Justin S.
@jsaif.bsky.social
Indie rock, #CambMA and national politics, occasional humor, law. Pro-housing, pro-transit. A Better Cambridge co-chair, “chatty and zealous”
Reposted by Justin S.
YIMBY avengers assemble! Can someone provide good debunking on the "corporate landlords hoard vacant apartments" urban legend?
I met someone tonight who holds fast to this and we agreed to exchange sources, but my main source is "this makes no economic sense"
I met someone tonight who holds fast to this and we agreed to exchange sources, but my main source is "this makes no economic sense"
a man holding a microphone with the words why would you do that behind him
ALT: a man holding a microphone with the words why would you do that behind him
media.tenor.com
December 13, 2025 at 3:53 AM
YIMBY avengers assemble! Can someone provide good debunking on the "corporate landlords hoard vacant apartments" urban legend?
I met someone tonight who holds fast to this and we agreed to exchange sources, but my main source is "this makes no economic sense"
I met someone tonight who holds fast to this and we agreed to exchange sources, but my main source is "this makes no economic sense"
This will be a crucial race for addressing our housing shortage and high rents. We need a Senator laser-focused on abundance and affordability!
INBOX: Sen. Pat Jehlen -- whose district includes Cambridge, Medford, Somerville and Winchester --says she is ***not*** running for reelection in 2026
In Senate since 2005, House member between 1991 and 2005
In Senate since 2005, House member between 1991 and 2005
December 9, 2025 at 10:33 PM
This will be a crucial race for addressing our housing shortage and high rents. We need a Senator laser-focused on abundance and affordability!
Reposted by Justin S.
On a favorable rec. for Mass Ave, 6-2-1:
ba y mm y PN y SS y JSW y PFT y AW n CZ n EDS (absent)
And for Cambridge St., 7-1-1.
BA y MM y PN y SS y JSW y PFT y AW y CZ n EDS (absent)
This allows the full Council to pass it to a 2nd reading — failure to do so would've have stopped them.
ba y mm y PN y SS y JSW y PFT y AW n CZ n EDS (absent)
And for Cambridge St., 7-1-1.
BA y MM y PN y SS y JSW y PFT y AW y CZ n EDS (absent)
This allows the full Council to pass it to a 2nd reading — failure to do so would've have stopped them.
December 3, 2025 at 1:26 AM
On a favorable rec. for Mass Ave, 6-2-1:
ba y mm y PN y SS y JSW y PFT y AW n CZ n EDS (absent)
And for Cambridge St., 7-1-1.
BA y MM y PN y SS y JSW y PFT y AW y CZ n EDS (absent)
This allows the full Council to pass it to a 2nd reading — failure to do so would've have stopped them.
ba y mm y PN y SS y JSW y PFT y AW n CZ n EDS (absent)
And for Cambridge St., 7-1-1.
BA y MM y PN y SS y JSW y PFT y AW y CZ n EDS (absent)
This allows the full Council to pass it to a 2nd reading — failure to do so would've have stopped them.
Reposted by Justin S.
What happens when you downzone?
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Downzoning Chicago: How Local Land Use Policy Has Reduced Housing Construction and Reinforced Segregation | Published in Findings
By Yonah Freemark, George Kisiel. Downzonings were used by US cities in the postwar period to preserve neighborhood character. These land-use policies were associated with lower housing supply, higher...
findingspress.org
November 26, 2025 at 8:33 PM
What happens when you downzone?
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Reposted by Justin S.
Massachusetts and communities across the country are facing a housing crisis.
Instead of offering support, the federal government is placing unlawful conditions on permanent housing and project renewals that our most vulnerable residents rely on to survive. We're suing.
Instead of offering support, the federal government is placing unlawful conditions on permanent housing and project renewals that our most vulnerable residents rely on to survive. We're suing.
November 25, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Massachusetts and communities across the country are facing a housing crisis.
Instead of offering support, the federal government is placing unlawful conditions on permanent housing and project renewals that our most vulnerable residents rely on to survive. We're suing.
Instead of offering support, the federal government is placing unlawful conditions on permanent housing and project renewals that our most vulnerable residents rely on to survive. We're suing.
Great to have directly across the street from the Porter T stop! Two 15-story buildings could hold a lot more than 100 apartments—and more is necessary given that JAS had 2100 applicants for its 100-apartment building on New Street!
"He said Just A Start wants people to get used to the idea that there could be 15-story buildings on each side of Mount Vernon Street."
🫡🫡
🫡🫡
November 26, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Great to have directly across the street from the Porter T stop! Two 15-story buildings could hold a lot more than 100 apartments—and more is necessary given that JAS had 2100 applicants for its 100-apartment building on New Street!
The Cambridge Historical Commission barely, begrudgingly approved a Bluebikes station in West Cambridge last night, yikes.
Also at the CHC tonight, on Brattle St., the renewed approval for the bike lane separators was continued to a future meeting, and the Bluebikes station at Brattle/Craigie/Sparks was narrowly approved 4-2 (MR y FD n YZ y SK y GK y CH n).
November 7, 2025 at 6:36 PM
The Cambridge Historical Commission barely, begrudgingly approved a Bluebikes station in West Cambridge last night, yikes.
I’m so proud of all the work @abciepac.org volunteers put into the Cambridge City Council election—and proud we got right back to work fighting for affordable housing, with four of us participating in last night’s meeting to support this AHO proposal by Just-A-Start! www.justastart.org/240-broadway/
240 Broadway | Just A Start
ABOUT We plan to transform the parking lot at the intersection of Broadway and Windsor Street into a 20-unit affordable housing property, featuring 9 one-bedroom and 11 two-bedroom units. Conveniently...
www.justastart.org
November 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I’m so proud of all the work @abciepac.org volunteers put into the Cambridge City Council election—and proud we got right back to work fighting for affordable housing, with four of us participating in last night’s meeting to support this AHO proposal by Just-A-Start! www.justastart.org/240-broadway/
Reposted by Justin S.
The voters sent a clear message. They want a City Council that will move forward, not backward, and that will act boldly on housing, safe streets, and building a city that welcomes everyone.
November 6, 2025 at 11:19 PM
The voters sent a clear message. They want a City Council that will move forward, not backward, and that will act boldly on housing, safe streets, and building a city that welcomes everyone.
Reposted by Justin S.
Join us in raising money for the Greater Boston Food Bank throughout November. We're accepting monetary donations at the registers in store through November 23. Learn more about volunteering, donating food or money, and receiving assistance at their website: www.gbfb.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Join us in raising money for the Greater Boston Food Bank throughout November. We're accepting monetary donations at the registers in store through November 23. Learn more about volunteering, donating food or money, and receiving assistance at their website: www.gbfb.org
Reposted by Justin S.
An incomplete list of cities where housing abundance was a major campaign issue & pro-housing candidates held or expanded majorities:
- Bozeman, MT
- Cambridge, MA
- Durham, NC
- Kalispell, MT
- Littleton, CO
- Manchester, NH
- Missoula, MT
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Seattle, WA
- Wilmington, NC
💪
- Bozeman, MT
- Cambridge, MA
- Durham, NC
- Kalispell, MT
- Littleton, CO
- Manchester, NH
- Missoula, MT
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Seattle, WA
- Wilmington, NC
💪
We'll post a list sometime soon but in addition to all the D vs. R stories tonight, in basically every nonpartisan election in the country today, the more pro-housing candidate won.
November 5, 2025 at 6:24 PM
An incomplete list of cities where housing abundance was a major campaign issue & pro-housing candidates held or expanded majorities:
- Bozeman, MT
- Cambridge, MA
- Durham, NC
- Kalispell, MT
- Littleton, CO
- Manchester, NH
- Missoula, MT
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Seattle, WA
- Wilmington, NC
💪
- Bozeman, MT
- Cambridge, MA
- Durham, NC
- Kalispell, MT
- Littleton, CO
- Manchester, NH
- Missoula, MT
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Seattle, WA
- Wilmington, NC
💪
Reposted by Justin S.
If you want to help on Election Day, and don’t have anything to do, I could use a few more people to hold signs for @abciepac.org on Election Day in the morning or evening; let me know if you’re interested!
November 2, 2025 at 5:09 PM
If you want to help on Election Day, and don’t have anything to do, I could use a few more people to hold signs for @abciepac.org on Election Day in the morning or evening; let me know if you’re interested!
Today’s the day, Cambridge!
GO VOTE!!
GO VOTE!!
Vote tomorrow for all eight of these candidates. Rank them 1-8 in order of your preference to preserve the progress we've made fighting the housing crisis.
Polls are open 7am-8pm. Find your polling place here: www.sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVote...
Polls are open 7am-8pm. Find your polling place here: www.sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVote...
November 4, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Today’s the day, Cambridge!
GO VOTE!!
GO VOTE!!
Reposted by Justin S.
SPEAKING OF Elections, I'll try to reprise my #cambma Election Night coverage. Like x.com/johnhawkinso...
If you're available to visit your polling place shortly after 8pm tomorrow night & help crowdsource photos of the machine result tapes, that would be very helpful. Hit me up if you can assist.
If you're available to visit your polling place shortly after 8pm tomorrow night & help crowdsource photos of the machine result tapes, that would be very helpful. Hit me up if you can assist.
John Hawkinson on X: "Tonight is the 2023 #cambma Municpal Election tabulation! As in years past, I will attempt to track No. 1 votes as they come in to be tabulated. Here's my tracking spreadsheet: https://t.co/jcdVsLwDys" / X
Tonight is the 2023 #cambma Municpal Election tabulation! As in years past, I will attempt to track No. 1 votes as they come in to be tabulated. Here's my tracking spreadsheet: https://t.co/jcdVsLwDys
x.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:03 PM
SPEAKING OF Elections, I'll try to reprise my #cambma Election Night coverage. Like x.com/johnhawkinso...
If you're available to visit your polling place shortly after 8pm tomorrow night & help crowdsource photos of the machine result tapes, that would be very helpful. Hit me up if you can assist.
If you're available to visit your polling place shortly after 8pm tomorrow night & help crowdsource photos of the machine result tapes, that would be very helpful. Hit me up if you can assist.
See below if you’re wondering about the charter and public comment.
@johnhawkinson.bsky.social wrote a piece explaining the amendments. www.cambridgeday.com/2025/10/28/a...
@burhanazeem.bsky.social wrote an endorsement of the amendments. Vote YES!
www.cambridgeday.com/2025/10/27/m...
@johnhawkinson.bsky.social wrote a piece explaining the amendments. www.cambridgeday.com/2025/10/28/a...
@burhanazeem.bsky.social wrote an endorsement of the amendments. Vote YES!
www.cambridgeday.com/2025/10/27/m...
November 4, 2025 at 3:13 PM
See below if you’re wondering about the charter and public comment.
@johnhawkinson.bsky.social wrote a piece explaining the amendments. www.cambridgeday.com/2025/10/28/a...
@burhanazeem.bsky.social wrote an endorsement of the amendments. Vote YES!
www.cambridgeday.com/2025/10/27/m...
@johnhawkinson.bsky.social wrote a piece explaining the amendments. www.cambridgeday.com/2025/10/28/a...
@burhanazeem.bsky.social wrote an endorsement of the amendments. Vote YES!
www.cambridgeday.com/2025/10/27/m...
Reposted by Justin S.
My other top choices will be largely drawn from the "A Better Cambridge" coalition. www.abettercambridge.org
A Better Cambridge
www.abettercambridge.org
November 3, 2025 at 6:22 PM
My other top choices will be largely drawn from the "A Better Cambridge" coalition. www.abettercambridge.org
Reposted by Justin S.
Vote tomorrow for all eight of these candidates. Rank them 1-8 in order of your preference to preserve the progress we've made fighting the housing crisis.
Polls are open 7am-8pm. Find your polling place here: www.sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVote...
Polls are open 7am-8pm. Find your polling place here: www.sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVote...
November 3, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Vote tomorrow for all eight of these candidates. Rank them 1-8 in order of your preference to preserve the progress we've made fighting the housing crisis.
Polls are open 7am-8pm. Find your polling place here: www.sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVote...
Polls are open 7am-8pm. Find your polling place here: www.sec.state.ma.us/WhereDoIVote...
November 1, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Candidates running to reinstate residential segregation and raise rents in Cambridge can’t win if everyone votes!!
Vote for REAL pro-housing candidates!
www.abettercambridge.org/endorsements...
Vote for REAL pro-housing candidates!
www.abettercambridge.org/endorsements...
November 1, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Candidates running to reinstate residential segregation and raise rents in Cambridge can’t win if everyone votes!!
Vote for REAL pro-housing candidates!
www.abettercambridge.org/endorsements...
Vote for REAL pro-housing candidates!
www.abettercambridge.org/endorsements...
Happy Halloween!
Don’t forget to vote!!
Don’t forget to vote!!
October 31, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Happy Halloween!
Don’t forget to vote!!
Don’t forget to vote!!
Spotted in East Cambridge.
Thinking of changing my LinkedIn profile pic.
Thinking of changing my LinkedIn profile pic.
October 31, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Spotted in East Cambridge.
Thinking of changing my LinkedIn profile pic.
Thinking of changing my LinkedIn profile pic.
Watch out, Cambridge, @marcgov.bsky.social out there scaring some folks!
What is Eugenia Schraa-Huh’s costume? Eugenia campaigning for School Committee in a fascinator?
Anyway, vote for these two on Tuesday!
What is Eugenia Schraa-Huh’s costume? Eugenia campaigning for School Committee in a fascinator?
Anyway, vote for these two on Tuesday!
October 31, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Watch out, Cambridge, @marcgov.bsky.social out there scaring some folks!
What is Eugenia Schraa-Huh’s costume? Eugenia campaigning for School Committee in a fascinator?
Anyway, vote for these two on Tuesday!
What is Eugenia Schraa-Huh’s costume? Eugenia campaigning for School Committee in a fascinator?
Anyway, vote for these two on Tuesday!
Take it from a corporate landlord salivating over how much he’s going to raise rents because no new apartments are getting built—the only way to keep rents from skyrocketing is to follow Cambridge’s lead and allow multifamily by-right!
New housing stops landlords from raising rents—take it from the CEO of AvalonBay, one of NYC's largest landlords:
"We're well-positioned… we face significantly less new supply. Land entitled for multifamily is hard to come by, the amount of time it takes to get those entitlements… sets us up well.”
"We're well-positioned… we face significantly less new supply. Land entitled for multifamily is hard to come by, the amount of time it takes to get those entitlements… sets us up well.”
October 31, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Take it from a corporate landlord salivating over how much he’s going to raise rents because no new apartments are getting built—the only way to keep rents from skyrocketing is to follow Cambridge’s lead and allow multifamily by-right!
Reposted by Justin S.
My writeup of the #cambma ballot question on the Charter.
(Sorry, this was filed last week and finally posted today, and I missed it going up this morning!)
(Sorry, this was filed last week and finally posted today, and I missed it going up this morning!)
October 28, 2025 at 10:39 PM
My writeup of the #cambma ballot question on the Charter.
(Sorry, this was filed last week and finally posted today, and I missed it going up this morning!)
(Sorry, this was filed last week and finally posted today, and I missed it going up this morning!)