Nick Sementelli
@nsementelli.bsky.social
National progressive political strategist by day, local safe streets and housing advocate by night. @ggwash board member.
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
A councilmember who won his primary last year with 23.7% of the vote wants to delay implementing ranked choice voting. The at-large CM who won her last primary with 35.9% agrees that making her run for reelection next year under RCV would be a bad idea.
Felder continues to be critical of the election board's capacity to pull off ranked-choice voting in 2026.
"Before we roll out something of this magnitude I would think we need to do a needs assessment," he says to Evans. "You’ve been tasked with an arduous task. It’s unfair."
"Before we roll out something of this magnitude I would think we need to do a needs assessment," he says to Evans. "You’ve been tasked with an arduous task. It’s unfair."
November 24, 2025 at 7:16 PM
A councilmember who won his primary last year with 23.7% of the vote wants to delay implementing ranked choice voting. The at-large CM who won her last primary with 35.9% agrees that making her run for reelection next year under RCV would be a bad idea.
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
Great piece on how density restrictions in zoning are essentially BS.
November 24, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Great piece on how density restrictions in zoning are essentially BS.
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
The latest evaluation of bike lane projects in Boston continues to show that if you build bike infrastructure, people will use it.
Full report: www.boston.gov/sites/defaul...
Full report: www.boston.gov/sites/defaul...
November 24, 2025 at 12:33 PM
The latest evaluation of bike lane projects in Boston continues to show that if you build bike infrastructure, people will use it.
Full report: www.boston.gov/sites/defaul...
Full report: www.boston.gov/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
November 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
Except, of course, it’s *not* all he can say.
Cassidy could concede publicly that confirming Kennedy was a tragic mistake. He could call for RFK Jr's resignation. He could schedule hearings, haul the secretary to Capitol Hill, and demand the CDC’s public resources reflect the scientific cannon.
Cassidy could concede publicly that confirming Kennedy was a tragic mistake. He could call for RFK Jr's resignation. He could schedule hearings, haul the secretary to Capitol Hill, and demand the CDC’s public resources reflect the scientific cannon.
TAPPER: You were the deciding vote that allowed RFK Jr to ascend to the role of Health Secretary. Did you give him too much credit?
CASSIDY: The fact is the scientific community agrees that vaccines are safe. That's all I can say.
CASSIDY: The fact is the scientific community agrees that vaccines are safe. That's all I can say.
November 23, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Except, of course, it’s *not* all he can say.
Cassidy could concede publicly that confirming Kennedy was a tragic mistake. He could call for RFK Jr's resignation. He could schedule hearings, haul the secretary to Capitol Hill, and demand the CDC’s public resources reflect the scientific cannon.
Cassidy could concede publicly that confirming Kennedy was a tragic mistake. He could call for RFK Jr's resignation. He could schedule hearings, haul the secretary to Capitol Hill, and demand the CDC’s public resources reflect the scientific cannon.
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
Difficult to overstate how profound a failure DOGE was. Spending in FY2025 was not only than in FY2024 – but higher than it was projected to be when Trump first took office.*
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
Bye bye, “DOGE”.
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
It no longer exists as a “centralized entity”, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
@reuters.com
www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
November 23, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Difficult to overstate how profound a failure DOGE was. Spending in FY2025 was not only than in FY2024 – but higher than it was projected to be when Trump first took office.*
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
So taxing hotels and other businesses in your city is fine but taxing the spurs via revenue sharing is not fine? The rationalizations lawmakers come up with to justify growing team owner wealth at everyone else’s expense never ceases to amaze.
November 22, 2025 at 8:42 PM
So taxing hotels and other businesses in your city is fine but taxing the spurs via revenue sharing is not fine? The rationalizations lawmakers come up with to justify growing team owner wealth at everyone else’s expense never ceases to amaze.
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
Idle thought, we all understand that dense urban infill improves the net lifecycle balance of infrastructure costs. So why do we charge high development fees on this kind of infill?
WATCH: If you really STILL don’t understand how car-dependent suburbia is HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED by downtown & all the urban parts of your city, please watch this EXCELLENT video by #NotJustBikes helped by #UrbanThree & @StrongTowns.org. And then please SHARE it as much as possible. youtu.be/7Nw6qyyrTeI
November 22, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Idle thought, we all understand that dense urban infill improves the net lifecycle balance of infrastructure costs. So why do we charge high development fees on this kind of infill?
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
New research compares the use of electric and regular bikes in DC's Capital Bikeshare network.
Conclusion: E-bikes make bikeshare better.
"E-bikes enable broader dispersion across the city by connecting more distant bikeshare stations and supporting extended mobility."
doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
Conclusion: E-bikes make bikeshare better.
"E-bikes enable broader dispersion across the city by connecting more distant bikeshare stations and supporting extended mobility."
doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
November 22, 2025 at 5:29 PM
New research compares the use of electric and regular bikes in DC's Capital Bikeshare network.
Conclusion: E-bikes make bikeshare better.
"E-bikes enable broader dispersion across the city by connecting more distant bikeshare stations and supporting extended mobility."
doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
Conclusion: E-bikes make bikeshare better.
"E-bikes enable broader dispersion across the city by connecting more distant bikeshare stations and supporting extended mobility."
doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
I think entirely too much about how California’s climate plan explicitly says that converting to EVs is not nearly enough to meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets so we need to reduce VMT 25% by 2030, and then we do basically nothing to try to achieve that goal
November 22, 2025 at 2:48 AM
I think entirely too much about how California’s climate plan explicitly says that converting to EVs is not nearly enough to meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets so we need to reduce VMT 25% by 2030, and then we do basically nothing to try to achieve that goal
Trump being conman-in-chief in no way reduces the fact that he has always been one of the biggest right wing marks who genuinely believes the propaganda. He's normally too incurious/easily distracted to inquire about the truth until it literally enters his direct field of vision.
Q: Stefanik has called Mamdani a 'jihadist.' Do you think you're standing next to a jihadist right now?
TRUMP: No, I don't. I met with a man who's a very rational person
TRUMP: No, I don't. I met with a man who's a very rational person
November 21, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Trump being conman-in-chief in no way reduces the fact that he has always been one of the biggest right wing marks who genuinely believes the propaganda. He's normally too incurious/easily distracted to inquire about the truth until it literally enters his direct field of vision.
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
Our Neighbor to the North is eating our lunch when it comes to allowing new homes. They got rid of parking mandates and are poised to eliminate exclusionary zoning, too! Will @OPinDC draft a comp plan anything close to what Baltimore has been passing?
archive.is/qXdY0
archive.is/qXdY0
November 21, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Our Neighbor to the North is eating our lunch when it comes to allowing new homes. They got rid of parking mandates and are poised to eliminate exclusionary zoning, too! Will @OPinDC draft a comp plan anything close to what Baltimore has been passing?
archive.is/qXdY0
archive.is/qXdY0
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
the Washington Post ran a powerful story about dangerous roads and pedestrian deaths across the US with this interactive map–and not ONE SINGLE WORLD about the many deadly roads in the DC area which, famously, is in the Washington Post's name www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
November 20, 2025 at 2:58 PM
the Washington Post ran a powerful story about dangerous roads and pedestrian deaths across the US with this interactive map–and not ONE SINGLE WORLD about the many deadly roads in the DC area which, famously, is in the Washington Post's name www.washingtonpost.com/business/int...
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
Good morning. I've got a banger new post out today that develops a new method for placing voters on the left-right ideological spectrum, and adds a new, "non-ideological"/affordability axis to usual way we chart & think about US voters (esp swing voters). www.gelliottmorris.com/p/not-just-l...
Not just left vs right: Most voters think about affordability and material wellbeing, not in ideological terms
Most voters want a party that emphasizes cost of living issues and makes the world a better place. Few Americans think in solidly ideologically terms. "Moderates" are mostly non-ideological.
www.gelliottmorris.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Good morning. I've got a banger new post out today that develops a new method for placing voters on the left-right ideological spectrum, and adds a new, "non-ideological"/affordability axis to usual way we chart & think about US voters (esp swing voters). www.gelliottmorris.com/p/not-just-l...
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
Trump in a room with a very charismatic person results in like half a day of Trump agreeing with everything that person said, so this has the potential to be very, very funny.
Trump says he’s meeting with “communist” Mamdani at the White House on Friday
November 20, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Trump in a room with a very charismatic person results in like half a day of Trump agreeing with everything that person said, so this has the potential to be very, very funny.
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
You gotta pay more for houses with walkability because we don't build nearly enough of them...
Walkability shouldn't be a "perk"
It should be the default
Walkability shouldn't be a "perk"
It should be the default
November 19, 2025 at 10:55 PM
You gotta pay more for houses with walkability because we don't build nearly enough of them...
Walkability shouldn't be a "perk"
It should be the default
Walkability shouldn't be a "perk"
It should be the default
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
I love how the firefighters union, when confronted with data about the safety of single stair, argue “Well New York and Seattle have good firefighters, unlike here in California where we suck ass at our jobs”
November 18, 2025 at 7:44 PM
I love how the firefighters union, when confronted with data about the safety of single stair, argue “Well New York and Seattle have good firefighters, unlike here in California where we suck ass at our jobs”
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
Giving away a record amount of money from my checking account to my savings account
Elon Musk’s foundation gave away a record $474 million in 2024, with the vast majority again going to entities he controls
Elon Musk Gave Away $474 Million in 2024, Mostly to Entities He Controls
Elon Musk’s foundation gave away a record $474 million in 2024, with the vast majority again going to entities he controls.
bloom.bg
November 19, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Giving away a record amount of money from my checking account to my savings account
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
People move to the suburbs for al kinds of reasons. It would seem unwise to ignore the effect of price in shaping that choice
Right, this is true, but the OVERWHELMING evidence of the past 100 years of American life is that vastly more people want space and a car than a smaller unit and a car-free lifestyle. This is mostly why the suburban share of US population has grown relentlessly for the entire 20th and 21st century
Some people put a premium on space in my experience, others put a premium on not having to have a car and not being isolated out in the suburbs
November 18, 2025 at 11:00 PM
People move to the suburbs for al kinds of reasons. It would seem unwise to ignore the effect of price in shaping that choice
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
Housing affordability and the declining political fortunes of Democrats are profoundly connected.
An inability to build housing is THE big reason blue states are projected to lose 12 electoral college seats by 2032.
www.planetizen.com/features/136...
An inability to build housing is THE big reason blue states are projected to lose 12 electoral college seats by 2032.
www.planetizen.com/features/136...
Americans are Fleeing Blue States, Even When Politics Misalign. The Culprit? Housing Affordability.
Will the blue state starter home ever return?
www.planetizen.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Housing affordability and the declining political fortunes of Democrats are profoundly connected.
An inability to build housing is THE big reason blue states are projected to lose 12 electoral college seats by 2032.
www.planetizen.com/features/136...
An inability to build housing is THE big reason blue states are projected to lose 12 electoral college seats by 2032.
www.planetizen.com/features/136...
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
Interesting finding here from @zyudhishthu.bsky.social that downtown Chicago is one of the only areas of the city adding kids, due to being one of the only areas that's adding housing.
How can we improve urban housing to support families? In a new post, I look at downtown Chicago. Despite building little family-friendly housing, it's been among the city's fastest-growing areas for families.
That's owed to broadly building more housing.
pencillingout.substack.com/p/chicagos-d...
That's owed to broadly building more housing.
pencillingout.substack.com/p/chicagos-d...
Chicago's downtown family boom
And what it can tell us about building family-friendly cities
pencillingout.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Interesting finding here from @zyudhishthu.bsky.social that downtown Chicago is one of the only areas of the city adding kids, due to being one of the only areas that's adding housing.
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
On my way to @wmata.com HQ for a joint @mwcog.bsky.social and Metro board meeting to build buy-in for the capital commitments to fund this.
If we want to bend the cost curve on operating while growing as a region, we must enable long-term multi-year bonding and budgeting for WMATA.
#DMVMoves
If we want to bend the cost curve on operating while growing as a region, we must enable long-term multi-year bonding and budgeting for WMATA.
#DMVMoves
Major announcement in just-posted board documents: DC's Metro is moving fast toward automation.
Over 15 years, Metro plans full automation & platform screen doors, which the agency says will improve safety, reliability, & travel times—at reduced costs.
www.wmata.com/about/board/...
Over 15 years, Metro plans full automation & platform screen doors, which the agency says will improve safety, reliability, & travel times—at reduced costs.
www.wmata.com/about/board/...
November 17, 2025 at 4:21 PM
On my way to @wmata.com HQ for a joint @mwcog.bsky.social and Metro board meeting to build buy-in for the capital commitments to fund this.
If we want to bend the cost curve on operating while growing as a region, we must enable long-term multi-year bonding and budgeting for WMATA.
#DMVMoves
If we want to bend the cost curve on operating while growing as a region, we must enable long-term multi-year bonding and budgeting for WMATA.
#DMVMoves
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
kind of says everything about the modern editorial direction of the Washington Post that they nearly completely dismantled their coverage of local DC metro issues yet want the Editorial Board to weigh in on other cities’ politics in this sneering tone
Oh, and don't forget the gratuitous shot at queer and trans communities at the very end of this screed:
November 17, 2025 at 4:16 PM
kind of says everything about the modern editorial direction of the Washington Post that they nearly completely dismantled their coverage of local DC metro issues yet want the Editorial Board to weigh in on other cities’ politics in this sneering tone
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
Cars have rewired people's brains.
This resident is objecting to the new Lime scooter station because - not a joke - it's "ruining her view."
This is what we're up against when we push for more micromobility.
vancouversun.com/news/east-va...
This is what we're up against when we push for more micromobility.
vancouversun.com/news/east-va...
'We had no recourse': East Vancouver residents object to new e-scooter docking stations
During its first phase in Vancouver, Lime introduced e-scooters and docking stations in the Hastings-Sunrise and Grandview-Woodland areas.
vancouversun.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Cars have rewired people's brains.
Reposted by Nick Sementelli
Pretty complete summary of how we got into this mess.
November 16, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Pretty complete summary of how we got into this mess.