Robin Palm, AICP
@bourbonplanner.bsky.social
Urban planner for Mt Pleasant, WI
American Planning Association WI SE Rep
Resident Washington Heights, Milwaukee, WI
Opinions are my own & not those of any office or organization.
Formerly: https://twitter.com/BourbonPlanner
American Planning Association WI SE Rep
Resident Washington Heights, Milwaukee, WI
Opinions are my own & not those of any office or organization.
Formerly: https://twitter.com/BourbonPlanner
Reposted by Robin Palm, AICP
I'm so worried about what'll happen when our kids are old enough to have phones!!!! 😮😮😮
![A meme depicting a woman staring at her phone with one hand on her head, with the following text below:
IS YOUR CHILD TEXTING ABOUT THE WRECK OF THE EDMUND FITZGERALD?
What your Great Lakes maritime history-obsessed teen's text messages actually mean:
brb = bell rang bro
rofl = rang out for lost (crew)
bff = big freakin' freigher
lol = Load of Ore on the Lake
smh = shift minutes to hours
glhf = Great Lakes hella freighter
tbh = taconite be haulin'
stfu = steer the freighter upwind
tfw = that freakin' witch (of November)
asl = a ship lost
gg = Gitche Gumee
idc = immoderate deadweight capacity
btw = beneath the waves
afk = a freighter kaput
hbd = hauler's beacon down
ily = iron load yonder
jk = just [24] kilometers
lmao = lost my abyssal ore
nbd = north bound draft
glhf = good lord, hold flooding
omg = obliteratingly massive gales
tmi = too much iron
wtf = White Fish (Bay)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ccm7gttkbfs2eyyrlpshmeun/bafkreib6ughtj23oqdskaisavrueyn6fijujbp2e663h6p6ukx74lbibyu@jpeg)
October 31, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I'm so worried about what'll happen when our kids are old enough to have phones!!!! 😮😮😮
Oh, are they putting affordable housing and a subsidized daycare there instead??
I withdraw my concerns, then!!
I withdraw my concerns, then!!
October 25, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Oh, are they putting affordable housing and a subsidized daycare there instead??
I withdraw my concerns, then!!
I withdraw my concerns, then!!
Something tells me they did not pull the proper permits for this.
October 24, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Something tells me they did not pull the proper permits for this.
You know, you'd think a state that uses 59% of its residential energy on space heating and 18% of its energy on water heating would welcome development where HOT WATER is the primary "waste" by-product, right?
Like "Oh yeah, I think we could use that!"
But Noooo
www.jsonline.com/story/news/l...
Like "Oh yeah, I think we could use that!"
But Noooo
www.jsonline.com/story/news/l...
There are 21 data centers in the Milwaukee area and likely more on the way. Here's what you should know about them
Wisconsin is home to 43 data centers as of July 2025 with more likely on the way. Here's what you should know about the facilities.
www.jsonline.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:26 PM
You know, you'd think a state that uses 59% of its residential energy on space heating and 18% of its energy on water heating would welcome development where HOT WATER is the primary "waste" by-product, right?
Like "Oh yeah, I think we could use that!"
But Noooo
www.jsonline.com/story/news/l...
Like "Oh yeah, I think we could use that!"
But Noooo
www.jsonline.com/story/news/l...
You gotta love how aggressively wrong people will be on very easily provable facts.
"Hey, Data Centers were a big reason Iowa expanded wind energy to be 60% of its total output"
"No way! That's impossible! Sometimes it's not windy!!!!"
#greenenergy #datacenters
"Hey, Data Centers were a big reason Iowa expanded wind energy to be 60% of its total output"
"No way! That's impossible! Sometimes it's not windy!!!!"
#greenenergy #datacenters
October 8, 2025 at 10:52 PM
You gotta love how aggressively wrong people will be on very easily provable facts.
"Hey, Data Centers were a big reason Iowa expanded wind energy to be 60% of its total output"
"No way! That's impossible! Sometimes it's not windy!!!!"
#greenenergy #datacenters
"Hey, Data Centers were a big reason Iowa expanded wind energy to be 60% of its total output"
"No way! That's impossible! Sometimes it's not windy!!!!"
#greenenergy #datacenters
Reposted by Robin Palm, AICP
I see Mark Sanchez is ending his broadcasting career the same way he ended his NFL career
by getting cut
by getting cut
a husky dog is playing with a stuffed animal and making a funny face with its mouth open .
ALT: a husky dog is playing with a stuffed animal and making a funny face with its mouth open .
media.tenor.com
October 5, 2025 at 2:47 AM
I see Mark Sanchez is ending his broadcasting career the same way he ended his NFL career
by getting cut
by getting cut
A woman was drunk & crossed over the middle of the road & crashed head on into a school bus w/ 19 elementary schoolers on board.
1) It was 804am
2) Her own 2 year old child was in the backseat of her SUV.
Thankfully, only the bus driver sustained minor injuries & she went straight to jail.
1) It was 804am
2) Her own 2 year old child was in the backseat of her SUV.
Thankfully, only the bus driver sustained minor injuries & she went straight to jail.
September 29, 2025 at 6:07 PM
A woman was drunk & crossed over the middle of the road & crashed head on into a school bus w/ 19 elementary schoolers on board.
1) It was 804am
2) Her own 2 year old child was in the backseat of her SUV.
Thankfully, only the bus driver sustained minor injuries & she went straight to jail.
1) It was 804am
2) Her own 2 year old child was in the backseat of her SUV.
Thankfully, only the bus driver sustained minor injuries & she went straight to jail.
Reposted by Robin Palm, AICP
Wisconsin Republicans announced a large housing package today, & there's a lot of good stuff in here that should get bipartisan support. There's also some stuff that I'm not sure survives the nit picking process, depends on how fast they push. Let's chat
wiseye.org/2025/09/23/n...
wiseye.org/2025/09/23/n...
News Conference: Assembly Republicans Housing Bills Briefing - WisconsinEye
On September 23, 2025, Rep. Robert Brooks (R-Saukville) and members of the Assembly Republican caucus held a news conference to discuss a package of bills related to housing.
wiseye.org
September 26, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Wisconsin Republicans announced a large housing package today, & there's a lot of good stuff in here that should get bipartisan support. There's also some stuff that I'm not sure survives the nit picking process, depends on how fast they push. Let's chat
wiseye.org/2025/09/23/n...
wiseye.org/2025/09/23/n...
Wisconsin Republicans announced a large housing package today, & there's a lot of good stuff in here that should get bipartisan support. There's also some stuff that I'm not sure survives the nit picking process, depends on how fast they push. Let's chat
wiseye.org/2025/09/23/n...
wiseye.org/2025/09/23/n...
News Conference: Assembly Republicans Housing Bills Briefing - WisconsinEye
On September 23, 2025, Rep. Robert Brooks (R-Saukville) and members of the Assembly Republican caucus held a news conference to discuss a package of bills related to housing.
wiseye.org
September 26, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Wisconsin Republicans announced a large housing package today, & there's a lot of good stuff in here that should get bipartisan support. There's also some stuff that I'm not sure survives the nit picking process, depends on how fast they push. Let's chat
wiseye.org/2025/09/23/n...
wiseye.org/2025/09/23/n...
Despite being an urban planner for ~ 10 yrs, I still lose the precise # for an acre in my brainfog.
But today I learned that the technical definition of an acre is "One chain by one furlong", which is also 66ft x 660ft. Much easier!
Or you could just use this handy chart!
#urbanplanning
But today I learned that the technical definition of an acre is "One chain by one furlong", which is also 66ft x 660ft. Much easier!
Or you could just use this handy chart!
#urbanplanning
September 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Despite being an urban planner for ~ 10 yrs, I still lose the precise # for an acre in my brainfog.
But today I learned that the technical definition of an acre is "One chain by one furlong", which is also 66ft x 660ft. Much easier!
Or you could just use this handy chart!
#urbanplanning
But today I learned that the technical definition of an acre is "One chain by one furlong", which is also 66ft x 660ft. Much easier!
Or you could just use this handy chart!
#urbanplanning
Based Mamdani.
Does this guy ever miss?
Genuinely excited about going back to New York in a couple years now.
Does this guy ever miss?
Genuinely excited about going back to New York in a couple years now.
“The Mamdani administration will allocate $20 million per year to ensure that every school can have an Open Street. This money will support additional programming, operational support, and maintenance to ensure each child has access to clean, safe, and fun space—every day.”
Green Schools for a Healthier New York City
Green Schools for a Healthier New York City Children deserve to inherit a safe, healthy world. The Mamdani administration will fight to protect New Yorkers from the present and future impacts of the c...
docs.google.com
September 23, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Based Mamdani.
Does this guy ever miss?
Genuinely excited about going back to New York in a couple years now.
Does this guy ever miss?
Genuinely excited about going back to New York in a couple years now.
Facebook memories serves up a rare Win.
"Ok, so you're robbing them. Roll for initiative"
"Ok, so you're robbing them. Roll for initiative"
September 23, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Facebook memories serves up a rare Win.
"Ok, so you're robbing them. Roll for initiative"
"Ok, so you're robbing them. Roll for initiative"
#SpeedingTickets
Every city does it: allows people to plea down to a more expensive non moving violation. They make more money, you don't lose points or get your insurance rates raised.
Win/Win, right?
Seems we're missing what could be an obvious deterrent to speeding:
Every city does it: allows people to plea down to a more expensive non moving violation. They make more money, you don't lose points or get your insurance rates raised.
Win/Win, right?
Seems we're missing what could be an obvious deterrent to speeding:
September 9, 2025 at 5:10 PM
#SpeedingTickets
Every city does it: allows people to plea down to a more expensive non moving violation. They make more money, you don't lose points or get your insurance rates raised.
Win/Win, right?
Seems we're missing what could be an obvious deterrent to speeding:
Every city does it: allows people to plea down to a more expensive non moving violation. They make more money, you don't lose points or get your insurance rates raised.
Win/Win, right?
Seems we're missing what could be an obvious deterrent to speeding:
Love good adjustable bollards.
It was nice chatting once again with John Bird, who manages Findlay Market in Cincinnati. Here he is operating a bollard that closes the street to cars.
September 5, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Love good adjustable bollards.
I'll post lots of Urban Planning thoughts about my family's trip to Copenhagen & Denmark soon.
But, first I have to work through some sorta of step or stage process to process the emotions relating to how Denmark compares to the USA.
Currently, stuck on anger. It may be awhile.
But, first I have to work through some sorta of step or stage process to process the emotions relating to how Denmark compares to the USA.
Currently, stuck on anger. It may be awhile.
September 5, 2025 at 4:01 PM
I'll post lots of Urban Planning thoughts about my family's trip to Copenhagen & Denmark soon.
But, first I have to work through some sorta of step or stage process to process the emotions relating to how Denmark compares to the USA.
Currently, stuck on anger. It may be awhile.
But, first I have to work through some sorta of step or stage process to process the emotions relating to how Denmark compares to the USA.
Currently, stuck on anger. It may be awhile.
Copenhagen Metro headways, Sunday night, late August, 9pm.
Just ridiculous. I needed some time to recover from the shock, but then the train had already arrived.
Just ridiculous. I needed some time to recover from the shock, but then the train had already arrived.
August 25, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Copenhagen Metro headways, Sunday night, late August, 9pm.
Just ridiculous. I needed some time to recover from the shock, but then the train had already arrived.
Just ridiculous. I needed some time to recover from the shock, but then the train had already arrived.
Copenhagen is something else, I tell ya.
August 25, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Copenhagen is something else, I tell ya.
Instead of drawing the redrawing the maps everywhere, every blue state just needs to allow people in uncontested elections to vote in whatever district they want.
Problem solved.
Problem solved.
August 22, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Instead of drawing the redrawing the maps everywhere, every blue state just needs to allow people in uncontested elections to vote in whatever district they want.
Problem solved.
Problem solved.
Ok, it needs to be said.
If people are going to be gerrymandered out of fair representation down to the microscopic block level, then people should go “live with their parents” or “lease a room from a buddy” or “change their address for work” or “register to vote as a homeless person”
Ya know?
If people are going to be gerrymandered out of fair representation down to the microscopic block level, then people should go “live with their parents” or “lease a room from a buddy” or “change their address for work” or “register to vote as a homeless person”
Ya know?
August 21, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Ok, it needs to be said.
If people are going to be gerrymandered out of fair representation down to the microscopic block level, then people should go “live with their parents” or “lease a room from a buddy” or “change their address for work” or “register to vote as a homeless person”
Ya know?
If people are going to be gerrymandered out of fair representation down to the microscopic block level, then people should go “live with their parents” or “lease a room from a buddy” or “change their address for work” or “register to vote as a homeless person”
Ya know?
unpopular opinion:
these anti data center takes are pretty overboard.
If not in a water stressed area & the ⚡️ comes from mostly 💨 & ☀️, it’s certainly less harmful than modern agriculture.
If you can hook the cooling systems into snowmelt & district heating systems, probably a net positive.
these anti data center takes are pretty overboard.
If not in a water stressed area & the ⚡️ comes from mostly 💨 & ☀️, it’s certainly less harmful than modern agriculture.
If you can hook the cooling systems into snowmelt & district heating systems, probably a net positive.
August 20, 2025 at 12:21 AM
unpopular opinion:
these anti data center takes are pretty overboard.
If not in a water stressed area & the ⚡️ comes from mostly 💨 & ☀️, it’s certainly less harmful than modern agriculture.
If you can hook the cooling systems into snowmelt & district heating systems, probably a net positive.
these anti data center takes are pretty overboard.
If not in a water stressed area & the ⚡️ comes from mostly 💨 & ☀️, it’s certainly less harmful than modern agriculture.
If you can hook the cooling systems into snowmelt & district heating systems, probably a net positive.
I’m taking the planner pilgrimage next week and going to Copenhagen with the family.
Anyone have any tips on what I should check out from a planning/ urbanist perspective?
It’s best to be purposeful about these things, my wife sometimes gets frustrated when I get distracted checking out bollards.
Anyone have any tips on what I should check out from a planning/ urbanist perspective?
It’s best to be purposeful about these things, my wife sometimes gets frustrated when I get distracted checking out bollards.
August 18, 2025 at 6:01 PM
I’m taking the planner pilgrimage next week and going to Copenhagen with the family.
Anyone have any tips on what I should check out from a planning/ urbanist perspective?
It’s best to be purposeful about these things, my wife sometimes gets frustrated when I get distracted checking out bollards.
Anyone have any tips on what I should check out from a planning/ urbanist perspective?
It’s best to be purposeful about these things, my wife sometimes gets frustrated when I get distracted checking out bollards.
This is 100% correct.
With current technology, we could pretty much eliminate car deaths, car theft, and simultaneously increase the demand for high speed rail.
With current technology, we could pretty much eliminate car deaths, car theft, and simultaneously increase the demand for high speed rail.
My least popular (and most correct) view is that cars should be automatically limited to the local speed limit. Put the pedal to the floor and you still can't go over 25mph in a residential area.
(15 in Manhattan btw)
(15 in Manhattan btw)
There is no possible justification for limiting e-bikes to 15mph but not cars.
August 10, 2025 at 12:16 AM
This is 100% correct.
With current technology, we could pretty much eliminate car deaths, car theft, and simultaneously increase the demand for high speed rail.
With current technology, we could pretty much eliminate car deaths, car theft, and simultaneously increase the demand for high speed rail.
This practice of banning rental scooters anywhere within a mile of a crowded event needs to be outlawed immediately.
It makes zero sense that half of Wisconsin state fair park is for parking your cars, trucks, motorcycles, and even RVs, BUT NOT YOUR RENTAL SCOOTER!!!
It’s an absolute atrocity.
It makes zero sense that half of Wisconsin state fair park is for parking your cars, trucks, motorcycles, and even RVs, BUT NOT YOUR RENTAL SCOOTER!!!
It’s an absolute atrocity.
August 9, 2025 at 1:56 AM
This practice of banning rental scooters anywhere within a mile of a crowded event needs to be outlawed immediately.
It makes zero sense that half of Wisconsin state fair park is for parking your cars, trucks, motorcycles, and even RVs, BUT NOT YOUR RENTAL SCOOTER!!!
It’s an absolute atrocity.
It makes zero sense that half of Wisconsin state fair park is for parking your cars, trucks, motorcycles, and even RVs, BUT NOT YOUR RENTAL SCOOTER!!!
It’s an absolute atrocity.
"Oh no, the police are tracking me by the giant name tag we put on all of our cars for the express purpose of tracking them"
New investigation from @IsiahHolmes.bsky.social analyzes Wisconsin cops' use of massive license-plate reading network. “Once this level of surveillance is normalized, it becomes incredibly hard to roll back,” @acluofwi.bsky.social policy analyst says.
Analysis of Flock use by Wisconsin cops reveals trends, raises questions • Wisconsin Examiner
An analysis by Wisconsin Examiner reveals which law enforcement agencies around the state use Flock cameras and why
buff.ly
August 6, 2025 at 3:22 PM
"Oh no, the police are tracking me by the giant name tag we put on all of our cars for the express purpose of tracking them"
I suppose the idea they got the whole crowd to sing sweet caroline it would give the slime enough positive vibes to cause the bases themselves to animate and turn the double play.
August 3, 2025 at 2:36 AM
I suppose the idea they got the whole crowd to sing sweet caroline it would give the slime enough positive vibes to cause the bases themselves to animate and turn the double play.