Rachel Laing
@rachellaing.bsky.social
My passions: plentiful, affordable housing; leaving Earth inhabitable for future generations; rebuilding the middle class. My kink: making NIMBYs cry.
Fantastic analysis.
🧵 on new stinker of a CEQA opinion.
Here's hoping @gavinnewsom.bsky.social, @agrobbonta.oag.ca.gov, @buffywicks.bsky.social, @scottwiener.bsky.social, & leaders of Assembly & Senate housing & nat'l res. committees will join Mayor Gloria's petition for review.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19807...
Here's hoping @gavinnewsom.bsky.social, @agrobbonta.oag.ca.gov, @buffywicks.bsky.social, @scottwiener.bsky.social, & leaders of Assembly & Senate housing & nat'l res. committees will join Mayor Gloria's petition for review.
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19807...
Thread by @CSElmendorf on Thread Reader App
@CSElmendorf: New CEQA opinion nixing (again!) the voters' repeal of a 30' height limit in San Diego is a near-perfect vehicle for CA Supreme Court to jettison the worst of "Old CEQA." Very glad that ...
threadreaderapp.com
October 22, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Fantastic analysis.
The billionaires aren't afraid Mamdani will be a disaster. They're terrified he'll be successful.
October 16, 2025 at 9:02 PM
The billionaires aren't afraid Mamdani will be a disaster. They're terrified he'll be successful.
Reposted by Rachel Laing
By popular demand, @aceckhouse.bsky.social and I have put together a deep-in-the-weeds explainer on SB 79. Enjoy!
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Everything You Need To Know About SB 79
…but were too afraid to read about in the actual bill.
substack.com
October 12, 2025 at 7:37 PM
By popular demand, @aceckhouse.bsky.social and I have put together a deep-in-the-weeds explainer on SB 79. Enjoy!
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reposted by Rachel Laing
Between this & zero traffic deaths in Helsinki last year....
The simple truth that's somehow utterly unintelligible to capitalism & those in its thrall is that doing the right thing by the vulnerable (be they houseless, pedestrians, or anything else) makes the world BETTER FOR EVERYONE.
The simple truth that's somehow utterly unintelligible to capitalism & those in its thrall is that doing the right thing by the vulnerable (be they houseless, pedestrians, or anything else) makes the world BETTER FOR EVERYONE.
“In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Those affected receive a small apartment & counselling with no preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life. And all this is CHEAPER than accepting homelessness.”
It costs a lot less to house people.
It costs a lot less to house people.
Finland ends homelessness and provides shelter for all in need - scoop.me
In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. Why? The country applies the "Housing First" concept agains homelessness.
thebetter.news
September 21, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Between this & zero traffic deaths in Helsinki last year....
The simple truth that's somehow utterly unintelligible to capitalism & those in its thrall is that doing the right thing by the vulnerable (be they houseless, pedestrians, or anything else) makes the world BETTER FOR EVERYONE.
The simple truth that's somehow utterly unintelligible to capitalism & those in its thrall is that doing the right thing by the vulnerable (be they houseless, pedestrians, or anything else) makes the world BETTER FOR EVERYONE.
People who brag about being able to travel for a long time with one small bag - just know that some of us view that as a lack of imagination. 😉
September 21, 2025 at 4:23 PM
People who brag about being able to travel for a long time with one small bag - just know that some of us view that as a lack of imagination. 😉
White American women have been primed for this role advancing fascism. We rebellious ones will need to get even rowdier to disrupt it.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
From Nazi Germany to Trump’s America: why strongmen rely on women at home
Fascist regimes pushed narratives of domestic bliss, yet relied on women’s unpaid labor. In the US today, ‘womanosphere’ influencers promote the same fantasies
www.theguardian.com
September 21, 2025 at 2:44 PM
White American women have been primed for this role advancing fascism. We rebellious ones will need to get even rowdier to disrupt it.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...
The best protest the left could do right now is a one-week total social media blackout -- all of us simultaneously resting, recharging, and getting out of the grip of the rage algorithm to reset while starving the MAGA types of the fuel of our attention.
Any influentials wanna make this a thing? 🙏
Any influentials wanna make this a thing? 🙏
September 17, 2025 at 5:12 PM
The best protest the left could do right now is a one-week total social media blackout -- all of us simultaneously resting, recharging, and getting out of the grip of the rage algorithm to reset while starving the MAGA types of the fuel of our attention.
Any influentials wanna make this a thing? 🙏
Any influentials wanna make this a thing? 🙏
Reposted by Rachel Laing
"Respond" to what? Brazil applying its own laws to a Brazilian in a fair and transparent process?
Rubio vows US response following conviction of Brazil's Bolsonaro reut.rs/4piCG0f
Rubio vows US response following conviction of Brazil's Bolsonaro
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday said the United States would "respond accordingly to this witch hunt" after former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was convicted of plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election.
reut.rs
September 11, 2025 at 10:49 PM
"Respond" to what? Brazil applying its own laws to a Brazilian in a fair and transparent process?
Reposted by Rachel Laing
Not to mention, sprawl creates fascists. Who’s more likely to be aggrieved and vengeful? The guy who walks to the store and has a drink at the bar and chats with people, or the guy who sits in traffic all day and views other people as obstacles in his way?
One thing I've not seen mentioned in redistricting discourse is the fact that California has built so little housing over the last two decades, we're on track to lose ~ 4 seats in the house anyway.
People really don't appreciate how deeply NIMBYs have fucked the United States.
People really don't appreciate how deeply NIMBYs have fucked the United States.
August 9, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Not to mention, sprawl creates fascists. Who’s more likely to be aggrieved and vengeful? The guy who walks to the store and has a drink at the bar and chats with people, or the guy who sits in traffic all day and views other people as obstacles in his way?
Reposted by Rachel Laing
Protesters in Chicago are bravely interrupting a hiring fair at the Congress Hotel right now, where US Customs and Border protection is recruiting today.
They are distributing these trifolds that we published.
You can print them out yourself here:
crimethinc.com/zines/8-thin...
They are distributing these trifolds that we published.
You can print them out yourself here:
crimethinc.com/zines/8-thin...
Some of the people in line to apply for other companies are being handed these pamphlets.
Hotel security here less than thrilled.
Hotel security here less than thrilled.
August 7, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Protesters in Chicago are bravely interrupting a hiring fair at the Congress Hotel right now, where US Customs and Border protection is recruiting today.
They are distributing these trifolds that we published.
You can print them out yourself here:
crimethinc.com/zines/8-thin...
They are distributing these trifolds that we published.
You can print them out yourself here:
crimethinc.com/zines/8-thin...
Oh thank goodness they’re removing this danger to the players.
The NFL has banned the use of smelling salts during games, citing an FDA warning concerning the safety of the substance. Here's what experts say about the effects and the risks.
The NFL banned smelling salts. Here's why
The NFL has banned the use of smelling salts during games, citing an FDA warning concerning the safety of the substance. Here's what experts say about the effects and the risks.
n.pr
August 7, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Oh thank goodness they’re removing this danger to the players.
Not the point at all I know but “Thank you for your attention to this matter” has such Memo from the Assistant *to* the Regional Manager energy.
The Constitution dictates that the census is a count "all persons" conducted every "ten years." Donald Trump has no power to alter either the timing or who is counted.
August 7, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Not the point at all I know but “Thank you for your attention to this matter” has such Memo from the Assistant *to* the Regional Manager energy.
Reposted by Rachel Laing
Worth a read folks. If you are a cyclist here is some mythbusters you can use against car brained folks. #Winnipeg #ActiveTransportation momentummag.com/your-comebac...
Your Comeback Guide to all the Anti-Cycling Arguments You’ll Hear This Year
Anti-bike arguments aren’t just frustrating—they’re outdated, inaccurate, and often repeated without a shred of evidence.
momentummag.com
July 30, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Worth a read folks. If you are a cyclist here is some mythbusters you can use against car brained folks. #Winnipeg #ActiveTransportation momentummag.com/your-comebac...
Reposted by Rachel Laing
This is the post in question btw. Totally normal!
July 27, 2025 at 12:19 AM
This is the post in question btw. Totally normal!
Reposted by Rachel Laing
Simpsons creator Matt Groening dealing with his new-found success at the 21st annual San Diego Comic Con in August 1990.
This was the first time The Simpsons team appeared at #SDCC. Sam Simon introduces Matt at the panel where @aljeansimpsons.bsky.social can also be seen.
This was the first time The Simpsons team appeared at #SDCC. Sam Simon introduces Matt at the panel where @aljeansimpsons.bsky.social can also be seen.
July 27, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Simpsons creator Matt Groening dealing with his new-found success at the 21st annual San Diego Comic Con in August 1990.
This was the first time The Simpsons team appeared at #SDCC. Sam Simon introduces Matt at the panel where @aljeansimpsons.bsky.social can also be seen.
This was the first time The Simpsons team appeared at #SDCC. Sam Simon introduces Matt at the panel where @aljeansimpsons.bsky.social can also be seen.
Reposted by Rachel Laing
These Coldplay concerts are getting out of hand.
July 17, 2025 at 5:47 PM
These Coldplay concerts are getting out of hand.
The reason you'd have to be "living under a rock" to not know Cuomo lost a primary that "only 13% of New Yorkers voted in" is that Mamdani is an absolute star and staged a huge upset. Not sure I would have called this out!
Cuomo announces his general election run by proving the Mamdani sauce ain't so easy to cook up on the spot with half the ingredients
July 15, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The reason you'd have to be "living under a rock" to not know Cuomo lost a primary that "only 13% of New Yorkers voted in" is that Mamdani is an absolute star and staged a huge upset. Not sure I would have called this out!
Reposted by Rachel Laing
“…he presented his Texas ID, Social Security card and a wallet-sized birth certificate. The agents refused to believe he was a citizen and took him into custody. “I told them we had rights and asked to make a phone call. But they told us, 'You don't have rights to anything'," Galicia told the paper”
July 14, 2025 at 4:14 AM
“…he presented his Texas ID, Social Security card and a wallet-sized birth certificate. The agents refused to believe he was a citizen and took him into custody. “I told them we had rights and asked to make a phone call. But they told us, 'You don't have rights to anything'," Galicia told the paper”
Reposted by Rachel Laing
boycott! also boycott all red states vying for their own concentration camps!
July 8, 2025 at 10:39 AM
boycott! also boycott all red states vying for their own concentration camps!
Reposted by Rachel Laing
He literally forced his coders to make his AI into a nazi. How could you possibly satirize this?
July 6, 2025 at 7:34 PM
He literally forced his coders to make his AI into a nazi. How could you possibly satirize this?
Reposted by Rachel Laing
👇 👇 👇 👇 👇
July 6, 2025 at 8:35 PM
👇 👇 👇 👇 👇
Reposted by Rachel Laing
A truly historic day in California: a clean CEQA exemption for environmentally friendly infill housing has just passed the California legislature via the budget bill!
No other way to put it: this is the most transformative positive shift in land use policy in this state of the last 50 years!
No other way to put it: this is the most transformative positive shift in land use policy in this state of the last 50 years!
July 1, 2025 at 12:32 AM
A truly historic day in California: a clean CEQA exemption for environmentally friendly infill housing has just passed the California legislature via the budget bill!
No other way to put it: this is the most transformative positive shift in land use policy in this state of the last 50 years!
No other way to put it: this is the most transformative positive shift in land use policy in this state of the last 50 years!
Reposted by Rachel Laing
The problem here isn't just the answer but the question. Mamdani has denounced antisemitism and clarified his position on this random slogan *other people* chanted at a protest numerous times. This is only a "tough question" if you think it's your job to repeat bad faith Republican attacks.
Hakeem Jeffries on Mamdani: "'Globalizing the intifada' by way of example is not an acceptable phrasing. He's gonna have to clarify his position on that as he moves forward."
June 29, 2025 at 2:18 PM
The problem here isn't just the answer but the question. Mamdani has denounced antisemitism and clarified his position on this random slogan *other people* chanted at a protest numerous times. This is only a "tough question" if you think it's your job to repeat bad faith Republican attacks.
Reposted by Rachel Laing
Computers used to scream every time they connected to the Internet. They knew. They tried to warn us. We did not listen.
June 22, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Computers used to scream every time they connected to the Internet. They knew. They tried to warn us. We did not listen.
Reposted by Rachel Laing
“As bipartisan mayors we get it, we understand this is not the right path forward,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, along with Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett, unpacks how President Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico are impacting their communities.
June 21, 2025 at 4:01 PM
“As bipartisan mayors we get it, we understand this is not the right path forward,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, along with Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett, unpacks how President Trump’s tariffs on Canada and Mexico are impacting their communities.