Dennis Griffith
@isanobody.bsky.social
Manhattanite. Urbanist. Neo-liberal gentrifier.
Pinned
Dennis Griffith
@isanobody.bsky.social
· Nov 23
Thinking of becoming a Byzantium Bro after starting this book.
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
And it's basically impossible for this lot, which is a full quarter of a city block, to get any more 'downtown'
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
And it's basically impossible for this lot, which is a full quarter of a city block, to get any more 'downtown'
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
For reference, this is 300 W Washington - PIN 17-09-442-008-0000, assessed at a market value of $2,190,360.
tax bill of this vacant lot in downtown Chicago
2023: $292,593.15
2024: $70,386.00
change: $222,207.15 decrease is a 76% drop
the property owner lost every recent appeal at the Board of Review (the last one was 2020) so this is likely because property values have dropped a lot
2023: $292,593.15
2024: $70,386.00
change: $222,207.15 decrease is a 76% drop
the property owner lost every recent appeal at the Board of Review (the last one was 2020) so this is likely because property values have dropped a lot
November 25, 2025 at 8:38 PM
For reference, this is 300 W Washington - PIN 17-09-442-008-0000, assessed at a market value of $2,190,360.
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
Verstappen winning the champ via disqualifications would not be good, but it would be very, very funny.
November 23, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Verstappen winning the champ via disqualifications would not be good, but it would be very, very funny.
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
Eu5 thought: strange that there's no achievement for forming Germany as the Netherlands.
Feels like the achievement name suggests itself: "Dutch-land, Dutch-land uber alles."
Feels like the achievement name suggests itself: "Dutch-land, Dutch-land uber alles."
November 22, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Eu5 thought: strange that there's no achievement for forming Germany as the Netherlands.
Feels like the achievement name suggests itself: "Dutch-land, Dutch-land uber alles."
Feels like the achievement name suggests itself: "Dutch-land, Dutch-land uber alles."
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
IndyGo brings in about $17,000 in revenue per day. That’s enough to pay the day’s wages for about 70 operators. Without that revenue, cuts have to be made somewhere.
November 22, 2025 at 7:34 PM
IndyGo brings in about $17,000 in revenue per day. That’s enough to pay the day’s wages for about 70 operators. Without that revenue, cuts have to be made somewhere.
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
My fear is there's going to be talk of building more, but the next four years in NYC are just going to be the city council regulating away all economic activity.
"This is a public safety crisis and the lives of thousands of NYCHA residents are in jeopardy."
Plumbers Propose Emergency Inspection of All NYCHA Boilers Post-Explosion
After THE CITY revealed the heating plant that blew up in a public housing building last month had not been inspected in years, the Plumbing Foundation says licensed professionals need to step in.
www.thecity.nyc
November 22, 2025 at 4:05 PM
My fear is there's going to be talk of building more, but the next four years in NYC are just going to be the city council regulating away all economic activity.
Sounds like a Shonen anime. www.twz.com/land/soldier...
Soldiers Take To Berlin’s Subway Tunnels To Train For Defending The City From Below
In a measure of the changing European security landscape, German soldiers have been conducting urban warfare training in the capital city. In a measure of the changing European security landscape, Ger...
www.twz.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Sounds like a Shonen anime. www.twz.com/land/soldier...
He would be worried about Splinter wouldn't he?
November 20, 2025 at 11:11 PM
He would be worried about Splinter wouldn't he?
Trying the new Gemini 3 and YIMBY stuff seems to have been in the training dataset.
November 19, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Trying the new Gemini 3 and YIMBY stuff seems to have been in the training dataset.
They're never going to get a Dodgers sales bump at this rate.
November 19, 2025 at 1:03 AM
They're never going to get a Dodgers sales bump at this rate.
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
$5B to rebuild a bridge that carried 30,000 AADT, and has three Interstate alternative routes, doesn't seem like a wise investment.
LUNCH LINKS 11/18/25 (thanks Cloudflare): Baltimore Key Bridge rebuild likely to cost more than double initial estimates. Mold among issues residents experience in Alexandria public housing. Key endorsements secured for WMATA funding plan.
Lunch links: Estimated costs balloon for Baltimore Key Bridge
View this post on ggwash.org
ggwash.org
November 18, 2025 at 4:30 PM
$5B to rebuild a bridge that carried 30,000 AADT, and has three Interstate alternative routes, doesn't seem like a wise investment.
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
"Nah, I'm a lifelong Greens supporter"
- Ancient Romans when asked if they're White
- Ancient Romans when asked if they're White
trying to explain "whiteness" to an ancient roman would be pure comedy
November 17, 2025 at 5:06 PM
"Nah, I'm a lifelong Greens supporter"
- Ancient Romans when asked if they're White
- Ancient Romans when asked if they're White
Lots, but rural radio only really had country and classic rock during my taste formative years.
November 14, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Lots, but rural radio only really had country and classic rock during my taste formative years.
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
Do we want states and cities to decide whether to buy federal debt based on the political views* of those who manage their investments?
*and ambitions; she’s running for Congress
*and ambitions; she’s running for Congress
FULL STORY: Chicago's treasurer announced Wednesday that the city will no longer invest in U.S. Treasury securities to protest the aggressive federal immigration raids in Chicago and what she called the Trump administration’s “authoritarian regime.” @wttw.bsky.social news.wttw.com/2025/11/12/c...
Chicago Will Stop Investing in US Treasury Securities to Protest ‘Authoritarian’ Trump, Treasurer Announces
Chicago Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin is running to represent Illinois’ 7th Congressional District and replace retiring U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis.
news.wttw.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Do we want states and cities to decide whether to buy federal debt based on the political views* of those who manage their investments?
*and ambitions; she’s running for Congress
*and ambitions; she’s running for Congress
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
NYC Council has a veto-proof majority on a union-backed bill to set a $40/hour minimum average compensation for workers on city-funded affordable housing projects, kicking in at 100 units www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
Developers alarmed as council advances minimum wage for affordable housing projects
The Construction Justice Act would set a $40 wage-and-benefit floor, increasing the cost of building.
www.crainsnewyork.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:41 PM
NYC Council has a veto-proof majority on a union-backed bill to set a $40/hour minimum average compensation for workers on city-funded affordable housing projects, kicking in at 100 units www.crainsnewyork.com/politics-pol...
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
Good news, but as an MIH high-rise rezoning, feasibility requires very high rents. If we get enough construction that new LIC rents fall below that (not sure the exact number but in my bones I’m feeling…$4,000/mo. 1BR?), construction will stop. This is the problem with inclusionary requirements.
Breaking News: The New York City Council overwhelmingly approved a rezoning on Wednesday that could transform an industrial stretch of Queens into thousands of apartments — private development aimed at addressing the city’s affordable housing crisis. nyti.ms/4p71Cqv
November 12, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Good news, but as an MIH high-rise rezoning, feasibility requires very high rents. If we get enough construction that new LIC rents fall below that (not sure the exact number but in my bones I’m feeling…$4,000/mo. 1BR?), construction will stop. This is the problem with inclusionary requirements.
YouTube's new auto-dubbing is a real timesink risk. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBOg...
November 12, 2025 at 10:44 PM
YouTube's new auto-dubbing is a real timesink risk. www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBOg...
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
Caltrain needs to be planning for driverless operations at high frequencies (and probably lower fares) to compete. That can start by cutting the second conductor almost immediately and reinvesting the savings in more service.
Waymo is now directly competing with Caltrain on the San Francisco Peninsula
Taking riders further, safely with freeways
The open road symbolizes freedom and unlimited possibility– highlighted especially by the ease and speed by which freeways allow us to get where we’re going. Waymo is now bringing that experience into...
waymo.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Caltrain needs to be planning for driverless operations at high frequencies (and probably lower fares) to compete. That can start by cutting the second conductor almost immediately and reinvesting the savings in more service.
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
The Suica penguin has been the face of JR East's popular IC transit card since its inception in 2001. Now, the company says it will replace the iconic character with an as-yet-unannounced mascot. That's left fans both perplexed and irate.
buff.ly/otKANut
buff.ly/otKANut
Suica Penguin Retirement Announcement Sparks Fan Outcry in Japan - Unseen Japan
The character, created by a children's book author, has been the face of the popular transit card since its inception in 2001.
unseen-japan.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:56 PM
The Suica penguin has been the face of JR East's popular IC transit card since its inception in 2001. Now, the company says it will replace the iconic character with an as-yet-unannounced mascot. That's left fans both perplexed and irate.
buff.ly/otKANut
buff.ly/otKANut
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
90-Story housing tower proposed in Jersey City!!! jerseydigs.com/100-bay-stre...
Developers Unveil Plans for 90-Story Tower Which Would Become Jersey City’s Tallest | Jersey Digs
A vacant lot that once housed the P. Lorillard Tobacco Company and an artist community has a new plan that would create Jersey City’s tallest building in the Powerhouse Arts District.
jerseydigs.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:59 PM
90-Story housing tower proposed in Jersey City!!! jerseydigs.com/100-bay-stre...
Someone's shooting a film in Noah's store today. I wonder if they are doing the costuming for something upcoming.
November 10, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Someone's shooting a film in Noah's store today. I wonder if they are doing the costuming for something upcoming.
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
one of my first blog posts is about inclusionary zoning mandates and how they so often backfire by resulting in *less* subsidized housing being built
November 10, 2025 at 4:17 PM
one of my first blog posts is about inclusionary zoning mandates and how they so often backfire by resulting in *less* subsidized housing being built
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
In 2018, then-Mayor Ada Colau called Barcelona’s new 30% inclusionary housing requirement for projects over 600m^2 a “paradigm shift,” making housing “a right and not a commodity.” It was supposed to produce 330 affordable units a year. The reality: just 31 affordable apartments in all these years.
Cuando se ha aprobó esta medida dije repetidamente que iba a ser un fracaso y que no construirían nada de vivienda asequible. Se ha probado en mil sitios y no funciona.
Acerté. www.lavanguardia.com/local/barcel...
Acerté. www.lavanguardia.com/local/barcel...
La reserva del 30% solo ha generado 31 nuevas viviendas protegidas en siete años en Barcelona
Otros 123 pisos disponen de licencia ya aprobada, mientras los gremios afectados reclaman un marco legal estable para poder despertar al sector de su letargo
www.lavanguardia.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:28 PM
In 2018, then-Mayor Ada Colau called Barcelona’s new 30% inclusionary housing requirement for projects over 600m^2 a “paradigm shift,” making housing “a right and not a commodity.” It was supposed to produce 330 affordable units a year. The reality: just 31 affordable apartments in all these years.
Reposted by Dennis Griffith
The Mayor of New York only makes $260k. I bet there are police that make more than that in NY with overtime.
We need to pay elected leaders more money and stop pretending it's some sort of calling. They're managing hundreds of billions of dollars in investments and millions of people's lives.
We need to pay elected leaders more money and stop pretending it's some sort of calling. They're managing hundreds of billions of dollars in investments and millions of people's lives.
November 6, 2025 at 4:39 PM
The Mayor of New York only makes $260k. I bet there are police that make more than that in NY with overtime.
We need to pay elected leaders more money and stop pretending it's some sort of calling. They're managing hundreds of billions of dollars in investments and millions of people's lives.
We need to pay elected leaders more money and stop pretending it's some sort of calling. They're managing hundreds of billions of dollars in investments and millions of people's lives.
I wonder what we're getting? A bit small a storefront for a Pluton.
November 5, 2025 at 6:13 PM
I wonder what we're getting? A bit small a storefront for a Pluton.