Mike English
@mocomikee.bsky.social
Downtown Silver Spring Maryland resident and housing advocate. Trans Rights. Liberal. YIMBY. Supply, Stability, Subsidy. Autistic and it’s fine, views my own. he/him
Pinned
Mike English
@mocomikee.bsky.social
· Nov 16
1/3 There will always be some tension between advocates that primarily focus on the need for more housing and those that focus on tenant protections. Still, as someone in both spaces, we could all benefit from remembering we’re all fighting for tenants to have more leverage
Reposted by Mike English
If you read nothing else this new year, let it be this piece. A former New York Times editor laid out how they're anti trans coverage was directed from the top by AG Sulzberger, Joe Kahn, and Carolyn Ryan. This was a purposeful effort to target trans people.
transnews.network/p/a-directiv...
transnews.network/p/a-directiv...
'A directive from above': Former NYT editor lays out how the paper pushes anti-trans bigotry
In this in-depth interview, former New York Times editor Billie Jean Sweeney details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, how some staff tried to stop it, how it's directe...
transnews.network
January 2, 2026 at 2:43 PM
If you read nothing else this new year, let it be this piece. A former New York Times editor laid out how they're anti trans coverage was directed from the top by AG Sulzberger, Joe Kahn, and Carolyn Ryan. This was a purposeful effort to target trans people.
transnews.network/p/a-directiv...
transnews.network/p/a-directiv...
Reposted by Mike English
I can’t wait for a day when “townhomes are going to be built in a city of 65,000 with 3 train stations to GCT” isn’t worthy of a news story because it’s so routine and expected
link.ctpost.com/click/433285...
link.ctpost.com/click/433285...
Developers propose to build townhouse units a mile apart in Fairfield
One of the Fairfield projects is expected to take 18-24 months to complete.
link.ctpost.com
January 2, 2026 at 1:27 PM
I can’t wait for a day when “townhomes are going to be built in a city of 65,000 with 3 train stations to GCT” isn’t worthy of a news story because it’s so routine and expected
link.ctpost.com/click/433285...
link.ctpost.com/click/433285...
Reposted by Mike English
this is, indeed, a crusade by the people directly running the New York Times to destroy the rights and lives of trans people in this country
they have blood on their hands and they’re proud of it
they have blood on their hands and they’re proud of it
In this in-depth interview Billie Jean Sweeney — a former editor at The New York Times — details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, why this was directed from the very top, how some staff pushed back and the immense damage done by the NYT legitimizing bigotry.
'A directive from above': Former NYT editor lays out how the paper pushes anti-trans bigotry
In this in-depth interview, former New York Times editor Billie Jean Sweeney details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, how some staff tried to stop it, how it's directe...
transnews.network
January 1, 2026 at 7:24 PM
this is, indeed, a crusade by the people directly running the New York Times to destroy the rights and lives of trans people in this country
they have blood on their hands and they’re proud of it
they have blood on their hands and they’re proud of it
Another sign you might be autistic is that you instantly call your own bullshit on skeets that like 20 people see and manifestly don’t matter
I don’t think I used “ebb and flow”
Right but whatever you get it
Right but whatever you get it
January 1, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Another sign you might be autistic is that you instantly call your own bullshit on skeets that like 20 people see and manifestly don’t matter
I’ve been auditing my whole life and I didn’t know it until I became an auditor
Our “5 Cs”, which can be best summarized as “how are things *supposed* to be? Are they? Well fuck, okay what happened and what’s gonna happen if they don’t fix it? Now overthink it six ways to Sunday and tell them what they should do” which… uhhhh see above
January 1, 2026 at 3:56 PM
I’ve been auditing my whole life and I didn’t know it until I became an auditor
For various boring reasons I don’t talk about my job in detail here, but suffice to say if any of this thread about my autism diagnosis rings true for you/ someone you care about, may I recommend looking into the field of internal auditing.
I basically get paid to be autistic at things, it rocks
I basically get paid to be autistic at things, it rocks
5/25 I live alone and do fine independently, I have a good job and “contribute to society” to use a loaded term, I am close to my family and have a lot of friends, my condo isn’t in disarray, etc. and there are a of people on the spectrum like me. Before I get too into detail, a couple of things
January 1, 2026 at 3:53 PM
For various boring reasons I don’t talk about my job in detail here, but suffice to say if any of this thread about my autism diagnosis rings true for you/ someone you care about, may I recommend looking into the field of internal auditing.
I basically get paid to be autistic at things, it rocks
I basically get paid to be autistic at things, it rocks
2025 was a profoundly weird and stressful year in a bunch of ways and to the extent I resolve to do anything it is to try to find a better balance between housing advocacy and self care, as I tend to swing somewhat violently between the two.
Also to keep this in mind ggwash.org/view/97890/2...
Also to keep this in mind ggwash.org/view/97890/2...
2024 GGWash Picks: Why it’s so hard, and so important, to embrace change
2024 GGWash Picks: Not approving zoning changes in Montgomery County won’t make anyone less afraid. But we can make sure that other people aren’t hurt in an effort to placate someone else’s fears.
ggwash.org
January 1, 2026 at 3:32 PM
2025 was a profoundly weird and stressful year in a bunch of ways and to the extent I resolve to do anything it is to try to find a better balance between housing advocacy and self care, as I tend to swing somewhat violently between the two.
Also to keep this in mind ggwash.org/view/97890/2...
Also to keep this in mind ggwash.org/view/97890/2...
Reposted by Mike English
Condos and single family rentals are Good, Actually.
We should have plenty of single family homes you can rent and apartments that you can own.
We should have plenty of single family homes you can rent and apartments that you can own.
A lot of Blueskiers are going to dismiss this observation because of the source, but it is correct. I'll just add that I don't think there's anything special about single-family homes that means they should never be rentals, any more than there's a rule that multifamily units should never be condos.
"America’s Housing Crunch Has the Wrong Villain" www.aei.org/economics/am...
"Institutional investors aren’t the cause of housing distortions but a response to them."
"Institutional investors aren’t the cause of housing distortions but a response to them."
December 31, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Condos and single family rentals are Good, Actually.
We should have plenty of single family homes you can rent and apartments that you can own.
We should have plenty of single family homes you can rent and apartments that you can own.
As you can see the friends’ pibble I’m watching is very fierce.
December 31, 2025 at 1:53 PM
As you can see the friends’ pibble I’m watching is very fierce.
Reposted by Mike English
Baltimore, Howard & Anne Arundel counties.
See also Montgomery county
A recurring problems for Connecticut public policy is that the residents of Fairfield County want to live w/in easy access to jobs, culture, NYC, and the coast but *also* want to imagine they live in rural New England w/no neighbors.
Here’s a 1985 article describing that dynamic.
Here’s a 1985 article describing that dynamic.
December 29, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Baltimore, Howard & Anne Arundel counties.
See also Montgomery county
A recurring problems for Connecticut public policy is that the residents of Fairfield County want to live w/in easy access to jobs, culture, NYC, and the coast but *also* want to imagine they live in rural New England w/no neighbors.
Here’s a 1985 article describing that dynamic.
Here’s a 1985 article describing that dynamic.
December 29, 2025 at 1:21 PM
See also Montgomery county
Reposted by Mike English
A recurring problems for Connecticut public policy is that the residents of Fairfield County want to live w/in easy access to jobs, culture, NYC, and the coast but *also* want to imagine they live in rural New England w/no neighbors.
Here’s a 1985 article describing that dynamic.
Here’s a 1985 article describing that dynamic.
December 29, 2025 at 1:17 PM
A recurring problems for Connecticut public policy is that the residents of Fairfield County want to live w/in easy access to jobs, culture, NYC, and the coast but *also* want to imagine they live in rural New England w/no neighbors.
Here’s a 1985 article describing that dynamic.
Here’s a 1985 article describing that dynamic.
Reposted by Mike English
we’ve been over this
we just did this in Massachusetts
they’re not gonna leave, they’ll whine and bitch and moan and eventually this will raise more money than expected because nowhere they go is actually like the place they’re leaving
we just did this in Massachusetts
they’re not gonna leave, they’ll whine and bitch and moan and eventually this will raise more money than expected because nowhere they go is actually like the place they’re leaving
Billionaires are considering cutting or reducing their ties to California by the end of the year because of a proposed ballot measure that could tax the state’s wealthiest residents.
A Wealth Tax Floated in California Has Billionaires Thinking of Leaving
It’s uncertain whether the proposal will reach the statewide ballot in November, but some billionaires like Peter Thiel and Larry Page may be unwilling to take the risk.
nyti.ms
December 27, 2025 at 12:49 AM
we’ve been over this
we just did this in Massachusetts
they’re not gonna leave, they’ll whine and bitch and moan and eventually this will raise more money than expected because nowhere they go is actually like the place they’re leaving
we just did this in Massachusetts
they’re not gonna leave, they’ll whine and bitch and moan and eventually this will raise more money than expected because nowhere they go is actually like the place they’re leaving
Here is a better non cut off picture
December 25, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Here is a better non cut off picture
Fuck yeah Kingston!
December 25, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Fuck yeah Kingston!
Reposted by Mike English
Remember the 1920s when nobody was left-handed
December 24, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Remember the 1920s when nobody was left-handed
Reposted by Mike English
This incredible story only happens because the kids live in a walkable town with a train station.
December 24, 2025 at 12:44 AM
This incredible story only happens because the kids live in a walkable town with a train station.
Reposted by Mike English
While this website’s lack of algorithm can be boring, I will happily take it over the Threads algo that shows me some variation of “Agree or disagree: people over 65 with paid-off houses should not have to pay property taxes!” post literally every time I open the app.
December 23, 2025 at 8:26 PM
While this website’s lack of algorithm can be boring, I will happily take it over the Threads algo that shows me some variation of “Agree or disagree: people over 65 with paid-off houses should not have to pay property taxes!” post literally every time I open the app.
Friendly regular reminder that landlord greed is constant, not variable, and thus is not the “cause” of high rents just like their charity is not the “cause” of low rents, leverage is the cause.
If they have it, rents are high, if renters have it, they are low.
Advocate accordingly
If they have it, rents are high, if renters have it, they are low.
Advocate accordingly
December 22, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Friendly regular reminder that landlord greed is constant, not variable, and thus is not the “cause” of high rents just like their charity is not the “cause” of low rents, leverage is the cause.
If they have it, rents are high, if renters have it, they are low.
Advocate accordingly
If they have it, rents are high, if renters have it, they are low.
Advocate accordingly
Let it not be said that I won’t shamelessly use the holidays and the travel that comes with it to shamelessly plug my unpaid writing as my own neurodivergence selectively reminds me it exists
What I think about when I think about my hometown
There can be a tension between our nostalgia for our hometowns and the problems we see in our later years. It’s hard to face that our childhoods, and a fairly privileged one in my case, may well have ...
ggwash.org
December 20, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Let it not be said that I won’t shamelessly use the holidays and the travel that comes with it to shamelessly plug my unpaid writing as my own neurodivergence selectively reminds me it exists
Reposted by Mike English
I think there's a lot to this but honestly in my opinion the underlying dynamic that makes Zohran friendly to YIMBY orgs is just that he's heard the case for increased housing supply and agrees with it
One big takeaway from Mamdani bringing YIMBYs into his transition is that advocates can often gain a lot of power by
1.) having useful answers to questions and accurate information
2.) being reasonably polite and pleasant to elected officials
3.) understanding the actual mechanics of government
1.) having useful answers to questions and accurate information
2.) being reasonably polite and pleasant to elected officials
3.) understanding the actual mechanics of government
December 20, 2025 at 5:53 AM
I think there's a lot to this but honestly in my opinion the underlying dynamic that makes Zohran friendly to YIMBY orgs is just that he's heard the case for increased housing supply and agrees with it
Petsitting adventures exhibit 788678283-b
December 17, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Petsitting adventures exhibit 788678283-b
This is an extremely @ad-mastro.bsky.social piece (laudatory)
Come take a ride with me down memory lane and Rockville Pike! This morning I have the perfect Christmastime retail-history/old-building deep dive for you: www.thedeletedscenes.com/p/the-first-...
The First Of Toys 'R' Us
What Do You Think You're Looking At? #245
www.thedeletedscenes.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:20 PM
This is an extremely @ad-mastro.bsky.social piece (laudatory)