Alex Armlovich
@aarmlovi.bsky.social
Sr. Housing Analyst @niskanencenter🏗️ | Urban Econ 🌐🔰🚋 | @worksinprogress contributor | @opennyforall member | @yimbytown alum | former @cbcny |
Legalize housing. Tax land. End poverty with cash
Legalize housing. Tax land. End poverty with cash
Reposted by Alex Armlovich
I took two trains at 3:30-4 on Wednesday that were so crowded that people got left on the platform. The MTA absolutely should not be placing any more orders for new trains that are not open gangway, the trains are way too crowded for them to drag their feet like this.
There were 4,603,859 subway rides on Wednesday, which is a new post-pandemic record. Slowly, we’re approaching 4,697,122 rides from March 11, 2020 which was the last moment 4.6 million people rode the subway before things fell off a cliff
December 5, 2025 at 3:18 PM
I took two trains at 3:30-4 on Wednesday that were so crowded that people got left on the platform. The MTA absolutely should not be placing any more orders for new trains that are not open gangway, the trains are way too crowded for them to drag their feet like this.
One regret: I wish I'd searched law literature for cites on how STV solves Voting Rights Acts electoral minority inclusion *and* avoids the toxic district-based remedy that California has (disastrously) pursued
I treated it as common knowledge but it needs proof & there are great cites!
I treated it as common knowledge but it needs proof & there are great cites!
December 3, 2025 at 8:59 PM
One regret: I wish I'd searched law literature for cites on how STV solves Voting Rights Acts electoral minority inclusion *and* avoids the toxic district-based remedy that California has (disastrously) pursued
I treated it as common knowledge but it needs proof & there are great cites!
I treated it as common knowledge but it needs proof & there are great cites!
Reposted by Alex Armlovich
My colleagues @awjustus.bsky.social and @aarmlovi.bsky.social have a new article out connecting electoral design to local housing politics. They show how proportional representation in Cambridge has sidestepped the pitfalls of both district based and traditional first-past-the-post councils
How a 1940 electoral system reform in Cambridge made its 2025 housing breakthrough possible - CommonWealth Beacon
This is more than just a housing “win.” It’s a triumph for Cambridge’s unique brand of representative democracy—one that balances citywide priorities with fair representation for diverse communities.
commonwealthbeacon.org
December 1, 2025 at 4:48 AM
My colleagues @awjustus.bsky.social and @aarmlovi.bsky.social have a new article out connecting electoral design to local housing politics. They show how proportional representation in Cambridge has sidestepped the pitfalls of both district based and traditional first-past-the-post councils
Reposted by Alex Armlovich
One Weird Trick to defeat councilmanic prerogative
You may've heard that at-large city councils represent citywide interests but violate the Voting Rights Act, dooming us to single member wards with "member deference"
But!
Cambridge's "Single Transferable Vote" system, a type of citywide RCV, eliminates member deference without violating VRA!!
But!
Cambridge's "Single Transferable Vote" system, a type of citywide RCV, eliminates member deference without violating VRA!!
@aarmlovi.bsky.social coming in and writing about Cambridge like he got a degree at the K school or something.
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/how-...
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/how-...
December 1, 2025 at 4:37 AM
One Weird Trick to defeat councilmanic prerogative
You may've heard that at-large city councils represent citywide interests but violate the Voting Rights Act, dooming us to single member wards with "member deference"
But!
Cambridge's "Single Transferable Vote" system, a type of citywide RCV, eliminates member deference without violating VRA!!
But!
Cambridge's "Single Transferable Vote" system, a type of citywide RCV, eliminates member deference without violating VRA!!
@aarmlovi.bsky.social coming in and writing about Cambridge like he got a degree at the K school or something.
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/how-...
commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/how-...
How a 1940 electoral system reform in Cambridge made its 2025 housing breakthrough possible - CommonWealth Beacon
This is more than just a housing “win.” It’s a triumph for Cambridge’s unique brand of representative democracy—one that balances citywide priorities with fair representation for diverse communities.
commonwealthbeacon.org
December 1, 2025 at 3:47 AM
You may've heard that at-large city councils represent citywide interests but violate the Voting Rights Act, dooming us to single member wards with "member deference"
But!
Cambridge's "Single Transferable Vote" system, a type of citywide RCV, eliminates member deference without violating VRA!!
But!
Cambridge's "Single Transferable Vote" system, a type of citywide RCV, eliminates member deference without violating VRA!!
Reposted by Alex Armlovich
wonder if mamdani tried to single stair pill him
single stair, folks. you’re hearing it more and more. single stair. it’s a beautiful term. makes wonderful homes - and we love a lot of beautiful, affordable homes. i think i probably just coined it. i’m not sure. but you’re hearing it more and more.
single stair, folks. you’re hearing it more and more. single stair. it’s a beautiful term. makes wonderful homes - and we love a lot of beautiful, affordable homes. i think i probably just coined it. i’m not sure. but you’re hearing it more and more.
November 21, 2025 at 9:22 PM
wonder if mamdani tried to single stair pill him
single stair, folks. you’re hearing it more and more. single stair. it’s a beautiful term. makes wonderful homes - and we love a lot of beautiful, affordable homes. i think i probably just coined it. i’m not sure. but you’re hearing it more and more.
single stair, folks. you’re hearing it more and more. single stair. it’s a beautiful term. makes wonderful homes - and we love a lot of beautiful, affordable homes. i think i probably just coined it. i’m not sure. but you’re hearing it more and more.
Excited to share I'm joining @openphil.bsky.social under @mattsclancy.bsky.social as the housing program officer for the Abundance & Growth Fund!
Launching Niskanen's housing team has been a blast, & I'll remain a Senior Fellow with them
But I'm thrilled to start supporting housers everywhere!
Launching Niskanen's housing team has been a blast, & I'll remain a Senior Fellow with them
But I'm thrilled to start supporting housers everywhere!
November 17, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Excited to share I'm joining @openphil.bsky.social under @mattsclancy.bsky.social as the housing program officer for the Abundance & Growth Fund!
Launching Niskanen's housing team has been a blast, & I'll remain a Senior Fellow with them
But I'm thrilled to start supporting housers everywhere!
Launching Niskanen's housing team has been a blast, & I'll remain a Senior Fellow with them
But I'm thrilled to start supporting housers everywhere!
Reposted by Alex Armlovich
Thanks to @stefanoschen.bsky.social and @nytimes.com for picking up our report on global transit operations. It’s clear that the rest of the world has moved toward more automated and leaner operations without the sky falling. Legislating ops from Albany is overreach:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/n...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/n...
Does the Subway Still Need Train Conductors?
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Thanks to @stefanoschen.bsky.social and @nytimes.com for picking up our report on global transit operations. It’s clear that the rest of the world has moved toward more automated and leaner operations without the sky falling. Legislating ops from Albany is overreach:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/n...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/n...
Getting texts that Paperboy Prince and Vickie Paladino have both QT'd my "end socialism for parking to fund social democratic liberalism for our children" tweet at length...but I can't see it bc of the huge Twitter 2FA glitch/outage
If you see something funny post it here 👀
If you see something funny post it here 👀
November 12, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Getting texts that Paperboy Prince and Vickie Paladino have both QT'd my "end socialism for parking to fund social democratic liberalism for our children" tweet at length...but I can't see it bc of the huge Twitter 2FA glitch/outage
If you see something funny post it here 👀
If you see something funny post it here 👀
Reposted by Alex Armlovich
@aarmlovi.bsky.social is right. R12 next to the subway is the way to NYC’s next million people.
November 12, 2025 at 9:48 PM
@aarmlovi.bsky.social is right. R12 next to the subway is the way to NYC’s next million people.
Reposted by Alex Armlovich
A really good column on housing and the Mamdani mayoralty by Alex Armlovich, who is on the Rent Board -- www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/a-h...
Vital City | A Housing Roadmap for New York’s Next Mayor
How Mayor-elect Mamdani can rise to the central challenge facing the city
www.vitalcitynyc.org
November 8, 2025 at 5:13 PM
A really good column on housing and the Mamdani mayoralty by Alex Armlovich, who is on the Rent Board -- www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/a-h...
Reposted by Alex Armlovich
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 Alex Armlovich
The marquee Mamdani policy, 4 years of 'freeze the rent', will take a lot to pull off. Here, @aarmlovi.bsky.social lays out the playbook of what it will take to get his vote (he serves on the Rent Guidelines Board that will vote on Mamdani's agenda)
www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/a-h...
www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/a-h...
November 7, 2025 at 4:10 PM
The marquee Mamdani policy, 4 years of 'freeze the rent', will take a lot to pull off. Here, @aarmlovi.bsky.social lays out the playbook of what it will take to get his vote (he serves on the Rent Guidelines Board that will vote on Mamdani's agenda)
www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/a-h...
www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/a-h...
Reposted by Alex Armlovich
This is a must-read from @aarmlovi.bsky.social. A real path for substantial expansion of housing and transit in the city that can deliver on the promises of @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social. www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/a-h...
Vital City | A Housing Roadmap for New York’s Next Mayor
How Mayor-elect Mamdani can rise to the central challenge facing the city
www.vitalcitynyc.org
November 6, 2025 at 10:59 PM
This is a must-read from @aarmlovi.bsky.social. A real path for substantial expansion of housing and transit in the city that can deliver on the promises of @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social. www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/a-h...
Reposted by Alex Armlovich
Calling all NYC lovers and nerds: REALLY interesting conversation about housing. Even I — who has been following NYC housing since I wrote papers in college about it 40 years ago — learned a lot. Interesting ideas. LISTEN!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...
Alex Armlovich on the Rent Guidelines Board, Mamdani's Rent Freeze Pledge, & Housing Policy
Podcast Episode · Max Politics · 10/28/2025 · 57m
podcasts.apple.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Calling all NYC lovers and nerds: REALLY interesting conversation about housing. Even I — who has been following NYC housing since I wrote papers in college about it 40 years ago — learned a lot. Interesting ideas. LISTEN!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...
Want to learn more about the housing megabill the Senate just passed?
New Statecraft podcast with @willpoffwebster.bsky.social and @brianpotter.bsky.social on key highlights 👇
We recorded before it passed, so you can enjoy vetting our forecasts here
open.substack.com/pub/statecra...
New Statecraft podcast with @willpoffwebster.bsky.social and @brianpotter.bsky.social on key highlights 👇
We recorded before it passed, so you can enjoy vetting our forecasts here
open.substack.com/pub/statecra...
Is the Senate Fixing Housing Policy?
"You can’t solve the problem by subsidizing demand and constraining supply"
open.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Want to learn more about the housing megabill the Senate just passed?
New Statecraft podcast with @willpoffwebster.bsky.social and @brianpotter.bsky.social on key highlights 👇
We recorded before it passed, so you can enjoy vetting our forecasts here
open.substack.com/pub/statecra...
New Statecraft podcast with @willpoffwebster.bsky.social and @brianpotter.bsky.social on key highlights 👇
We recorded before it passed, so you can enjoy vetting our forecasts here
open.substack.com/pub/statecra...
Reposted by Alex Armlovich
🚨🚨The Senate has passed the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act as part of the NDAA!
This is a historic level of bipartisan cooperation to expand Americans' access to housing.
@aarmlovi.bsky.social, @awjustus.bsky.social, and @rohanaras.bsky.social unpack what's in the 310-page bill. ⬇️
This is a historic level of bipartisan cooperation to expand Americans' access to housing.
@aarmlovi.bsky.social, @awjustus.bsky.social, and @rohanaras.bsky.social unpack what's in the 310-page bill. ⬇️
October 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
🚨🚨The Senate has passed the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act as part of the NDAA!
This is a historic level of bipartisan cooperation to expand Americans' access to housing.
@aarmlovi.bsky.social, @awjustus.bsky.social, and @rohanaras.bsky.social unpack what's in the 310-page bill. ⬇️
This is a historic level of bipartisan cooperation to expand Americans' access to housing.
@aarmlovi.bsky.social, @awjustus.bsky.social, and @rohanaras.bsky.social unpack what's in the 310-page bill. ⬇️
Reposted by Alex Armlovich
The deadline to sign SB 79 and legalize more housing near transit in California is coming up. This is a hugely important bill both for ending the state's housing crisis and for securing its climate future. Please join me in urging @gavinnewsom.bsky.social to sign!
September 30, 2025 at 4:59 PM
The deadline to sign SB 79 and legalize more housing near transit in California is coming up. This is a hugely important bill both for ending the state's housing crisis and for securing its climate future. Please join me in urging @gavinnewsom.bsky.social to sign!
NY is wisely leveraging factory-built manufactured housing for community development & affordable housing upstate
They're locking in deed-restricted affordable housing on vacant public Land Bank sites for the future—2 or 3 steps ahead of market-led redevelopment—for just $100k/unit of subsidy
They're locking in deed-restricted affordable housing on vacant public Land Bank sites for the future—2 or 3 steps ahead of market-led redevelopment—for just $100k/unit of subsidy
This is genuinely a good idea from the Governor's office. One thing I'm genuinely curious is, could you do this type of home as small-lot single family - i.e., townhouses for the suburbs?
attn @stephenjacobsmith.com and @aarmlovi.bsky.social
attn @stephenjacobsmith.com and @aarmlovi.bsky.social
With New Plan, Hochul Fast-Tracks Housing Supply
www.nytimes.com
September 29, 2025 at 1:03 PM
NY is wisely leveraging factory-built manufactured housing for community development & affordable housing upstate
They're locking in deed-restricted affordable housing on vacant public Land Bank sites for the future—2 or 3 steps ahead of market-led redevelopment—for just $100k/unit of subsidy
They're locking in deed-restricted affordable housing on vacant public Land Bank sites for the future—2 or 3 steps ahead of market-led redevelopment—for just $100k/unit of subsidy
Bright spots in US transit:
After opening its 3rd basic Bus Rapid Transit route for just $10M/mile, Albany didn't just exceed pre-pandemic ridership
They just set an all-time CDTA ridership record. Never been a better time for transit in Albany than now
BRT is the future
After opening its 3rd basic Bus Rapid Transit route for just $10M/mile, Albany didn't just exceed pre-pandemic ridership
They just set an all-time CDTA ridership record. Never been a better time for transit in Albany than now
BRT is the future
September 27, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Bright spots in US transit:
After opening its 3rd basic Bus Rapid Transit route for just $10M/mile, Albany didn't just exceed pre-pandemic ridership
They just set an all-time CDTA ridership record. Never been a better time for transit in Albany than now
BRT is the future
After opening its 3rd basic Bus Rapid Transit route for just $10M/mile, Albany didn't just exceed pre-pandemic ridership
They just set an all-time CDTA ridership record. Never been a better time for transit in Albany than now
BRT is the future
Everyone take a moment to gloat over the FinTwit folks who claimed labor & supply chains make quantum leaps in multifamily housing production impossible
"What about teh lumber", they said. "What about teh labor", they said
Then NYC simply exploded to completion levels unseen since 1965
"What about teh lumber", they said. "What about teh labor", they said
Then NYC simply exploded to completion levels unseen since 1965
September 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Everyone take a moment to gloat over the FinTwit folks who claimed labor & supply chains make quantum leaps in multifamily housing production impossible
"What about teh lumber", they said. "What about teh labor", they said
Then NYC simply exploded to completion levels unseen since 1965
"What about teh lumber", they said. "What about teh labor", they said
Then NYC simply exploded to completion levels unseen since 1965
Reposted by Alex Armlovich
Photos from a lively @yimbytown.bsky.social discussion on how data-driven research can shape effective policy with (L-R): @andersem.bsky.social, @david-garcia.upforgrowth.org, Arthur Gailes, @skarlinsky.bsky.social, @aarmlovi.bsky.social & @muhammadspeaks.bsky.social.
September 16, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Photos from a lively @yimbytown.bsky.social discussion on how data-driven research can shape effective policy with (L-R): @andersem.bsky.social, @david-garcia.upforgrowth.org, Arthur Gailes, @skarlinsky.bsky.social, @aarmlovi.bsky.social & @muhammadspeaks.bsky.social.
Reposted by Alex Armlovich
🏙️ Niskanen staff represented at YIMBYTOWN!
@aarmlovi.bsky.social, Andrew Justus, Kaj Gumbs, and Rohan Aras presented on a "Federal Policy Roundup" panel (alongside minority staffer Madeleine Marr of Senate Banking and David Garcia of Up For Growth).
@aarmlovi.bsky.social, Andrew Justus, Kaj Gumbs, and Rohan Aras presented on a "Federal Policy Roundup" panel (alongside minority staffer Madeleine Marr of Senate Banking and David Garcia of Up For Growth).
September 24, 2025 at 8:18 PM
🏙️ Niskanen staff represented at YIMBYTOWN!
@aarmlovi.bsky.social, Andrew Justus, Kaj Gumbs, and Rohan Aras presented on a "Federal Policy Roundup" panel (alongside minority staffer Madeleine Marr of Senate Banking and David Garcia of Up For Growth).
@aarmlovi.bsky.social, Andrew Justus, Kaj Gumbs, and Rohan Aras presented on a "Federal Policy Roundup" panel (alongside minority staffer Madeleine Marr of Senate Banking and David Garcia of Up For Growth).
Reposted by Alex Armlovich
thx @aarmlovi.bsky.social for the link to this Charter Commission report (from this year)
it looks like NYC gaining aldermanic prerogative severely repressed the addition of more homes
www.nyc.gov/assets/chart...
it looks like NYC gaining aldermanic prerogative severely repressed the addition of more homes
www.nyc.gov/assets/chart...
![An analysis by the Citizens Housing &
Planning Council (CHPC) suggests that
the 1989 revisions led to an immediate
drop in the number of rezonings
approved in the immediate aftermath of
Charter changes:
In fact, the CHPC analysis found that “[d]espite an increasing
share of housing-related ULURP applications, the volume of
rezoning applications completed per year has never recovered to
pre-1989 levels: so far this decade, rezonings are being approved
at 61% of the pace during the 1980s, and the recent peak of the
2000s was still just 80% of the pre-1989 rate.”55 These findings
suggest that, all else equal, the 1989 reforms made zoning for
more housing harder than it used to be.
At the same time, the newly empowered City Council did not
immediately develop the practice of “member deference” as it
functions today. Instead, through the 1990s, land use decision-
making was firmly controlled by then-Speaker of the City
Council Peter Vallone, who supported multiple rezonings over
the wishes of local councilmembers.56 As the New York Times
put it: “There are many more participants than before [in the
land use process]. Yet the Council is much more firmly under
the control of one person,” [Council Speaker Vallone].
Around the turn of the millennium, the practice began to
change, with members overruled fewer and fewer times. Some
practitioners attribute this change to the introduction of
Council term limits, to City Council rules reforms that may have
weakened the Speaker’s ability to influence individual members,
and to a change in general political attitudes toward new housing,
as development pressures accelerated in the 2000s.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:s3dlzbkosetuepegdgtf3ez2/bafkreifblhwllku532ommmgburvew77s6okaid5tkwivnlp2jmc6bxlcqa@jpeg)
September 9, 2025 at 3:52 AM
thx @aarmlovi.bsky.social for the link to this Charter Commission report (from this year)
it looks like NYC gaining aldermanic prerogative severely repressed the addition of more homes
www.nyc.gov/assets/chart...
it looks like NYC gaining aldermanic prerogative severely repressed the addition of more homes
www.nyc.gov/assets/chart...
Reposted by Alex Armlovich
This from @aarmlovi.bsky.social is the best path forward with AVs. It's also @johnericson.me thought iirc.
Labor, congestion, vehicle utilization, and safety are all constraints on mobility (and hence growth). Let's use automation to tackle all and enhance our transit systems.
Labor, congestion, vehicle utilization, and safety are all constraints on mobility (and hence growth). Let's use automation to tackle all and enhance our transit systems.
August 31, 2025 at 3:30 PM
This from @aarmlovi.bsky.social is the best path forward with AVs. It's also @johnericson.me thought iirc.
Labor, congestion, vehicle utilization, and safety are all constraints on mobility (and hence growth). Let's use automation to tackle all and enhance our transit systems.
Labor, congestion, vehicle utilization, and safety are all constraints on mobility (and hence growth). Let's use automation to tackle all and enhance our transit systems.