By David Alpert (Executive Director), Ron Thompson (Transportation Equity Organizer), Kate Jentoft-Herr (Program and Community Coordinator) • January 6, 2020
Greater Greater Washington has always centered around “urbanism” and, specifically, we write about housing, transportation, and public policy in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. We’ve always seen equity and sustainability as fundamental elements of urbanism, but in the coming year, we’re doing a few things to make this explicit.
By Alex Holt (Maryland Correspondent) • January 8, 2020
This year’s session of the Maryland General Assembly could prove exciting as public transit, highways, housing, renewable energy, and education are just a few of the topics expected to dominate the proceedings. Here are some of the key issues I’ll be covering in Annapolis this year.
By Alex Baca (Housing Program Organizer) • January 8, 2020
The Future Land Use Map—as stated on the map itself—is defined as “part of the Comprehensive Plan of the District of Columbia. Its color-coded categories express public policy on future land uses across the city. Preparation of this map is required by DC Law to ‘represent the land use policies set forth in the proposed Land Use Element,’ using ‘standardized colors for planning review.’”
The Maryland Board of Public Works voted 2-1 to approve the advancement of Gov Hogan’s plan to add toll lanes to the Beltway and I-270. With the BPW approval, the state can begin soliciting for proposals. State Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp opposed the move, questioning whether it made financial sense and the environmental impacts of the project. (Katherine Shaver / Post)
It’s well known that Maryland Governor Larry Hogan wants more roads and less transit, but is he also steering those road projects toward properties his development company owns, to his financial benefit? (Eric Cortellessa / Washington Monthly)
A recent study found that Airbnb has contributed to an increase in single-family home prices in DC. The research also shows a connection between the number of Airbnb listings in a zip code and the impact it has on single-family home prices within 1,000 ft. (Nena Perry-Brown / Urban Turf)
Amazon wants to expand its security presence outside of its H2Q and intends to create an intelligence-sharing alliance with law enforcement and emergency management agencies. This means that Arlington police could gain access to Amazon’s resources. (Jonathan Capriel / Washington Business Journal)
The superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools disagreed with a report that claimed the school district’s efforts to close the achievement gap has been ineffective and that its misusing funds designated for programs that target low-income students or high poverty schools. (Caitlynn Peetz / Bethesda Beat)
The DC Council approved a bill that would make go-go the official music of DC and require the District to enact programs that will help preserve and support it. Go-go music gained attention last year after the Shaw Metro PCS store was forced to cut off its music. (Elliot C. Williams / DCist)
A bill introduced in the General Assembly would ban the intentional releasing of balloons in Maryland, with a $250 fine. Though balloons can cause a threat to wildlife, The Balloon Council, a national balloon trade group, says it’s people’s behavior that needs to change. (Jacob Fenston / WAMU)
