Breakfast links: The good, the bad, and the ugly
No ‘free-range’ kids
Montgomery County Police picked up two kids in December because they were seen walking home alone on Georgia Avenue. Child Protective Services disagrees with their parents’ “free-range” parenting style. (Post)
Legalize Airbnb
Montgomery County’s new zoning code prohibits Airbnb rentals, as renting for less than one month is prohibited. Councilmember Hans Reimer introduced an amendment that would legalize such rentals. (BethesdaNow)
Old school or new school
Fairfax County met stiff resistance from residents over the proposed location of a new school near Bailey’s Crossroads. Residents want an old school reopened, but the county has other plans for that land. (Post)
Higher wages for VA
State legislators from Fairfax are leading an effort to increase Virginia’s minimum wage. Part of the legislation would allow localities to raise minimum wage rates through a public referendum. (Fairfax Times)
A safer Prince George’s
Since 2010, crime rates have dropped significantly in Prince George’s County. Local leaders attribute the steady declines to improved cross-department coordination and efforts to get social services to needy populations. (Post)
Proxy War
The Ward 8 council race is showing elements of decades of District politics. The race includes candidates connected to Mayor Bowser, former Mayor Gray, and the late Marion Barry. (City Paper)
Parking oversupplied
New research shows that on average, mixed-use areas in the US have more available parking than they need. Even accounting for regional differences, most areas are still have too many parking spaces. (CityLab)
Retire to NYC
New York City shows how to to become a world-class age friendly city using both street design and activities to cater to aging residents. (Politico)
And…
Arlington County offers a cash Capital Bikeshare membership. (@ChrisRHamilton) … Marion Barry’s son, who is running for his father’s council seat, was involved in an altercation at a bank. (City Paper) … Alta Bicycle Share’s new management is changing the company name to “Motivate.” (US News) … Alexandria received a key $50 million loan from Virginia for the Potomac Yard metro station. (Post)