Stephen Jacob Smith
@stephenjacobsmith.com
Executive director of the Center for Building in North America, [email protected]. Personal account. Brooklyn, NY.
Reposted by Stephen Jacob Smith
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Reposted by Stephen Jacob Smith
This was fascinating and radicalizing.
The United States has the fewest elevators in the rich world, with Canada only a bit ahead. We teamed up with @uytaelee.bsky.social of About Here Videos to investigate why, exactly, North America sucks at elevators.
North America's Elevator Problem
YouTube video by About Here
youtu.be
January 11, 2026 at 10:56 PM
This was fascinating and radicalizing.
Reposted by Stephen Jacob Smith
NEW VIDEO: North America’s Elevator’s Problem
Elevators are absolutely essential to modern cities..... and it turns out North America kind of sucks at them. We partnered with @sightline.org to look into the many issues plaguing our elevator industry, and what it might take to fix it.
Elevators are absolutely essential to modern cities..... and it turns out North America kind of sucks at them. We partnered with @sightline.org to look into the many issues plaguing our elevator industry, and what it might take to fix it.
The United States has the fewest elevators in the rich world, with Canada only a bit ahead. We teamed up with @uytaelee.bsky.social of About Here Videos to investigate why, exactly, North America sucks at elevators.
North America's Elevator Problem
YouTube video by About Here
youtu.be
January 11, 2026 at 11:02 PM
NEW VIDEO: North America’s Elevator’s Problem
Elevators are absolutely essential to modern cities..... and it turns out North America kind of sucks at them. We partnered with @sightline.org to look into the many issues plaguing our elevator industry, and what it might take to fix it.
Elevators are absolutely essential to modern cities..... and it turns out North America kind of sucks at them. We partnered with @sightline.org to look into the many issues plaguing our elevator industry, and what it might take to fix it.
Does the SEPTA Broad Street Line express run faster than the NYC express lines? This feels like the closest thing America has to high-speed rail
January 11, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Does the SEPTA Broad Street Line express run faster than the NYC express lines? This feels like the closest thing America has to high-speed rail
Kinda hate the term “stacked” anything. Stacked flats, stacked townhouses – I don’t know what these things mean.
January 11, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Kinda hate the term “stacked” anything. Stacked flats, stacked townhouses – I don’t know what these things mean.
“Companies may have a clearer path ahead after federal regulators in August proposed a rule paving the way for more drones to operate beyond so-called visual line of sight. A requirement that drones remain within sight of a human minder had been a major hurdle to expanding the delivery method.”
"Walmart Expanding Drone Delivery to Hundreds More Stores"
www.wsj.com
January 11, 2026 at 5:13 PM
“Companies may have a clearer path ahead after federal regulators in August proposed a rule paving the way for more drones to operate beyond so-called visual line of sight. A requirement that drones remain within sight of a human minder had been a major hurdle to expanding the delivery method.”
Anybody know where I can find floor plans for 1211-1221 Noble St. in Philadelphia? I’m confused about how the architect met the second stair requirement for these buildings (or maybe the third and fourth floors are duplexed and the building department only required one stair as a result?)
January 11, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Anybody know where I can find floor plans for 1211-1221 Noble St. in Philadelphia? I’m confused about how the architect met the second stair requirement for these buildings (or maybe the third and fourth floors are duplexed and the building department only required one stair as a result?)
Reposted by Stephen Jacob Smith
> The data itself won’t be stored in one perpetual, city-wide map as security and business concerns ruled out the idea of a merged database early on
Ugh, hope we get there after all
Ugh, hope we get there after all
January 11, 2026 at 3:18 PM
> The data itself won’t be stored in one perpetual, city-wide map as security and business concerns ruled out the idea of a merged database early on
Ugh, hope we get there after all
Ugh, hope we get there after all
Reposted by Stephen Jacob Smith
Did you see that they’re going to try a new underground digital map? I didn’t see much press on it besides for an email from Adams www.enr.com/articles/620...
All-Utility Underground Map Coming for New York City
Instead of having utility representatives mark each site, 3D Underground would let project planners work more independently.
www.enr.com
January 11, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Did you see that they’re going to try a new underground digital map? I didn’t see much press on it besides for an email from Adams www.enr.com/articles/620...
Congratulations to Judge Alvin Hellerstein on turning 92 years old in December! He is presiding over Maduro’s case www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
Meet the 92-Year-Old Judge Presiding Over the Trial of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro
Despite Judge Alvin Hellerstein’s respected record, his age is raising questions about his ability to preside over a matter that could drag on for years.
www.wsj.com
January 11, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Congratulations to Judge Alvin Hellerstein on turning 92 years old in December! He is presiding over Maduro’s case www.wsj.com/us-news/law/...
Worrisome that city construction costs in NYC have gotten so out of hand that to get public toilet costs down to the low six figures each, we need to do away with running water and sewer connections www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/n...
January 11, 2026 at 1:42 PM
Worrisome that city construction costs in NYC have gotten so out of hand that to get public toilet costs down to the low six figures each, we need to do away with running water and sewer connections www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/n...
This is such an upsetting stock image. That’s not what’s supposed to happen to tortillas, nevermind corn ones.
California now requires corn masa flour to contain folic acid to reduce birth defects among Latinos. Public health officials have lauded these efforts, but some conservatives say it’s another form of government overreach.
California is adding a supplement to tortillas. RFK Jr. calls it ‘insanity’.
California now requires corn masa flour to contain folic acid to reduce birth defects among Latinos. Some conservatives oppose it, citing government overreach.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 11, 2026 at 1:34 PM
This is such an upsetting stock image. That’s not what’s supposed to happen to tortillas, nevermind corn ones.
Reposted by Stephen Jacob Smith
Kerrostaloissa nurkkahuoneiden mahdollisuuksia kannattaa hyödyntää, totesi Julius Jääskeläinen @ark-brut.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy viime vuonna eräässä esityksessään.
Tässä oiva kotimainen esimerkki, jossa kaksioiden ja kolmioiden olohuoneista saatu näkymiä jopa 3 ilmansuuntaan.
Ark. Eino Tuompo.
Tässä oiva kotimainen esimerkki, jossa kaksioiden ja kolmioiden olohuoneista saatu näkymiä jopa 3 ilmansuuntaan.
Ark. Eino Tuompo.
January 11, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Kerrostaloissa nurkkahuoneiden mahdollisuuksia kannattaa hyödyntää, totesi Julius Jääskeläinen @ark-brut.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy viime vuonna eräässä esityksessään.
Tässä oiva kotimainen esimerkki, jossa kaksioiden ja kolmioiden olohuoneista saatu näkymiä jopa 3 ilmansuuntaan.
Ark. Eino Tuompo.
Tässä oiva kotimainen esimerkki, jossa kaksioiden ja kolmioiden olohuoneista saatu näkymiä jopa 3 ilmansuuntaan.
Ark. Eino Tuompo.
Environmentalists should’ve taken the source-neutral permitting reform deals when they had the chancel
Republicans forced the Bureau of Land Management to put over 20,000 acres of public land in Colorado up for auction at the discount price of $10/acre with reduced royalty rates for oil and gas drilling.
No one bid for it because demand for oil is crashing though. 🔌💡
www.cpr.org/2026/01/09/b...
No one bid for it because demand for oil is crashing though. 🔌💡
www.cpr.org/2026/01/09/b...
Bureau of Land Management oil and gas auction gets zero bids in Colorado
The Trump administration wants to expand drilling on public lands, but oil and gas developers expressed zero interest in Thursday’s sale.
www.cpr.org
January 11, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Environmentalists should’ve taken the source-neutral permitting reform deals when they had the chancel
Reposted by Stephen Jacob Smith
New research confirms what many of us see: there's a large internal migration of LGBTQ people in the US, especially trans people, to friendlier states & cities.
Since 11/2024, 9% of all trans people have moved to another state, 43% have considered moving.
www.mapresearch.org/2025-norc-su...
Since 11/2024, 9% of all trans people have moved to another state, 43% have considered moving.
www.mapresearch.org/2025-norc-su...
January 10, 2026 at 7:17 PM
New research confirms what many of us see: there's a large internal migration of LGBTQ people in the US, especially trans people, to friendlier states & cities.
Since 11/2024, 9% of all trans people have moved to another state, 43% have considered moving.
www.mapresearch.org/2025-norc-su...
Since 11/2024, 9% of all trans people have moved to another state, 43% have considered moving.
www.mapresearch.org/2025-norc-su...
Just watched this Ossetian movie (Unclenching the Fists on Mubi), in which the main character has health issues from being involved in the Beslan school siege, and it just got me thinking about how wild the whole Chechen (?) terrorism (?) spree in the early 2000s was
January 11, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Just watched this Ossetian movie (Unclenching the Fists on Mubi), in which the main character has health issues from being involved in the Beslan school siege, and it just got me thinking about how wild the whole Chechen (?) terrorism (?) spree in the early 2000s was
Based on the bathroom, what cuisine would you say this restaurant was serving?
January 11, 2026 at 12:22 AM
Based on the bathroom, what cuisine would you say this restaurant was serving?
Reposted by Stephen Jacob Smith
PennDOT got bullied into designing subway stations without mezzanines and the per-station cost was pegged at $120M each. Unfortunately we're also broke
January 10, 2026 at 9:36 PM
PennDOT got bullied into designing subway stations without mezzanines and the per-station cost was pegged at $120M each. Unfortunately we're also broke
Something I've noticed: GOP state lawmakers who intro single-stair or elevator reform bills are often themselves in construction. Rep. Mike Jones in MO owns a painting company, Rep. Doug Miller in IN is a homebuilder and active in NAHB, Gov. Bill Lee in TN was an HVAC contractor (among other things)
January 10, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Something I've noticed: GOP state lawmakers who intro single-stair or elevator reform bills are often themselves in construction. Rep. Mike Jones in MO owns a painting company, Rep. Doug Miller in IN is a homebuilder and active in NAHB, Gov. Bill Lee in TN was an HVAC contractor (among other things)
Reposted by Stephen Jacob Smith
There is just zero medium/long range planning capacity and corresponding high-level ability to design and scope anywhere in the American transit universe — a problem we rediscover every 20 years, and then lay everyone off five years subsequent to that rediscovery.
January 10, 2026 at 7:25 PM
There is just zero medium/long range planning capacity and corresponding high-level ability to design and scope anywhere in the American transit universe — a problem we rediscover every 20 years, and then lay everyone off five years subsequent to that rediscovery.
Reposted by Stephen Jacob Smith
A *30%* staffing cut at the FTA, which now only has ~500 people -- www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
January 10, 2026 at 7:20 PM
A *30%* staffing cut at the FTA, which now only has ~500 people -- www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
So is it normal Amtrak practice to close train doors on a NEC train 4 minutes before departure? I was later than I wanted to be because of subway issues, but still arrive 4 mins before departure – and the train just sat there with doors closed for 2 more mins before leaving 2 mins early!
January 10, 2026 at 6:08 PM
So is it normal Amtrak practice to close train doors on a NEC train 4 minutes before departure? I was later than I wanted to be because of subway issues, but still arrive 4 mins before departure – and the train just sat there with doors closed for 2 more mins before leaving 2 mins early!
Got asked to donate to a Dem candidate last year. I said only if I won’t be spammed. They said yes, I’ll delete immediately so it doesn’t get passed along. I now get at least half a dozen spam texts a day. Not giving a penny until they make this stop and guarantee it won’t happen again.
January 10, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Got asked to donate to a Dem candidate last year. I said only if I won’t be spammed. They said yes, I’ll delete immediately so it doesn’t get passed along. I now get at least half a dozen spam texts a day. Not giving a penny until they make this stop and guarantee it won’t happen again.
Reposted by Stephen Jacob Smith
Extremely cool policy job opening for anyone interested in transportation. Can be fully remote (US only)! www.metroabundance.org/jobs/transpo...
Transportation Research Associate - Metropolitan Abundance Project
The Organization The Metropolitan Abundance Project (MAP) works to make American cities prosperous, affordable, sustainable, and joyous places to live and raise families. We help advocates and legisla...
www.metroabundance.org
January 9, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Extremely cool policy job opening for anyone interested in transportation. Can be fully remote (US only)! www.metroabundance.org/jobs/transpo...
After all the complaints about Airbnbs displacing housing, now we’re complaining about replacing an empty two-story building with a real hotel? And an argument for preserving the old building is that the ground floor *used to be* a famous Senegalese restaurant? Spanish NIMBYism is on another level
January 10, 2026 at 2:36 PM
After all the complaints about Airbnbs displacing housing, now we’re complaining about replacing an empty two-story building with a real hotel? And an argument for preserving the old building is that the ground floor *used to be* a famous Senegalese restaurant? Spanish NIMBYism is on another level