Black Friday links: Think of the small businesses

by Eric Fidler • November 25, 2011 9:15 am

Photo by xrrr on Flickr.

Shop small businesses, avoid dangerous parking lots: Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday, an effort to get holiday shoppers to try small businesses. Meanwhile, in big store parking lots, a man ran over 7 people, killing 1, and a Wheaton man was kidnapped and forced to take cash out of an ATM. (Post, WTOP)

How to keep Latino character amid growth?: Wheaton will soon get a new Sector Plan accommodating mixed-use TOD around its Metro station, but some fear losing the traditional Latino businesses. (Post) ... That is already happening in Langley Park around the Purple Line. (WAMU)

Few constituents receive money: DC councilmembers only spent 12% of their Constituent Services Funds on constituents. Tommy Wells spent the most (32%), Mary Cheh the least (1%). (DCist, DC4D)

Walmart CBA: All for show?: A Post editorial cheers the Walmart CBA, even though it's unremarkable upon closer inspection. The proffers are already required by law, previously negotiated, or not commitments at all. (City Paper)

Gray talks streetcars, stadiums: Mayor Gray thinks extending streetcars into Maryland is a good idea. He's also still into the idea of building a Redskins training facility but skeptical about a DC United stadium because of the potential public expense. (WTOP)

Bag taxes may expand in Maryland: The Prince George's council is considering a bag tax. Unlike Montgomery, the county needs approval from the state first. They'd likely spend the revenue generally instead of dedicating it for the environment. (Examiner)

Criminal record may join race, sex, religion: Councilmember Marion Barry proposes adding ex-cons to the list of protected groups enumerated in the city's Human Rights Act. Many people who have served their time face difficulty getting hired. (Post)

Protests run up bills: Occupy protests are costing cities nationwide $13 million for police and other services, but that's nothing compared to Wall Street's toxic assets, the war, or just securing other protests like the 2004 RNC. (HuffPo, ThinkProgress)

And...: The still somewhat secret plans for the Dupont tunnels might include decking the Connecticut underpass. (Atlantic Cities) ... Should Manhattan add landfill to connect to Governors Island? (NYT) ... Governor McDonnell appointed his 2 new members of the MWAA board with jet speed. (Washington Times)

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Eric Fidler has lived in DC and suburban Maryland his entire life. He likes long walks along the Potomac and considers the L'Enfant Plan an elegant work of art. He also blogs at Left for LeDroit, LeDroit Park's (only) blog of record.

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Cities should cover the police overtime out of their lobbying funds, rather than take from the police or other services budgets. Occupy protestors are certainly refocusing the attention of Congress' bailing out cities rather than banks far better than some firm of 1%'ers ever would.

by jeff on Nov 25, 2011 9:37 am • link • report

The link to decking Connecticut Avenue underpass leads to the January 21, 2010 Breakfast Links, which has nothing to do with this subject.

by goldfish on Nov 25, 2011 12:22 pm • link • report

This is the correct link: http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/4764/put-a-lid-on-connecticut-avenue/

by goldfish on Nov 25, 2011 12:34 pm • link • report

Why does Prince George's not have its own taxing authority? That seems odd, if Montgomery does.

by Jon on Nov 25, 2011 12:52 pm • link • report

Re: "Criminal record may join race, sex, religion..."
Call me cynical but I can't help wondering if some of Councilmember Barry's motivation on this matter is driven by his son's recent guilty plea on drug posession charges. This, combined with the thought that Marion is (maybe) considering running for re-election so that he could later resign the seat, and support Christopher in the special election that would result, makes me think that perhaps Marion is sensing his own mortaility and wants to make sure his son will be okay once he's gone....

by Anon on Nov 25, 2011 2:03 pm • link • report

I've fixed the Connecticut Ave link. I added that one so it's on me, not Eric.

by David Alpert on Nov 25, 2011 2:04 pm • link • report

@Jon, that's standard in Maryland. As a matter of state law, only Montgomery County, Baltimore County, and Baltimore City have their own general taxing authority; the rest of the state needs approval by the legislature for taxes outside of a narrow range of preapproved options. (I have no idea why those three get an exemption, as the exemptions were all granted well before my time -- Baltimore County's in 1949, Baltimore City's in 1951, and Montgomery's in 1963.)

by cminus on Nov 25, 2011 3:23 pm • link • report

Would it be possible to have this printed on a cricket bat, and whack Mayor Gray over the head with it?

[L]and is scarce; DC only has 68.3 square miles (and Arlington 26). Therefore, DC's best strategy is to use its limited space to attract as many residents and taxpaying jobs (not government and nonprofits) as it can. Football does neither of these.

If not, maybe it could be printed on postcards and sent to every DC voter so they can finally get a clue.

by oboe on Nov 26, 2011 11:30 am • link • report