WMATA Adds Walking Directions to Website: We’ve wondered it, too — how exactly does one get to and from certain Metro stations on foot? Lucky for us, WMATA has now added walking directions to the map function on its website, which pop up once the user has created a trip itinerary. This feature will be handy for us who rarely have any idea on how to get where we are going.
Public-Private Land Partnerships Presented: It is widely known that certain public buildings in the District need a little sprucing up. Problem is, we’re a cash-strapped city. Where is the money going to come from? Knowing that it isn’t feasible for all the money to come from taxes, council chair and mayoral candidate Linda Cropp is hoping that some public-private partnerships on public property might do the trick. The Post details the intricacies of such deals as pertaining to development here in the District. The article notes, “The old schools and libraries need to be replaced. Developers are hungry for space for even more condominiums. So D.C. officials want to make a deal: The developers would build new libraries, schools and maybe even police stations, and get the privilege of putting condominiums or shops on top of or alongside them.” Cropp has introduced a bill that would speed up such development, which while used in other cities, would be a new step for the District.
Cropp, Council to Fight for Hard Cap on Stadium Cost: As the stadium issue gets more and more heated on the day of a potential vote on the lease, council chair Linda Cropp wants a guarantee that the District will not put more that $300 million towards the labor costs and materials for the new stadium. This would be in the form of emergency legislation that would be considered before the Council votes on a 30-year agreement between the District and Major League Baseball. D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams offered the similar price cap last week, but a consultant told the council that such a cap had large loopholes.
Regular Drug Testing Urged for Barry: In place of jail time for failing to file federal and District income tax returns from 1999 to 2004 (oops!), federal prosecutors are recommending regular drug testing for former District Mayor Marion Barry. That aside, he is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow, at which point he could face a maximum possible penalty of 18 months in prison and a $100,000 fine. As quoted in the Post article, Linda Greene, a spokeswoman for Barry, said: “The council member will have no comment, on the advice of legal counsel.” We’re assuming no choice phrases are going to be uttered anytime soon about some, you know, setting him up.
Briefly Noted: Heart of Tim Kaine’s transportation plans come to a halt in committee … Metrobus driver charged in schoolbus, Metrobus collision in Centreville… Ehrlich backs bad driver law in Maryland … Convicted terrorist removed three times from Alexandria courtroom.
Picture snapped by ohad*
