Breakfast links: Northern Virginia faces an uphill battle meeting affordable housing goals
Apartments in Arlington by Arlington County licensed under Creative Commons.
Northern Virginia may struggle to build enough affordable housing to meet need
The region will struggle to meet projected housing needs for 2030 because of cost increases for housing supply, needed maintenance on existing affordable housing, and housing costs that have been rising faster than salaries in the region, among other issues. (Margaret Barthel / DCist)
DC hotline effective in preventing evictions
The Landlord-Tenant Legal Assistance Network’s hotline, funded in part by the DC government, stopped 70% of evictions between September 2021 and March 2022, often by helping tenants access free legal services. Canvassers have spread the word by knocking on doors. (Annemarie Cuccia / DCist)
Alexandria invites community to review its climate change action plan
The city will hold a community workshop this Saturday to discuss the current Energy and Climate Change Action Plan and propose any changes to update the plan. The step is part of the process for review included in the original plan which was approved in 2019. (Vernon Miles / ALXNow)
Prince George’s County holds “traffic garden” to teach children safety
The Largo-based “garden” consists of a mock-up of roads and pedestrian crosswalks and allows police or educators to teach kids how to safely cross streets when walking and on bicycles. The county plans to add at least three more locations. (Dick Uliano / WTOP)
Fairfax County considers ending local COVID-19 emergency declaration
The repeal will be considered at the next Board of Supervisors meeting in September. Other jurisdictions in Northern Virginia, such as Arlington and Alexandria, have already ended their emergency declarations. Establishments that were able to take advantage of the eased outdoor dining rules will have a year after the local emergency declaration ends before they are impacted. (Angela Woolsey / FFXNow)
Maryland’s new Emmett Till alerts go live
The alert system will notify Black elected leaders across the state of any hate crimes that occur. The system has been championed by local civil rights leaders and has been informed in response to recent incidents of racist graffiti and vandalism at places of worship. (John Domen / WTOP)
Pedestrian killed by driver in Seven Corners parking lot
A 62-year-old man was killed Thursday, August 18, when the drivers of two cars collided while trying to merge into the same lane on Wilson Blvd. The driver of one of the vehicles then veered into a parking lot, striking and killing Albert Sweat, of Silver Spring, as a result. Witnesses reported it was an area where crashes were common. (Fatimah Waseem / FFXNow)
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