@macdiehard.bsky.social
All about solving the housing and homelessness crisis. Join us at http://SeattleYIMBY.org.
Reposted
The state’s operating budget will never be able to support highway maintenance activity unless we #LiftTheCap on property tax levy increases to at least CPI + 3%.
December 20, 2025 at 1:52 AM
The state’s operating budget will never be able to support highway maintenance activity unless we #LiftTheCap on property tax levy increases to at least CPI + 3%.
Lift the cap!
Washington’s elected Democrats will do literally everything except #LiftTheCap on property tax levy increases which was instituted by Tim Eyman.
The cap means that our state’s property tax revenue is in perpetual decline in real terms.
The cap means that our state’s property tax revenue is in perpetual decline in real terms.
To be blunt, the state has neglected its core transportation infrastructure for too long.
Today, I announced that I'm proposing $2.1 billion, the largest investment in 2 decades, for preservation and maintenance of our roads and bridges. This is being done without raising taxes.
Today, I announced that I'm proposing $2.1 billion, the largest investment in 2 decades, for preservation and maintenance of our roads and bridges. This is being done without raising taxes.
December 20, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Lift the cap!
Reposted
It is honestly shocking how long we've known the way we build our cities is unsustainable
From the Metro Toronto Planning Board's 1959 draft Official Plan (voted down by Metro Council). You could not say something this obvious in Toronto's Official Plan anymore.
December 20, 2025 at 2:58 AM
It is honestly shocking how long we've known the way we build our cities is unsustainable
Reposted
With all the road washouts, the state transportation budget is going to be a mess. Maybe it's time we started looking at cutting projects that increase highway capacity and induce more sprawl.
Here's $86 million we don't need to spend.
Here's $86 million we don't need to spend.
I-5 - 179th St. Interchange - Interchange Improvements | WSDOT
This project aims to improve mobility for travelers who use the I-5 - Northeast 179th Street interchange. Signalized intersections will be removed and replaced with roundabouts at the on- and off-ramp...
wsdot.wa.gov
December 17, 2025 at 1:10 AM
With all the road washouts, the state transportation budget is going to be a mess. Maybe it's time we started looking at cutting projects that increase highway capacity and induce more sprawl.
Here's $86 million we don't need to spend.
Here's $86 million we don't need to spend.
Reposted
We need the building code to incentivize concrete construction over light wood framing.
Concrete is inherently non-combustible and has good acoustic performance.
Concrete is inherently non-combustible and has good acoustic performance.
This is my first time living in a concrete building and it's unreal how little I hear from my neighbors.
I get far more city noise from the windows than I get from neighbors. And the apartment building next door has a 3rd floor rooftop space that has parties in summer, which can be rough.
I get far more city noise from the windows than I get from neighbors. And the apartment building next door has a 3rd floor rooftop space that has parties in summer, which can be rough.
December 16, 2025 at 12:29 AM
We need the building code to incentivize concrete construction over light wood framing.
Concrete is inherently non-combustible and has good acoustic performance.
Concrete is inherently non-combustible and has good acoustic performance.
Reposted
Representatives April Connors (R-8, Kennewick) and Addison Richards (D-26, Bremerton) have prefiled a bill that would freeze Washington's building code for ten full years.
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
December 15, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Representatives April Connors (R-8, Kennewick) and Addison Richards (D-26, Bremerton) have prefiled a bill that would freeze Washington's building code for ten full years.
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...
Important concept: in a housing shortage prices for the lowest priced housing for sale or rent goes up the fastest
December 15, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Important concept: in a housing shortage prices for the lowest priced housing for sale or rent goes up the fastest
Reposted
The front page of the local paper has an article about middle housing - with a quote from @andersem.bsky.social and one of our @yimbyaction.bsky.social chapter leads, Ryan. As well as an article about single stair reform. Not bad!
December 13, 2025 at 6:46 PM
The front page of the local paper has an article about middle housing - with a quote from @andersem.bsky.social and one of our @yimbyaction.bsky.social chapter leads, Ryan. As well as an article about single stair reform. Not bad!
Trump and his people are evil.
Please give this article a read.
Guan Heng's work in collecting on-the-ground intel on these camps is crucial to understanding the human rights crisis in Xinjiang.
He fled China with the footage, entering the U.S. by boat, and applied for asylum.
The Trump administration now wants to deport him.
Guan Heng's work in collecting on-the-ground intel on these camps is crucial to understanding the human rights crisis in Xinjiang.
He fled China with the footage, entering the U.S. by boat, and applied for asylum.
The Trump administration now wants to deport him.
December 14, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Trump and his people are evil.
Reposted
I had a chance to tour the Solis passive house apartment building in Seattle this past weekend.
It's interesting as a #passivhaus in the middle of Capitol Hill, with a view to another green building icon, the Bullitt Centre
>> The passive part is great,
but what caught my eye was the stair.
🧵
It's interesting as a #passivhaus in the middle of Capitol Hill, with a view to another green building icon, the Bullitt Centre
>> The passive part is great,
but what caught my eye was the stair.
🧵
October 21, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I had a chance to tour the Solis passive house apartment building in Seattle this past weekend.
It's interesting as a #passivhaus in the middle of Capitol Hill, with a view to another green building icon, the Bullitt Centre
>> The passive part is great,
but what caught my eye was the stair.
🧵
It's interesting as a #passivhaus in the middle of Capitol Hill, with a view to another green building icon, the Bullitt Centre
>> The passive part is great,
but what caught my eye was the stair.
🧵
For shame
Divided Council Passes New Police Contract That Raises Officer Pay 42 Percent, With Few Accountability Concessions
The contract, which provides $126,000 paychecks to rookie cops after 6 months, also imposes new restrictions on the CARE team of unarmed first responders.
publicola.com/2025/12/10/4...
The contract, which provides $126,000 paychecks to rookie cops after 6 months, also imposes new restrictions on the CARE team of unarmed first responders.
publicola.com/2025/12/10/4...
Divided Council Passes New Police Contract That Raises Officer Pay 42 Percent, With Few Accountability Concessions - PubliCola
The contract, which provides $126,000 paychecks to rookie cops after 6 months, also imposes restrictions on the CARE team of…
publicola.com
December 10, 2025 at 8:18 PM
For shame
Reposted
Learn about housing economics research here:
www.buildingabundance.ca
www.buildingabundance.ca
Building Abundance | Michael Wiebe | Substack
A literature review on housing and infrastructure. Click to read Building Abundance, by Michael Wiebe, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
www.buildingabundance.ca
December 6, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Learn about housing economics research here:
www.buildingabundance.ca
www.buildingabundance.ca
Get organized. Join YIMBY Action.
One of the biggest drivers of high housing costs is that a small, highly motivated group of incumbent homeowners block new housing in their neighborhoods and almost no one is organized to push back.
Young people bear the brunt of that imbalance.
Be a housing fan.
Young people bear the brunt of that imbalance.
Be a housing fan.
December 8, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Get organized. Join YIMBY Action.
Reposted
Lawsuit challenges inclusionary zoning (such as Seattle's MHA program) as unconstitutional
pioneerlegal.org/wp-content/u...
The Constitution "bar[s the] Government
from forcing some people alone to bear public burdens which, in all fairness and justice, should
be borne by the public as a whole.’"
pioneerlegal.org/wp-content/u...
The Constitution "bar[s the] Government
from forcing some people alone to bear public burdens which, in all fairness and justice, should
be borne by the public as a whole.’"
December 7, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Lawsuit challenges inclusionary zoning (such as Seattle's MHA program) as unconstitutional
pioneerlegal.org/wp-content/u...
The Constitution "bar[s the] Government
from forcing some people alone to bear public burdens which, in all fairness and justice, should
be borne by the public as a whole.’"
pioneerlegal.org/wp-content/u...
The Constitution "bar[s the] Government
from forcing some people alone to bear public burdens which, in all fairness and justice, should
be borne by the public as a whole.’"
Reposted
These rules would do a lot of things, but here's @sightline.org's summary of what we see as the most important things www.sightline.org/2025/12/03/n...
New Oregon Rules Will Re-Legalize Neighborhood Apartments | Sightline Institute
Over time, the state zoning standards make space for tens of thousands more homes in Oregon cities.
www.sightline.org
December 4, 2025 at 5:54 PM
These rules would do a lot of things, but here's @sightline.org's summary of what we see as the most important things www.sightline.org/2025/12/03/n...
Reposted
Wow
I never thought I’d be saying this, but we are behind SAN FRANCISCO
I never thought I’d be saying this, but we are behind SAN FRANCISCO
Holy shit San Francisco!
60% of the city rezoned, most places exceeding (!!) SB 79. The most restrictive of these allows attached 4–8 story apt buildings with no cap on the # of homes inside, no parking mandates, and by-right streamlined approval.
Movement racking up the municipal wins today 🏆🏆🏆
60% of the city rezoned, most places exceeding (!!) SB 79. The most restrictive of these allows attached 4–8 story apt buildings with no cap on the # of homes inside, no parking mandates, and by-right streamlined approval.
Movement racking up the municipal wins today 🏆🏆🏆
December 3, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Wow
I never thought I’d be saying this, but we are behind SAN FRANCISCO
I never thought I’d be saying this, but we are behind SAN FRANCISCO
Reposted
Still thinking about this article. It’s always been a sore spot in YIMBY circles that so many progressive foundations pour money into NIMBYism, and I’m glad it’s finally being aired in public. Keep talking about it. 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 27, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Still thinking about this article. It’s always been a sore spot in YIMBY circles that so many progressive foundations pour money into NIMBYism, and I’m glad it’s finally being aired in public. Keep talking about it. www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/philant...
Yay!
Mark your calendar for our last Comp Plan Happy Hour of the year!
Join us and @seattleyimby.bsky.social at Perihelion Brewery on December 10th for an “open mic” storytelling session, letter writing, and an update on the final comp plan vote.
futurewise.salsalabs.org/DecemberCCCH...
Join us and @seattleyimby.bsky.social at Perihelion Brewery on December 10th for an “open mic” storytelling session, letter writing, and an update on the final comp plan vote.
futurewise.salsalabs.org/DecemberCCCH...
November 25, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Yay!
Reposted
Hello Seattle Urbanists — if we want market rate development to happen with all the interest rates and tariffs and other barriers we have to get rid of MHA temporarily to speed up housing. And we have to get rid of minimum parking requirements. Asap.
November 22, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Hello Seattle Urbanists — if we want market rate development to happen with all the interest rates and tariffs and other barriers we have to get rid of MHA temporarily to speed up housing. And we have to get rid of minimum parking requirements. Asap.
In addition to reform of permitting and building codes, stop making new construction pay out of proportion and excessive fees for water hookups.
Yes, we want a land value tax. Is that something Seattle’s Mayor has power over? Probably not! If you just reply LVT to our posts how is that helpful? What’s the policy proposal to spur more housing in the next year or two?
November 24, 2025 at 7:44 PM
In addition to reform of permitting and building codes, stop making new construction pay out of proportion and excessive fees for water hookups.
Reform permitting and to extent possible building codes, especially in neighborhood and midrise zones.
Yes, we want a land value tax. Is that something Seattle’s Mayor has power over? Probably not! If you just reply LVT to our posts how is that helpful? What’s the policy proposal to spur more housing in the next year or two?
November 24, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Reform permitting and to extent possible building codes, especially in neighborhood and midrise zones.
Reposted
Wanna stick it to Trump and live up to the Paris Accords, California? Stop driving so much *and* tell your city council's to build bus and bike lanes instead of throwing away money on car infrastructure.
www.aalto.fi/en/departmen...
www.aalto.fi/en/departmen...
November 22, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Wanna stick it to Trump and live up to the Paris Accords, California? Stop driving so much *and* tell your city council's to build bus and bike lanes instead of throwing away money on car infrastructure.
www.aalto.fi/en/departmen...
www.aalto.fi/en/departmen...
Reposted
I want an apartment with such good sound insulation that I could be getting slashed in there screaming for help, and not one of my neighbors would hear me.
...or like, I shouldn't hear my neighbors fucking or hear a neighbors dog barking.
Build apartments out of concrete is what I'm saying.
...or like, I shouldn't hear my neighbors fucking or hear a neighbors dog barking.
Build apartments out of concrete is what I'm saying.
The metal image most people have of an apartment is a shit box made of paper mache and twigs where they hear *EVERYTHING* their neighbors are doing.
And frankly they aren't wrong for thinking that! Even in brand new 5/1s, sound insulation is, at best, hit or miss.
And frankly they aren't wrong for thinking that! Even in brand new 5/1s, sound insulation is, at best, hit or miss.
November 19, 2025 at 3:27 AM
I want an apartment with such good sound insulation that I could be getting slashed in there screaming for help, and not one of my neighbors would hear me.
...or like, I shouldn't hear my neighbors fucking or hear a neighbors dog barking.
Build apartments out of concrete is what I'm saying.
...or like, I shouldn't hear my neighbors fucking or hear a neighbors dog barking.
Build apartments out of concrete is what I'm saying.
Reposted
Trump’s new “affordability” push is basically reversing the tariffs he said would never cause un-affordability.
@nytimes.com 🤡
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
@nytimes.com 🤡
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
November 14, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Trump’s new “affordability” push is basically reversing the tariffs he said would never cause un-affordability.
@nytimes.com 🤡
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
@nytimes.com 🤡
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...