudi Arabian embassy affter the DC Council declined to pass a law officially renaming the block after the late journalist. (Rachel Kurzius / DCist)
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