Here's our roundup of must-read posts from the week:
If you've looked for a home in Montgomery County lately, you know: it's rough out there. Two bills are trying to boost affordable housing in the county.
And if you're renting in Montgomery County with an arrest on your record? Even harder. Read about new "ban the box" legislation trying to keep landlords from discriminating against returning citizens and those who were previously homeless.
In housing news in DC, the Greenleaf Gardens public housing redevelopment project took a step forward — it finally has a co-developer.
Don't miss the fourth in our series about the Prince George's County library system. This week's installment looks at the tax reform initiative of the 1970s and how it dramatically halted library construction.
Lastly, a regional plan aims to cut greenhouse gases in half by 2030. But a policy fellow at the Coalition for Smarter Growth argues there's more the region can do, especially on land use.
By Libby Solomon (Writer and Editor) • December 16, 2020
Montgomery County Council is considering a bill that would prohibit landlords from considering some types of criminal records in rental applications. The bill is meant to curb discrimination that disproportionately affects renters of color.
By Nena Perry-Brown (Editorial Board) • December 16, 2020
In October, the DC Housing Authority (DCHA) Board of Commissioners voted 5-4 against the agency commencing negotiations with their preferred co-developer for Greenleaf Gardens. By that following month, however, the Board voted 5-4 in favor, enabling the agency to move forward with the Exclusive Right to Negotiate (ERN) with that co-developer. What made the difference? Here’s how the redevelopment process went from conceptual to doable.
A 1970s referendum limiting county taxes brought the growth of Prince George County’s library system to a grinding halt, marking an era of austerity that lasted a generation.
By Bill Pugh (Guest Contributor) • December 15, 2020
In November, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) Board of Directors, comprising local elected official representatives, adopted a 2030 Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP), which lays out the strategies needed for the region to achieve a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030. But how does the plan address the transportation-land use-climate connection? And how can the region strengthen its climate action in this sector as it makes important decisions on transportation plans and projects over the coming year?
