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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 9h

Too bad they're killing it before the trolleybuses come in though (which I'm guessing will mean the catenary gets retired entirely).

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 10h

Interesting, did the "Rugby Woods" neighborhood association that split off from another one so that they could both sign an anti-zoning-reform letter in 2021 already cease to exist? It's not on the contacts list anymore either.

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 15h

Oh, and immediately after the old president resigned, before there had been a single meeting of the association following that, Mark signed the entire neighborhood's name onto an anti-zoning ordinance letter without consulting anyone.

bsky.app/profile/take...

Excerpt from an anti-zoning letter showing the NDRA's name attached.

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 15h

Nobody elected Mark Kavit, and once he claimed to be in charge he stopped holding neighborhood meetings and ignored the requirement for annual elections.

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 1d

They're supposed to be placed so that you can only actually pull that off if you have a wide wheelbase like a fire truck (otherwise your other tire just hits the next one over), though I'm not sure they actually were.

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 2d

Incidentally, the author (president & CEO of NFPA) used ChatGPT to find that NAHB "record profits" article, as shown by the ?utm_source=chatgpt.com query parameter in the URL.

Screenshot showing that the "which has posted record profits" link leads to an URL suffixed with "?utm_source=chatgpt.com"

Full URL: https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/press-releases/2025/04/nahbs-new-study-provides-statistics-and-data-on-builder-financial-performance?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 2d

NFPA responds to this Pew study showing modern multi-family housing is safer than detached houses with a column attacking single-stair reform.

Affordability arguments are "dubious" and pushed by "special interests" — citing high profits for… single-family homebuilders.

www.nfpa.org/news-blogs-a...

What some advocates and special interests in the building industry are now proposing around the country is an expansion of single-stair construction well beyond that threshold—in some cases allowing single-stair construction in buildings up to six stories tall. These changes are being pushed legislatively, some with literally no debate or input from safety officials, and outside the safeguards of an independent, consensus-driven code process.

...

In short, the fire safety record of newer buildings should not be used to justify shortcuts in the very process that made them safe. And, we should not rely on dubious estimates on affordability from the home building industry, which has posted record profits in recent years.

Housing affordability is a serious issue, but the solution can’t be sacrificing safety to protect developer profits. Everyone deserves a safe place to live, regardless of income, zip code, or building height.

NAHB’s New Study Provides Statistics and Data on Builder Financial Performance
...

The 2025 edition of The Cost of Doing Business Study reveals significant trends in the financial performance of builders:

On average, single-family builders reported higher gross and net profit margins in 2023 than in 2020. Their average 8.7% net profit margin was the highest in more than three decades and second only to the series peak of 10% in 1991.

The average gross profit margin increased from 18.2% in 2020 to 20.7% in 2023.
The average net profit margin rose from 7.0% to 8.7% during this period.

https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/press-releases/2025/04/nahbs-new-study-provides-statistics-and-data-on-builder-financial-performance?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 2d

EASA actually requires that they be filled, though the FAA does not. (Still, I think most airlines do try to fill them.)

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 2d

Generally they upcharge for exit row seats (because of legroom), but if nobody takes them they either assign an unassigned passenger to them, or they get a volunteer from another row. Otherwise there isn't somebody sitting there to open the door in an emergency.

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 2d

Odd they they didn't fill the exit row before takeoff in the first place?

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 2d

Relevant context:

dailyprogress.com/business/tru...

As President Donald Trump continues to advocate “buy American and hire American,” his son’s Albemarle County winery has again applied to hire foreign workers.

Trump Vineyard Estates, better known as Trump Winery, has asked to bring in 29 workers this season through the federal H-2 visa program. The winery initially applied for six vineyard farm workers in December and applied for an additional 23 workers in February.

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 2d

Either way this is specifically the guy they *won't* report to once federalized, so it seems kind of moot?

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 2d

It'll serve the Exit 107 park & ride once it's complete next year.

(Unfortunately they ended up not being able to put the bus loop on the highway ramp, so it will have to take a fairly lengthy detour to get to the Patterson Mills Lane entrance.)

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 2d

A schedule adding a fifth frequency is currently out for public comment, including reverse commute travel on the schedule. (I think it was possible before since the buses had to go back, but not listed as an option.)

connect.cspdc.org/afton-express

Afton Express

connect.cspdc.org

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Reposted by Rory Stolzenberg

Stephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 3d

I can't stop thinking about this. We're pursuing zero fire risk in multifam, while tolerating much more in single-fam. People respond by building and living in single-fam, where they're exposed to not only one of the highest fire death risks in the developed world, but also TONS more car crash risk

Emily Hamilton @ebwhamilton.bsky.social · 3d

Love this new report on buildings' relative fire safety from @alexhrwtz.bsky.social and Pew colleagues.

www.pew.org/en/research-...

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 3d

there's literally a 30' grade change between the station and (adjacent) main street

street view screenshot showing Charlottesville Union Station and a bunch of stairs leading up to Main Street

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Reposted by Rory Stolzenberg

Emily Hamilton @ebwhamilton.bsky.social · 3d

Love this new report on buildings' relative fire safety from @alexhrwtz.bsky.social and Pew colleagues.

www.pew.org/en/research-...

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 3d

Got any updates? Let's see the jar!

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 3d

a city as flat as Charlottesville? what

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 4d

(Those screenshots are from 9/20.)

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 4d

I don't think they even gave a kickback. They just flooded Truth Social with ads about it, all directed at a target audience of one.

Ad on Truth Social (URL bar shows Trump's page) reading "Google, don't punish me because I'm Hispanic. Do the right thing, Google."

Petition that ad goes to, reading:

Preview of embedded video
Petition to Google/YouTube TV: Don’t Charge Unfair Fees for Hispanic Audiences

To the leadership of Google / YouTube TV:

I am deeply concerned that Hispanic subscribers are being charged an extra fee to access the programming and cultural content they value most. This practice is discriminatory and unfair.

All customers should be able to enjoy the shows, sports, and channels they love without being singled out or asked to pay more because of their language or heritage. By placing Hispanic audiences behind an additional paywall, Google/ YouTube TV is creating unequal treatment among subscribers.This question is required.*
I call on Google / YouTube TV to do the right thing and abandon their plan to place an extra tax on Hispanics. Charging me more because I’m Hispanic is evil.

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 4d

Feels like there might be a story behind this guy's departure from the WDVA US Attorney's office, just over a month since Todd Gilbert was replaced as interim US Attorney with former Albemarle Commonwealth's Attorney (and notorious prosecutorial failure) Robert Tracci.

October 06, 2025

Commonwealth's Attorney's Office Welcomes New Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney
City Seal (White BG)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2025

Commonwealth's Attorney's Office Welcomes New Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office welcomes Ronald M. Huber as its newest Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney. With over three decades of prosecutorial experience, Mr. Huber brings a wealth of legal expertise and a deep commitment to public service.

Mr. Huber previously served the City of Charlottesville in the same role from 1995 to 2007, followed by a year in Albemarle County. He then spent 18 years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Western District of Virginia. His return to the City of Charlottesville marks a continuation of his longstanding dedication to justice in the Commonwealth.

Huber holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Michigan State University and a Juris Doctorate from George Mason University School of Law.

“Ron comes to the office with significant trial experience and demonstrated commitment to the community,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Joe Platania. Mr. Huber expressed enthusiasm about rejoining the team and looks forward to serving the citizens of Charlottesville once again.

Media Contact:
Joe Platania
Commonwealth's Attorney
City of Charlottesville
434-970-3179
platania@charlottesville.gov

https://www.charlottesville.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=2302

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 4d

Assuming that bathtub's 60", seems like the 'offices' must be at least 8' in each dimension? Unless the proportions are wildly off here.

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Rory Stolzenberg @rorystolzenberg.bsky.social · 4d

Guessing it's the lack of an operable window?

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Reposted by Rory Stolzenberg

Alex Bozikovic @alexbozikovic.bsky.social · 4d

Infill housing is climate action. More people need to live in the blue zones. Excellent to see @jasonthorne.bsky.social posting this; leaders, take note.

Jason Thorne @jasonthorne.bsky.social · 4d

The Venn diagram of urban density and average household GHG emissions is pretty much a circle. Interesting study on “Mapping household GHG emissions in the Greater Golden Horseshoe” from the University of Toronto School of Cities schoolofcities.utoronto.ca/mapping-hous...

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