Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 1h

"About a third of the units stand vacant, and many require extensive repairs to get them into good enough condition that a bank will approve a mortgage."

Seems like many of these 66 lots could become hundreds of new below-market or mixed-income 6plex homes.

www.oregonlive.com/business/202...

A Portland housing nonprofit is selling dozens of its rentals. Low-income tenants could be the buyers

Tenants of Reach Community Development’s “scattered site” portfolio will receive up to $12,000 in either down payment or relocation assistance.

www.oregonlive.com

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 1h

the code priesthoods have a pretty persuasive heroic narrative about themselves and that's very powerful! the only thing that will make them think this may have led them to act in unreasonable ways is for them to find their powers threatened.

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 1h

yes, I agree - though I think "level of congestion" and "level of damage" are distinct variables

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 1h

check out the second paragraph of the "Portland success story" section in this article by my colleague: www.sightline.org/2025/09/11/h...

where's home for you?

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Reposted by Michael Andersen

Patrick Siegman @siegman.biz · 2h

Should cities allow parking for homes instead of requiring parking for cars?

Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 2h

I'm hearing more & more about backyard homes on wheels

legal in Portland, but probably not in your town

mobile, lightning fast, dirt cheap

www.msn.com/en-ca/money/...

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 2h

And a longer dive from Eliza Relman www.businessinsider.com/tiny-homes-o...

A cross between tiny homes and van life could help solve the housing shortage

It's illegal to live full-time in a tiny home on wheels in most places in the US. If that changes, it could open up a new form of affordable housing.

www.businessinsider.com

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 2h

More coverage from @citizen-cate.bsky.social www.sightline.org/2025/09/11/h...

Homes on Wheels Are Filling a Big Gap in Portland | Sightline Institute

Three personal stories showing how small, affordable, and flexible homes on wheels can provide big solutions for Portland families.

www.sightline.org

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 2h

I'm hearing more & more about backyard homes on wheels

legal in Portland, but probably not in your town

mobile, lightning fast, dirt cheap

www.msn.com/en-ca/money/...

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Reposted by Michael Andersen

Jennifer @jenwith1n.bsky.social · 4h

Incredibly underrated thing about Portland is how many people are working quietly, largely without pay, to make this city a better place. People pay attention here and genuinely care about community. It’s not perfect by any stretch, but I love that people will always show up.

Dave Vetter @davidrvetter.bsky.social · 6h

The US federal attack on Portland has resulted in the best advertisement for a city that I have ever seen. Round-the-clock joy, community solidarity and silliness that much of the West has lost and longs for.

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 3h

In one session at @sightline.org’s annual retreat last week, we made lists of the ups & downs of remote work.

@emilymoore.bsky.social observed the ups were mostly personal & the downs were mostly collective.

Externalities in everything.

Alex Schieferdecker @alexschief.bsky.social · 3h

I don't think the question "why has downtown Minneapolis office space recovered from the pandemic more slowly that many other cities?" is an especially hard one.

Unfortunately the answer (labor power) is inconvenient because you can't use it to blame anyone and make local political hay.

Minnesota Star Tribune @startribune.com · 5h

Former KARE-11 anchor Rick Kupchella won’t say who paid for the film that paints a dark picture of Minneapolis and progressive City Council members, who dispute policies the film ascribes to them.

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 1d

Ah ok

Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 1d

Not “they”? I feel like if the question were “we” it would give away the game to “our” own conscious brain that “we” want to park for free in exactly the same location we fear “they” will

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Reposted by Michael Andersen

𝚃𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚜 𝙶𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚌𝚘𝚎 🚇 @taras-grescoe.com · 3d

“We assume that car use is an incompressible liquid that must be routed somewhere. But it’s more more like a gas that fills whatever space it is given.”

—Ian Lockwood, Harvard Loeb Fellow, transport planner.

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Reposted by Michael Andersen

David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 2d

Deep dive into the surge in US pedestrian deaths:

"It’s not that more pedestrians are getting hit by vehicles; it’s that the ones that are getting hit are more likely to die."

"[That] seems like fairly strong evidence for the theory that the rise in large SUVs is behind the uptick in ped deaths."

Why Are So Many Pedestrians Killed by Cars in the US?

It’s unfortunately not uncommon for pedestrians to be killed by cars in the US.

www.construction-physics.com

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 2d

Is there a public health justification for those?

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 2d

Ok everybody I follow, message received, the score was tied

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 3d

True, and this takes some steps to reduce costs! The best federal bill on the subject so far

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 3d

🏆

Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · 3d

America is not building enough housing and Americans are facing sky-high housing costs as a result.

Today, the Senate took a historic step to change that.

The ROAD to Housing Act will help communities – urban, suburban, and rural – build more housing and bring down costs.

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 3d

4 players and yall only have one city on the board by generation 5? I guess nobody drew mass transit

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 3d

I know!

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 4d

Vancouver is something else

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 4d

Secret police www.wweek.com/news/2025/10...

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Reposted by Michael Andersen

Aidan T @buildhomes.bsky.social · 5d

Another bill they're talking about bringing up again is one that benefits homeowners at the expense of renters is the corporate homeownership ban. Allowing people to rent single family homes gives renters the ability to live in all neighborhoods.

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Reposted by Michael Andersen

Emily Hamilton @ebwhamilton.bsky.social · 5d

Love this new report on buildings' relative fire safety from @alexhrwtz.bsky.social and Pew colleagues.

www.pew.org/en/research-...

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Michael Andersen @andersem.bsky.social · 6d

Lender, developer, capital investor

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