Two bills could bring rent control and “missing middle” homes to MoCo

By Dan Reed (Editorial Board) • December 17, 2020

If you’ve tried to find a home in Montgomery County recently, you know things are rough. The county has a housing shortage, with 23,000 homes needed in the next 10 years. The median home price in the county is a half-million dollars, 14% more than last year. Rents are rising more slowly, but some tenants still received 33% rent increases this year. An estimated 20,000 households are behind on rent due to pandemic-related financial hardship, and could get evicted. But, two bills on the horizon could provide some help for residents.

Breakfast links: Metrobus will resume collecting fares in January

By Liam Sullivan (Contributor) • December 18, 2020

Bus fares and front door entry are coming back

WMATA will resume collecting fares for Metrobus rides in January and buses will again board from front doors. Metro suspended bus fare collection in March when it moved to rear boarding, as there is no fare collection mechanism in the rear entrance.  (Christian Zapata / DCist)

DC Council lets a homelessness anti-discrimination bill die again

A bill that would protect people experiencing homelessness from discrimination under the District’s Human Rights Act stalled out without a vote in DC Council for the second time.   (Aoife Maher-Ryan and Annemarie Cuccia / Street Sense Media. Tip: Chester B.)

Region’s leaders write to Biden transition team about Metro funding

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser have sent a letter to the incoming Biden administration to request additional federal funds for Metro to help patch holes left by the pandemic.  (Jordan Pascale / DCist)

A DC councilmember’s car was stolen on Connecticut Avenue

Councilmember Mary Cheh’s car was stolen Thursday on Connecticut Avenue while she was at a local bakery. The theft accompanies an uptick in auto thefts this year.  (Elliott C. Williams / DCist)

FBI still won’t provide details of “agent-involved” Metro shooting

The man who was shot in an FBI-involved incident aboard a Metro Red Line train this week is in stable condition, but the agency won’t release details of what happened.  (Dan Morse and Tom Jackman / Post. Tip: Chester B.)

DC, teachers union agree to school reopening plan

The Washington Teachers’ Union has reached an agreement with DC public schools creating a roadmap and timeline to reopen classrooms, conditions allowing.  (Perry Stein / Post)

The Washington Monument is closed again

After reopening in October, the Washington Monument is temporarily closed again due to staffing difficulties after a possible coronavirus exposure. The National Park Service has not provided a timeline for its reopening.  (Clarence Williams / Post)

DC students are struggling with virtual learning

A new report finds that DC students have fallen behind on academic metrics during the pandemic, with fewer elementary and middle school students passing standardized tests for math and literacy, matching a national trend.  (Debbie Truong / WAMU)

A report recommends decriminalizing sex work in DC

A new report concludes that DC should decriminalize sex work. The report notes that existing laws disproportionately affect lower income people, people of color, and LGBTQ individuals, particularly Black trans women.  (Ken Duffy / WTOP)

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