Breakfast links: Walkable retail for C. Park

UMD wants transit, town center

Under new President Wallace Loh, UMD is not only allowing the Purple Line, they’re actively eager for it and its potential to help create the “college town” downtown that College Park lacks. (Baltimore Sun)

Restore the sidewalk

A group of residents is organizing a petition to restore a full sidewalk on Connecticut Avenue in Cleveland Park, where one side became a service and parking lane in the 1960s and now inhibits lively sidewalk cafes. Sign the petition!

CSX blocking RI Ave bridge

The planned pedestrian and bicycle bridge at Rhode Island Avenue Metro and the Met Branch Trail is ready to go, except CSX is dragging its feet on granting permission for the bridge to cross their line. (Life On The Edgewood)

Bond tax stays in budget

In the final budget debate, Mary Cheh lost her bid to reverse the bond tax, but Medicaid and Green Teams jumped ahead of police, affordable housing and more in the list of how to spend future revenue. (Post)

ART strike over sexual harassment, bathrooms

ART bus operators explain why they struck: they say the bus company ignored sexual harassment complaints, then fired the union leader, and refused to let drivers use the bathroom. (TBD)

Anderson joins Planning Board

Casey Anderson, a WABA board member and smart growth proponent, was named to the Montgomery Planning Board. Those who “get alarmed” about development backed another candidate. Norman Dreyfuss, developer of Leisure World, was reappointed for a full term. (Facebook, Gazette, Nancy At Large)

Sex and the city

Vienna/Fairfax station is the most romantic across 5 metro areas, or at least the most often mentioned in Craigslist Missed Connection ads. (BeyondDC) … Another survey, this one by Trojan, ranks DC residents as most sexually active, but that’s probably not what’s behind Catholic University ending co-ed dorms. (DCist)

The mother of all unexpected rankings

DC was rated the best city for families (yes, out of all cities) by Parenting Magazine. The many free museums played a role, but so did schools, which they ranked 9th best. (Post)

And…

The National Building Museum will start charging admission fees. (City Paper) … Barack Obama has been pushing hard for statehood and self-determination… for Puerto Rico. (DCist) … Hey WV and PA, stop blowing smoke in our faces. (Examiner)