Jackson Moore-Otto
@jmooreotto.bsky.social
Transpo policy @publicenterprise.bsky.social , also fighting for abundant housing + transit in MA. Anti-cynicism.
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
Me and @jmooreotto.bsky.social wrote a bunch about green bank financial strategies! Lots here for state policymakers:
Launched today: the State Economic Power Project! This dives into cost of living + climate, on 2 pillars: (1) household budgets and (2) state budgets. Thank you Sarah Bloom Raskin, @jordanhaedtler.bsky.social @kostyack.bsky.social @advitt.bsky.social
climatecabineteducation.org/state-econom...
climatecabineteducation.org/state-econom...
State Economic Power Project Resources - Climate Cabinet Education
Check this page for policy resources related to insurance regulation, disaster recovery policy, and more.
climatecabineteducation.org
November 13, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Me and @jmooreotto.bsky.social wrote a bunch about green bank financial strategies! Lots here for state policymakers:
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
i want to repeat this: mamdani and spanberger have run similar campaigns tailored to their respective electorates and it is maddening to watch political journalists attempt to create some broad contrast where none exist
the other thing about this is that there is no reason to pit these candidates against each other? each are good fits for their respective electorates and each shows the value of vigorous campaigns focused on the stated material problems of voters.
November 4, 2025 at 1:37 PM
i want to repeat this: mamdani and spanberger have run similar campaigns tailored to their respective electorates and it is maddening to watch political journalists attempt to create some broad contrast where none exist
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
Forgive the Revolutionary War symbolism.
Today, NJ & VA were at a pivotal moment — just like during 2 defining periods of the Revolution. This time, two strong women stood against the pull of authoritarianism.
NJ & VA became beacons of victory & democratic strength for a nation needing it.
Today, NJ & VA were at a pivotal moment — just like during 2 defining periods of the Revolution. This time, two strong women stood against the pull of authoritarianism.
NJ & VA became beacons of victory & democratic strength for a nation needing it.
November 5, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Forgive the Revolutionary War symbolism.
Today, NJ & VA were at a pivotal moment — just like during 2 defining periods of the Revolution. This time, two strong women stood against the pull of authoritarianism.
NJ & VA became beacons of victory & democratic strength for a nation needing it.
Today, NJ & VA were at a pivotal moment — just like during 2 defining periods of the Revolution. This time, two strong women stood against the pull of authoritarianism.
NJ & VA became beacons of victory & democratic strength for a nation needing it.
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
the future of the democratic party is a coalition of the wokest people on tumblr and absolutely dead-eyed pursuers of the national interest and the maximization of GDP
funny that the two groups in the political class who have been the least enthusiastic about trump term 2 are like neocon blob guys and economists
I feel like the econ policy people have been less annoyingly centrist on Trump than the rest of the think tank ecosystem purely because the only concrete policy he’s pursued in two months are tariffs, which like none of them like
March 23, 2025 at 2:47 AM
the future of the democratic party is a coalition of the wokest people on tumblr and absolutely dead-eyed pursuers of the national interest and the maximization of GDP
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
There were many Union men who wept with joyful tears!
When they saw the honored flag they had not seen for years!
Hardly could they be restrained from breaking forth in cheers!
While we were marching through Georgia!
When they saw the honored flag they had not seen for years!
Hardly could they be restrained from breaking forth in cheers!
While we were marching through Georgia!
OH MY GOD, DDHQ CALLS IT AND DEMS FLIP BOTH STATEWIDE ELECTIONS IN GEORGIA
November 5, 2025 at 12:47 AM
There were many Union men who wept with joyful tears!
When they saw the honored flag they had not seen for years!
Hardly could they be restrained from breaking forth in cheers!
While we were marching through Georgia!
When they saw the honored flag they had not seen for years!
Hardly could they be restrained from breaking forth in cheers!
While we were marching through Georgia!
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
I am also ranking Burhan Azeem as my #1 choice. I agree with everything Josh says. And I've also personally been really impressed with Burhan's amazing combination of commitment to Cambridge, deep thoughtfulness about the issues it faces and pragmatism and inclusiveness in his approach to them.
I'll shortly write a longer post, but I just wanted to say that I'm ranking Burhan Azeem as my #1 City Council choice, largely because of his relentless and successful push to fix our city's housing policy (largely by eliminating zoning restrictions that drive up rents and sales prices).
For the first time in a generation, triple-deckers and affordable apartments are legal again in Cambridge.
Impossible? It wasn’t.
Inevitable? It’s wasn’t that either.
It was a choice.
Vote Burhan #1 on Nov 4th and keep choosing housing.
Impossible? It wasn’t.
Inevitable? It’s wasn’t that either.
It was a choice.
Vote Burhan #1 on Nov 4th and keep choosing housing.
November 3, 2025 at 6:19 PM
I am also ranking Burhan Azeem as my #1 choice. I agree with everything Josh says. And I've also personally been really impressed with Burhan's amazing combination of commitment to Cambridge, deep thoughtfulness about the issues it faces and pragmatism and inclusiveness in his approach to them.
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
Great convo about literally building a better world.
“I am a progressive in the literal sense of the word, which is like, you need progress. [...] We will see if there’s pushback in Cambridge or not. [...] are people more scared about change than they are about the problem of high housing costs?”
“I am a progressive in the literal sense of the word, which is like, you need progress. [...] We will see if there’s pushback in Cambridge or not. [...] are people more scared about change than they are about the problem of high housing costs?”
The intra-Democratic debate over “abundance” can feel lofty and abstract. So for today’s @bostonglobe.com Starting Point, I asked Cambridge city councilor @burhanazeem.bsky.social about how the zoning law he passed this year put abundance principles into action: www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/03/n...
The ‘abundance’ movement wants to build more housing, mass transit, and more. Can it save Massachusetts — and the Democrats? - The Boston Globe
A Q&A with Burhan Azeem, a Cambridge City Councilor whose new housing law marries abundance with economic progressivism
www.bostonglobe.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Great convo about literally building a better world.
“I am a progressive in the literal sense of the word, which is like, you need progress. [...] We will see if there’s pushback in Cambridge or not. [...] are people more scared about change than they are about the problem of high housing costs?”
“I am a progressive in the literal sense of the word, which is like, you need progress. [...] We will see if there’s pushback in Cambridge or not. [...] are people more scared about change than they are about the problem of high housing costs?”
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
The intra-Democratic debate over “abundance” can feel lofty and abstract. So for today’s @bostonglobe.com Starting Point, I asked Cambridge city councilor @burhanazeem.bsky.social about how the zoning law he passed this year put abundance principles into action: www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/03/n...
The ‘abundance’ movement wants to build more housing, mass transit, and more. Can it save Massachusetts — and the Democrats? - The Boston Globe
A Q&A with Burhan Azeem, a Cambridge City Councilor whose new housing law marries abundance with economic progressivism
www.bostonglobe.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:39 PM
The intra-Democratic debate over “abundance” can feel lofty and abstract. So for today’s @bostonglobe.com Starting Point, I asked Cambridge city councilor @burhanazeem.bsky.social about how the zoning law he passed this year put abundance principles into action: www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/03/n...
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
November 1, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
Using his powers to extract tribute from foreign countries, "donors," etc. and then using those extraconstitutional slush funds to bypass the Constitution and the rule of law. Literally the opposite of originalism and a profound threat to the continuation of constitutional democracy in this country.
$550 billion in Japanese funding.
Directed by the President.
Outside Congress’s control.
My new @justsecurity.org piece explains how the agreement bypasses the Appropriations Clause and violates the laws that safeguard Congress’s power of the purse.
www.justsecurity.org/123478/trump...
Directed by the President.
Outside Congress’s control.
My new @justsecurity.org piece explains how the agreement bypasses the Appropriations Clause and violates the laws that safeguard Congress’s power of the purse.
www.justsecurity.org/123478/trump...
Trump’s Japan Deal and the Disappearing Appropriations Clause
The deal circumvents the Appropriations Clause and congressional safeguards, creating a system answerable only to the White House.
www.justsecurity.org
October 31, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Using his powers to extract tribute from foreign countries, "donors," etc. and then using those extraconstitutional slush funds to bypass the Constitution and the rule of law. Literally the opposite of originalism and a profound threat to the continuation of constitutional democracy in this country.
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
The ballot questions are uncontroversial, so much so that little has been written about them. I decided to take a shot an explainer!
www.cambridgeday.com/2025/10/27/m...
www.cambridgeday.com/2025/10/27/m...
Making sense of the charter changes on the ballot - Cambridge Day
A new charter for the City of Cambridge is on the ballot, but is not getting much discussion.
www.cambridgeday.com
October 27, 2025 at 7:20 PM
The ballot questions are uncontroversial, so much so that little has been written about them. I decided to take a shot an explainer!
www.cambridgeday.com/2025/10/27/m...
www.cambridgeday.com/2025/10/27/m...
Great post by Ari, with a stellar rundown of the of the lesser-known pros and cons of school committee candidates
Who I am voting for, and why, Cambridge 2025.
(Easy chart on the first page, then 7 pages of word salad, which is still more comprehensible than some of the school committee candidates' websites)
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
(Also obligatory fuck off Tim Flaherty)
(Easy chart on the first page, then 7 pages of word salad, which is still more comprehensible than some of the school committee candidates' websites)
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
(Also obligatory fuck off Tim Flaherty)
Who I am Voting for (and why
Who I am Voting for (and why!) 2025: Cambridge There’s an election in Cambridge. November 4. You should vote. For starters, here is a cheat sheet. You do not need to read beyond the first page. You p...
docs.google.com
October 23, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Great post by Ari, with a stellar rundown of the of the lesser-known pros and cons of school committee candidates
New heuristic for an elected's dedication just dropped
May have knocked on too many doors to the point where my shoes don’t have bottoms anymore.
October 15, 2025 at 8:13 PM
New heuristic for an elected's dedication just dropped
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
The “transit is unsafe” narrative is both false and part of a larger anti city, anti transit ideology -
usa.streetsblog.org/2025/09/25/t...
usa.streetsblog.org/2025/09/25/t...
The Real Reason the Far Right is Demanding Action on Transportation Violence — Streetsblog USA
A series of brutal deaths on U.S. roads and trains is sparking outrage on the far right – and a push for some disturbing policy solutions that will only make our country more violent.
usa.streetsblog.org
September 25, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The “transit is unsafe” narrative is both false and part of a larger anti city, anti transit ideology -
usa.streetsblog.org/2025/09/25/t...
usa.streetsblog.org/2025/09/25/t...
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
Investments in public transit have failed to provide the right incentives for infrastructure projects to get completed in an affordable and timely manner.
Join this webinar to learn how reforms to the shape, type, and speed of investment can transform project delivery and service outcomes.
Join this webinar to learn how reforms to the shape, type, and speed of investment can transform project delivery and service outcomes.
September 25, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Investments in public transit have failed to provide the right incentives for infrastructure projects to get completed in an affordable and timely manner.
Join this webinar to learn how reforms to the shape, type, and speed of investment can transform project delivery and service outcomes.
Join this webinar to learn how reforms to the shape, type, and speed of investment can transform project delivery and service outcomes.
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
The world is divided between supply skeptics who believe high hard costs are an intractable problem and those that have looked at US codes and buildings in other developed countries.
U.S. regulators worried about safety require larger elevator cars than in Europe. But these rules reduce the number of elevators, exacerbating sprawl and the accompanying dangers.
Learn more in ep. 2 of our Incentives Series with @stephenjacobsmith.com!
www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/09/24/9...
Learn more in ep. 2 of our Incentives Series with @stephenjacobsmith.com!
www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/09/24/9...
September 25, 2025 at 12:10 AM
The world is divided between supply skeptics who believe high hard costs are an intractable problem and those that have looked at US codes and buildings in other developed countries.
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
"Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that."
Looking forward to seeing Jimmy back on the air.
Looking forward to seeing Jimmy back on the air.
Jimmy Kimmel Returns: ABC Ends Suspension Starting Tuesday
Jimmy Kimmel will return to late night on Tuesday
variety.com
September 22, 2025 at 8:22 PM
"Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that."
Looking forward to seeing Jimmy back on the air.
Looking forward to seeing Jimmy back on the air.
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
The second thing is what I call "militant liberalism." Not violent revolution or counter-authoritarianism--but a liberalism that is bold and asserts its values and isn't frozen in a permanent defensive crouch. Another excerpt:
September 17, 2025 at 4:25 PM
The second thing is what I call "militant liberalism." Not violent revolution or counter-authoritarianism--but a liberalism that is bold and asserts its values and isn't frozen in a permanent defensive crouch. Another excerpt:
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
Today, CER launches our paper “ElectroLink: Modern Passenger Rail Service for Southern California.”
ElectroLink shows how electrification, level boarding and through running can speed up trips, improve access for all riders, and bind together the region. ⚡♿🚴
calelectricrail.org/electrolink-...
ElectroLink shows how electrification, level boarding and through running can speed up trips, improve access for all riders, and bind together the region. ⚡♿🚴
calelectricrail.org/electrolink-...
September 15, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Today, CER launches our paper “ElectroLink: Modern Passenger Rail Service for Southern California.”
ElectroLink shows how electrification, level boarding and through running can speed up trips, improve access for all riders, and bind together the region. ⚡♿🚴
calelectricrail.org/electrolink-...
ElectroLink shows how electrification, level boarding and through running can speed up trips, improve access for all riders, and bind together the region. ⚡♿🚴
calelectricrail.org/electrolink-...
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
There is a very sad thing happening in right wing, largely adult convert Catholic spaces. It is an attempt to turn Catholicism the same direction as some American Evangelical & Reformed churches, in which God is displaced by politics, aesthetics and human hierarchies as the center of religious life.
Nowhere in the quoted post is God mentioned, which I find remarkable.
This pretty much sums it up
September 14, 2025 at 12:42 AM
There is a very sad thing happening in right wing, largely adult convert Catholic spaces. It is an attempt to turn Catholicism the same direction as some American Evangelical & Reformed churches, in which God is displaced by politics, aesthetics and human hierarchies as the center of religious life.
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
It is incredibly simple to acknowledge that violence in any form is awful and erodes society.
September 10, 2025 at 7:39 PM
It is incredibly simple to acknowledge that violence in any form is awful and erodes society.
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
Andrew Cuomo was a climate disaster for New York, and cleaning up his mess is going to cost the state billions: “Five years after Indian Point started shutting down, the company charged with dismantling the nuclear plant says it could still be restarted — at an estimated cost of $10 billion.”
Indian Point owner floats restart of shuttered nuclear reactors
Holtec, the company decommissioning the plant, says it would need state and federal backing to rebuild the plant.
www.politico.com
September 10, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Andrew Cuomo was a climate disaster for New York, and cleaning up his mess is going to cost the state billions: “Five years after Indian Point started shutting down, the company charged with dismantling the nuclear plant says it could still be restarted — at an estimated cost of $10 billion.”
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
I’ve lost part of 2 teeth in a crash in Cambridge.
And I was glad to be lead sponsor of the 2020 Cycling Safety Ordinance—
It’s added protected bike lanes to Hampshire & Brattle Streets, Mass Ave & more.
So I’m proud to be endorsed by @cambbikesafety.bsky.social as a bike champion!
And I was glad to be lead sponsor of the 2020 Cycling Safety Ordinance—
It’s added protected bike lanes to Hampshire & Brattle Streets, Mass Ave & more.
So I’m proud to be endorsed by @cambbikesafety.bsky.social as a bike champion!
September 6, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I’ve lost part of 2 teeth in a crash in Cambridge.
And I was glad to be lead sponsor of the 2020 Cycling Safety Ordinance—
It’s added protected bike lanes to Hampshire & Brattle Streets, Mass Ave & more.
So I’m proud to be endorsed by @cambbikesafety.bsky.social as a bike champion!
And I was glad to be lead sponsor of the 2020 Cycling Safety Ordinance—
It’s added protected bike lanes to Hampshire & Brattle Streets, Mass Ave & more.
So I’m proud to be endorsed by @cambbikesafety.bsky.social as a bike champion!
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
Yale Law School never beating the “they don’t teach law at Yale” allegations
September 6, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Yale Law School never beating the “they don’t teach law at Yale” allegations
Reposted by Jackson Moore-Otto
Because this project will be fully grade separated, it should be built as automated light metro (e.g., Toulouse Metro, Milan M5, Honolulu Skytrain). This can enable:
—More reliable & often faster service
—More frequent service
—Shorter platforms (& thus cheaper-to-build stations)
—More reliable & often faster service
—More frequent service
—Shorter platforms (& thus cheaper-to-build stations)
NY Gov Hochul announced today that the Interborough Express—a circumferential light rail line connecting Brooklyn & Queens—will enter the engineering & design phase.
NY state has appropriated ~half of the cost of the project so far. One of the—or the—most important light rail projects in the US.
NY state has appropriated ~half of the cost of the project so far. One of the—or the—most important light rail projects in the US.
Governor Hochul Announces Interborough Express Advancing from Planning to Active Phase
Governor Hochul announced that the engineering and design phase of the Interborough Express (IBX) has commenced, the next step in the development of the transformative transit project.
www.governor.ny.gov
August 1, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Because this project will be fully grade separated, it should be built as automated light metro (e.g., Toulouse Metro, Milan M5, Honolulu Skytrain). This can enable:
—More reliable & often faster service
—More frequent service
—Shorter platforms (& thus cheaper-to-build stations)
—More reliable & often faster service
—More frequent service
—Shorter platforms (& thus cheaper-to-build stations)