Payton Chung
@westnorth.com
Card-carrying urbanist since 1998; housing developer, author, museum docent, board member, single-issue #climate voter. Opine solely for myself. Ex-CHI, BOS, RDU ๐๐๐ดโโ๏ธ๐๐๏ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๏ธโ๐
Words @ggwash.org @citybuilder.bsky.social
Words @ggwash.org @citybuilder.bsky.social
Pinned
Payton Chung
@westnorth.com
ยท Nov 22
www.fastcompany.com
๐ new followers! #GreatestHits from the Other Site to get acquainted.
A 3750 sq. ft. McMansion is legal just about everywhere in America. But the exact same lot, with the exact same number of residential square feet, divided into eight tiny houses? No!
www.fastcompany.com/90348777/thi...
A 3750 sq. ft. McMansion is legal just about everywhere in America. But the exact same lot, with the exact same number of residential square feet, divided into eight tiny houses? No!
www.fastcompany.com/90348777/thi...
Reposted by Payton Chung
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 10:40 PM
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.
Reposted by Payton Chung
Congratulations again to everyone who legitimized MAHA
Breaking News: The EPA will stop considering lives saved when setting pollution limits and instead calculate only the cost to businesses.
E.P.A. to Stop Considering Lives Saved by Limiting Air Pollution
In a reversal, the agency plans to calculate only the cost to industry when setting pollution limits, and not the monetary value of saving human lives, documents show.
nyti.ms
January 12, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Congratulations again to everyone who legitimized MAHA
Reposted by Payton Chung
Never forget that our lives are worthless to them
Breaking News: The EPA will stop considering lives saved when setting pollution limits and instead calculate only the cost to businesses.
E.P.A. to Stop Considering Lives Saved by Limiting Air Pollution
In a reversal, the agency plans to calculate only the cost to industry when setting pollution limits, and not the monetary value of saving human lives, documents show.
nyti.ms
January 12, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Never forget that our lives are worthless to them
Once again, the man who bankrupted six casinos does not understand the value of a high credit rating, or what that even means.
BERNANKE/YELLEN/GREENSPAN JOINT STATEMENT:
โ.. this is how monetary policy is made in emerging markets ..โ
(via @apnews.com)
โ.. this is how monetary policy is made in emerging markets ..โ
(via @apnews.com)
January 12, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Once again, the man who bankrupted six casinos does not understand the value of a high credit rating, or what that even means.
Reposted by Payton Chung
Unlicensed drivers killed nearly 300 pedestrians, cyclists and motorists on city streets between 2021-2024 โ and their percentage share of the carnage soared in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, new city data analyzed by Streetsblog shows.
Unlicensed Drivers Comprise One-Quarter Of Street Fatalities: Data - Streetsblog New York City
Unlicensed drivers are now responsible for one-quarter of road fatalities โ and are linked to fatal crashes much more often now than pre-pandemic, a new Streetsblog analysis shows.
buff.ly
January 12, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Unlicensed drivers killed nearly 300 pedestrians, cyclists and motorists on city streets between 2021-2024 โ and their percentage share of the carnage soared in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, new city data analyzed by Streetsblog shows.
Reposted by Payton Chung
This is a cartoon about housing.
January 11, 2026 at 12:51 PM
This is a cartoon about housing.
Reposted by Payton Chung
Oregon's net population growth has slowed. But even if it stopped *completely*, state economists estimate we'd still need to add 50k more homes in the next 20 years.
That's because longer lives & smaller families mean we'll have many more small households. It's about 1/3 of all our future need.
That's because longer lives & smaller families mean we'll have many more small households. It's about 1/3 of all our future need.
January 9, 2026 at 8:35 PM
Oregon's net population growth has slowed. But even if it stopped *completely*, state economists estimate we'd still need to add 50k more homes in the next 20 years.
That's because longer lives & smaller families mean we'll have many more small households. It's about 1/3 of all our future need.
That's because longer lives & smaller families mean we'll have many more small households. It's about 1/3 of all our future need.
Reposted by Payton Chung
Legalize alley lots in DC! Send a letter COB 1/11, testify virtually 1/12! DC has hundreds of alley lots that could be sites for new homes, but regulatory restrictions make it difficult, if not impossible, to build. Support key reforms & demand removal of burdensome parking mandates! bit.ly/4qpJEAA
January 9, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Legalize alley lots in DC! Send a letter COB 1/11, testify virtually 1/12! DC has hundreds of alley lots that could be sites for new homes, but regulatory restrictions make it difficult, if not impossible, to build. Support key reforms & demand removal of burdensome parking mandates! bit.ly/4qpJEAA
Reposted by Payton Chung
USDOT and a major outlet areย framing DC's traffic cameras as a cash grab. They'reย essential for keeping people safe on our streets. But the revenues should go to Vision Zero as the Council planned, not DC's general budget.
What the Politico story got wrong about automated traffic enforcement, and what it got right
View this post on ggwash.org
ggwash.org
January 9, 2026 at 6:00 PM
USDOT and a major outlet areย framing DC's traffic cameras as a cash grab. They'reย essential for keeping people safe on our streets. But the revenues should go to Vision Zero as the Council planned, not DC's general budget.
Reposted by Payton Chung
"He has ... sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people. ... He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislatures."
The Declaration of Independence was referring to King George, but the description also fits the dictator Trump.
The Declaration of Independence was referring to King George, but the description also fits the dictator Trump.
January 7, 2026 at 5:55 PM
"He has ... sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people. ... He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislatures."
The Declaration of Independence was referring to King George, but the description also fits the dictator Trump.
The Declaration of Independence was referring to King George, but the description also fits the dictator Trump.
Reposted by Payton Chung
ICE caught shooting & lying yet again.
In Maryland case, ICE says van driver tried to run over agents & passenger was injured when car crashed into tree.
Local police now report that injured man was arrested hours earlier & was in ICE vehicle at time of crash.
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
In Maryland case, ICE says van driver tried to run over agents & passenger was injured when car crashed into tree.
Local police now report that injured man was arrested hours earlier & was in ICE vehicle at time of crash.
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
Anne Arundel County Police dispute ICEโs account of Glen Burnie shooting
A deadly shooting by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis on Wednesday renewed scrutiny of a violent Christmas Eve incident involving ICE agents in Glen Burnie, with Anne Arundel County ...
www.thebanner.com
January 9, 2026 at 1:48 PM
ICE caught shooting & lying yet again.
In Maryland case, ICE says van driver tried to run over agents & passenger was injured when car crashed into tree.
Local police now report that injured man was arrested hours earlier & was in ICE vehicle at time of crash.
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
In Maryland case, ICE says van driver tried to run over agents & passenger was injured when car crashed into tree.
Local police now report that injured man was arrested hours earlier & was in ICE vehicle at time of crash.
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
I have tried to make this point to him (and his coauthor agrees) but to no avail
January 9, 2026 at 1:52 PM
I have tried to make this point to him (and his coauthor agrees) but to no avail
In the south Atlantic (Richmond Fed) region, it's about half of one percent
www.richmondfed.org/publications...
www.richmondfed.org/publications...
January 8, 2026 at 9:29 PM
In the south Atlantic (Richmond Fed) region, it's about half of one percent
www.richmondfed.org/publications...
www.richmondfed.org/publications...
Reposted by Payton Chung
"...it's also important to remember the role that car dependency itself plays in our housing crisis, and how inextricably intertwined the two crises are." - @keawilson.bsky.social
The 'Affordability Crisis' Conversation Can't Leave Out the Cost of Cars โ Streetsblog USA
We can't talk about Americans' empty wallets without talking about our empty buses and sidewalks and overall dependence on automobiles.
usa.streetsblog.org
January 8, 2026 at 12:56 PM
"...it's also important to remember the role that car dependency itself plays in our housing crisis, and how inextricably intertwined the two crises are." - @keawilson.bsky.social
"Many companies see $50 a barrel as a threshold below which it becomes unprofitable to drill... the president's backers in the oil industry might not be happy."
Potential all-time backfire. Decades of reckless boom/bust cycles, finally tamed by an improbable and industrywide commitment capital allocation discipline. Only to be blown up by a $50/bbl federal policy from the administration the industry was so determined to elect.
Exclusive | Trump Team Works Up Sweeping Plan to Control Venezuelan Oil for Years to Come
The U.S. president believes the effort could lower oil prices to his target price of $50 a barrel.
www.wsj.com
January 8, 2026 at 9:14 PM
"Many companies see $50 a barrel as a threshold below which it becomes unprofitable to drill... the president's backers in the oil industry might not be happy."
Looks like bubbles from the pickle brine fountain (I guess that's where you take the shots)
January 8, 2026 at 12:55 AM
Looks like bubbles from the pickle brine fountain (I guess that's where you take the shots)
The result in NL: "reduce[d] mobility and housing opportunities for low-income renters" and immigrants
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
January 7, 2026 at 10:07 PM
The result in NL: "reduce[d] mobility and housing opportunities for low-income renters" and immigrants
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Payton Chung
As I wrote recently in @newrepublic.com, the notion of state protectors bringing charges against federal agents acting outside the bounds of their authority is perfectly plausible and probably necessary
Prosecuting ICEโs Goons Will Be Hardโbut Not Impossible
To a growing number of Americans, the necessity of holding the fashy agency to account is becoming obvious. Better start planning how to do it now.
newrepublic.com
January 7, 2026 at 7:05 PM
As I wrote recently in @newrepublic.com, the notion of state protectors bringing charges against federal agents acting outside the bounds of their authority is perfectly plausible and probably necessary
Reposted by Payton Chung
"itโs about fleecing people without representation"
Incredibly unselfconscious statement from a Congressperson from another state seeking to override the will of DC voters who have had traffic cameras since 1999 and have no vote in Congress
Incredibly unselfconscious statement from a Congressperson from another state seeking to override the will of DC voters who have had traffic cameras since 1999 and have no vote in Congress
January 7, 2026 at 6:45 PM
"itโs about fleecing people without representation"
Incredibly unselfconscious statement from a Congressperson from another state seeking to override the will of DC voters who have had traffic cameras since 1999 and have no vote in Congress
Incredibly unselfconscious statement from a Congressperson from another state seeking to override the will of DC voters who have had traffic cameras since 1999 and have no vote in Congress
Reposted by Payton Chung
Trump says he will ban large investors from buying single family homes, but a ban is misguided.
See what I wrote about corporate bans for Forbes last year:
See what I wrote about corporate bans for Forbes last year:
January 7, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Trump says he will ban large investors from buying single family homes, but a ban is misguided.
See what I wrote about corporate bans for Forbes last year:
See what I wrote about corporate bans for Forbes last year:
Reposted by Payton Chung
I hope journalists remember that every single thing this administration says is a lie
US Dept of Ethnic Cleansing released the following regarding the ICE agent who murdered a woman in her vehicle.
They called the woman trying to turn her car around a โrioterโ who committed an โact of domestic terrorism.โ
They called the woman trying to turn her car around a โrioterโ who committed an โact of domestic terrorism.โ
January 7, 2026 at 5:57 PM
I hope journalists remember that every single thing this administration says is a lie
Reposted by Payton Chung
I know people on this website are likely to be more amenable to this than I am, but I want to stress that institutional investor purchases of single family homes are a microscopic share of the market and so youโre basically not gonna see material changes in home prices from this
TRUMP: I AM IMMEDIATELY TAKING STEPS TO BAN LARGE INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS FROM BUYING MORE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES
January 7, 2026 at 5:54 PM
I know people on this website are likely to be more amenable to this than I am, but I want to stress that institutional investor purchases of single family homes are a microscopic share of the market and so youโre basically not gonna see material changes in home prices from this
Reposted by Payton Chung
Two research papers explain why more housing is good for you, even if you wonโt be living in it.
Housing built for other people saves you money
View this post on ggwash.org
ggwash.org
January 7, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Two research papers explain why more housing is good for you, even if you wonโt be living in it.
Reposted by Payton Chung
In โUnlearned lessons and misplaced hopes,โ Hulya Gilbert, Marco te Brรถmmelstroet and Ian Woodcock ask: โHow has car-oriented urbanism, with increasingly significant social, economic and environmental costs, come to dominate for more than a century?โ ...
January 5, 2026 at 3:51 PM
In โUnlearned lessons and misplaced hopes,โ Hulya Gilbert, Marco te Brรถmmelstroet and Ian Woodcock ask: โHow has car-oriented urbanism, with increasingly significant social, economic and environmental costs, come to dominate for more than a century?โ ...
