We want to commend the Mayor and Director Polly Donaldson for bringing a clear, bold and strategic vision to address our city’s deepening affordable housing crisis. Consistent with this vision, we commend the Mayor’s budget priorities which propose a record investment in affordable housing. We ask the Council to support these budget proposals. Specifically, we ask the council support the Mayor’s proposed funding levels for the Housing Production Trust Fund at $100 million, Local Rent Supplement Program, and the Permanent Supportive Housing Program. We also commend the leadership of the Mayor and Director Donaldson for launching a preservation strike force.
Author: Elena Sorokina
Testimony at FY16 Budget Oversight Hearing of DDOT by Cheryl Cort
We are hopeful that the Mayor and the Council will continue to support our city’s award-winning Long Range Transportation Plan (MoveDC), and commit the necessary operating and capital dollars, and policy changes needed to ensure that it is implemented. This begins with implementation of the 2 year action plan.
Virginia to Congress: Stop approving new flights out of Reagan National Airport
Stewart Schwartz, the executive director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, said taxpayers already have invested billions in the Dulles Access Road, Dulles Toll Road, Routes 606 and 28, and the Silver Line.
“Now the Dulles folks are seeking billions more for another round of highways,” Schwartz said. “Before we jump into that approach let’s first recognize the challenges that Dulles faces include the fact that they have over projected growth amid the boom in the mid-2000s and they took on too much debt.”
Virginia’s economy needs Dulles Airport to soar again, boosters say
“This is an event for boosters,” said Stewart Schwartz, executive director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, referring to Thursday’s event. “Nobody’s asking the hard questions — like, ‘Did they overestimate demand and take on too much debt?’ ”
Quicker bicycling improvements possible thanks to state bill
The designation means that bike lanes, paths, sidewalks, crosswalks and other traffic control devices must be taken into account during any planning or construction of roads or intersections. Since many of Montgomery County’s major roads are state roads, the SHA’s participation is crucial to the effort.
RELEASE: Housing advocates commend DC Council resolution urging action to expand affordable housing production through Inclusionary Zoning
Today, housing advocates applauded nine DC Councilmembers for introducing a resolution encouraging the DC Zoning Commission and Mayor Bowser to strengthen a promising market-based affordable housing program. At-Large Councilmember Elissa Silverman, along with eight of her colleagues, introduced the resolution. The measure encourages the Zoning Commission and Mayor Bowser to act to strengthen the city’s Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) program, which sets aside a certain number of permanently-affordable units in most new residential construction.
Testimony to WMATA Board Regarding Leadership by Stewart Schwartz
When I last testified before you in February, I outlined how essential Metro has been to the success of our region and stressed that we need the leadership and commitment of all area officials to the system’s success, and a similar commitment from staff to improving system communications, safety, incident response and customer service.
Meeting to address concerns on I-66 HOT lanes
In announcing the forum, the Coalition for Smarter Growth named some of the popular topics in Fairfax County: How will homes and neighborhoods be affected? Will there be enhanced opportunities for walking and biking? What transit alternatives are being developed? How will the project affect parks, streams and natural habitats? What are the likely effects on everyone during the construction period?
Transit advocates see midcounty problems
“Even more telling is that in the draft EER (Environmental Effects Report), you can see that with alternative 9, the same intersections in the southern (already built) portion of Midcounty Highway continue to fail. If you open up a new stretch of road that will attract more commuters heading north to south to the same failing intersections, what do you think is going to happen?” Blynn said.
Dollars and sense: City Council aims to ease the pain of Richmond’s approach to economic development
“On the one hand, it makes perfect sense to have an at-large, directly elected mayor,” says Schwartz, who lives in Richmond and is a board member of the Partnership for Smarter Growth here. “But the separation between the executive and legislative branch seems to create inefficiencies, and it can create a system where the executive branch is not as willing to share all the information it should with the legislative branch. “It puts staff in a difficult position because they’re hired and fired by the executive and yet they’re asked to be completely forthcoming by the legislative body.”