Daniel Trubman
@danieltrubman.bsky.social
Who wants to grab a beer and talk about land-use regulations and building codes?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieltrubman/
https://muckrack.com/daniel-trubman-1/portfolio
https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieltrubman/
https://muckrack.com/daniel-trubman-1/portfolio
Some of the scaffolding at NYCHA's Abraham Lincoln Houses is so far from any buildings it's hard to even guess which facade it's supposed to be protecting residents from.
With NYC's Housing Authority funding at risk I really wish they weren't wasting precious dollars like this.
With NYC's Housing Authority funding at risk I really wish they weren't wasting precious dollars like this.
November 28, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Some of the scaffolding at NYCHA's Abraham Lincoln Houses is so far from any buildings it's hard to even guess which facade it's supposed to be protecting residents from.
With NYC's Housing Authority funding at risk I really wish they weren't wasting precious dollars like this.
With NYC's Housing Authority funding at risk I really wish they weren't wasting precious dollars like this.
Believe it or not, this is Manhattan.
NYC might not have as much transit oriented surface parking as other cities, but there's still a lot!
NYC might not have as much transit oriented surface parking as other cities, but there's still a lot!
November 27, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Believe it or not, this is Manhattan.
NYC might not have as much transit oriented surface parking as other cities, but there's still a lot!
NYC might not have as much transit oriented surface parking as other cities, but there's still a lot!
This Thanksgiving I'm grateful for the construction workers building a bigger and better New York. Even on a holiday!
355 Exterior St. will add 755 new homes to Mott Haven, with 30% of them affordable.
Unfortunately the 421-a Tax Incentive program used here has since expired 😥
355 Exterior St. will add 755 new homes to Mott Haven, with 30% of them affordable.
Unfortunately the 421-a Tax Incentive program used here has since expired 😥
November 27, 2025 at 9:55 PM
This Thanksgiving I'm grateful for the construction workers building a bigger and better New York. Even on a holiday!
355 Exterior St. will add 755 new homes to Mott Haven, with 30% of them affordable.
Unfortunately the 421-a Tax Incentive program used here has since expired 😥
355 Exterior St. will add 755 new homes to Mott Haven, with 30% of them affordable.
Unfortunately the 421-a Tax Incentive program used here has since expired 😥
If we automated our subways in NYC maybe the service frequency wouldn't be atrocious on holidays?!
November 27, 2025 at 5:48 PM
If we automated our subways in NYC maybe the service frequency wouldn't be atrocious on holidays?!
Originally built under the HUD Section 202 program, the 100 unit Section 8 senior housing Abyssinian Towers in Harlem was renovated with LIHTCs.
The facade is aggressively boring, so I really don't get why NYC requires this subsidized housing bother with SO much scaffolding 🤔
The facade is aggressively boring, so I really don't get why NYC requires this subsidized housing bother with SO much scaffolding 🤔
November 27, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Originally built under the HUD Section 202 program, the 100 unit Section 8 senior housing Abyssinian Towers in Harlem was renovated with LIHTCs.
The facade is aggressively boring, so I really don't get why NYC requires this subsidized housing bother with SO much scaffolding 🤔
The facade is aggressively boring, so I really don't get why NYC requires this subsidized housing bother with SO much scaffolding 🤔
Reposted by Daniel Trubman
While NY is considering mandating two-person trains, the DC Metro not only already operates with one person, but recently reactivated its automatic train operation system.
Now, continuing to follow best practices, Metro has announced plans to move towards driverless trains.
tinyurl.com/yft73mru
Now, continuing to follow best practices, Metro has announced plans to move towards driverless trains.
tinyurl.com/yft73mru
November 26, 2025 at 6:40 PM
While NY is considering mandating two-person trains, the DC Metro not only already operates with one person, but recently reactivated its automatic train operation system.
Now, continuing to follow best practices, Metro has announced plans to move towards driverless trains.
tinyurl.com/yft73mru
Now, continuing to follow best practices, Metro has announced plans to move towards driverless trains.
tinyurl.com/yft73mru
Just saw a passenger try to pay a fare here, but with one entrance that accepts taps occupied by someone (slowly) leaving the platform he wisely dashed through the opened gate to try and catch the train. He didn't.
Don't really blame him here, especially because C has 12 minute headways.
Don't really blame him here, especially because C has 12 minute headways.
I just saw a passenger pay his fare after his request to have the emergency gate opened was declined by a passenger already on the platform.
Sometimes it can be scary to say no in case they get in and are belligerent, but usually you can just stroll down the platform.
Sometimes it can be scary to say no in case they get in and are belligerent, but usually you can just stroll down the platform.
November 26, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Just saw a passenger try to pay a fare here, but with one entrance that accepts taps occupied by someone (slowly) leaving the platform he wisely dashed through the opened gate to try and catch the train. He didn't.
Don't really blame him here, especially because C has 12 minute headways.
Don't really blame him here, especially because C has 12 minute headways.
Everyone thinks cities transformed to make room for cars after WWII, but so many of the lots in NYC dedicated to cars were already gas stations, garages, repair shops etc much earlier.
Like this stacked parking in Lower Manhattan, which used to be a service station.
1940s➡️2025
Like this stacked parking in Lower Manhattan, which used to be a service station.
1940s➡️2025
November 26, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Everyone thinks cities transformed to make room for cars after WWII, but so many of the lots in NYC dedicated to cars were already gas stations, garages, repair shops etc much earlier.
Like this stacked parking in Lower Manhattan, which used to be a service station.
1940s➡️2025
Like this stacked parking in Lower Manhattan, which used to be a service station.
1940s➡️2025
It would obviously be easier to maintain at least halfway decent Regional Rail frequency on holidays if they weren't set up to require so many conductors.
The current practice of slashing service seems especially dangerous on holidays like Thanksgiving when many folks drink.
The current practice of slashing service seems especially dangerous on holidays like Thanksgiving when many folks drink.
November 26, 2025 at 5:34 PM
It would obviously be easier to maintain at least halfway decent Regional Rail frequency on holidays if they weren't set up to require so many conductors.
The current practice of slashing service seems especially dangerous on holidays like Thanksgiving when many folks drink.
The current practice of slashing service seems especially dangerous on holidays like Thanksgiving when many folks drink.
Today St. John the Baptist Church in Chelsea is surrounded by tall buildings, but when it was built in the 1870s it was much bigger than the adjacent structures.
A giant Gothic Revival church hardly matched the residential character of the street.
Thankfully this was before zoning!
A giant Gothic Revival church hardly matched the residential character of the street.
Thankfully this was before zoning!
November 26, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Today St. John the Baptist Church in Chelsea is surrounded by tall buildings, but when it was built in the 1870s it was much bigger than the adjacent structures.
A giant Gothic Revival church hardly matched the residential character of the street.
Thankfully this was before zoning!
A giant Gothic Revival church hardly matched the residential character of the street.
Thankfully this was before zoning!
Not only does I-95 cut Philly off from its waterfront, but a parallel arterial road makes the experience of walking from Center City even more miserable.
The new bridge is nominally for pedestrians and cyclists, but it's really more PennDOT auto-infrastructure.
www.phillyvoice.com/south-street...
The new bridge is nominally for pedestrians and cyclists, but it's really more PennDOT auto-infrastructure.
www.phillyvoice.com/south-street...
How PennDOT plans to install a 258-foot pedestrian bridge over Columbus Boulevard in one night
An arch will cross the road next year, marking a major step in the $329 million transformation of the Delaware River waterfront.
www.phillyvoice.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Not only does I-95 cut Philly off from its waterfront, but a parallel arterial road makes the experience of walking from Center City even more miserable.
The new bridge is nominally for pedestrians and cyclists, but it's really more PennDOT auto-infrastructure.
www.phillyvoice.com/south-street...
The new bridge is nominally for pedestrians and cyclists, but it's really more PennDOT auto-infrastructure.
www.phillyvoice.com/south-street...
"Actually the banks and investors WILL give money to a development that clearly doesn't pencil out" is the implicit premise for inclusionary zoning mandates and other taxes on new construction.
As if it's inconceivable there are other investment options in the world.
As if it's inconceivable there are other investment options in the world.
November 26, 2025 at 3:25 PM
"Actually the banks and investors WILL give money to a development that clearly doesn't pencil out" is the implicit premise for inclusionary zoning mandates and other taxes on new construction.
As if it's inconceivable there are other investment options in the world.
As if it's inconceivable there are other investment options in the world.
Reposted by Daniel Trubman
Not collecting fares on buses would obviously eliminate some expenses, but would still be a net fiscal drain. That's why the plan will need hundreds of millions of new state dollars!
But you can see why members of the public get confused when paragraphs like this get published.
But you can see why members of the public get confused when paragraphs like this get published.
November 25, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Not collecting fares on buses would obviously eliminate some expenses, but would still be a net fiscal drain. That's why the plan will need hundreds of millions of new state dollars!
But you can see why members of the public get confused when paragraphs like this get published.
But you can see why members of the public get confused when paragraphs like this get published.
I just saw a passenger pay his fare after his request to have the emergency gate opened was declined by a passenger already on the platform.
Sometimes it can be scary to say no in case they get in and are belligerent, but usually you can just stroll down the platform.
Sometimes it can be scary to say no in case they get in and are belligerent, but usually you can just stroll down the platform.
November 26, 2025 at 12:13 AM
I just saw a passenger pay his fare after his request to have the emergency gate opened was declined by a passenger already on the platform.
Sometimes it can be scary to say no in case they get in and are belligerent, but usually you can just stroll down the platform.
Sometimes it can be scary to say no in case they get in and are belligerent, but usually you can just stroll down the platform.
NYC really does a good job ensuring there are safe and convenient alternatives when a sidewalk is temporarily closed for construction. At least in Manhattan.
This temporary bike lane is better than a lot of permanent cycling infrastructure in American cities!
This temporary bike lane is better than a lot of permanent cycling infrastructure in American cities!
November 25, 2025 at 11:12 PM
NYC really does a good job ensuring there are safe and convenient alternatives when a sidewalk is temporarily closed for construction. At least in Manhattan.
This temporary bike lane is better than a lot of permanent cycling infrastructure in American cities!
This temporary bike lane is better than a lot of permanent cycling infrastructure in American cities!
I'm sure most of the CDBG money NYC passes along to NYCHA pays for important maintenance, but I have my doubts about all the money going to Local Law 11 inspections and improvements.
So much scaffolding comically far away from the actual NYCHA buildings in Harlem.
So much scaffolding comically far away from the actual NYCHA buildings in Harlem.
November 25, 2025 at 10:13 PM
I'm sure most of the CDBG money NYC passes along to NYCHA pays for important maintenance, but I have my doubts about all the money going to Local Law 11 inspections and improvements.
So much scaffolding comically far away from the actual NYCHA buildings in Harlem.
So much scaffolding comically far away from the actual NYCHA buildings in Harlem.
Ok I generally think it's usually tacky to write your initials in drying cement, but this imprint of a pair of scissors outside a barbershop is pretty funny.
November 25, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Ok I generally think it's usually tacky to write your initials in drying cement, but this imprint of a pair of scissors outside a barbershop is pretty funny.
Water fountains can actually do a decent job mitigating the noise pollution of nearby cars and trucks, at least in low traffic neighborhoods.
They'll become even more effective as more vehicles go electric in the coming years. But only if someone keeps the water pumping ⛲
They'll become even more effective as more vehicles go electric in the coming years. But only if someone keeps the water pumping ⛲
November 25, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Water fountains can actually do a decent job mitigating the noise pollution of nearby cars and trucks, at least in low traffic neighborhoods.
They'll become even more effective as more vehicles go electric in the coming years. But only if someone keeps the water pumping ⛲
They'll become even more effective as more vehicles go electric in the coming years. But only if someone keeps the water pumping ⛲
I ♥️ the Jenga Tower building so much.
I want to see dozens of variations of this building across NYC 😍
I want to see dozens of variations of this building across NYC 😍
November 25, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I ♥️ the Jenga Tower building so much.
I want to see dozens of variations of this building across NYC 😍
I want to see dozens of variations of this building across NYC 😍
I would love to see some of Mamdani's transition committees put forth a plan on how to get the remaining surface parking lots in Midtown developed in offices and/or residences.
Crazy so many of these still exist! Wasn't always like this.
6th Ave and 24th St
~1940➡️ Yesterday
Crazy so many of these still exist! Wasn't always like this.
6th Ave and 24th St
~1940➡️ Yesterday
November 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I would love to see some of Mamdani's transition committees put forth a plan on how to get the remaining surface parking lots in Midtown developed in offices and/or residences.
Crazy so many of these still exist! Wasn't always like this.
6th Ave and 24th St
~1940➡️ Yesterday
Crazy so many of these still exist! Wasn't always like this.
6th Ave and 24th St
~1940➡️ Yesterday
I don't think a land value tax could solve New York's housing crisis singlehandedly, but you can certainly understand why Mamdani would be interested in pursuing property tax reform.
Obviously won't be easy, but a great tool to encourage transit oriented development AND raising revenue from top 1%.
Obviously won't be easy, but a great tool to encourage transit oriented development AND raising revenue from top 1%.
All of the pink areas are lots with nothing but a single-family home (and probably the world's best access to transit, jobs, and greenspace).
November 25, 2025 at 5:41 PM
I don't think a land value tax could solve New York's housing crisis singlehandedly, but you can certainly understand why Mamdani would be interested in pursuing property tax reform.
Obviously won't be easy, but a great tool to encourage transit oriented development AND raising revenue from top 1%.
Obviously won't be easy, but a great tool to encourage transit oriented development AND raising revenue from top 1%.
It's great this line will have dedicated right of ways, but kind of silly to be building new transit lines in the 21st century with a bunch of at-grade crossings?
Even Transit Signal Priority is kind of a joke compared to the obvious solution of grade separation.
www.railwayage.com/passenger/li...
Even Transit Signal Priority is kind of a joke compared to the obvious solution of grade separation.
www.railwayage.com/passenger/li...
Coming Dec. 7: Finch West LRT
The Toronto Transit Commission’s (TTC) long-awaited, C$2.6 billion Line 6 Finch West will launch Dec. 7. Serving 18 light rail stops along 6.8 miles (11 kilometers) of Finch Avenue West between Finch
www.railwayage.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:27 PM
It's great this line will have dedicated right of ways, but kind of silly to be building new transit lines in the 21st century with a bunch of at-grade crossings?
Even Transit Signal Priority is kind of a joke compared to the obvious solution of grade separation.
www.railwayage.com/passenger/li...
Even Transit Signal Priority is kind of a joke compared to the obvious solution of grade separation.
www.railwayage.com/passenger/li...
Argument for fareless transit implicitly assumes American cities are incapable of developing even minimal state capacity to do basic tasks like ensuring riders pay their required fare.
Maybe that's true! But that would seem to make the rest of Mamdani's agenda impossible too.
Maybe that's true! But that would seem to make the rest of Mamdani's agenda impossible too.
November 25, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Argument for fareless transit implicitly assumes American cities are incapable of developing even minimal state capacity to do basic tasks like ensuring riders pay their required fare.
Maybe that's true! But that would seem to make the rest of Mamdani's agenda impossible too.
Maybe that's true! But that would seem to make the rest of Mamdani's agenda impossible too.
Lots of great names on Mamdani's transportation transition committee, but can't say I love seeing John Samuelsen from TWU here.
After spending the last few years trying to kill congestion pricing his top policy priority now seems to be legislatively mandating fake jobs.
After spending the last few years trying to kill congestion pricing his top policy priority now seems to be legislatively mandating fake jobs.
November 24, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Lots of great names on Mamdani's transportation transition committee, but can't say I love seeing John Samuelsen from TWU here.
After spending the last few years trying to kill congestion pricing his top policy priority now seems to be legislatively mandating fake jobs.
After spending the last few years trying to kill congestion pricing his top policy priority now seems to be legislatively mandating fake jobs.
Can't help but notice during breaking news like Mamdani announcing his transition committees that NYC urbanist Twitter is still way more active than community here.
Politicians, reporters, and advocacy groups just haven't made the jump.
I think inability to tag in photos under-appreciated problem.
Politicians, reporters, and advocacy groups just haven't made the jump.
I think inability to tag in photos under-appreciated problem.
November 24, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Can't help but notice during breaking news like Mamdani announcing his transition committees that NYC urbanist Twitter is still way more active than community here.
Politicians, reporters, and advocacy groups just haven't made the jump.
I think inability to tag in photos under-appreciated problem.
Politicians, reporters, and advocacy groups just haven't made the jump.
I think inability to tag in photos under-appreciated problem.