Upzone the coastal elites
@aboutdave.bsky.social
Patent attorney, astrophysicist, & Stack-and-Packist 🏙️🥑🔋⛷️. Ready to help enforce state housing law.
Reposted by Upzone the coastal elites
You can still find property level climate risk scores on Redfin
Zillow Removes Climate Risk Scores From Home Listings
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/c...
Zillow Removes Climate Risk Scores From Home Listings
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/c...
Zillow Removes Climate Risk Scores From Home Listings
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 12:24 PM
You can still find property level climate risk scores on Redfin
Zillow Removes Climate Risk Scores From Home Listings
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/c...
Zillow Removes Climate Risk Scores From Home Listings
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/30/c...
Reposted by Upzone the coastal elites
If the climate models are inaccurate for some properties, that’s one thing (and should require some evidence in support!)
But the real estate industry is gonna need better arguments than “when people see the underlying climate risk of a property, they are less interested in buying it”
But the real estate industry is gonna need better arguments than “when people see the underlying climate risk of a property, they are less interested in buying it”
November 30, 2025 at 1:54 PM
If the climate models are inaccurate for some properties, that’s one thing (and should require some evidence in support!)
But the real estate industry is gonna need better arguments than “when people see the underlying climate risk of a property, they are less interested in buying it”
But the real estate industry is gonna need better arguments than “when people see the underlying climate risk of a property, they are less interested in buying it”
Gps speed limiters are long overdue
It's really worth watching the video of this:
losgatan.com/breaking-veh...
Click through. It's about 1/3d of the way down.
90 year old driver.
losgatan.com/breaking-veh...
Click through. It's about 1/3d of the way down.
90 year old driver.
November 29, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Gps speed limiters are long overdue
Reposted by Upzone the coastal elites
Gosh, I wonder if the housing shortages in CA/NY have any negative impacts on housing in the rest of the nation.
Okay this one irritates me so I’m gonna say something! I have never ever said “Move to Cincinnati.” I have just insist that we need to recognize that MOST AMERICANS live in places like Cincinnati or Minneapolis, not NYC, which is important if you’re going to talk about conditions in America.
Arguably you could say his takes on how you should move to Cincinnati are transphobia in practice but like that definition makes like 50% of urban liberals transphobes and imo dilutes the definition. He probably would respond saying you could also move to MSP
November 25, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Gosh, I wonder if the housing shortages in CA/NY have any negative impacts on housing in the rest of the nation.
"While it's (definitely) true that housing costs from a shortage are keeping people out of CA and NY, somehow it's also false that people would move into CA or NY if there was housing for them."
Admit reality, deny obvious consequences.
Admit reality, deny obvious consequences.
While it’s probably true that housing costs are keeping people out of CA and NY, there’s this notion that middle America or the sunbelt will empty out and depart to Brooklyn if Brooklyn built more units, and I’m pretty sure the people who believe this all live in Brooklyn already
Will is totally I missing the rejoinder. Way more people would live in the Northeast and coastal CA if we allowed for abundant home building.
November 25, 2025 at 7:36 PM
"While it's (definitely) true that housing costs from a shortage are keeping people out of CA and NY, somehow it's also false that people would move into CA or NY if there was housing for them."
Admit reality, deny obvious consequences.
Admit reality, deny obvious consequences.
Reposted by Upzone the coastal elites
The full time job of the modal person with the title of "city planner" in the US is to be a steward of segregation.
November 25, 2025 at 5:52 PM
The full time job of the modal person with the title of "city planner" in the US is to be a steward of segregation.
Reposted by Upzone the coastal elites
Great piece on how density restrictions in zoning are essentially BS.
November 24, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Great piece on how density restrictions in zoning are essentially BS.
Reposted by Upzone the coastal elites
The Scooby Doo Theory of Housing states that we can arrest housing price inflation if we only some clever kids are able to unmask the evil villain responsible for making rent go up.
I think this is mostly San Francisco finally shrugging off the pandemic, but it is *really* funny that rent prices in San Francisco shot up *immediately* after the city banned RealPage and other algorithmic price setting software.
My pre trends are incredible!
My pre trends are incredible!
November 22, 2025 at 7:15 PM
The Scooby Doo Theory of Housing states that we can arrest housing price inflation if we only some clever kids are able to unmask the evil villain responsible for making rent go up.
Evictions out of the region as the housing shortage drives rents up is an extremely traumatic event.
A high income earner having to move to accommodate redevelopment is not comparable.
Moves for us are annoying, but hardly traumatic. We go rent another place, it's rare we're on the absolute edge.
A high income earner having to move to accommodate redevelopment is not comparable.
Moves for us are annoying, but hardly traumatic. We go rent another place, it's rare we're on the absolute edge.
No I don't. I just think it's a horse-shit bandaid to one of the most traumatic things someone has to go through and means testing it is an added insult.
November 23, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Evictions out of the region as the housing shortage drives rents up is an extremely traumatic event.
A high income earner having to move to accommodate redevelopment is not comparable.
Moves for us are annoying, but hardly traumatic. We go rent another place, it's rare we're on the absolute edge.
A high income earner having to move to accommodate redevelopment is not comparable.
Moves for us are annoying, but hardly traumatic. We go rent another place, it's rare we're on the absolute edge.
This is how YIMBY critics describe redevelopment of rent controlled housing.
When any low income residents get gold plated benefits, including money for moving and rent during construction and a brand new affordable home (usually at lower rent than they were paying).
When any low income residents get gold plated benefits, including money for moving and rent during construction and a brand new affordable home (usually at lower rent than they were paying).
No I don't. I just think it's a horse-shit bandaid to one of the most traumatic things someone has to go through and means testing it is an added insult.
November 23, 2025 at 4:41 PM
This is how YIMBY critics describe redevelopment of rent controlled housing.
When any low income residents get gold plated benefits, including money for moving and rent during construction and a brand new affordable home (usually at lower rent than they were paying).
When any low income residents get gold plated benefits, including money for moving and rent during construction and a brand new affordable home (usually at lower rent than they were paying).
"I'm not opposed to YIMBY reforms (because they are helpful and probably necessary), but they're also insufficient and we'll need public subsidy too (as YIMBYs routinely acknowledge)."
Average YIMBY hater.
Average YIMBY hater.
I'm not even a blanket streamlining hater. But streamlining & upzoning, Scoot"s go tos, do not resolve the fundamental contradiction of a system that requires scarcity to work
November 22, 2025 at 7:30 PM
"I'm not opposed to YIMBY reforms (because they are helpful and probably necessary), but they're also insufficient and we'll need public subsidy too (as YIMBYs routinely acknowledge)."
Average YIMBY hater.
Average YIMBY hater.
I don't always fry my turkey, but when I do, it's always by suddenly dropping a frozen one covered in condensation straight into a full to the brim and overheated pot of oil.
I would never just follow Alton Brown's technique, with a ladder and rope system, dryer turkey, and a pot with room.
I would never just follow Alton Brown's technique, with a ladder and rope system, dryer turkey, and a pot with room.
November 22, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I don't always fry my turkey, but when I do, it's always by suddenly dropping a frozen one covered in condensation straight into a full to the brim and overheated pot of oil.
I would never just follow Alton Brown's technique, with a ladder and rope system, dryer turkey, and a pot with room.
I would never just follow Alton Brown's technique, with a ladder and rope system, dryer turkey, and a pot with room.
YIMBY haters really struggle to understand the concept of a counterfactual. That production would be worse without YIMBY reforms.
California style YIMBY ideology has failed on its own terms. Even as it racks up legislative and regulatory wins with hundreds of laws & code changes, CA's housing production remains flat while prices continue to climb.
November 22, 2025 at 7:16 PM
YIMBY haters really struggle to understand the concept of a counterfactual. That production would be worse without YIMBY reforms.
Reposted by Upzone the coastal elites
a 1600 sf ranch is burned down and replaced with a 4-bedroom, 4.5 bathroom mcmansion
replicating what was there - but larger and more expensive - and recreating conditions that led to the wildfire loss in the first place.
we never learn.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
replicating what was there - but larger and more expensive - and recreating conditions that led to the wildfire loss in the first place.
we never learn.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
The first home has been rebuilt in the wake of the Palisades Fire
The first home to be rebuilt in the wake of the Palisades fire — a two-story home on Kagawa Street — received a certificate of occupancy on Friday.
www.latimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:18 AM
a 1600 sf ranch is burned down and replaced with a 4-bedroom, 4.5 bathroom mcmansion
replicating what was there - but larger and more expensive - and recreating conditions that led to the wildfire loss in the first place.
we never learn.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
replicating what was there - but larger and more expensive - and recreating conditions that led to the wildfire loss in the first place.
we never learn.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
How many episodes?
Sick of super short seasons recently typically.
Sick of super short seasons recently typically.
November 21, 2025 at 9:21 PM
How many episodes?
Sick of super short seasons recently typically.
Sick of super short seasons recently typically.
Reposted by Upzone the coastal elites
More thoughts here on possible solutions to rent control advocates' credible commitment problem. I appreciate the thoughtful engagement from @bharathhariharan.bsky.social & @nealemahoney.bsky.social.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19912...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19912...
November 20, 2025 at 4:56 PM
More thoughts here on possible solutions to rent control advocates' credible commitment problem. I appreciate the thoughtful engagement from @bharathhariharan.bsky.social & @nealemahoney.bsky.social.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19912...
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19912...
Some important legal precedent getting established.
Reminder that SF will almost definitely be triggering the circuit breaker in their housing element, and has a good probability of having a period where builder's remedy applications can be filed.
Reminder that SF will almost definitely be triggering the circuit breaker in their housing element, and has a good probability of having a period where builder's remedy applications can be filed.
"One way or the other, the answer was going to be yes."
Great reporting by @conordougherty.bsky.social on the resuscitation of California's builder's remedy.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/b...
Great reporting by @conordougherty.bsky.social on the resuscitation of California's builder's remedy.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/b...
The Housing Strategy That Has California NIMBYs in a Corner
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Some important legal precedent getting established.
Reminder that SF will almost definitely be triggering the circuit breaker in their housing element, and has a good probability of having a period where builder's remedy applications can be filed.
Reminder that SF will almost definitely be triggering the circuit breaker in their housing element, and has a good probability of having a period where builder's remedy applications can be filed.
Reposted by Upzone the coastal elites
"One way or the other, the answer was going to be yes."
Great reporting by @conordougherty.bsky.social on the resuscitation of California's builder's remedy.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/b...
Great reporting by @conordougherty.bsky.social on the resuscitation of California's builder's remedy.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/b...
The Housing Strategy That Has California NIMBYs in a Corner
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:50 PM
"One way or the other, the answer was going to be yes."
Great reporting by @conordougherty.bsky.social on the resuscitation of California's builder's remedy.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/b...
Great reporting by @conordougherty.bsky.social on the resuscitation of California's builder's remedy.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/b...
Reposted by Upzone the coastal elites
“Builder’s remedy” has been law since 1990 but was only “discovered” in 2022.
The Housing Strategy That Has California NIMBYs in a Corner
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:23 PM
“Builder’s remedy” has been law since 1990 but was only “discovered” in 2022.
I generally think zoning is dumb, particularly in residential density limits.
But zoning that maintains non-car access - that's necessary.
But zoning that maintains non-car access - that's necessary.
I tried to walk to my nearest Lowes this weekend. It literally had no pedestrian access. The only entrance was the parking lot which was directly connected to a highway, that has no sidewalk. (and I live just outside NYC, ffs) How is development like that even allowed?
November 19, 2025 at 8:17 PM
I generally think zoning is dumb, particularly in residential density limits.
But zoning that maintains non-car access - that's necessary.
But zoning that maintains non-car access - that's necessary.
Gosh, I wonder why it matters that housing prices are higher where jobs are.
Surely that has no bad consequences for the economy. Or future generations.
Surely that has no bad consequences for the economy. Or future generations.
“If you cherry-pick places where housing prices are high, housing prices are high”
This is transparently bad data practice. Yes, there are places where housing is more expensive than average. There are also places more affordable than average. About half, in fact. So what?
This is transparently bad data practice. Yes, there are places where housing is more expensive than average. There are also places more affordable than average. About half, in fact. So what?
Will, my guy, you *gotta* look at city areas as opposed to the country as a whole, we’re a nation of urban islands surrounded by oceans of real estate, and the cities are where basically all economic value is generated.
November 18, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Gosh, I wonder why it matters that housing prices are higher where jobs are.
Surely that has no bad consequences for the economy. Or future generations.
Surely that has no bad consequences for the economy. Or future generations.
Reposted by Upzone the coastal elites
San Francisco’s cost of living is through the roof & our city’s extreme housing costs are pushing people out.
Supervisor Connie Chan’s solution? Make housing even more expensive by sabotaging the Mayor’s zoning plan to actually build more homes.
Great work, Supervisor.
Supervisor Connie Chan’s solution? Make housing even more expensive by sabotaging the Mayor’s zoning plan to actually build more homes.
Great work, Supervisor.
A Last-Minute Change to SF’s Housing Plan Tries to Roll It Back
With a deadline looming, Sup. Connie Chan wants to bar all ‘existing residential uses’ from upzoning. She says state watchdogs won't object.
thefrisc.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:32 AM
San Francisco’s cost of living is through the roof & our city’s extreme housing costs are pushing people out.
Supervisor Connie Chan’s solution? Make housing even more expensive by sabotaging the Mayor’s zoning plan to actually build more homes.
Great work, Supervisor.
Supervisor Connie Chan’s solution? Make housing even more expensive by sabotaging the Mayor’s zoning plan to actually build more homes.
Great work, Supervisor.
Reposted by Upzone the coastal elites
Zoning started with the goals of encouraging segregation and car dependence a century ago. It is a moral imperative to abolish it.
November 17, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Zoning started with the goals of encouraging segregation and car dependence a century ago. It is a moral imperative to abolish it.
Reposted by Upzone the coastal elites
Inclusionary zoning is not just terrible policy. It’s also extremely neoliberal policy that outsources a key state function—providing subsidized housing for poor people—to private, market-based actors and shifts the financial burden for the subsidies from wealthy homeowners to middle class renters.
It's also the most '90s Third Way-ish policy idea imaginable, which is why it is both bemusing and frustrating that so many leftists embrace it with such vigour. "Let's solve affordable housing with technocratic, market based incrementalism" really isn't all that progressive!
So-called “inclusionary zoning” is a tax on new housing that reduces the amount of housing that gets built, worsening the housing shortage and driving up rent. It is bad, counterproductive policy and we should stop doing it.
November 17, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Inclusionary zoning is not just terrible policy. It’s also extremely neoliberal policy that outsources a key state function—providing subsidized housing for poor people—to private, market-based actors and shifts the financial burden for the subsidies from wealthy homeowners to middle class renters.