Bobby Garrity
@bobbygarrity.bsky.social
Here to build great cities
📍Downtown Los Angeles
📍Downtown Los Angeles
Pinned
This. It's insane that we ever had to prove that more supply = lower prices but here we are
Though I'll say that in my actual advocacy I try to start past that. If someone wants to argue that the basic laws of supply and demand do not apply somewhere, then the burden of proof is on them
Though I'll say that in my actual advocacy I try to start past that. If someone wants to argue that the basic laws of supply and demand do not apply somewhere, then the burden of proof is on them
People understand that if you want a cheap car you don't try to get car companies to build brand new very cheap cars, you buy a 5 year old car with 40,000 miles that will still run for another 100,000.
Yet somehow people refuse to believe the same logic applies to housing.
Yet somehow people refuse to believe the same logic applies to housing.
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.
November 29, 2025 at 12:37 AM
This. It's insane that we ever had to prove that more supply = lower prices but here we are
Though I'll say that in my actual advocacy I try to start past that. If someone wants to argue that the basic laws of supply and demand do not apply somewhere, then the burden of proof is on them
Though I'll say that in my actual advocacy I try to start past that. If someone wants to argue that the basic laws of supply and demand do not apply somewhere, then the burden of proof is on them
Fellow cat dads of Bluesky, is it normal to get yelled at by your kitty demanding we play with the laser? Not just a sweet meow, or a leg rub, but straight up yelling because Ellay wants laser?
November 29, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Fellow cat dads of Bluesky, is it normal to get yelled at by your kitty demanding we play with the laser? Not just a sweet meow, or a leg rub, but straight up yelling because Ellay wants laser?
Reposted by Bobby Garrity
YIMBYism actually works and we increasingly have the data to prove it.
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 5:04 PM
YIMBYism actually works and we increasingly have the data to prove it.
Finally got around to reading this article from @resnikoff.bsky.social. It's critical that organizations act in accordance to their stated values, so we need to see environmental and economic justice groups, as well as their funders, work towards, not against, housing abundance.
Still thinking about this article. It’s always been a sore spot in YIMBY circles that so many progressive foundations pour money into NIMBYism, and I’m glad it’s finally being aired in public. Keep talking about it. www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/philant...
Philanthropy Needs to Pick a Side on the Housing Construction Debate
Despite California’s severe housing shortage, foundations are still funding on the wrong side of the housing fight there, guest author Ned Resnikoff writes.
www.insidephilanthropy.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Finally got around to reading this article from @resnikoff.bsky.social. It's critical that organizations act in accordance to their stated values, so we need to see environmental and economic justice groups, as well as their funders, work towards, not against, housing abundance.
Reposted by Bobby Garrity
See that column on the right? We're bringing those numbers back.
November 27, 2025 at 1:12 AM
See that column on the right? We're bringing those numbers back.
Reposted by Bobby Garrity
There's no reason Los Angeles County can't have 26 million people, like Seoul.
We have as many subways as Seoul did when it was 10 million 😜
(Also you kinda have to feel like this would be LA County without NIMBYs)
(Also you kinda have to feel like this would be LA County without NIMBYs)
November 26, 2025 at 7:31 PM
There's no reason Los Angeles County can't have 26 million people, like Seoul.
Reposted by Bobby Garrity
For those familiar w downtown of Redlands CA (incl Rep. Pete Aguilar, former Redlands mayor) some Thanksgiving-worthy news:
Eyesore "dead mall" that has blighted city for decades has been sold—to local tech/philanthropists Jack and Laura Dangermond www.communityforwardredlands.com/dangermonds-...
Eyesore "dead mall" that has blighted city for decades has been sold—to local tech/philanthropists Jack and Laura Dangermond www.communityforwardredlands.com/dangermonds-...
Dangermonds Buy Redlands Mall, Plan New Redevelopment
Local business owners step in after out-of-town developers face foreclosure, struggle to move project forward
www.communityforwardredlands.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:36 PM
For those familiar w downtown of Redlands CA (incl Rep. Pete Aguilar, former Redlands mayor) some Thanksgiving-worthy news:
Eyesore "dead mall" that has blighted city for decades has been sold—to local tech/philanthropists Jack and Laura Dangermond www.communityforwardredlands.com/dangermonds-...
Eyesore "dead mall" that has blighted city for decades has been sold—to local tech/philanthropists Jack and Laura Dangermond www.communityforwardredlands.com/dangermonds-...
Reposted by Bobby Garrity
They wouldn't be doing this if Prop 50 hadnt passed.
California Republican suddenly supporting a national partisan gerrymandering ban. IT’S GAME THEORY BABY THINK OF THE STRATEGERY, WE PLAYING DEFECT-DEFECT NOT DEFECT-COOPERATE, IT’S TIT FOR TAT, CONSIDER THE INCENTIVES
November 26, 2025 at 6:02 PM
They wouldn't be doing this if Prop 50 hadnt passed.
Just finished the chapter on automobiles in Jane Jacob's The Death and Life of Great American Cities and, boy, this closing hit hard:
November 26, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Just finished the chapter on automobiles in Jane Jacob's The Death and Life of Great American Cities and, boy, this closing hit hard:
Reposted by Bobby Garrity
LA would get even more responses than just 19% if it were actually affordable. It’s got a perfect climate and lots of economic opportunity. It should house 3x-4x its current population and bring more political power to CA while being more affordable and sustainable.
Bluesky: “Obviously the housing crisis is the only reason anyone would choose to live outside of NYC”
Actual Americans: “Vegas, baby!”
Actual Americans: “Vegas, baby!”
November 25, 2025 at 8:28 PM
LA would get even more responses than just 19% if it were actually affordable. It’s got a perfect climate and lots of economic opportunity. It should house 3x-4x its current population and bring more political power to CA while being more affordable and sustainable.
Reposted by Bobby Garrity
The alternative to an SRO isn't a larger apartment; the alternative is a tent.
Relegalize SROs. Relegalize single stair buildings to enable larger, family sized homes. Legalize townhomes everywhere. Legalize ADUs everywhere. Legalize apartment buildings in more places. Yes to all the homes.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/n...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/n...
The ‘New’ Solution for the N.Y.C. Housing Crisis: Single-Room Apartments
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:07 PM
The alternative to an SRO isn't a larger apartment; the alternative is a tent.
Reposted by Bobby Garrity
Pretty sure the folks who oppose market-rate housing and only want subsidized affordable housing simply don't understand how anything works, but one consequence of their successful advocacy is,
We subsidize homes for families making well over six figures. Coulda had a market-rate apartment, but 🤷♂️
We subsidize homes for families making well over six figures. Coulda had a market-rate apartment, but 🤷♂️
Just to highlight some regional variance (and how rich the inner Bay Area is compared to much of the state) just want to point out that this is almost double the median household income in Sacramento lol
A family of four earning $160,900 per year qualifies for a “low-income” three bedroom apartment in San Mateo County!
open.substack.com/pub/jeremyl/...
open.substack.com/pub/jeremyl/...
November 25, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Pretty sure the folks who oppose market-rate housing and only want subsidized affordable housing simply don't understand how anything works, but one consequence of their successful advocacy is,
We subsidize homes for families making well over six figures. Coulda had a market-rate apartment, but 🤷♂️
We subsidize homes for families making well over six figures. Coulda had a market-rate apartment, but 🤷♂️
Reposted by Bobby Garrity
Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!
Metro buses and trains will be running on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving.
We'll be on a regular weekday schedule on Friday, Nov. 28.
We will have regular weekend service for that Saturday & Sunday.
All schedules are here: https://www.metro.net/riding/schedules-2/
Metro buses and trains will be running on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving.
We'll be on a regular weekday schedule on Friday, Nov. 28.
We will have regular weekend service for that Saturday & Sunday.
All schedules are here: https://www.metro.net/riding/schedules-2/
November 25, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!
Metro buses and trains will be running on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving.
We'll be on a regular weekday schedule on Friday, Nov. 28.
We will have regular weekend service for that Saturday & Sunday.
All schedules are here: https://www.metro.net/riding/schedules-2/
Metro buses and trains will be running on a Sunday schedule on Thanksgiving.
We'll be on a regular weekday schedule on Friday, Nov. 28.
We will have regular weekend service for that Saturday & Sunday.
All schedules are here: https://www.metro.net/riding/schedules-2/
Reposted by Bobby Garrity
I have no idea why farmers keep getting a pass for water shortages, to the point where popular culture has now found a scapegoat to blame it on entirely, but it fucking sucks
November 25, 2025 at 4:37 AM
I have no idea why farmers keep getting a pass for water shortages, to the point where popular culture has now found a scapegoat to blame it on entirely, but it fucking sucks
What incredible irony that rural areas' voters are most against immigration, when it's those places who are literally dying and desperately need immigration:
November 25, 2025 at 4:03 AM
What incredible irony that rural areas' voters are most against immigration, when it's those places who are literally dying and desperately need immigration:
Reposted by Bobby Garrity
Some CA legislator should propose a bill to move wildfire mitigation costs out of electricity bills & into the general fund. It's more honest (the whole state is affected), more progressive (electricity bills are *extremely* regressive), & would, at a stroke, lower CA electric bills.
November 24, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Some CA legislator should propose a bill to move wildfire mitigation costs out of electricity bills & into the general fund. It's more honest (the whole state is affected), more progressive (electricity bills are *extremely* regressive), & would, at a stroke, lower CA electric bills.
Can confirm, it's real
November 23, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Can confirm, it's real
Reposted by Bobby Garrity
My line on this kind of thing is that we need policy, programs, and infrastructure that allow cities to function *better* as they grow. Public transit does that. When more people drive, cities get worse for everyone, including drivers.
"...we need to make it possible for more and more people to live in this city without owning a car... I mean, as more people continue to move to Seattle in our region, we just have limited space, and it’s just not possible to keep adding cars to the road." @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social
Seattle Nice Interviews Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson! - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett We had Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson on Seattle Nice this week for a wide-ranging interview about her…
publicola.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:39 AM
My line on this kind of thing is that we need policy, programs, and infrastructure that allow cities to function *better* as they grow. Public transit does that. When more people drive, cities get worse for everyone, including drivers.
Reposted by Bobby Garrity
donald trump endorsed zohran mamdani before chuck schumer lmao
November 21, 2025 at 9:01 PM
donald trump endorsed zohran mamdani before chuck schumer lmao
Listened to this @volts.wtf banger this last night and it's wild just how incredible the rate of return is for improving indoor air quality in schools.
Where is California at with this? Do we have policy levers we can pull at the state level?
Where is California at with this? Do we have policy levers we can pull at the state level?
Today on Volts: for years, I've wanted to do a podcast on indoor air quality, and I finally found the perfect guest! Dr. Lagoudas & I discuss indoor air pollutants, the policies and technologies that can control them, and the growing need to frame indoor air quality as a basic human right.
What's the deal with indoor air quality?
From CO2 monitors to better building codes, Dr. Georgia Lagoudas outlines how to clean up the spaces where we spend 90% of our lives.
www.volts.wtf
November 21, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Listened to this @volts.wtf banger this last night and it's wild just how incredible the rate of return is for improving indoor air quality in schools.
Where is California at with this? Do we have policy levers we can pull at the state level?
Where is California at with this? Do we have policy levers we can pull at the state level?
Reposted by Bobby Garrity
“It’s not technically a crisis” I say as I step over human waste past a tent city because of our nations growing homeless population.
November 20, 2025 at 8:11 PM
“It’s not technically a crisis” I say as I step over human waste past a tent city because of our nations growing homeless population.
Reposted by Bobby Garrity
Reposted by Bobby Garrity
As high-speed rail erodes airfares, China’s airlines are stuck in overcapacity
sc.mp/09iue?utm_so...
sc.mp/09iue?utm_so...
As high-speed rail erodes airfares, China’s airlines are stuck in overcapacity
Flight loads have surpassed pre-pandemic levels on high-density routes, but China’s carriers are still struggling to balance their books.
sc.mp
November 20, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Today I learned that SoCal once (seriously it seems?) considered building a maglev train that could have been built by 2025
November 20, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Today I learned that SoCal once (seriously it seems?) considered building a maglev train that could have been built by 2025