Breakfast links: New York’s mayor wants 100 miles of streets opened for recreation
Streets closed off to cars during an event in NYC. by New York City Department of Transportation licensed under Creative Commons.
NYC mayor wants 100 miles of open streets
Upping the New York City Council’s push to open 75 miles of car-free city streets, Mayor Bill de Blasio committed to opening up 100 miles of car-free streets for socially responsible recreation during the COVID-19 crisis. In the Washington region, some sidewalks near DC’s essential businesses have already been widened, and parts of Sligo Parkway in Montgomery County were already closed off, so pedestrians could access them. (Gersh Kuntzman / Streetsblog)
Bowser names celebrities, brother, and others to COVID-19 advisory committees
DC Mayor Muriel E. Bowser named former first lady Michelle Obama, former DC mayor Adrian Fenty, and celebrity chef José Andrés along with her brother, longtime political allies, and supporters to serve on committees advising her on DC’s coronavirus response. (Rachel Chason, Fenit Nirappil, and Ovetta Wiggins / Post)
Montgomery County begins awarding $31 million in aid
After receiving nearly 6,900 applications from small businesses and nonprofits, Montgomery County will begin awarding grant money to businesses from a $25 million fund. The county will also begin distributing grants for food relief and essentials to low-income residents from its $6 million Emergency Assistance Relief Payment program this week. (Briana Adhikusuma / Bethesda Beat, Briana Adhikusuma / Bethesda Beat)
Arlington County will stop sending service interruption letters for water
After it was found that residents behind on water bills were still receiving letters threatening to turn off water service, Arlington County plans to stop the process of applying late fees and charges to residents who have fallen behind. The county was supposed to have stopped the practice last month amid the coronavirus outbreak. (ARLnow)
DC wants to remove barriers and increase ADUs
With fewer than 50 accessory dwelling units approved each year since changing zoning rules for single-family zones in 2016, the DC Office of Planning submitted a new report on improving density in city’s single-family zones by lowering barriers and creating incentives for more accessory apartments. (Nena Perry-Brown / Urban Turf)
Amazon wants to rent a park for construction staging
The Arlington County Board is considering a proposal from Amazon to use 19,300 square feet of green space in Crystal City, dubbed Metropolitan Park, for a general contractor’s base, medical trailer, and pump equipment for its HQ2 headquarters. County staff recommend Amazon pay $10,000 per month and $2,400 for every tree destroyed in the park. (Jonathan Capriel / WBJ)
Low-income DC residents share fears during the pandemic
Along the W4, a Metrobus route that connects DC’s Ward 7 and Ward 8, a reporter shares stories from bus passengers, many of whose lives and jobs have been upended by the economic effects. “I can’t afford to get sick,” said one woman. (Joy Sharon Yi / Post)
Columnist suggests you take a vacation in your spare bedroom
Local Twitter reacted strongly to what many believed was a tone-deaf suggestion by columnist John Kelly that home-bound Washington region residents take a faux vacation by staying in their home’s guest bedroom. Kelly responded suggesting people react to the column instead of tweets about the column. (Natalie Delgadillo / DCist, John Kelly / Post)
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