Matt Emmons
@memmons.bsky.social
Urbanism, politics, ecology, maps, sports or whatever
Reposted by Matt Emmons
Like, it's really not rocket science. Even the dumbest Ontarian driver could understand what those means. And that the funnily shaped traffic light is none of his business.
November 26, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Like, it's really not rocket science. Even the dumbest Ontarian driver could understand what those means. And that the funnily shaped traffic light is none of his business.
Reposted by Matt Emmons
#Montreal 's just leap-frogged other cities in North America by opening the REM.
Automated. Electric. Frequent (2.5 minute headways). Fast (100 km/h plus). Cheap to build. (One tenth the price of other systems)
And really fun to ride...
🧵
Automated. Electric. Frequent (2.5 minute headways). Fast (100 km/h plus). Cheap to build. (One tenth the price of other systems)
And really fun to ride...
🧵
November 26, 2025 at 2:17 PM
#Montreal 's just leap-frogged other cities in North America by opening the REM.
Automated. Electric. Frequent (2.5 minute headways). Fast (100 km/h plus). Cheap to build. (One tenth the price of other systems)
And really fun to ride...
🧵
Automated. Electric. Frequent (2.5 minute headways). Fast (100 km/h plus). Cheap to build. (One tenth the price of other systems)
And really fun to ride...
🧵
Reposted by Matt Emmons
🚨We analyzed 138 million geocoded property tax records to quantify how municipal boundaries spatially overlap onto economic segregation in every US metro area—creating disparities in localities’ ability to fund public goods. And we made an interactive map of our results! [1/16]
November 24, 2025 at 4:31 PM
🚨We analyzed 138 million geocoded property tax records to quantify how municipal boundaries spatially overlap onto economic segregation in every US metro area—creating disparities in localities’ ability to fund public goods. And we made an interactive map of our results! [1/16]
Reposted by Matt Emmons
This is a very cool paper with a clever identification strategy to test the causal impact of the opioid epidemic on various political outcomes.
A key point that’s not in the abstract —causal mechanism is voters agreed with GOP tough on crime rhetoric and policy.
A key point that’s not in the abstract —causal mechanism is voters agreed with GOP tough on crime rhetoric and policy.
Recently accepted by #QJE, “Republican Support and Economic Hardship: The Enduring Effects of the Opioid Epidemic,” by Arteaga (@caroartc.bsky.social) and Barone (@vickybarone.bsky.social): doi.org/10.1093/qje/...
Republican Support and Economic Hardship: The Enduring Effects Of the Opioid Epidemic
Abstract. In this paper, we establish a causal connection between two of the most salient social developments in the United States over the past decades: t
doi.org
November 24, 2025 at 12:17 AM
This is a very cool paper with a clever identification strategy to test the causal impact of the opioid epidemic on various political outcomes.
A key point that’s not in the abstract —causal mechanism is voters agreed with GOP tough on crime rhetoric and policy.
A key point that’s not in the abstract —causal mechanism is voters agreed with GOP tough on crime rhetoric and policy.
Reposted by Matt Emmons
The benchmark for affordability in this case is that until about 2000, Americans born outside major cities who moved to major cities saw their incomes net of rent rise; this century, only ones who have college degrees do, because the urban rent premium has outpaced the urban wage premium.
November 20, 2025 at 6:12 PM
The benchmark for affordability in this case is that until about 2000, Americans born outside major cities who moved to major cities saw their incomes net of rent rise; this century, only ones who have college degrees do, because the urban rent premium has outpaced the urban wage premium.
Reposted by Matt Emmons
Charting number of rental units in apartment buildings in Toronto by year of construction
(This is a quick update to a similar chart I made ~2.5 years ago)
#toronto #housing #dataviz #NationalHousingDay
(This is a quick update to a similar chart I made ~2.5 years ago)
#toronto #housing #dataviz #NationalHousingDay
November 22, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Charting number of rental units in apartment buildings in Toronto by year of construction
(This is a quick update to a similar chart I made ~2.5 years ago)
#toronto #housing #dataviz #NationalHousingDay
(This is a quick update to a similar chart I made ~2.5 years ago)
#toronto #housing #dataviz #NationalHousingDay
Reposted by Matt Emmons
No mention of Land Value Tax 🥲
Toronto Star: Why hundreds of empty lots are stuck in limbo
www.thestar.com/news/gta/why...
Toronto Star: Why hundreds of empty lots are stuck in limbo
www.thestar.com/news/gta/why...
Why hundreds of empty Toronto lots are stuck in limbo, attracting garbage, pests — and the anger of their neighbours
They may one day be home to towering condos, but for now, they are unkempt empty lots that attract pests and garbage — and the anger of nearby neighbours.
www.thestar.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:42 PM
No mention of Land Value Tax 🥲
Toronto Star: Why hundreds of empty lots are stuck in limbo
www.thestar.com/news/gta/why...
Toronto Star: Why hundreds of empty lots are stuck in limbo
www.thestar.com/news/gta/why...
Reposted by Matt Emmons
The idea of putting almost all growth into a few "Urban Growth Centres" has really messed up people's minds about what a city is. www.thestar.com/news/gta/law...
November 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The idea of putting almost all growth into a few "Urban Growth Centres" has really messed up people's minds about what a city is. www.thestar.com/news/gta/law...
Reposted by Matt Emmons
How much of the perceived difference in lifestyle preferences between the US and Europe can be explained by building codes? Could it be that fewer Americans choose apartments, because America’s peculiar building codes make apartments expensive?🧵
November 19, 2025 at 10:48 PM
How much of the perceived difference in lifestyle preferences between the US and Europe can be explained by building codes? Could it be that fewer Americans choose apartments, because America’s peculiar building codes make apartments expensive?🧵
Reposted by Matt Emmons
An idea that slashes capacity, reduces access, ends walk-up riding and ultimately saves basically nothing.
Microtransit is a threat to public transportation, not its savior.
Case in point: In Dallas, wealthy suburbs are using microtransit as an excuse to ditch DART, the regional transit system.
Case in point: In Dallas, wealthy suburbs are using microtransit as an excuse to ditch DART, the regional transit system.
What Will Replace DART if Cities End Their Contracts?
Two cities allowing voters to elect to leave DART in May have offered microtransit systems as an alternative. They're flawed.
www.dallasobserver.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:17 PM
An idea that slashes capacity, reduces access, ends walk-up riding and ultimately saves basically nothing.
Reposted by Matt Emmons
Meanwhile, conservationists are recording birdsong to understand the effects of their forest reclamation work. Turns out, it's effective! Enjoy.
In Washington, Birds Are Giving ‘Yelp Reviews’ of Forest Restoration Work
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Meanwhile, conservationists are recording birdsong to understand the effects of their forest reclamation work. Turns out, it's effective! Enjoy.
Reposted by Matt Emmons
People are holding administrative burden parties to collectively take on tasks
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/re...
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/re...
Essay | How to Turn the Bureaucratic Grind of Life Into a Party
We all feel it: the growing stream of administrative tasks sapping our time, spirits and social lives. Admin Night represents a tiny, nerdy resistance.
www.wsj.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:54 PM
People are holding administrative burden parties to collectively take on tasks
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/re...
www.wsj.com/lifestyle/re...
Reposted by Matt Emmons
Reposted by Matt Emmons
Almost everywhere in the City of Toronto has fewer people that it did 50 years ago
November 15, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Almost everywhere in the City of Toronto has fewer people that it did 50 years ago
Reposted by Matt Emmons
The REM is essential infrastructure — an automated light metro system across Greater Montréal that will connect more and more of the city as it grows.
Great cities have great public transit, and that’s what we’re investing to build more of across Canada in Budget 2025.
Great cities have great public transit, and that’s what we’re investing to build more of across Canada in Budget 2025.
November 14, 2025 at 10:46 PM
The REM is essential infrastructure — an automated light metro system across Greater Montréal that will connect more and more of the city as it grows.
Great cities have great public transit, and that’s what we’re investing to build more of across Canada in Budget 2025.
Great cities have great public transit, and that’s what we’re investing to build more of across Canada in Budget 2025.
Reposted by Matt Emmons
One way to reduce condo defect liability: stop forcing architects to design buildings that leak. HCD’s “objective design standards” guide *encourages* making building envelopes more complex, heightening leak and therefore defect lawsuit risk cao-94612.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/documents/Ap...
November 7, 2025 at 2:42 AM
One way to reduce condo defect liability: stop forcing architects to design buildings that leak. HCD’s “objective design standards” guide *encourages* making building envelopes more complex, heightening leak and therefore defect lawsuit risk cao-94612.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/documents/Ap...
Reposted by Matt Emmons
How did the Jays survive that?!?
November 2, 2025 at 3:54 AM
How did the Jays survive that?!?
Reposted by Matt Emmons
This game is the baseball equivalent of being punished for stealing fire.
November 2, 2025 at 3:50 AM
This game is the baseball equivalent of being punished for stealing fire.
Reposted by Matt Emmons
world's greatest fucking game
November 2, 2025 at 3:35 AM
world's greatest fucking game
Reposted by Matt Emmons
I have a good feeling about Kirk!
November 2, 2025 at 3:30 AM
I have a good feeling about Kirk!
Nice take for the walk!
November 2, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Nice take for the walk!
Bad call but I'll take it!
November 2, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Bad call but I'll take it!
Reposted by Matt Emmons
Andrés Giménez, welcome to Life After Cars.
Walkable city baseball edition:
Andrés Giménez on how you get the feeling of a city by walking it.
Andrés Giménez on how you get the feeling of a city by walking it.
November 2, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Andrés Giménez, welcome to Life After Cars.