Neighborhood in the News (Updated): A union drive at Politics and Prose; Housing is a hot topic

Updating the first story below (12/22/2021):

Politics and Prose owners Bradley Graham and Lissa Muscatine put this statement on politics-prose.com:

Yesterday, we reached out to the union organizers in the spirit of collaboration to propose negotiations on the scope of a collective bargaining unit. Our hope is that these discussions will result in an agreement and open the way to a voluntary recognition of the union at P&P. We support a vote supervised by the National Labor Relations Board if an agreement can’t be reached.

DCist has more on the owners’ change in position, and the reaction of the employee-organizers.

Our original “Neighborhood in the News” article and links to the first reports on the Politics and Prose union drive are below.

In case you missed it: DCist was first to report that “Workers at Politics and Prose, the longtime independent bookstore with three locations around D.C., have decided to unionize, joining a growing labor movement of retail workers across the country.” Owners Bradley Graham and Lissa Muscatine are not voluntarily recognizing the union, so it will be put to a vote. The Washington Post reports:

Employees at Politics and Prose say they want to join the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 to help them get a voice in health and safety policies, a living wage, and clearer pay transparency.

But the owners say the bookstore has a history of working with employees to address these types of concerns, and bringing in a union would make the local bookstore less personal.

Other recent neighborhood news mentions are quite housing heavy.

Opportunities for affordability: Mayor Bowser last week announced a new push to add affordable housing in Ward 3, where Axios DC reports no units have been added since she set a target of 1,900 in Ward 3 by 2025. That comes with a new roadmap and “opportunity sites” which include the Chevy Chase Library and Community Center slated for modernization and redevelopment, and the Howard University law school campus in Van Ness, which is among the areas “highlighted to begin the discussion.”

More about “Where We Live”: Springland Farm, part of this area’s boozy history, was recently featured in the Post’s “Where We Live” series. And in North Cleveland Park, according to Urban Turf, homes are selling for above their asking price “more often than not.”

Modern homes with history: A Washingtonian article on efforts to preserve DC’s distinctive midcentury homes mentions three in Forest Hills. One was razed to make way for the “Palazzo Della Felicita.”

Backyard homes get a boost: As Urban Turf reports, DCRA updates make it easier for homeowners to install an accessory dwelling unit in their yards. Changes include pre-approved plans for ADUs from the firm Backyard Container, which is a Travis Price Architects partner. And Travis Price, a Forest Hills neighbor, is known in part for his shipping container dwellings.

Are you a “block” person or an “avenue” person?: This Slate article says the answer, due to many cities’ zoning codes, determines how much traffic noise, pollution and danger you’re exposed to in and around your residence. Connecticut Avenue gets a mention.