Janne K. Flisrand
@jannefrommpls.bsky.social
Abundant housing. Justice. Dismantling oppression. Mpls politics. Observations from Zürich. She/her.
Once I got into neighborhoods along canals, Copenhagen showed its appeal. A morning crew rows along the canal and tall, narrow buildings line the strip of water.
November 27, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Once I got into neighborhoods along canals, Copenhagen showed its appeal. A morning crew rows along the canal and tall, narrow buildings line the strip of water.
My first impression of Copenhagen was one of huge, many-laned streets (yes, with protected bikeways on either side).
November 27, 2025 at 9:32 PM
My first impression of Copenhagen was one of huge, many-laned streets (yes, with protected bikeways on either side).
It's annoying that the US (also, my home country) successfully exported Black Friday. We have better things to offer than shopping culture.
(No, I don't want your Black Friday German language class offer, for 50% off French classes.)
(No, I don't want your Black Friday German language class offer, for 50% off French classes.)
November 26, 2025 at 7:01 AM
It's annoying that the US (also, my home country) successfully exported Black Friday. We have better things to offer than shopping culture.
(No, I don't want your Black Friday German language class offer, for 50% off French classes.)
(No, I don't want your Black Friday German language class offer, for 50% off French classes.)
Found another pretty door in my neighborhood.
November 24, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Found another pretty door in my neighborhood.
Half of a pair of... sculptures? seating areas? at the Wintertur, Switzerland train station. These stairs go nowhere, but to a platform you can stand on and watch people come and go.
November 23, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Half of a pair of... sculptures? seating areas? at the Wintertur, Switzerland train station. These stairs go nowhere, but to a platform you can stand on and watch people come and go.
When I lived in Mobutu's Zaïre, there had been internal war/conflict on average every 2 years, soldiers were sometimes paid in bullets, people bought durable goods they could resell to buy food when inflation was most extreme - at times 100% overnight when Mobutu needed ➡️ printed more money. 🧵
Nostalgia is rising in Congo for Mobutu Sese Seko — the kleptocratic strongman as a new museum exhibit glorifying him draws crowds in Kinshasa.
In DR Congo, exhibit reveals nostalgia for former dictator Mobutu
Nostalgia is rising in Congo for Mobutu Sese Seko — the kleptocratic strongman as a new museum exhibit glorifying him draws crowds in Kinshasa.
n.pr
November 23, 2025 at 7:58 PM
When I lived in Mobutu's Zaïre, there had been internal war/conflict on average every 2 years, soldiers were sometimes paid in bullets, people bought durable goods they could resell to buy food when inflation was most extreme - at times 100% overnight when Mobutu needed ➡️ printed more money. 🧵
I did a double-take walking past this thermoplastic sidewalk marking, then categorizing it as some sort of street art I didn't understand. Three doors later, I realized my error, that instead it marks where public sex work is legal.
November 22, 2025 at 9:33 PM
I did a double-take walking past this thermoplastic sidewalk marking, then categorizing it as some sort of street art I didn't understand. Three doors later, I realized my error, that instead it marks where public sex work is legal.
Reposted by Janne K. Flisrand
Reposted by Janne K. Flisrand
(1/5) In July, we asked organizations working to remove barriers to housing abundance at a local or state level or those supporting housing justice work with a focus on tenant's rights to apply for a subgrant.
Today we are excited to announce the four awardees!
moreneighbors.org/2025/11/18/2...
Today we are excited to announce the four awardees!
moreneighbors.org/2025/11/18/2...
November 18, 2025 at 9:00 PM
(1/5) In July, we asked organizations working to remove barriers to housing abundance at a local or state level or those supporting housing justice work with a focus on tenant's rights to apply for a subgrant.
Today we are excited to announce the four awardees!
moreneighbors.org/2025/11/18/2...
Today we are excited to announce the four awardees!
moreneighbors.org/2025/11/18/2...
River stone streets are being relaid in Basel, Switzerland, and I found one in-process. The rocks are set in what looks like a permeable concrete foundation. I'm not sure if they'll fill in the gaps with soil or concrete.
November 21, 2025 at 7:40 PM
River stone streets are being relaid in Basel, Switzerland, and I found one in-process. The rocks are set in what looks like a permeable concrete foundation. I'm not sure if they'll fill in the gaps with soil or concrete.
Reposted by Janne K. Flisrand
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...
Reposted by Janne K. Flisrand
19 November 1890 | Swiss Jewish woman, Marthe Bader (née Weil), was born in Basel. She lived in France during the war.
On 3 February 1944 she was deported from #Drancy to #Auschwitz and murdered in a gas chamber after the arrival selection.
On 3 February 1944 she was deported from #Drancy to #Auschwitz and murdered in a gas chamber after the arrival selection.
November 19, 2025 at 12:00 PM
19 November 1890 | Swiss Jewish woman, Marthe Bader (née Weil), was born in Basel. She lived in France during the war.
On 3 February 1944 she was deported from #Drancy to #Auschwitz and murdered in a gas chamber after the arrival selection.
On 3 February 1944 she was deported from #Drancy to #Auschwitz and murdered in a gas chamber after the arrival selection.
Reposted by Janne K. Flisrand
Also when you can count truly urban places on two hands that isn’t choice.
It’s almost impossible to measure what people prefer in an environment where all kinds of factors influence where and how people live. There’s also an obvious absence of choice in most of the country. I’d warn against saying any evidence is all-caps overwhelming one way or the other.
Right, this is true, but the OVERWHELMING evidence of the past 100 years of American life is that vastly more people want space and a car than a smaller unit and a car-free lifestyle. This is mostly why the suburban share of US population has grown relentlessly for the entire 20th and 21st century
November 19, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Also when you can count truly urban places on two hands that isn’t choice.
Found my first observed #Zürich pedestrian design fail, where signs attempt to tell people how to walk between a tram stop and a crosswalk.
To be continued...
To be continued...
November 18, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Found my first observed #Zürich pedestrian design fail, where signs attempt to tell people how to walk between a tram stop and a crosswalk.
To be continued...
To be continued...
When the built a new central library in #Zürich, they made sure to include this tunnel into the courtyard to maintain access to the 2-block-long Chorgasse.
November 17, 2025 at 7:22 PM
When the built a new central library in #Zürich, they made sure to include this tunnel into the courtyard to maintain access to the 2-block-long Chorgasse.
Reposted by Janne K. Flisrand
Roughly 40,000 people are killed in traffic crashes each year, with speeding contributing to nearly a third of those fatalities.
On #WDoR2025, we remember and honor those who have lost their lives and those who have been injured, and we act to implement evidence-based solutions to end this crisis.
On #WDoR2025, we remember and honor those who have lost their lives and those who have been injured, and we act to implement evidence-based solutions to end this crisis.
November 16, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Roughly 40,000 people are killed in traffic crashes each year, with speeding contributing to nearly a third of those fatalities.
On #WDoR2025, we remember and honor those who have lost their lives and those who have been injured, and we act to implement evidence-based solutions to end this crisis.
On #WDoR2025, we remember and honor those who have lost their lives and those who have been injured, and we act to implement evidence-based solutions to end this crisis.
Reposted by Janne K. Flisrand
“How can anyone believe in the ethics of the DFL when someone like this can remain in multiple party leadership positions, especially one determining appropriate conduct in the party?”
taylordahlin.com/f/the-dfls-c...
taylordahlin.com/f/the-dfls-c...
The DFL's Cyndy Martin Problem
On July 3, 2024, MN DFL CD8 chair Cyndy Martin hit and killed 19 year old Carter Haithcock, the father of a young son, as he walked along the road with her vehicle on the Iron Range near Nashwauk on h...
taylordahlin.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:55 AM
“How can anyone believe in the ethics of the DFL when someone like this can remain in multiple party leadership positions, especially one determining appropriate conduct in the party?”
taylordahlin.com/f/the-dfls-c...
taylordahlin.com/f/the-dfls-c...
The circus has come to #Zürich, I hear this one has live music, no animals, acrobatics, and a story. It set up 4 blocks from the main train station, in the heart of the city.
November 15, 2025 at 8:02 PM
The circus has come to #Zürich, I hear this one has live music, no animals, acrobatics, and a story. It set up 4 blocks from the main train station, in the heart of the city.
Fall sidewalks
November 14, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Fall sidewalks
Reposted by Janne K. Flisrand
The worst weather for biking is cars, and unfortunately it’s not seasonal
“Now show it in the rain,” is a comment that pops up in our feed occasionally, as if the country that cycles 18 billion kilometres while experiencing 217 days of precipitation each year grinds to a halt every single time the skies open.
There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad infrastructure.
There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad infrastructure.
November 14, 2025 at 4:21 PM
The worst weather for biking is cars, and unfortunately it’s not seasonal
Wandering Chur, Switzerland, no matter which direction you face, almost every street you look down, there is a mountain view at the end.
November 12, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Wandering Chur, Switzerland, no matter which direction you face, almost every street you look down, there is a mountain view at the end.