Greg Maynard
@gpimaynard.bsky.social
Proud UMass Amherst alum. Recovering politico & current ED of Boston Policy Institute. MA’s Governor is just a weak mayor. Opinions are my own.
If you are interested in housing in Boston, check out this debate recording and the written responses to AHMA's questionnaire. It is the least rhetorical, most in-depth look at where Councilors & Council candidates stand on the policies that can really move the needle on housing. #mapoli #bospoli
To watching the recording visit our youtube!
youtu.be/Ar0v6Zhw8BY
youtu.be/Ar0v6Zhw8BY
2025 Boston City Council At-Large Candidates Forum
youtu.be
October 17, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Reposted by Greg Maynard
The #1 thing I have learned about housing policy is that housing is too expensive & supply is limited because *people make it that way.* Some of that is active NIMBY opposition; some is a simple failure to fix broken rules like the one below.
“A lot of times, we’re reluctant to change on really dumb things.”
Many of the rules shaping what we can and can’t build today were written 50–60 years ago. If we want to meet Massachusetts’ modern housing needs, everything should be on the table for reform.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/05/o...
Many of the rules shaping what we can and can’t build today were written 50–60 years ago. If we want to meet Massachusetts’ modern housing needs, everything should be on the table for reform.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/10/05/o...
Why five feet of building space can doom construction - The Boston Globe
1973 law on high-rise threshold is out of sync with national recommendations.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 5, 2025 at 1:31 PM
The #1 thing I have learned about housing policy is that housing is too expensive & supply is limited because *people make it that way.* Some of that is active NIMBY opposition; some is a simple failure to fix broken rules like the one below.
Reposted by Greg Maynard
Very useful thread - just take the caveats seriously.
I think we should be realistic (therefore modest) about our ability to determine a "first cause" for a slow realignment like this. Education, income, and racial resentment are all correlated. I haven't checked, but I'm sure views on climate change are correlated with all of them too. /1
October 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Very useful thread - just take the caveats seriously.
Hey @fortpointer.bsky.social this is something you pay close attention to: was CLF wrong in 2024? Have things changed in 2025? A more cynical person might conclude your concern abt climate change is b/c you’re a political partisan looking to score points, not genuine interest in the issue.
Climate change is important, but I don’t think you’d like whatever came out. The City’s situation as described by CLF last year hasn’t changed: without a LOT of private-sector development & federal dollars not much can happen. Today those funding source are in worse shape vs 2024.
What Happened to Climate Ready Boston?
Boston's ambitious climate resilience plans have stalled in recent years because the city relies on developers to implement them.
www.clf.org
July 30, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Hey @fortpointer.bsky.social this is something you pay close attention to: was CLF wrong in 2024? Have things changed in 2025? A more cynical person might conclude your concern abt climate change is b/c you’re a political partisan looking to score points, not genuine interest in the issue.
Reposted by Greg Maynard
While the facts are rarely a match for right-wing fearmongering, it is still worth noting that local officials *already have* the power to block SB 9 projects where they believe they will have "a specific, adverse impact on health and safety."
July 29, 2025 at 8:58 PM
While the facts are rarely a match for right-wing fearmongering, it is still worth noting that local officials *already have* the power to block SB 9 projects where they believe they will have "a specific, adverse impact on health and safety."
For a great example of ‘joint planning” is hard’ check out today’s fight pitting @mass.streetsblog.org & @transitmatters.bsky.social against - for different (bus lanes vs bus drivers) but related reasons - MBTA & Boston City Hall. That fighting is happening before housing even enters the chat!
Integrating transportation & housing planning has long been a goal for US regional organizations: It could help reduce cost of living & improve communities.
But are regional organizations actually doing that sort of joint planning?
We investigate in new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social!
But are regional organizations actually doing that sort of joint planning?
We investigate in new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social!
Planning for Housing in a Regional Context
www.urban.org
July 29, 2025 at 5:39 PM
For a great example of ‘joint planning” is hard’ check out today’s fight pitting @mass.streetsblog.org & @transitmatters.bsky.social against - for different (bus lanes vs bus drivers) but related reasons - MBTA & Boston City Hall. That fighting is happening before housing even enters the chat!
Reposted by Greg Maynard
Integrating transportation & housing planning has long been a goal for US regional organizations: It could help reduce cost of living & improve communities.
But are regional organizations actually doing that sort of joint planning?
We investigate in new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social!
But are regional organizations actually doing that sort of joint planning?
We investigate in new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social!
Planning for Housing in a Regional Context
www.urban.org
July 29, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Integrating transportation & housing planning has long been a goal for US regional organizations: It could help reduce cost of living & improve communities.
But are regional organizations actually doing that sort of joint planning?
We investigate in new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social!
But are regional organizations actually doing that sort of joint planning?
We investigate in new research @urbaninstitute.bsky.social!
Reposted by Greg Maynard
Here's the MBTA's Director of Transit Priority's response to our story yesterday:
We’ve got a plan for that! 🚍❤️
The good news: @mbta.com's bus driver shortage is easing. The bad news: drivers are wasting more time stuck in traffic, which is delaying riders and also delaying planned service improvements: mass.streetsblog.org/2025/07/28/t...
#mapoli
#mapoli
July 29, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Here's the MBTA's Director of Transit Priority's response to our story yesterday:
Reposted by Greg Maynard
Zoning reform can be a major enabler of decarbonization. Without fixing low-density mandates, we can’t scale walkable, transit-accessible housing,
we lock in high-emission lifestyles and waste trillions on car-centric infrastructure.
In short: If climate is the fire, zoning is the gasoline.
we lock in high-emission lifestyles and waste trillions on car-centric infrastructure.
In short: If climate is the fire, zoning is the gasoline.
July 27, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Zoning reform can be a major enabler of decarbonization. Without fixing low-density mandates, we can’t scale walkable, transit-accessible housing,
we lock in high-emission lifestyles and waste trillions on car-centric infrastructure.
In short: If climate is the fire, zoning is the gasoline.
we lock in high-emission lifestyles and waste trillions on car-centric infrastructure.
In short: If climate is the fire, zoning is the gasoline.
Reposted by Greg Maynard
My YIMBY take on design is that micromanaging architecture through strict regulation and/or subjective design review processes empowers busybodies and NIMBYs for little public benefit and that public policies to create attractive neighborhoods should instead focus on designing the public realm.
Building on some housing debates this week, I wrote about YIMBY and design.
NIMBYs use aesthetics as a tool to block new housing, through design review and historic districting.
But growth is actually the key to better-looking buildings — and vice versa. www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
NIMBYs use aesthetics as a tool to block new housing, through design review and historic districting.
But growth is actually the key to better-looking buildings — and vice versa. www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
An Underrated Upside to YIMBY Ideas? Better-Looking Buildings
A debate about the future of the pro-housing movement should consider the role that zoning and building codes can play in improving the architecture of housing, and vice versa.
www.bloomberg.com
July 27, 2025 at 7:38 PM
My YIMBY take on design is that micromanaging architecture through strict regulation and/or subjective design review processes empowers busybodies and NIMBYs for little public benefit and that public policies to create attractive neighborhoods should instead focus on designing the public realm.
Reposted by Greg Maynard
I had thought that major Bay Area employers were funding YIMBYism so they could hire and retain workers for less pay and that other big businesses were relocating to lower cost areas to save money but apparently I’m getting this backwards. dlondon7.substack.com/p/the-left-b...
July 26, 2025 at 10:15 PM
I had thought that major Bay Area employers were funding YIMBYism so they could hire and retain workers for less pay and that other big businesses were relocating to lower cost areas to save money but apparently I’m getting this backwards. dlondon7.substack.com/p/the-left-b...
Reposted by Greg Maynard
I hate to say it, but these are stronger housing measures than we’ve passed in MA. Let’s change that, @massgovernor.bsky.social @kimdriscollma.bsky.social!!
A year after making housing a central plank of her campaign for governor, Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed 10 bills last week attempting to put limits on local zoning restrictions in order to encourage more housing construction. Here's a look at the changes. From @ethandewitt.bsky.social #NHPolitics
Ayotte signs slate of bills to encourage housing construction, but not all ideas advance • New Hampshire Bulletin
A year after making housing a central plank of her campaign for governor, Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed 10 bills last week attempting to put limits on local zoning restrictions in order to encourage more…
newhampshirebulletin.com
July 23, 2025 at 4:40 PM
I hate to say it, but these are stronger housing measures than we’ve passed in MA. Let’s change that, @massgovernor.bsky.social @kimdriscollma.bsky.social!!
It isn’t “we”: it’s BPS. The strange thing abt the lack of answers on this incident is that BPS & the Mayor’s office are *very* focused on BPS bus performance. Less than 2 wks before Joseph was killed, they released this report showing AM buses were 94% on-time. #mapoli #bospoli
July 21, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Reposted by Greg Maynard
The @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social's Education Cmte, chaired by @clrhenrysantana.bsky.social, is hosting a policy briefing on 7/17 at 10 AM on 2 issues - transformation schools & state accountability - the 24-25 Council has NOT held a hearing on this term. Watch a preview here: #bospoli #mapoli
July 17, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The @bostoncitycouncil.bsky.social's Education Cmte, chaired by @clrhenrysantana.bsky.social, is hosting a policy briefing on 7/17 at 10 AM on 2 issues - transformation schools & state accountability - the 24-25 Council has NOT held a hearing on this term. Watch a preview here: #bospoli #mapoli
Reposted by Greg Maynard
Falling office values could worsen city’s budget woes, report warns. The Boston Policy Institute had previously projected a shortfall of $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion over five years. Now it estimates $1.7 billion.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/06/05/b...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/06/05/b...
Falling office values could worsen city’s budget woes, report warns - The Boston Globe
The Boston Policy Institute had previously projected a shortfall of $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion over five years. Now it estimates $1.7 billion.
www.bostonglobe.com
June 5, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Falling office values could worsen city’s budget woes, report warns. The Boston Policy Institute had previously projected a shortfall of $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion over five years. Now it estimates $1.7 billion.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/06/05/b...
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/06/05/b...
Jim’s contention here is wrong: State Senator Brownsberger was clear the shift died b/c the final numbers for the residential tax increase in Boston were less than Mayor Wu warned abt in the summer & fall of 2024 & didn’t meet the Senate’s threshold for action. www.wgbh.org/news/politic...
July 16, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Jim’s contention here is wrong: State Senator Brownsberger was clear the shift died b/c the final numbers for the residential tax increase in Boston were less than Mayor Wu warned abt in the summer & fall of 2024 & didn’t meet the Senate’s threshold for action. www.wgbh.org/news/politic...
Reposted by Greg Maynard
When you claim something is “factually wrong,” what exactly are we talking abt here? B/c if it that @apnews.com and @bostonherald.bsky.social and @bostonglobe.com are all wrong and you’re right, then that sounds like someone prominent in the nation’s public life . . .
July 16, 2025 at 4:38 PM
When you claim something is “factually wrong,” what exactly are we talking abt here? B/c if it that @apnews.com and @bostonherald.bsky.social and @bostonglobe.com are all wrong and you’re right, then that sounds like someone prominent in the nation’s public life . . .
Reposted by Greg Maynard
#Boston police deploy surveillance tech without council approval - including an app that "appears to create profiles of individuals by scrubbing information from the social media profiles and other publicly available means."
flipsidenews.net/boston-polic...
flipsidenews.net/boston-polic...
July 16, 2025 at 1:44 PM
#Boston police deploy surveillance tech without council approval - including an app that "appears to create profiles of individuals by scrubbing information from the social media profiles and other publicly available means."
flipsidenews.net/boston-polic...
flipsidenews.net/boston-polic...
This isn’t abt “embarrassment,” it’s that MA is a small state with a lot of deference to power, so much so that producing a mundane report that quantifies ‘the impact falling office values will have on the most CRE property tax dependent big city in US’ draws intense pushback & wild accusations.
July 16, 2025 at 1:33 PM
This isn’t abt “embarrassment,” it’s that MA is a small state with a lot of deference to power, so much so that producing a mundane report that quantifies ‘the impact falling office values will have on the most CRE property tax dependent big city in US’ draws intense pushback & wild accusations.
Boston looks closer to SF & San Jose than ATL or Houston in terms of children vs seniors as a share of population: abt 15% of population is below 18, abt 13% is over 65.
#bospoli #mapoli
www.census.gov/quickfacts/f...
#bospoli #mapoli
www.census.gov/quickfacts/f...
July 16, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Boston looks closer to SF & San Jose than ATL or Houston in terms of children vs seniors as a share of population: abt 15% of population is below 18, abt 13% is over 65.
#bospoli #mapoli
www.census.gov/quickfacts/f...
#bospoli #mapoli
www.census.gov/quickfacts/f...
Reposted by Greg Maynard
BPI's ED @gpimaynard.bsky.social was quoted in @scottvv.bsky.social's @bankerandtradesman.bsky.social column this week, talking about 1 of the '3 Big Ideas' to reduce the cost to build housing in Boston: eliminate inclusionary zoning.
July 15, 2025 at 6:34 PM
BPI's ED @gpimaynard.bsky.social was quoted in @scottvv.bsky.social's @bankerandtradesman.bsky.social column this week, talking about 1 of the '3 Big Ideas' to reduce the cost to build housing in Boston: eliminate inclusionary zoning.
Reposted by Greg Maynard
Finally getting around to this great article on Los Angeles' homelessness crisis and it's incredible how impactful Greg Morrow's dissertation has been.
Los Angeles' zoning code once allowed for 10 million people to find a home here and segregationsts reduced that number to 4 million in the 1970s.
Los Angeles' zoning code once allowed for 10 million people to find a home here and segregationsts reduced that number to 4 million in the 1970s.
The real story of how L.A. became the epicenter of America's homeless crisis
The surprising story, in words and pictures, behind the homeless crisis in Los Angeles — a tale of law enforcement, housing and economic crosswinds.
www.latimes.com
July 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Finally getting around to this great article on Los Angeles' homelessness crisis and it's incredible how impactful Greg Morrow's dissertation has been.
Los Angeles' zoning code once allowed for 10 million people to find a home here and segregationsts reduced that number to 4 million in the 1970s.
Los Angeles' zoning code once allowed for 10 million people to find a home here and segregationsts reduced that number to 4 million in the 1970s.
Reposted by Greg Maynard
Fallout from Read case is reaching into Boston City Hall:
1 - a complaint letter abt Dever from Read's defense team, below
2 - In the next tweet, questions for BPD Commish Cox abt a mtg he held w/ Dever before she testified in the 2nd trail. #bospoli #mapoli
www.boston25news.com/news/25-inve...
1 - a complaint letter abt Dever from Read's defense team, below
2 - In the next tweet, questions for BPD Commish Cox abt a mtg he held w/ Dever before she testified in the 2nd trail. #bospoli #mapoli
www.boston25news.com/news/25-inve...
25 Investigates: Read defense demands Boston officer be placed on ‘Brady List’
The letter, addressed to Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox and obtained exclusively by 25 Investigates, alleges Officer Kelly Dever’s credibility is “irreparably compromised”.
www.boston25news.com
July 12, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Fallout from Read case is reaching into Boston City Hall:
1 - a complaint letter abt Dever from Read's defense team, below
2 - In the next tweet, questions for BPD Commish Cox abt a mtg he held w/ Dever before she testified in the 2nd trail. #bospoli #mapoli
www.boston25news.com/news/25-inve...
1 - a complaint letter abt Dever from Read's defense team, below
2 - In the next tweet, questions for BPD Commish Cox abt a mtg he held w/ Dever before she testified in the 2nd trail. #bospoli #mapoli
www.boston25news.com/news/25-inve...