Parker Welch
@parkerwelch.bsky.social
Transportation engineer, urbanist, Austinite, liberal patriot
Board Secretary @aura-atx.org
Poems & Essays: https://thisfaintfire.substack.com/
Board Secretary @aura-atx.org
Poems & Essays: https://thisfaintfire.substack.com/
Pinned
Reposted by Parker Welch
Sink drug boats and kill the survivors (no evidence offered), pardon drug kingpins convicted in court of law (lots of evidence offered) — www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/w...
Trump Announces Pardon for Honduran Ex-President Convicted in Drug Case
www.nytimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Sink drug boats and kill the survivors (no evidence offered), pardon drug kingpins convicted in court of law (lots of evidence offered) — www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/w...
Reposted by Parker Welch
If Trump proactively pardons Hegseth, the solution is to signal either to the ICC or the country of origin of the murdered men that we will honor extradition requests on this point.
And then, in something of an irony, Noem him out of the country before anyone can react.
And then, in something of an irony, Noem him out of the country before anyone can react.
November 28, 2025 at 6:40 PM
If Trump proactively pardons Hegseth, the solution is to signal either to the ICC or the country of origin of the murdered men that we will honor extradition requests on this point.
And then, in something of an irony, Noem him out of the country before anyone can react.
And then, in something of an irony, Noem him out of the country before anyone can react.
Reposted by Parker Welch
We literally executed Germans after the war for doing what Bradley and everyone else involved did, and the Germans had a better justification (u-boat plausibly being targeted based on info provided by survivors vs.......whatever the hell pete was worried about here)
Given the justification was in part because they might communicate with someone, pete could ask Heinz-Wilhelm Eck and his XO what the law of armed conflict says about that, except oops, the allies shot them dead in 1945 after a trial
WaPo with reporting that Pete gave an explicit order to JSOC during the first strike post impact to immediately follow up in order to, and I quote, "kill them all"
November 28, 2025 at 6:22 PM
We literally executed Germans after the war for doing what Bradley and everyone else involved did, and the Germans had a better justification (u-boat plausibly being targeted based on info provided by survivors vs.......whatever the hell pete was worried about here)
Reposted by Parker Welch
This is murder. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
November 28, 2025 at 6:16 PM
This is murder. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Parker Welch
Thrilled to intro our panel for Life After Cars! Joining co-hosts of @thewaroncars.bsky.social, @sgoodyear.bsky.social & @brooklynspoke.bsky.social:
@vanessafuentes.bsky.social, MPT
Talib Abdullahi, Black History Bike Ride
@kutnathan.bsky.social, KUT (moderator)
🎟️ bookpeople.com/event/2025-1...
@vanessafuentes.bsky.social, MPT
Talib Abdullahi, Black History Bike Ride
@kutnathan.bsky.social, KUT (moderator)
🎟️ bookpeople.com/event/2025-1...
November 28, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Thrilled to intro our panel for Life After Cars! Joining co-hosts of @thewaroncars.bsky.social, @sgoodyear.bsky.social & @brooklynspoke.bsky.social:
@vanessafuentes.bsky.social, MPT
Talib Abdullahi, Black History Bike Ride
@kutnathan.bsky.social, KUT (moderator)
🎟️ bookpeople.com/event/2025-1...
@vanessafuentes.bsky.social, MPT
Talib Abdullahi, Black History Bike Ride
@kutnathan.bsky.social, KUT (moderator)
🎟️ bookpeople.com/event/2025-1...
Reposted by Parker Welch
Happy Thanksgiving from the City of Boston and one of its adorable bike lane sweepers!
November 27, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Happy Thanksgiving from the City of Boston and one of its adorable bike lane sweepers!
Reposted by Parker Welch
Cities can just speed up buses, no one is stopping them
Blasting past rush hour traffic on the completed portion of Dufferin RapidTO (up to Dundas)
November 27, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Cities can just speed up buses, no one is stopping them
San Antonio potentially joining Dallas in the move to (odd-year) November elections 👀
The Texas leg has created a window of opportunity for cities to make the switch from May to November before December 31, but they have to act fast
sanantonioreport.org/mayor-jones-...
The Texas leg has created a window of opportunity for cities to make the switch from May to November before December 31, but they have to act fast
sanantonioreport.org/mayor-jones-...
Mayor Jones asks council to move city elections to November
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones sent a letter to City Council on Tuesday asking to move the city's elections from May to November.
sanantonioreport.org
November 27, 2025 at 4:33 AM
San Antonio potentially joining Dallas in the move to (odd-year) November elections 👀
The Texas leg has created a window of opportunity for cities to make the switch from May to November before December 31, but they have to act fast
sanantonioreport.org/mayor-jones-...
The Texas leg has created a window of opportunity for cities to make the switch from May to November before December 31, but they have to act fast
sanantonioreport.org/mayor-jones-...
Reposted by Parker Welch
Investments in public transit have failed to provide the right incentives for infrastructure projects to get completed in an affordable and timely manner.
Join this webinar to learn how reforms to the shape, type, and speed of investment can transform project delivery and service outcomes.
Join this webinar to learn how reforms to the shape, type, and speed of investment can transform project delivery and service outcomes.
Full Steam Ahead: Funding Transformational Transit
Transit and passenger rail investment in the United States struggles for adequate investment. Despite some improvements in top line figures for transit and passenger rail, federal and state transporta...
actionnetwork.org
November 25, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Investments in public transit have failed to provide the right incentives for infrastructure projects to get completed in an affordable and timely manner.
Join this webinar to learn how reforms to the shape, type, and speed of investment can transform project delivery and service outcomes.
Join this webinar to learn how reforms to the shape, type, and speed of investment can transform project delivery and service outcomes.
We made these illegal to build in America and we told ourselves that was progress
November 26, 2025 at 4:38 PM
We made these illegal to build in America and we told ourselves that was progress
Many such cases!
what drives me insane about “centers and corridors” in US urban planning is that seemingly no professionals in the field have stopped and realized that this “best practice” has not worked anywhere it’s been tried
November 25, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Many such cases!
Reposted by Parker Welch
It's official, last night Denver City Council adopted a local single-stair ordinance!
Beginning December 31, 2025, 5-story single-stair housing will be permitted in Denver!
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/11/24/d...
Beginning December 31, 2025, 5-story single-stair housing will be permitted in Denver!
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/11/24/d...
Denver City Council approves single-stair building ordinance
Denver City Council approves ordinance for 5-story single-stair buildings, promoting affordable housing and flexible building options.
www.coloradopolitics.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:09 PM
It's official, last night Denver City Council adopted a local single-stair ordinance!
Beginning December 31, 2025, 5-story single-stair housing will be permitted in Denver!
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/11/24/d...
Beginning December 31, 2025, 5-story single-stair housing will be permitted in Denver!
www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/11/24/d...
You know I just hope they all have fun
Texas - GOP Senate Polling:
Paxton: 36%
Hunt: 26%
Cornyn: 25%
Paxton: 51%
Cornyn: 34%
Cornyn: 29%
Hunt: 29%
Stratus / Nov 22, 2025
Paxton: 36%
Hunt: 26%
Cornyn: 25%
Paxton: 51%
Cornyn: 34%
Cornyn: 29%
Hunt: 29%
Stratus / Nov 22, 2025
November 25, 2025 at 4:13 AM
You know I just hope they all have fun
Reposted by Parker Welch
Paul’s at the forefront of American housing policy. Tying together YIMBYism, public finance, and public development, he’s building *the model* for American social housing.
Now he’s been appointed to Zohran’s Transition Committee on Housing. We at @publicenterprise.bsky.social couldn’t be prouder!
Now he’s been appointed to Zohran’s Transition Committee on Housing. We at @publicenterprise.bsky.social couldn’t be prouder!
November 24, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Paul’s at the forefront of American housing policy. Tying together YIMBYism, public finance, and public development, he’s building *the model* for American social housing.
Now he’s been appointed to Zohran’s Transition Committee on Housing. We at @publicenterprise.bsky.social couldn’t be prouder!
Now he’s been appointed to Zohran’s Transition Committee on Housing. We at @publicenterprise.bsky.social couldn’t be prouder!
Reposted by Parker Welch
As we all wait for Callais to come down, our piece showing that Shelby County increased the racial turnout gap in most of the covered parts of the country has cleared the replication check and is incoming at JOP.
Gutting the VRA was bad, actually.
Gutting the VRA was bad, actually.
November 24, 2025 at 12:47 AM
As we all wait for Callais to come down, our piece showing that Shelby County increased the racial turnout gap in most of the covered parts of the country has cleared the replication check and is incoming at JOP.
Gutting the VRA was bad, actually.
Gutting the VRA was bad, actually.
Reposted by Parker Welch
Boston's Mayor Wu playing with Yo-Yo Ma at Symphony Hall
November 23, 2025 at 5:11 AM
Boston's Mayor Wu playing with Yo-Yo Ma at Symphony Hall
Reposted by Parker Welch
If you’re in Austin, please leave a comment on the City’s official form in support of the Rosedale rezoning—Case Number C14-2025-0094
forms.office.com/pages/respon...
forms.office.com/pages/respon...
Microsoft Forms
forms.office.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:43 PM
If you’re in Austin, please leave a comment on the City’s official form in support of the Rosedale rezoning—Case Number C14-2025-0094
forms.office.com/pages/respon...
forms.office.com/pages/respon...
People will really say in public, in front of God and everybody, that more teachers should be fired and more kids should lose their school because they don’t want to see a six-story building in their neighborhood
Rosedale school fight is a great example
Wealthy NIMBYs fought to kill housing in Austin for decades, driving up the cost of living for AISD employees while keeping out new students. Now the district is selling off empty schools and they’re fighting to stop that so more schools will have to close
Wealthy NIMBYs fought to kill housing in Austin for decades, driving up the cost of living for AISD employees while keeping out new students. Now the district is selling off empty schools and they’re fighting to stop that so more schools will have to close
November 22, 2025 at 9:37 PM
People will really say in public, in front of God and everybody, that more teachers should be fired and more kids should lose their school because they don’t want to see a six-story building in their neighborhood
Mayor Whitmire spending money to undo a finished project, make the road more dangerous, and incur a permanent maintenance liability
That’s okay, Houston only has a 227 million dollar deficit to close next year, what’s a few hundred k between friends?
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
That’s okay, Houston only has a 227 million dollar deficit to close next year, what’s a few hundred k between friends?
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Houston to tear out $200K roundabout and replace it with a traffic light
Houston spent $200,000 in federal money to build this roundabout on Houston's northside in hopes of reducing wrecks. Now the mayor is taking it out.
www.houstonchronicle.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Mayor Whitmire spending money to undo a finished project, make the road more dangerous, and incur a permanent maintenance liability
That’s okay, Houston only has a 227 million dollar deficit to close next year, what’s a few hundred k between friends?
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
That’s okay, Houston only has a 227 million dollar deficit to close next year, what’s a few hundred k between friends?
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...
Last year Austin’s Cap Metro upgraded every MetroBike to an e-bike 😤
New research compares the use of electric and regular bikes in DC's Capital Bikeshare network.
Conclusion: E-bikes make bikeshare better.
"E-bikes enable broader dispersion across the city by connecting more distant bikeshare stations and supporting extended mobility."
doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
Conclusion: E-bikes make bikeshare better.
"E-bikes enable broader dispersion across the city by connecting more distant bikeshare stations and supporting extended mobility."
doi.org/10.1016/j.tr...
November 22, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Last year Austin’s Cap Metro upgraded every MetroBike to an e-bike 😤
Reposted by Parker Welch
Noting the congressional pension is based on service time, it kicks in at 5 years and her retirement date - Jan. 5, 2026 - will be the first business day after she passes five years since her first swearing in. bsky.app/profile/heli...
Any idea why she's quitting then? Her statement isn't very coherent (big surprise), although it would make more sense as an explanation of just not running for re-election.
November 22, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Noting the congressional pension is based on service time, it kicks in at 5 years and her retirement date - Jan. 5, 2026 - will be the first business day after she passes five years since her first swearing in. bsky.app/profile/heli...
FAA issued a NOTAM closing Venezuelan airspace to civil aviation until February today, official background reads like pretext
Bomber sorties since Oct 15, Ford carrier strike group arrived in Caribbean 5 days ago, 20% of deployed fleet now in SOUTHCOM, FTO designation of Maduro takes effect Monday
Bomber sorties since Oct 15, Ford carrier strike group arrived in Caribbean 5 days ago, 20% of deployed fleet now in SOUTHCOM, FTO designation of Maduro takes effect Monday
Here is the Background Information Notice / advisory as reference in the NOTAM.
Some interesting stuff to dig into here:
Some interesting stuff to dig into here:
November 22, 2025 at 12:57 AM
FAA issued a NOTAM closing Venezuelan airspace to civil aviation until February today, official background reads like pretext
Bomber sorties since Oct 15, Ford carrier strike group arrived in Caribbean 5 days ago, 20% of deployed fleet now in SOUTHCOM, FTO designation of Maduro takes effect Monday
Bomber sorties since Oct 15, Ford carrier strike group arrived in Caribbean 5 days ago, 20% of deployed fleet now in SOUTHCOM, FTO designation of Maduro takes effect Monday
Read this Chronicle article about AISD fighting for its life to avoid a state Republican takeover www.austinchronicle.com/news/can-ais...
Then read this about NIMBYs fighting to kill apartments at the former Rosedale school, nuking $23M dollars from AISD’s budget communityimpact.com/austin/north...
Then read this about NIMBYs fighting to kill apartments at the former Rosedale school, nuking $23M dollars from AISD’s budget communityimpact.com/austin/north...
Can AISD Jump Through Enough Hoops to Avoid State Takeover? • The Austin Chronicle
Five weeks into the school year, on a Monday morning at Lively Middle School, English teachers were called in for an unexpected training session with Austin ISD officials. They were soon informed that...
www.austinchronicle.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Read this Chronicle article about AISD fighting for its life to avoid a state Republican takeover www.austinchronicle.com/news/can-ais...
Then read this about NIMBYs fighting to kill apartments at the former Rosedale school, nuking $23M dollars from AISD’s budget communityimpact.com/austin/north...
Then read this about NIMBYs fighting to kill apartments at the former Rosedale school, nuking $23M dollars from AISD’s budget communityimpact.com/austin/north...
As TXDOT studies passenger rail between San Antonio & Austin (report due out in March 2026) I thought it be interesting to dig up TXDOT’s old study of the same line from 1999
Once included photos of every grade crossing, but that compact disc has not been digitized
web.archive.org/web/20130421...
Once included photos of every grade crossing, but that compact disc has not been digitized
web.archive.org/web/20130421...
web.archive.org
November 21, 2025 at 3:42 PM
As TXDOT studies passenger rail between San Antonio & Austin (report due out in March 2026) I thought it be interesting to dig up TXDOT’s old study of the same line from 1999
Once included photos of every grade crossing, but that compact disc has not been digitized
web.archive.org/web/20130421...
Once included photos of every grade crossing, but that compact disc has not been digitized
web.archive.org/web/20130421...