David V. Auth
@davidlikesbirds.bsky.social
Pictures of birds | Currently at Pitt Law & CMU Heinz | Pitt Law Dems President | #T1D #Insulin4All | #ExpandTheT #HereWeGo
Lifer Lincoln Sparrow at Frick Park this morning
May 2, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Lifer Lincoln Sparrow at Frick Park this morning
Reposted by David V. Auth
Pittsburgh Democrats are using what power they have to combat President Trump's attacks on the Steel City's universities, nonprofits and LGBTQ+ community. www.axios.com/local/pittsb...
Pittsburgh Democrats are pushing back against Trump administration funding cuts
Local leaders rally to protect Pittsburgh's universities, nonprofits and LGBTQ+ services.
www.axios.com
April 29, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Pittsburgh Democrats are using what power they have to combat President Trump's attacks on the Steel City's universities, nonprofits and LGBTQ+ community. www.axios.com/local/pittsb...
Reposted by David V. Auth
This is not how I would want Pittsburgh to make the national news, but @davidzipper.bsky.social gives a succinct description of headwinds our transit faces nationally Cutting service will not get us out of a downward trend, unlocking dedicated funding (state/local) will helps us grow ridership.
Facing dire shortfalls, agencies in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, and other cities could cut transit service by >40%.
In Pittsburgh that would mean:
- 40% of bus lines gone
- Longer waits (and service ends by 11p)
- Suburban service eliminated
In Pittsburgh that would mean:
- 40% of bus lines gone
- Longer waits (and service ends by 11p)
- Suburban service eliminated
‘An absolute crisis’: Pittsburgh Regional Transit proposes massive cuts and higher fares
Pittsburgh Regional Transit announced plans Thursday to slash the region’s transit service by nearly 40% — cutting 41 bus routes entirely, along with major reductions to the T, most bus routes and ACC...
www.wesa.fm
April 28, 2025 at 3:23 PM
This is not how I would want Pittsburgh to make the national news, but @davidzipper.bsky.social gives a succinct description of headwinds our transit faces nationally Cutting service will not get us out of a downward trend, unlocking dedicated funding (state/local) will helps us grow ridership.
The Prothonotary Warbler is basically a lemon with wings
April 27, 2025 at 3:52 PM
The Prothonotary Warbler is basically a lemon with wings
Reposted by David V. Auth
"If we're going to do all this streamlining and upzoning to incentivize market-rate development, we should at least require that a bunch of the housing built be affordable" is an extremely common line from legislators and city councilors.
It sounds superficially reasonable!
This is why it's not.
It sounds superficially reasonable!
This is why it's not.
A couple with a kid each making $55k per year paying for a $2350/month new 1-bedroom shouldn't been the stone we try to squeeze to pay for things like 30% AMI apartments.
April 22, 2025 at 8:44 PM
"If we're going to do all this streamlining and upzoning to incentivize market-rate development, we should at least require that a bunch of the housing built be affordable" is an extremely common line from legislators and city councilors.
It sounds superficially reasonable!
This is why it's not.
It sounds superficially reasonable!
This is why it's not.
Reposted by David V. Auth
Happy Earth Day! Honored to stand with Councilwoman Erika Strassburger at Wightman Park to commit to meaningful climate action and share our vision for a greener, more resilient Pittsburgh.🌱
April 22, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Happy Earth Day! Honored to stand with Councilwoman Erika Strassburger at Wightman Park to commit to meaningful climate action and share our vision for a greener, more resilient Pittsburgh.🌱
Reposted by David V. Auth
Coming October 21st...
"Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile."
A new book about how cars ruin everything and what we can do to fight back.
Pre-order here: www.lifeaftercars.com
"Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile."
A new book about how cars ruin everything and what we can do to fight back.
Pre-order here: www.lifeaftercars.com
April 22, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Coming October 21st...
"Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile."
A new book about how cars ruin everything and what we can do to fight back.
Pre-order here: www.lifeaftercars.com
"Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile."
A new book about how cars ruin everything and what we can do to fight back.
Pre-order here: www.lifeaftercars.com
Got to see the Pacific Loon at Duck Hollow the other day about 30 minutes before it took off.
April 22, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Got to see the Pacific Loon at Duck Hollow the other day about 30 minutes before it took off.
Pileated Woodpecker in Frick Park this morning
April 18, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Pileated Woodpecker in Frick Park this morning
Reposted by David V. Auth
Yeah I'm not one to deny that some amoubt if greenfield development is necessary to end the housing crisis, but there is no reason it needs to be car-centric bedroom communities.
Also, here's a thought: why not densify the sprawl that already exists?
Also, here's a thought: why not densify the sprawl that already exists?
Not a single time in this article glorifying the need for sprawl to address the US's affordable housing crisis is there a mention of the vast transportation costs of sprawling living patterns. Nor is there mention of the fact that sprawl is directly linked to disinvestment in urban cores.
America Needs More Sprawl to Fix Its Housing Crisis
The word has become an epithet for garish, reckless growth — but to fix the housing crisis, the country needs more of it.
www.nytimes.com
April 10, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Yeah I'm not one to deny that some amoubt if greenfield development is necessary to end the housing crisis, but there is no reason it needs to be car-centric bedroom communities.
Also, here's a thought: why not densify the sprawl that already exists?
Also, here's a thought: why not densify the sprawl that already exists?
Lifer Barnacle Goose along the Allegheny this morning
March 30, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Lifer Barnacle Goose along the Allegheny this morning
Reposted by David V. Auth
Lifer Tundra Swan and Canvasback today. Also saw a lifer Virginia Rail for a brief moment but no pics.
March 1, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Lifer Tundra Swan and Canvasback today. Also saw a lifer Virginia Rail for a brief moment but no pics.
Reposted by David V. Auth
HOT RESEARCH NEWS!
Motonormativity ("car brain") is a bias that stops people making rational judgements about driving en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motonor...
Our new study shows where this bias comes from AND how it makes people think they're odd for supporting changes to the transport system 🧵
Motonormativity ("car brain") is a bias that stops people making rational judgements about driving en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motonor...
Our new study shows where this bias comes from AND how it makes people think they're odd for supporting changes to the transport system 🧵
February 17, 2025 at 7:45 AM
HOT RESEARCH NEWS!
Motonormativity ("car brain") is a bias that stops people making rational judgements about driving en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motonor...
Our new study shows where this bias comes from AND how it makes people think they're odd for supporting changes to the transport system 🧵
Motonormativity ("car brain") is a bias that stops people making rational judgements about driving en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motonor...
Our new study shows where this bias comes from AND how it makes people think they're odd for supporting changes to the transport system 🧵
This is what the grind looks like
January 5, 2025 at 5:38 PM
This is what the grind looks like
This Brant (lifer for me) was in an enormous flock of Canada Geese at Schenley Park this morning
December 28, 2024 at 7:17 PM
This Brant (lifer for me) was in an enormous flock of Canada Geese at Schenley Park this morning
Saw some Trumpeter Swans when I was down in MD last week.
December 28, 2024 at 1:57 AM
Saw some Trumpeter Swans when I was down in MD last week.
Reposted by David V. Auth
Urban density preserves nature. Pass it on.
Montana's winning housing reform strategy…
Make it easier to build here... to protect there.
Make it easier to build here... to protect there.
December 9, 2024 at 12:07 AM
Urban density preserves nature. Pass it on.
People who ask "How are you gonna bike when it gets cold out?" when they find out about jackets
a close up of a man covering his ears with his hands in a crowd .
ALT: a close up of a man covering his ears with his hands in a crowd .
media.tenor.com
December 7, 2024 at 9:06 PM
People who ask "How are you gonna bike when it gets cold out?" when they find out about jackets
Reposted by David V. Auth
It’s bad policy with great branding.
December 7, 2024 at 6:31 PM
It’s bad policy with great branding.
Northern Shrike tomorrow after Admin law final
December 3, 2024 at 6:20 PM
Northern Shrike tomorrow after Admin law final
A big issue with IZ is that people believe its a policy that fights exclusionary zoning, which can increase segregation and decrease economic efficiency. If we want to end exclusionary zoning, IZ policies that increase red tape and decrease housing production aren't the answer.
Pittsburgh's IZ mandate in Lawrenceville has reduced housing production by 32% since 2019. Extending IZ citywide in its current form will increase prices and harm affordability. Read our research on the topic here: prohousingpgh.org/pittsburgh-i...
December 3, 2024 at 4:55 PM
A big issue with IZ is that people believe its a policy that fights exclusionary zoning, which can increase segregation and decrease economic efficiency. If we want to end exclusionary zoning, IZ policies that increase red tape and decrease housing production aren't the answer.