Breakfast links: Arlington considers increasing parking charges in busiest, densest areas
Looking south at Crystal City by deckerme licensed under Creative Commons.
Parking prices may increase in Arlington’s busiest areas
The Arlington County Board will vote in February on a pilot program that would change the pricing structure for parking. If enacted, parking prices will increase to as much as $5 per hour in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor and Route 1, the most popular parking areas. Conversely, less busy areas may see decreased parking prices. (Daniel Egitto / ARLNow)
Homelessness numbers climb in Loudoun County
While Loudoun County is America’s wealthiest county, its unhoused population more than doubled between 2022 and 2023, from approximately 99 to 220 individuals. While the county tries to address the housing crisis and rehouse residents, high prices and a dearth in availability makes it difficult. (Margaret Barthel / DCist)
Alexandria to commemorate city’s own history during Black History Month
Alexandria will honor the city’s history during Black History Month, which starts next week. One of the multiple events includes a ribbon cutting for the updated African American Waterfront Heritage Trail, which has signs and markers detailing Alexandria’s Black history over the centuries (Vernon Miles / ALXNow)
Underground fire suspends downtown Baltimore MTA Light Rail Link Service Friday morning
An electrical fire underneath North Charles Street in downtown Baltimore overnight Thursday into Friday has caused disruptions in transit service, closures of courthouses, and disruption of the 911 system. The electrical fire has been stabilized, but service disruptions continue on the MTA Light Rail Link between Camden Yards and North Avenue. (Lillian Reed / Baltimore Banner)
Recent flooding in Southeast DC draws attention to under-recognized urban flood risks
The homes of more than a dozen Southern Avenue SE residents flooded with raw sewage in January following the collapse of a clay sewer pipe nearby in Maryland. This is the latest in a string of floods to hit these homeowners, who often see their basements flood during routine rainstorms, despite not being in a FEMA flood zone. (Kayla Benjamin / Informer)
In recent study of states, DC is the most financially unequal place in the country by race
A recent report by WalletHub highlighted the extreme disparities in poverty rates and unemployment between Black and white DC residents. The Black poverty rate is 359% higher than that of white residents and the unemployment rate is 488% higher. DC does have the lowest disparity in homeownership rates between Black and white residents in the country. (Stacy M. Brown / Informer)
Former city manager of Rockville confirmed as Takoma Park city manager
This month, Takoma Park hired Robert DiSpirito as its new city manager, who previously served as Rockville’s city manager for six years before resigning from his previous position in August 2023 under unclear circumstances, though he’d been under a performance improvement plan. (Ginny Bixby / MoCo360)
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