Zachary Reaves Brownlee
@scratchthedog.bsky.social
Urbanist. Antiquarian. Menswear. I'm probably missing something.
The Count Dracula of Pennsylvania
The Count Dracula of Pennsylvania
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
i've been weirdly invested in this dog's sweater alteration
IG roodabeguh
IG roodabeguh
December 24, 2025 at 10:32 PM
i've been weirdly invested in this dog's sweater alteration
IG roodabeguh
IG roodabeguh
This might sound heartless or ignorant, but I'm starting to believe that we put too much pressure on the City to fill in for the policy failures of state governments and because of that we don't have enough money to invest in the vital services to keep the city clean.
The Center City Residents' Association will not renew its contract with Center City District for cleanings in 2026. They said its board made the decision because of rising costs.
Some Center City blocks will no longer get sidewalk cleaning
www.inquirer.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:30 AM
This might sound heartless or ignorant, but I'm starting to believe that we put too much pressure on the City to fill in for the policy failures of state governments and because of that we don't have enough money to invest in the vital services to keep the city clean.
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
PA's housing preemption legislation slate is now on the House floor! Includes everything from statewide ADUs, multiplexes, TOD upzoning, and a permit shot clock. This has been a long time coming and will need significant support.
... continuing
- Allowing multiple unit housing in more areas
- Requiring more density by allowed near transit stops
Link(ing the board as a whole because there's five of these pages): www.palegis.us/house/co-spo...
- Allowing multiple unit housing in more areas
- Requiring more density by allowed near transit stops
Link(ing the board as a whole because there's five of these pages): www.palegis.us/house/co-spo...
December 13, 2025 at 2:44 PM
PA's housing preemption legislation slate is now on the House floor! Includes everything from statewide ADUs, multiplexes, TOD upzoning, and a permit shot clock. This has been a long time coming and will need significant support.
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
i like these home details designed for pets
IG meredithsterninteriors
IG meredithsterninteriors
December 11, 2025 at 7:31 AM
i like these home details designed for pets
IG meredithsterninteriors
IG meredithsterninteriors
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
Not enough people show how business tax reform in Philadelphia could lead to meaningful improvements for all incomes and demographics, especially with federal cuts to all levels, and Philly Mag has done a great job at it with this piece
Too often we think of Trump's budget cuts independently: Medicare cuts, university research cuts, SNAP cuts. But in a poor city like Philadelphia, oftentimes these cuts all affect the same vulnerable population.
Tom McGrath with a look at the mess we're in, and how we can maybe work our way out.
Tom McGrath with a look at the mess we're in, and how we can maybe work our way out.
Trump’s Cuts Are Hitting Philly Hard. Can the City Hold On?
Why we are uniquely vulnerable to the president's economic rampage ... and how Philadelphia can (maybe) fortify itself for the future.
www.phillymag.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Not enough people show how business tax reform in Philadelphia could lead to meaningful improvements for all incomes and demographics, especially with federal cuts to all levels, and Philly Mag has done a great job at it with this piece
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
It is amazing how much the Philly progressive agenda on helping low-income folks means housing only (and owner-occupied at that). No wage tax reduction, expansion of free transit, UBI pilot, LIHEAP expansion. I wonder if they've forgotten what it's like to be poor
City Council passed legislation today that would shift more of the city's $800 million HOME funding to lower income Philadelphians. Mayor Parker is not happy: www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...
December 3, 2025 at 5:39 AM
It is amazing how much the Philly progressive agenda on helping low-income folks means housing only (and owner-occupied at that). No wage tax reduction, expansion of free transit, UBI pilot, LIHEAP expansion. I wonder if they've forgotten what it's like to be poor
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
Cities that don't understand this and continue to forego ridehailing fees will suffer the consequence
Uber and Lyft are asset-light businesses, which means they don't have any financial incentive to limit fleet size.
If you own your fleet, you have to utilize it efficiently or lose money. If you don't your only incentive is to lower wait time by constantly trying to grow your supply side.
If you own your fleet, you have to utilize it efficiently or lose money. If you don't your only incentive is to lower wait time by constantly trying to grow your supply side.
Remember all the hype about how Uber and Lyft would allow people to live car-free?
Well, it turns out ridehail has no discernible impact on car ownership at all.
Analysis from Glenn Mercer's excellent newsletter:
glennmercer.substack.com/p/the-impact...
Well, it turns out ridehail has no discernible impact on car ownership at all.
Analysis from Glenn Mercer's excellent newsletter:
glennmercer.substack.com/p/the-impact...
November 12, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Cities that don't understand this and continue to forego ridehailing fees will suffer the consequence
If Shapiro can get invest in nuclear energy and make sure the Commonwealth receives a significant portion of money made from the drilling of natural gas and oil, then I would be okay with this. However, I don't think that is going to happen.
Anywho, amid all this, here's the latest update I got: Shapiro and Democrats may agree to end a statewide program to cap carbon from power plants to appease Senate Republicans and end the 130+ day budget impasse.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/11...
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/11...
November 10, 2025 at 9:36 PM
If Shapiro can get invest in nuclear energy and make sure the Commonwealth receives a significant portion of money made from the drilling of natural gas and oil, then I would be okay with this. However, I don't think that is going to happen.
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
Get in loser, we're bringing brick expressionism back to the US
November 6, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Get in loser, we're bringing brick expressionism back to the US
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
you don't have to put on blackface to get social media attention. you can simply develop mild depression, join a menswear forum, spend the next 15 years arguing about pants, and then weaponize the knowledge against your enemies on social media.
November 4, 2025 at 12:42 AM
you don't have to put on blackface to get social media attention. you can simply develop mild depression, join a menswear forum, spend the next 15 years arguing about pants, and then weaponize the knowledge against your enemies on social media.
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
look how beautifully these trousers hang
November 3, 2025 at 12:31 AM
look how beautifully these trousers hang
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
As much as this administration claims otherwise, it is unable to scale up city services quickly or directly to meaningfully improve everyday lives in the face of a surplus. Or even a faster wage tax reduction
Philly ended their current fiscal year with $1.2B surplus and my neighborhood fb group and preschool are desperately posting all the community fridge locations prepping for the end of SNAP benefits. Let's rebalance that immediately. And buy a street paving machine or two.
October 30, 2025 at 6:22 PM
As much as this administration claims otherwise, it is unable to scale up city services quickly or directly to meaningfully improve everyday lives in the face of a surplus. Or even a faster wage tax reduction
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
people playing music/videos on their phone speakers in public is more than just mildly annoying and is instead a leading indicator of the decline of community and empath
Do you have any extremely niche, but serious, ethical stances?
October 19, 2025 at 8:54 PM
people playing music/videos on their phone speakers in public is more than just mildly annoying and is instead a leading indicator of the decline of community and empath
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
I feel like a crazy person in a tin foil hat when I start going on about how things like this, rampant red-light running, etc are all signs of the deterioration of the social contract and how bad that is
people playing music/videos on their phone speakers in public is more than just mildly annoying and is instead a leading indicator of the decline of community and empath
Do you have any extremely niche, but serious, ethical stances?
October 19, 2025 at 10:13 PM
I feel like a crazy person in a tin foil hat when I start going on about how things like this, rampant red-light running, etc are all signs of the deterioration of the social contract and how bad that is
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
"The community preferred that Vine Street become one lane eastbound. PennDOT would not approve the change. Vine Street is an alternate route for the expressway, and PennDOT says it needs to stay at least two lanes."
PennDOT puts Philly's highways over Philly itself.
www.phila.gov/2025-10-17-c...
PennDOT puts Philly's highways over Philly itself.
www.phila.gov/2025-10-17-c...
October 19, 2025 at 1:24 AM
"The community preferred that Vine Street become one lane eastbound. PennDOT would not approve the change. Vine Street is an alternate route for the expressway, and PennDOT says it needs to stay at least two lanes."
PennDOT puts Philly's highways over Philly itself.
www.phila.gov/2025-10-17-c...
PennDOT puts Philly's highways over Philly itself.
www.phila.gov/2025-10-17-c...
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
heartbroken to learn the pope sympathizes with the poor. how can i continue to believe in god
October 17, 2025 at 5:43 PM
heartbroken to learn the pope sympathizes with the poor. how can i continue to believe in god
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
SEPTA Police will stop you and give you a ticket if you smoke 🚬 Great job SEPTA Police!
October 16, 2025 at 10:11 PM
SEPTA Police will stop you and give you a ticket if you smoke 🚬 Great job SEPTA Police!
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
SEPTA riders say Regional Rail trains catching fire "is what decades of disinvestment looks like."
🔗 www.inquirer.com/transportati...
🔗 www.inquirer.com/transportati...
SEPTA riders say Regional Rail trains catching fire ‘is what decades of disinvestment looks like’
After Harrisburg failed to find recurring funding for mass transit and temporary help from the governor, the Regional Rail crisis has become an emblem of SEPTA's plight.
www.inquirer.com
October 14, 2025 at 9:10 PM
SEPTA riders say Regional Rail trains catching fire "is what decades of disinvestment looks like."
🔗 www.inquirer.com/transportati...
🔗 www.inquirer.com/transportati...
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
It is WILD how many big city mayors think the point of their city is for suburban drivers to crash through them as fast and callously as possible. What a breath of fresh air to imagine a mayor who actually likes their city and the people who live there.
He seems to actually like the city he lives in, which is unusual for NYC mayors
October 14, 2025 at 3:42 PM
It is WILD how many big city mayors think the point of their city is for suburban drivers to crash through them as fast and callously as possible. What a breath of fresh air to imagine a mayor who actually likes their city and the people who live there.
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
"If we get this right, a new revolving loan fund could become a feeder for PHA’s widely-celebrated acquisition strategy, creating a steady pipeline of new buildings for them to buy, and a new source of revenue to maintain their scattered site portfolio."
In this house, we believe in the original Parker campaign pledge to literally build 30,000 new units of housing open.substack.com/pub/buildphi...
The H.O.M.E. Bond Should Fund a New Revolving Construction Loan Fund
Don't just spend the money; recycle it
open.substack.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM
"If we get this right, a new revolving loan fund could become a feeder for PHA’s widely-celebrated acquisition strategy, creating a steady pipeline of new buildings for them to buy, and a new source of revenue to maintain their scattered site portfolio."
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
a friend of mine in antifa told me that antifa's headquarters is SHEIN and if the company fell the whole network would fall
October 10, 2025 at 6:32 PM
a friend of mine in antifa told me that antifa's headquarters is SHEIN and if the company fell the whole network would fall
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
how it feels to wear a sport coat in modern society
October 3, 2025 at 11:21 PM
how it feels to wear a sport coat in modern society
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
really respect lewis hamilton for taking care of his dog. i feel like a lot of celebrities treat animals as playthings or accessories. or they buy an expensive breed and treat it as a status symbol. but he seemingly cared about his dog like a member of his family.
September 29, 2025 at 9:12 PM
really respect lewis hamilton for taking care of his dog. i feel like a lot of celebrities treat animals as playthings or accessories. or they buy an expensive breed and treat it as a status symbol. but he seemingly cared about his dog like a member of his family.
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
Designating Center City as a KOZ is 100% necessary; the Mayor's paltry business tax whittling isn't going to attract office leasing anytime soon. As a compromise with progressive pushback, we could remove KOZs from undeveloped sites in Navy Yard/U City where no one is complaining about job growth!
September 17, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Designating Center City as a KOZ is 100% necessary; the Mayor's paltry business tax whittling isn't going to attract office leasing anytime soon. As a compromise with progressive pushback, we could remove KOZs from undeveloped sites in Navy Yard/U City where no one is complaining about job growth!
Reposted by Zachary Reaves Brownlee
stop trying to make civil war happen
September 14, 2025 at 10:18 PM
stop trying to make civil war happen