@macdiehard.bsky.social
All about solving the housing and homelessness crisis. Join us at http://SeattleYIMBY.org.
Reposted
Bluesky: People sleep on the street because of BILLIONAIRES and CORPORATIONS
Reality: Mom dad grandma grandpa are why people sleep on the street
Reality: Mom dad grandma grandpa are why people sleep on the street
January 19, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Bluesky: People sleep on the street because of BILLIONAIRES and CORPORATIONS
Reality: Mom dad grandma grandpa are why people sleep on the street
Reality: Mom dad grandma grandpa are why people sleep on the street
Reposted
America has a housing shortage. Every single housing proposal you see that is not "build more housing" will have the primary effect of pushing up the prices of existing housing, and is therefore, in reality, a plan to enrich current homeowners. In conclusion, build more housing.
President Trump will issue a plan next week for letting Americans tap their 401(k)s for a down payment on a home, a senior White House official said Friday.
Trump Plan Would Let Americans Use 401(k)s for Down Payments on Homes, Official Says
President Trump will issue a plan next week for letting Americans tap their 401(k)s for a down payment on a home, a senior White House official said Friday.
on.wsj.com
January 16, 2026 at 9:11 PM
America has a housing shortage. Every single housing proposal you see that is not "build more housing" will have the primary effect of pushing up the prices of existing housing, and is therefore, in reality, a plan to enrich current homeowners. In conclusion, build more housing.
Reposted
A must watch: our friends at @sightline.org explain the elevator policy fixes needed to unlock more inclusive, affordable homes 🛗
The United States has the fewest elevators in the rich world, with Canada only a bit ahead. We teamed up with @uytaelee.bsky.social of About Here Videos to investigate why, exactly, North America sucks at elevators.
North America's Elevator Problem
YouTube video by About Here
youtu.be
January 15, 2026 at 9:21 PM
A must watch: our friends at @sightline.org explain the elevator policy fixes needed to unlock more inclusive, affordable homes 🛗
Reposted
Someone needs to say it. The black population not only has grown in Seattle, but since the upzones started in 1990, it’s grown in the dense areas which include the historically black neighborhoods of Southeast Seattle. It declined everywhere else. Low density zoning gentrified cities, not upzoning
January 14, 2026 at 3:44 AM
Someone needs to say it. The black population not only has grown in Seattle, but since the upzones started in 1990, it’s grown in the dense areas which include the historically black neighborhoods of Southeast Seattle. It declined everywhere else. Low density zoning gentrified cities, not upzoning
Bring on the elevators!
It'll also be the basis for a lot of my own work for @sightline.org in 2026: making cities more accessible, age-friendly, fiscally healthy and grocery-bag-ready by removing the cost and legal barriers to elevators.
This is now an elevator stan account. You have been warned.
This is now an elevator stan account. You have been warned.
December 31, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Bring on the elevators!
Reposted
Really good, detailed, insightful stuff from @ronpdavis.bsky.social on funded IZ
NEW // Op-Ed: Seattle’s Path to Fund Inclusionary Zoning and Boost Homebuilding
Op-ed by Ron Davis // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/30/o...
Op-ed by Ron Davis // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/30/o...
Op-Ed: Seattle’s Path to Fund Inclusionary Zoning and Boost Homebuilding » The Urbanist
# Funded inclusionary zoning unlocks the benefits of inclusionary zoning while offsetting its harms. It’s a path to more market-rate housing and more subsidized affordable housing. While funded inclus...
www.theurbanist.org
December 30, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Really good, detailed, insightful stuff from @ronpdavis.bsky.social on funded IZ
Reposted
What to do about inclusionary zoning in Seattle? I untangle the mess and show we can BOTH fund it AND allow in-lieu fees.
This is a fair way to get more housing + more affordable housing + keep affordable housing providers whole.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/30/o...
This is a fair way to get more housing + more affordable housing + keep affordable housing providers whole.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/30/o...
Op-Ed: Seattle’s Path to Fund Inclusionary Zoning and Boost Homebuilding » The Urbanist
# Funded inclusionary zoning unlocks the benefits of inclusionary zoning while offsetting its harms. It’s a path to more market-rate housing and more subsidized affordable housing. While funded inclus...
www.theurbanist.org
December 30, 2025 at 10:39 PM
What to do about inclusionary zoning in Seattle? I untangle the mess and show we can BOTH fund it AND allow in-lieu fees.
This is a fair way to get more housing + more affordable housing + keep affordable housing providers whole.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/30/o...
This is a fair way to get more housing + more affordable housing + keep affordable housing providers whole.
www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/30/o...
Reposted
The state’s operating budget will never be able to support highway maintenance activity unless we #LiftTheCap on property tax levy increases to at least CPI + 3%.
December 20, 2025 at 1:52 AM
The state’s operating budget will never be able to support highway maintenance activity unless we #LiftTheCap on property tax levy increases to at least CPI + 3%.
Lift the cap!
Washington’s elected Democrats will do literally everything except #LiftTheCap on property tax levy increases which was instituted by Tim Eyman.
The cap means that our state’s property tax revenue is in perpetual decline in real terms.
The cap means that our state’s property tax revenue is in perpetual decline in real terms.
To be blunt, the state has neglected its core transportation infrastructure for too long.
Today, I announced that I'm proposing $2.1 billion, the largest investment in 2 decades, for preservation and maintenance of our roads and bridges. This is being done without raising taxes.
Today, I announced that I'm proposing $2.1 billion, the largest investment in 2 decades, for preservation and maintenance of our roads and bridges. This is being done without raising taxes.
December 20, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Lift the cap!
Reposted
It is honestly shocking how long we've known the way we build our cities is unsustainable
From the Metro Toronto Planning Board's 1959 draft Official Plan (voted down by Metro Council). You could not say something this obvious in Toronto's Official Plan anymore.
December 20, 2025 at 2:58 AM
It is honestly shocking how long we've known the way we build our cities is unsustainable
Reposted
With all the road washouts, the state transportation budget is going to be a mess. Maybe it's time we started looking at cutting projects that increase highway capacity and induce more sprawl.
Here's $86 million we don't need to spend.
Here's $86 million we don't need to spend.
I-5 - 179th St. Interchange - Interchange Improvements | WSDOT
This project aims to improve mobility for travelers who use the I-5 - Northeast 179th Street interchange. Signalized intersections will be removed and replaced with roundabouts at the on- and off-ramp...
wsdot.wa.gov
December 17, 2025 at 1:10 AM
With all the road washouts, the state transportation budget is going to be a mess. Maybe it's time we started looking at cutting projects that increase highway capacity and induce more sprawl.
Here's $86 million we don't need to spend.
Here's $86 million we don't need to spend.
Reposted
We need the building code to incentivize concrete construction over light wood framing.
Concrete is inherently non-combustible and has good acoustic performance.
Concrete is inherently non-combustible and has good acoustic performance.
This is my first time living in a concrete building and it's unreal how little I hear from my neighbors.
I get far more city noise from the windows than I get from neighbors. And the apartment building next door has a 3rd floor rooftop space that has parties in summer, which can be rough.
I get far more city noise from the windows than I get from neighbors. And the apartment building next door has a 3rd floor rooftop space that has parties in summer, which can be rough.
December 16, 2025 at 12:29 AM
We need the building code to incentivize concrete construction over light wood framing.
Concrete is inherently non-combustible and has good acoustic performance.
Concrete is inherently non-combustible and has good acoustic performance.
Reposted
Representatives April Connors (R-8, Kennewick) and Addison Richards (D-26, Bremerton) have prefiled a bill that would freeze Washington's building code for ten full years.
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
December 15, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Representatives April Connors (R-8, Kennewick) and Addison Richards (D-26, Bremerton) have prefiled a bill that would freeze Washington's building code for ten full years.
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
Important concept: in a housing shortage prices for the lowest priced housing for sale or rent goes up the fastest
December 15, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Important concept: in a housing shortage prices for the lowest priced housing for sale or rent goes up the fastest
Reposted
The front page of the local paper has an article about middle housing - with a quote from @andersem.bsky.social and one of our @yimbyaction.bsky.social chapter leads, Ryan. As well as an article about single stair reform. Not bad!
December 13, 2025 at 6:46 PM
The front page of the local paper has an article about middle housing - with a quote from @andersem.bsky.social and one of our @yimbyaction.bsky.social chapter leads, Ryan. As well as an article about single stair reform. Not bad!
Trump and his people are evil.
Please give this article a read.
Guan Heng's work in collecting on-the-ground intel on these camps is crucial to understanding the human rights crisis in Xinjiang.
He fled China with the footage, entering the U.S. by boat, and applied for asylum.
The Trump administration now wants to deport him.
Guan Heng's work in collecting on-the-ground intel on these camps is crucial to understanding the human rights crisis in Xinjiang.
He fled China with the footage, entering the U.S. by boat, and applied for asylum.
The Trump administration now wants to deport him.
December 14, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Trump and his people are evil.
Reposted
I had a chance to tour the Solis passive house apartment building in Seattle this past weekend.
It's interesting as a #passivhaus in the middle of Capitol Hill, with a view to another green building icon, the Bullitt Centre
>> The passive part is great,
but what caught my eye was the stair.
🧵
It's interesting as a #passivhaus in the middle of Capitol Hill, with a view to another green building icon, the Bullitt Centre
>> The passive part is great,
but what caught my eye was the stair.
🧵
October 21, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I had a chance to tour the Solis passive house apartment building in Seattle this past weekend.
It's interesting as a #passivhaus in the middle of Capitol Hill, with a view to another green building icon, the Bullitt Centre
>> The passive part is great,
but what caught my eye was the stair.
🧵
It's interesting as a #passivhaus in the middle of Capitol Hill, with a view to another green building icon, the Bullitt Centre
>> The passive part is great,
but what caught my eye was the stair.
🧵
For shame
Divided Council Passes New Police Contract That Raises Officer Pay 42 Percent, With Few Accountability Concessions
The contract, which provides $126,000 paychecks to rookie cops after 6 months, also imposes new restrictions on the CARE team of unarmed first responders.
publicola.com/2025/12/10/4...
The contract, which provides $126,000 paychecks to rookie cops after 6 months, also imposes new restrictions on the CARE team of unarmed first responders.
publicola.com/2025/12/10/4...
Divided Council Passes New Police Contract That Raises Officer Pay 42 Percent, With Few Accountability Concessions - PubliCola
The contract, which provides $126,000 paychecks to rookie cops after 6 months, also imposes restrictions on the CARE team of…
publicola.com
December 10, 2025 at 8:18 PM
For shame
Reposted
Learn about housing economics research here:
www.buildingabundance.ca
www.buildingabundance.ca
Building Abundance | Michael Wiebe | Substack
A literature review on housing and infrastructure. Click to read Building Abundance, by Michael Wiebe, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
www.buildingabundance.ca
December 6, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Learn about housing economics research here:
www.buildingabundance.ca
www.buildingabundance.ca
Get organized. Join YIMBY Action.
One of the biggest drivers of high housing costs is that a small, highly motivated group of incumbent homeowners block new housing in their neighborhoods and almost no one is organized to push back.
Young people bear the brunt of that imbalance.
Be a housing fan.
Young people bear the brunt of that imbalance.
Be a housing fan.
December 8, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Get organized. Join YIMBY Action.
Reposted
Lawsuit challenges inclusionary zoning (such as Seattle's MHA program) as unconstitutional
pioneerlegal.org/wp-content/u...
The Constitution "bar[s the] Government
from forcing some people alone to bear public burdens which, in all fairness and justice, should
be borne by the public as a whole.’"
pioneerlegal.org/wp-content/u...
The Constitution "bar[s the] Government
from forcing some people alone to bear public burdens which, in all fairness and justice, should
be borne by the public as a whole.’"
December 7, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Lawsuit challenges inclusionary zoning (such as Seattle's MHA program) as unconstitutional
pioneerlegal.org/wp-content/u...
The Constitution "bar[s the] Government
from forcing some people alone to bear public burdens which, in all fairness and justice, should
be borne by the public as a whole.’"
pioneerlegal.org/wp-content/u...
The Constitution "bar[s the] Government
from forcing some people alone to bear public burdens which, in all fairness and justice, should
be borne by the public as a whole.’"
Reposted
These rules would do a lot of things, but here's @sightline.org's summary of what we see as the most important things www.sightline.org/2025/12/03/n...
New Oregon Rules Will Re-Legalize Neighborhood Apartments | Sightline Institute
Over time, the state zoning standards make space for tens of thousands more homes in Oregon cities.
www.sightline.org
December 4, 2025 at 5:54 PM
These rules would do a lot of things, but here's @sightline.org's summary of what we see as the most important things www.sightline.org/2025/12/03/n...