Breakfast links: Tough questions

Bikesharing no simple task

While Alta adapts CaBi to meet growing membership and ridership, it faces a variety of challenges, from rebalancing to vandalism. But perhaps the nature of bikesharing may require some adaptation by users, too? (City Paper)

How to really answer a gentrification question

Lydia DePillis suggests a great answer candidates could have given, but didn’t, about gentrification and how it relates to DC’s fight for statehood. DePillis for Council? (Housing Complex)

Struggling with higher gas prices

While higher gas prices are usually good for transit ridership, they aren’t

are straining local governments who budgeted for lower fuel prices. (Examiner) … The Maryland legislature easily passed a hike in the alcohol tax, but legislators were unwilling to raise the gas tax as pump prices climb. (WAMU)

Region’s homeless count grows

The Washington region saw a 2% increase in the homeless population over the last year.  As the population grows, the remaining Recovery Act funds for homeless aid shrinks further and further. (WTOP)

Restaurants raise bar higher on food trucks

After restaurants said their biggest beef with food trucks was that they don’t pay the 10% restaurant tax, truck owners agreed to be taxed. Now the restaurants want the city to dictate where trucks can park. (Examiner)

Gray all for TOD

Speaking at an Urban Land Institute real estate gathering, Mayor Gray endorsed more housing downtown and said that urban, transit-oriented development is the future for DC. (Region Forward)

Alexandria shares Mark Center blame

The Mark Center got shorted in Congress’ deal to fund road improvements at Ft. Belvoir and Navy Medical Center, but, Alexandria Vice Mayor Donley reminds us, Alexandria did endorse the site selection. (Examiner)

AdMo gets limted-time pop-up shop

Adams Morgan Main Street has created a pop-up shop in an empty retail space on 18th Street and is using it to promote not only local artisans but the idea that Adams Morgan is more than just a nightlife destination. The shop is open through Saturday. (MyFoxDC)

And…

WMATA will start ticketing employees who don’t pay parking fees, at least at the Huntington station. (WMATA) … The mayor has appointed a new director of Housing and Community Development. Will DDOT be next? (City Paper) … The old DC General Hospital is being demolished to make way for redevelopment. (DC Crank Tank)