Jake Berman
@lostsubways.com
Lawyer, historian, mapmaker. Transport + housing nerd. Californian living in New York.
Wrote and illustrated "The Lost Subways of North America". Order the book at: http://lostsubways.com
Wrote and illustrated "The Lost Subways of North America". Order the book at: http://lostsubways.com
Reposted by Jake Berman
THE OLYMPICS OF BIATHLON MESS CONTINUES
GOLD MEDAL FOR THE WOMAN WHO STOLE HER TEAMMATE'S CREDIT CARDS
GOLD MEDAL FOR THE WOMAN WHO STOLE HER TEAMMATE'S CREDIT CARDS
February 11, 2026 at 2:55 PM
THE OLYMPICS OF BIATHLON MESS CONTINUES
GOLD MEDAL FOR THE WOMAN WHO STOLE HER TEAMMATE'S CREDIT CARDS
GOLD MEDAL FOR THE WOMAN WHO STOLE HER TEAMMATE'S CREDIT CARDS
They ski uphill now? My God.
February 11, 2026 at 1:31 AM
They ski uphill now? My God.
Before 1986, affordable housing had accelerated depreciation schedules, which was a much faster way of getting things built than the current system of tax credits.
Big research effort from @ternerhousing.bsky.social showing that California's byzantine process for financing low-income housing is a major outlier nationally that delays new affordable developments and makes them more expensive to build ternercenter.berkeley.edu/blog/the-cos...
The Cost of Fragmentation: A Comparison of State Affordable Housing Finance Governance Systems - Terner Center
To finance and build affordable housing, developers across the United States need to assemble multiple funding sources at the federal, state, and local levels. Public funding sources can be administer...
ternercenter.berkeley.edu
February 10, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Before 1986, affordable housing had accelerated depreciation schedules, which was a much faster way of getting things built than the current system of tax credits.
Unnecessary bureaucratic design review is one of the reasons so much housing gets bogged down.
Let architects cook!
Let architects cook!
One of the lesser known bills in the 2023 Montana Miracle housing package preempts local design requirements that are not related to health and safety.
We all know that there can be some road to travel between statewide law and local implementation...
We all know that there can be some road to travel between statewide law and local implementation...
February 10, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Unnecessary bureaucratic design review is one of the reasons so much housing gets bogged down.
Let architects cook!
Let architects cook!
Reposted by Jake Berman
John Pegram got the Jacobs engineering winning technical proposal for the IBX. This is a really fascinating look at just how much work the MTA and its contractor will need to do on the ROW. Which is, a lot. They’re turning into a trench — bqrail.substack.com/p/interborou...
February 10, 2026 at 1:42 AM
John Pegram got the Jacobs engineering winning technical proposal for the IBX. This is a really fascinating look at just how much work the MTA and its contractor will need to do on the ROW. Which is, a lot. They’re turning into a trench — bqrail.substack.com/p/interborou...
Reposted by Jake Berman
Very excited to say that the stars have aligned and NYU Marron/Transit Costs Project have landed a grant that will fund a second edition of Momentum, which will apply the high-throughput framework to major regional rail networks beyond the NY area.
Our three big new cases:
- NJT
- SEPTA
- METRA
Our three big new cases:
- NJT
- SEPTA
- METRA
The NYU-Marron report on electrification is out: It pairs electrification and other components to develop a high-throughput infrastructure design framework, which slashes time off of existing commuter and inter-city passenger rail services. We call it Momentum -- transitcosts.com/wp-content/u...
February 9, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Very excited to say that the stars have aligned and NYU Marron/Transit Costs Project have landed a grant that will fund a second edition of Momentum, which will apply the high-throughput framework to major regional rail networks beyond the NY area.
Our three big new cases:
- NJT
- SEPTA
- METRA
Our three big new cases:
- NJT
- SEPTA
- METRA
It's a bad idea for the people of California to subsidize landowners who live in fire zones, because things are going to keep burning.
A similar slow motion fiasco is ongoing in Florida, and the State is often the only insurer left. CA shouldn't make the same error.
A similar slow motion fiasco is ongoing in Florida, and the State is often the only insurer left. CA shouldn't make the same error.
California’s private insurers are abandoning homeowners and dodging payouts while padding executives’ pockets.
A public disaster insurance system would cover everyone automatically, spread risk fairly, and invest in disaster prevention.
A public disaster insurance system would cover everyone automatically, spread risk fairly, and invest in disaster prevention.
We Need Natural Disaster Insurance for All
California’s private insurers are abandoning homeowners and dodging payouts while padding executives’ pockets. A public disaster insurance system would cover everyone automatically, spread risk fairly, and invest in disaster prevention.
jacobin.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:04 PM
It's a bad idea for the people of California to subsidize landowners who live in fire zones, because things are going to keep burning.
A similar slow motion fiasco is ongoing in Florida, and the State is often the only insurer left. CA shouldn't make the same error.
A similar slow motion fiasco is ongoing in Florida, and the State is often the only insurer left. CA shouldn't make the same error.
Reposted by Jake Berman
Keep seeing the misinformation that this was Liam on here--has been reported that it was not
A Reddit user identifies the boy who took a Grammy from Bad Bunny in the halftime show as five-year-old model Lincoln Fox and says that he was meant to represent Bad Bunny as a child www.instagram.com/the_lincfox/... www.reddit.com/user/BabySea...
February 9, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Keep seeing the misinformation that this was Liam on here--has been reported that it was not
Reposted by Jake Berman
jets owner woody johnson before the '18 draft: I SWEAR, I'LL DO ANYTHING. PLEASE, WE DESPERATELY NEED A SUPER-BOWL BOUND QB.
[monkey's paw curls]
[monkey's paw curls]
January 26, 2026 at 2:51 AM
jets owner woody johnson before the '18 draft: I SWEAR, I'LL DO ANYTHING. PLEASE, WE DESPERATELY NEED A SUPER-BOWL BOUND QB.
[monkey's paw curls]
[monkey's paw curls]
No way anyone was getting past the Seahawks defense. This must be what the old Steel Curtain was like in the 70s.
February 9, 2026 at 3:54 AM
No way anyone was getting past the Seahawks defense. This must be what the old Steel Curtain was like in the 70s.
Watching Starfleet Academy, and all I could think is, this is the future YIMBYs want
February 8, 2026 at 3:41 AM
Watching Starfleet Academy, and all I could think is, this is the future YIMBYs want
BART faces annihilation if the Bay Area doesn't approve new taxes this November. The threat is genuinely serious, due to a perfect storm of Bay Area problems.
I'm going to try and answer the question: why is BART facing annihilation while most other transit systems aren't?
A thread:
I'm going to try and answer the question: why is BART facing annihilation while most other transit systems aren't?
A thread:
BART facing station closures and more if it doesn't find funding soon, report finds
BART predicts major service cuts if it doesn't find extra funding. A new report cites what would happen if a half-cent sales tax ballot measure fails to pass in November. From station closures to fare...
abc7news.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:08 AM
BART faces annihilation if the Bay Area doesn't approve new taxes this November. The threat is genuinely serious, due to a perfect storm of Bay Area problems.
I'm going to try and answer the question: why is BART facing annihilation while most other transit systems aren't?
A thread:
I'm going to try and answer the question: why is BART facing annihilation while most other transit systems aren't?
A thread:
If anyone can get Lost Angeles to get its act together, it's Raman. Excited to see if she can pull it off.
“I have deep respect for Mayor Bass. But over the last few months in particular, I’ve really begun to feel like unless we have some big changes in how we do things in Los Angeles, that the things we count on are not going to function anymore.”
Councilmember Nithya Raman to run for L.A. mayor, challenging onetime ally Karen Bass
Raman would immediately pose a formidable challenge to Bass. She was the first council member to be elected with support from the Democratic Socialists of America.
www.latimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 6:34 PM
If anyone can get Lost Angeles to get its act together, it's Raman. Excited to see if she can pull it off.
Even kings died young before modern sanitation. The English Tudor monarchs, for example...
- Henry VII: died at 52 (TB)
- Henry VIII: 55 (old wound + obesity)
- Edward VI: 15 (fever)
- Mary: 42 (ovarian cyst or uterine cancer)
- Elizabeth I: 69 (grief)
- Henry VII: died at 52 (TB)
- Henry VIII: 55 (old wound + obesity)
- Edward VI: 15 (fever)
- Mary: 42 (ovarian cyst or uterine cancer)
- Elizabeth I: 69 (grief)
I remember Bret Devereaux saying all adults had a high (by our standards) chance of dying of disease every year, with the odds slowly creeping up against you as you get older.
If you listen to history podcasts, there an awful lot of monarchs dying in their 30s/40s.
If you listen to history podcasts, there an awful lot of monarchs dying in their 30s/40s.
February 6, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Even kings died young before modern sanitation. The English Tudor monarchs, for example...
- Henry VII: died at 52 (TB)
- Henry VIII: 55 (old wound + obesity)
- Edward VI: 15 (fever)
- Mary: 42 (ovarian cyst or uterine cancer)
- Elizabeth I: 69 (grief)
- Henry VII: died at 52 (TB)
- Henry VIII: 55 (old wound + obesity)
- Edward VI: 15 (fever)
- Mary: 42 (ovarian cyst or uterine cancer)
- Elizabeth I: 69 (grief)
Two examples of how Federal ownership affects ICE detention camps, both articles from today:
Example 1: Feds bought a warehouse in Arizona, and they're converting it to an ICE detention camp. City Council + NIMBYs have no way to stop it.
Example 1: Feds bought a warehouse in Arizona, and they're converting it to an ICE detention camp. City Council + NIMBYs have no way to stop it.
Hundreds pack Surprise City Council meeting, protest outside over ICE facility
Hours of public comment, dozens of speakers and hundreds of community members showed up to the Surprise City Council meeting Tuesday to voice their opinions on a recently purchased ICE warehouse.
www.abc15.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:56 AM
Two examples of how Federal ownership affects ICE detention camps, both articles from today:
Example 1: Feds bought a warehouse in Arizona, and they're converting it to an ICE detention camp. City Council + NIMBYs have no way to stop it.
Example 1: Feds bought a warehouse in Arizona, and they're converting it to an ICE detention camp. City Council + NIMBYs have no way to stop it.
Reposted by Jake Berman
Why does building transit in the U.S. take so long and cost so much? One big reason: outdated permitting processes that let local approvals slow projects down - sometimes for years. Kudos to Washington legislators taking steps to address this. @transpochoices.bsky.social
Olympia Seeks to Boost Sound Transit with Long Overdue Permit Reforms » The Urbanist
# A pair of bills advancing this week at the state legislature would finally allow Sound Transit to rise above the local permitting fray in several key areas. The reforms could save as much as nine mo...
www.theurbanist.org
February 4, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Why does building transit in the U.S. take so long and cost so much? One big reason: outdated permitting processes that let local approvals slow projects down - sometimes for years. Kudos to Washington legislators taking steps to address this. @transpochoices.bsky.social
Depends on local law, but in general:
- if the Feds buy a facility, they're exempt from local government approvals.
- If it's a private operation contracted by the Government, the private operation is subject to state and local rules. Local NIMBYism is very much in play.
- if the Feds buy a facility, they're exempt from local government approvals.
- If it's a private operation contracted by the Government, the private operation is subject to state and local rules. Local NIMBYism is very much in play.
🤔 I actually don't know the details of permitting and zoning law when it comes to the feds vs. local governments. There may be way to oppose them there as well, but lord if I know exactly how it'd all play out.
February 4, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Depends on local law, but in general:
- if the Feds buy a facility, they're exempt from local government approvals.
- If it's a private operation contracted by the Government, the private operation is subject to state and local rules. Local NIMBYism is very much in play.
- if the Feds buy a facility, they're exempt from local government approvals.
- If it's a private operation contracted by the Government, the private operation is subject to state and local rules. Local NIMBYism is very much in play.
San Diego Unified School District gets an A+.
Of note here: San Diego Unified prioritized the *number* of new rent-controlled units getting built, as opposed to the *percentage*. That's good for everyone.
Of note here: San Diego Unified prioritized the *number* of new rent-controlled units getting built, as opposed to the *percentage*. That's good for everyone.
The San Diego Unified school district recently approved plans for 2,500 new workforce units on district-owned land. The leadership position that city is adopting on housing is really remarkable! voiceofsandiego.org/2026/01/29/w...
With Unprecedented Housing Moves, San Diego Unified Enters Its YIMBY Era
Over the past two months, San Diego Unified officials have approved proposals to build nearly 2,500 education workforce housing units on district-owned land. The move could reshape the education workf...
voiceofsandiego.org
February 2, 2026 at 7:20 PM
San Diego Unified School District gets an A+.
Of note here: San Diego Unified prioritized the *number* of new rent-controlled units getting built, as opposed to the *percentage*. That's good for everyone.
Of note here: San Diego Unified prioritized the *number* of new rent-controlled units getting built, as opposed to the *percentage*. That's good for everyone.
It's time to think big, and nothing is bigger than improving the subway for generations to come.
A greatly expended rapid transit system across New York City is a key component in tackling our city's affordability issues.
Forget Free Buses: Mayor Mamdani Should Instead Seek 'Audacious' Subway Expansion - Streetsblog New York City
The same billion-dollar outlay that Mayor Mamdani hopes to allocate for fare-free buses should be spent instead on rewriting the subway map.
buff.ly
February 2, 2026 at 5:58 PM
It's time to think big, and nothing is bigger than improving the subway for generations to come.
The mainstream press needs to stop irresponsibly elevating cranks in the name of creating conflict. They did the same thing with vaccines, and look where that got us.
The framing reflects a structural problem in how media engages with academic research. Within the academic literature, there's theoretical/empirical consensus that building more housing reduces costs. But one working paper disagrees, and so now it's a "debate."
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Are YIMBYs winning the housing wars? Not so fast, these people say.
Though the “build more” movement is chalking up wins, supply skeptics contend housing affordability calls for government policies, not just market forces.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:57 PM
The mainstream press needs to stop irresponsibly elevating cranks in the name of creating conflict. They did the same thing with vaccines, and look where that got us.
Everyone wins with congestion pricing.
A strange but true finding about NYC congestion pricing:
Drivers’ time savings have overwhelmingly gone to those traveling *outside* the toll zone (i.e., driving from Brooklyn to Queens or within NJ) – not those headed into Manhattan.
Me, in Bloomberg 🧵
Drivers’ time savings have overwhelmingly gone to those traveling *outside* the toll zone (i.e., driving from Brooklyn to Queens or within NJ) – not those headed into Manhattan.
Me, in Bloomberg 🧵
Congestion Pricing’s Unexpected Winners: Suburban Drivers
NYC’s controversial toll program hasn’t just sped up trips inside Manhattan, a new paper finds. It’s easing traffic in outer boroughs and neighboring counties.
www.bloomberg.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Everyone wins with congestion pricing.
SF's downtown mall has finally given up the ghost. Nobody lives downtown and the office workers disappeared after coronavirus, so it was only a matter of time.
My plea is simple: DO SOMETHING.
Don't let this turn into another never-ending SF megaproject.
My plea is simple: DO SOMETHING.
Don't let this turn into another never-ending SF megaproject.
San Francisco’s largest mall unexpectedly closes ahead of schedule
The early shutdown marks the final chapter for what was once San Francisco’s largest and most prominent shopping mall.
www.sfchronicle.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:37 PM
SF's downtown mall has finally given up the ghost. Nobody lives downtown and the office workers disappeared after coronavirus, so it was only a matter of time.
My plea is simple: DO SOMETHING.
Don't let this turn into another never-ending SF megaproject.
My plea is simple: DO SOMETHING.
Don't let this turn into another never-ending SF megaproject.
This is a map I designed.
The map in the pic is actually the early proposal for the Port Authority to take over the old Hudson Tubes from its private owners and extend them, in the late 1930s.
The map in the pic is actually the early proposal for the Port Authority to take over the old Hudson Tubes from its private owners and extend them, in the late 1930s.
Want to get depressed on a Thursday evening? Grab some scotch and look at old "original intent" maps of transit systems.
Here is PATH from the 70s-- right after the Port Authority took over the struggling system. Imagine what the region would look like today if this were implemented. 😥
Here is PATH from the 70s-- right after the Port Authority took over the struggling system. Imagine what the region would look like today if this were implemented. 😥
January 30, 2026 at 2:42 AM
This is a map I designed.
The map in the pic is actually the early proposal for the Port Authority to take over the old Hudson Tubes from its private owners and extend them, in the late 1930s.
The map in the pic is actually the early proposal for the Port Authority to take over the old Hudson Tubes from its private owners and extend them, in the late 1930s.
Ruin a movie by replacing one word in the title with the word "sausage"
STAR TREK: THE SAUSAGE HOME
STAR TREK: THE SAUSAGE HOME
Ruin a movie by replacing one word in the title with "Sausage"
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK SAUSAGE
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: CURSE OF THE BLACK SAUSAGE
Ruin a movie by replacing one word in the title with "Sausage"
Sausage Park
Sausage Park
January 30, 2026 at 2:38 AM
Ruin a movie by replacing one word in the title with the word "sausage"
STAR TREK: THE SAUSAGE HOME
STAR TREK: THE SAUSAGE HOME
This is @Bobbyfijan.bsky.social's outfit. I don't always agree with Fijan's politics, but he's attempting to address my challenge in good faith: how do young families afford to stay in the city?
I look forward to seeing what he comes up with.
I look forward to seeing what he comes up with.
For a half-century, America has critically under-built family-sized housing in our most dynamic cities and neighborhoods, rendering them childless and unaffordable.
It's time to save the American Dream.
Introducing The American Housing Corporation.
It's time to save the American Dream.
Introducing The American Housing Corporation.
January 29, 2026 at 3:56 PM
This is @Bobbyfijan.bsky.social's outfit. I don't always agree with Fijan's politics, but he's attempting to address my challenge in good faith: how do young families afford to stay in the city?
I look forward to seeing what he comes up with.
I look forward to seeing what he comes up with.