Jason Cox
@jasoncoxnc.bsky.social
Real estate development, urbanism. Fire trucks are too big, streets are too wide, and IBC kills small development. Tree canopy aficionado. Sometime restaurateur.
Tiny homes are aesthetic RVs and we need to stop pretending this is a solution and instead realize it’s a raging, five alarm symptom.
You’re forcing people into depreciating structures because we are more amenable to building parking lots than housing, and highways than infill.
You’re forcing people into depreciating structures because we are more amenable to building parking lots than housing, and highways than infill.
April 17, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Tiny homes are aesthetic RVs and we need to stop pretending this is a solution and instead realize it’s a raging, five alarm symptom.
You’re forcing people into depreciating structures because we are more amenable to building parking lots than housing, and highways than infill.
You’re forcing people into depreciating structures because we are more amenable to building parking lots than housing, and highways than infill.
Should have moved faster on Greenland.
April 17, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Should have moved faster on Greenland.
For fire departments safety is almost exclusively measured in speed of response.
Which makes pushback against alternatives like the below seem foolish.
Smaller turntable ladders are:
-more nimble
-fit in tighter spaces
-set up faster
It’s only failing? It’s not 47’ long.
Which makes pushback against alternatives like the below seem foolish.
Smaller turntable ladders are:
-more nimble
-fit in tighter spaces
-set up faster
It’s only failing? It’s not 47’ long.
April 16, 2025 at 4:15 PM
For fire departments safety is almost exclusively measured in speed of response.
Which makes pushback against alternatives like the below seem foolish.
Smaller turntable ladders are:
-more nimble
-fit in tighter spaces
-set up faster
It’s only failing? It’s not 47’ long.
Which makes pushback against alternatives like the below seem foolish.
Smaller turntable ladders are:
-more nimble
-fit in tighter spaces
-set up faster
It’s only failing? It’s not 47’ long.
Overturn. Citizens. United.
(This would be true regardless of the colors on the graph, I’ve been consistent on this forever.)
(This would be true regardless of the colors on the graph, I’ve been consistent on this forever.)
March 29, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Overturn. Citizens. United.
(This would be true regardless of the colors on the graph, I’ve been consistent on this forever.)
(This would be true regardless of the colors on the graph, I’ve been consistent on this forever.)
Data seems to support, with the frequency of delays from 2017 to 2022 going from 9.3% to 12.5%. That's a 37% increase in 5 years.
We have a resource allocation problem between the relatively low volume of fires and the much higher, increasing need for properly equipped EMS response.
We have a resource allocation problem between the relatively low volume of fires and the much higher, increasing need for properly equipped EMS response.
March 25, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Data seems to support, with the frequency of delays from 2017 to 2022 going from 9.3% to 12.5%. That's a 37% increase in 5 years.
We have a resource allocation problem between the relatively low volume of fires and the much higher, increasing need for properly equipped EMS response.
We have a resource allocation problem between the relatively low volume of fires and the much higher, increasing need for properly equipped EMS response.
Every city says it needs more ambulances but they lack $ in the budget.
Idea: Replace every 10th fire engine, ladder truck is w/ 2 ambulances.
4% of fire department runs are for fires, (w/ only 1/3 being structure fires). Meanwhile 64% are for EMS.
That's 16 times more EMS calls than fire calls.
Idea: Replace every 10th fire engine, ladder truck is w/ 2 ambulances.
4% of fire department runs are for fires, (w/ only 1/3 being structure fires). Meanwhile 64% are for EMS.
That's 16 times more EMS calls than fire calls.
March 25, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Every city says it needs more ambulances but they lack $ in the budget.
Idea: Replace every 10th fire engine, ladder truck is w/ 2 ambulances.
4% of fire department runs are for fires, (w/ only 1/3 being structure fires). Meanwhile 64% are for EMS.
That's 16 times more EMS calls than fire calls.
Idea: Replace every 10th fire engine, ladder truck is w/ 2 ambulances.
4% of fire department runs are for fires, (w/ only 1/3 being structure fires). Meanwhile 64% are for EMS.
That's 16 times more EMS calls than fire calls.
What do these streets in Charleston, Savannah, Boston and Philadelphia have in common?
March 21, 2025 at 5:48 PM
What do these streets in Charleston, Savannah, Boston and Philadelphia have in common?
Derivatives you say.
March 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Derivatives you say.
Hell yeah richer than ever before
March 20, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Hell yeah richer than ever before
“The wealthiest 10% of American households—those making more than $250,000 a year, roughly—are now responsible for half of all US consumer spending”
March 20, 2025 at 3:40 PM
“The wealthiest 10% of American households—those making more than $250,000 a year, roughly—are now responsible for half of all US consumer spending”
We can’t expand a hospital because it might be 10 feet too tall but we can drive semi trucks around to help people who tripped in the grocery store because the 1st and only rule is don’t make someone slow down on their way to the drive thru.
March 19, 2025 at 3:23 AM
We can’t expand a hospital because it might be 10 feet too tall but we can drive semi trucks around to help people who tripped in the grocery store because the 1st and only rule is don’t make someone slow down on their way to the drive thru.
This is just a chart of housing affordability
March 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
This is just a chart of housing affordability
No, certainly not.
I think the core issue is that many code changes are not subject to any sort of cost/benefit analysis. As in no obligation to prove value, understand impact.
Then reality of the ICC itself, which is driven by rural to suburban preferences, even in its voting structure.
I think the core issue is that many code changes are not subject to any sort of cost/benefit analysis. As in no obligation to prove value, understand impact.
Then reality of the ICC itself, which is driven by rural to suburban preferences, even in its voting structure.
March 12, 2025 at 2:39 PM
No, certainly not.
I think the core issue is that many code changes are not subject to any sort of cost/benefit analysis. As in no obligation to prove value, understand impact.
Then reality of the ICC itself, which is driven by rural to suburban preferences, even in its voting structure.
I think the core issue is that many code changes are not subject to any sort of cost/benefit analysis. As in no obligation to prove value, understand impact.
Then reality of the ICC itself, which is driven by rural to suburban preferences, even in its voting structure.
Canada and Mexico account for nearly 50% of imported materials for residential development.
So half of imported materials just became 25% more expensive. Should do wonders for housing costs.
So half of imported materials just became 25% more expensive. Should do wonders for housing costs.
March 12, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Canada and Mexico account for nearly 50% of imported materials for residential development.
So half of imported materials just became 25% more expensive. Should do wonders for housing costs.
So half of imported materials just became 25% more expensive. Should do wonders for housing costs.
This is an absolutely wild chart.
March 12, 2025 at 12:26 PM
This is an absolutely wild chart.
As fires overall fell, instead of maintaining a core fire department & adding EMS to meet population growth we kept adding firefighters & having them do both.
The problem is we equipped all these new EMTs w/ fire trucks instead of ambulances.
The problem is we equipped all these new EMTs w/ fire trucks instead of ambulances.
February 18, 2025 at 10:25 PM
As fires overall fell, instead of maintaining a core fire department & adding EMS to meet population growth we kept adding firefighters & having them do both.
The problem is we equipped all these new EMTs w/ fire trucks instead of ambulances.
The problem is we equipped all these new EMTs w/ fire trucks instead of ambulances.
Can I mention something without anyone getting mad?
February 14, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Can I mention something without anyone getting mad?
The honest answer to why US fire trucks are so big is because they can be.
Elsewhere they started with spatial discipline and designed around that. We did the opposite. No spatial discipline, just make it bigger.
So when you see a Euro engine packed there is ~no~ empty space.
Elsewhere they started with spatial discipline and designed around that. We did the opposite. No spatial discipline, just make it bigger.
So when you see a Euro engine packed there is ~no~ empty space.
February 14, 2025 at 3:13 PM
The honest answer to why US fire trucks are so big is because they can be.
Elsewhere they started with spatial discipline and designed around that. We did the opposite. No spatial discipline, just make it bigger.
So when you see a Euro engine packed there is ~no~ empty space.
Elsewhere they started with spatial discipline and designed around that. We did the opposite. No spatial discipline, just make it bigger.
So when you see a Euro engine packed there is ~no~ empty space.
Where do ICC board members come from & why should you care?
Those who dictate the base block of our cities are largely rural to suburban. Even ones working in sizable cities consistently live outside them.
Our code is set by people who often dislike cities, while dictating their design.
Those who dictate the base block of our cities are largely rural to suburban. Even ones working in sizable cities consistently live outside them.
Our code is set by people who often dislike cities, while dictating their design.
February 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Where do ICC board members come from & why should you care?
Those who dictate the base block of our cities are largely rural to suburban. Even ones working in sizable cities consistently live outside them.
Our code is set by people who often dislike cities, while dictating their design.
Those who dictate the base block of our cities are largely rural to suburban. Even ones working in sizable cities consistently live outside them.
Our code is set by people who often dislike cities, while dictating their design.
Weird data change: In 2022 NFPA began counting ALL firefighter deaths within 24 hours of their shift as “on-duty” in their statistics. This resulted in a ~17.5% increase.
No other industry is calculated this way that I know of & it will significantly skew comparison to other jobs.
No other industry is calculated this way that I know of & it will significantly skew comparison to other jobs.
February 7, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Weird data change: In 2022 NFPA began counting ALL firefighter deaths within 24 hours of their shift as “on-duty” in their statistics. This resulted in a ~17.5% increase.
No other industry is calculated this way that I know of & it will significantly skew comparison to other jobs.
No other industry is calculated this way that I know of & it will significantly skew comparison to other jobs.
But hey you can spin a stretcher around fully flat (when you aren’t using the stairs because elevators are too expensive so we mostly build walkups).
80% of fire calls are medical aid. So this “safety” improvement actually made it less safe for the public and first responders.
80% of fire calls are medical aid. So this “safety” improvement actually made it less safe for the public and first responders.
February 7, 2025 at 2:04 PM
But hey you can spin a stretcher around fully flat (when you aren’t using the stairs because elevators are too expensive so we mostly build walkups).
80% of fire calls are medical aid. So this “safety” improvement actually made it less safe for the public and first responders.
80% of fire calls are medical aid. So this “safety” improvement actually made it less safe for the public and first responders.
Case in point: our elevator industry is based on the desire of a Glendale AZ firefighter.
The net outcome is elevators that cost 3x those in the EU and a LOT less elevators.
Rent-seeking & added cost, less ~real~ accessibility for those who need it.
(Sniper via @stephenjacobsmith.com)
The net outcome is elevators that cost 3x those in the EU and a LOT less elevators.
Rent-seeking & added cost, less ~real~ accessibility for those who need it.
(Sniper via @stephenjacobsmith.com)
February 7, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Case in point: our elevator industry is based on the desire of a Glendale AZ firefighter.
The net outcome is elevators that cost 3x those in the EU and a LOT less elevators.
Rent-seeking & added cost, less ~real~ accessibility for those who need it.
(Sniper via @stephenjacobsmith.com)
The net outcome is elevators that cost 3x those in the EU and a LOT less elevators.
Rent-seeking & added cost, less ~real~ accessibility for those who need it.
(Sniper via @stephenjacobsmith.com)
Stats & data aren’t a point of view. They’re mathematical reality.
Re: urbanism it is a major driver though. UPS & Freightliner don’t fight traffic calming efforts - Fire chiefs do & every time they say “speed of response” while firmly wearing blinders on downstream safety that kill far more people
Re: urbanism it is a major driver though. UPS & Freightliner don’t fight traffic calming efforts - Fire chiefs do & every time they say “speed of response” while firmly wearing blinders on downstream safety that kill far more people
February 6, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Stats & data aren’t a point of view. They’re mathematical reality.
Re: urbanism it is a major driver though. UPS & Freightliner don’t fight traffic calming efforts - Fire chiefs do & every time they say “speed of response” while firmly wearing blinders on downstream safety that kill far more people
Re: urbanism it is a major driver though. UPS & Freightliner don’t fight traffic calming efforts - Fire chiefs do & every time they say “speed of response” while firmly wearing blinders on downstream safety that kill far more people
You would probably be right about some of those criticisms. I probably even agree w/ you on many of them.
One key distinction though: fire fighters are public servants & ostensibly should care about public concerns. Yet many respond similar to you, in effect: sit down & shut up, we’re right.
One key distinction though: fire fighters are public servants & ostensibly should care about public concerns. Yet many respond similar to you, in effect: sit down & shut up, we’re right.
February 6, 2025 at 2:06 AM
You would probably be right about some of those criticisms. I probably even agree w/ you on many of them.
One key distinction though: fire fighters are public servants & ostensibly should care about public concerns. Yet many respond similar to you, in effect: sit down & shut up, we’re right.
One key distinction though: fire fighters are public servants & ostensibly should care about public concerns. Yet many respond similar to you, in effect: sit down & shut up, we’re right.