Photo by Sharon Drummond on Flickr.

Brown puts tax cuts first

DC’s FY 2011 surplus now stands at $240 million. Kwame Brown wants to spend it on tax cuts, but Mayor Gray wants no such thing. (Examiner)  

A stop sign for a suburban Walmart

Big box retailers moving into White Flint and other areas inspired three bills in the Montgomery County Council to require a more urban form, like some of DC’s Walmarts. (WAMU)  

PG’s sprawling problem

Overly permissive approval of sprawl development projects and a lack of quality jobs and housing near Metro has Prince George’s struggling to meet its own goals for revitalizing its inner-Beltway communities. (Examiner)  

Will Metro get fixed?

Will Metro ever stop having all the disruptions like cracked rails? Probably not, but the frequency of problems will gradually decline over time (assuming current repairs are made properly). (Post)  

Restoration used to be racist

In the 1940s, efforts to restore Capitol Hill had a definite racist tone, with many people pushing restoration of homes to keep white families in them and opposing public housing which mainly held black residents. (SINM)  

No need to watch for bikes, peds in Virginia

A Virginia House subcommittee decided drivers shouldn’t be required to use care not to hit pedestrians or cyclists. Republican Barbara Comstock of McLean led the vote to kill a bill set that standard. (FABB)  

VA House may cut unions from Silver Line

Comstock also wants to ban agreements requiring union workers for government projects like the Silver Line. Sponsors say it’s needed to control costs, while opponents say safety will suffer. (Examiner)  

Transportation bill a speeding SUV

Highway lobbying groups are trying to ram the House transportation bill through, and it’s on a speedy schedule, with multiple markups this week. The Chamber of Commerce is spending $50,000 on lobbying. (Streetsblog)  

And…

Inside the world of taxicab “hack” inspectors. (Post) … The Connecticut Avenue median will be extended 600 feet this spring. (DCMud) … Costco breaks ground in Northeast DC. (City Paper)