Yonah Freemark
@yonahfreemark.com
Transport / Housing / Land Use / Politics / @urbaninstitute.bsky.social / Le progrès ne vaut que s’il est partagé par tous / yonahfreemark.com / thetransportpolitic.com
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How Does the Federal Government Support Housing?
The federal government supports the US housing market through dozens of initiatives administered by several agencies—in total, spending hundreds of billions …
www.urban.org
Think federal government housing aid is focused on low-income families & largely funded by the Department of Housing & Urban Development?
Think again.
In new work @urbaninstitute.bsky.social, we provide a comprehensive account of the US government's many housing supports, which go far beyond HUD 🏘️
Think again.
In new work @urbaninstitute.bsky.social, we provide a comprehensive account of the US government's many housing supports, which go far beyond HUD 🏘️
This isn't even happening, but it really says a lot that this is the president's point of view about affordable housing
Trump on Newsom: "He did something even worse than that. He's now taking a big section of Palisades or some area and he's gonna build low income income where they used to have luxury housing."
November 11, 2025 at 12:31 AM
This isn't even happening, but it really says a lot that this is the president's point of view about affordable housing
Wilson is now leading in the vote count for Seattle mayor by 91 votes. There are still several thousand ballots to count, likely—based on historical examples—to favor Wilson.
Wilson may be the most truly "urbanist" mayoral candidate in the country.
Wilson may be the most truly "urbanist" mayoral candidate in the country.
Who is Katie Wilson?
She’s head of the Seattle Transit Riders Union.
Her platform proposes to massively increase funding for affordable housing, cut red tape for development, shift away from single occupancy cars, & develop the transit network.
And she may well be the next mayor of the city.
She’s head of the Seattle Transit Riders Union.
Her platform proposes to massively increase funding for affordable housing, cut red tape for development, shift away from single occupancy cars, & develop the transit network.
And she may well be the next mayor of the city.
In my spreadsheet (which makes assumptions about fall off, write-ins, probably has mistakes, etc.), Katie needed to average 54.6% to win by a little over 100 votes.
Today she got 54.85%.
A friend says she needs 54.2% from here on out--will do my own math shortly.
Today she got 54.85%.
A friend says she needs 54.2% from here on out--will do my own math shortly.
November 10, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Wilson is now leading in the vote count for Seattle mayor by 91 votes. There are still several thousand ballots to count, likely—based on historical examples—to favor Wilson.
Wilson may be the most truly "urbanist" mayoral candidate in the country.
Wilson may be the most truly "urbanist" mayoral candidate in the country.
Katie Wilson is leading in the Seattle mayor's race!
November 10, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Katie Wilson is leading in the Seattle mayor's race!
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
Urban #research shows that expanded #SNAP work requirements could lead to 2.7 million #families—and 5.4 million people—losing some or all of their monthly SNAP benefits. On average, affected families would see a monthly loss of $254 in food assistance.
Learn more. https://urbn.is/4hMj2Xj
Learn more. https://urbn.is/4hMj2Xj
November 10, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Urban #research shows that expanded #SNAP work requirements could lead to 2.7 million #families—and 5.4 million people—losing some or all of their monthly SNAP benefits. On average, affected families would see a monthly loss of $254 in food assistance.
Learn more. https://urbn.is/4hMj2Xj
Learn more. https://urbn.is/4hMj2Xj
New evidence shows that living in affordable housing (in this case, LIHTC) is associated with small but significant increases in heath for both mothers and infants, compared to those not living in subsidized units.
Affordable Housing During Childhood Improves Long-term Outcomes of Women and their Children
Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...
www.nber.org
November 10, 2025 at 2:07 PM
New evidence shows that living in affordable housing (in this case, LIHTC) is associated with small but significant increases in heath for both mothers and infants, compared to those not living in subsidized units.
Tel Aviv enters the pre-qualifications phase of its massive metro project, which will evenly span 300 km, carry 600 million annual riders, and be completed in 2040
Israel launches first phase of $17 billion Tel Aviv metro megaproject
The Transportation Ministry and NTA - Metropolitan Mass Transit System announced the start of pre-qualification for Israeli and international companies bidding on the Tel Aviv metro’s construction — 7...
www.ynetnews.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Tel Aviv enters the pre-qualifications phase of its massive metro project, which will evenly span 300 km, carry 600 million annual riders, and be completed in 2040
Must-read story from @davecolon.bsky.social on the future renovation of NYC’s Penn Station, which could involve a public-private partnership deal that fleeces riders to pay for an extravagant and unnecessary palace if the deal and structure are designed without the public’s best interest in mind.
Amtrak and Andy Byford's plan to privatize the operation Penn Station could open the door to sticking transit riders with extra fees.
Trump's Penn Station Plan Could Saddle New York Commuters With New Fees - Streetsblog New York City
Amtrak and Andy Byford's plan to privatize the operation Penn Station could open the door to sticking transit riders with extra fees.
buff.ly
November 10, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Must-read story from @davecolon.bsky.social on the future renovation of NYC’s Penn Station, which could involve a public-private partnership deal that fleeces riders to pay for an extravagant and unnecessary palace if the deal and structure are designed without the public’s best interest in mind.
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
This is literally where I am.
I can understand the ACA decision, but the core goal of this shutdown was to try and assert some manner of "the executive branch will follow the goddamn law"
We didn't get that, at all.
I can understand the ACA decision, but the core goal of this shutdown was to try and assert some manner of "the executive branch will follow the goddamn law"
We didn't get that, at all.
Still upset about no power of the purse language. You truly do hate to see it. The Trump admin undertook the most expansive set of illegal budgetary actions of any president in history, and broadcast as loudly as possible they’d keep doing it, and nothing. Budgetary lawlessness.
November 10, 2025 at 2:01 AM
This is literally where I am.
I can understand the ACA decision, but the core goal of this shutdown was to try and assert some manner of "the executive branch will follow the goddamn law"
We didn't get that, at all.
I can understand the ACA decision, but the core goal of this shutdown was to try and assert some manner of "the executive branch will follow the goddamn law"
We didn't get that, at all.
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
Every week, the people who own & run our TV networks tell us whose voices they think should/shouldn't be heard via Sunday show guests. Of 15 guest slots:
🤵♂️ 11 white men (73% of Sunday show guests, but just 29% of US population)
🤫 0 women of color (19% of US)
🙅 0 people under age 46 (54% of US)
🤵♂️ 11 white men (73% of Sunday show guests, but just 29% of US population)
🤫 0 women of color (19% of US)
🙅 0 people under age 46 (54% of US)
November 9, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Every week, the people who own & run our TV networks tell us whose voices they think should/shouldn't be heard via Sunday show guests. Of 15 guest slots:
🤵♂️ 11 white men (73% of Sunday show guests, but just 29% of US population)
🤫 0 women of color (19% of US)
🙅 0 people under age 46 (54% of US)
🤵♂️ 11 white men (73% of Sunday show guests, but just 29% of US population)
🤫 0 women of color (19% of US)
🙅 0 people under age 46 (54% of US)
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
You will own nothing and be happy
November 9, 2025 at 2:59 AM
You will own nothing and be happy
US mortgages at 30 years are already at the high end compared to other wealthy countries, which are more likely to have 20 to 25 year terms. www.oecd.org/content/dam/... Every year the mortgage term is extended, the more interest the household is paying.
November 9, 2025 at 3:05 AM
US mortgages at 30 years are already at the high end compared to other wealthy countries, which are more likely to have 20 to 25 year terms. www.oecd.org/content/dam/... Every year the mortgage term is extended, the more interest the household is paying.
Truly just a mechanism to double down on American household debt
November 9, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Truly just a mechanism to double down on American household debt
The @rpa.org has a really good report on reduced transit fares for low-income households across the country.
Unfortunately, these programs do not enroll all the people who are theoretically qualified to use them.
The report recommends implementing auto-enrollment practices rpa.org/work/reports...
Unfortunately, these programs do not enroll all the people who are theoretically qualified to use them.
The report recommends implementing auto-enrollment practices rpa.org/work/reports...
November 9, 2025 at 12:46 AM
The @rpa.org has a really good report on reduced transit fares for low-income households across the country.
Unfortunately, these programs do not enroll all the people who are theoretically qualified to use them.
The report recommends implementing auto-enrollment practices rpa.org/work/reports...
Unfortunately, these programs do not enroll all the people who are theoretically qualified to use them.
The report recommends implementing auto-enrollment practices rpa.org/work/reports...
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
“woke” is when you acknowledge that black people have contributed to the united states
Two panels commemorating the contribution of Black American soldiers towards the liberation of the Netherlands in World War Two have been quietly removed from a cemetery in Limburg. It follows a complaint by right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation to the American Battle Monuments Commission.
November 8, 2025 at 9:01 PM
“woke” is when you acknowledge that black people have contributed to the united states
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
"Zohran Mamdani will be the first mayor of New York City in decades not to own a car"
Will be exciting to see if he can implement his vision to pedestrianize areas in the congestion pricing zone and dedicate entire streets as combo busways + active transportation
Will be exciting to see if he can implement his vision to pedestrianize areas in the congestion pricing zone and dedicate entire streets as combo busways + active transportation
How Mamdani could push a bold redesign of New York's streets
The mayor-elect has articulated a vision for reshaping the city streets. Janette Sadik-Khan, the former commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation under the Bloomberg Administratio...
www.fastcompany.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:36 PM
"Zohran Mamdani will be the first mayor of New York City in decades not to own a car"
Will be exciting to see if he can implement his vision to pedestrianize areas in the congestion pricing zone and dedicate entire streets as combo busways + active transportation
Will be exciting to see if he can implement his vision to pedestrianize areas in the congestion pricing zone and dedicate entire streets as combo busways + active transportation
Really nice new bikeways in Minneapolis!
New bikeways that have opened (or are very close to opening) in Minneapolis this year:
- Hennepin Avenue S
- University Avenue SE
- 24th Street E
- 1st Avenue S
(1/2)
- Hennepin Avenue S
- University Avenue SE
- 24th Street E
- 1st Avenue S
(1/2)
November 8, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Really nice new bikeways in Minneapolis!
Through the IRS, the Trump administration is giving huge tax breaks to large companies, allowing them to avoid the alternative minimum tax. These are on top of the huge tax breaks in OBBBA. The changes will increase the federal deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars.
How the Trump Administration Is Giving Even More Tax Breaks to the Wealthy
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Through the IRS, the Trump administration is giving huge tax breaks to large companies, allowing them to avoid the alternative minimum tax. These are on top of the huge tax breaks in OBBBA. The changes will increase the federal deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars.
Who is Katie Wilson?
She’s head of the Seattle Transit Riders Union.
Her platform proposes to massively increase funding for affordable housing, cut red tape for development, shift away from single occupancy cars, & develop the transit network.
And she may well be the next mayor of the city.
She’s head of the Seattle Transit Riders Union.
Her platform proposes to massively increase funding for affordable housing, cut red tape for development, shift away from single occupancy cars, & develop the transit network.
And she may well be the next mayor of the city.
In my spreadsheet (which makes assumptions about fall off, write-ins, probably has mistakes, etc.), Katie needed to average 54.6% to win by a little over 100 votes.
Today she got 54.85%.
A friend says she needs 54.2% from here on out--will do my own math shortly.
Today she got 54.85%.
A friend says she needs 54.2% from here on out--will do my own math shortly.
NEW Seattle Numbers---
The Mayor's Race is razor tight.
Harrell 50.74
Wilson 48.86
A little over 4000 vote difference
Wilson just made up a lot of ground.
@komonews
The Mayor's Race is razor tight.
Harrell 50.74
Wilson 48.86
A little over 4000 vote difference
Wilson just made up a lot of ground.
@komonews
November 7, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Who is Katie Wilson?
She’s head of the Seattle Transit Riders Union.
Her platform proposes to massively increase funding for affordable housing, cut red tape for development, shift away from single occupancy cars, & develop the transit network.
And she may well be the next mayor of the city.
She’s head of the Seattle Transit Riders Union.
Her platform proposes to massively increase funding for affordable housing, cut red tape for development, shift away from single occupancy cars, & develop the transit network.
And she may well be the next mayor of the city.
Wilson is heading in the right direction in Seattle’s mayor race…
JUST IN: Katie Wilson cuts Bruce Harrell's lead by more than half with today's ballot drop, cutting her deficit from 9908 votes to 4300 votes.
She won today's batch of 55,952 ballots by 10%; that's *more* than she needed to win the outstanding ballots by.
Over 50K ballots left to count in Seattle.
She won today's batch of 55,952 ballots by 10%; that's *more* than she needed to win the outstanding ballots by.
Over 50K ballots left to count in Seattle.
November 7, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Wilson is heading in the right direction in Seattle’s mayor race…
If you’re not following the Seattle mayor’s race I don’t know if we can be friends
November 7, 2025 at 10:09 PM
If you’re not following the Seattle mayor’s race I don’t know if we can be friends
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
Thanks to the Illinois’ massive investment in transit, Chicago has a bright transit future, with the dawn coming next year:
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
Acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen’s ambitious plan would also expand — from 20 to 30 routes — the so-called “Frequent Bus Network” that provides service “every ten minutes or better” between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
trib.al/Va4Ri0r
trib.al/Va4Ri0r
CTA plans 24-hour service on Orange Line to Midway, thanks to mass transit bailout
Acting CTA President Nora Leerhsen’s ambitious plan would also expand — from 20 to 30 routes — the so-called “Frequent Bus Network” that provides service “every ten minutes or better” between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m.
trib.al
November 7, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Thanks to the Illinois’ massive investment in transit, Chicago has a bright transit future, with the dawn coming next year:
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
—50% increase in every-10-min bus routes to 30 citywide
—8-minute midday headways on rail lines
—24-hour Orange Line service (Red & Blue already have it)
Is it just me or did the national guard really reduce their DC presence since the election? I was used to seeing 10 or so members a day… I’ve seen none over past two days
November 7, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Is it just me or did the national guard really reduce their DC presence since the election? I was used to seeing 10 or so members a day… I’ve seen none over past two days
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
Sorry, but a lack of support for autonomous vehicles is not among Sec Pete's biggest missed opportunities at USDOT.
For instance:
🔹 Failure to stop Tesla from lying about Autopilot, FSD, etc
🔹 Failure to curb car bloat
🔹 Continuing to spend fed $$ on highway expansions that won't fix congestion
For instance:
🔹 Failure to stop Tesla from lying about Autopilot, FSD, etc
🔹 Failure to curb car bloat
🔹 Continuing to spend fed $$ on highway expansions that won't fix congestion
Pete Buttigieg Admits Biden Administration Should've Done More To Grow Autonomous Vehicles — Says DOGE-Like Department 'Makes Tons Of Sense'
Biden-era Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says that the Biden administration could've done more to drive growth in the adoption of autonomous vehicles in the U.S. Autonomous Driving Tech Is Sa...
finance.yahoo.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Sorry, but a lack of support for autonomous vehicles is not among Sec Pete's biggest missed opportunities at USDOT.
For instance:
🔹 Failure to stop Tesla from lying about Autopilot, FSD, etc
🔹 Failure to curb car bloat
🔹 Continuing to spend fed $$ on highway expansions that won't fix congestion
For instance:
🔹 Failure to stop Tesla from lying about Autopilot, FSD, etc
🔹 Failure to curb car bloat
🔹 Continuing to spend fed $$ on highway expansions that won't fix congestion
Reposted by Yonah Freemark
The Trump admin is making the planes run on time in the same way that Mussolini made the trains run on time—by not actually doing it, but by pressuring everyone to just say that’s what’s happening.
If you just cancel flights, then they're actually not late! Brilliant stuff from Sean Duffy here
November 7, 2025 at 2:59 PM
The Trump admin is making the planes run on time in the same way that Mussolini made the trains run on time—by not actually doing it, but by pressuring everyone to just say that’s what’s happening.
One aspect of US political history that I think is underplayed is that on several measures—health care, housing, transportation, basic assistance—by the late 60s/early 70s, the nation was headed in a similar direction as European social democracies. Domestic policy was ambitious & liberal.
And if that blew your mind, read up on the Family Assistance Plan, the proposal from Milton Friedman (!) that Nixon embraced -- would've been essentially a negative income tax for the poor in which they'd get cash payments.
The bizarre tale of President Nixon and his basic income bill
In 1969 President Richard Nixon was on the verge of implementing a basic income for poor families in America. It promised to be a revolutionary step – had the President not changed his mind at t...
thecorrespondent.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:05 AM
One aspect of US political history that I think is underplayed is that on several measures—health care, housing, transportation, basic assistance—by the late 60s/early 70s, the nation was headed in a similar direction as European social democracies. Domestic policy was ambitious & liberal.