Breakfast links: Relentless pursuit
6 stores, 1800 jobs, no CBA
4 planned Walmarts have become 6, added Fort Totten and Skyland. The urban design is not as bad as it could be. Mayor Gray pushed for the new stores rather than a community benefits agreement. (DCist, City Paper, Post)
Town makes land grab
In a rare move, the town of Haymarket, VA, wants to annex neighboring parts of Prince William County. The town wants to boost its tax base, but Prince William County is skeptical the move will make a difference. (InsideNova)
Get baked or eat fried
A medical marijuana dispensary wants to open on Barracks Row, in the space currently housing a Popeye’s. The applicant originally eyed Ward 5 but switched after substantial community opposition there. (DCist)
DC likely to stay occupied
Occupy DC protestors have noticed increased police presence in McPherson Square since raids Monday in NYC and Oakland, but DC councilmembers say they see little reason to remove the protestors. (Post, Examiner)
Bike share ads: Is there really a free lunch?
Baltimore wants its bike sharing system to be entirely free, relying on ad revenue. But even if it can get that, is the price too high of over-commercializing public space? (RPUS)
DC preserves Chinablock/town
DC is trying desperately to help Chinatown retain whatever Chinese identity it has left. But when does cultural preservation become Disneyfication? Will more dragons really help? (City Paper)
Maryland businesses want transportation
Many Maryland business leaders support raising the state’s gas tax and significantly expanding transit options. Even still, a gas tax hike faces public opposition. (Gazette)
Washingtonians are footloose
Area residents are moving around more so than residents of other regions. Also, the number of residents moving from Virginia to Maryland nearly equals the number of people moving the other way. (Examiner)
And…
At age 75, Marion Barry entered the twittersphere as @marionbarryjr. (Post) … Prince George’s punted on slots. (Examiner) … There was 27 times as much demand for TIGER III than available funds. (Streetsblog)