Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
@mateosfo.bsky.social
I make things, including bike rides, state housing laws, bread, and trouble. Quality varies with rainfall, political winds, and tire pressure. Run comms at @cayimby for the love of cities.
Pinned
Today on Volts: you may have noticed that some climate/energy types (like me) have become obsessed with housing & urban land use lately. Why? Why are they climate issues? What's the connection? The great @mateosfo.bsky.social and I attempt to answer those questions.
Why housing is a pass/fail question for climate
Housing is a climate issue we can't afford to ignore — Matthew Lewis explains why.
www.volts.wtf
This was a lot of fun, both because we covered a lot of topics and because David and I have known each other so long and so the conversation flowed.
But the whole tl;dr of the thing is:
Housing policy is (still) climate policy. And the climate movement should do more to acknowledge this, IMO.
But the whole tl;dr of the thing is:
Housing policy is (still) climate policy. And the climate movement should do more to acknowledge this, IMO.
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
WHO removing Us Flag
January 23, 2026 at 9:45 PM
WHO removing Us Flag
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
It’s all Putin. Everyone knows that, right?
January 23, 2026 at 1:53 PM
It’s all Putin. Everyone knows that, right?
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
23-year old man riding bicycle killed by 79-year old driver in rear-end collision last night, on "notorious" dark Oxnard roadway: bikinginla.com/2026/01/22/2...
23-year old man riding bicycle killed by 79-year old driver last night, on "notorious" Oxnard roadway - BikinginLA
A 79-year old Oxnard driver somehow killed a man riding a bicycle directly ahead of her, on a dark roadway "notorious" for crashes.
bikinginla.com
January 23, 2026 at 6:13 AM
23-year old man riding bicycle killed by 79-year old driver in rear-end collision last night, on "notorious" dark Oxnard roadway: bikinginla.com/2026/01/22/2...
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
Enough with this garbage about "healing the divide." This is America and it looks pretty damn united to me.
Real patriots turn out for one another and that's why we'll bury this new Confederacy in the same trash heap as their ancestors.
Real patriots turn out for one another and that's why we'll bury this new Confederacy in the same trash heap as their ancestors.
It’s -9 degrees. Downtown Minneapolis is packed for the anti-ICE rally and the crowd keeps growing
January 23, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Enough with this garbage about "healing the divide." This is America and it looks pretty damn united to me.
Real patriots turn out for one another and that's why we'll bury this new Confederacy in the same trash heap as their ancestors.
Real patriots turn out for one another and that's why we'll bury this new Confederacy in the same trash heap as their ancestors.
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
Apropos of nothing in particular, it feels like a good time to remind Minneapolis residents that if there are areas in your area where reckless driving is a concern, you can apply for safety improvements through the city's Neighborhood Traffic Calming program: www.minneapolismn.gov/getting-arou...
Request traffic calming
You can request that we add traffic calming measures to your street.
www.minneapolismn.gov
January 23, 2026 at 10:42 PM
Apropos of nothing in particular, it feels like a good time to remind Minneapolis residents that if there are areas in your area where reckless driving is a concern, you can apply for safety improvements through the city's Neighborhood Traffic Calming program: www.minneapolismn.gov/getting-arou...
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
As if the dearth of consequences for Trump's misdeeds is not discombobulating enough, I apparently live in a city where our political third rail is putting bike lanes on a high-injury street.
Just over a week ago a kid was hit by a car less than 50 ft from my house. (good news: they walked away)
Just over a week ago a kid was hit by a car less than 50 ft from my house. (good news: they walked away)
What the hell, they are really going to let a bunch of old grumpy people who don’t care how many they run over on the street dictate that there will be no bike lanes on Hopkins?
I am so angry right now.
I am so angry right now.
January 23, 2026 at 4:30 PM
As if the dearth of consequences for Trump's misdeeds is not discombobulating enough, I apparently live in a city where our political third rail is putting bike lanes on a high-injury street.
Just over a week ago a kid was hit by a car less than 50 ft from my house. (good news: they walked away)
Just over a week ago a kid was hit by a car less than 50 ft from my house. (good news: they walked away)
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
Can't believe we have to do this all over again. First steps first, get it out of Agenda committee.
Please blast your CMs and share widely!
actionnetwork.org/letters/save...
Please blast your CMs and share widely!
actionnetwork.org/letters/save...
January 23, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Can't believe we have to do this all over again. First steps first, get it out of Agenda committee.
Please blast your CMs and share widely!
actionnetwork.org/letters/save...
Please blast your CMs and share widely!
actionnetwork.org/letters/save...
New stack. Hoping to do more of this in 2026. Would love comments/feedback. open.substack.com/pub/mateosfo...
The Roost, and the Chickens
A call to move on to the next stage of grief
open.substack.com
January 23, 2026 at 7:07 PM
New stack. Hoping to do more of this in 2026. Would love comments/feedback. open.substack.com/pub/mateosfo...
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
Here is an excellent research brief on the topic of e-bike regulation which focuses largely on the fact that the statistics are poisoned by non-experts misreporting motorcycle crashes. transweb.sjsu.edu/sites/defaul...
January 23, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Here is an excellent research brief on the topic of e-bike regulation which focuses largely on the fact that the statistics are poisoned by non-experts misreporting motorcycle crashes. transweb.sjsu.edu/sites/defaul...
Random problem need help:
ChatGPT has been denying me services I'm paying for, and I just realized the extent of it. They also seem to (unsurprisingly) have no humans working in customer support/success.
Do I just cancel? Has anyone dealt with this?
ChatGPT has been denying me services I'm paying for, and I just realized the extent of it. They also seem to (unsurprisingly) have no humans working in customer support/success.
Do I just cancel? Has anyone dealt with this?
January 23, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Random problem need help:
ChatGPT has been denying me services I'm paying for, and I just realized the extent of it. They also seem to (unsurprisingly) have no humans working in customer support/success.
Do I just cancel? Has anyone dealt with this?
ChatGPT has been denying me services I'm paying for, and I just realized the extent of it. They also seem to (unsurprisingly) have no humans working in customer support/success.
Do I just cancel? Has anyone dealt with this?
I'll write a formal letter to the city, but I'd love a public explanation from @mayoradenaishii.bsky.social @markhumbert.bsky.social and Rashi as to why they allowed staff to mislead them about a critical safety issue.
Hottest political fight in Berkeley in recent years, no way staff was unaware.
Hottest political fight in Berkeley in recent years, no way staff was unaware.
I'm so disoriented by this, partially because 3/4 of the cosponsors claim to be pro-bike. I voted for 2 of them and helped get them elected partially because of that.
bsky.app/profile/wowi...
bsky.app/profile/wowi...
CM Humbert was at the Hopkins die-in and is now a co-sponsor on this piece of cowardice.
This is one of those extremely disillusioning and disenchanting political moments.
This is one of those extremely disillusioning and disenchanting political moments.
January 23, 2026 at 5:16 PM
I'll write a formal letter to the city, but I'd love a public explanation from @mayoradenaishii.bsky.social @markhumbert.bsky.social and Rashi as to why they allowed staff to mislead them about a critical safety issue.
Hottest political fight in Berkeley in recent years, no way staff was unaware.
Hottest political fight in Berkeley in recent years, no way staff was unaware.
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
I'm so disoriented by this, partially because 3/4 of the cosponsors claim to be pro-bike. I voted for 2 of them and helped get them elected partially because of that.
bsky.app/profile/wowi...
bsky.app/profile/wowi...
CM Humbert was at the Hopkins die-in and is now a co-sponsor on this piece of cowardice.
This is one of those extremely disillusioning and disenchanting political moments.
This is one of those extremely disillusioning and disenchanting political moments.
January 23, 2026 at 4:36 PM
I'm so disoriented by this, partially because 3/4 of the cosponsors claim to be pro-bike. I voted for 2 of them and helped get them elected partially because of that.
bsky.app/profile/wowi...
bsky.app/profile/wowi...
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
LA needs to be put into conservatorship
January 22, 2026 at 10:26 PM
LA needs to be put into conservatorship
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
L.A. Metro, the main transit operator for Los Angeles, just voted to oppose SB 79, a law legalizing the construction of housing near stations. You can't make this stuff up. Legislators should remember this the next time they come to Sacramento begging for more money.
laist.com/news/housing...
laist.com/news/housing...
LA transit agency seeks to override state law allowing more homes near train and bus lines
The L.A. Metro Board of Directors voted to oppose implementation of SB 79, calling for a countywide exemption.
laist.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:19 PM
L.A. Metro, the main transit operator for Los Angeles, just voted to oppose SB 79, a law legalizing the construction of housing near stations. You can't make this stuff up. Legislators should remember this the next time they come to Sacramento begging for more money.
laist.com/news/housing...
laist.com/news/housing...
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
Deeply unfair that New York City progressives get Mamdani while San Francisco is stuck with this nonsense
January 23, 2026 at 4:43 AM
Deeply unfair that New York City progressives get Mamdani while San Francisco is stuck with this nonsense
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
It's annoying that we already had so many existing problems to solve before these assholes created a bunch of new ones for no reason
January 23, 2026 at 3:06 AM
It's annoying that we already had so many existing problems to solve before these assholes created a bunch of new ones for no reason
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
Extremely important and welcome news.
The war is not ending anytime soon, and Europe must urgently scale up long-term air defense orders for Ukraine
The war is not ending anytime soon, and Europe must urgently scale up long-term air defense orders for Ukraine
January 22, 2026 at 8:29 PM
Extremely important and welcome news.
The war is not ending anytime soon, and Europe must urgently scale up long-term air defense orders for Ukraine
The war is not ending anytime soon, and Europe must urgently scale up long-term air defense orders for Ukraine
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
“New Yorkers are facing soaring housing costs. Today, the environmental review process often gets abused by 1 person who’s trying to stop affordable housing right above a transit stop.
That’s crazy, and it's not serving our affordability or climate goals." @AnnemarieGray.bsky.social
That’s crazy, and it's not serving our affordability or climate goals." @AnnemarieGray.bsky.social
January 23, 2026 at 1:58 AM
“New Yorkers are facing soaring housing costs. Today, the environmental review process often gets abused by 1 person who’s trying to stop affordable housing right above a transit stop.
That’s crazy, and it's not serving our affordability or climate goals." @AnnemarieGray.bsky.social
That’s crazy, and it's not serving our affordability or climate goals." @AnnemarieGray.bsky.social
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
Apparently anyone who thinks pedophiles should be arrested, corrupt politicians should be jailed, and laws should be followed... is a "leftist."
Like, that's the modern definition. If you support rule of law, and you think laws should apply to everyone, you're a "leftist."
Like, that's the modern definition. If you support rule of law, and you think laws should apply to everyone, you're a "leftist."
January 22, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Apparently anyone who thinks pedophiles should be arrested, corrupt politicians should be jailed, and laws should be followed... is a "leftist."
Like, that's the modern definition. If you support rule of law, and you think laws should apply to everyone, you're a "leftist."
Like, that's the modern definition. If you support rule of law, and you think laws should apply to everyone, you're a "leftist."
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
Wow -- Fanone coughs "go fuck yourself" to Trey Nehls as Nehls blames Capitol Police leadership for January 6
January 22, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Wow -- Fanone coughs "go fuck yourself" to Trey Nehls as Nehls blames Capitol Police leadership for January 6
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
"Affordable housing developers paid California cities and counties more than $1.2 billion in “impact fees” over four years... that money could have paid for roughly 5,000 additional homes for low-income families."
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
Thousands of affordable homes could have been built — if not for $1.2 billion in California fees
Affordable housing developers paid California cities and counties $1.2 billion in “impact fees” over four years. That money could have paid for 5,000 additional homes for low-income families.
www.sfchronicle.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:05 PM
"Affordable housing developers paid California cities and counties more than $1.2 billion in “impact fees” over four years... that money could have paid for roughly 5,000 additional homes for low-income families."
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
Jack Smith: "My fear is that we have seen the rule of law function in our country for so long that many of us have come to take it for granted. The rule of law is not self-executing. It depends on our collective commitment to apply it."
January 22, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Jack Smith: "My fear is that we have seen the rule of law function in our country for so long that many of us have come to take it for granted. The rule of law is not self-executing. It depends on our collective commitment to apply it."
Government driving mandates are unpopular. This holds true even among most people who claim they'd rather drive, if you ask.
The conversation: "I don't want to take transit, walk, or ride a bike."
"Why not?"
"Because transit sucks where I live, and it's not safe to walk or bike."
Signal>noise.
The conversation: "I don't want to take transit, walk, or ride a bike."
"Why not?"
"Because transit sucks where I live, and it's not safe to walk or bike."
Signal>noise.
I think it's pretty remarkable how, despite the trillions of dollars we've spent and the century of constant campaigning we've been subjected to in order convince us otherwise, some part of us *still knows* that car dependency is a terrible way to live, and most people still don't want it.
Survey: Most Americans Are Open To Ditching Their Cars — Streetsblog USA
Automakers have spent a century and countless trillions of dollars making car-dependent living the American norm. But U.S. resident still aren't sold, a new survey suggests.
usa.streetsblog.org
January 22, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Government driving mandates are unpopular. This holds true even among most people who claim they'd rather drive, if you ask.
The conversation: "I don't want to take transit, walk, or ride a bike."
"Why not?"
"Because transit sucks where I live, and it's not safe to walk or bike."
Signal>noise.
The conversation: "I don't want to take transit, walk, or ride a bike."
"Why not?"
"Because transit sucks where I live, and it's not safe to walk or bike."
Signal>noise.
Reposted by Matthew Lewis is ready for progressive federalism
The TLDR: nearly 70 percent of people these researchers surveyed either already had, were strongly interested in, or were open to the idea of living car-free. In US communities, which routinely punish people for living car free with death and indignity.
Now: imagine if we didn't punish them.
Now: imagine if we didn't punish them.
January 21, 2026 at 2:12 PM
The TLDR: nearly 70 percent of people these researchers surveyed either already had, were strongly interested in, or were open to the idea of living car-free. In US communities, which routinely punish people for living car free with death and indignity.
Now: imagine if we didn't punish them.
Now: imagine if we didn't punish them.