Shane Phillips
@shanedphillips.bsky.social
Housing guy. Researcher at UCLA Lewis Center, host of UCLA Housing Voice Podcast, author of The Affordable City, resident of Los Angeles.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Great piece on how density restrictions in zoning are essentially BS.
November 24, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Great piece on how density restrictions in zoning are essentially BS.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
The Scooby Doo Theory of Housing states that we can arrest housing price inflation if we only some clever kids are able to unmask the evil villain responsible for making rent go up.
I think this is mostly San Francisco finally shrugging off the pandemic, but it is *really* funny that rent prices in San Francisco shot up *immediately* after the city banned RealPage and other algorithmic price setting software.
My pre trends are incredible!
My pre trends are incredible!
November 22, 2025 at 7:15 PM
The Scooby Doo Theory of Housing states that we can arrest housing price inflation if we only some clever kids are able to unmask the evil villain responsible for making rent go up.
My line on this kind of thing is that we need policy, programs, and infrastructure that allow cities to function *better* as they grow. Public transit does that. When more people drive, cities get worse for everyone, including drivers.
"...we need to make it possible for more and more people to live in this city without owning a car... I mean, as more people continue to move to Seattle in our region, we just have limited space, and it’s just not possible to keep adding cars to the road." @wilsonforseattle.bsky.social
Seattle Nice Interviews Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson! - PubliCola
By Erica C. Barnett We had Mayor-Elect Katie Wilson on Seattle Nice this week for a wide-ranging interview about her…
publicola.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:39 AM
My line on this kind of thing is that we need policy, programs, and infrastructure that allow cities to function *better* as they grow. Public transit does that. When more people drive, cities get worse for everyone, including drivers.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Love this study. Amazing.
When pregnant woman boarded a subway car, 38% of the time someone offered her a seat. If someone dressed as Batman was also in the car it rose to 68%.
phys.org/news/2025-11...
phys.org/news/2025-11...
The Batman effect: The mere sight of the 'superhero' can make us more altruistic
If "Batman" appears on the scene, we immediately become more altruistic: in fact, research conducted by psychologists from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan, shows that the sudden appear...
phys.org
November 22, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Love this study. Amazing.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
November 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Insane but true fact: making US roads as safe as Canadian, Australian, or European roads would save more lives than eliminating murder from the US.
November 21, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Insane but true fact: making US roads as safe as Canadian, Australian, or European roads would save more lives than eliminating murder from the US.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Absolutely incredible; after shooting Marimar Martinez 5 times and arresting her on claims that she rammed them and pulled a gun, prosecutors have now moved to dismiss ALL criminal charges against her and her codefendant.
New: the govt has moved to dismiss its assault case against Marimar Martinez and Anthony Ian Santos Ruiz, two people accused of "box[ing] in" a Border Patrol vehicle in Chicago on Oct. 4.
One agent shot Martinez, with evidence presented to the court that he later bragged about in text messages.
One agent shot Martinez, with evidence presented to the court that he later bragged about in text messages.
November 20, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Absolutely incredible; after shooting Marimar Martinez 5 times and arresting her on claims that she rammed them and pulled a gun, prosecutors have now moved to dismiss ALL criminal charges against her and her codefendant.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
In this episode of UCLA Housing Voice we talk with @benschneider.bsky.social about progressive era housing reformers, strengthening building standards, and unintended consequences for housing affordability
www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/19/1...
www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/19/1...
Episode 102: Minimum Standards vs. Affordability with Benjamin Schneider (Incentives Series pt. 5)
We’ve been grappling with trade-offs between stricter building codes and declining affordability for over 100 years. Benjamin Schneider helps us trace the history.
www.lewis.ucla.edu
November 19, 2025 at 5:49 PM
In this episode of UCLA Housing Voice we talk with @benschneider.bsky.social about progressive era housing reformers, strengthening building standards, and unintended consequences for housing affordability
www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/19/1...
www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/19/1...
In this episode of UCLA Housing Voice we talk with @benschneider.bsky.social about progressive era housing reformers, strengthening building standards, and unintended consequences for housing affordability
www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/19/1...
www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/19/1...
Episode 102: Minimum Standards vs. Affordability with Benjamin Schneider (Incentives Series pt. 5)
We’ve been grappling with trade-offs between stricter building codes and declining affordability for over 100 years. Benjamin Schneider helps us trace the history.
www.lewis.ucla.edu
November 19, 2025 at 5:49 PM
In this episode of UCLA Housing Voice we talk with @benschneider.bsky.social about progressive era housing reformers, strengthening building standards, and unintended consequences for housing affordability
www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/19/1...
www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/19/1...
For when you need to drop the mother of all bombs
November 15, 2025 at 1:34 AM
For when you need to drop the mother of all bombs
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protest outside Chicago-area ICE facility reut.rs/49lQnWS
Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protest outside Chicago-area ICE facility
Nearly two dozen people were arrested as faith leaders protested on Friday outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago, authorities said, the latest sign of tensions over the Trump administration's aggressive enforcement push.
reut.rs
November 15, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protest outside Chicago-area ICE facility reut.rs/49lQnWS
It will do all those things, and we know it will because that's what happened in every other city and state that moved its elections to November.
Dallas City Council members voted unanimously to move municipal elections to November instead of May. Supporters hope it increases voter turnout, reduces voter fatigue and saves money.
Will a change to Dallas election dates improve voter turnout? Supporters of the move hope so
Dallas City Council members voted unanimously to move municipal elections to November instead of May. Supporters hope it increases voter turnout, reduces voter fatigue and saves money.
bit.ly
November 13, 2025 at 11:19 PM
It will do all those things, and we know it will because that's what happened in every other city and state that moved its elections to November.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
This is both comically ignorant economically and, on the immigrant count, empirically wrong by a factor of 2-3.
JD Vance: "A lot of young people are saying housing is way too expensive. Why is that? Because we flooded the country with 30 million illegal immigrants who were taking houses that ought by right go to American citizens."
November 13, 2025 at 10:58 PM
This is both comically ignorant economically and, on the immigrant count, empirically wrong by a factor of 2-3.
I feel like a journalist could just ask Trump at a press event, "Epstein...?" and watch him go on a deranged rant.
Trump to Republicans: "There should be no deflections to Epstein or anything else"
November 12, 2025 at 7:27 PM
I feel like a journalist could just ask Trump at a press event, "Epstein...?" and watch him go on a deranged rant.
If you're serious about frequent headways, sometimes you've just gotta take matters into your own hands
This is the greatest story ever told:
A person in Hamilton, ON stole a city bus and then proceeded to make the stops along the way, allowing passengers to board and exit freely. The person actually refusing someone looking to board with an expired pass. 🔥🔥
hamiltonpolice.on.ca/news/police-...
A person in Hamilton, ON stole a city bus and then proceeded to make the stops along the way, allowing passengers to board and exit freely. The person actually refusing someone looking to board with an expired pass. 🔥🔥
hamiltonpolice.on.ca/news/police-...
Police Arrest Man After HSR Bus Joy Ride
On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at approximately 9:00 p.m., a Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) bus driver pulled into the McNab Bus Terminal and exited the vehicle for a short break.During this time, an a...
hamiltonpolice.on.ca
November 12, 2025 at 5:12 PM
If you're serious about frequent headways, sometimes you've just gotta take matters into your own hands
Reposted by Shane Phillips
We gotta have a clear term for people so cynical they become gullible.
November 12, 2025 at 4:55 PM
We gotta have a clear term for people so cynical they become gullible.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
marx was anti-capitalist in the sense that he longed for what (he thought) would come after; these days it seems many anti-capitalists are anticapitalists insofar as they long for what came before
November 12, 2025 at 3:30 PM
marx was anti-capitalist in the sense that he longed for what (he thought) would come after; these days it seems many anti-capitalists are anticapitalists insofar as they long for what came before
Reposted by Shane Phillips
IT GOT BETTER
📍Central MN
📍Central MN
November 12, 2025 at 3:05 AM
IT GOT BETTER
📍Central MN
📍Central MN
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Great piece about where the post-SB 79 housing policy conversation is headed: reducing costs, speeding permitting, easing financing, and making new apartment buildings more beautiful for the neighbors and livable for their residents.
Will the YIMBY ‘Holy Grail’ Deliver an LA Building Boom?
Supporters of the California zoning reform bill SB 79 say it will unleash a wave of multistory apartment buildings. In low-rise-loving Los Angeles, that could be a tall order.
www.bloomberg.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Great piece about where the post-SB 79 housing policy conversation is headed: reducing costs, speeding permitting, easing financing, and making new apartment buildings more beautiful for the neighbors and livable for their residents.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
“The Economic Policy Institute projects 861,000 U.S.-born construction workers could lose jobs if mass deportations continue.”
www.msn.com/en-us/money/...
www.msn.com/en-us/money/...
MSN
www.msn.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:16 AM
“The Economic Policy Institute projects 861,000 U.S.-born construction workers could lose jobs if mass deportations continue.”
www.msn.com/en-us/money/...
www.msn.com/en-us/money/...
Reposted by Shane Phillips
"Scared of Charlotte" is a whole new level of "scared of cities" that I'd never even considered possible
Rep. Pat Harrigan: "I have asked Josh Stein, our governor, to consider working with President Trump to allow the National Guard to come into Charlotte ... use the National Guard as a force multiplier and they can a lot of load off the Charlotte PD."
November 11, 2025 at 2:44 PM
"Scared of Charlotte" is a whole new level of "scared of cities" that I'd never even considered possible
Reposted by Shane Phillips
Check out the depth of this @thecacoast.bsky.social required parking lot for a new apartment building in Santa Monica. This looks like an expensive hole! Great news for renters. And I’m sure the neighbors will love all the additional cars this puts on the road.
November 11, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Check out the depth of this @thecacoast.bsky.social required parking lot for a new apartment building in Santa Monica. This looks like an expensive hole! Great news for renters. And I’m sure the neighbors will love all the additional cars this puts on the road.
Reposted by Shane Phillips
SEATTLE!!!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
November 11, 2025 at 12:16 AM
SEATTLE!!!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
We’ve now taken the lead by 91 votes! 🤯 This thing is certainly not over! Over 1,000 ballots have been challenged, so if you haven’t tracked your ballot yet get on it! Our trusty volunteers have been working hard to "cure" ballots so they count! We're so close!
Reposted by Shane Phillips
In this week's UCLA Housing Voice we speak with John Zeanah, Chief of Development and Infrastructure for the City of Memphis, and Andre Jones, an urbanist developer in the city, about a host of smaller-but-important code barriers to building missing middle housing www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/05/1...
Episode 101: Beyond Zoning with John Zeanah and Andre D. Jones (Incentives Series pt. 4)
Your city just legalized “missing middle” housing in its zoning code — now what? Looking at Memphis, Tennessee, we discuss the hidden non-zoning barriers to developing small apartment buildings.
www.lewis.ucla.edu
November 5, 2025 at 8:57 PM
In this week's UCLA Housing Voice we speak with John Zeanah, Chief of Development and Infrastructure for the City of Memphis, and Andre Jones, an urbanist developer in the city, about a host of smaller-but-important code barriers to building missing middle housing www.lewis.ucla.edu/2025/11/05/1...
Reposted by Shane Phillips
In 2018, then-Mayor Ada Colau called Barcelona’s new 30% inclusionary housing requirement for projects over 600m^2 a “paradigm shift,” making housing “a right and not a commodity.” It was supposed to produce 330 affordable units a year. The reality: just 31 affordable apartments in all these years.
Cuando se ha aprobó esta medida dije repetidamente que iba a ser un fracaso y que no construirían nada de vivienda asequible. Se ha probado en mil sitios y no funciona.
Acerté. www.lavanguardia.com/local/barcel...
Acerté. www.lavanguardia.com/local/barcel...
La reserva del 30% solo ha generado 31 nuevas viviendas protegidas en siete años en Barcelona
Otros 123 pisos disponen de licencia ya aprobada, mientras los gremios afectados reclaman un marco legal estable para poder despertar al sector de su letargo
www.lavanguardia.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:28 PM
In 2018, then-Mayor Ada Colau called Barcelona’s new 30% inclusionary housing requirement for projects over 600m^2 a “paradigm shift,” making housing “a right and not a commodity.” It was supposed to produce 330 affordable units a year. The reality: just 31 affordable apartments in all these years.