Adrian Pietrzak
@zoningwonk.bsky.social
PhD student at Princeton studying urban politics and how to make our cities fairer and more affordable. He/him 🏳️🌈
apietrzak.org
apietrzak.org
I'm really sick of the liberal obsession of trying to understand rural people. Why don't conservatives ever try to understand urbanites?
NYTimes has truly outdone itself with this latest in its "ask white guys in diner" genre. Thank goodness we get a perspective on what's happening in Minneapolis from people in **Nisswa** who probably mean Brainerd when they say they "prefer not to go the city anymore" www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...
One State, Two Very Different Views of Minneapolis
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:29 PM
I'm really sick of the liberal obsession of trying to understand rural people. Why don't conservatives ever try to understand urbanites?
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
This is the dynamic across most of America: Liberal cities generate revenue, which state governments then transfer to benefit conservative rural areas, whose residents despite city-dwellers and consistently vote to harm them. But politicians endlessly pander to rural voters and demonize cities.
Another critical piece of missing context in this story: tax dollars flow from the MSP metro to rural Minnesota. People in the city subsidize the lifestyles of people living in the country minnesotareformer.com/2023/12/04/t...
January 15, 2026 at 3:48 PM
This is the dynamic across most of America: Liberal cities generate revenue, which state governments then transfer to benefit conservative rural areas, whose residents despite city-dwellers and consistently vote to harm them. But politicians endlessly pander to rural voters and demonize cities.
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
The Times went to non urban Minnesota to ask people why they dislike urban Minneapolis. If someone were to ask me to teach a journalism school course on helicopter reporting, this story - so cliche it’s almost hard to believe they really did this - would immediately go on the syllabus.
NYTimes has truly outdone itself with this latest in its "ask white guys in diner" genre. Thank goodness we get a perspective on what's happening in Minneapolis from people in **Nisswa** who probably mean Brainerd when they say they "prefer not to go the city anymore" www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...
One State, Two Very Different Views of Minneapolis
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:55 PM
The Times went to non urban Minnesota to ask people why they dislike urban Minneapolis. If someone were to ask me to teach a journalism school course on helicopter reporting, this story - so cliche it’s almost hard to believe they really did this - would immediately go on the syllabus.
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
Just straight up insane that the president saying openly and explicitly "we shouldn't even have elections" doesn't even merit a push alert.
I just got an alert about a college gambling ring, for God's sake
I just got an alert about a college gambling ring, for God's sake
Trump says a lot of deranged shit, but, per this Reuters article — and the threats of invoking the Insurrection Act in Minnesota this morning — he is very clearly exploring how to cancel the midterms.
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
January 15, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Just straight up insane that the president saying openly and explicitly "we shouldn't even have elections" doesn't even merit a push alert.
I just got an alert about a college gambling ring, for God's sake
I just got an alert about a college gambling ring, for God's sake
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
Trump says a lot of deranged shit, but, per this Reuters article — and the threats of invoking the Insurrection Act in Minnesota this morning — he is very clearly exploring how to cancel the midterms.
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
January 15, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Trump says a lot of deranged shit, but, per this Reuters article — and the threats of invoking the Insurrection Act in Minnesota this morning — he is very clearly exploring how to cancel the midterms.
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
www.reuters.com/world/us/fiv...
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
It’s go big or go home.
I want to scale us up to five gigawatts of nuclear power, more that's been built anywhere in the U.S. in the last 30 years.
I want to scale us up to five gigawatts of nuclear power, more that's been built anywhere in the U.S. in the last 30 years.
January 13, 2026 at 7:04 PM
It’s go big or go home.
I want to scale us up to five gigawatts of nuclear power, more that's been built anywhere in the U.S. in the last 30 years.
I want to scale us up to five gigawatts of nuclear power, more that's been built anywhere in the U.S. in the last 30 years.
Anyone on here combined and dedup'd the NYC DOB NOW and BIS Web datasets and have any pointers? Trying to read the tea leaves on how they're constructing their identifiers...
January 13, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Anyone on here combined and dedup'd the NYC DOB NOW and BIS Web datasets and have any pointers? Trying to read the tea leaves on how they're constructing their identifiers...
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
What could go wrong?
January 7, 2026 at 2:03 PM
What could go wrong?
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
New from me! Chicago has far too many bus stops to provide efficient service for its riders—nearly twice the national standard. I reimagined what Chicago's bus network could do to make it look like its peers.
citythatworks.substack.com/p/a-plan-for...
citythatworks.substack.com/p/a-plan-for...
A plan for faster buses
We can speed up the bus at (almost) no cost
citythatworks.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:42 PM
New from me! Chicago has far too many bus stops to provide efficient service for its riders—nearly twice the national standard. I reimagined what Chicago's bus network could do to make it look like its peers.
citythatworks.substack.com/p/a-plan-for...
citythatworks.substack.com/p/a-plan-for...
If only we could build competitive-authoritarian infrastructure projects at Mediterranean costs
The cost of Trump's White House ballroom has doubled over the past five months:
In late July, the White House said the vanity project would cost $200 million. Now, it's $400 million.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
In late July, the White House said the vanity project would cost $200 million. Now, it's $400 million.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
The cost of Trump’s White House ballroom has doubled over the past five months
In late July, the White House said the president’s vanity project would cost $200 million. Now, it’s $400 million.
www.ms.now
December 19, 2025 at 8:31 PM
If only we could build competitive-authoritarian infrastructure projects at Mediterranean costs
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
PHA's Kelvin Jeremiah, permitting reform advocate (you love to see it)
December 19, 2025 at 4:21 PM
PHA's Kelvin Jeremiah, permitting reform advocate (you love to see it)
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
You can spend more of the architecture budget on cool arches and improved pedestrian experiences if you don't have to break up the massing!
You may have noticed more contemporary arches and rounded corners around the city. Architecture critic Inga Saffron says it’s because the arch is making a comeback.
Grids are out, brick is back, and Philadelphia architects have rediscovered the arch
www.inquirer.com
December 19, 2025 at 4:40 PM
You can spend more of the architecture budget on cool arches and improved pedestrian experiences if you don't have to break up the massing!
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
Gov Hochul will veto a bill to require both a conductor and a driver on every subway train, according to two sources familiar with the decision. Story to follow. Details on the bill here:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/n...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/n...
Does the Subway Still Need Train Conductors?
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Gov Hochul will veto a bill to require both a conductor and a driver on every subway train, according to two sources familiar with the decision. Story to follow. Details on the bill here:
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/n...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/n...
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
Check out this cool interactive map of projects that will be breaking ground next year! Also the developer of the Pennsport tower got in touch and says that they will break ground in the first quarter of 2027. www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
These are the buildings to watch in Philly in 2026
Philly’s biggest development projects of 2026 could bring more than 2,500 new homes and apartments; 1,800 parking spaces; and 118,000 square feet of storage space.
www.inquirer.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Check out this cool interactive map of projects that will be breaking ground next year! Also the developer of the Pennsport tower got in touch and says that they will break ground in the first quarter of 2027. www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
Don’t threaten me with a good time.
December 18, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Don’t threaten me with a good time.
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
To all the young people in New York and across our country who count on gender-affirming care:
I won't let this administration come for you, your doctors, or your lifesaving health care.
Your health care is still legal and protected.
I'll always fight for you.
I won't let this administration come for you, your doctors, or your lifesaving health care.
Your health care is still legal and protected.
I'll always fight for you.
December 18, 2025 at 4:22 PM
To all the young people in New York and across our country who count on gender-affirming care:
I won't let this administration come for you, your doctors, or your lifesaving health care.
Your health care is still legal and protected.
I'll always fight for you.
I won't let this administration come for you, your doctors, or your lifesaving health care.
Your health care is still legal and protected.
I'll always fight for you.
Unfortunately NYC is too poor to implement real solutions like they can in affluent Bulgaria
December 18, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Unfortunately NYC is too poor to implement real solutions like they can in affluent Bulgaria
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
She's gotta veto this nonsense.
Looks like the TWU's 2TPO mandate bill has been delivered to Hochul's desk for signature/veto or chapter amendment -- www.nysenate.gov/legislation/...
NY State Assembly Bill 2025-A4873
Prohibits the operation of NYC transit authority subways or trains without at least one conductor on board; requires a conductor on any subway or train operated by such authority whenever the subway o...
www.nysenate.gov
December 9, 2025 at 10:06 PM
She's gotta veto this nonsense.
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
Important, exciting research — air pollution dropped 22% in NYC's congestion relief zone within the first 6 months of #CongestionPricing (with reductions in the surrounding neighborhoods, too)
Cleaner air, better transit, great data — all thanks to #CongestionPricing!
Cleaner air, better transit, great data — all thanks to #CongestionPricing!
December 9, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Important, exciting research — air pollution dropped 22% in NYC's congestion relief zone within the first 6 months of #CongestionPricing (with reductions in the surrounding neighborhoods, too)
Cleaner air, better transit, great data — all thanks to #CongestionPricing!
Cleaner air, better transit, great data — all thanks to #CongestionPricing!
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
I am generally a strong MTA defender but the refusal to buy open gangway subway cars is just so baffling and disappointing.
Subway cars last 40 years, we need to invest in open gangway trains that are safer, boost capacity, and reduce subway surfing
Subway cars last 40 years, we need to invest in open gangway trains that are safer, boost capacity, and reduce subway surfing
@davecolon.bsky.social:
“MTA Still Won’t Embrace Open Gangway Subway Cars:
The see-through cars have been standard across the globe for a generation, but to the MTA, it's still untested technology.” — nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/12/09/m...
“MTA Still Won’t Embrace Open Gangway Subway Cars:
The see-through cars have been standard across the globe for a generation, but to the MTA, it's still untested technology.” — nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/12/09/m...
MTA Still Won't Embrace Open Gangway Subway Cars - Streetsblog New York City
The see-through cars have been standard across the globe for a generation, but to the MTA, it's still untested technology.
nyc.streetsblog.org
December 9, 2025 at 2:04 PM
I am generally a strong MTA defender but the refusal to buy open gangway subway cars is just so baffling and disappointing.
Subway cars last 40 years, we need to invest in open gangway trains that are safer, boost capacity, and reduce subway surfing
Subway cars last 40 years, we need to invest in open gangway trains that are safer, boost capacity, and reduce subway surfing
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
In addition to all of the other benefits already reported about NYC congestion pricing, "In the first six months of the program, air pollution – in the form of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and smaller – dropped by 22% in the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ)"
news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...
news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...
Congestion pricing improved air quality in NYC and suburbs | Cornell Chronicle
Cornell researchers tallied the environmental benefits of New York City’s congestion pricing program and found air pollution dropped by 22% in Manhattan, with additional declines across the city’s fiv...
news.cornell.edu
December 9, 2025 at 2:19 AM
In addition to all of the other benefits already reported about NYC congestion pricing, "In the first six months of the program, air pollution – in the form of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and smaller – dropped by 22% in the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ)"
news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...
news.cornell.edu/stories/2025...
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
It would take 2 hours and 20 minutes to travel between Boston and Washington, D.C. at this speed.
This country is so behind, it's laughable.
This country is so behind, it's laughable.
December 6, 2025 at 5:15 PM
It would take 2 hours and 20 minutes to travel between Boston and Washington, D.C. at this speed.
This country is so behind, it's laughable.
This country is so behind, it's laughable.
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
The latest ICE arrest data crunched by data wiz @haidee.bsky.social who found 70% of people arrested by ICE in NYC had no criminal arrests or convictions, a much larger share than the rest of the country.
www.thecity.nyc/2025/12/05/i...
www.thecity.nyc/2025/12/05/i...
December 5, 2025 at 7:38 PM
The latest ICE arrest data crunched by data wiz @haidee.bsky.social who found 70% of people arrested by ICE in NYC had no criminal arrests or convictions, a much larger share than the rest of the country.
www.thecity.nyc/2025/12/05/i...
www.thecity.nyc/2025/12/05/i...
I dunno they say this is mostly online opt-in panels (have more extreme beliefs than random draws of the population) and they’re not weighting their sample of minority respondents to the distribution of the population - highly doubt this is representative in any way
Is there anyone currently monitoring the Spanish-language media environment? I know it was an absolute nightmare in 2024 and I worry that’s gotten worse and not better as I look at these numbers.
Oh this poll is fascinating
December 4, 2025 at 11:57 PM
I dunno they say this is mostly online opt-in panels (have more extreme beliefs than random draws of the population) and they’re not weighting their sample of minority respondents to the distribution of the population - highly doubt this is representative in any way
Reposted by Adrian Pietrzak
They actually passed a bill that says "there should be a special little place where crimes are legal"
Gov Hochul should VETO the bill that carves out Co-op City from bus lane enforcement.
It slows buses and worsens pollution. The state Legislature should not be getting involved in local transit decisions.
buff.ly/01VdEUW
It slows buses and worsens pollution. The state Legislature should not be getting involved in local transit decisions.
buff.ly/01VdEUW
December 4, 2025 at 11:13 PM
They actually passed a bill that says "there should be a special little place where crimes are legal"