James
@jchords.bsky.social
He/him. Educator, union member, social housing advocate.
Reposted by James
i don't get the love for waymo in certain urbanist circles. it's safer cars, at least it seems that way from available data, but it's more cars. more cars are bad! we should want less cars!
December 3, 2025 at 8:43 PM
i don't get the love for waymo in certain urbanist circles. it's safer cars, at least it seems that way from available data, but it's more cars. more cars are bad! we should want less cars!
Reposted by James
Less than six points with 92% of the vote counted. Wow.
December 3, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Less than six points with 92% of the vote counted. Wow.
Reposted by James
seattle was downzoned continually from the first zoning ordinance in 1923, through the 1980s
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 3:17 PM
seattle was downzoned continually from the first zoning ordinance in 1923, through the 1980s
Reposted by James
Perhaps the smartest #ClimateAction investment in cities is in public transit. While others make excuses, Paris is building a WHOLE NEW METRO NETWORK CONNECTING SUBURBS.
“…the Grand Paris Express, a new 200km system with 4 new lines & 68 new stations.”
#ActionStartsHere
@mayors4climate.bsky.social
“…the Grand Paris Express, a new 200km system with 4 new lines & 68 new stations.”
#ActionStartsHere
@mayors4climate.bsky.social
Paris is getting a whole new Metro network. And it’s huge | CNN
The Grand Paris Express will add four lines, 68 stations and 200 kilometers of track to the French capital’s 120-year-old Metro system, providing vital suburban links – just not quite in time for the ...
www.cnn.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Perhaps the smartest #ClimateAction investment in cities is in public transit. While others make excuses, Paris is building a WHOLE NEW METRO NETWORK CONNECTING SUBURBS.
“…the Grand Paris Express, a new 200km system with 4 new lines & 68 new stations.”
#ActionStartsHere
@mayors4climate.bsky.social
“…the Grand Paris Express, a new 200km system with 4 new lines & 68 new stations.”
#ActionStartsHere
@mayors4climate.bsky.social
Reposted by James
The funniest/scariest under-the-hood result is one where relative rural/urban polarization just keeps increasing
December 3, 2025 at 2:00 AM
The funniest/scariest under-the-hood result is one where relative rural/urban polarization just keeps increasing
Reposted by James
that's right!
e-bikes replace *car* trips
they're the greatest climate mobility hack invented yet
governments should be giving them away
e-bikes replace *car* trips
they're the greatest climate mobility hack invented yet
governments should be giving them away
Interesting study from Germany on e-bikes and the modes they replace:
"43.1% of electric bicycle trips and 63.2% of electric bicycle mileage would have been undertaken using a car if no e-bike had been available, highlighting their substantial potential to reduce transport-related CO2 emissions"
"43.1% of electric bicycle trips and 63.2% of electric bicycle mileage would have been undertaken using a car if no e-bike had been available, highlighting their substantial potential to reduce transport-related CO2 emissions"
Further, steeper, greener: Implications from an electric bicycle mode choice model
Electric bicycles are transforming the active mobility landscape, potentially increasing active mode uptake and delivering environmental and health benefits. This study examines electric bicycle mo...
doi.org
July 24, 2025 at 6:38 PM
that's right!
e-bikes replace *car* trips
they're the greatest climate mobility hack invented yet
governments should be giving them away
e-bikes replace *car* trips
they're the greatest climate mobility hack invented yet
governments should be giving them away
We are SO BACK!!!
Jersey City DSA might go 2/2 today in City Council with Ephros and Brooks
December 3, 2025 at 1:11 AM
We are SO BACK!!!
Reposted by James
I Think Her Party Should Be Making Statements In Her Defense And The Greater Somali Community
December 3, 2025 at 12:39 AM
I Think Her Party Should Be Making Statements In Her Defense And The Greater Somali Community
Reposted by James
A common vaccine meant to ward off shingles may be doing something even more extraordinary: protecting the brain.
Shingles vaccine may actually slow down dementia, study finds
Research has shown that the vaccine may reduce dementia risk. Now a study has found that vaccinated individuals are almost 30 percent less likely to die of dementia.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:15 PM
A common vaccine meant to ward off shingles may be doing something even more extraordinary: protecting the brain.
Reposted by James
when Bill's right these days he's really fucking right
For some reason Democratic leaders seem to prefer telling voters what they won’t be able to do, rather than what they’d like to do.
If Hegseth ordered a war crime and lied about it, shouldn’t Ds try for impeachment? Put Rs on the spot. They might get a few defections.
www.axios.com/2025/12/01/j...
If Hegseth ordered a war crime and lied about it, shouldn’t Ds try for impeachment? Put Rs on the spot. They might get a few defections.
www.axios.com/2025/12/01/j...
Jeffries says not to expect Democrats to pursue Hegseth impeachment over boat strikes
"Republicans will never allow articles of impeachment to be brought to the floor," he said.
www.axios.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:28 AM
when Bill's right these days he's really fucking right
Reposted by James
my book, Building For People, on how we plan and build housing and neighborhoods in the US is a complete anomaly - resulting in a low quality of life and poor public health outcomes v. peer countries
islandpress.org/books/buildi...
islandpress.org/books/buildi...
November 30, 2025 at 5:24 PM
my book, Building For People, on how we plan and build housing and neighborhoods in the US is a complete anomaly - resulting in a low quality of life and poor public health outcomes v. peer countries
islandpress.org/books/buildi...
islandpress.org/books/buildi...
Reposted by James
“Strong floor, no ceiling” is the type of slogan that resonates with wealthy centrist political commentators, not everyday people who are actually your voters. What does that mean to someone who is struggling to afford rent, groceries, insurance? This is why Zohran’s policy slogans were so effective
November 30, 2025 at 5:20 PM
“Strong floor, no ceiling” is the type of slogan that resonates with wealthy centrist political commentators, not everyday people who are actually your voters. What does that mean to someone who is struggling to afford rent, groceries, insurance? This is why Zohran’s policy slogans were so effective
Reposted by James
I feel comfortable and secure in my belief that democratic leadership should not be pulling their slogans from venture capitalists. That this, at minimum, is a significant indictment of who they are listening and talking to. It’s not that complicated.
No value, no villain, no vision. Sounds like the tagline for the earnings call of a collapsing appliance retailer
November 30, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I feel comfortable and secure in my belief that democratic leadership should not be pulling their slogans from venture capitalists. That this, at minimum, is a significant indictment of who they are listening and talking to. It’s not that complicated.
Reposted by James
No value, no villain, no vision. Sounds like the tagline for the earnings call of a collapsing appliance retailer
November 30, 2025 at 1:20 PM
No value, no villain, no vision. Sounds like the tagline for the earnings call of a collapsing appliance retailer
Reposted by James
Tonight’s #UrbanismBookClub book tackles better city-making from the communications, branding, & public relations spheres. “Dark PR: How Corporate Disinformation Undermines Our Health & Environment” by my friend @grantennis.bsky.social is a HUGELY important book today. Every urbanist should read it.
November 29, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Tonight’s #UrbanismBookClub book tackles better city-making from the communications, branding, & public relations spheres. “Dark PR: How Corporate Disinformation Undermines Our Health & Environment” by my friend @grantennis.bsky.social is a HUGELY important book today. Every urbanist should read it.
Reposted by James
“The vacated homes were substantially cheaper than the new units and spanned diverse locations and housing types.”
When people move into new housing developments, they free up space in older housing. This is good for housing affordability and availability.
When people move into new housing developments, they free up space in older housing. This is good for housing affordability and availability.
Interesting new working paper that studies chains of movers after the construction of a new apartment building in Honolulu.
Paper finds that the project resulted in the opening up other, lower cost, housing on the island, benefiting the housing market overall.
Paper finds that the project resulted in the opening up other, lower cost, housing on the island, benefiting the housing market overall.
uhero.hawaii.edu
November 28, 2025 at 4:14 PM
“The vacated homes were substantially cheaper than the new units and spanned diverse locations and housing types.”
When people move into new housing developments, they free up space in older housing. This is good for housing affordability and availability.
When people move into new housing developments, they free up space in older housing. This is good for housing affordability and availability.
Reposted by James
The fact that Jimmy Carter was so often framed as a human rights hero is pretty wild given how much blood of tortured Salvadorean activists he was directly responsible for. www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Jimmy Carter's Dark Legacy in El Salvador
Carter’s administration rejected Saint Óscar Romero’s pleas not to provide military aid to the Salvadoran junta before he was assassinated.
www.rollingstone.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:58 AM
The fact that Jimmy Carter was so often framed as a human rights hero is pretty wild given how much blood of tortured Salvadorean activists he was directly responsible for. www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by James
It’s awesome how they fight new apartment buildings by claiming it’ll increase gentrification and it is of course the opposite
What happens when you downzone?
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
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
November 26, 2025 at 9:00 PM
It’s awesome how they fight new apartment buildings by claiming it’ll increase gentrification and it is of course the opposite
Reposted by James
«Instead, her campaign was built on trust that she had been cultivating for years. » @hmwinter.bsky.social @theguardian.com @thestranger.com re: @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social
Years of engaging and contributing FTW. Let’s GO, #Seattle
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Years of engaging and contributing FTW. Let’s GO, #Seattle
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
How an ‘unknown’ organizer became Seattle’s next mayor: ‘People want to see themselves reflected in office’
Katie Wilson’s rise from transit campaigner to city hall shows how trust, volunteers and years of organizing overcame big-money politics
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:30 PM
«Instead, her campaign was built on trust that she had been cultivating for years. » @hmwinter.bsky.social @theguardian.com @thestranger.com re: @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social
Years of engaging and contributing FTW. Let’s GO, #Seattle
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Years of engaging and contributing FTW. Let’s GO, #Seattle
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by James
Electric bikes are appealing and can lead the shift to more trips done by bike than by car. See this analysis of Boston's shared bike system and the impact of ebike introduction. @ridebluebikes.bsky.social www.abettercity.org/docs-new/pub...
November 27, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Electric bikes are appealing and can lead the shift to more trips done by bike than by car. See this analysis of Boston's shared bike system and the impact of ebike introduction. @ridebluebikes.bsky.social www.abettercity.org/docs-new/pub...
Reposted by James
www.axios.com/local/washin... Get to know Janeese Lewis George, D.C.'s counterpart to Zohran Mamdani.
The progressive who could be the Zohran Mamdani of D.C.
Janeese Lewis George is considering a run for mayor.
www.axios.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:29 PM
www.axios.com/local/washin... Get to know Janeese Lewis George, D.C.'s counterpart to Zohran Mamdani.
Reposted by James
The union buster has shitty opinions? Wow.
Making sure developers don’t make a dime is more important than building homes for people
November 26, 2025 at 3:55 AM
The union buster has shitty opinions? Wow.
Reposted by James
Reposted by James
thank goodness the pro-housing ballot measures passed.
they will be our best enabler of Zohran passing progressive pro-housing policy now that the city council is being led by an outer borough conservative NIMBY coalition
they will be our best enabler of Zohran passing progressive pro-housing policy now that the city council is being led by an outer borough conservative NIMBY coalition
Council’s got two real powers: budget and (now reduced but still significant) upzoning/downzoning.
This is a pretty clear coalition on anti-property tax + pro-NYPD-spending + anti-major-upzoning
My bet is we get a ‘stasis’/member deference Council
This is a pretty clear coalition on anti-property tax + pro-NYPD-spending + anti-major-upzoning
My bet is we get a ‘stasis’/member deference Council
November 26, 2025 at 7:53 PM
thank goodness the pro-housing ballot measures passed.
they will be our best enabler of Zohran passing progressive pro-housing policy now that the city council is being led by an outer borough conservative NIMBY coalition
they will be our best enabler of Zohran passing progressive pro-housing policy now that the city council is being led by an outer borough conservative NIMBY coalition
Reposted by James
Amazing to learn that Isaac Chotiner can apparently just come for you in your replies. Like suddenly realizing you're swimming in open ocean
November 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Amazing to learn that Isaac Chotiner can apparently just come for you in your replies. Like suddenly realizing you're swimming in open ocean