ansel
@ansel.lundberg.com
YIMBY in Sacramento.
professional electric grid understander.
sharks 🦈🏒 and kings 💜🏀 fan.
we live in a society.
he/him
professional electric grid understander.
sharks 🦈🏒 and kings 💜🏀 fan.
we live in a society.
he/him
Pinned
Reposted by ansel
“YIMBYs are the real estate lobby” demonstrates some basic misunderstanding about the state of housing politics in this country.
November 30, 2025 at 9:27 PM
“YIMBYs are the real estate lobby” demonstrates some basic misunderstanding about the state of housing politics in this country.
Reposted by ansel
and that is the amount of debt we hit if nothing in the next four years pops this bubble. and unlike MBS, this is not debt where the synthetic securities were hypothetically decorrelated to the point where they were as safe as euro sovereign debt
The residential mortgage market was simply like 2 orders of magnitude bigger than the tech debt right now.
Like people are talking about 3 trillion in tech debt by 2028. There was 10 trillion in MBS in 2008 (not including the private insurer issues, weird derivatives).
Like people are talking about 3 trillion in tech debt by 2028. There was 10 trillion in MBS in 2008 (not including the private insurer issues, weird derivatives).
November 29, 2025 at 4:03 AM
and that is the amount of debt we hit if nothing in the next four years pops this bubble. and unlike MBS, this is not debt where the synthetic securities were hypothetically decorrelated to the point where they were as safe as euro sovereign debt
Reposted by ansel
Still thinking about this article. It’s always been a sore spot in YIMBY circles that so many progressive foundations pour money into NIMBYism, and I’m glad it’s finally being aired in public. Keep talking about it. www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/philant...
Philanthropy Needs to Pick a Side on the Housing Construction Debate
Despite California’s severe housing shortage, foundations are still funding on the wrong side of the housing fight there, guest author Ned Resnikoff writes.
www.insidephilanthropy.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Still thinking about this article. It’s always been a sore spot in YIMBY circles that so many progressive foundations pour money into NIMBYism, and I’m glad it’s finally being aired in public. Keep talking about it. www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/philant...
Reposted by ansel
Reposted by ansel
There’s clearly an AI backlash brewing across the political spectrum and I think liberal intellectuals should be developing what accountability and governance for what AI looks like going forward. It would be bad if we vacillated from laissez faire boosterism to idk Ludditism for data centers.
November 26, 2025 at 7:29 PM
There’s clearly an AI backlash brewing across the political spectrum and I think liberal intellectuals should be developing what accountability and governance for what AI looks like going forward. It would be bad if we vacillated from laissez faire boosterism to idk Ludditism for data centers.
Reposted by ansel
Zev Yaroslavsky has so much to answer for.
What happens when you downzone?
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Our new open-access research paper in @findingspress.org investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago.
Findings:
—Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas;
—Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
Downzoning Chicago: How Local Land Use Policy Has Reduced Housing Construction and Reinforced Segregation | Published in Findings
By Yonah Freemark, George Kisiel. Downzonings were used by US cities in the postwar period to preserve neighborhood character. These land-use policies were associated with lower housing supply, higher...
findingspress.org
November 26, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Zev Yaroslavsky has so much to answer for.
This makes me hate LA politicians even more than I already do, which I didn’t think was possible
(also, did Americans forget San Diego exists, which may be the greatest US metro on the merits but is also extremely $$$?)
(also, did Americans forget San Diego exists, which may be the greatest US metro on the merits but is also extremely $$$?)
Bluesky: “Obviously the housing crisis is the only reason anyone would choose to live outside of NYC”
Actual Americans: “Vegas, baby!”
Actual Americans: “Vegas, baby!”
November 27, 2025 at 5:56 AM
This makes me hate LA politicians even more than I already do, which I didn’t think was possible
(also, did Americans forget San Diego exists, which may be the greatest US metro on the merits but is also extremely $$$?)
(also, did Americans forget San Diego exists, which may be the greatest US metro on the merits but is also extremely $$$?)
Reposted by ansel
God this is so depressing given the political response to it
"the economic response to the pandemic really worked. Indeed, there is a good case that it was the most successful example of countercyclical policy in US history." jwmason.org/slackwire/at...
At Groundwork: Lessons from the September Jobs Report – J. W. Mason
jwmason.org
November 26, 2025 at 9:34 PM
God this is so depressing given the political response to it
Reposted by ansel
It’s sad that “soldiers shouldn’t commit crimes” is a brave position for a Republican to take.
November 25, 2025 at 11:48 PM
It’s sad that “soldiers shouldn’t commit crimes” is a brave position for a Republican to take.
Do not repeat this insight
November 25, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Do not repeat this insight
Reposted by ansel
Paul’s at the forefront of American housing policy. Tying together YIMBYism, public finance, and public development, he’s building *the model* for American social housing.
Now he’s been appointed to Zohran’s Transition Committee on Housing. We at @publicenterprise.bsky.social couldn’t be prouder!
Now he’s been appointed to Zohran’s Transition Committee on Housing. We at @publicenterprise.bsky.social couldn’t be prouder!
November 24, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Paul’s at the forefront of American housing policy. Tying together YIMBYism, public finance, and public development, he’s building *the model* for American social housing.
Now he’s been appointed to Zohran’s Transition Committee on Housing. We at @publicenterprise.bsky.social couldn’t be prouder!
Now he’s been appointed to Zohran’s Transition Committee on Housing. We at @publicenterprise.bsky.social couldn’t be prouder!
Reposted by ansel
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by ansel
another evergreen
November 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
another evergreen
Reposted by ansel
interesting fact: noah smith is part of an ongoing experiment designed to see how much you could smooth a person’s brain out before they can no longer function
November 24, 2025 at 4:01 AM
interesting fact: noah smith is part of an ongoing experiment designed to see how much you could smooth a person’s brain out before they can no longer function
Reposted by ansel
Reading California’s Urban Strategy for California from Spring 1978 (Jerry Brown 1.0 administration).
Struck by this section on transportation funding:
h/t @cafedujord.bsky.social
Struck by this section on transportation funding:
h/t @cafedujord.bsky.social
November 22, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Reading California’s Urban Strategy for California from Spring 1978 (Jerry Brown 1.0 administration).
Struck by this section on transportation funding:
h/t @cafedujord.bsky.social
Struck by this section on transportation funding:
h/t @cafedujord.bsky.social
Reposted by ansel
Eyes widened as dish after dish was brought to the table. Spiced apple and damson pie, jugs of pennycloud cordial! One large basin o' barley and leek soup! Wheels of brown nutcheese, hot loaves of hazelnut and almond bread! Arrowroot an' almond slices with strawberry preserves!
November 22, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Eyes widened as dish after dish was brought to the table. Spiced apple and damson pie, jugs of pennycloud cordial! One large basin o' barley and leek soup! Wheels of brown nutcheese, hot loaves of hazelnut and almond bread! Arrowroot an' almond slices with strawberry preserves!
Reposted by ansel
We can't expect rural areas to design and deliver intercity rail projects by themselves. Caltrans' understaffing of rail and transit hurts rural areas and outer suburbs - who seldom have well-staffed transit agencies of their own - the most.
Not only is 3% of CA's transportation budget for transit agencies, the vast majority of that huge Caltrans budget supports highway projects - while rail gets the scraps. We need a #JustTransitionForCaltrans that shifts those workers into delivering green rail projects quickly and cost effectively.
November 22, 2025 at 12:32 AM
We can't expect rural areas to design and deliver intercity rail projects by themselves. Caltrans' understaffing of rail and transit hurts rural areas and outer suburbs - who seldom have well-staffed transit agencies of their own - the most.
Reposted by ansel
This piece is based on research showing that since 2018 major foundations have given more than a quarter of a billion dollars to nonprofits that went on to oppose YIMBY legislation in California
New from me for Inside Philanthropy: California foundations need to decide whether they genuinely want to improve housing affordability or would rather keep funding NIMBY obstructionism in Sacramento. www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/philant...
Philanthropy Needs to Pick a Side on the Housing Construction Debate
Despite California’s severe housing shortage, foundations are still funding on the wrong side of the housing fight there, guest author Ned Resnikoff writes.
www.insidephilanthropy.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:53 PM
This piece is based on research showing that since 2018 major foundations have given more than a quarter of a billion dollars to nonprofits that went on to oppose YIMBY legislation in California
Reposted by ansel
In a city full of NIMBYs, Connie Chan is one of the biggest. she’s also super anti-transit and opposed measure RR that saved Caltrain during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Scott has led the cause for almost every pro-housing and transit bill
Scott vs. Connie is the definition of good governance vs. bad
Meanwhile, Scott has led the cause for almost every pro-housing and transit bill
Scott vs. Connie is the definition of good governance vs. bad
November 21, 2025 at 12:23 AM
In a city full of NIMBYs, Connie Chan is one of the biggest. she’s also super anti-transit and opposed measure RR that saved Caltrain during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Scott has led the cause for almost every pro-housing and transit bill
Scott vs. Connie is the definition of good governance vs. bad
Meanwhile, Scott has led the cause for almost every pro-housing and transit bill
Scott vs. Connie is the definition of good governance vs. bad
"We Found Love" by Rihanna & Calvin Harris hits so so good on the dance floor.
November 20, 2025 at 5:15 AM
"We Found Love" by Rihanna & Calvin Harris hits so so good on the dance floor.
Reposted by ansel
I wrote about how Culver City became the first municipality in California (and likely the last for now) to ditch the ubiquitous two staircase requirement for mid-rises. As YIMBYs turn to impediments to construction beyond zoning, Culver City is an early test case.
calmatters.org/housing/2025...
calmatters.org/housing/2025...
One California city’s idea to tackle the housing crisis: Take the stairs
For champions of more housing development, ditching the extra staircase has become a buzzy cause in fighting California's housing crisis.
calmatters.org
November 17, 2025 at 5:42 PM
I wrote about how Culver City became the first municipality in California (and likely the last for now) to ditch the ubiquitous two staircase requirement for mid-rises. As YIMBYs turn to impediments to construction beyond zoning, Culver City is an early test case.
calmatters.org/housing/2025...
calmatters.org/housing/2025...
In the process of looking for an answer to this prompt, I recalled the existence of OceanLab's Sirens of the Sea which is a truly incredible album (and lifechanging for me) but it technically came out the year I turned 15 (2008).
November 17, 2025 at 5:27 AM
In the process of looking for an answer to this prompt, I recalled the existence of OceanLab's Sirens of the Sea which is a truly incredible album (and lifechanging for me) but it technically came out the year I turned 15 (2008).
Reposted by ansel
1/ If you're interested in housing and the debates within the Democratic party about how much is needed and how to get it built, you need to read this profile of CA NIMBY slayer @scottwiener.bsky.social by @jetjocko.bsky.social.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Scott Wiener Defeated California’s NIMBYs. Can He Fix America’s Housing Crisis?
By running for Nancy Pelosi's seat, he's putting the "Abundance" theory to the test.
www.motherjones.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:59 PM
1/ If you're interested in housing and the debates within the Democratic party about how much is needed and how to get it built, you need to read this profile of CA NIMBY slayer @scottwiener.bsky.social by @jetjocko.bsky.social.
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
I keep coming back to this @gregshill.com piece. I disagree with some of the framing but it rings more and more true each month this year as roadway fatalities climb past last year’s record for yet another year.
I keep coming back to this @gregshill.com piece. I disagree with some of the framing but it rings more and more true each month this year as roadway fatalities climb past last year’s record for yet another year.
Reckless Driving Isn’t Just a Design Problem
Road-safety activists convinced themselves that law enforcement was unnecessary.
www.theatlantic.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:09 PM
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
I keep coming back to this @gregshill.com piece. I disagree with some of the framing but it rings more and more true each month this year as roadway fatalities climb past last year’s record for yet another year.
I keep coming back to this @gregshill.com piece. I disagree with some of the framing but it rings more and more true each month this year as roadway fatalities climb past last year’s record for yet another year.