Chris Reynolds
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urbaneconomist.bsky.social
Chris Reynolds
@urbaneconomist.bsky.social
Economist, Urbanist, Silver Springer, Dad
@ihppod.bsky.social Delegate Marc Korman’s commentary on the misuse of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices is one of those things that seems abstruse and small-bore, but it’s actually a massive problem for public safety. Kudos to him for raising the alarm—and to you for amplifying them!
November 4, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
MCPS hasn't closed a school since the 1980s, but the superintendent says it's time to close Silver Spring International MS, citing declining systemwide enrollment, rising costs, and a 90-year-old building originally built as a high school– bethesdamagazine.com/2025/10/13/m...
‘No longer tenable’: MCPS to recommend closure of aging Silver Spring International Middle by 2031
MCPS will recommend the closure of the aging Silver Spring International Middle School by 2031 as part of its proposed six-year CIP.
bethesdamagazine.com
October 13, 2025 at 11:01 PM
@dcbeer.com Do we know why no Snallygaster beer list has been released, yet? Is one coming? I always look forward to your rankings and recommendations!
October 6, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
a dad in Kensington tried to get sidewalks built for his disabled son. Montgomery County basically said it was his job to win over his neighbors, who lashed out at *him* for the proposal. this is simply not how government should work–
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
‘Let’s be nice, please’: Debate over sidewalks gets testy amid safety concerns
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation wants to add sidewalks in Kensington. Neighbors are turning on those who welcome the change.
www.thebanner.com
September 30, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
But to get an ample supply of old buildings with low rents (for both apartments and businesses), we have to build new buildings and let them age. Eventually, many of those new buildings will become dingy, gritty, run-down buildings, with low rents for local entrepreneurs (and their employees).
September 17, 2025 at 5:32 PM
@ihppod.bsky.social Your podcast got a very nice shout-out on the latest Slate Political Gabfest episode (at the very end). slate.com/podcasts/pol...
September 12, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
Hardest secret I’ve ever had to keep — today is my first day as the Montgomery County Government and Politics Reporter for Baltimore Banner’s new Montgomery County bureau! I couldn’t be more excited to join this incredible team while continuing to cover the county. Stay tuned for our launch date! 🗞️
August 25, 2025 at 5:08 PM
@kedseconomist.com You got a shout-out on the Ezra Klein Show today. Nice! It was a very Optimist Economy-style episode.
August 16, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
"Private equity is causing the housing crisis" is a very common take that mixes up cause and effect. Single-family homes are an attractive investment vehicle for private equity because there's a shortage of them, not the other way around.
did a blackrock executive ai generate this article?
August 10, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
really feels like housing affordability is one of the most important political issues of our time, affecting nearly every aspect of our lives, and everyday our mainstream political discourse is about whether sour cream is woke or not
August 9, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
A new paper by Vincent Rollet at MIT replicates Li's 2022 finding that new construction reduces rents within a 500-foot radius in NYC vrollet.github.io/files/city_s...
July 25, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
You know that post btw a car’s windshield and side window? It’s called an A-pillar – and it’s becoming a problem.

A-pillars are expanding, enlarging driver blind zones and concealing pedestrians at crosswalks.

Blame car bloat, as well as ill-conceived federal rules.

Me, in Bloomberg 🧵
Why Did Cars Get So Hard to See Out Of?
If it seems like forward visibility has gotten worse, you’re right: Since the 1990s, cars and trucks have grown bigger A-pillars that can create dangerous blind spots.
www.bloomberg.com
July 10, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
Just a minor side effect of car dominance.
July 8, 2025 at 11:14 AM
@ncibpodcast.bsky.social Beautiful day for a parade! Just saw the Thunderbolts go by. Hanging out near the co-op. Give me a shout if you’re set up somewhere close!
July 4, 2025 at 1:26 PM
@ncibpodcast.bsky.social I hope y’all talk a little bit about the start of the AUSL this week. It’s been fun to see it streamed/televised on MLB.tv (and sometimes ESPN).
The Official Site of Major League Baseball
Coverage includes audio and video clips, interviews, statistics, schedules and exclusive stories.
MLB.tv
June 8, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
May 28, 2025 at 1:47 AM
@ncibpodcast.bsky.social Any advice for checking out a Baysox game? I’m taking my extended family to a game in May; we’ll have several young kids with us. I’ve never been, before. Any tips on seats, parking, food, fun stuff?
April 8, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
Montgomery County Police report that crime in downtown Silver Spring has decreased by 7.6 percent over the past year, including a significant reduction in carjackings and robberies.
Downtown Silver Spring Sees Sharp Decline in Carjackings and Robberies
Montgomery County Police report that crime in downtown Silver Spring has decreased by 7.6 percent over the past year, including a significant reduction in carjackings and robberies.
sourceofthespring.news
March 22, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
Remember that the point of flex posts is that cars can easily drive over them with no consequences. They don't serve any other purpose.
Nailed it
March 16, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
The real enemy of affordability isn't high-end, "luxury" apartments which, evidence shows, can actually help keep rents down.

Prices skyrocket when we refuse to expand housing options & force people into bidding wars over existing homes.
How New Supply Impacts Affordability Across the Board
There have already been nearly 500 thousand multifamily units (496.6 thousand) built this year, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau — more than in all of 2023, which saw the highest number…
buff.ly
January 23, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
Our #prohousing reframes cheat sheet
& a bunch more stuff for talking about zoning for affordability, equity and sustainability here: www.sightline.org/2019/12/31/a...
November 8, 2024 at 2:25 AM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
Well this is a bit dark
January 14, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
The take I am most certain of that gets me in the most trouble is just "The reason homes are so expensive is because there are not enough of them, so we really really really need to build more of them."
January 13, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Reposted by Chris Reynolds
I don't think I have ever seem a norm go from widely accepted to completely irrelevant as quickly as the importance of minimizing conflicts of interests
January 14, 2025 at 2:42 AM