Push The Needle
@pushtheneedle.bsky.social
the closer we are physically, the closer we are socially.
Pinned
we shouldn’t divide our cities like TV dinners with zoning. we should plan cities like salads and mix everything up
It’s worth noting that the rigorous Tree Ordinance will lead to more damage as builders, arborists and homeowners are too afraid of the robust process to remove trees which will lead to more damaged ones falling down.
HIGH WINDS: we're anticipating strong winds throughout Seattle. Please report downed trees, landslides, and other incidents to us by calling 206-684-7623. Call 911 for emergencies.
Prep for severe weather: https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/safety-first/severe-weather
Prep for severe weather: https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/safety-first/severe-weather
December 15, 2025 at 10:35 PM
It’s worth noting that the rigorous Tree Ordinance will lead to more damage as builders, arborists and homeowners are too afraid of the robust process to remove trees which will lead to more damaged ones falling down.
Someone sounds mad at the idea of making infill housing more possible and since most fire departments are led by conservatives clearly someone made an important phone call
Representatives April Connors (R-8, Kennewick) and Addison Richards (D-26, Bremerton) have prefiled a bill that would freeze Washington's building code for ten full years.
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
December 15, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Someone sounds mad at the idea of making infill housing more possible and since most fire departments are led by conservatives clearly someone made an important phone call
Reposted by Push The Needle
Following the adoption of strict rent control in 2022, St. Paul saw an immediate 79% drop in new rental permits, while Minneapolis (without rent control) saw new permits increase 300%.
Over the next two years, rent growth was lower in Minneapolis (0.7%) than St. Paul (1.8%).
Over the next two years, rent growth was lower in Minneapolis (0.7%) than St. Paul (1.8%).
December 15, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Following the adoption of strict rent control in 2022, St. Paul saw an immediate 79% drop in new rental permits, while Minneapolis (without rent control) saw new permits increase 300%.
Over the next two years, rent growth was lower in Minneapolis (0.7%) than St. Paul (1.8%).
Over the next two years, rent growth was lower in Minneapolis (0.7%) than St. Paul (1.8%).
Adds time and takes away homes. Why do we still have this program?
New working paper studying project permitting in Seattle estimates that design review as part of the development process increased review time by 4 to 5 months. Author's model estimates that design review was associated with a 3% decline in the number of units permitted.
static1.squarespace.com
December 15, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Adds time and takes away homes. Why do we still have this program?
Reposted by Push The Needle
full toon (from Jan 25)
![Elderly lady: Electric scooters should be illegal
Man on scooter: Well they're not
EL: I don't like your pants
Guy on street: So what, deal with it
EL: [at neighborhood mtg, into mic] We should get to decide what other people do with their property
Concerned neighbors: "Great point! She's right! Hear hear](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:carj4mhaflwfubqzioy5wxl3/bafkreigikh2cyh3nryt6egt27k2g4tjgkggrey5lig6pd5usxf5rogm24e@jpeg)
December 14, 2025 at 9:13 PM
full toon (from Jan 25)
Reposted by Push The Needle
Say it with me now, "Abolish historic preservation laws"
If I had time for Seattle landmarking drama right now, I would totally follow the case of the Caroline Horton House, which was landmarked by the neighbors against the owner's will and gets its controls and incentives hearing on December 17th. www.seattle.gov/documents/De...
December 14, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Say it with me now, "Abolish historic preservation laws"
Hypothetically, what happens if this is sold for development, this ghoulish process landmarks it against their will, but then, suddenly, over night, someone bulldozed it and smashed it to pieces. Obviously the owner didn’t do it. What happens next?
If I had time for Seattle landmarking drama right now, I would totally follow the case of the Caroline Horton House, which was landmarked by the neighbors against the owner's will and gets its controls and incentives hearing on December 17th. www.seattle.gov/documents/De...
December 14, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Hypothetically, what happens if this is sold for development, this ghoulish process landmarks it against their will, but then, suddenly, over night, someone bulldozed it and smashed it to pieces. Obviously the owner didn’t do it. What happens next?
This is exactly how this program is intended to work. Its purpose is to let sour people against change to take your property rights away from you. This is unconstitutional but taking it to court is a long and expensive process. We need the state to reform this program and require owner consent
If I had time for Seattle landmarking drama right now, I would totally follow the case of the Caroline Horton House, which was landmarked by the neighbors against the owner's will and gets its controls and incentives hearing on December 17th. www.seattle.gov/documents/De...
December 14, 2025 at 9:50 PM
This is exactly how this program is intended to work. Its purpose is to let sour people against change to take your property rights away from you. This is unconstitutional but taking it to court is a long and expensive process. We need the state to reform this program and require owner consent
Reposted by Push The Needle
We already allow mid-rise, single-stair, cross-ventilated, attached point access blocks with open stairways, sometimes even with small elevators! You just have to buy a giant townhouse to get it.
Cool 2015 development in Houston: 12 townhouses oriented around a brick courtyard on a 30,000 square foot lot, and right next to a row of mansions.
December 14, 2025 at 4:04 PM
We already allow mid-rise, single-stair, cross-ventilated, attached point access blocks with open stairways, sometimes even with small elevators! You just have to buy a giant townhouse to get it.
Reposted by Push The Needle
My least popular (and most correct) view is that cars should be automatically limited to the local speed limit. Put the pedal to the floor and you still can't go over 25mph in a residential area.
(15 in Manhattan btw)
(15 in Manhattan btw)
There is no possible justification for limiting e-bikes to 15mph but not cars.
New York Has a New E-Bike Speed Limit—and No Way to Enforce It
August 9, 2025 at 4:47 PM
My least popular (and most correct) view is that cars should be automatically limited to the local speed limit. Put the pedal to the floor and you still can't go over 25mph in a residential area.
(15 in Manhattan btw)
(15 in Manhattan btw)
Why don’t we send drivers on the “parallel side streets”? Who is more Yuppie, a driver or a guy on his bicycle pictured?
There's like a million parallel side streets that nobody is ever in, too... I mean yeah you get bottlenecked once or twice but...
Fucking yuppy asshole...
Fucking yuppy asshole...
December 14, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Why don’t we send drivers on the “parallel side streets”? Who is more Yuppie, a driver or a guy on his bicycle pictured?
This is a public street in Seattle.
December 13, 2025 at 9:30 PM
This is a public street in Seattle.
Case closed. Time to reform the codes to make infill midrise housing better and safer. Otherwise what’s the point of them?
Consultants contracted by Minnesota found that an eight-story single-stair building with 6,000 sq. ft. per floor (building 4) has dramatically lower fire risk than a same-height code-compliant two-stair building with a larger floor plate (building 1) www.dli.mn.gov/sites/defaul...
December 13, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Case closed. Time to reform the codes to make infill midrise housing better and safer. Otherwise what’s the point of them?
Biking on Aurora Avenue. Amazes me what infrastructure we accept as a city.
December 13, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Biking on Aurora Avenue. Amazes me what infrastructure we accept as a city.
I have also noticed that as a homeowner myself, I would get listened to because of that but then get disregarded by city staff and NIMBYs the moment I said I supported more apartments and infill housing. Every community meeting.
Housing affordability is important, but the idea that renters have less of a stake in their community and the country’s future is absolutely insidious and offensive.
Flagging this from the Douthat interview with Charlie Kirk’s confidant/podcast replacement. The right sees this too! And he gets: It’s both financial and psychological.
December 13, 2025 at 9:09 PM
I have also noticed that as a homeowner myself, I would get listened to because of that but then get disregarded by city staff and NIMBYs the moment I said I supported more apartments and infill housing. Every community meeting.
Finally have an explanation for Seattle NIMBYism
Narcissism + desire to be unique = conspiracy beliefs.
Yep, that fits.
Study: "...national narcissism is related to group-attributed need for uniqueness that goes hand in hand with conspiracy beliefs..."
Yep, that fits.
Study: "...national narcissism is related to group-attributed need for uniqueness that goes hand in hand with conspiracy beliefs..."
December 13, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Finally have an explanation for Seattle NIMBYism
Stop making fun of me
"Local safe streets advocate has more photos of bike lanes, crosswalks and intersections than of his family from recent vacation."
www.creativebyrovelo.com/therovelorec...
www.creativebyrovelo.com/therovelorec...
December 13, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Stop making fun of me
The Ballard line will generate 220,000 riders and will be the lowest cost per rider for any of the expansions. But of course transit always has to sacrifice rider experience to save $. Meanwhile, we are building a $10B dollar bridge between WA and OR nobody is talking about value engineering
NEW STORY // Eliminating Second Seattle Rail Tunnel Could Save $4.5B, But With Major Impacts, Delays
Story by Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/13/e...
Story by Ryan Packer via @theurbanist.org // 🔗 www.theurbanist.org/2025/12/13/e...
Eliminating Second Seattle Rail Tunnel Could Save $4.5B, But With Major Impacts, Delays » The Urbanist
# The analysis, prompted by a request from King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci, looks at ways to get to Ballard without a new tunnel under Downtown Seattle. While the potential cost savings are...
www.theurbanist.org
December 13, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The Ballard line will generate 220,000 riders and will be the lowest cost per rider for any of the expansions. But of course transit always has to sacrifice rider experience to save $. Meanwhile, we are building a $10B dollar bridge between WA and OR nobody is talking about value engineering
Reposted by Push The Needle
This used to be a car park
December 13, 2025 at 4:17 PM
This used to be a car park
Because planners want you spread out into detached homes so their own homes they bought 30 years ago in walkable rediscovered urban cores become exclusive and more valuable.
American planning will micromanage the facade materials of infill five-over-one developments—something that is trivial and easy to change—and then sign off on junk like this—poor street and public space plans that will undermine the quality of life of residents for generations.
December 13, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Because planners want you spread out into detached homes so their own homes they bought 30 years ago in walkable rediscovered urban cores become exclusive and more valuable.
The best shared street is the one that doesn’t share itself with cars
A well-designed shared street can easily be upgraded to a fully pedestrian one.
December 13, 2025 at 5:29 AM
The best shared street is the one that doesn’t share itself with cars
Reposted by Push The Needle
US building codes requiring two stairs in multifamily buildings: not only worse living environments, but also more dangerous in fires! What a combination.
Consultants contracted by Minnesota found that an eight-story single-stair building with 6,000 sq. ft. per floor (building 4) has dramatically lower fire risk than a same-height code-compliant two-stair building with a larger floor plate (building 1) www.dli.mn.gov/sites/defaul...
December 12, 2025 at 10:58 PM
US building codes requiring two stairs in multifamily buildings: not only worse living environments, but also more dangerous in fires! What a combination.
We need a bypass track
December 12, 2025 at 10:42 PM
We need a bypass track
Isn’t “downtown” Federal Way just a mall?
Let’s just add “downtown Seattle” to the sign for funsies. Oops all downtowns!
December 12, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Isn’t “downtown” Federal Way just a mall?