Sam Mobley
@jakemobley.bsky.social
Navy veteran & former linguist. Georgist.
Deeply interested in cities, government, and history.
Substack: https://jakemobley.substack.com/
Deeply interested in cities, government, and history.
Substack: https://jakemobley.substack.com/
Omw to the Hands Off protest in Chicago. Train is absolutely PACKED with protestors ✊✊✊✊
April 5, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Omw to the Hands Off protest in Chicago. Train is absolutely PACKED with protestors ✊✊✊✊
We're 2 weeks into a Trump presidency, and planes are literally falling out of the sky.
a cartoon dog is sitting at a table with a cup of coffee in front of a fire with the words this is fine .
ALT: a cartoon dog is sitting at a table with a cup of coffee in front of a fire with the words this is fine .
media.tenor.com
February 2, 2025 at 5:05 AM
We're 2 weeks into a Trump presidency, and planes are literally falling out of the sky.
Talking to my family drives me insane. I feel like Cassandra, desperately warning them about the Dictator that they're eagerly welcoming with open arms. MAGA brainrot is impervious to reality.
February 2, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Talking to my family drives me insane. I feel like Cassandra, desperately warning them about the Dictator that they're eagerly welcoming with open arms. MAGA brainrot is impervious to reality.
Looks like Illinois might finally do something about the Housing Crisis! This bill just got proposed, but it would force cities to allow the Missing Middle housing that we desperately need.
#urbanism
ilga.gov/legislation/...
#urbanism
ilga.gov/legislation/...
Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB1814
Bill Status - Illinois General Assembly
ilga.gov
February 2, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Looks like Illinois might finally do something about the Housing Crisis! This bill just got proposed, but it would force cities to allow the Missing Middle housing that we desperately need.
#urbanism
ilga.gov/legislation/...
#urbanism
ilga.gov/legislation/...
Pretty good piece on handling climate anxiety. Long story short: put. The phone. Down.
open.substack.com/pub/clayfram...
open.substack.com/pub/clayfram...
Dealing with Climate Anxiety as the World burns around us (literally)
World isn't particularly having the best time and as an inhabitant its normal to feel too overwhelmed by that. Here's a quick guide on how to deal with it (or at least try to :D)
open.substack.com
February 1, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Pretty good piece on handling climate anxiety. Long story short: put. The phone. Down.
open.substack.com/pub/clayfram...
open.substack.com/pub/clayfram...
Oh, look, Logan Square is down zoning in the face of a massive housing shortage that's driving rent through the roof. I'm sure this will in no way make the problem worse.
www.reddit.com/r/chicagoyim...
www.reddit.com/r/chicagoyim...
From the chicagoyimbys community on Reddit: Explain Like I Am 5: diff in biz zoning
Explore this post and more from the chicagoyimbys community
www.reddit.com
February 1, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Oh, look, Logan Square is down zoning in the face of a massive housing shortage that's driving rent through the roof. I'm sure this will in no way make the problem worse.
www.reddit.com/r/chicagoyim...
www.reddit.com/r/chicagoyim...
Genesis, Joseph, and the Failure of the Nuclear Family
Why Community Matters More
open.substack.com
February 1, 2025 at 3:33 AM
The realist esthetic is always just a mask for refusing to admit that disagreement is possible. It's a way for somebody to say "look at me, I'm smart!" while at the same time saying "anyone who disagrees with me is just too stupid or weak to live in reality like me."
January 31, 2025 at 9:19 PM
The realist esthetic is always just a mask for refusing to admit that disagreement is possible. It's a way for somebody to say "look at me, I'm smart!" while at the same time saying "anyone who disagrees with me is just too stupid or weak to live in reality like me."
This is an excellent thread about modern propaganda.
January 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
This is an excellent thread about modern propaganda.
Walking through Uptown feels like you're walking through a movie set. Something about the brick buildings and classic architecture. Old cities like Chicago have so much gravitas.
#urbanism
#urbanism
January 31, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Walking through Uptown feels like you're walking through a movie set. Something about the brick buildings and classic architecture. Old cities like Chicago have so much gravitas.
#urbanism
#urbanism
Strong transit makes strong cities. Chicagoland gets 13 dollars back for every dollar it invests in the CTA. That's an absurdly high ROI. Meanwhile, the State DOT has spent decades prioritizing cars instead.
arxiv.org/html/2409.04...
arxiv.org/html/2409.04...
Impact of Transit on Mobility, Equity, and Economy in the Chicago Metropolitan Region
arxiv.org
January 30, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Strong transit makes strong cities. Chicagoland gets 13 dollars back for every dollar it invests in the CTA. That's an absurdly high ROI. Meanwhile, the State DOT has spent decades prioritizing cars instead.
arxiv.org/html/2409.04...
arxiv.org/html/2409.04...
The doomsday clock got closer to midnight, and my knee-jerk reaction was to think it was fearmongering. But once you realize how China and Russia integrate nukes into their conventional militaries, it makes sense. Any increase in tensions between the US and China brings us closer to nuclear war.
January 29, 2025 at 8:21 PM
The doomsday clock got closer to midnight, and my knee-jerk reaction was to think it was fearmongering. But once you realize how China and Russia integrate nukes into their conventional militaries, it makes sense. Any increase in tensions between the US and China brings us closer to nuclear war.
It's insane how much damage NIMBYs are doing in Chicago. There's a whole coalition fighting tooth and nail against any effort to upzone or build more housing. Our country really has failed in terms of basic education around economics and civics.
#Urbanism
#Urbanism
January 29, 2025 at 7:05 PM
It's insane how much damage NIMBYs are doing in Chicago. There's a whole coalition fighting tooth and nail against any effort to upzone or build more housing. Our country really has failed in terms of basic education around economics and civics.
#Urbanism
#Urbanism
"Everyone has an opinion, but more than a third of us don't even show up to vote. If you voted, you represent the people whose opinions matter. Elected officials have access to voter rolls; they know who voted. That means that a voter's e-mail actually means something."
shorturl.at/lrsjX
shorturl.at/lrsjX
What your mayor does and why it matters
A simple rundown of what mayors do, why you should care, and how you can impact their decisions.
open.substack.com
January 29, 2025 at 6:49 PM
"Everyone has an opinion, but more than a third of us don't even show up to vote. If you voted, you represent the people whose opinions matter. Elected officials have access to voter rolls; they know who voted. That means that a voter's e-mail actually means something."
shorturl.at/lrsjX
shorturl.at/lrsjX
Most of us have no clue what the government actually does. Most of us don't even know what our mayor does. So I'm gonna try to change that. I'm starting a series about what local officials do, why you should care, and how you can influence them.
1st article: jakemobley.substack.com/p/the-presid...
1st article: jakemobley.substack.com/p/the-presid...
The President can't help you - but your Mayor can
What your mayor does and why it matters
jakemobley.substack.com
January 27, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Most of us have no clue what the government actually does. Most of us don't even know what our mayor does. So I'm gonna try to change that. I'm starting a series about what local officials do, why you should care, and how you can influence them.
1st article: jakemobley.substack.com/p/the-presid...
1st article: jakemobley.substack.com/p/the-presid...
With the chaos in the White House, it's pretty easy to despair at the state of the country. As individuals, we basically have to sit there and watch. Thankfully, we do have a surprising amount of influence over local government. There are far fewer actors on the local level, and every voice matters.
January 27, 2025 at 5:08 PM
With the chaos in the White House, it's pretty easy to despair at the state of the country. As individuals, we basically have to sit there and watch. Thankfully, we do have a surprising amount of influence over local government. There are far fewer actors on the local level, and every voice matters.
Chicago has brainwashed me into thinking that 30 degrees is warm.
January 26, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Chicago has brainwashed me into thinking that 30 degrees is warm.
5 minutes can stretch into infinity, if you're waiting for the bus
January 26, 2025 at 3:57 PM
5 minutes can stretch into infinity, if you're waiting for the bus
I hate that the word "Progressive" is associated with weirdos on Twitter that hate white people. That's not what it means. Progressive means paid family leave and giving workers a living wage. It means lowering crime with criminal justice reform. Progressive means fighting for a better world. #USPOL
January 24, 2025 at 11:04 PM
I hate that the word "Progressive" is associated with weirdos on Twitter that hate white people. That's not what it means. Progressive means paid family leave and giving workers a living wage. It means lowering crime with criminal justice reform. Progressive means fighting for a better world. #USPOL
An iconic fixture of Chicago - the 2-flat - is basically impossible to build these days. I learned a lot from this video, and it makes me sad that this kind of community-centered housing has been regulated out of existence.
#georgist #housing+#urbanism
www.youtube.com/watch?v=37VB...
#georgist #housing+#urbanism
www.youtube.com/watch?v=37VB...
Why Can’t American Cities Build 3-Flats Anymore?
YouTube video by Stewart Hicks
www.youtube.com
January 23, 2025 at 4:02 PM
An iconic fixture of Chicago - the 2-flat - is basically impossible to build these days. I learned a lot from this video, and it makes me sad that this kind of community-centered housing has been regulated out of existence.
#georgist #housing+#urbanism
www.youtube.com/watch?v=37VB...
#georgist #housing+#urbanism
www.youtube.com/watch?v=37VB...
"We do not have kings in the American Republic, but we do have capitalists. And in particular, we have a set of capitalists who appear to be as skeptical of liberal democracy as any monarch... hungry for the kind of status that money can’t buy, they want to hear that they deserve to rule."
latest column is on the dipshit curtis yarvin
Opinion | The Dubious History of America’s Most Famous Monarchist (Gift Article)
It’s not hard to understand how Curtis Yarvin won the admiration of powerful patrons.
www.nytimes.com
January 22, 2025 at 6:34 PM
"We do not have kings in the American Republic, but we do have capitalists. And in particular, we have a set of capitalists who appear to be as skeptical of liberal democracy as any monarch... hungry for the kind of status that money can’t buy, they want to hear that they deserve to rule."
Okay, I know that the tech companies are all turning evil, but what about Google? I feel like I never hear about Google supporting Nazis. They're probably not the good guys, but are they at least, like... Lawful Neutral?
January 22, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Okay, I know that the tech companies are all turning evil, but what about Google? I feel like I never hear about Google supporting Nazis. They're probably not the good guys, but are they at least, like... Lawful Neutral?
Kinda wild that we went from "America beat the Nazis" to having Nazi salutes at the inauguration.
January 22, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Kinda wild that we went from "America beat the Nazis" to having Nazi salutes at the inauguration.