Darrell Owens
@idothethinking.bsky.social
Housing and transit data guy. Against fascism. My "bluesky posts" represent myself and do not represent my employer or any affiliated groups and organizations.
Candace Owens is clearly just mentally ill. Which is fine but we live in this uncharted era where the Internet's promotion of normal people to stardom has revealed how normal illness is within the public, yet the media and the public have not learned how to handle it. Same with Kanye.
November 24, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Candace Owens is clearly just mentally ill. Which is fine but we live in this uncharted era where the Internet's promotion of normal people to stardom has revealed how normal illness is within the public, yet the media and the public have not learned how to handle it. Same with Kanye.
My Bay Area Subway Builder is armed and operational! This is fully grade seperated lines. At-grade streetcars not included.
1/
1/
November 24, 2025 at 1:58 AM
My Bay Area Subway Builder is armed and operational! This is fully grade seperated lines. At-grade streetcars not included.
1/
1/
Just witnessed an unhinged driver waving his pistol at In N Out workers. Really want to leave this country.
November 23, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Just witnessed an unhinged driver waving his pistol at In N Out workers. Really want to leave this country.
Reposted by Darrell Owens
We came to LA as refugees from the USSR in 1991. Life wasn’t easy, but we persevered and, I dare say, came to contribute something of worth to this nation.
Had I experienced the following when I was a boy, I don’t know what would have become of me.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Had I experienced the following when I was a boy, I don’t know what would have become of me.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
November 14, 2025 at 5:34 PM
We came to LA as refugees from the USSR in 1991. Life wasn’t easy, but we persevered and, I dare say, came to contribute something of worth to this nation.
Had I experienced the following when I was a boy, I don’t know what would have become of me.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Had I experienced the following when I was a boy, I don’t know what would have become of me.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
I love how Trump is like the most explicitly nimby president ever, in rhetoric and action, but because he stammered at peak dementia and said the most non controversial statement ever that more housing should be built just to prove his brain is on is supposed to be some big tell.
November 23, 2025 at 4:22 AM
I love how Trump is like the most explicitly nimby president ever, in rhetoric and action, but because he stammered at peak dementia and said the most non controversial statement ever that more housing should be built just to prove his brain is on is supposed to be some big tell.
Reposted by Darrell Owens
Reading California’s Urban Strategy for California from Spring 1978 (Jerry Brown 1.0 administration).
Struck by this section on transportation funding:
h/t @cafedujord.bsky.social
Struck by this section on transportation funding:
h/t @cafedujord.bsky.social
November 22, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Reading California’s Urban Strategy for California from Spring 1978 (Jerry Brown 1.0 administration).
Struck by this section on transportation funding:
h/t @cafedujord.bsky.social
Struck by this section on transportation funding:
h/t @cafedujord.bsky.social
Reposted by Darrell Owens
Big news for #Berkeley: Councilmember @cecilialunaparra.bsky.social and @mayoradenaishii.bsky.social have successfully worked with the Fire Department and other city staff to keep the Telegraph Ave street fair on Telegraph!
Come visit in December!
www.telegraphfair.com
Come visit in December!
www.telegraphfair.com
Telegraph Avenue Holiday Street Fair
DECEMBER 6th-7th, 13th-14th, 20th-21st 11AM-6PM
www.telegraphfair.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Big news for #Berkeley: Councilmember @cecilialunaparra.bsky.social and @mayoradenaishii.bsky.social have successfully worked with the Fire Department and other city staff to keep the Telegraph Ave street fair on Telegraph!
Come visit in December!
www.telegraphfair.com
Come visit in December!
www.telegraphfair.com
Reposted by Darrell Owens
Whoa. CA DMV expanded Waymo's approved operating area to cover a lot of territory. Yesterday it was just the darker area.
November 21, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Whoa. CA DMV expanded Waymo's approved operating area to cover a lot of territory. Yesterday it was just the darker area.
Damn some tweakers took out the Berryessa line.
November 21, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Damn some tweakers took out the Berryessa line.
God the AI is getting scary, this had me for about 30 seconds until i started to notice how the voice was just a tad uncanny for a news reporter and the story itself got a bit ridiculous
#GVerse #KingResist #Unite #FBaRmy
News Flash - Racism can be very expensive.
Nazi Karen calls the police on the Boston Police Chief. Good for him for suing that racist. #DemsUnited
News Flash - Racism can be very expensive.
Nazi Karen calls the police on the Boston Police Chief. Good for him for suing that racist. #DemsUnited
November 21, 2025 at 5:56 PM
God the AI is getting scary, this had me for about 30 seconds until i started to notice how the voice was just a tad uncanny for a news reporter and the story itself got a bit ridiculous
Reposted by Darrell Owens
Fundamental piece about foundations supporting groups that oppose zoning reform. Since 2018, 15 large foundations have given $260 million to California nonprofits that have opposed pro-housing bills. That includes pro-climate foundations funding groups that opposed housing near transit.
New from me for Inside Philanthropy: California foundations need to decide whether they genuinely want to improve housing affordability or would rather keep funding NIMBY obstructionism in Sacramento. www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/philant...
Philanthropy Needs to Pick a Side on the Housing Construction Debate
Despite California’s severe housing shortage, foundations are still funding on the wrong side of the housing fight there, guest author Ned Resnikoff writes.
www.insidephilanthropy.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Fundamental piece about foundations supporting groups that oppose zoning reform. Since 2018, 15 large foundations have given $260 million to California nonprofits that have opposed pro-housing bills. That includes pro-climate foundations funding groups that opposed housing near transit.
I think this is it. This is the best Mexican food I have had anywhere in the Bay Area. It was LA tier. And it wasnt in Fruitvale or the Mission. It was at a taco truck next to North Berkeley BART station. My god.
November 21, 2025 at 4:00 AM
I think this is it. This is the best Mexican food I have had anywhere in the Bay Area. It was LA tier. And it wasnt in Fruitvale or the Mission. It was at a taco truck next to North Berkeley BART station. My god.
Reposted by Darrell Owens
This is why commercial activity should be legal everywhere. A taco truck turns sleepy North Berkeley station into a thriving nightlife area. And no major costs for brick and mortar!
November 21, 2025 at 2:37 AM
This is why commercial activity should be legal everywhere. A taco truck turns sleepy North Berkeley station into a thriving nightlife area. And no major costs for brick and mortar!
I think its funny that the way to convince suburbanites to ride the bus is make it look like a trolley
Fun facts about the County's #4 buses:
- the battery is the same size as a 2025 Tesla Model X
- the drivers do not let the charge level fall below 70%
www.seamlessbayarea.org/blog/2025/11...
- the battery is the same size as a 2025 Tesla Model X
- the drivers do not let the charge level fall below 70%
www.seamlessbayarea.org/blog/2025/11...
Changes to an East Bay Bus route should focus on frequency, improved connections — Seamless Bay Area
County Connection's 4 bus from Walnut Creek BART to downtown has an opportunity to improve service and seamless transfers. Seamless Bay Area supports local advocacy for improvement.
www.seamlessbayarea.org
November 20, 2025 at 11:47 PM
I think its funny that the way to convince suburbanites to ride the bus is make it look like a trolley
I have major concerns about our trend of commercial upzoning. Densification can hurt local business if not done right and living by local biz makes car free living possible. My thoughts on how Berkeley should approach this.
open.substack.com/pub/darrello...
open.substack.com/pub/darrello...
The Challenge of Commercial Upzoning
An analysis of commercial corridor upzoning for apartments in Berkeley, Calif. and the issues must be tackled to harmonize density with local business survival.
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:44 PM
I have major concerns about our trend of commercial upzoning. Densification can hurt local business if not done right and living by local biz makes car free living possible. My thoughts on how Berkeley should approach this.
open.substack.com/pub/darrello...
open.substack.com/pub/darrello...
BART is cracking down on crime!
November 20, 2025 at 3:48 PM
BART is cracking down on crime!
Reposted by Darrell Owens
so at tonight's single stair and code talk, @stephenjacobsmith.com brought the good stuff. people were floored.
'architects don't design buildings, codes do'
'architects don't design buildings, codes do'
November 20, 2025 at 4:47 AM
so at tonight's single stair and code talk, @stephenjacobsmith.com brought the good stuff. people were floored.
'architects don't design buildings, codes do'
'architects don't design buildings, codes do'
Reposted by Darrell Owens
UC San Diego is discovering shocking grade inflation at many Cali high schools, to the point that a large minority of kids with a 4.0 average in math are at 6th grade or below in mathematical ability.
In response, they’re resorting to semi-blacklisting schools with especially bad grade inflation.
In response, they’re resorting to semi-blacklisting schools with especially bad grade inflation.
senate.ucsd.edu
November 19, 2025 at 5:59 PM
UC San Diego is discovering shocking grade inflation at many Cali high schools, to the point that a large minority of kids with a 4.0 average in math are at 6th grade or below in mathematical ability.
In response, they’re resorting to semi-blacklisting schools with especially bad grade inflation.
In response, they’re resorting to semi-blacklisting schools with especially bad grade inflation.
Excited for a high rise apt but im increasingly skeptical this stuff will get built. Unsure why developers are proposing this stuff. Only woodframe buildings are penciling, not steel highrises.
sfyimby.com/2025/11/modi...
sfyimby.com/2025/11/modi...
Modified Plans Could Be Potential Tallest Tower in Berkeley - San Francisco YIMBY
San Francisco YIMBY says "Yes In My Backyard" to positive new development in the San Francisco metropolitan region.
sfyimby.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Excited for a high rise apt but im increasingly skeptical this stuff will get built. Unsure why developers are proposing this stuff. Only woodframe buildings are penciling, not steel highrises.
sfyimby.com/2025/11/modi...
sfyimby.com/2025/11/modi...
Reposted by Darrell Owens
“As pickups transitioned from farm/ranch workhorses to lifestyle vehicles, their design shifted accordingly: Cabs expanded to accommodate more passengers, while beds shrank. The first generation of F-150s were 36% cab & 64% bed by length. By 2021, the ratio had flipped.
www.axios.com/local/housto...
www.axios.com/local/housto...
November 19, 2025 at 8:21 AM
“As pickups transitioned from farm/ranch workhorses to lifestyle vehicles, their design shifted accordingly: Cabs expanded to accommodate more passengers, while beds shrank. The first generation of F-150s were 36% cab & 64% bed by length. By 2021, the ratio had flipped.
www.axios.com/local/housto...
www.axios.com/local/housto...
I once read a really good paper that talked about the history of zoning and has this graph with timelines including Berkeleys single family ordinance. Anyone have a link to this?
November 18, 2025 at 11:22 PM
I once read a really good paper that talked about the history of zoning and has this graph with timelines including Berkeleys single family ordinance. Anyone have a link to this?
Reposted by Darrell Owens
New lunch spot in downtown Berkeley: Aburaya Japanese-style fried chicken, every weekday, inside Spats!
November 18, 2025 at 8:47 PM
New lunch spot in downtown Berkeley: Aburaya Japanese-style fried chicken, every weekday, inside Spats!
Anyone know where to find a shapefile of the San Jose airport height limits?
November 18, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Anyone know where to find a shapefile of the San Jose airport height limits?
Reposted by Darrell Owens
I’m not going to pretend it’s easy to say something in the moment when you witness the president do this and you’re aboard Air Force One with all the uniformed officers and secret service and fancy wood accents, but this is really an instance where you should. people.com/donald-trump...
Donald Trump Snaps at Female Reporter Who Asks About Epstein Files: 'Quiet Piggy'
Donald Trump Says 'Quiet Piggy' to Female Reporter Asking About Epstein Files
people.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:42 AM
I’m not going to pretend it’s easy to say something in the moment when you witness the president do this and you’re aboard Air Force One with all the uniformed officers and secret service and fancy wood accents, but this is really an instance where you should. people.com/donald-trump...
Reposted by Darrell Owens
The reason why socialism is no longer taboo in America is that our elites have successfully rebranded it as “any attempt by the state to function beyond semi-random violence“ while trying to combat it.
Everyone has lost their minds
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
November 18, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The reason why socialism is no longer taboo in America is that our elites have successfully rebranded it as “any attempt by the state to function beyond semi-random violence“ while trying to combat it.