Robert Hale
@rdhale92.bsky.social
Metabolomics researcher at the Yale School of Medicine. @etany.bsky.social member. YIMBY. Construction cost subculturist. Believer in excellent service that charges a fare.
Reposted by Robert Hale
Ahhhhh yes ”monarchy” is when the duly elected bicameral legislature passes a bill according to the state’s constitutional provisions and then is signed by the twice-elected Governor
Losers who have no answers to an increasingly unaffordable Connecticut
Losers who have no answers to an increasingly unaffordable Connecticut
November 12, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Ahhhhh yes ”monarchy” is when the duly elected bicameral legislature passes a bill according to the state’s constitutional provisions and then is signed by the twice-elected Governor
Losers who have no answers to an increasingly unaffordable Connecticut
Losers who have no answers to an increasingly unaffordable Connecticut
Reposted by Robert Hale
A wealthy safe streets advocate could do the most good by paying a team of maybe a half dozen journalists to aggressively and comprehensively report every single traffic death in every major city. Depicting the horrifying human cost, FOIing PDs and DOTS, contextualizing it in policy choices, etc.
November 9, 2025 at 5:55 PM
A wealthy safe streets advocate could do the most good by paying a team of maybe a half dozen journalists to aggressively and comprehensively report every single traffic death in every major city. Depicting the horrifying human cost, FOIing PDs and DOTS, contextualizing it in policy choices, etc.
Reposted by Robert Hale
One thing the mayor-elect could do between now and January 1 is to call on Kathy Hochul to veto the bill on her desk that would ban one-person train operations in the NYC subway. Mamdani was absent the day of the vote, and banning OPTO is incompatible with lower cost (or free) transit.
November 6, 2025 at 10:12 PM
One thing the mayor-elect could do between now and January 1 is to call on Kathy Hochul to veto the bill on her desk that would ban one-person train operations in the NYC subway. Mamdani was absent the day of the vote, and banning OPTO is incompatible with lower cost (or free) transit.
Reposted by Robert Hale
extremely online posters: “abundance vs. populism is a battle for the future of the Democratic Party!”
Bernie Sanders: ya abundance is absolutely correct, we need to make it easier to do good things like build health clinics. that’s just common sense
Bernie Sanders: ya abundance is absolutely correct, we need to make it easier to do good things like build health clinics. that’s just common sense
November 3, 2025 at 6:36 PM
extremely online posters: “abundance vs. populism is a battle for the future of the Democratic Party!”
Bernie Sanders: ya abundance is absolutely correct, we need to make it easier to do good things like build health clinics. that’s just common sense
Bernie Sanders: ya abundance is absolutely correct, we need to make it easier to do good things like build health clinics. that’s just common sense
Ok, fine, I can see some Conservadem campaigns making sense, but it's weird to trot out reproductive rights-where the Democratic position has supermajority support, as the first issue to pragmatically move right on. www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8iw...
This Is How the Democratic Party Beats Trump | The Ezra Klein Show
YouTube video by The Ezra Klein Show
www.youtube.com
November 3, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Ok, fine, I can see some Conservadem campaigns making sense, but it's weird to trot out reproductive rights-where the Democratic position has supermajority support, as the first issue to pragmatically move right on. www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8iw...
Reposted by Robert Hale
The funny/sad/enraging thing about this is that the competent technocrats who worked for Mayor Bloomberg would never survive a minute under Mayor Cuomo, since the one thing the man has experience doing is pushing out qualified, competent people.
NEWS: Mike Bloomberg is back off the sidelines, suggesting he may see some movement in the NYC mayor's race. He just gave $1.5 million to Fix the City, the pro-Cuomo, anti-Mamdani super PAC. W/ Nick Fandos www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/n...
Bloomberg Gives $1.5 Million to Pro-Cuomo Super PAC
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 11:38 PM
The funny/sad/enraging thing about this is that the competent technocrats who worked for Mayor Bloomberg would never survive a minute under Mayor Cuomo, since the one thing the man has experience doing is pushing out qualified, competent people.
Reposted by Robert Hale
NEW: The OneLIC plan has been approved by the @Council.nyc.gov Zoning Committee!!!
This will bring over 14,000 new homes — including over 4,000 permanently affordable — to a transit-accessible area of Long Island City. This is NYC's largest neighborhood rezoning in decades.
This will bring over 14,000 new homes — including over 4,000 permanently affordable — to a transit-accessible area of Long Island City. This is NYC's largest neighborhood rezoning in decades.
October 29, 2025 at 9:07 PM
NEW: The OneLIC plan has been approved by the @Council.nyc.gov Zoning Committee!!!
This will bring over 14,000 new homes — including over 4,000 permanently affordable — to a transit-accessible area of Long Island City. This is NYC's largest neighborhood rezoning in decades.
This will bring over 14,000 new homes — including over 4,000 permanently affordable — to a transit-accessible area of Long Island City. This is NYC's largest neighborhood rezoning in decades.
Reposted by Robert Hale
We should have nicer housing for rich people too.
Have people seen what a million buys in NYC? Welcome to your 1 bedroom apartment in Brooklyn heights. Ridiculous.
Have people seen what a million buys in NYC? Welcome to your 1 bedroom apartment in Brooklyn heights. Ridiculous.
Voting to ease regulations for more affordable housing is NOT the answer, and is not effective. What we should be aiming for are ways to take the million dollar profit off the table. Anyone becoming rich on “affordable housing” is not creating affordable housing. It’s an oxymoron.
October 25, 2025 at 9:56 PM
We should have nicer housing for rich people too.
Have people seen what a million buys in NYC? Welcome to your 1 bedroom apartment in Brooklyn heights. Ridiculous.
Have people seen what a million buys in NYC? Welcome to your 1 bedroom apartment in Brooklyn heights. Ridiculous.
Reposted by Robert Hale
This is what SB 79 initially did but housing nonprofits could not understand it and killed it. However its inportant because without grocery stores and commercial activities on transit property everyone is going to own cars.
There's an entire TOD agenda for suburbia and I literally can't find a single US YIMBY who is pushing it. The problem is that US YIMBY laser-focuses on residential development, whereas what suburban TOD needs is commercial development at the train station, replacing the parking lots.
September 24, 2025 at 3:10 PM
This is what SB 79 initially did but housing nonprofits could not understand it and killed it. However its inportant because without grocery stores and commercial activities on transit property everyone is going to own cars.
Reposted by Robert Hale
hakeem jeffries sees his highest political calling as sniping on brooklyn democratic factional battles and new yorkers should have the opportunity to vote to free up his calendar so he can devote more time to that
September 15, 2025 at 12:50 AM
hakeem jeffries sees his highest political calling as sniping on brooklyn democratic factional battles and new yorkers should have the opportunity to vote to free up his calendar so he can devote more time to that
Reposted by Robert Hale
I wrote up my thoughts about Abundance Conference publiccomment.blog/p/when-is-a-...
When is a tent too big?
Regarding Abundance Conference 2025
publiccomment.blog
September 7, 2025 at 11:18 PM
I wrote up my thoughts about Abundance Conference publiccomment.blog/p/when-is-a-...
Reposted by Robert Hale
The biggest problem American liberalism faces is how to maintain high levels of immigration while respecting the democratic will of the public. I have an idea.
www.theargumentmag.com/p/liberals-d...
www.theargumentmag.com/p/liberals-d...
Liberals don’t have to lose on immigration
“Moderating” on immigration doesn't mean abandoning it
www.theargumentmag.com
September 5, 2025 at 1:43 PM
The biggest problem American liberalism faces is how to maintain high levels of immigration while respecting the democratic will of the public. I have an idea.
www.theargumentmag.com/p/liberals-d...
www.theargumentmag.com/p/liberals-d...
Reposted by Robert Hale
Nonsense like this is why perception and reality don’t align. Most of the city is “blocks away” from the subway. This had nothing to do with the subway. And yet, here’s a crappy dishonest headline.
September 4, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Nonsense like this is why perception and reality don’t align. Most of the city is “blocks away” from the subway. This had nothing to do with the subway. And yet, here’s a crappy dishonest headline.
Reposted by Robert Hale
“From Hartford, Vernon and Cromwell to New Haven, Shelton and Brookfield, about 780 apartments have either been built, approved or proposed in former hotels.”
The article makes it sound like a lot, but for context that’s about .05% of CT’s 1.5 million homes.
www.ctinsider.com/news/article...
The article makes it sound like a lot, but for context that’s about .05% of CT’s 1.5 million homes.
www.ctinsider.com/news/article...
CT housing shortage, post-COVID climate behind new wave of hotel conversions to apartments
From Hartford, Vernon and Cromwell to New Haven, Shelton and Brookfield, about 780 apartments have either been built, approved or proposed in former hotels over the past year.
www.ctinsider.com
September 1, 2025 at 12:51 AM
“From Hartford, Vernon and Cromwell to New Haven, Shelton and Brookfield, about 780 apartments have either been built, approved or proposed in former hotels.”
The article makes it sound like a lot, but for context that’s about .05% of CT’s 1.5 million homes.
www.ctinsider.com/news/article...
The article makes it sound like a lot, but for context that’s about .05% of CT’s 1.5 million homes.
www.ctinsider.com/news/article...
My landlord installed a dishwasher in my unit shortly before I moved in, probably to lower the water bill. I get my meditative hand washing in by cleaning my cutting boards and knives; the dishwasher handles everything else way better.
I see zero evidence dishwashers are going out of fashion as an architect (either in rentals or single family homes). Modern dishwashers require almost no rinsing and hand washing wastes a ton of water
www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/ar...
www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/ar...
Why Dishwashers Are Quietly Disappearing From American Homes
Dishwashers are losing popularity as Americans choose handwashing over 4-hour cycles, high costs, and space constraints in modern kitchens.
www.yahoo.com
August 31, 2025 at 4:02 AM
My landlord installed a dishwasher in my unit shortly before I moved in, probably to lower the water bill. I get my meditative hand washing in by cleaning my cutting boards and knives; the dishwasher handles everything else way better.
Hours? The 1-hour cycle on my pretty basic 18-inch dishwasher works fine for anything that isn't caked in grease.
The evidence provided in this article, a TikTok trend
August 31, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Hours? The 1-hour cycle on my pretty basic 18-inch dishwasher works fine for anything that isn't caked in grease.
Reposted by Robert Hale
I'm sure these barriers have a modest impact, they're cheap, and at minimum, people who are worried about falling onto the tracks can stand behind them.
But, wow, they are a funny excuse for actual barriers, which actually prevent people from falling in. They're the sombritas of platform doors.
But, wow, they are a funny excuse for actual barriers, which actually prevent people from falling in. They're the sombritas of platform doors.
You'll now find platform barriers on the local side of the 96th Street train station. www.westsiderag.com/2025/08/27/p...
Platform Barriers Installed at Major Upper West Side Train Station
Protective edge gates recently installed at the 96th Street station on the Upper West Side. Photos by Gus Saltonstall By
www.westsiderag.com
August 27, 2025 at 6:47 PM
I'm sure these barriers have a modest impact, they're cheap, and at minimum, people who are worried about falling onto the tracks can stand behind them.
But, wow, they are a funny excuse for actual barriers, which actually prevent people from falling in. They're the sombritas of platform doors.
But, wow, they are a funny excuse for actual barriers, which actually prevent people from falling in. They're the sombritas of platform doors.
Reposted by Robert Hale
PATH’s ability to grow ridership while it catches on fire every other day and barely runs weekend service is astounding to me. Shows the sheer latent demand - imagine what these numbers would look like if PATH was a functional rapid transit system.
With June FTA data out, a look at ridership for different modes for the 1st half of 2025.
DC's success is well known but I'm impressed with SEPTA's growth after a recent rebrand, Boston has righted the ship, & CTA is muddling along. I love LA but it's crazy it barely has more ridership than Miami
DC's success is well known but I'm impressed with SEPTA's growth after a recent rebrand, Boston has righted the ship, & CTA is muddling along. I love LA but it's crazy it barely has more ridership than Miami
August 8, 2025 at 7:09 PM
PATH’s ability to grow ridership while it catches on fire every other day and barely runs weekend service is astounding to me. Shows the sheer latent demand - imagine what these numbers would look like if PATH was a functional rapid transit system.
Yawn. A serious effort to redo 14th would consist of telling the DOT to look up what to do in the NACTO manual and get after it. newyorkyimby.com/2025/07/mayo...
Mayor Adams Announces Public-Private Partnership To Reimagine 14th Street Corridor in Manhattan - New York YIMBY
Renderings reveal the proposed 14th Street corridor overhaul from Marvel in Manhattan.
newyorkyimby.com
July 31, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Yawn. A serious effort to redo 14th would consist of telling the DOT to look up what to do in the NACTO manual and get after it. newyorkyimby.com/2025/07/mayo...
Reposted by Robert Hale
A lot has happened to PATH in the past 25 years -- 9/11, major construction work, COVID, etc. But consistent across all of these events have been ensuing reductions in off-pk service levels: since 2005, the number of PATH trips crossing the Hudson on Saturdays has fallen by *50%*
July 27, 2025 at 4:19 PM
A lot has happened to PATH in the past 25 years -- 9/11, major construction work, COVID, etc. But consistent across all of these events have been ensuing reductions in off-pk service levels: since 2005, the number of PATH trips crossing the Hudson on Saturdays has fallen by *50%*
Reposted by Robert Hale
NYC subway needs exit numbering tho. Lifesaver in Tokyo
July 13, 2025 at 12:26 AM
NYC subway needs exit numbering tho. Lifesaver in Tokyo
Hmm, if you're going to be digging tunnels, I see more value in digging them for the RER (B/D Nord-Châtelet, Montparnasse, making the C useful) and a cross-Paris TGV than diluting the 1 and adding more métro mileage way out in the banlieue.
Paris region/Île-de-France will study 15 metro line extensions, planning to rank them by 2027 to determine next steps. These projects will extend the metro further into the suburbs, complementing the Grand Paris Express program now under construction.
presse.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/metro-la-reg...
presse.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/metro-la-reg...
July 4, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Hmm, if you're going to be digging tunnels, I see more value in digging them for the RER (B/D Nord-Châtelet, Montparnasse, making the C useful) and a cross-Paris TGV than diluting the 1 and adding more métro mileage way out in the banlieue.
Reposted by Robert Hale
July 2023 vs. July 2025.
How 200k+ growth vs 147k growth is described...
What are we doing here people?
How 200k+ growth vs 147k growth is described...
What are we doing here people?
July 3, 2025 at 1:34 PM
July 2023 vs. July 2025.
How 200k+ growth vs 147k growth is described...
What are we doing here people?
How 200k+ growth vs 147k growth is described...
What are we doing here people?
Reposted by Robert Hale
A 30+ year old design, locked in for at least another 40 years to come.
Clearly none of the design improvements that @mta.info used for the R211 subway cars has trickled down to @mtalirr.bsky.social. An utter lack of any imagination.
Clearly none of the design improvements that @mta.info used for the R211 subway cars has trickled down to @mtalirr.bsky.social. An utter lack of any imagination.
June 24, 2025 at 7:19 PM
A 30+ year old design, locked in for at least another 40 years to come.
Clearly none of the design improvements that @mta.info used for the R211 subway cars has trickled down to @mtalirr.bsky.social. An utter lack of any imagination.
Clearly none of the design improvements that @mta.info used for the R211 subway cars has trickled down to @mtalirr.bsky.social. An utter lack of any imagination.