Philly Libertarian
@philiberty.bsky.social
Rational, urban, non-edgy, lawyer
#YIMBY #Decrim #OpenBorders
Follow @lpphilly.bsky.social for official content and announcements
#YIMBY #Decrim #OpenBorders
Follow @lpphilly.bsky.social for official content and announcements
Pinned
I'm here to provide the rare libertarian urbanist take. I'm not just a market-is-best guy, I also truly believe in people's rights to pursue their own meaning in life--and that means materially as well. Cities can be the self-ordered chaos to facilitate this, and enrich us in the process.
Not surprised the guy who headlined DOGE isn't willing or able to put in the work to advance a third party alternative. You guys really don't appreciate how hard it is. www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Elon Musk indicates he’s ‘going all in’ on financing the GOP again ahead of midterms
After faltering in his plan to found a new ‘America Party’, the world’s richest person is returning to the GOP fold
www.independent.co.uk
January 2, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Not surprised the guy who headlined DOGE isn't willing or able to put in the work to advance a third party alternative. You guys really don't appreciate how hard it is. www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
On Mamdani's terrible "rugged individualism" vs. "warm collectivism" line, we've been living collectivism for quite a while. Sad to see people from both sides of the current political spectrum--democratic socialists and national conservatives--look to kill the remains of liberalism.
January 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM
On Mamdani's terrible "rugged individualism" vs. "warm collectivism" line, we've been living collectivism for quite a while. Sad to see people from both sides of the current political spectrum--democratic socialists and national conservatives--look to kill the remains of liberalism.
this is very cute and dare I say YIMBY www.inquirer.com/education/se...
‘How does the building not fall down?’: Philly second graders’ quest to learn about a project rising outside their classroom yields adorable answers
Second graders at Fanny Jackson Coppin Elementary guessed that "four thousand million" bricks were used in the massive renovation project on S. 12th Street. They were close - it's 17,500.
www.inquirer.com
December 8, 2025 at 6:41 PM
this is very cute and dare I say YIMBY www.inquirer.com/education/se...
Reposted by Philly Libertarian
There is nothing to say to people who look at a displacement trend driven by cultural preferences, and think they can downzone their way to preservation. You can't prevent elderly Asians from moving out or dying, and you can't prevent non-Asians from moving into old units thanks to fair housing!
December 4, 2025 at 6:24 PM
There is nothing to say to people who look at a displacement trend driven by cultural preferences, and think they can downzone their way to preservation. You can't prevent elderly Asians from moving out or dying, and you can't prevent non-Asians from moving into old units thanks to fair housing!
Rep. Rick Krajewski: "We need to hate rich people again. We need to hate rich people again in this country. Right?" www.youtube.com/shorts/w6QLX...
We need to be ashamed of stoking baseless hatred again in this country.
We need to be ashamed of stoking baseless hatred again in this country.
State Reps Krajewski and Fielder join the DSA Strike Kitchen
YouTube video by Philly DSA
www.youtube.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Rep. Rick Krajewski: "We need to hate rich people again. We need to hate rich people again in this country. Right?" www.youtube.com/shorts/w6QLX...
We need to be ashamed of stoking baseless hatred again in this country.
We need to be ashamed of stoking baseless hatred again in this country.
WAY MO WAYMO! whyy.org/articles/way...
Self-driving car company Waymo is officially expanding to Philadelphia
The company will expand to more than 20 cities, including Pittsburgh and Baltimore, but no word yet on when people will get to ride.
whyy.org
December 3, 2025 at 3:56 PM
WAY MO WAYMO! whyy.org/articles/way...
It's cute how socialists of all stripes love invoking the "Working Families" mantra.
December 2, 2025 at 3:08 PM
It's cute how socialists of all stripes love invoking the "Working Families" mantra.
Reposted by Philly Libertarian
“Yang Jiemin, VP of the state-owned company behind the port, said its highly automated operations require 60% fewer workers than traditional ports. It underscores one advantage Chinese companies have in deploying AI versus the U.S.: no independent labor unions.” www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-r... (🎁🔗)
Robots and AI Are Already Remaking the Chinese Economy
China’s factories and ports are learning to make and export more goods faster, cheaper and with fewer workers.
www.wsj.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:44 PM
“Yang Jiemin, VP of the state-owned company behind the port, said its highly automated operations require 60% fewer workers than traditional ports. It underscores one advantage Chinese companies have in deploying AI versus the U.S.: no independent labor unions.” www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-r... (🎁🔗)
@cmthomasphl.bsky.social, you and your colleagues are free to run for Congress. You must simply resign.
November 19, 2025 at 4:11 PM
@cmthomasphl.bsky.social, you and your colleagues are free to run for Congress. You must simply resign.
Okay, I will be watching PHA with a lot of interest. A leader who expressly bucks unions and employment bloat? I'm impressed.
NEW: The Philadelphia Housing Authority is planning sweeping layoffs that will affect more than 300 of the agency’s 1,200 employees.
Instead of directly employing union electricians, carpenters and other workers, beginning next year, the agency will contract out for those jobs as needed.
Instead of directly employing union electricians, carpenters and other workers, beginning next year, the agency will contract out for those jobs as needed.
Philly Housing Authority plans to lay off more than 300 workers in 2026
The layoffs come as the authority is pursuing an ambitious expansion plan.
www.inquirer.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Okay, I will be watching PHA with a lot of interest. A leader who expressly bucks unions and employment bloat? I'm impressed.
Note that WFP is *primarying* Fetterman. They don't have the balls to act like a real third party and send a candidate into the general election. They aren't a real third party. They are an intramural Democratic group.
Don't expect them to ever act like an opposition.
Don't expect them to ever act like an opposition.
We're primarying John Fetterman.
Last week, Fetterman again sold out working Pennsylvanians. He was the deciding vote for a Republican budget bill that will strip healthcare from over 400,000 Pennsylvanians.
We deserve real working class leadership in the Senate, not a Trump-enabling Democrat.
Last week, Fetterman again sold out working Pennsylvanians. He was the deciding vote for a Republican budget bill that will strip healthcare from over 400,000 Pennsylvanians.
We deserve real working class leadership in the Senate, not a Trump-enabling Democrat.
November 18, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Note that WFP is *primarying* Fetterman. They don't have the balls to act like a real third party and send a candidate into the general election. They aren't a real third party. They are an intramural Democratic group.
Don't expect them to ever act like an opposition.
Don't expect them to ever act like an opposition.
We used to be a real city proud about our free plumbing
All of the excitement over the ‘British single stack’ in the 1970s resulted in a slightly rivalrous memo drafted by an AHJ at the City of Philadelphia.
November 17, 2025 at 10:20 PM
We used to be a real city proud about our free plumbing
Honestly, props to the Mayor for being proactive about this. The race and sex-based discrimination Philly has been engaging in for 40 years (to no avail by its own data) was arguably always unconstitutional, but clearly now it is. www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...
Philadelphia is halting the use of some diversity targets in city contracts as national DEI backlash grows
The changes made by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker's administration represent a major shift in the city’s diversity initiatives and come as such programs are under attack nationwide.
www.inquirer.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Honestly, props to the Mayor for being proactive about this. The race and sex-based discrimination Philly has been engaging in for 40 years (to no avail by its own data) was arguably always unconstitutional, but clearly now it is. www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...
The key thing here is that the timing was during the primary. It was specifically Hillary's goal to have Trump win the Republican primary, as perceived him to be the easiest to win against. So maybe that was animating the NY Times...
“would you like photos of donald and girls in bikinis in my kitchen?” -Jeffrey Epstein
November 12, 2025 at 11:36 PM
The key thing here is that the timing was during the primary. It was specifically Hillary's goal to have Trump win the Republican primary, as perceived him to be the easiest to win against. So maybe that was animating the NY Times...
This article mentions that Philly requires merchants to provide "exact change." Do you think Philadelphia City Council will do anything to help businesses transition by relaxing the requirement? Fat chance! www.cnn.com/2025/11/12/b...
The last-ever penny will be minted today in Philadelphia | CNN Business
The American penny will pass away later today after a prolonged illness. It was 238 years old.
www.cnn.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:52 PM
This article mentions that Philly requires merchants to provide "exact change." Do you think Philadelphia City Council will do anything to help businesses transition by relaxing the requirement? Fat chance! www.cnn.com/2025/11/12/b...
Reposted by Philly Libertarian
In 2018, then-Mayor Ada Colau called Barcelona’s new 30% inclusionary housing requirement for projects over 600m^2 a “paradigm shift,” making housing “a right and not a commodity.” It was supposed to produce 330 affordable units a year. The reality: just 31 affordable apartments in all these years.
Cuando se ha aprobó esta medida dije repetidamente que iba a ser un fracaso y que no construirían nada de vivienda asequible. Se ha probado en mil sitios y no funciona.
Acerté. www.lavanguardia.com/local/barcel...
Acerté. www.lavanguardia.com/local/barcel...
La reserva del 30% solo ha generado 31 nuevas viviendas protegidas en siete años en Barcelona
Otros 123 pisos disponen de licencia ya aprobada, mientras los gremios afectados reclaman un marco legal estable para poder despertar al sector de su letargo
www.lavanguardia.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:28 PM
In 2018, then-Mayor Ada Colau called Barcelona’s new 30% inclusionary housing requirement for projects over 600m^2 a “paradigm shift,” making housing “a right and not a commodity.” It was supposed to produce 330 affordable units a year. The reality: just 31 affordable apartments in all these years.
Philadelphia City Councilmember Quetcy Lozada has introduced a bill to prohibit assisted living facilities and SROs in all residential lots in her district. Why? phila.legistar.com/LegislationD...
City of Philadelphia - File #: 250949
Title: Amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Zoning and Planning” to establish Seventh District Overlay District and restrict certain residential uses, under certain terms and conditi...
phila.legistar.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Philadelphia City Councilmember Quetcy Lozada has introduced a bill to prohibit assisted living facilities and SROs in all residential lots in her district. Why? phila.legistar.com/LegislationD...
I have one neat trick for these people worried about investors buying up single-family homes to rent them out: allow the unfettered construction of dense rental housing. whyy.org/articles/phi...
What Philly’s corporate investors mean for renters and homebuyers
A new study finds investors are snapping up properties in neighborhoods like Germantown and Cobbs Creek — and it could change who can afford to live there.
whyy.org
October 27, 2025 at 8:53 PM
I have one neat trick for these people worried about investors buying up single-family homes to rent them out: allow the unfettered construction of dense rental housing. whyy.org/articles/phi...
What a tragic waste of so many people's lives and childhoods.
New from me:
Elite law firms, multiple media outlets, the D.C. attorney general, and a group of parents accused a teacher of molesting 15 kids. They were wrong.
This piece is two-and-a-half years in the making. And as you'll see, it took some incredible turns, even as I was reporting it.
Elite law firms, multiple media outlets, the D.C. attorney general, and a group of parents accused a teacher of molesting 15 kids. They were wrong.
This piece is two-and-a-half years in the making. And as you'll see, it took some incredible turns, even as I was reporting it.
Accusing Jordan Silverman
A D.C. teaching assistant was accused of molesting up to 15 kids. Multiple law enforcement agencies cleared him. But his nightmare was just beginning.
radleybalko.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 1:33 PM
What a tragic waste of so many people's lives and childhoods.
Wonderful, the Philly Republican who can't get anything done on transit is looking to tax sex workers instead (and paid porn generally). What an awful idea. reason.com/2025/10/22/p...
Pennsylvania lawmakers propose titty tax
The tax would apply to 'subscriptions to and one-time purchases from online adult content platforms,' according to a memo.
reason.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Wonderful, the Philly Republican who can't get anything done on transit is looking to tax sex workers instead (and paid porn generally). What an awful idea. reason.com/2025/10/22/p...
Remember to paper your backroom deals for free city property. inquirer.com/news/polish-...
Yeesh, another property that should just be sold off to defray general taxes.
Yeesh, another property that should just be sold off to defray general taxes.
A Polish museum got a free Society Hill home for nearly 40 years. Then the city evicted it.
For decades, City Hall never questioned whether the nonprofit actually owned the building at 308 Walnut St.
inquirer.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Remember to paper your backroom deals for free city property. inquirer.com/news/polish-...
Yeesh, another property that should just be sold off to defray general taxes.
Yeesh, another property that should just be sold off to defray general taxes.
"So, why lambast KIPP and not Blaine? Why not the dozens of other Philly schools producing similar — or often worse — results?
The answer to these questions is simple: Charter schools threaten the District’s monopoly on education." thephiladelphiacitizen.org/guest-commen...
The answer to these questions is simple: Charter schools threaten the District’s monopoly on education." thephiladelphiacitizen.org/guest-commen...
Guest Commentary: Philadelphia’s Educational Double Standard
No school should fail its students. So, David Hardy asks, why does Philly’s Board of Education hold only some accountable?
thephiladelphiacitizen.org
October 10, 2025 at 10:30 AM
"So, why lambast KIPP and not Blaine? Why not the dozens of other Philly schools producing similar — or often worse — results?
The answer to these questions is simple: Charter schools threaten the District’s monopoly on education." thephiladelphiacitizen.org/guest-commen...
The answer to these questions is simple: Charter schools threaten the District’s monopoly on education." thephiladelphiacitizen.org/guest-commen...
City Council is directly retaliating against political critics. They sicced L&I on food truck owners who dared oppose Council's wrong-headed expanded curfew. If you want to oppose Trump's abuse of gov't, you should oppose this one too. reason.com/2025/09/19/p...
Philadelphia punished small businesses for opposing curfew, say food truck owners
Philadelphia food truck owners found that inspectors took a special interest in them after they publicly opposed a new business curfew.
reason.com
September 19, 2025 at 2:40 PM
City Council is directly retaliating against political critics. They sicced L&I on food truck owners who dared oppose Council's wrong-headed expanded curfew. If you want to oppose Trump's abuse of gov't, you should oppose this one too. reason.com/2025/09/19/p...
@stephenjacobsmith.com were you the one who told me that fire department lobbyists prevent any real independent data collection? I have someone who's interested in fire dep't mission creep into EMS and generally their corruption. Any new sources to go to?
September 18, 2025 at 1:46 PM
@stephenjacobsmith.com were you the one who told me that fire department lobbyists prevent any real independent data collection? I have someone who's interested in fire dep't mission creep into EMS and generally their corruption. Any new sources to go to?