@3underscores.bsky.social
Mostly tweeting about cities, climate change, demographics, land use, and housing econ on this account.
I post photos and facts about Jersey City, where I live.
🇨🇴🇺🇲
I post photos and facts about Jersey City, where I live.
🇨🇴🇺🇲
Reposted
Much like “AI can’t draw human fingers”, I worry that “self-driving cars don’t work in snow” is something that will soon be fixed, and thus a distraction from more important questions about how to regulate these things.
Nonsense - Waymo’s have zero proof of concept in bad weather cities among many other problems.
February 6, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Much like “AI can’t draw human fingers”, I worry that “self-driving cars don’t work in snow” is something that will soon be fixed, and thus a distraction from more important questions about how to regulate these things.
When the Turnpike Extension widening was announced, Gov Murphy claimed it wasn't detrimental for climate because cars are going electric. In the past few months, car makes have taken tens of billions of dollars in losses due to slow EV takeup.
www.reuters.com/business/aut...
www.reuters.com/business/aut...
Stellantis plunges on $27 billion bill for EV pullback
Stellantis announced 22.2 billion euros of charges as it scales back its electric-vehicle ambitions, hammering its shares as traditional automakers pay the price of misjudging the switch to cleaner dr...
www.reuters.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:36 PM
When the Turnpike Extension widening was announced, Gov Murphy claimed it wasn't detrimental for climate because cars are going electric. In the past few months, car makes have taken tens of billions of dollars in losses due to slow EV takeup.
www.reuters.com/business/aut...
www.reuters.com/business/aut...
There are street-parked cars on my block that still haven't been used a single time after almost two weeks.
February 6, 2026 at 4:53 PM
There are street-parked cars on my block that still haven't been used a single time after almost two weeks.
11 days after the storm, this bus bump out in a city right-of-way is mostly snow covered. There is a narrow path to the bus, with a giant slush puddle that most people aren't nimble enough to leap over.
It shouldn't take volunteers to shovel this out.
It shouldn't take volunteers to shovel this out.
February 6, 2026 at 2:11 PM
11 days after the storm, this bus bump out in a city right-of-way is mostly snow covered. There is a narrow path to the bus, with a giant slush puddle that most people aren't nimble enough to leap over.
It shouldn't take volunteers to shovel this out.
It shouldn't take volunteers to shovel this out.
Reposted
Jesus what a chart. Dashed line is CO2 ppm in 2023.
February 4, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Jesus what a chart. Dashed line is CO2 ppm in 2023.
Worth noting that this paper doesn't really care whether housing in general improves affordability or not, whether it builds the tax base or not. It assumes market-rate housing is neutral & evaluates IZ on its own terms--how good is it at producing affordable apartments at no govt expenditure?
Many affordable housing proponents support mandates on the premise that they produce more affordable housing than voluntary incentives, even if they kill housing supply overall. A recent paper by Lebret et al shows this premise is false. (thread)
February 3, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Worth noting that this paper doesn't really care whether housing in general improves affordability or not, whether it builds the tax base or not. It assumes market-rate housing is neutral & evaluates IZ on its own terms--how good is it at producing affordable apartments at no govt expenditure?
That's pretty interesting
February 3, 2026 at 11:14 PM
That's pretty interesting
I think this result–that voluntary incentives would produce more affordable housing than mandates–must seem deeply counterintuitive for some people. They key is that every development site is different, and some are more suited than others to trading a tax incentive for affordable housing....
The really notable thing is what happens when you compare a mandate with a PILOT or upzoning, to a *voluntary* program that give density bonuses or PILOTs in exchange for affordable housing.
A voluntary program with PILOTs produces MORE affordable housing overall at 1/5 the cost than a mandate!
A voluntary program with PILOTs produces MORE affordable housing overall at 1/5 the cost than a mandate!
February 3, 2026 at 7:04 PM
I think this result–that voluntary incentives would produce more affordable housing than mandates–must seem deeply counterintuitive for some people. They key is that every development site is different, and some are more suited than others to trading a tax incentive for affordable housing....
Many affordable housing proponents support mandates on the premise that they produce more affordable housing than voluntary incentives, even if they kill housing supply overall. A recent paper by Lebret et al shows this premise is false. (thread)
February 3, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Many affordable housing proponents support mandates on the premise that they produce more affordable housing than voluntary incentives, even if they kill housing supply overall. A recent paper by Lebret et al shows this premise is false. (thread)
A pattern we've seen in some of the parts of JC with lower market rents is buildings being built at 6 stories, even when taller buildings are allowed, to save on construction costs. 212 Culver Ave is the latest to reapply at 6 stories (down from 8). Down from 365 apartments to 266.
January 31, 2026 at 1:53 AM
A pattern we've seen in some of the parts of JC with lower market rents is buildings being built at 6 stories, even when taller buildings are allowed, to save on construction costs. 212 Culver Ave is the latest to reapply at 6 stories (down from 8). Down from 365 apartments to 266.
Reposted
Traffic crashes killed 206 New Yorkers in 2025, tied for the safest year since 1910.
More than 200 deaths in a year is still far too many. The goal of Vision Zero is zero.
Getting there will require redesigning streets, lowering speed limits, and daylighting every intersection.
More than 200 deaths in a year is still far too many. The goal of Vision Zero is zero.
Getting there will require redesigning streets, lowering speed limits, and daylighting every intersection.
January 29, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Traffic crashes killed 206 New Yorkers in 2025, tied for the safest year since 1910.
More than 200 deaths in a year is still far too many. The goal of Vision Zero is zero.
Getting there will require redesigning streets, lowering speed limits, and daylighting every intersection.
More than 200 deaths in a year is still far too many. The goal of Vision Zero is zero.
Getting there will require redesigning streets, lowering speed limits, and daylighting every intersection.
Reposted
The same circumstances are true when it comes to metro systems.
China opened more metro lines in 2025 alone than exist in the entire countries of Russia, UK, or France. Over the past 4 years, China built 2.5x as much metro lines as the US has in total.
China opened more metro lines in 2025 alone than exist in the entire countries of Russia, UK, or France. Over the past 4 years, China built 2.5x as much metro lines as the US has in total.
January 28, 2026 at 6:25 PM
The same circumstances are true when it comes to metro systems.
China opened more metro lines in 2025 alone than exist in the entire countries of Russia, UK, or France. Over the past 4 years, China built 2.5x as much metro lines as the US has in total.
China opened more metro lines in 2025 alone than exist in the entire countries of Russia, UK, or France. Over the past 4 years, China built 2.5x as much metro lines as the US has in total.
A sewer socialist gets results by focusing on outcomes and on the nuts and bolts of unglamorous but essential city services.
Is the opposite of that a parade progressive?
(Tbf he's been in office 5 business days, prob can't blame him for this imo)
Is the opposite of that a parade progressive?
(Tbf he's been in office 5 business days, prob can't blame him for this imo)
January 28, 2026 at 1:17 AM
A sewer socialist gets results by focusing on outcomes and on the nuts and bolts of unglamorous but essential city services.
Is the opposite of that a parade progressive?
(Tbf he's been in office 5 business days, prob can't blame him for this imo)
Is the opposite of that a parade progressive?
(Tbf he's been in office 5 business days, prob can't blame him for this imo)
A sewer socialist gets results by focusing on outcomes and on the nuts and bolts of unglamorous but essential city services.
Is the opposite of that a parade progressive?
(Tbf he's been in office 5 business days, prob can't blame him for this imo)
Is the opposite of that a parade progressive?
(Tbf he's been in office 5 business days, prob can't blame him for this imo)
January 28, 2026 at 1:15 AM
A sewer socialist gets results by focusing on outcomes and on the nuts and bolts of unglamorous but essential city services.
Is the opposite of that a parade progressive?
(Tbf he's been in office 5 business days, prob can't blame him for this imo)
Is the opposite of that a parade progressive?
(Tbf he's been in office 5 business days, prob can't blame him for this imo)
Unfortunately I fear this is a sign of distress due to citywide height limits pushing demand from wealthy neighborhoods to poorer ones in Medellín.
January 28, 2026 at 12:42 AM
Unfortunately I fear this is a sign of distress due to citywide height limits pushing demand from wealthy neighborhoods to poorer ones in Medellín.
If you have time at 11am (NOTE: it was moved from 9am!), call in and register your opposition to the $12 billion Turnpike Extension widening through JC.
This is the first meeting under the new governor & new Turnpike Authority chair; first impressions matter!
Call 800-346-7359; access code 487219
This is the first meeting under the new governor & new Turnpike Authority chair; first impressions matter!
Call 800-346-7359; access code 487219
January 27, 2026 at 1:47 PM
If you have time at 11am (NOTE: it was moved from 9am!), call in and register your opposition to the $12 billion Turnpike Extension widening through JC.
This is the first meeting under the new governor & new Turnpike Authority chair; first impressions matter!
Call 800-346-7359; access code 487219
This is the first meeting under the new governor & new Turnpike Authority chair; first impressions matter!
Call 800-346-7359; access code 487219
Reposted
Looks like it moved to 11 am
January 27, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Looks like it moved to 11 am
Both of these bike lanes on Bergen and Marin are still impassable now. What happened to the bike-lane snow plow the city bought ?
Not shoveling bike lanes didn't start this weekend, but it has continued.
January 27, 2026 at 2:42 AM
Both of these bike lanes on Bergen and Marin are still impassable now. What happened to the bike-lane snow plow the city bought ?
Reposted
A minor thing, but I hope the NIMBYs who typically scream that safe streets and housing advocates are just paid shills or in the pocket of Big Bike or whatever understand that they're a lot closer to Trumpism than they probably care to admit.
The fact that every right winger with influence screams "who is paying for all of this" tells you exactly how awash in cash they all are, and how much they rely on that to keep their movement afloat.
James O'Keefe says he's never seen anything so organized as the anti-ICE movement, observers--he seems to think this term is code--everywhere he goes. Who is paying for it??? he demands to know. It's like he can't even imagine people caring for one another.
January 25, 2026 at 4:46 PM
A minor thing, but I hope the NIMBYs who typically scream that safe streets and housing advocates are just paid shills or in the pocket of Big Bike or whatever understand that they're a lot closer to Trumpism than they probably care to admit.
Reposted
Yeah, it's bad that an American citizen was executed in the street like a dog by bunch of incompetent masked federal agents. But have you all considered those masked federal agents had their dinner date interrupted?
The officers were locked in the restaurant, and local police refused to respond to their pleas for help (as they've been directed by local authorities). Eventually, their fellow federal agents came to their aid.
January 26, 2026 at 1:39 AM
Yeah, it's bad that an American citizen was executed in the street like a dog by bunch of incompetent masked federal agents. But have you all considered those masked federal agents had their dinner date interrupted?
Moody's recent assessment of JC's bonds: "helping to bolster the rating at this high level is...rapid ongoing development."
Hampering development was also identified as a big fiscal risk factor in the Moody's report.
We need rapid development that pays full taxes to keep services /taxes stable
Hampering development was also identified as a big fiscal risk factor in the Moody's report.
We need rapid development that pays full taxes to keep services /taxes stable
January 26, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Moody's recent assessment of JC's bonds: "helping to bolster the rating at this high level is...rapid ongoing development."
Hampering development was also identified as a big fiscal risk factor in the Moody's report.
We need rapid development that pays full taxes to keep services /taxes stable
Hampering development was also identified as a big fiscal risk factor in the Moody's report.
We need rapid development that pays full taxes to keep services /taxes stable
Reposted
Wow – real asking rents in Jersey City are completely flat since 2017 www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/n... (🎁🔗)
January 8, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Wow – real asking rents in Jersey City are completely flat since 2017 www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/n... (🎁🔗)
Reposted
A local police department claims these new e-bike laws “aim to reduce crashes and promote safer shared road use for everyone”
How will this prevent hit and run drivers who obscure their license plates from killing pedestrians? How does this prevent jeep drivers from crashing into buildings?
How will this prevent hit and run drivers who obscure their license plates from killing pedestrians? How does this prevent jeep drivers from crashing into buildings?
January 23, 2026 at 1:13 AM
A local police department claims these new e-bike laws “aim to reduce crashes and promote safer shared road use for everyone”
How will this prevent hit and run drivers who obscure their license plates from killing pedestrians? How does this prevent jeep drivers from crashing into buildings?
How will this prevent hit and run drivers who obscure their license plates from killing pedestrians? How does this prevent jeep drivers from crashing into buildings?
Walkability/transit access/bikeability 🤝 affordability 🤝 density
The abundance movement & YIMBY allies call for upzoning as a strategy to lower housing costs. Rightly so. But such reforms also reduce residents’ travel expenses. That gets much less attention, but it shouldn't.
I can’t think of a better way to pursue abundant transportation than densification.
I can’t think of a better way to pursue abundant transportation than densification.
Achieving ‘Transportation Abundance’ Is All About Density
To drive down transportation costs and move the needle on affordability, Americans need to embrace living closer together.
www.bloomberg.com
January 22, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Walkability/transit access/bikeability 🤝 affordability 🤝 density
Reposted
The abundance movement & YIMBY allies call for upzoning as a strategy to lower housing costs. Rightly so. But such reforms also reduce residents’ travel expenses. That gets much less attention, but it shouldn't.
I can’t think of a better way to pursue abundant transportation than densification.
I can’t think of a better way to pursue abundant transportation than densification.
Achieving ‘Transportation Abundance’ Is All About Density
To drive down transportation costs and move the needle on affordability, Americans need to embrace living closer together.
www.bloomberg.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:30 PM
The abundance movement & YIMBY allies call for upzoning as a strategy to lower housing costs. Rightly so. But such reforms also reduce residents’ travel expenses. That gets much less attention, but it shouldn't.
I can’t think of a better way to pursue abundant transportation than densification.
I can’t think of a better way to pursue abundant transportation than densification.