Mark Clements
@acornpark.bsky.social
WALKING IS NOT EXERCISE; IT'S TRANSPORTATION. Maryland Policy Manager, @ggwash.org. Views are my own, insofar as anyone should want to take credit for them.
Pinned
Mark Clements
@acornpark.bsky.social
· Jun 26
talking about zoning in the jam band group chat
The contributors had some fun while staff was away in St. Michaels for a retreat, but our retreat was an incredible experience. GGWash has expanded a lot even since I joined the staff 6 months ago, but we have a much better sense of what to do with this newfound power. Watch this space, as they say
Photo Friday: Editor’s away, posting highways
Psst! You wanna see some highways?
ggwash.org
November 8, 2025 at 12:05 AM
The contributors had some fun while staff was away in St. Michaels for a retreat, but our retreat was an incredible experience. GGWash has expanded a lot even since I joined the staff 6 months ago, but we have a much better sense of what to do with this newfound power. Watch this space, as they say
Reposted by Mark Clements
Democrats notched big wins around the country in yesterday’s election – but another trend, nationally and locally, is that pro-homes candidates also prevailed.
Pro-homes candidates notch wins in 2025 election
View this post on ggwash.org
ggwash.org
November 5, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Democrats notched big wins around the country in yesterday’s election – but another trend, nationally and locally, is that pro-homes candidates also prevailed.
Reposted by Mark Clements
I frankly blame Marc Elrich and the old housing moratorium for annoying me and making me go to “one meeting” and leading my life down this road
Also heard through the grapevine that the person behind me muttered something about “how much is he getting paid?” when I was speaking, which, whatever, I’ll add it to the shill jar I put a quarter in every time it happens, but it shows how they dismiss things they don’t like
October 31, 2025 at 12:46 PM
I frankly blame Marc Elrich and the old housing moratorium for annoying me and making me go to “one meeting” and leading my life down this road
Reposted by Mark Clements
IRS agents. what's going on in DC is truly shameless
I was on the ground earlier today at the Petworth Metro Station after I received troubling reports from neighbors about IRS Criminal Investigation agents working with Transit Police to interrogate riders on WMATA buses.
October 30, 2025 at 12:54 AM
IRS agents. what's going on in DC is truly shameless
watching The Exorcist III and enjoying all the shots of 1989 Georgetown
October 29, 2025 at 12:30 AM
watching The Exorcist III and enjoying all the shots of 1989 Georgetown
Reposted by Mark Clements
at the end of my street just now, at a stop sign, a driver thought my dog and I were walking too slow in the crosswalk so she decided to just go ahead anyway. why should I be surprised? Montgomery County has shown her there will never be a consequence for it
Under the leadership of @mcgexec.bsky.social, MCDOT has continued the ossified approach of prioritizing traffic speeds, making all road users less safe.
I need Montgomery County CMs (including @cmkatestewart.bsky.social and
@evanmglass.bsky.social) to push for real reforms to stop killing kids.
I need Montgomery County CMs (including @cmkatestewart.bsky.social and
@evanmglass.bsky.social) to push for real reforms to stop killing kids.
October 28, 2025 at 8:30 PM
at the end of my street just now, at a stop sign, a driver thought my dog and I were walking too slow in the crosswalk so she decided to just go ahead anyway. why should I be surprised? Montgomery County has shown her there will never be a consequence for it
the dtss chain restaurant curse claims another victim
Outback Steakhouse has permanently closed its location at the Ellsworth Place mall in downtown Silver Spring, according to posted signage.
Outback Steakhouse Closes at Ellsworth Place in Downtown Silver Spring
Outback Steakhouse has permanently closed its location at the Ellsworth Place mall in downtown Silver Spring, according to posted signage.
www.sourceofthespring.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:11 PM
the dtss chain restaurant curse claims another victim
Check this one out! It was quite a labor of love for me but I am proud of how it turned out.
Living souls can be sparse at cemeteries, but that's not by design. Consider taking in beautiful sights at these Maryland cemeteries:
Meet the many magnificent memorials and mausoleums of Maryland
View this post on ggwash.org
ggwash.org
October 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Check this one out! It was quite a labor of love for me but I am proud of how it turned out.
Reposted by Mark Clements
people in MoCo beg and plead with @mcdotnow.bsky.social for safety improvements only to get turned away. it shouldn’t take a tragedy to get a stop sign. as a transportation planner who’s worked all agencies over North America, I know something at MCDOT has to change.
October 25, 2025 at 1:32 PM
people in MoCo beg and plead with @mcdotnow.bsky.social for safety improvements only to get turned away. it shouldn’t take a tragedy to get a stop sign. as a transportation planner who’s worked all agencies over North America, I know something at MCDOT has to change.
This is such a shameful and sad story. It's bad enough to be left for dead by a hit and run--it's even worse that the police will finish you off instead of helping you
Video shows Fairfax County police cruiser fatally strike woman - WTOP News
Fairfax County police have released video that shows a cruiser fatally strike a 62-year-old woman, who was lying in the road following an earlier hit-and-run.
wtop.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:21 PM
This is such a shameful and sad story. It's bad enough to be left for dead by a hit and run--it's even worse that the police will finish you off instead of helping you
Reposted by Mark Clements
"normies do not care about this thing and so it is no use raising a stink" is imho just an excuse for not doing politics, which is the job of making normies care about something
October 24, 2025 at 2:47 AM
"normies do not care about this thing and so it is no use raising a stink" is imho just an excuse for not doing politics, which is the job of making normies care about something
Reposted by Mark Clements
we always get good turnout at our @ggwash.org happy hours in silver spring and tonight’s at the new commas food hall was no different! a bonus: hocus pocus on the tv
October 23, 2025 at 1:10 AM
we always get good turnout at our @ggwash.org happy hours in silver spring and tonight’s at the new commas food hall was no different! a bonus: hocus pocus on the tv
You know it was a great happy hour when the only picture anyone took was of the sign! Thanks to everyone who came tonight. We will see you soon!
October 23, 2025 at 1:11 AM
You know it was a great happy hour when the only picture anyone took was of the sign! Thanks to everyone who came tonight. We will see you soon!
The Silver Spring Happy Hour kicks off in 2 hours! It's not too late to register, or swing by!
ggwash.org/calendar/eve...
ggwash.org/calendar/eve...
Silver Spring Happy Hour
Explore the newly-opened Commas Food Hall in downtown Silver Spring’s Ellsworth Place mall with GGWash and our community of supporters. Join us in the clubhouse, where you can converse with likeminded...
ggwash.org
October 22, 2025 at 7:33 PM
The Silver Spring Happy Hour kicks off in 2 hours! It's not too late to register, or swing by!
ggwash.org/calendar/eve...
ggwash.org/calendar/eve...
Reposted by Mark Clements
I've been looking to share an article like this for a loooong time. And here it is! via @mocomikee.bsky.social and @ggwash.org
Who gets to say who gets to have a say?: ggwash.org/view/101232/...
Who gets to say who gets to have a say?: ggwash.org/view/101232/...
Who gets to say who gets to have a say?
Opinion: Everyone was “new” at some point, and even if they were born here, their family was “new” at one point too. They may have come here for work or for school. It may be a forever home, or a stop...
ggwash.org
October 22, 2025 at 4:13 PM
I've been looking to share an article like this for a loooong time. And here it is! via @mocomikee.bsky.social and @ggwash.org
Who gets to say who gets to have a say?: ggwash.org/view/101232/...
Who gets to say who gets to have a say?: ggwash.org/view/101232/...
Reposted by Mark Clements
This is in two days and should be pretty great!
Warning, I will talk to you about housing
Warning, I will talk to you about housing
The happy hour returns to Silver Spring! Enjoy pizza with Week Without Driving participants at our monthly standing happy hour. Ride bikes during spooky season. Stand with the Homes for All Assembly in Virginia.
And so much more in community events:
And so much more in community events:
Events: Happy hour returns to Silver Spring
View this post on ggwash.org
ggwash.org
October 20, 2025 at 12:05 PM
This is in two days and should be pretty great!
Warning, I will talk to you about housing
Warning, I will talk to you about housing
wearing shorts and a golf polo into the office on a 49 degree morning because i am built different
October 9, 2025 at 2:00 PM
wearing shorts and a golf polo into the office on a 49 degree morning because i am built different
Reposted by Mark Clements
A timelapse of the Pimlico Race Course demolition, from mid-June to now 🎥
October 9, 2025 at 1:04 PM
A timelapse of the Pimlico Race Course demolition, from mid-June to now 🎥
Reposted by Mark Clements
I wrote a piece on one of the underrated keys to YIMBYism's success and what other political organizations, including the Democratic Party, could stand to learn from YIMBY. (In short: host more happy hours.) www.firesidestacks.com/p/yimbytown-...
The Place Where Civic Life Still Feels Fun—And What It Teaches Us About YIMBYtowning Our Politics
A visit to YIMBYtown tells you why the movement has been so successful. The lessons it offers may even point the way to a broader democratic renewal. Progressive groups and policymakers should study Y...
www.firesidestacks.com
October 9, 2025 at 1:25 PM
I wrote a piece on one of the underrated keys to YIMBYism's success and what other political organizations, including the Democratic Party, could stand to learn from YIMBY. (In short: host more happy hours.) www.firesidestacks.com/p/yimbytown-...
guess where i was when this first was announced 🙃
UPDATE: Red Line: Trains are not running btwn Takoma and Brookland because of a signal problem outside Fort Totten. Shuttle service is available and customers are encouraged to use the Green Line for service to Fort Totten. Some trains will offload at strategic locations to minimize train traffic.
October 8, 2025 at 7:16 PM
guess where i was when this first was announced 🙃
Reposted by Mark Clements
Have you RSVP'd for the GGWash Silver Spring Happy Hour later this month? No? It's our first in Silver Spring since 2023, so you better sign up!
Join us for a happy hour in Silver Spring!
GGWash and friends will meet at Commas Food Hall on October 22, from 5:30-8:00pm.
secure.everyaction.com
October 6, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Have you RSVP'd for the GGWash Silver Spring Happy Hour later this month? No? It's our first in Silver Spring since 2023, so you better sign up!
Reposted by Mark Clements
The groundswell of righteous anger and grief that sparks quick DOT action does little, sadly, to change a DOT's internal culture or devotion to (often ridiculous) status quo processes
How many other safety improvement requests have been denied for areas just list this, or for stop signs, or for...
How many other safety improvement requests have been denied for areas just list this, or for stop signs, or for...
October 8, 2025 at 3:57 PM
The groundswell of righteous anger and grief that sparks quick DOT action does little, sadly, to change a DOT's internal culture or devotion to (often ridiculous) status quo processes
How many other safety improvement requests have been denied for areas just list this, or for stop signs, or for...
How many other safety improvement requests have been denied for areas just list this, or for stop signs, or for...
Reposted by Mark Clements
This horrible story captures the street safety paradox
Requests are ignored or given lip service...until a tragedy creates public pressure that DOTs can't escape
Advocates will then ask for similar improvements elsewhere...to which DOTs will say, actually *this* street is different (for...reasons)
Requests are ignored or given lip service...until a tragedy creates public pressure that DOTs can't escape
Advocates will then ask for similar improvements elsewhere...to which DOTs will say, actually *this* street is different (for...reasons)
Every time this happens, I brace for a story like this. Just devastating, heartbreaking, beyond infuriating
5 years before her son died there, a mother tried to make an intersection safer
October 8, 2025 at 3:57 PM
This horrible story captures the street safety paradox
Requests are ignored or given lip service...until a tragedy creates public pressure that DOTs can't escape
Advocates will then ask for similar improvements elsewhere...to which DOTs will say, actually *this* street is different (for...reasons)
Requests are ignored or given lip service...until a tragedy creates public pressure that DOTs can't escape
Advocates will then ask for similar improvements elsewhere...to which DOTs will say, actually *this* street is different (for...reasons)
Reposted by Mark Clements
big news from navy yard this week as @ggwash.org moved into a bigger office and for the first time in years we can all fit inside it, as shown here
ggwash.org/view/101098/...
ggwash.org/view/101098/...
Moving day at the GGWash office, again
GGWash has moved into a bigger office space, and we now have more room to hang flyers, photos, memes, and mementos from the past 17 years.
ggwash.org
October 7, 2025 at 11:23 PM
big news from navy yard this week as @ggwash.org moved into a bigger office and for the first time in years we can all fit inside it, as shown here
ggwash.org/view/101098/...
ggwash.org/view/101098/...