David Welton
@davidwelton.bsky.social
Computers, startups, bikes, Italy (lived in Padova for about 15 years), Bend YIMBY
Reposted by David Welton
Obviously "mass deportation will lower housing costs" was never a real argument but @mtkonczal.bsky.social crunched the numbers. Get ready to for crimes against humanity to save you a two liter of shasta mikekonczal.substack.com/p/mass-depor...
Mass Deportation Will Save Renters Less Than $5 a Month
President Trump wants to deport his way to affordability. But immigration can’t explain the housing crisis, and deportation won’t fix it.
mikekonczal.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Obviously "mass deportation will lower housing costs" was never a real argument but @mtkonczal.bsky.social crunched the numbers. Get ready to for crimes against humanity to save you a two liter of shasta mikekonczal.substack.com/p/mass-depor...
Reposted by David Welton
This was the “plan” in city planning
Downzoning was used by cities around the world to preserve neighborhood aesthetics & protect property values.
New evidence from Chicago in @findingspress.org ⏬ shows downzoning's effects over several decades:
—Massive drop in housing construction
—Higher home prices
—Increased racial segregation
New evidence from Chicago in @findingspress.org ⏬ shows downzoning's effects over several decades:
—Massive drop in housing construction
—Higher home prices
—Increased racial segregation
Downzoning Chicago: How Local Land Use Policy Has Reduced Housing Construction and Reinforced Segregation | Published in Findings
By Yonah Freemark, George Kisiel. Downzonings were used by US cities in the postwar period to preserve neighborhood character. These land-use policies were associated with lower housing supply, higher...
findingspress.org
December 1, 2025 at 3:35 PM
This was the “plan” in city planning
Reposted by David Welton
A sign placed sideways in a car travel lane would be inexcusable. Our database shows they’re common place for bike lanes.
How bike lanes are maintained by a city sets a tone for how they feel about bicyclists.
How bike lanes are maintained by a city sets a tone for how they feel about bicyclists.
December 1, 2025 at 3:31 PM
A sign placed sideways in a car travel lane would be inexcusable. Our database shows they’re common place for bike lanes.
How bike lanes are maintained by a city sets a tone for how they feel about bicyclists.
How bike lanes are maintained by a city sets a tone for how they feel about bicyclists.
Reposted by David Welton
I hope the next Cars movie is about bike lanes getting installed in their world and one by one they just disappear like it's a Beckett play. Until one of the Cars is alone in the world. Wandering, lonely, afraid. Probably that hick truck.
December 1, 2025 at 2:59 PM
I hope the next Cars movie is about bike lanes getting installed in their world and one by one they just disappear like it's a Beckett play. Until one of the Cars is alone in the world. Wandering, lonely, afraid. Probably that hick truck.
Reposted by David Welton
This explains something that has always mystified me about drivers who rail against bike lanes and transit. Why WOULDN'T you want people to have options not to drive? It would make your own driving better! But they don't just want good traffic, they want to reinforce the NORM of driving
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 1:04 PM
This explains something that has always mystified me about drivers who rail against bike lanes and transit. Why WOULDN'T you want people to have options not to drive? It would make your own driving better! But they don't just want good traffic, they want to reinforce the NORM of driving
Reposted by David Welton
“And, as it also turns out, much of the reality-based press is doing a poor job of even acknowledging that they have a role in saving democracy, much less doing anything about it.” @sulliview.bsky.social brings the receipts. open.substack.com/pub/margaret...
Do better, Big Journalism. Please do much, much better
Low points from the New York Times, the BBC, the Washington Post and the New Yorker. And some highs.
open.substack.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:19 AM
“And, as it also turns out, much of the reality-based press is doing a poor job of even acknowledging that they have a role in saving democracy, much less doing anything about it.” @sulliview.bsky.social brings the receipts. open.substack.com/pub/margaret...
They weren't enemy combatants
If the Venezuelan sailors were enemy combatants, then the 2nd strike is a war crime.
If the Venezuelan sailors weren’t enemy combatants, then both strikes are criminal murder.
It’s that simple.
If the Venezuelan sailors weren’t enemy combatants, then both strikes are criminal murder.
It’s that simple.
December 1, 2025 at 1:34 PM
They weren't enemy combatants
Reposted by David Welton
“These dynamics underscore the powerful role of hope: belief in the attainability of homeownership shapes savings, work effort, and investment decisions in compounding ways over the life cycle, with profound implications for long-run wealth inequality.”
November 30, 2025 at 10:11 PM
“These dynamics underscore the powerful role of hope: belief in the attainability of homeownership shapes savings, work effort, and investment decisions in compounding ways over the life cycle, with profound implications for long-run wealth inequality.”
Reposted by David Welton
“During its regular meeting tonight, Spokane City Council voted yes to impose a 12% tax on commercial parking lots across the city.”
If you want more of something, subsidize it. If you want less of something, tax it. #Spokane clearly wants less asphalt, which will also result in…
If you want more of something, subsidize it. If you want less of something, tax it. #Spokane clearly wants less asphalt, which will also result in…
https://www.fox28spokane.com/spokane-city-council-approves-12-parking-tax/…
December 1, 2025 at 5:04 AM
“During its regular meeting tonight, Spokane City Council voted yes to impose a 12% tax on commercial parking lots across the city.”
If you want more of something, subsidize it. If you want less of something, tax it. #Spokane clearly wants less asphalt, which will also result in…
If you want more of something, subsidize it. If you want less of something, tax it. #Spokane clearly wants less asphalt, which will also result in…
Reposted by David Welton
The Oregonian celebrates a big milestone this week. The institution predates most others in Oregon — not to mention the state itself
The Oregonian marks 175 years as the West’s longest-running newspaper
On Dec. 4, 1850, editor Thomas J. Dryer cranked out the first issue on a hand press inside a crude log cabin at Front and Morrison streets.
www.oregonlive.com
November 30, 2025 at 10:30 PM
The Oregonian celebrates a big milestone this week. The institution predates most others in Oregon — not to mention the state itself
Reposted by David Welton
I am voting for Consequences.
November 30, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I am voting for Consequences.
Reposted by David Welton
Doomers are also bullshitters because they spend all day on this app telling people that things will never be better. If you really, truly believed that, you wouldn't even have an account. Hell, you wouldn't even bother learning what the president's name is.
While this usually isn't the intent, "no one will ever be held accountable for this" doomerism is an excuse not to try.
There'll be at least some accountability if enough Americans work for it. And this time really is different. Doesn't guarantee the aftermath will be, but it increases the chances.
There'll be at least some accountability if enough Americans work for it. And this time really is different. Doesn't guarantee the aftermath will be, but it increases the chances.
November 30, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Doomers are also bullshitters because they spend all day on this app telling people that things will never be better. If you really, truly believed that, you wouldn't even have an account. Hell, you wouldn't even bother learning what the president's name is.
Reposted by David Welton
You know, there is not actually a housing shortage, but it's just a secret conspiracy to enrich builders, because builders make profit building when there's a glut.
November 30, 2025 at 9:00 PM
You know, there is not actually a housing shortage, but it's just a secret conspiracy to enrich builders, because builders make profit building when there's a glut.
Reposted by David Welton
the primary thing that TPUSA provides to young conservatives is a blueprint for weaponizing the abject cowardice of university administrators against individual teachers and instructors, and university admins should take a long look in the mirror and think about what that says about them
OU has put the professor here on administrative leave:
November 30, 2025 at 8:51 PM
the primary thing that TPUSA provides to young conservatives is a blueprint for weaponizing the abject cowardice of university administrators against individual teachers and instructors, and university admins should take a long look in the mirror and think about what that says about them
This Oregon themed cutting board has to have been produced at least somewhat algorithmically if it included 'Roberts, Oregon', right?
November 30, 2025 at 7:46 PM
This Oregon themed cutting board has to have been produced at least somewhat algorithmically if it included 'Roberts, Oregon', right?
Reposted by David Welton
The Trump apologist checklist after Trump or his administration does something awful:
1. Fake news, it didn’t happen.
2. It might’ve happened, but it would be OK if it happened.
3. So it happened, so what.
4. Whatabout [insert names of various presidents here]
1. Fake news, it didn’t happen.
2. It might’ve happened, but it would be OK if it happened.
3. So it happened, so what.
4. Whatabout [insert names of various presidents here]
November 30, 2025 at 6:53 PM
The Trump apologist checklist after Trump or his administration does something awful:
1. Fake news, it didn’t happen.
2. It might’ve happened, but it would be OK if it happened.
3. So it happened, so what.
4. Whatabout [insert names of various presidents here]
1. Fake news, it didn’t happen.
2. It might’ve happened, but it would be OK if it happened.
3. So it happened, so what.
4. Whatabout [insert names of various presidents here]
As a software person, I think these corrupt assholes are doing a fine job of besmirching an entire industry and it's going to have long-lasting repercussions
As I have long said, David Sacks is the biggest and most conflicted piggy at the trough: Silicon Valley’s Man in the White House Is Benefiting Himself and His Friends www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/t...
Silicon Valley’s Man in the White House Is Benefiting Himself and His Friends
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 6:41 PM
As a software person, I think these corrupt assholes are doing a fine job of besmirching an entire industry and it's going to have long-lasting repercussions
Reposted by David Welton
The Car and Oil industries are going to work overtime to paint ebikes as dangerous instead of a solution to the danger of cars, and legacy corporate media like the NYT are going to help them
November 30, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The Car and Oil industries are going to work overtime to paint ebikes as dangerous instead of a solution to the danger of cars, and legacy corporate media like the NYT are going to help them
Reposted by David Welton
PISS-DRUNK PETE KEGSTAND ("CHRISTOFASCIST") IS A LUNATIC WHO BELIEVES HE HAS THE RIGHT TO COMMIT WAR CRIMES, AND STEVE WITKOFF ("TRAITOR") IS SELLING OUT UKRAINE FOR FUN AND PROFIT. LOCK ALL THESE SHITWEASELS UP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO MY EXTREMELY ANGRY POST. LINK IS HERE: bit.ly/4p9kjKP
November 30, 2025 at 6:07 PM
PISS-DRUNK PETE KEGSTAND ("CHRISTOFASCIST") IS A LUNATIC WHO BELIEVES HE HAS THE RIGHT TO COMMIT WAR CRIMES, AND STEVE WITKOFF ("TRAITOR") IS SELLING OUT UKRAINE FOR FUN AND PROFIT. LOCK ALL THESE SHITWEASELS UP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO MY EXTREMELY ANGRY POST. LINK IS HERE: bit.ly/4p9kjKP
Reposted by David Welton
Myth: drivers deserve more space on roads than cyclists & pedestrians because they pay registration and gas taxes
Facts: (1) registration and gas taxes don’t cover all the costs of road construction and maintenance; (2) most bikers/peds also have a car (90% of US households owns one)
Facts: (1) registration and gas taxes don’t cover all the costs of road construction and maintenance; (2) most bikers/peds also have a car (90% of US households owns one)
November 30, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Myth: drivers deserve more space on roads than cyclists & pedestrians because they pay registration and gas taxes
Facts: (1) registration and gas taxes don’t cover all the costs of road construction and maintenance; (2) most bikers/peds also have a car (90% of US households owns one)
Facts: (1) registration and gas taxes don’t cover all the costs of road construction and maintenance; (2) most bikers/peds also have a car (90% of US households owns one)
Reposted by David Welton
trump has that expression on his face a cat gets when they’re about to hack up a hairball
November 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
trump has that expression on his face a cat gets when they’re about to hack up a hairball
Reposted by David Welton
I'm really glad to see someone like Kelly finally saying this. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Mark Kelly: "This president, when he says things like 'third world countries,' what is he really saying? I think what he's saying is he doesn't want brown people in our country. And that's disturbing. It's un-American."
November 30, 2025 at 4:29 PM
I'm really glad to see someone like Kelly finally saying this. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Reposted by David Welton
Zoning is such a strange institution—in every other sphere of economic life, this sort of command-and-control micromanagement has been thoroughly debunked. And yet when it comes to land use, we're still doing it.
Zoning didn't allow enough housing, so we have a housing shortage.
So we changed the zoning to allow more housing.
And now some neighbors worry the zoning doesn't allow enough commercial.
Maybe... the problem is the rigid zoning approach itself?
bendbulletin.com/2025/11/28/b...
So we changed the zoning to allow more housing.
And now some neighbors worry the zoning doesn't allow enough commercial.
Maybe... the problem is the rigid zoning approach itself?
bendbulletin.com/2025/11/28/b...
Bend's biggest developing neighborhoods lament loss of commercial land - The Bulletin
Carolyn Schott moved from Colorado to Bend in 2021 after buying a townhome in a freshly-platted neighborhood in the northeast corner of the city. As home building continued around her, the 20 acres ne...
bendbulletin.com
November 30, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Zoning is such a strange institution—in every other sphere of economic life, this sort of command-and-control micromanagement has been thoroughly debunked. And yet when it comes to land use, we're still doing it.
Reposted by David Welton
If the climate models are inaccurate for some properties, that’s one thing (and should require some evidence in support!)
But the real estate industry is gonna need better arguments than “when people see the underlying climate risk of a property, they are less interested in buying it”
But the real estate industry is gonna need better arguments than “when people see the underlying climate risk of a property, they are less interested in buying it”
November 30, 2025 at 1:54 PM
If the climate models are inaccurate for some properties, that’s one thing (and should require some evidence in support!)
But the real estate industry is gonna need better arguments than “when people see the underlying climate risk of a property, they are less interested in buying it”
But the real estate industry is gonna need better arguments than “when people see the underlying climate risk of a property, they are less interested in buying it”