Breakfast links: DC Council passes a bill to protect renters facing eviction
The John A. Wilson building houses the DC Council by David Gaines licensed under Creative Commons.
DC Council passes a bill to protect renters facing evictions
A bill to protect renters was passed by the DC Council last week. The legislation will seal eviction filings after 30 days if the eviction is not carried out and after three years if it is. It also regulates eviction filings as well as landlords’ ability to use past evictions to decide on rental applications. Street Sense Media, along with several other newsrooms, are publishing articles throughout the day about DC’s homelessness crisis. Check them all out at DCHomelessCrisis.press.
What it’s like to experience homelessness in DC
A man shares his experience of living on the streets of DC, calling it “the most horrible feeling in the world,” and relaying how he managed to secure housing. This article is part of this year’s DC Homeless Crisis Reporting Project news blitz. (Michael O’Connell / Patch)
Kojo discusses the lack of public restrooms in DC
Thursday’s Kojo Nnamdi Show at noon will discuss the lack of public restrooms in the District, the challenges that causes for people experiencing homelessness and others, and efforts to mitigate the problem. This episode is part of DC’s Homeless Crisis Reporting Project news blitz. (The Kojo Nnamdi Show)
A net 15,000 people moved out of DC during the pandemic
The District saw a net loss of more than 15,000 movers between February and July, three times as many as the same time last year, according to USPS change of address stats. Some of those address changes could be temporary, however. (Mimi Montgomery / Washingtonian)
Prince George’s officials raise concerns about WMATA cuts
Officials in Prince George’s County asked WMATA to reconsider proposed Saturday service cuts to three bus routes, including the C29 between Bowie State University and Pointer Ridge in Bowie. WMATA is facing massive budget cuts due to a decrease in ridership during the pandemic. (Rachael Pacella / Capital Gazette)
Voter registration is extended in Virginia
A federal judge extended Virginia’s voter registration deadline until 11:59 pm Thursday after a cut fiber-optic cable caused the registration website to crash. The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by civil rights groups. (Antonio Olivo / Post)
Ballston affordable housing development asks for an extension
An 144-unit affordable housing project on the site of Ballston Central United Methodist Church is seeking a three-year extension on the window to begin construction. (ARLnow.com / ARLnow)
A Bethesda mixed-use development will likely be approved
A mixed-use development project on Hampden Lane in Bethesda will likely get preliminary approval from the Montgomery County Planning Board. Developers want to build a 22-story residential building with 10,000 square feet of retail space on the ground level. (Caitlynn Peetz / Bethesda Beat)
The importance of urban farms
Urban agriculture shows promise in DC’s food deserts as a source of healthy food and community, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic era. (Adrian Higgins / Post)
Coronavirus sheds light on rural internet access in Virginia
Now that more people are teleworking and schools are conducting classes online due to the coronavirus pandemic, Virginia lawmakers are looking for ways to remedy the lack of internet access in rural communities. (Meagan Flynn / Post)
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