Kate Howell
@drkatehowell.bsky.social
Assoc Prof; Director @umdsmartgrowth.bsky.social; posting about cities, housing, public spaces...and all the other stuff I'm excited about.
I’ve had to explain this a lot recently. The persistent drop of #4 is driving the need for 1-3 (also the creation of pricey professional degrees that are revenue generators).
The entire business model of R1 public universities rests on 4 revenue sources:
1. Federal grants
2. Private gifts/endowments
3. Tuition (esp. from foreign students)
4. State $
For decades, 📈 in 1-3 offset a secular 📉 in 4. Now, 1 & 3 are being decimated & 4 ain't coming back. The math is clear.
1. Federal grants
2. Private gifts/endowments
3. Tuition (esp. from foreign students)
4. State $
For decades, 📈 in 1-3 offset a secular 📉 in 4. Now, 1 & 3 are being decimated & 4 ain't coming back. The math is clear.
November 28, 2025 at 1:09 PM
I’ve had to explain this a lot recently. The persistent drop of #4 is driving the need for 1-3 (also the creation of pricey professional degrees that are revenue generators).
In other places this would mean the creation of national standards to avoid a race to the bottom and so industry located in appropriate places. (Also, we should probably stop consuming/emitting so much data)
Officials and candidates across the country are lamenting rising power bills, water usage and the potential climate impact of the AI boom. But they’re hard-pressed to turn down job-creating investments that could go to their neighbors instead. https://cnn.it/4omQRjd
Data centers powering the AI boom are pitting states against each other | CNN Politics
Just before her victory this fall, New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill jabbed at nearby Virginia, which also had a governor's race, over its booming data center market.
www.cnn.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:04 PM
In other places this would mean the creation of national standards to avoid a race to the bottom and so industry located in appropriate places. (Also, we should probably stop consuming/emitting so much data)
Reposted by Kate Howell
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 8:33 PM
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.
Wait…stop…the Wee Trail goes to Waterworks Park?
And yet…it’s possible the Wee Trail will be the highlight of every uk bike packer visiting the US.
i’m sorry they did not call this the “wee trail” that cannot be what this is called www.capitalgazette.com/2025/11/21/a...
November 26, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Wait…stop…the Wee Trail goes to Waterworks Park?
And yet…it’s possible the Wee Trail will be the highlight of every uk bike packer visiting the US.
i’m sorry they did not call this the “wee trail” that cannot be what this is called www.capitalgazette.com/2025/11/21/a...
November 26, 2025 at 12:58 AM
And yet…it’s possible the Wee Trail will be the highlight of every uk bike packer visiting the US.
Reposted by Kate Howell
My grand unified theory of suburbia is that camera doorbells are like SUVs, they provide an illusion of security while making you more paranoid
“Camera doorbells are social cancer as a technology, breaking down social solidarity and further encouraging people to see strangers with suspicion.”
Christmas is coming, and the Black Friday sales signal we’re in peak gift-buying season.
When you’re picking out gifts for friends and family this year, there’s a whole slew of tech products that are better to avoid. I put together a guide to help you through it.
When you’re picking out gifts for friends and family this year, there’s a whole slew of tech products that are better to avoid. I put together a guide to help you through it.
November 25, 2025 at 5:40 PM
My grand unified theory of suburbia is that camera doorbells are like SUVs, they provide an illusion of security while making you more paranoid
Look, many of us have ended up in spaces with a bunch of Eagle Scouts (or Fulbright scholars or whatever) and thought…”wtf have I done with my youth?” But only this guy is so insecure about it he needs to ban it. What a sad little boy.
Documents show the U.S. military is planning to sever all ties with the organization formerly known as the Boy Scouts n.pr/3M48mr2
U.S. ready to cut support to Scouts, accusing them of attacking 'boy-friendly spaces'
Documents show the U.S. Military is planning to sever all ties with the organization formally known as the Boy Scouts
n.pr
November 25, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Look, many of us have ended up in spaces with a bunch of Eagle Scouts (or Fulbright scholars or whatever) and thought…”wtf have I done with my youth?” But only this guy is so insecure about it he needs to ban it. What a sad little boy.
I know people talk about being an ex in a Taylor Swift song, but I think you should have known you had made terrible life choices if you were an elected person referenced in a Neil Young song...
November 24, 2025 at 6:24 PM
I know people talk about being an ex in a Taylor Swift song, but I think you should have known you had made terrible life choices if you were an elected person referenced in a Neil Young song...
This is a lot. www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/int...
How D.C. developers made big money on a taxpayer-funded housing project
The Ethel was built on land provided by the city and benefited from a cascade of government subsidies that helped enrich its developers, a Washington Post investigation found.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:25 PM
This is a lot. www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/int...
Free, yes...and “In 2021, the city starting running more buses, streamlining routes and seriously considering waiving the $1 fares.” There are conditions for success. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/c...
Iowa City Made Its Buses Free. Traffic Cleared, and So Did the Air.
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Free, yes...and “In 2021, the city starting running more buses, streamlining routes and seriously considering waiving the $1 fares.” There are conditions for success. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/c...
Reposted by Kate Howell
It’s blowing my mind that schools, universities, public services would run headlong into this. We spent 15 years documenting black boxes. This is a black box in a black hole!
I don't understand how anyone can watch how blatantly Grok is manipulated to answer the way ownership desires it to and then act like the other LLM chatbots couldn't possibly be similarly but less obviously compromised to produce responses in whatever way corporate interests and priorities dictate.
November 23, 2025 at 11:16 PM
It’s blowing my mind that schools, universities, public services would run headlong into this. We spent 15 years documenting black boxes. This is a black box in a black hole!
I swear I watched this movie in the 80s or 90s...
November 21, 2025 at 7:31 PM
I swear I watched this movie in the 80s or 90s...
Reposted by Kate Howell
Data from the National Association of Realtors paints a painful portrait of American home buying:
All-cash buyers at 26% of the market.
Median age of the typical homebuyer: a stunning 59 years old.
nar.realtor/research-and...
All-cash buyers at 26% of the market.
Median age of the typical homebuyer: a stunning 59 years old.
nar.realtor/research-and...
November 20, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Data from the National Association of Realtors paints a painful portrait of American home buying:
All-cash buyers at 26% of the market.
Median age of the typical homebuyer: a stunning 59 years old.
nar.realtor/research-and...
All-cash buyers at 26% of the market.
Median age of the typical homebuyer: a stunning 59 years old.
nar.realtor/research-and...
Look, $1m in the scheme of hpap is up to 5 homeowners. Also, its at least 5 homeowners & a lot of public trust. washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7745...
The Department of Housing and Community Development Failed to Spend $1 Million in First-Time Homebuyer Funds
The D.C. Department of Housing and Community Development failed to spend about $1 million allocated for its popular first-time homebuyer assistance program, despite what the agency told applicants ear...
washingtoncitypaper.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Look, $1m in the scheme of hpap is up to 5 homeowners. Also, its at least 5 homeowners & a lot of public trust. washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7745...
Pretty sure they are people who don’t have to do the household shopping.
This is a huge weight on the GOP going into the midterms, but I’m concerned about the 3 percent who drank the kool-aid completely.
November 19, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Pretty sure they are people who don’t have to do the household shopping.
Reposted by Kate Howell
Calling all transportation students, advocates, professionals, and everyone in between!
On January 10, join @SmartGrowthUSA and @T4America at #TCamp26 to discuss how we can create a transportation system that works better for all. 🚌🚶🧑🦽🚴
t4america.org/transportati...
On January 10, join @SmartGrowthUSA and @T4America at #TCamp26 to discuss how we can create a transportation system that works better for all. 🚌🚶🧑🦽🚴
t4america.org/transportati...
TransportationCamp DC
Join us on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Catholic University's Pryzbyla Center for another year of TransportationCamp DC.
t4america.org
November 19, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Calling all transportation students, advocates, professionals, and everyone in between!
On January 10, join @SmartGrowthUSA and @T4America at #TCamp26 to discuss how we can create a transportation system that works better for all. 🚌🚶🧑🦽🚴
t4america.org/transportati...
On January 10, join @SmartGrowthUSA and @T4America at #TCamp26 to discuss how we can create a transportation system that works better for all. 🚌🚶🧑🦽🚴
t4america.org/transportati...
This pretty much made my day better. Hope it does the same for you.
Just turned off, "smart features and personalization," in gmail settings to shut that AI shit down
November 19, 2025 at 6:27 PM
This pretty much made my day better. Hope it does the same for you.
Reposted by Kate Howell
Let's try this again with a public link. Come work at CURA! hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/370...
November 19, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Let's try this again with a public link. Come work at CURA! hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/370...
Reposted by Kate Howell
Excited to see the DC Flex housing voucher pilot on track to becoming permanent program streetsensemedia.org/article/dc-f...
DC Flex, a pilot rent subsidy program, could become permanent
DC Flex will be here to stay if a bill passes the D.C. Council, but advocates wonder if the program will change to address the growing need.
streetsensemedia.org
November 19, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Excited to see the DC Flex housing voucher pilot on track to becoming permanent program streetsensemedia.org/article/dc-f...
I keep thinking about this Friday release from @wcp.bsky.social washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7742...
How DHCD Forfeited $35 Million in Federal Assistance for Affordable Housing and Bailed Out a Well-Connected Developer
DHCD Director Colleen Green failed to disclose the loss of funding when asked during a D.C. Council hearing earlier this year.
washingtoncitypaper.com
November 18, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I keep thinking about this Friday release from @wcp.bsky.social washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7742...
In the world of smart, effective and just downright decent human being organizers, these are two of my very favorite. Can't wait to listen!
NEW EP josh poe and tara raghuveer join us to discuss why the rent is so damn high and why organizing tenants is a necessary piece of the solution
NEXT WEEK:
from the frontlines: tenant organizing w/ josh poe and tara raghuveer
from the frontlines: tenant organizing w/ josh poe and tara raghuveer
November 18, 2025 at 5:30 PM
In the world of smart, effective and just downright decent human being organizers, these are two of my very favorite. Can't wait to listen!
Reposted by Kate Howell
Free speech is more than me being allowed to say what I want. Everyone also has to like it and tell me I'm a smart and handsome boy
November 18, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Free speech is more than me being allowed to say what I want. Everyone also has to like it and tell me I'm a smart and handsome boy
Today @mzgough.bsky.social & I spoke with a community reviewers about one of our book chapters. One participant, an organizer, said "We knew we could win because they won in [community-based fight 4 yrs before]." Your wins (regardless of size) are part of building the infrastructure for change.
November 17, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Today @mzgough.bsky.social & I spoke with a community reviewers about one of our book chapters. One participant, an organizer, said "We knew we could win because they won in [community-based fight 4 yrs before]." Your wins (regardless of size) are part of building the infrastructure for change.
Reposted by Kate Howell
D.C. IS FOR LOVERS: I'm told that D.C. issued *601* marriage licenses during the federal shutdown, which shuttered the Marriage Bureau in Superior Court. The D.C. Council passed an emergency bill in early October to let the city issue licenses and perform marriage ceremonies.
November 17, 2025 at 5:37 PM
D.C. IS FOR LOVERS: I'm told that D.C. issued *601* marriage licenses during the federal shutdown, which shuttered the Marriage Bureau in Superior Court. The D.C. Council passed an emergency bill in early October to let the city issue licenses and perform marriage ceremonies.