Breakfast links: Rethink bikes and parks
CaBi gets Congressional support
6 members of Congress signed a letter thanking NPS for allowing Capital Bikeshare on the Mall and urging them to quickly actually get stations installed. (Post)
Today is Park(ing) Day
Come out and see the parking spaces converted to parklets. Today’s venues include downtown, Dupont, and Silver Spring.
Council vs. bike assault and corruption
Tommy Wells has agreed to introduce WABA’s cyclist anti-assault bill; Graham, Evans and others will co-introduce. Wells will also propose an ethics bill to limit lobbyist contributions and contributions to constituent service funds; other members are working on their own bills. (WAMU, Post)
Views on housing policy differ in Fairfax
Candidates in Fairfax County sparred over affordable housing incentives. Sharon Bulova (D) defends incentives while Michael Williams (R) thinks “housing is not an area where government should dabble.” (Post)
Volunteers provide kids a safe passage to school
Men east of the river are volunteering to supervise children as they walk to school. The effort aims to provide positive adult influence and to ensure the children behave respectfully. (Post)
Flooded neighborhood questions future
Due to recurring flooding, Huntington residents may ask the county to build levees or allow denser redevelopment that would mitigate future flooding. (Huntington-Belle Haven Patch, Froggie)
East of the river needs movies
DC film office head Crystal Palmer wants a cinema east of the Anacostia. It could anchor other commercial development, but be smaller than a multiplex. (City Paper) … DC used to have several theaters east of the river.
WMATA watching employees more carefully
WMATA fired a technician who allegedly took an official vehicle home and falsified records to say he was working. The agency is increasing oversight of field technicians and take-home vehicles. (Examiner)
Maryland lowers toll ambition
Maryland is easing up on proposed toll increases across the state. Bay Bridge tolls may increase from $2.50 to $4 instead of the proposed $5. No word on how to fund repairs to the aging infrastructure. (Washington Times)
And…
The DC budget passed the Senate free of riders. (Post) … Montgomery County councilmembers debate whether the proposed curfew law is redundant. (Examiner) … Connecticut Avenue has a pretty new median downtown. (TBD)