Markus Johnson
@markusja.bsky.social
Abundant housing, abundant transit, & abundant bike lanes in our cities occupies a lot of my thinking. I'm sure other pieces of my personality will peek through over time.
Consider reading: https://medium.com/@markusjohnson2195
Consider reading: https://medium.com/@markusjohnson2195
Reposted by Markus Johnson
Without exaggeration this is a huge part of how we surrendered the country to the worst humans of all time - the left-of-center’s conviction that you can’t be disrespectful to stupid people to has robbed us of the social censure that forces stupid people to stop being stupid
my plan to get this country back on track consists of one bullet point: i propose we stop pretending stupid people arent stupid just because theyre loud and theres a lot of them
January 3, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Without exaggeration this is a huge part of how we surrendered the country to the worst humans of all time - the left-of-center’s conviction that you can’t be disrespectful to stupid people to has robbed us of the social censure that forces stupid people to stop being stupid
Reposted by Markus Johnson
my plan to get this country back on track consists of one bullet point: i propose we stop pretending stupid people arent stupid just because theyre loud and theres a lot of them
January 3, 2026 at 3:49 PM
my plan to get this country back on track consists of one bullet point: i propose we stop pretending stupid people arent stupid just because theyre loud and theres a lot of them
Reposted by Markus Johnson
The world must boycott the World Cup and the Olympics.
It is both the only moral choice and will actually get the attention of these dead-eyed clout demons.
It is both the only moral choice and will actually get the attention of these dead-eyed clout demons.
January 3, 2026 at 7:22 AM
The world must boycott the World Cup and the Olympics.
It is both the only moral choice and will actually get the attention of these dead-eyed clout demons.
It is both the only moral choice and will actually get the attention of these dead-eyed clout demons.
Reposted by Markus Johnson
The U.S. is functionally now a pariah state and must be treated as such until the cancer rotting out the heart of the White House is cut out.
January 3, 2026 at 7:23 AM
The U.S. is functionally now a pariah state and must be treated as such until the cancer rotting out the heart of the White House is cut out.
Reposted by Markus Johnson
The reason you go scorched-earth on this is the same reason we should have gone scorched-earth on impoundment; you can't stop it from happening, but you absolutely need to stop it from becoming a normal part of politics. You have to draw a line.
They didn’t even bother to ask for an AUMF, impeachment
January 3, 2026 at 6:53 AM
The reason you go scorched-earth on this is the same reason we should have gone scorched-earth on impoundment; you can't stop it from happening, but you absolutely need to stop it from becoming a normal part of politics. You have to draw a line.
Reposted by Markus Johnson
I got a couple stitches on the bottom of my foot once and couldn’t walk for a month. I needed assistance *EVERY* time I wanted to leave my building since my knee scooter had to get carried down ~6 stairs. It was very isolating.
Any of us can lose our physical ability at any time.
Any of us can lose our physical ability at any time.
5.6% of Multnomah County residents have difficulty walking. Of Oregon's 36 counties, 32 have higher rates. (Sherman County: 13%.)
But only Multnomah has a meaningful number of residential elevators. The U.S. locking itself out of the global elevator market means only huge buildings can afford them.
But only Multnomah has a meaningful number of residential elevators. The U.S. locking itself out of the global elevator market means only huge buildings can afford them.
The Americas see about 3% of global elevator installations as of 2020. The U.S. & Canada: even less.
But we've stuck with our own unique set of elevator codes, as if elevator companies still have no choice but to beat a path to our door.
Nope! "Everywhere else" is a bigger common market now.
But we've stuck with our own unique set of elevator codes, as if elevator companies still have no choice but to beat a path to our door.
Nope! "Everywhere else" is a bigger common market now.
January 3, 2026 at 12:50 AM
I got a couple stitches on the bottom of my foot once and couldn’t walk for a month. I needed assistance *EVERY* time I wanted to leave my building since my knee scooter had to get carried down ~6 stairs. It was very isolating.
Any of us can lose our physical ability at any time.
Any of us can lose our physical ability at any time.
Reposted by Markus Johnson
Think one of the next big fronts in the culture wars will be between dog owners and people who really dislike dogs
January 1, 2026 at 12:28 PM
Think one of the next big fronts in the culture wars will be between dog owners and people who really dislike dogs
Reposted by Markus Johnson
Since January 1, 2020, prices for goods, services, and labor have increased by 26%. But over the same period, #waleg has only allowed each jurisdiction’s property tax revenues to grow about 5% to 6%, plus the value of new construction.
It’s time to fix this.
Read my latest for the @inlander.com:
It’s time to fix this.
Read my latest for the @inlander.com:
Will 2026 be the year Washington allows municipalities to close their local budget deficits by lifting the property tax cap?
At the end of the year, when local governments are adopting their budgets for the coming year, I tend to get touchy about the way local media outlets report on
www.inlander.com
January 2, 2026 at 12:02 AM
Since January 1, 2020, prices for goods, services, and labor have increased by 26%. But over the same period, #waleg has only allowed each jurisdiction’s property tax revenues to grow about 5% to 6%, plus the value of new construction.
It’s time to fix this.
Read my latest for the @inlander.com:
It’s time to fix this.
Read my latest for the @inlander.com:
Reposted by Markus Johnson
This type of thinking is why we are all living under the whims of people like Mike Johnson and Senator Foghorn Leghorn. You don't get a say in what cities do when you don't live there. We don't come to Iowa and tell people what kind of tractors to buy.
But if I drive to a large city, it becomes my problem. It also hurts the people who live outside the area and work inside it.
December 31, 2025 at 9:51 PM
This type of thinking is why we are all living under the whims of people like Mike Johnson and Senator Foghorn Leghorn. You don't get a say in what cities do when you don't live there. We don't come to Iowa and tell people what kind of tractors to buy.
Reposted by Markus Johnson
The greater the car dependency, the greater the benefits of congestion pricing! This got lost bc NYC did it first, but metros like Houston, Dallas and Orlando only function with their level of car dependence bc of pricing roads
I find "America isn't really set up for it" to be an annoying rebuttal to any sort of proposal to reduce car dependency. Our leaders used policy to create a system of car dependency and we can sure as hell use policy to undo that. There are absolutely barriers, but do nothing is not a solution.
December 31, 2025 at 8:44 PM
The greater the car dependency, the greater the benefits of congestion pricing! This got lost bc NYC did it first, but metros like Houston, Dallas and Orlando only function with their level of car dependence bc of pricing roads
Reposted by Markus Johnson
One thing lost in the high infra/housing cost discussion dominated in the lack of *quantity* is that high costs also lead to lower *quality*
European apartments are concrete, better insulated, have *heated floors* AND are cheaper!
European apartments are concrete, better insulated, have *heated floors* AND are cheaper!
Oh my god the upstairs bathroom has heated floors
December 31, 2025 at 6:58 PM
One thing lost in the high infra/housing cost discussion dominated in the lack of *quantity* is that high costs also lead to lower *quality*
European apartments are concrete, better insulated, have *heated floors* AND are cheaper!
European apartments are concrete, better insulated, have *heated floors* AND are cheaper!
Reposted by Markus Johnson
...but Americas account for 7% of new install costs & 35% of global maintenance costs. That's about the same as Europe, the Middle East + Africa combined even though they have many more elevators.
Do the math & the average elevator in the Americas costs ~2.3x more to install, ~3.8x more to operate.
Do the math & the average elevator in the Americas costs ~2.3x more to install, ~3.8x more to operate.
December 31, 2025 at 6:35 PM
...but Americas account for 7% of new install costs & 35% of global maintenance costs. That's about the same as Europe, the Middle East + Africa combined even though they have many more elevators.
Do the math & the average elevator in the Americas costs ~2.3x more to install, ~3.8x more to operate.
Do the math & the average elevator in the Americas costs ~2.3x more to install, ~3.8x more to operate.
Reposted by Markus Johnson
Again, it's in the public interest to have lighter vehicles.
“In simple terms: a heavier car offers diminishing safety benefits to the person inside it, while imposing rapidly increasing risk on everyone else.” (Graph from The Economist)
December 31, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Again, it's in the public interest to have lighter vehicles.
Reposted by Markus Johnson
The California DMV is in deep need of reform. Enraging stuff, uncovered by a team of reporters at @calmatters.org
calmatters.org/investigatio...
calmatters.org/investigatio...
December 30, 2025 at 11:46 PM
The California DMV is in deep need of reform. Enraging stuff, uncovered by a team of reporters at @calmatters.org
calmatters.org/investigatio...
calmatters.org/investigatio...
Reposted by Markus Johnson
Can’t recommend enjoying the company of your friends kids highly enough. Just went for a walk with my friend, her 4 yo, and her 9 month old. Love those kids so much - they just make everything so joyful 💜
December 30, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Can’t recommend enjoying the company of your friends kids highly enough. Just went for a walk with my friend, her 4 yo, and her 9 month old. Love those kids so much - they just make everything so joyful 💜
Reposted by Markus Johnson
Similarly, for transit projects agencies are focused on getting their projects advanced to the next stage. They’re not particularly interested in structural reforms to planning, project development, project selection, standards, permitting etc.
December 30, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Similarly, for transit projects agencies are focused on getting their projects advanced to the next stage. They’re not particularly interested in structural reforms to planning, project development, project selection, standards, permitting etc.
Reposted by Markus Johnson
I don’t expect developers to be thinking very hard about structural issues in terms of total developable parcels in a region over 20-30 years.
But this lens is necessary to actually change building rates.
But this lens is necessary to actually change building rates.
December 30, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I don’t expect developers to be thinking very hard about structural issues in terms of total developable parcels in a region over 20-30 years.
But this lens is necessary to actually change building rates.
But this lens is necessary to actually change building rates.
Reposted by Markus Johnson
@stephenjacobsmith.com some folks are claiming it'll be sometime after 2030 when R290 heat pumps are broadly available in the US. Wild!
December 30, 2025 at 6:50 AM
@stephenjacobsmith.com some folks are claiming it'll be sometime after 2030 when R290 heat pumps are broadly available in the US. Wild!
Reposted by Markus Johnson
One of my more controversial opinions is that the US needs to significantly raise taxes to the tune of a couple % of GDP right now, even before any expansive social democratic reforms, and that means you—yes you, dear highly educated professional—will need to pay up, not just nebulous billionaires.
December 29, 2025 at 3:00 PM
One of my more controversial opinions is that the US needs to significantly raise taxes to the tune of a couple % of GDP right now, even before any expansive social democratic reforms, and that means you—yes you, dear highly educated professional—will need to pay up, not just nebulous billionaires.
Reposted by Markus Johnson
I've noticed that traffic engineers seem increasingly incapable of understanding that you don't have to channelize the intersections of two sidewalks.
Yes, the city needs to actually repave streets. Yes, the city needs to repair sidewalks. Yes, the city needs to install curb ramps.
But the bigger problem is that when LA decides to do anything at all to "help" pedestrians, the result looks like this complete and utter bullshit
But the bigger problem is that when LA decides to do anything at all to "help" pedestrians, the result looks like this complete and utter bullshit
December 29, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I've noticed that traffic engineers seem increasingly incapable of understanding that you don't have to channelize the intersections of two sidewalks.
Reposted by Markus Johnson
This is such an under discussed component of homeownership. People talk about getting rich by owning real estate and they assume that means buying and selling, but the reality is owners get rich by buying and holding that 30-yr mortgage and growing their income over that time.
December 28, 2025 at 5:16 PM
This is such an under discussed component of homeownership. People talk about getting rich by owning real estate and they assume that means buying and selling, but the reality is owners get rich by buying and holding that 30-yr mortgage and growing their income over that time.
Reposted by Markus Johnson
A small (personal) example of this book’s intellectual dishonesty:
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
December 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A small (personal) example of this book’s intellectual dishonesty:
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
Reposted by Markus Johnson
If you’re wondering why your friends in academia are a little on edge right now, it’s because an eighteen-year-old who hasn’t done the reading, doesn’t look at the assignment, and has does no critical thinking skills more complex than “because I think it’s in the Bible” can literally end your career
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.” https://cnn.it/4b6g3rd
Oklahoma instructor removed from teaching for failing a Bible-based gender essay | CNN
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”
cnn.it
December 24, 2025 at 6:21 PM
If you’re wondering why your friends in academia are a little on edge right now, it’s because an eighteen-year-old who hasn’t done the reading, doesn’t look at the assignment, and has does no critical thinking skills more complex than “because I think it’s in the Bible” can literally end your career
Reposted by Markus Johnson
I do feel bad for the victims, but property taxes should be higher for people who live in wildfire areas, not lower.
Cutting property taxes for Oregonians affected by wildfires. Canceling planned freeway tolls. Pausing local new taxes in the Portland area. We have to keep going to make life more affordable for Oregonians.
December 24, 2025 at 9:37 PM
I do feel bad for the victims, but property taxes should be higher for people who live in wildfire areas, not lower.
Reposted by Markus Johnson
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5
December 23, 2025 at 1:28 AM
The full spiked 60 Minutes CECOT package, clean & subtitled. 1/5