Alessandro Rigolon
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alerigolon.bsky.social
Alessandro Rigolon
@alerigolon.bsky.social

Associate prof of urban planning. Research on green space equity, green gentrification, climate adaptation, and health equity. Love SLC, my family, and the great outdoors. Opinions (good or bad) are my own 🇮🇹🇺🇸 🌩️👀 rJgnW3igNgz7 .. more

Environmental science 45%
Geography 11%
Pinned
My older daughter learned to ride a bike today. She was so happy. As she was riding, she said, “I feel free.” My heart is full.

In case you haven’t noticed, elections have consequences. What did you think “mass deportations now” meant?

We have this one too and my kids love it also

I admire you for your courage and integrity, but in this case, I give zero fucks about your suggestion

And in part a failure of Dem cities and states to deliver on affordability. Here’s the story
There are a lot of nonpartisan voters in Nevada, making the swing state hard to read
Since 2020, voters in Nevada who aren't registered with a party have become the largest voting group in the state. That means it's hard to predict how they'll vote so campaigns are courting them.
www.npr.org

I sometimes remember hearing an NPR story before the 2024 election where young Latino men in Las Vegas said they would vote for Trump because they believe he’d make things more affordable. I don’t feel schadenfreude for them, and can’t help being angry at Dems for failing at messaging so much

I’m never in favor of banning books, but that one has tons of rape and bestiality. The musical is very different

Yes and fewer cars. Which explains the space for trees

My youngest daughter’s favorite book. I wonder when Utah’s schools will ban it

This is not intended to show any good or bad case. It’s just different. What’s the “best” case in LA and the “worse” in Berlin?

Not necessarily. We have the technology to build tall buildings in earthquake prone areas. Look at downtown LA or Seattle. More of a political and vibes choice. LA is a more “horizontal” city

You can draw your own. One that I draw is that imposing low maximum heights like in LA (2-3 stories) can result in very high lot coverages, which means more limited open space is left

For not being interested in the comparison, you light to comment a lot. Imagine if you were interested…

Definitely. About twice as tall
Zoning in LA capped the height to 2-3 storeys. So there's less room for courtyards. The Berlin buildings are 5 storeys. Very different vibes

And since I'm going down this rabbit hole, I cannot omit the Eixample in Barcelona, where most perimeter blocks have been filled up over time

These are dense urban neighborhoods, but the courtyards are amazing

Compare them with some of Copenhagen's perimeter blocks, which are significantly more open, and have more generous courtyards. These are also 5-storey buildings

Probably a combination of things. 1. Zoning prescribing lower heights in LA. 2. Lot breakdown. 3. Development before vs. after the automobile. 4. Probably more

Zoning in LA capped the height to 2-3 storeys. So there's less room for courtyards. The Berlin buildings are 5 storeys. Very different vibes

Los Angeles' courtyard buildings vs. Berlin's courtyard buildings. Same scale

Reposted by Alessandro Rigolon

“I hope 2026 is the year Utah finally acknowledges that housing affordability cannot be solved city by city,” writes Alessandro Rigolon in an op-ed. “If it is not, the consequences are not abstract.”
Voices: Utah’s housing crisis will outgrow local control in 2026
“I hope 2026 is the year Utah finally acknowledges that housing affordability cannot be solved city by city,” writes Alessandro Rigolon in an op-ed. “If it is not, the consequences are not abstract.”
www.sltrib.com

Reposted by Alessandro Rigolon

KUER @kuer.org · 18h
How easy is it to get around in #SLC without a 🚗? Here’s what we learned from a few commuters.
What a day without a car taught us about taking Salt Lake City’s public transit
New cars are more expensive than ever. Utah’s largest public transit system — the Utah Transit Authority — could make room in your budget, but it might add time to your commute.
buff.ly

The feds hate cities because city residents resist. They organize. They help each other.
Minneapolis right now:

Parents use their weekend to attend a 3 hour deescalation training so we can be better prepared to support more vulnerable families at school drop off and pick up next week.

Teachers create online learning plans for the next 5 weeks.

The threat: our fed govt.

Reposted by Alessandro Rigolon

Minneapolis right now:

Parents use their weekend to attend a 3 hour deescalation training so we can be better prepared to support more vulnerable families at school drop off and pick up next week.

Teachers create online learning plans for the next 5 weeks.

The threat: our fed govt.

Reposted by Alessandro Rigolon

We’re launching Housing Basics, a new social media series from Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities that breaks down housing topics in clear, everyday language. We’re starting with the types of homes you see every day across the Wasatch Front.
#HousingBasics #Housing #Utah #WALC

I'm sorry I need to say this again, but remaining on X is increasingly inexcusable. Get out of there. Not worth it.

Reposted by Alessandro Rigolon

3 Dem Senators urge Google, Apple to suspend X and Grok from their app stores until Musk gets the AI-generated images under control instead of letting users rampantly create & share CSAM, NCII etc. www.cnbc.com/2026/01/09/g...
Grok and X should be suspended from Apple, Google app stores, Democratic senators say
Senators from Oregon, Massachusetts and New Mexico urged Apple and Google to suspend X and Grok until Elon Musk curbs AI-generated sexualized images of kids.
www.cnbc.com

Old Man Winter is really showing up

And the Marxist Republic of Kentucky might allow single-stair buildings
single stair bill now filed in *kentucky*

apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/...

The super woke State of, checks notes, Indiana is discussing significant statewide zoning reform. This is led by a GOP legislator. Indiana doesn't have the housing affordability crisis that Utah is facing. What's your excuse, Utah?
Indiana State Rep. Doug Miller (R) introduced one of the strongest pro-housing bills in America:
📐 Caps minimum lot sizes at ~5,400 sf
🏘️ Allow 3 townhomes on most lots
🏠 ADUs by-right
🚗 Caps parking mandates at 1
🪜 Single-stair mid-rise
🛗 Right-sizes elevator requirements
Newly-released footage reveals Renee Nicole Good’s last words.