Casey Berkovitz
@caseyberk.bsky.social
I talk about zoning for a living, but I skeet about it for fun. Here for housing, politics, sports, and bad jokes. Go bears.
Reposted by Casey Berkovitz
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...
Reposted by Casey Berkovitz
Welcome to A New Era, Leila Bozorg!
December 19, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Welcome to A New Era, Leila Bozorg!
Reposted by Casey Berkovitz
This is blasphemous.
December 20, 2025 at 11:56 PM
This is blasphemous.
"People want to be around people." @dianabudds.bsky.social www.dwell.com/article/the-...
The Great Downtown Renaissance
Across the country, cities—big, small, and midsize—are attempting to remake their cores into livable neighborhoods, not just places of commerce. Will it work?
www.dwell.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:47 PM
"People want to be around people." @dianabudds.bsky.social www.dwell.com/article/the-...
Reposted by Casey Berkovitz
longstanding theory on this is that people who know the applicant that they don't want to hire has racial resentment offer "wish i could've hired you, but they made me hire a black woman instead!" as a let-them-down-easy cope rather than admit to them that they just didn't want to hire them.
December 19, 2025 at 3:08 AM
longstanding theory on this is that people who know the applicant that they don't want to hire has racial resentment offer "wish i could've hired you, but they made me hire a black woman instead!" as a let-them-down-easy cope rather than admit to them that they just didn't want to hire them.
Reposted by Casey Berkovitz
A single phone call asking a city council member or state legislator to vote your way on a specific legislative proposal has *significantly* more political impact than a social media post with 1,000 shares.
December 16, 2025 at 12:09 AM
A single phone call asking a city council member or state legislator to vote your way on a specific legislative proposal has *significantly* more political impact than a social media post with 1,000 shares.
Reposted by Casey Berkovitz
Minus big-bucks lifelines, some U.S. transit systems are facing disaster.
🚇 🚍
But the MTA is *adding* subway and bus service, not cutting it — and has dodged layoffs.
💰 💰
“This is a remarkable turnaround just from a few years ago.”
NEW STORY in @thecity.nyc www.thecity.nyc/2025/12/12/m...
🚇 🚍
But the MTA is *adding* subway and bus service, not cutting it — and has dodged layoffs.
💰 💰
“This is a remarkable turnaround just from a few years ago.”
NEW STORY in @thecity.nyc www.thecity.nyc/2025/12/12/m...
As U.S. Transit Takes a Dive, MTA Enjoys a Rarity: More Service and Stable Cash Flow
San Francisco and Philly are limping along. Yet in New York, North America’s largest mass transportation authority finds itself running more trains and buses, and limiting fare hikes.
www.thecity.nyc
December 12, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Minus big-bucks lifelines, some U.S. transit systems are facing disaster.
🚇 🚍
But the MTA is *adding* subway and bus service, not cutting it — and has dodged layoffs.
💰 💰
“This is a remarkable turnaround just from a few years ago.”
NEW STORY in @thecity.nyc www.thecity.nyc/2025/12/12/m...
🚇 🚍
But the MTA is *adding* subway and bus service, not cutting it — and has dodged layoffs.
💰 💰
“This is a remarkable turnaround just from a few years ago.”
NEW STORY in @thecity.nyc www.thecity.nyc/2025/12/12/m...
Well would you look at that.
December 12, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Well would you look at that.
Reposted by Casey Berkovitz
Trump 0-3 on indicting Tish James and just had his ass handed to him by Indiana Republican legislators he threatened and bullied. Also new low in AP poll at 36% approval.
December 11, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Trump 0-3 on indicting Tish James and just had his ass handed to him by Indiana Republican legislators he threatened and bullied. Also new low in AP poll at 36% approval.
This is the way
Pivot to stores
December 11, 2025 at 5:42 PM
This is the way
Reposted by Casey Berkovitz
It's the 160th anniversary of the United States' refounding, the ratification of the 13th Amendment.
December 6, 2025 at 12:38 PM
It's the 160th anniversary of the United States' refounding, the ratification of the 13th Amendment.
Would you look at that: when you legalize housing, people build housing! www.crainsnewyork.com/real-estate/...
Housing production increases 23% in first year of City of Yes
The Adams administration has released figures on accessory dwelling units, affordable housing and more to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the plan's passage.
www.crainsnewyork.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Would you look at that: when you legalize housing, people build housing! www.crainsnewyork.com/real-estate/...
December 4, 2025 at 5:33 PM
You're hearing it more and more
hey wow I love new york
December 4, 2025 at 3:05 PM
You're hearing it more and more
Reposted by Casey Berkovitz
One of the many reasons that the urban left should embrace growth-machine politics is that they are structurally good for the left.
I do actually wonder whether the absolute blowout in Jersey City and the clear correlation between development+transit and machine unpopularity will motivate the machine to turn NIMBY in previously-YIMBY Bayonne, Kearny, and Harrison
December 4, 2025 at 2:44 PM
One of the many reasons that the urban left should embrace growth-machine politics is that they are structurally good for the left.
Reposted by Casey Berkovitz
Interesting new working paper that studies chains of movers after the construction of a new apartment building in Honolulu.
Paper finds that the project resulted in the opening up other, lower cost, housing on the island, benefiting the housing market overall.
Paper finds that the project resulted in the opening up other, lower cost, housing on the island, benefiting the housing market overall.
uhero.hawaii.edu
November 28, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Interesting new working paper that studies chains of movers after the construction of a new apartment building in Honolulu.
Paper finds that the project resulted in the opening up other, lower cost, housing on the island, benefiting the housing market overall.
Paper finds that the project resulted in the opening up other, lower cost, housing on the island, benefiting the housing market overall.
Reposted by Casey Berkovitz
This paper provides strong evidence that downzoning is associated with reduced construction and increased spatialized segregation. Don’t do it if you want a more equitable city!
Read the whole thing: findingspress.org/article/1474...
Read the whole thing: findingspress.org/article/1474...
Downzoning Chicago: How Local Land Use Policy Has Reduced Housing Construction and Reinforced Segregation | Published in Findings
By Yonah Freemark, George Kisiel. Downzonings were used by US cities in the postwar period to preserve neighborhood character. These land-use policies were associated with lower housing supply, higher...
findingspress.org
November 26, 2025 at 8:37 PM
This paper provides strong evidence that downzoning is associated with reduced construction and increased spatialized segregation. Don’t do it if you want a more equitable city!
Read the whole thing: findingspress.org/article/1474...
Read the whole thing: findingspress.org/article/1474...
Reposted by Casey Berkovitz
What happens when you downzone?
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Downzoning Chicago: How Local Land Use Policy Has Reduced Housing Construction and Reinforced Segregation | Published in Findings
By Yonah Freemark, George Kisiel. Downzonings were used by US cities in the postwar period to preserve neighborhood character. These land-use policies were associated with lower housing supply, higher...
findingspress.org
November 26, 2025 at 8:33 PM
What happens when you downzone?
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Reposted by Casey Berkovitz
Difficult to overstate how profound a failure DOGE was. Spending in FY2025 was not only than in FY2024 – but higher than it was projected to be when Trump first took office.*
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
Bye bye, “DOGE”.
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 23, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Difficult to overstate how profound a failure DOGE was. Spending in FY2025 was not only than in FY2024 – but higher than it was projected to be when Trump first took office.*
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
Majority support in 42 of 51 districts. An affordable housing mandate.
How Each NYC Neighborhood Voted On The Housing Ballot Measures - City Limits
A majority of New Yorkers voted to pass ballot measures that change the land use process for affordable housing. But Republican districts and neighborhoods that built less housing are still resistant ...
citylimits.org
November 19, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Majority support in 42 of 51 districts. An affordable housing mandate.
Reposted by Casey Berkovitz
Trump is cutting funding that helps end homelessness.
And now, over 170,000 people are at risk of being pushed out of homes and back onto the streets.
We’re in a housing crisis.
The solution isn’t kicking people out of their homes – it’s building more housing.
And now, over 170,000 people are at risk of being pushed out of homes and back onto the streets.
We’re in a housing crisis.
The solution isn’t kicking people out of their homes – it’s building more housing.
November 14, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Trump is cutting funding that helps end homelessness.
And now, over 170,000 people are at risk of being pushed out of homes and back onto the streets.
We’re in a housing crisis.
The solution isn’t kicking people out of their homes – it’s building more housing.
And now, over 170,000 people are at risk of being pushed out of homes and back onto the streets.
We’re in a housing crisis.
The solution isn’t kicking people out of their homes – it’s building more housing.
"After all, housing is a public good, and where it’s located is everyone’s business."
Wrote about the other big outcome of the NYC election and how Chicago moved in the other direction
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/13/o...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/13/o...
Marisa Novara and Daniel Kay Hertz: New York nixes veto power over housing while Chicago unwisely doubles down
The recent granny flat fight in Chicago is an example of the city upholding a tradition that has held back affordable housing.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:54 PM
"After all, housing is a public good, and where it’s located is everyone’s business."
Reposted by Casey Berkovitz
One cool thing happening in NY climate world:
NYCHA and state partners have announced a $32 million deal with the company Copper to bring battery-equipped induction stoves to 10,000 public housing apartments. They plug into a regular outlet. www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Newsro...
NYCHA and state partners have announced a $32 million deal with the company Copper to bring battery-equipped induction stoves to 10,000 public housing apartments. They plug into a regular outlet. www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Newsro...
November 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
One cool thing happening in NY climate world:
NYCHA and state partners have announced a $32 million deal with the company Copper to bring battery-equipped induction stoves to 10,000 public housing apartments. They plug into a regular outlet. www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Newsro...
NYCHA and state partners have announced a $32 million deal with the company Copper to bring battery-equipped induction stoves to 10,000 public housing apartments. They plug into a regular outlet. www.nyserda.ny.gov/About/Newsro...
"Under the plan, developers could build nearly 15,000 apartments within 54 blocks of Long Island City that are currently filled with warehouses and parking lots." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/n...
City Council Approves Plan That Could Bring 14,700 Homes to Queens
www.nytimes.com
November 12, 2025 at 9:12 PM
"Under the plan, developers could build nearly 15,000 apartments within 54 blocks of Long Island City that are currently filled with warehouses and parking lots." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/n...
Reposted by Casey Berkovitz
every tiny crumb that leaks out is a career ending bombshell and we’re all just supposed to go on with our lives while our elected representatives shrug and tell us there’s nothing to be done about the president’s involvement in a child sex trafficking operation
A direct email exchange from 2011 between Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, just released by House Oversight Committee Democrats.
November 12, 2025 at 2:56 PM
every tiny crumb that leaks out is a career ending bombshell and we’re all just supposed to go on with our lives while our elected representatives shrug and tell us there’s nothing to be done about the president’s involvement in a child sex trafficking operation