Parker Welch
@parkerwelch.bsky.social
Transportation engineer, urbanist, Austinite, liberal patriot
Board Secretary @aura-atx.org
Poems & Essays: https://thisfaintfire.substack.com/
Board Secretary @aura-atx.org
Poems & Essays: https://thisfaintfire.substack.com/
Pinned
Fucking ridiculous to make profs play mother may I with some Republican commissar
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Texas A&M adopts policy requiring professors to get OK from school president to discuss certain race and gender issues.
November 13, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Fucking ridiculous to make profs play mother may I with some Republican commissar
Austin folks, we need to make sure this doesn’t slip away from us when the 2027 code cycle rolls around
I will be periodically banging this drum and Austin WILL be getting 8-story single-stair 😤
I will be periodically banging this drum and Austin WILL be getting 8-story single-stair 😤
When Austin legalized 5 stories, Council passed a resolution directing staff to bring back recommendations for allowing single-stair in all midrise buildings (75’ habitable floor) by 2027
That’s really only 7 stories (8 if you squish) but I think it’s a pretty persuasive argument for decisionmakers
That’s really only 7 stories (8 if you squish) but I think it’s a pretty persuasive argument for decisionmakers
November 13, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Austin folks, we need to make sure this doesn’t slip away from us when the 2027 code cycle rolls around
I will be periodically banging this drum and Austin WILL be getting 8-story single-stair 😤
I will be periodically banging this drum and Austin WILL be getting 8-story single-stair 😤
Reposted by Parker Welch
Just checked our marketplace health insurance renewal. It'll be $30k in premiums with a $16k deductible. 🫠
November 13, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Just checked our marketplace health insurance renewal. It'll be $30k in premiums with a $16k deductible. 🫠
Reposted by Parker Welch
A lot of people helped out with this!
Thank you: @alonlevy.bsky.social, @eensari.bsky.social, @chittimarco.bsky.social, @27a01.bsky.social, @seung.bsky.social, @4freedoms.es, @borners.bsky.social, @reinventalbany.bsky.social
Thank you: @alonlevy.bsky.social, @eensari.bsky.social, @chittimarco.bsky.social, @27a01.bsky.social, @seung.bsky.social, @4freedoms.es, @borners.bsky.social, @reinventalbany.bsky.social
November 13, 2025 at 2:49 PM
A lot of people helped out with this!
Thank you: @alonlevy.bsky.social, @eensari.bsky.social, @chittimarco.bsky.social, @27a01.bsky.social, @seung.bsky.social, @4freedoms.es, @borners.bsky.social, @reinventalbany.bsky.social
Thank you: @alonlevy.bsky.social, @eensari.bsky.social, @chittimarco.bsky.social, @27a01.bsky.social, @seung.bsky.social, @4freedoms.es, @borners.bsky.social, @reinventalbany.bsky.social
Reposted by Parker Welch
We dropped a new report re: train operations, everyone’s favorite topic. There’s some backstory that we will get too. But, the basic takeaway is modern train systems have moved away from two-person train ops. New York should, too! transitcosts.com/Train_Operat...
transitcosts.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:44 PM
We dropped a new report re: train operations, everyone’s favorite topic. There’s some backstory that we will get too. But, the basic takeaway is modern train systems have moved away from two-person train ops. New York should, too! transitcosts.com/Train_Operat...
Reposted by Parker Welch
This one's for the peds! Austin Transportation & Public Works is turning the old section of Red River alongside Waterloo Park into a new public plaza made for people, not cars 👌
Submit your feedback for the visioning phase before 12/1 to influence the plaza design: speakupaustin.org/PikePowersPlaza
Submit your feedback for the visioning phase before 12/1 to influence the plaza design: speakupaustin.org/PikePowersPlaza
November 13, 2025 at 1:29 AM
This one's for the peds! Austin Transportation & Public Works is turning the old section of Red River alongside Waterloo Park into a new public plaza made for people, not cars 👌
Submit your feedback for the visioning phase before 12/1 to influence the plaza design: speakupaustin.org/PikePowersPlaza
Submit your feedback for the visioning phase before 12/1 to influence the plaza design: speakupaustin.org/PikePowersPlaza
Reposted by Parker Welch
Fantastic update from Dallas and great news for their voters - November elections are a big step forward for local participation & representation! Special thanks to @nathanjohnsontx.bsky.social & @rafaelanchia.bsky.social who championed this change at the #txlege.
November 12, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Fantastic update from Dallas and great news for their voters - November elections are a big step forward for local participation & representation! Special thanks to @nathanjohnsontx.bsky.social & @rafaelanchia.bsky.social who championed this change at the #txlege.
They’re saying syllabic poetry is in right now, they’re saying counting in public is actually so brave
open.substack.com/pub/thisfain...
open.substack.com/pub/thisfain...
POEMS: Take A Shine To Me
Call me—a birdsong sound
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:50 PM
They’re saying syllabic poetry is in right now, they’re saying counting in public is actually so brave
open.substack.com/pub/thisfain...
open.substack.com/pub/thisfain...
Reposted by Parker Welch
If NIST and HUD were properly funded, they would rebuild the drainage testing tower that they removed several decades ago, and build it as a single stack with clear drainage piping - then invite AHJs, plumbing code TC members, engineers, plumbers, architects, ect to see for themselves.
This demonstration I saw last year at the Geberit HQ in🇨🇭 shows a typical Swiss sanitary drainage configuration - no vent piping at each floor (similar in the rest of 🇪🇺 and the 🇬🇧 ). You can see the trap seal barely moving, despite a stack flow that far exceeds probabilistic overlapping fixture use.
November 11, 2025 at 9:20 PM
If NIST and HUD were properly funded, they would rebuild the drainage testing tower that they removed several decades ago, and build it as a single stack with clear drainage piping - then invite AHJs, plumbing code TC members, engineers, plumbers, architects, ect to see for themselves.
Reposted by Parker Welch
We are SO excited about TxDOT's multimodal plan! Read on for more information and please fill out the survey to show your support for multimodal transportation in Texas! surveymonkey.com/r/F6RQFQN
November 11, 2025 at 9:50 PM
We are SO excited about TxDOT's multimodal plan! Read on for more information and please fill out the survey to show your support for multimodal transportation in Texas! surveymonkey.com/r/F6RQFQN
Reposted by Parker Welch
This is what's happening in Austin. Doesn't help folks w/ leases locked in, but supply expansion has mitigated what were for a while outlandish and untenable rent hikes. Real estate folks are calling it "oversupply," but IRL it's a much-needed correction following an extreme, unsustainable shortage.
November 11, 2025 at 4:31 PM
This is what's happening in Austin. Doesn't help folks w/ leases locked in, but supply expansion has mitigated what were for a while outlandish and untenable rent hikes. Real estate folks are calling it "oversupply," but IRL it's a much-needed correction following an extreme, unsustainable shortage.
Reposted by Parker Welch
But seriously, Austin Planning Commission had a Pickle Ball zoning case last year!! With >competing< sound studies! and we took over an hour to discuss!!
Zoning Practice magazine devotes an entire issue to *checks notes* pickleball noise
November 11, 2025 at 3:57 AM
But seriously, Austin Planning Commission had a Pickle Ball zoning case last year!! With >competing< sound studies! and we took over an hour to discuss!!
Reposted by Parker Welch
Near the end of the vote to reopen the government Jeanne Shaheen and John Thune shook hands.
November 11, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Near the end of the vote to reopen the government Jeanne Shaheen and John Thune shook hands.
This is an actual publication of the American Planning Association and not something he made up by the way
www.planning.org/zoningpracti...
www.planning.org/zoningpracti...
November 11, 2025 at 2:07 AM
This is an actual publication of the American Planning Association and not something he made up by the way
www.planning.org/zoningpracti...
www.planning.org/zoningpracti...
Reposted by Parker Welch
Add a new name to the list of House Democrats calling for Schumer to resign: Rep. Veronica Escobar tells @axios.com he "should not" remain as leader.
She joins:
Glenn Ivey
Ro Khanna
Delia Ramirez
Seth Moulton
Shri Thanedar
Rashida Tlaib
Mike Levin www.axios.com/2025/11/10/s...
She joins:
Glenn Ivey
Ro Khanna
Delia Ramirez
Seth Moulton
Shri Thanedar
Rashida Tlaib
Mike Levin www.axios.com/2025/11/10/s...
Chuck Schumer faces mounting calls from Democrats to resign as Senate leader
A half dozen House Democrats called for the Senate leader to step aside this week.
www.axios.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Add a new name to the list of House Democrats calling for Schumer to resign: Rep. Veronica Escobar tells @axios.com he "should not" remain as leader.
She joins:
Glenn Ivey
Ro Khanna
Delia Ramirez
Seth Moulton
Shri Thanedar
Rashida Tlaib
Mike Levin www.axios.com/2025/11/10/s...
She joins:
Glenn Ivey
Ro Khanna
Delia Ramirez
Seth Moulton
Shri Thanedar
Rashida Tlaib
Mike Levin www.axios.com/2025/11/10/s...
Do not ask them for their lives
Or for their tinny, tepid voice
Do not lay hard demands on them
And never press them with a choice
Give them only weightless burdens,
Then brace them gently as you pass—
For the frames are slight and dainty
On our dear ruling, rotting class
Or for their tinny, tepid voice
Do not lay hard demands on them
And never press them with a choice
Give them only weightless burdens,
Then brace them gently as you pass—
For the frames are slight and dainty
On our dear ruling, rotting class
November 10, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Do not ask them for their lives
Or for their tinny, tepid voice
Do not lay hard demands on them
And never press them with a choice
Give them only weightless burdens,
Then brace them gently as you pass—
For the frames are slight and dainty
On our dear ruling, rotting class
Or for their tinny, tepid voice
Do not lay hard demands on them
And never press them with a choice
Give them only weightless burdens,
Then brace them gently as you pass—
For the frames are slight and dainty
On our dear ruling, rotting class
Reposted by Parker Welch
It's the only reasonable opinion for any patriotic American
Vibes among House Democrats and activists, "The Senate is the enemy"
November 10, 2025 at 3:01 AM
It's the only reasonable opinion for any patriotic American
Reposted by Parker Welch
Maybe important to note it was the disruption in air travel that Democrats couldn't stand and not, you know, 40+ million people not knowing where their next meal was coming from.
November 10, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Maybe important to note it was the disruption in air travel that Democrats couldn't stand and not, you know, 40+ million people not knowing where their next meal was coming from.
Was off by 1, I expected Peters instead of Rosen because he was retiring, not sure what her reasoning was—she did not vote to fund the government in March even though Cortez-Masto, the other Nevada senator, did
Guessing the faithless eight will be Shaheen, King, Peters, Fetterman, Cortez-Masto, Durbin, Hassan, and Kaine. Kaine sounds like he was the marginal vote that flipped after the RIF deal.
Where some Senate Dems stand on deal
- Kaine yes for RIF protections/ACA vote
- CVH no because "lacks the necessary guardrails" on spending
- Baldwin: Deal "doesn’t lower working families’ health care costs"
- Gallego: "vote no so that families across the country can get the health care they need"
- Kaine yes for RIF protections/ACA vote
- CVH no because "lacks the necessary guardrails" on spending
- Baldwin: Deal "doesn’t lower working families’ health care costs"
- Gallego: "vote no so that families across the country can get the health care they need"
November 10, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Was off by 1, I expected Peters instead of Rosen because he was retiring, not sure what her reasoning was—she did not vote to fund the government in March even though Cortez-Masto, the other Nevada senator, did
Peters held the line, so it actually came down to Rosen voting yes
peters was a no at least
November 10, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Peters held the line, so it actually came down to Rosen voting yes
Surrender complete, they have 60 votes
Fetterman aye, Warnock no
November 10, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Surrender complete, they have 60 votes
Reposted by Parker Welch
Jacky Rosen voted aye
November 10, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Jacky Rosen voted aye
So assuming Fetterman is not visited tonight by an angel of the Lord, it all comes down to Peters
King, Kaine, Hassan, Shaheen, CCM, Durbin so far
November 10, 2025 at 1:47 AM
So assuming Fetterman is not visited tonight by an angel of the Lord, it all comes down to Peters
Reposted by Parker Welch
CCM and Shaheen just voted yes
November 10, 2025 at 1:44 AM
CCM and Shaheen just voted yes