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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 24m

Looks like it was the strike! Something similar happened to SEPTA RRD in 1983 I think. Generally I believe US transit needs more high-profile labor conflict, not less, but management really needs to make them worth it (i.e., pick fights over important efficiencies) nextcity.org/urbanist-new...

BART Strikes Suck, But Banning Them Is Even Worse (Just Ask New York)

New York has banned transit strikes for decades, but management had to give up something that was arguably bigger.

nextcity.org

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Reposted by Stephen Jacob Smith

Boo-is Lehe 🦇 🎃 @lewislehe.bsky.social · 32m

(i think) tucson is the most populous city (not counting luxembourg) w/ fare-free buses. ~40th highest-ridership US bus system: 2019: 14.2MM, 2024: 15.8MM. they used to have much higher ridership. dunno why.

www.kold.com/2025/08/07/b...

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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 43m

Hmm I wonder what we could do that would provide some shade to a park on the *East* River during hot afternoons when the sun is in the *western* part of the sky…

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Reposted by Stephen Jacob Smith

Sam @samd.bsky.social · 1h

This is utter nonsense. The status quo gives MAGA nimby councilmembers disproportionate power to block housing that benefits the entire city.

I trust Zohran with the power to approve housing far more than Vickie Paladino. Vote YES on the pro-housing ballot initiatives

Adrienne Adams @nycspeakeradams.bsky.social · 1h

Ballot proposals 2, 3 and 4 take power away from everyday New Yorkers, giving it to unelected mayoral appointees and developers. Don’t be misled to give away your community’s power. Learn more at whatsonmyballot.nyc

Your Neighborhood Is On The Ballot

whatsonmyballot.nyc

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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 1h

I’m excited to announce the Center for Building in North America’s new director of fire alarm systems! We’re thrilled to have him on board – truly the opportunity of a lifetime for us all! You can read about some of his past work here: comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/tur...

Chris Sommerfeldt @c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social · 1h

New: Mayor Adams told senior staffers today he has received at least one offer for a post-City Hall job, per four sources.

He didn't share details, but two of the sources said he described it as an opportunity "of a lifetime" second to being mayor. www.nydailynews.com/2025/10/15/n...

NYC Mayor Adams tells staff he has been offered a new job: sources

Two of the sources told The News the mayor did say the job offer or offers he has received would amount to an opportunity “of a lifetime” second to being mayor of New York City.

www.nydailynews.com

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Emily Hamilton @ebwhamilton.bsky.social · 21h

If you want to really feel the housing crisis, browse the Census microdata for LA households with lots of people in them. About 16,000 houses in LA County have three bedrooms and 8+ people.

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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 17h

It would be funny to describe progressive nonprofits that receive money from the Rockefeller or Ford foundations this way.

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M. Nolan Gray 🥑 @mnolangray.bsky.social · 17h

"By reducing minimum lot sizes, builders can construct more homes on less land and increase supply and affordability for everyone. Reducing minimum lot sizes helps families achieve the American dream of homeownership."
www.miamiherald.com/opinion/op-e...

Florida is facing a shortfall of 486,000 of homes. So let’s reduce lot sizes | Opinion

Families should be able to purchase homes that fit their individual budget and lifestyle | Opinion

www.miamiherald.com

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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 17h

lol @ the author’s affiliation at the bottom: “a conservative grassroots organization founded by billionaire industrialists”

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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 17h

If there is the concept of grandfathering and degrees of nonconformance, at least. Often with codes, if something is preexisting, there is some leeway given to it (either formally or informally), but increasing the degree of noncomformance – as they’ve done here – is a huge no-no.

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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 17h

Yes it is…it’s shrinking the pinch point even further.

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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 19h

Netting outboard of the scaffolding, PLUS a setback between a Jackson Heights apartment building and the sidewalk. There is zero safety need for that shed (which also may be an ADA violation, since that space looks tighter than 36 in.).

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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 22h

The economics of prefab don’t work as well for lower-wage countries in North America

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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 22h

And I guess him staying on X after all the good transit knowers decamped to BlueSky is proof of that

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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 22h

Was never a fan of him. There’s such a vibrant transit community on social media, and he never seemed to engage with it…like he was too good to talk to anybody else.

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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 23h

This disparity does not seem surmountable: “American ships can cost up to five times the amount of those built in Asia. So far this year, China has made 717 large commercial vessels; the United States just one, according to BRS.”

City Nolan @ndhapple.bsky.social · 23h

“U.S. Starts Charging Chinese Ships to Dock at Its Ports:
The measure is aimed at countering China’s dominance of commercial shipbuilding and helping to revitalize the American industry.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/b...

U.S. Starts Charging Chinese Ships to Dock at Its Ports

www.nytimes.com

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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 1d

I guess then they start infringing on rush hours, and they I guess can only run 8-min headways without full access to the Canarsie terminal. Feel like we’re getting into “just shut the whole line down for a week” territory.

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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 1d

Presumably four four-hour shutdowns have the same productivity as one 12-hour shutdown (or worse…), so I’m struggling to see why they don’t just keep the whole segment shut down for one slightly longer stretch (a week if necessary!) to finish the work in one fell swoop.

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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 1d

Why would the MTA choose to do track replacement in four, four-hour midday windows – screwing up frequencies along the whole line – rather than just do one overnight or weekend day closure? This seems so inefficient, and way worse for riders (24-mins headways are so much worse than bustituting!)

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Reposted by Stephen Jacob Smith

Jaap Burger @jaapburger.eu · 1d

It seems that EU tariffs on Chinese EVs have not changed the value of car imports; rather, they have led to fewer electric cars and more hybrids (a segment in which European car manufacturers were betting on for this decade). Same blow for European car manufacturers, worse air and climate outcome.

Felix Hamer • electricfelix @electricfelix.bsky.social · 1d

rafajbuendia:

"Tariffs Beat Consumer Preferences. Read full analysis at SOAPBOX" substack.com/@soapboxtrad...
(free subscription)

#alwaysbecharging

aka: Thanks for nothing EU_Commission, the kids will be forever grateful!

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Reposted by Stephen Jacob Smith

Ryan Radia @ryanradia.com · 1d

Homeownership rate by decade of birth by current age (United States)
www.datawrapper.de/_/27AUY/

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Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 1d

"Manhattan office space is leasing at a rate not seen since 2006, while office markets in other cities are plodding along" www.wsj.com/real-estate/... (gift link)