Ian Wolfe
@ianmwolfe.bsky.social
Baltimore stuff, mostly. Greektown good
‘Truly disappointing’ to see @bmorerenters.bsky.social shut down comments on this post just because it was being pointed out that actual Affordable housing groups like Habitat for Humanity and Healthcare for the Homeless testified in support of these bills. It’s a matter of record - why hide it?
November 9, 2025 at 1:00 AM
‘Truly disappointing’ to see @bmorerenters.bsky.social shut down comments on this post just because it was being pointed out that actual Affordable housing groups like Habitat for Humanity and Healthcare for the Homeless testified in support of these bills. It’s a matter of record - why hide it?
Reposted by Ian Wolfe
Illinois will becoming the 5th state to eliminate local parking requirements for new development projects near transit, after:
—California (assembly bill 2097, 2022)
—Colorado (house bill 24–1304, 2024)
—Oregon (Land Conservation and Development Commission, 2022)
—Washington (house bill 1491, 2025)
—California (assembly bill 2097, 2022)
—Colorado (house bill 24–1304, 2024)
—Oregon (Land Conservation and Development Commission, 2022)
—Washington (house bill 1491, 2025)
Illinois will effectively eliminate parking minimum requirements in ~all of Chicago and much of its suburbs thanks to the transit funding bill that passed last night.
Also contains parking reform! This is a preliminary map of Chicagoland based on the People Over Parking Act provision.
It would also apply downstate though!
It would also apply downstate though!
October 31, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Illinois will becoming the 5th state to eliminate local parking requirements for new development projects near transit, after:
—California (assembly bill 2097, 2022)
—Colorado (house bill 24–1304, 2024)
—Oregon (Land Conservation and Development Commission, 2022)
—Washington (house bill 1491, 2025)
—California (assembly bill 2097, 2022)
—Colorado (house bill 24–1304, 2024)
—Oregon (Land Conservation and Development Commission, 2022)
—Washington (house bill 1491, 2025)
Jermaine Jones explaining vote to abolish parking mins: "What I will say when protecting our neighborhoods against gentrification [...], they deserve more than just parking requirements to protect them.
And if that's the only thing that we have in order to protect those residents, then shame on us."
And if that's the only thing that we have in order to protect those residents, then shame on us."
October 28, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Jermaine Jones explaining vote to abolish parking mins: "What I will say when protecting our neighborhoods against gentrification [...], they deserve more than just parking requirements to protect them.
And if that's the only thing that we have in order to protect those residents, then shame on us."
And if that's the only thing that we have in order to protect those residents, then shame on us."
Reposted by Ian Wolfe
One of my mantras is that neighborhoods are part of a community but neighbors don't want the community in their neighborhood.
Every Tuesday I have open office hours.
And every Tuesday somebody comes to tell me that their neighborhood is diverse (by their definition) and they just love it, but that they don’t want those people moving to their neighborhood.
The neighborhood is not theirs. It’s the city’s.
And every Tuesday somebody comes to tell me that their neighborhood is diverse (by their definition) and they just love it, but that they don’t want those people moving to their neighborhood.
The neighborhood is not theirs. It’s the city’s.
October 28, 2025 at 12:44 AM
One of my mantras is that neighborhoods are part of a community but neighbors don't want the community in their neighborhood.
Yeah, let’s see if all of the passionate transit advocates and the like keep up that momentum when it comes to advocating for those issues directly, not just to oppose something unrelated.
All things considered this was a 2 on the baltimore richter scale and if ppl want to pursue legislation addressing the non germane concerns raised in this debate thats great too.
October 28, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Yeah, let’s see if all of the passionate transit advocates and the like keep up that momentum when it comes to advocating for those issues directly, not just to oppose something unrelated.
Reposted by Ian Wolfe
1 Million Baltimoreans
October 28, 2025 at 12:01 AM
1 Million Baltimoreans
Reposted by Ian Wolfe
Amplifying this, the council could—why haven’t they—enact anti-displacement laws, promote community land trusts, and give up pet projects to bolster code enforcement.
Opposition to modest zoning code changes & parking bills pending in Baltimore City Council seem expression of gen’l dissatisfaction w/ City gov’t competence, favoritism & lack of transparency on development issues. 100% share that. But I support the bills on their merits for reasons quoted by Brew.
Lobbying intensifies ahead of vote on @mayorbmscott.bsky.social controversial Baltimore zoning legislation. tinyurl.com/4vyj4a9c Opponents of two key bills – narrowly approved in a preliminary vote by the City Council – seek to flip votes at tomorrow’s meeting.
October 26, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Amplifying this, the council could—why haven’t they—enact anti-displacement laws, promote community land trusts, and give up pet projects to bolster code enforcement.
Reposted by Ian Wolfe
Baltimore City Council passes zoning bills removing mandatory off street parking requirements, lot and bulk regulations. Jones states using parking req. to protect legacy residents is wrongheaded and wants intentional tools to protect them. Impressive. @Zeke_Cohen
@pt-gray.bsky.social & @zacblanchardd11.bsky.social's yard size & parking requirement bills pass, no changes from last week. Once again James Torrence is accusing the Council of ignoring Black residents. Not my place to debate him but I do disagree.
October 27, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Baltimore City Council passes zoning bills removing mandatory off street parking requirements, lot and bulk regulations. Jones states using parking req. to protect legacy residents is wrongheaded and wants intentional tools to protect them. Impressive. @Zeke_Cohen
It is unequivocally not true.
Torrence arguing that studies Jones cited are based solely on Sun Belt cities unlike Baltimore. I don't think that's true but admittedly he is the one with the law degree.
October 27, 2025 at 10:12 PM
It is unequivocally not true.
Reposted by Ian Wolfe
3rd Reader time, starting with the passage of @odetteramos.bsky.social's bill to ban "unauthorized persons" (ie unscrupulous contractors trying to prey on homeowners) from emergency scenes, @electryandorsey.bsky.social's single-staircase reform bill, & a rezoning on Edmondson Ave. from John Bullock
October 20, 2025 at 10:05 PM
3rd Reader time, starting with the passage of @odetteramos.bsky.social's bill to ban "unauthorized persons" (ie unscrupulous contractors trying to prey on homeowners) from emergency scenes, @electryandorsey.bsky.social's single-staircase reform bill, & a rezoning on Edmondson Ave. from John Bullock
Reposted by Ian Wolfe
Conway "likes the idea" of the bill but still sounds like a no ostensibly because of "insufficient transit." I suspect neighborhood association concerns are really the motivator here, which good luck getting transit through in that case.
October 20, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Conway "likes the idea" of the bill but still sounds like a no ostensibly because of "insufficient transit." I suspect neighborhood association concerns are really the motivator here, which good luck getting transit through in that case.
Reposted by Ian Wolfe
257 S DURHAM ST, BALTIMORE, MD, 21231
October 13, 2025 at 11:21 AM
257 S DURHAM ST, BALTIMORE, MD, 21231
This Fox article today might belong in the hall of fame of bad faith use of statistics.
The headline cites a "spike in car thefts in some Baltimore districts" and the body goes on to point out some crazy increases: 62% in Northwest! 30% in Central! Sounds like a real City in Crisis, right? A 🧵:
The headline cites a "spike in car thefts in some Baltimore districts" and the body goes on to point out some crazy increases: 62% in Northwest! 30% in Central! Sounds like a real City in Crisis, right? A 🧵:
October 13, 2025 at 2:12 AM
This Fox article today might belong in the hall of fame of bad faith use of statistics.
The headline cites a "spike in car thefts in some Baltimore districts" and the body goes on to point out some crazy increases: 62% in Northwest! 30% in Central! Sounds like a real City in Crisis, right? A 🧵:
The headline cites a "spike in car thefts in some Baltimore districts" and the body goes on to point out some crazy increases: 62% in Northwest! 30% in Central! Sounds like a real City in Crisis, right? A 🧵:
Free story idea for someone to look into: what the heck is happening with shoplifting in Southeast District? It's had 262 extra reports, for a 72% increase YOY, way out of line with the other districts. SED alone tips the whole citywide stat into an increase (by 119 incidents).🧵
September 9, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Free story idea for someone to look into: what the heck is happening with shoplifting in Southeast District? It's had 262 extra reports, for a 72% increase YOY, way out of line with the other districts. SED alone tips the whole citywide stat into an increase (by 119 incidents).🧵
The bills up in committee this week are big. 25-0064 increases the building space flexibility in all residential zones. 25-0065 eliminates ALL parking minimums citywide. Please, if you haven't yet, smash that link and tell the council: support these bills. secure.everyaction.com/81AL1uY6R0a7...
September 8, 2025 at 6:14 PM
The bills up in committee this week are big. 25-0064 increases the building space flexibility in all residential zones. 25-0065 eliminates ALL parking minimums citywide. Please, if you haven't yet, smash that link and tell the council: support these bills. secure.everyaction.com/81AL1uY6R0a7...
but we need *more* car access to OTM
September 7, 2025 at 12:03 PM
but we need *more* car access to OTM
Change at Perkins Homes, May 2021 to March 2025
May 27, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Change at Perkins Homes, May 2021 to March 2025
I was thrilled to see @electryandorsey.bsky.social cut to the point about the pernicious social function of restrictive housing laws, especially here in Baltimore
May 13, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I was thrilled to see @electryandorsey.bsky.social cut to the point about the pernicious social function of restrictive housing laws, especially here in Baltimore
It's often insisted that the city's improvement in homicides has only come at the expense of its neighbors in the metro area - that the violence has been displaced. Is there any truth to this? In a word: No.
May 3, 2025 at 11:49 AM
It's often insisted that the city's improvement in homicides has only come at the expense of its neighbors in the metro area - that the violence has been displaced. Is there any truth to this? In a word: No.
Reposted by Ian Wolfe
Through April for the year, there have been 39 homicides in Baltimore. This is by far the fewest recorded for that period in the past 55 years, with the previous fewest through April being 49 homicides in 1977. After that, it's 56 in 2010 and 2014
There were 5 homicides in April in Baltimore. This is a new record for fewest homicides in a month in the city's modern history (since 1970). The previous low was 7, which happened in June of 1983, and April of 2014...
May 1, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Through April for the year, there have been 39 homicides in Baltimore. This is by far the fewest recorded for that period in the past 55 years, with the previous fewest through April being 49 homicides in 1977. After that, it's 56 in 2010 and 2014
Homicides in Baltimore City in the first four months of this year have:
Declined over 32% from the same period last year.
Declined over 65% from their peak in 2022.
Declined over 32% from the same period last year.
Declined over 65% from their peak in 2022.
May 1, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Homicides in Baltimore City in the first four months of this year have:
Declined over 32% from the same period last year.
Declined over 65% from their peak in 2022.
Declined over 32% from the same period last year.
Declined over 65% from their peak in 2022.
First butterfly of the year. Yeah it’s a cabbage white, but I’ll take it.
April 5, 2025 at 3:17 AM
First butterfly of the year. Yeah it’s a cabbage white, but I’ll take it.