Michael Andersen
@andersem.bsky.social
Believer, skeptic, humanist, typist & dad. Trying to make places fairer as director of cities + towns for @Sightline.org, here in Portland OR. Views here: mine, all mine.
Reposted by Michael Andersen
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
December 26, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
writing the first of what I hope will be many articles about elevators and trying to keep eyes on the prize
I am in San Sebastián, Spain. Population 190k, about the same population as Salem, Ore.
Pretty nice
Pretty nice
December 26, 2025 at 8:54 PM
writing the first of what I hope will be many articles about elevators and trying to keep eyes on the prize
when everybody knows the primary will be decided by one endorsement anyway www.vanityfair.com/news/story/t...
December 26, 2025 at 6:11 PM
when everybody knows the primary will be decided by one endorsement anyway www.vanityfair.com/news/story/t...
Tired: deciding when to tell your kid about sex
Wired: deciding when to tell your kid about Santa
Inspired: deciding when to play your kid What’s He Building by Tom Waits
Wired: deciding when to tell your kid about Santa
Inspired: deciding when to play your kid What’s He Building by Tom Waits
December 26, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Tired: deciding when to tell your kid about sex
Wired: deciding when to tell your kid about Santa
Inspired: deciding when to play your kid What’s He Building by Tom Waits
Wired: deciding when to tell your kid about Santa
Inspired: deciding when to play your kid What’s He Building by Tom Waits
Just doing my part in the new cold war by visiting Japan in April. I’ve never crossed the Pacific! Tell me what to do in Tokyo, Kyoto, and/or Magome
December 26, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Just doing my part in the new cold war by visiting Japan in April. I’ve never crossed the Pacific! Tell me what to do in Tokyo, Kyoto, and/or Magome
Reposted by Michael Andersen
Honored that @IslandPress has named my book "Human Transit" as one of their top 10 Built Environment books from their 40 years of publishing.
It's a friendly, readable guide to help you think about public transportation issues.
www.planetizen.com/features/136...
It's a friendly, readable guide to help you think about public transportation issues.
www.planetizen.com/features/136...
Top 10 Island Press Built Environment Books
From “Life Between Buildings” to “Human Transit,” Island Press has played a critical role in building the catalogue of literature that is foundational to urban planning.
www.planetizen.com
December 26, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Honored that @IslandPress has named my book "Human Transit" as one of their top 10 Built Environment books from their 40 years of publishing.
It's a friendly, readable guide to help you think about public transportation issues.
www.planetizen.com/features/136...
It's a friendly, readable guide to help you think about public transportation issues.
www.planetizen.com/features/136...
One of the worst but most common arguments against removing parking mandates in WA was the idea that “transit isn’t good enough yet.”
As if auto-oriented zoning hadn’t been sending transit service down a long spiral since 1950
As if auto-oriented zoning hadn’t been sending transit service down a long spiral since 1950
I've been looking through old state transit reports recently, and was astounded at the fact that in 1976 Washington's intercity bus network carried 30 million passengers, half as many as every transit agency in the state at that time. Spokane had nearly 40 daily one way trips to different cities.
December 26, 2025 at 7:50 AM
One of the worst but most common arguments against removing parking mandates in WA was the idea that “transit isn’t good enough yet.”
As if auto-oriented zoning hadn’t been sending transit service down a long spiral since 1950
As if auto-oriented zoning hadn’t been sending transit service down a long spiral since 1950
Reposted by Michael Andersen
Here's each G7 country's cumulative increase in real GDP per capita, since just before the pandemic:
🇺🇸 +11.3%
🇮🇹 +7.7%
🇯🇵 +3.7%
🇫🇷 +3.2%
🇬🇧 +0.8%
🇨🇦 +0.5%
🇩🇪 -1.7%
🇺🇸 +11.3%
🇮🇹 +7.7%
🇯🇵 +3.7%
🇫🇷 +3.2%
🇬🇧 +0.8%
🇨🇦 +0.5%
🇩🇪 -1.7%
December 23, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Here's each G7 country's cumulative increase in real GDP per capita, since just before the pandemic:
🇺🇸 +11.3%
🇮🇹 +7.7%
🇯🇵 +3.7%
🇫🇷 +3.2%
🇬🇧 +0.8%
🇨🇦 +0.5%
🇩🇪 -1.7%
🇺🇸 +11.3%
🇮🇹 +7.7%
🇯🇵 +3.7%
🇫🇷 +3.2%
🇬🇧 +0.8%
🇨🇦 +0.5%
🇩🇪 -1.7%
Reposted by Michael Andersen
This has always been one of my favorite Discworld quotes. ❤️💚
Discworld QOTD, from Hogfather
December 25, 2025 at 6:37 PM
This has always been one of my favorite Discworld quotes. ❤️💚
Reposted by Michael Andersen
If you’re wondering why your friends in academia are a little on edge right now, it’s because an eighteen-year-old who hasn’t done the reading, doesn’t look at the assignment, and has does no critical thinking skills more complex than “because I think it’s in the Bible” can literally end your career
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.” https://cnn.it/4b6g3rd
Oklahoma instructor removed from teaching for failing a Bible-based gender essay | CNN
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”
cnn.it
December 24, 2025 at 6:21 PM
If you’re wondering why your friends in academia are a little on edge right now, it’s because an eighteen-year-old who hasn’t done the reading, doesn’t look at the assignment, and has does no critical thinking skills more complex than “because I think it’s in the Bible” can literally end your career
Reposted by Michael Andersen
Its really understated how much of a turnaround Richmond, CA has. In the 1990s Richmond was a homicide capital of the west coast! There were blocks in Richmond I could not walk or wear red shoes on for fear of being shot.
I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.
December 24, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Its really understated how much of a turnaround Richmond, CA has. In the 1990s Richmond was a homicide capital of the west coast! There were blocks in Richmond I could not walk or wear red shoes on for fear of being shot.
Reposted by Michael Andersen
Congestion Pricing's first year couldn't have been more successful. Never forget we had to fight city reps, the state, and the president for this.
December 24, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Congestion Pricing's first year couldn't have been more successful. Never forget we had to fight city reps, the state, and the president for this.
Reposted by Michael Andersen
Who needs a village when you can have parking lots?
December 24, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Who needs a village when you can have parking lots?
Reposted by Michael Andersen
NEW: By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court blocks Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Chicago to assist immigration agents. A majority holds that he likely lacks authority to do so. Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissent. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
![The Government asked this Court to stay the District Court's order. After the response and reply were filed, JUSTICE BARRETT referred the application to the Court. We directed the parties to file supplemental letter briefs on an issue that the District Court had addressed but the parties' initial briefs had not: the meaning of the term "regular forces" in §12406(3). In its supplemental brief, the Government argues that the term refers to civilian law enforcement officers, such as those employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Federal Protective Service.
Respondents, echoing the District Court, maintain that the term refers to the regular forces of the United States mili-tary.
We conclude that the term "regular forces" in §12406(3) likely refers to the regular forces of the United States mili-tary. This interpretation means that to call the Guard into active federal service under §12406(3), the President must be "unable" with the regular military "to execute the laws of the United States." Because the statute requires an assessment of the military's ability to execute the laws, it likely applies only where the military could legally execute the laws. Such circumstances are exceptional: Under the Posse Comitatus Act, the military is prohibited from "execut[ing] the laws" "except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress."
18 U. S. C. §1385. So before the President can federalize the Guard under §12406(3), he likely must have statutory or constitutional authority to execute the laws with the regular military and must be "unable" with those forces to perform that function.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6h7b2i6ttw3l4t7pvbvxdith/bafkreiftbhzwvn3vgwhqsi7k2paizvdw4t26ailljvovso3chqupnmj364@jpeg)
December 23, 2025 at 8:16 PM
NEW: By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court blocks Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Chicago to assist immigration agents. A majority holds that he likely lacks authority to do so. Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissent. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
A very good thread
With a little bit of creativity, HB2017's promised freeway improvements could be delivered immediately for just the cost of paint and a bit of asphalt. It would look something like this. The promised improvements were:
- Address Rose Quarter congestion
- Improve north-south vehicle flow
- Address Rose Quarter congestion
- Improve north-south vehicle flow
December 23, 2025 at 5:58 PM
A very good thread
Reposted by Michael Andersen
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
December 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
Reposted by Michael Andersen
Tired: Gnu’s Not Unix
Wired: Ass Shit Shit
Wired: Ass Shit Shit
8yo just asked me if "ASS" stands for "Ass Shit Shit"
December 23, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Tired: Gnu’s Not Unix
Wired: Ass Shit Shit
Wired: Ass Shit Shit
Reposted by Michael Andersen
76 in Denver in late December
To help illustrate the insane gradient in North America Monday I added a couple of numbers.
76 in Denver wasn’t even the national high. That was 90 in Hidalgo TX.
Braeburn was indeed the NA low. (These are actual temps, not feels like)
76 in Denver wasn’t even the national high. That was 90 in Hidalgo TX.
Braeburn was indeed the NA low. (These are actual temps, not feels like)
December 23, 2025 at 5:43 AM
76 in Denver in late December
Good @oregonian.com report on one of those situations that is gonna force people to update their assumptions
www.oregonlive.com/business/202...
www.oregonlive.com/business/202...
Portland affordable housing is in financial collapse. Can it be salvaged?
“It’s a business model that’s failing,” a local affordable housing executive said.
www.oregonlive.com
December 22, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Good @oregonian.com report on one of those situations that is gonna force people to update their assumptions
www.oregonlive.com/business/202...
www.oregonlive.com/business/202...
Reposted by Michael Andersen
They are the conservative option for car replacement. They still take up more physical space than necessary but improve ped/bike safety. I’d like to see dense housing provide shared carts to residents instead of parking.
Golf carts are puttering their way toward becoming a legit transport mode.
This year, Cleveland, Corpus Christi, and South Carolina officially legalized them on local streets. Major media outlets like the Wall Street Journal and CBS News have covered their soaring popularity (esp in suburbs).
This year, Cleveland, Corpus Christi, and South Carolina officially legalized them on local streets. Major media outlets like the Wall Street Journal and CBS News have covered their soaring popularity (esp in suburbs).
Why one Michigan town is regulating its golf cart boom
St. Johns, Michigan, is one of more than two dozen communities in the state to pass ordinances regulating golf carts on public roads.
www.cbsnews.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:23 PM
They are the conservative option for car replacement. They still take up more physical space than necessary but improve ped/bike safety. I’d like to see dense housing provide shared carts to residents instead of parking.
Reposted by Michael Andersen
portland’s residential infill project was a huge step towards ending exclusionary zoning but middle housing improvements are moving so fast in other cities that we’re starting to look conservative in comparison
Seattle Council Approves Eight-Unit Apartment Buildings Everywhere - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett Maybe calling them “stacked flats,” rather than “apartments,” was a stroke of genius. On Tuesday, the…
publicola.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:25 PM
portland’s residential infill project was a huge step towards ending exclusionary zoning but middle housing improvements are moving so fast in other cities that we’re starting to look conservative in comparison
Reposted by Michael Andersen
tonight the government killed a story on cbs about the slave labor camp in a foreign country theyre illegally sending people to
December 22, 2025 at 3:33 AM
tonight the government killed a story on cbs about the slave labor camp in a foreign country theyre illegally sending people to
Reposted by Michael Andersen
One big takeaway from Mamdani bringing YIMBYs into his transition is that advocates can often gain a lot of power by
1.) having useful answers to questions and accurate information
2.) being reasonably polite and pleasant to elected officials
3.) understanding the actual mechanics of government
1.) having useful answers to questions and accurate information
2.) being reasonably polite and pleasant to elected officials
3.) understanding the actual mechanics of government
December 19, 2025 at 7:43 PM
One big takeaway from Mamdani bringing YIMBYs into his transition is that advocates can often gain a lot of power by
1.) having useful answers to questions and accurate information
2.) being reasonably polite and pleasant to elected officials
3.) understanding the actual mechanics of government
1.) having useful answers to questions and accurate information
2.) being reasonably polite and pleasant to elected officials
3.) understanding the actual mechanics of government
“left Oregon to do business in more favorable states, such as California”
not how you ever want that sentence to end
not how you ever want that sentence to end
A coalition of Oregon legislators wants to raise the legal bar for lawsuits against ski resorts, rock climbing gyms, outdoor expedition companies and the like.
‘Are you responsible for your own mistakes?’ Some lawmakers say it’s too easy to sue in Oregon
A coalition of Oregon legislators wants to raise the legal bar for lawsuits against ski resorts, rock climbing gyms, outdoor expedition companies and the like.
www.oregonlive.com
December 21, 2025 at 2:24 PM
“left Oregon to do business in more favorable states, such as California”
not how you ever want that sentence to end
not how you ever want that sentence to end
Reposted by Michael Andersen
The debate should just be
Person 1: "Gen Z has higher wages, after adjusting for inflation, than any previous generation."
Person 2: "But housing is pretty expensive."
Then they shake hands and go home.
Person 1: "Gen Z has higher wages, after adjusting for inflation, than any previous generation."
Person 2: "But housing is pretty expensive."
Then they shake hands and go home.
December 18, 2025 at 10:31 PM
The debate should just be
Person 1: "Gen Z has higher wages, after adjusting for inflation, than any previous generation."
Person 2: "But housing is pretty expensive."
Then they shake hands and go home.
Person 1: "Gen Z has higher wages, after adjusting for inflation, than any previous generation."
Person 2: "But housing is pretty expensive."
Then they shake hands and go home.