Alissa Walker
@awalkerinla.bsky.social
I'm a writer and a walker in LA. Tracking the city's megaevent progress at Torched. Co-host LA Podcast, new episodes drop every Monday. LAUSD mom. @awalkerinla everywhere else. Sign up for my newsletter at torched.la 🔥
Pinned
Alissa Walker
@awalkerinla.bsky.social
· Jun 16
Thanks to John Oliver for quoting my highly scientific analysis proving we don’t need federal troops in LA
Reposted by Alissa Walker
Truly invaluable chronicle of architecture, design and development in major US cities; what say you @nymag.com
The archives for the old Curbed city sites have been offline for at least two weeks. If these sites are gone for good, it’s not just a loss for those who contributed to Curbed over the years, but a loss of ~15 years of reporting on new development, neighborhoods, and architecture criticism.
January 5, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Truly invaluable chronicle of architecture, design and development in major US cities; what say you @nymag.com
Reposted by Alissa Walker
I noticed this too and I realllllly hope it is temporary @curbed.com @nymag.com because there is nothing else like it and it is half of my archive 😭
The archives for the old Curbed city sites have been offline for at least two weeks. If these sites are gone for good, it’s not just a loss for those who contributed to Curbed over the years, but a loss of ~15 years of reporting on new development, neighborhoods, and architecture criticism.
January 5, 2026 at 3:37 PM
I noticed this too and I realllllly hope it is temporary @curbed.com @nymag.com because there is nothing else like it and it is half of my archive 😭
Reposted by Alissa Walker
What AJ said. Would love to know why the Curbed NY archives have been offline for a while now. Losing those would mean losing years of history about the built environment, and that would really suck!
The archives for the old Curbed city sites have been offline for at least two weeks. If these sites are gone for good, it’s not just a loss for those who contributed to Curbed over the years, but a loss of ~15 years of reporting on new development, neighborhoods, and architecture criticism.
January 5, 2026 at 4:01 PM
What AJ said. Would love to know why the Curbed NY archives have been offline for a while now. Losing those would mean losing years of history about the built environment, and that would really suck!
Reposted by Alissa Walker
This is devastating
The archives for the old Curbed city sites have been offline for at least two weeks. If these sites are gone for good, it’s not just a loss for those who contributed to Curbed over the years, but a loss of ~15 years of reporting on new development, neighborhoods, and architecture criticism.
January 5, 2026 at 5:50 PM
This is devastating
Reposted by Alissa Walker
I just checked in on a major piece I did for Curbed Chicago 10 years ago and it’s gone. What is the point of trashing a decade-plus of reporting and criticism on the built environment?
The archives for the old Curbed city sites have been offline for at least two weeks. If these sites are gone for good, it’s not just a loss for those who contributed to Curbed over the years, but a loss of ~15 years of reporting on new development, neighborhoods, and architecture criticism.
January 5, 2026 at 4:31 PM
I just checked in on a major piece I did for Curbed Chicago 10 years ago and it’s gone. What is the point of trashing a decade-plus of reporting and criticism on the built environment?
"About 300,000 more people are riding the subway each day — far more than the 70,000 cars that have been taken off the road in the congestion zone.
People are still coming, just not necessarily by private car"
People are still coming, just not necessarily by private car"
Congestion pricing after one year: How life has changed. (Gift Article)
How life has changed in the New York area, according to data on traffic, transit and the responses of 600 readers.
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:35 AM
"About 300,000 more people are riding the subway each day — far more than the 70,000 cars that have been taken off the road in the congestion zone.
People are still coming, just not necessarily by private car"
People are still coming, just not necessarily by private car"
Reposted by Alissa Walker
New @uclaits.bsky.social research: @metrolosangeles.bsky.social's transit ambassador pilot program found success in providing eyes on the system, likely improving rider satisfaction, and even saving lives with Narcan. But training and pay call for improvement now that the program has moved in-house:
Exploring Los Angeles' Transit Ambassador Program
A growing number of U.S. transit agencies are adding transit ambassadors to their systems to improve the customer service and safety experience for passengers. These personnel can play a variety of di...
www.its.ucla.edu
January 5, 2026 at 10:18 PM
New @uclaits.bsky.social research: @metrolosangeles.bsky.social's transit ambassador pilot program found success in providing eyes on the system, likely improving rider satisfaction, and even saving lives with Narcan. But training and pay call for improvement now that the program has moved in-house:
Reposted by Alissa Walker
It would be horrible for the Seattle Curbed archive to just vanish.
I've received many messages about this over the last two weeks — people still read, reference, and link to these stories WRITTEN BY REAL REPORTERS who knew their cities better than anyone else. I figured a fix might have been delayed due to holiday breaks but this needs to be remedied immediately!
The archives for the old Curbed city sites have been offline for at least two weeks. If these sites are gone for good, it’s not just a loss for those who contributed to Curbed over the years, but a loss of ~15 years of reporting on new development, neighborhoods, and architecture criticism.
January 5, 2026 at 6:33 PM
It would be horrible for the Seattle Curbed archive to just vanish.
Reposted by Alissa Walker
Sigh. I did so much photography for Curbed Los Angeles from 2015-2020 and those assignments literally launched my professional career. What a loss.
I've received many messages about this over the last two weeks — people still read, reference, and link to these stories WRITTEN BY REAL REPORTERS who knew their cities better than anyone else. I figured a fix might have been delayed due to holiday breaks but this needs to be remedied immediately!
The archives for the old Curbed city sites have been offline for at least two weeks. If these sites are gone for good, it’s not just a loss for those who contributed to Curbed over the years, but a loss of ~15 years of reporting on new development, neighborhoods, and architecture criticism.
January 5, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Sigh. I did so much photography for Curbed Los Angeles from 2015-2020 and those assignments literally launched my professional career. What a loss.
Reposted by Alissa Walker
I wonder if long-term archive maintenance could be mandated through labor contracts?
I've received many messages about this over the last two weeks — people still read, reference, and link to these stories WRITTEN BY REAL REPORTERS who knew their cities better than anyone else. I figured a fix might have been delayed due to holiday breaks but this needs to be remedied immediately!
The archives for the old Curbed city sites have been offline for at least two weeks. If these sites are gone for good, it’s not just a loss for those who contributed to Curbed over the years, but a loss of ~15 years of reporting on new development, neighborhoods, and architecture criticism.
January 5, 2026 at 5:45 PM
I wonder if long-term archive maintenance could be mandated through labor contracts?
I've received many messages about this over the last two weeks — people still read, reference, and link to these stories WRITTEN BY REAL REPORTERS who knew their cities better than anyone else. I figured a fix might have been delayed due to holiday breaks but this needs to be remedied immediately!
The archives for the old Curbed city sites have been offline for at least two weeks. If these sites are gone for good, it’s not just a loss for those who contributed to Curbed over the years, but a loss of ~15 years of reporting on new development, neighborhoods, and architecture criticism.
January 5, 2026 at 5:43 PM
I've received many messages about this over the last two weeks — people still read, reference, and link to these stories WRITTEN BY REAL REPORTERS who knew their cities better than anyone else. I figured a fix might have been delayed due to holiday breaks but this needs to be remedied immediately!
Reposted by Alissa Walker
Instead of whatever this is, we should have a government getting lots of new homes and apartments built, lots of clean energy built, lots of high speed rail and transit and bike lanes built, human rights for everyone, economic & healthcare opportunities for all, & innovation that leads the world.
January 4, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Instead of whatever this is, we should have a government getting lots of new homes and apartments built, lots of clean energy built, lots of high speed rail and transit and bike lanes built, human rights for everyone, economic & healthcare opportunities for all, & innovation that leads the world.
Reposted by Alissa Walker
NEW: Mayor Mamdani chose the third full day of his tenure to announce that he will complete the full safety redesign of deadly McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint — a project that was created under Mayor Bill de Blasio, but watered down by Mayor Adams in a corruption scandal. buff.ly/T2rESWz
Mamdani Announces Full McGuinness Road Diet, Finishing a Job Halted by Adams - Streetsblog New York City
Mayor Mamdani chose the third full day of his tenure to announce that he will complete the full safety redesign of deadly McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint — a project that was created under Mayor…
nyc.streetsblog.org
January 3, 2026 at 11:12 PM
NEW: Mayor Mamdani chose the third full day of his tenure to announce that he will complete the full safety redesign of deadly McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint — a project that was created under Mayor Bill de Blasio, but watered down by Mayor Adams in a corruption scandal. buff.ly/T2rESWz
Reposted by Alissa Walker
In the vein of posts today from @billmckibben.bsky.social @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social @volts.wtf @brooklynspoke.bsky.social and many others about how we can fight back against the forever wars by embracing a vision of a world where oil becomes irrelevant, I offer the following:
There has never been a moment when ending the oil industry has been more urgent or important. Here is a thread of seven tools that can help.
Brief, readable 2-pagers, and a 30-page overview from @michealpodgers.bsky.social at @clicabedu.bsky.social.
Brief, readable 2-pagers, and a 30-page overview from @michealpodgers.bsky.social at @clicabedu.bsky.social.
Transportation 101 Policy Guides - Climate Cabinet Education
Transportation 101 Policy Guides by Climate Cabinet Education: practical, accessible guides on transit planning, active mobility & multimodal policy for climate action.
climatecabineteducation.org
January 4, 2026 at 1:18 AM
In the vein of posts today from @billmckibben.bsky.social @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social @volts.wtf @brooklynspoke.bsky.social and many others about how we can fight back against the forever wars by embracing a vision of a world where oil becomes irrelevant, I offer the following:
Well this hits different today
There's so much going on here:
- Trump plans to launch strikes on World Cup co-host Mexico due to drug trafficking (???)
- And invade Seattle and LA if they don't "behave" (???)
- FIFA's Gianni Infantino then agrees Trump can take matches away from cities (???)
www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...
- Trump plans to launch strikes on World Cup co-host Mexico due to drug trafficking (???)
- And invade Seattle and LA if they don't "behave" (???)
- FIFA's Gianni Infantino then agrees Trump can take matches away from cities (???)
www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...
January 3, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Well this hits different today
Just yesterday, IOC president Kirsty Coventry said that Russian athletes can't compete under their flag in next month's Winter Olympics because their country invaded another country.
Sure will be interesting to see how these same guidelines will be applied in 2028
Sure will be interesting to see how these same guidelines will be applied in 2028
Russians won't represent their country at Winter Olympics even if Ukraine war ends, IOC chief says
Russian athletes at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics will not be able to represent their country even if a peace deal is reached with Ukraine, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Covent...
www.reuters.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Just yesterday, IOC president Kirsty Coventry said that Russian athletes can't compete under their flag in next month's Winter Olympics because their country invaded another country.
Sure will be interesting to see how these same guidelines will be applied in 2028
Sure will be interesting to see how these same guidelines will be applied in 2028
Reposted by Alissa Walker
Tesla is no longer the world’s biggest EV maker—it’s been overtaken, by a wide degree, by China’s BYD. Tesla’s sales fell 9% last year.
BREAKING: Tesla loses its crown as the world's bestselling electric vehicle maker to Chinese rival BYD as sales fall for a second year in a row.
Tesla loses title as world's biggest electric vehicle maker as sales fall for second year in a row
Tesla lost its crown as the world’s bestselling electric vehicle maker on Friday as a customer revolt over Elon Musk’s right-wing politics and stiff overseas competition pushed sales down for a second year in a row.
bit.ly
January 2, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Tesla is no longer the world’s biggest EV maker—it’s been overtaken, by a wide degree, by China’s BYD. Tesla’s sales fell 9% last year.
Reposted by Alissa Walker
All the NYC inauguration speeches are very much worth watching for anyone who wants to win elections
2026 New York City Inauguration Ceremony
YouTube video by NYC Mayor's Office
www.youtube.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:33 AM
All the NYC inauguration speeches are very much worth watching for anyone who wants to win elections
Can we just celebrate the (literal) platform devoted to transportation advocates — and trans advocates! — at NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's inauguration.
What would this even look like in LA for the inauguration of our next mayor??? Yes, I am asking for both your suggestions of mayor and advocates 😉
What would this even look like in LA for the inauguration of our next mayor??? Yes, I am asking for both your suggestions of mayor and advocates 😉
January 2, 2026 at 5:42 AM
Can we just celebrate the (literal) platform devoted to transportation advocates — and trans advocates! — at NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's inauguration.
What would this even look like in LA for the inauguration of our next mayor??? Yes, I am asking for both your suggestions of mayor and advocates 😉
What would this even look like in LA for the inauguration of our next mayor??? Yes, I am asking for both your suggestions of mayor and advocates 😉
Here are my best stories from the worst year ever.
Goodbye 2025, hello to our megaevent era kicking off for real in 2026 — ready or not
Goodbye 2025, hello to our megaevent era kicking off for real in 2026 — ready or not
The best Torched stories, worst year edition
LA always feels empty this time of year. But at the end of 2025, the city feels not just deserted, but deflated.
www.torched.la
December 31, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Here are my best stories from the worst year ever.
Goodbye 2025, hello to our megaevent era kicking off for real in 2026 — ready or not
Goodbye 2025, hello to our megaevent era kicking off for real in 2026 — ready or not
Reposted by Alissa Walker
(It's well known that curb extensions increase pedestrian visibility and decrease crossing distance, but they also make ramp design much simpler)
December 30, 2025 at 8:12 AM
(It's well known that curb extensions increase pedestrian visibility and decrease crossing distance, but they also make ramp design much simpler)
Reposted by Alissa Walker
I don't like this type of curb ramp design either. But why do we end up with ones that look like this? Some aspects of curb ramp design:
Yes, the city needs to actually repave streets. Yes, the city needs to repair sidewalks. Yes, the city needs to install curb ramps.
But the bigger problem is that when LA decides to do anything at all to "help" pedestrians, the result looks like this complete and utter bullshit
But the bigger problem is that when LA decides to do anything at all to "help" pedestrians, the result looks like this complete and utter bullshit
December 30, 2025 at 8:12 AM
I don't like this type of curb ramp design either. But why do we end up with ones that look like this? Some aspects of curb ramp design:
Reposted by Alissa Walker
I feel like this is what happens when designers implement the PROWAG without considering how the built environment will actually feel. They design an accessible route, which requires specific slopes and grade breaks perpendicular to the direction of travel. And then they curb it in.
Yes, the city needs to actually repave streets. Yes, the city needs to repair sidewalks. Yes, the city needs to install curb ramps.
But the bigger problem is that when LA decides to do anything at all to "help" pedestrians, the result looks like this complete and utter bullshit
But the bigger problem is that when LA decides to do anything at all to "help" pedestrians, the result looks like this complete and utter bullshit
December 29, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I feel like this is what happens when designers implement the PROWAG without considering how the built environment will actually feel. They design an accessible route, which requires specific slopes and grade breaks perpendicular to the direction of travel. And then they curb it in.
Reposted by Alissa Walker
Simply amazing how bad this is. A paid professional designed this and an even higher paid engineer approved it.
Yes, the city needs to actually repave streets. Yes, the city needs to repair sidewalks. Yes, the city needs to install curb ramps.
But the bigger problem is that when LA decides to do anything at all to "help" pedestrians, the result looks like this complete and utter bullshit
But the bigger problem is that when LA decides to do anything at all to "help" pedestrians, the result looks like this complete and utter bullshit
December 30, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Simply amazing how bad this is. A paid professional designed this and an even higher paid engineer approved it.
Torched Talks is my ongoing series featuring discussions with LA megaevent experts. And now they're all online!
Head over to Torched to watch them all — and see what made me make this face in my most popular conversation (by far) with LA's former chief deputy controller @urbanistcole.bsky.social
Head over to Torched to watch them all — and see what made me make this face in my most popular conversation (by far) with LA's former chief deputy controller @urbanistcole.bsky.social
Now you can binge all the Torched Talks
I've published the recordings for you to consume anytime you need a megaevent reality check. (Sorry.)
www.torched.la
December 30, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Torched Talks is my ongoing series featuring discussions with LA megaevent experts. And now they're all online!
Head over to Torched to watch them all — and see what made me make this face in my most popular conversation (by far) with LA's former chief deputy controller @urbanistcole.bsky.social
Head over to Torched to watch them all — and see what made me make this face in my most popular conversation (by far) with LA's former chief deputy controller @urbanistcole.bsky.social