Patrick McDonough
@citybeautiful21.bsky.social
21st-century Urban Planning, Public Transit and Rail geekery from a husband and dad who rides buses and bikes. Wake Forest / Boston sports fan.
Views are mine only.
Views are mine only.
my first time riding GoTriangle since 400 went to 15 minute headways. Took @chtransit.bsky.social J to downtown Chapel Hill. Saw 400 coming up Columbia so I power walked. I caught the 400 *PRIOR* to the one I intended because it was a little late and I was a little early! Frequency IS freedom.
November 25, 2025 at 3:07 PM
my first time riding GoTriangle since 400 went to 15 minute headways. Took @chtransit.bsky.social J to downtown Chapel Hill. Saw 400 coming up Columbia so I power walked. I caught the 400 *PRIOR* to the one I intended because it was a little late and I was a little early! Frequency IS freedom.
Hello from the Raleigh to Charlotte corridor, where the Piedmont operates like the Cascades and keeps breaking ridership records: www.axios.com/local/raleig...
November 24, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Hello from the Raleigh to Charlotte corridor, where the Piedmont operates like the Cascades and keeps breaking ridership records: www.axios.com/local/raleig...
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
What’s depressing isn’t the higher levels of federal expenditures & DOGE’s failure—it’s that the feds replaced expenditures on foreign assistance, research & the environment with spending on ICE personnel & national guard deployments.
Meanwhile, the rich got tax cuts so the deficit worsened.
Meanwhile, the rich got tax cuts so the deficit worsened.
November 23, 2025 at 6:42 PM
What’s depressing isn’t the higher levels of federal expenditures & DOGE’s failure—it’s that the feds replaced expenditures on foreign assistance, research & the environment with spending on ICE personnel & national guard deployments.
Meanwhile, the rich got tax cuts so the deficit worsened.
Meanwhile, the rich got tax cuts so the deficit worsened.
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
Phew, sometimes I think Chapel Hill Town Council has turned the corner then blammo, a shitshow like tonight happens. A set of commonplace land use amendments fails to pass 4-4 (we're down one council member), and it's not clear at all why the opponents voted against it.
November 20, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Phew, sometimes I think Chapel Hill Town Council has turned the corner then blammo, a shitshow like tonight happens. A set of commonplace land use amendments fails to pass 4-4 (we're down one council member), and it's not clear at all why the opponents voted against it.
The @carrboronc.bsky.social Town Council just passed the Downtown Area Plan! Thanks to Mayor Foushee and Councilors Nowell, Fray, Posada, Merrill and Palmer for their leadership!
November 19, 2025 at 2:10 AM
The @carrboronc.bsky.social Town Council just passed the Downtown Area Plan! Thanks to Mayor Foushee and Councilors Nowell, Fray, Posada, Merrill and Palmer for their leadership!
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
After much deliberation and a grueling interview process, I’m pleased to announce that I’ve accepted a new job and will not need any financial support from my parents to cover the high costs of childcare going forward. #AmericanDream #ThisIsYourCity
November 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM
After much deliberation and a grueling interview process, I’m pleased to announce that I’ve accepted a new job and will not need any financial support from my parents to cover the high costs of childcare going forward. #AmericanDream #ThisIsYourCity
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
"[T]hat kind of experience makes some people want to preserve their cities in amber and makes others into fierce defenders of the ability of cities to absorb and protect other people who also need to remake themselves. They’ll all need someplace to live."
This is how I feel about Carrboro.
This is how I feel about Carrboro.
Thank you Mother Jones for this profile of our work. Getting over 100 bill signed into law — including some bangers that are having big impacts — has been a deep honor. I’m grateful to my colleagues & the community coalitions we’ve worked w/ in the “Department of Getting Sh*t Done.”
Scott Wiener defeated California’s NIMBYs. Can he fix America’s housing crisis?
By running for Nancy Pelosi's House seat, he's putting the abundance theory to the test.
www.motherjones.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:34 PM
"[T]hat kind of experience makes some people want to preserve their cities in amber and makes others into fierce defenders of the ability of cities to absorb and protect other people who also need to remake themselves. They’ll all need someplace to live."
This is how I feel about Carrboro.
This is how I feel about Carrboro.
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
One day you're winning your sixth Super Bowl title as a head coach.
The next you're having the score run up on you by Wake Forest.
The next you're having the score run up on you by Wake Forest.
Bill Is GIF
Alt: Bill Belichicks
media.tenor.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:52 AM
One day you're winning your sixth Super Bowl title as a head coach.
The next you're having the score run up on you by Wake Forest.
The next you're having the score run up on you by Wake Forest.
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
imagine winning 8 super bowls and then losing to wake forest 🎩🎩🎩
November 16, 2025 at 1:32 AM
imagine winning 8 super bowls and then losing to wake forest 🎩🎩🎩
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
From a high school game in Utah. This may be the best interception I’ve ever seen.
November 15, 2025 at 4:43 AM
From a high school game in Utah. This may be the best interception I’ve ever seen.
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
Trump admin Is attempting to massive cut federal transit funds, seeking to:
1–Eliminate transit account, which funds billions of $ in capital expenses for transit agencies
2–Prevent state DOTs from “flexing” funds for transit
These changes, if they occurred, would be devastating for US transit.
1–Eliminate transit account, which funds billions of $ in capital expenses for transit agencies
2–Prevent state DOTs from “flexing” funds for transit
These changes, if they occurred, would be devastating for US transit.
POLITICO Pro: Trump administration proposals seek to eliminate transit funding
DOT recently sent two proposals to the White House budget office seeking to pare back transit money.
subscriber.politicopro.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Trump admin Is attempting to massive cut federal transit funds, seeking to:
1–Eliminate transit account, which funds billions of $ in capital expenses for transit agencies
2–Prevent state DOTs from “flexing” funds for transit
These changes, if they occurred, would be devastating for US transit.
1–Eliminate transit account, which funds billions of $ in capital expenses for transit agencies
2–Prevent state DOTs from “flexing” funds for transit
These changes, if they occurred, would be devastating for US transit.
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
if you can’t see the aurora borealis tonight, here is a sewer tunnel which is a wonder in itself.
November 12, 2025 at 3:58 AM
if you can’t see the aurora borealis tonight, here is a sewer tunnel which is a wonder in itself.
Great game by Michigan tonight to beat my Demon Deacons by 1 in OT. But this Wake team passes well and is fun to watch. One of the biggest questions about this largely 6-8 and below squad is “what will they do against a big front line?”
Apparently the answer is “damn near beat them on the road.”
Apparently the answer is “damn near beat them on the road.”
November 12, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Great game by Michigan tonight to beat my Demon Deacons by 1 in OT. But this Wake team passes well and is fun to watch. One of the biggest questions about this largely 6-8 and below squad is “what will they do against a big front line?”
Apparently the answer is “damn near beat them on the road.”
Apparently the answer is “damn near beat them on the road.”
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
what a time to be alive
November 12, 2025 at 2:09 AM
what a time to be alive
Juke Harris in the last two minutes of the Wake Forest - Michigan game
a close up of a man with the words he 's beginning to believe
ALT: a close up of a man with the words he 's beginning to believe
media.tenor.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Juke Harris in the last two minutes of the Wake Forest - Michigan game
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
![Joyce Carol Oates quoting a tweet that says “wherever he [Elon Musk] goes, he wants to leave”:
"wherever he goes, he wants to leave"-- that's because when he gets there, he has brought his own self along; & whatever club he's invited to join has been devalued by the invitation.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:buy3qvqcj3o76leo6ap7pn2p/bafkreifilfbsxemfsambf4kqwolr24ld2ekqcrz4ybgv3bv7kzi5e6kppm@jpeg)
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
I'm still amazed that it took until the year 2025 for a mayoral candidate in *New York City* to finally figure out that a relentless focus on making life better for transit riders is a winning message.
November 6, 2025 at 3:26 PM
I'm still amazed that it took until the year 2025 for a mayoral candidate in *New York City* to finally figure out that a relentless focus on making life better for transit riders is a winning message.
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
the sandwich guy walking away from the court house and suddenly, his limp disappears
November 6, 2025 at 8:19 PM
the sandwich guy walking away from the court house and suddenly, his limp disappears
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
Opinion | More Democrats Need to Follow Pelosi’s Example and Retire
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
Politicians like Cuomo are a relic of the past. (Did I want to title this one “Don’t Let The Door Hit You On The Way Out”? Yes, I did.) www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
Opinion | It’s Not Just Cuomo Who Lost. It’s Cuomoism.
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Politicians like Cuomo are a relic of the past. (Did I want to title this one “Don’t Let The Door Hit You On The Way Out”? Yes, I did.) www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/o...
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
From the Guardian.
Cartoonist Ella Baron.
Cartoonist Ella Baron.
November 6, 2025 at 12:26 AM
From the Guardian.
Cartoonist Ella Baron.
Cartoonist Ella Baron.
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
I mean, the Irish are famous for their poetry and "gift of gab", so I'm not surprised (and baseball is an international sport), but this really is a beautiful bit of writing. 👏
Did not expect one of the best paragraphs I’d read about baseball would come from an Irish newspaper
www.irishexaminer.com/sport-column...
www.irishexaminer.com/sport-column...
November 2, 2025 at 5:18 PM
I mean, the Irish are famous for their poetry and "gift of gab", so I'm not surprised (and baseball is an international sport), but this really is a beautiful bit of writing. 👏
Reposted by Patrick McDonough
I’m in the stage of grief where one criticizes the winning team’s generally bad city planning. #WorldSeries
November 2, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I’m in the stage of grief where one criticizes the winning team’s generally bad city planning. #WorldSeries