Breakfast links: Shelter shifts
Helter shelter
The DC Council will vote today on a revised shelter plan that uses city-owned land for all shelters. Chairman Mendelson says it will save the city a lot of money, but Mayor Bowser’s office says it will take away school modernization funds and delay closing DC General. (WAMU, Post)
Shelter priorities?
The property owner of the proposed site for the Ward 6 shelter stands to gain a personal condo on the shelter site and a 1500% increase in property value if a zoning variance goes through, with few restrictions on the rave-like parties in the events space adjacent to the shelter. (Post)
Before the shelter
DC is trying to keep families out of homeless shelters with a new prevention program. Since September, the program has helped 1,378 families, and only 144 have been referred to shelters. (City Paper)
Toward dedicated Metro funding
Regional organizations are crafting a proposal to establish a region-wide, dedicated funding source for Metro, likely through taxes. But getting Maryland and Virginia legislatures on board will be a challenge. (WBJ)
Toke tax bonanza
A study says the District could stand to generate over $10 million a year if allowed to tax marijuana sales. (City Paper)
Wavering on the Wiz
Congress Heights residents, DC Councilmembers, and a sports economist have some reservations about the planned Wizards facility at St. Elizabeths. (WAMU)
Slow on speed restriction communications
Some think Metro didn’t do a very good job communicating about the system’s latest speed restrictions. The speed restrictions caused serious delays on the Orange, Blue, and Silver Lines yesterday. (Post)
Streetcar promo director’s cut
Check out the alternate, and much sadder, ending to the streetcar’s campy “How to Ride” video (and a ton of highly redacted emails on the subject), thanks to this FOIA request. (Vice)
And…
Are DC architect Suzane Reatig’s polarizing modernist buildings under-appreciated? (City Paper) … The hulking, black “Death Star” building near H St and Massachusetts Ave NW is getting a makeover. (WBJ) … There’s a petition to create a protected bike lane on R St. (Borderstan)