By David Alpert (Executive Director) • February 25, 2020
Drivers of more expensive cars are less likely to stop for people on foot trying to cross the street, a new study found. They also yielded less to men and African Americans, though that difference didn’t reach statistical significance.
By Jonathan Paul Katz (Guest Contributor) • February 25, 2020
Accessible transit signage for everyone is not an insurmountable task, and in many places, it’s done quite well. If transit agencies focus on improving six areas—adequacy, lighting and placement, text, colors, words and graphics, and modes—transit has a much better chance of being accessible to all.
A study commissioned by Mayor Bowser’s office found that transportation barriers are the biggest obstacle faced by late night workers in the city, which makes up 7% of the city’s jobs. Meanwhile, some businesses say they are losing money as well from Metro’s limited service options. Bowser’s administration is calling on Metro to restore late-night Metro service to address this problem. (Justin George / Post)
The Montgomery County Council unanimously passed a bill saying landlords must provide air conditioning to tenants from June 1 to September 30, but the bill has an exception for rented out single family homes. (Megan Cloherty / WTOP)
A Brookings study that used Yelp star ratings as a proxy to project business revenue found that businesses in zip codes with a majority Black population were consistently ranked lower than those in other zip codes. Across the whole country, this could add up to a $1.3 billion revenue gap for businesses serving black communities. (Nena Perry-Brown / Urban Turf)
Fairfax County Executive Bryan Hill proposed a 3 cent property tax increase, or a $1.18 hike per every $100 of value, which would go to pay for affordable housing initiatives, police body cameras, and adding 177 positions that were cut after 2008 back to the county government. (Antonio Olivo / Post)
A two-tower office and residential building under construction on Wisconsin Avenue was supposed to have 456 apartments, but developers are proposing turning 80 of them into furnished short-term rentals, saying that relocated employees at nearby NIH would use them. (Caitlynn Peetz / Bethesda Beat)
The Council is expected to pass two bills that will mandate paid leave for voting and provide new tenants and homeowners in DC with a voter education packet on March 4th. Other proposals, like allowing legal permanent residents to vote or using ranked-choice voting in the city have been introduced, but do not have widespread support in the Council. (Elliot Williams / DCist)
Alexandria’s City Council amended the Eisenhower East Small Area Plan to increase the number of affordable housing units planned to 400-450. Currently, there are 66 affordable units in the neighborhood. The Council also voted to add nine new affordable units in the mixed-use Aspire Alexandria building. (James Cullum / ALX Now)
The city runs a shuttle bus to Metro from the New York Avenue NE motels that serve as homeless shelters to help students get to school, but had planned to end the service in March. After strong opposition, the Deputy Mayor for Education committed to keep the shuttle until school ends in June (Debbie Truong / WAMU)
If the ongiong negotiations for higher wages and healthcare benefits between the grocery store workers union, UFCW Local 400, and Safeway do not progress, the workers plan to strike at area stores on March 5th. (Megan Cloherty / WTOP)
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