Breakfast links: How the coronavirus emptied out Union Station
Union Station in DC by David Wilson licensed under Creative Commons.
Union Station is almost deserted after COVID-19
With Amtrak and Metro station ridership down 95% and 97% from 2019, and most storefronts closed, Union Station is almost deserted and revenue from retail, food, and parking have cratered. Now DC area representatives are asking Congress for $26 million to keep the building operating and in a state of good repair for the next six months. (Graham Vyse / DCist)
DC adds new renter and food delivery protections
The DC Council passed new emergency legislation that extends the eviction moratorium, requires landlords to work out rent repayment plans with tenants, and caps fees on food delivery apps like UberEats. The law didn’t include a provision that would have compelled insurance companies to pay out business interruption claims. (Fenit Nirappil / Post)
A VRE train hit and killed a pedestrian
A southbound VRE train heading to Frederickburg hit and killed a pedestrian on the tracks behind the Regal Cinemas in Potomac Yard. Police have not released the identity of the person who died. (James Cullum / ALX Now)
Virginia’s reopening plans alarm activists
Leaders of immigrant and black activist groups in Virginia don’t think the state is ready to reopen on May 15th as cases are still rising. Latino and black Virginians are overrepresented among the state’s covid infections and deaths, and in service industry jobs that carry higher risk of exposure to the virus. (Daniella Cheslow / DCist)
Montgomery County won’t delay building new schools
The county council informally voted not to delay plans to build a new high school in Gaithersburg and refurbish and reopen schools in Silver Spring and Rockville by 2025. Though the county is cutting other capital projects over budget concerns, delaying the new schools would trigger a residential building freeze in those areas. (Caitlynn Peetz / Bethesda Beat)
Arlington isn’t planning to open streets for walking and biking
Responding to calls from local civic associations to close parking or traffic lanes for people to walk and bike at a safe social distance, County Police Chief M. Jay Farr said that the force doesn’t have enough traffic cones or staff members to enforce partial street closures, so none are being planned. (ARL Now)
Curbside pickup spots could be a permanent fixture
Federal Realty Investment Trust, which owns Pike & Rose and Bethesda Row in Montgomery County, is rolling out a permanent program to set up three dedicated curbside parking spots for contactless pickup at its properties around the country. (Jon Banister / Bisnow)
Trump dismisses DC statehood
The President said that Congressional Republicans would be “very, very stupid” to give DC statehood in an interview to the New York Post, as DC would add new, presumably Democratic votes to the House and Senate. (Jenna Portnoy / Post)
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