Reposted by Kaz
Seven-four, seven-four... @austinfootballclub.bsky.social
In 1978, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors downzoned the city, banning multifamily homes in many areas and sparking a decades-long affordability crisis.
47 years later, on a 7–4 vote, they passed the Family Zoning Plan to finally begin to undo that mistake.
The times, they are a-changin’!
47 years later, on a 7–4 vote, they passed the Family Zoning Plan to finally begin to undo that mistake.
The times, they are a-changin’!
December 3, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Seven-four, seven-four... @austinfootballclub.bsky.social
Reposted by Kaz
I do appreciate @sodrock.bsky.social hammering this whole bullshit apolitical military stuff. If following the law becomes partisan then either you join the party of the law you are supposed to apolically follow or be forced by the other party to break it
What being an apolitical military professional does to a mofo
December 2, 2025 at 3:15 AM
I do appreciate @sodrock.bsky.social hammering this whole bullshit apolitical military stuff. If following the law becomes partisan then either you join the party of the law you are supposed to apolically follow or be forced by the other party to break it
Reposted by Kaz
Learning that why California is Like That is because they spent ~2 decades more or less creating a landed aristocracy
And if you're not a Californian, you're probably wondering: "Huh? Inherit property taxes? Why would a $2M home pay just $1,300 per yr?"
You don't understand what makes us special:
-Prop 13 1978: Freeze-ish property taxes
-Prop 58 1986: Inherit from parents
-Prop 193 1996: Inherit from grandparents
You don't understand what makes us special:
-Prop 13 1978: Freeze-ish property taxes
-Prop 58 1986: Inherit from parents
-Prop 193 1996: Inherit from grandparents
December 2, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Learning that why California is Like That is because they spent ~2 decades more or less creating a landed aristocracy
Reposted by Kaz
The rule of law -
December 2, 2025 at 10:45 AM
The rule of law -
Reposted by Kaz
On this giving Tuesday, consider giving to a publication that will not hand it to Trump for his reasonable concerns gofund.me/a2ccdd485
December 2, 2025 at 12:07 PM
On this giving Tuesday, consider giving to a publication that will not hand it to Trump for his reasonable concerns gofund.me/a2ccdd485
These re-election posters are super cool! www.zoforaustin.com/get-involved-1
December 2, 2025 at 12:50 AM
These re-election posters are super cool! www.zoforaustin.com/get-involved-1
December 2, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Reposted by Kaz
This explains something that has always mystified me about drivers who rail against bike lanes and transit. Why WOULDN'T you want people to have options not to drive? It would make your own driving better! But they don't just want good traffic, they want to reinforce the NORM of driving
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 1:04 PM
This explains something that has always mystified me about drivers who rail against bike lanes and transit. Why WOULDN'T you want people to have options not to drive? It would make your own driving better! But they don't just want good traffic, they want to reinforce the NORM of driving
Reposted by Kaz
This is necessary
Handwritten and oral exams are making a comeback
AI is accelerating a tech backlash in American classrooms
Handwritten and oral exams are making a comeback
econ.st
November 30, 2025 at 7:32 PM
This is necessary
Reposted by Kaz
more on civlmil stuff here, but i think at the end of the day huntingtonism is a dead end. huntington thought that by becoming a soldier you stopped being a citizen and started being an apolitical warrior-monk.
but upholding the constitution is the duty of all citizens--no matter their profession.
but upholding the constitution is the duty of all citizens--no matter their profession.
Honestly, the entire thing strikes me as an example of terminal lawyer-brain. The truth is that the point at which a civilian authority is issuing manifestly unlawful orders, you've entered a state of exception and the truth is a soldier can end up being shot for obeying or refusing.
November 30, 2025 at 6:49 PM
more on civlmil stuff here, but i think at the end of the day huntingtonism is a dead end. huntington thought that by becoming a soldier you stopped being a citizen and started being an apolitical warrior-monk.
but upholding the constitution is the duty of all citizens--no matter their profession.
but upholding the constitution is the duty of all citizens--no matter their profession.
Reposted by Kaz
For the record, this is the point of having a “warrior” culture, to having notions of honor attached to the military profession is so that dishonor can is feared. Military service is honored but if you fail to uphold standards—including refusing illegal orders—you must be dishonored.
This is also why I hate hearing “it’s hard to disobey orders.” It’s hard to endure danger. It’s hard to not give up information. That’s precisely why there must be no ground given on the matter—when you bear arms, you take on that responsibility and must endure the consequences if you fail.
anyways read theory. american soldiers do not swear loyalty to the commander-in-chief. they swear loyalty to the constitution. the difference matters--not in sunny skies and good weather, but on bad days, when you are pressed to the breaking point--that is precisely when it matters most.
November 30, 2025 at 8:37 PM
For the record, this is the point of having a “warrior” culture, to having notions of honor attached to the military profession is so that dishonor can is feared. Military service is honored but if you fail to uphold standards—including refusing illegal orders—you must be dishonored.
Reposted by Kaz
This is also why I hate hearing “it’s hard to disobey orders.” It’s hard to endure danger. It’s hard to not give up information. That’s precisely why there must be no ground given on the matter—when you bear arms, you take on that responsibility and must endure the consequences if you fail.
anyways read theory. american soldiers do not swear loyalty to the commander-in-chief. they swear loyalty to the constitution. the difference matters--not in sunny skies and good weather, but on bad days, when you are pressed to the breaking point--that is precisely when it matters most.
November 30, 2025 at 7:15 PM
This is also why I hate hearing “it’s hard to disobey orders.” It’s hard to endure danger. It’s hard to not give up information. That’s precisely why there must be no ground given on the matter—when you bear arms, you take on that responsibility and must endure the consequences if you fail.
Reposted by Kaz
great rundown on the hidden role that fire departments play in anti-density pro-car design. i think it speaks also to my own bugbear about "defer to the professionals." professions are often both insular and narrow-minded, unwilling to weigh costs and concerns beyond their internal cultural foci
New post: a week of hectic back and forth with fire officials and city council over Berkeley street festivals brings out into the open a conflict in city halls across USA. Fire depts opposition to traffic calming and safety measures. Is there a solution?
darrellowens.substack.com/p/the-fire-d...
darrellowens.substack.com/p/the-fire-d...
The Fire Department vs. Traffic Safety Advocates
Street safety advocates are butting heads with fire officials. Swift fire response does not have to come at the cost of lives on the roadway.
darrellowens.substack.com
November 30, 2025 at 8:17 PM
great rundown on the hidden role that fire departments play in anti-density pro-car design. i think it speaks also to my own bugbear about "defer to the professionals." professions are often both insular and narrow-minded, unwilling to weigh costs and concerns beyond their internal cultural foci
🫡
Snowplow is already clearing Bloor bike lane for a 2nd time -- and it's only 9am! Thank you @mayoroliviachow.ca @toronto.ca #biketo
November 30, 2025 at 5:09 PM
🫡
Reposted by Kaz
Ex-official explained this in a way that will stick with me forever: Within fire departments, the EMTs are overworked and underpaid and don’t have time to advocate for policy. The fire chiefs, on the other hand, have a lot more time on their hands. So fire response, not medical, dictates policy.
November 30, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Ex-official explained this in a way that will stick with me forever: Within fire departments, the EMTs are overworked and underpaid and don’t have time to advocate for policy. The fire chiefs, on the other hand, have a lot more time on their hands. So fire response, not medical, dictates policy.
Reposted by Kaz
Her parents owe their lives to the United States accepting them as asylum seekers fleeing religious persecution in Iraq in the 1980s. She wouldn't be here if we had not offered her family safe haven.
The hypocrisy is stunning.
The hypocrisy is stunning.
Habba: There were individuals that were saying that this should be a safe harbor, a safe haven. Why? America is America because we protect our own.
November 30, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Her parents owe their lives to the United States accepting them as asylum seekers fleeing religious persecution in Iraq in the 1980s. She wouldn't be here if we had not offered her family safe haven.
The hypocrisy is stunning.
The hypocrisy is stunning.
Reposted by Kaz
I think this may be an important turn. ”Secretary Hegseth deserves a chance to tell his side of the story.” is actually a sharp turn from the administration’s position that they don’t need to justify their actions. I think they may be losing Congress.
GOP Rep. Don Bacon: "I don't think Secretary Hegseth would be foolish enough to make this decision to say, 'Kill everybody. Kill the survivors,' because that's a clear violation of the law of war."
November 30, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I think this may be an important turn. ”Secretary Hegseth deserves a chance to tell his side of the story.” is actually a sharp turn from the administration’s position that they don’t need to justify their actions. I think they may be losing Congress.
Reposted by Kaz
Trump is invading American cities to nominally address crime, and I think the scale of his pardon-sprees should be given more political salience
When this criminal was jailed, the judge told David Gentile and America: ‘This is a warning to would-be fraudsters that seeking to get rich by taking advantage of investors gets you only a one-way ticket to jail.’ I guess not
November 30, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Trump is invading American cities to nominally address crime, and I think the scale of his pardon-sprees should be given more political salience
Reposted by Kaz
a few candidates have talked about this but any Dem planning to run in 2028 should make it explicit: the next DOJ will, in fact, go after you if you’re funding this awful ballroom, or any other pay to play deals you make with this administration
Dimon on why JPMorgan Chase is not funding WH Ballroom:
We have an issue, which is anything we do, since we do a lot of contracts with governments here and around the world, we have to be very careful how anything is perceived, and also how the next DOJ is going to deal with it.
We have an issue, which is anything we do, since we do a lot of contracts with governments here and around the world, we have to be very careful how anything is perceived, and also how the next DOJ is going to deal with it.
November 29, 2025 at 7:32 PM
a few candidates have talked about this but any Dem planning to run in 2028 should make it explicit: the next DOJ will, in fact, go after you if you’re funding this awful ballroom, or any other pay to play deals you make with this administration
Reposted by Kaz
We estimate that 701-assisted cities had 20% fewer units built in each decade than in their no-701 counterfactual. That's an avg. 13% fewer units built in total between 1960-2010.
Assisted places shifted towards single-family (away from apartments) and more restrictive lot sizes
Assisted places shifted towards single-family (away from apartments) and more restrictive lot sizes
November 26, 2025 at 7:10 PM
We estimate that 701-assisted cities had 20% fewer units built in each decade than in their no-701 counterfactual. That's an avg. 13% fewer units built in total between 1960-2010.
Assisted places shifted towards single-family (away from apartments) and more restrictive lot sizes
Assisted places shifted towards single-family (away from apartments) and more restrictive lot sizes
Housing supply remains a problem to tackle at every level of government, including at the Federal level.
Our paper, "Taming the Growth Machine," is available here: tom-cui.com/2025/11/03/s...
We study the 1954 Urban Planning Assistance Program, otherwise known as the "701 Program."
Up to the late 60s, the federal government awarded grants for small cities to match with urban planners.
We study the 1954 Urban Planning Assistance Program, otherwise known as the "701 Program."
Up to the late 60s, the federal government awarded grants for small cities to match with urban planners.
November 30, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Housing supply remains a problem to tackle at every level of government, including at the Federal level.
Reposted by Kaz
submit your feedback for the downtown austin plan's transition to the new central city district plan:
www.speakupaustin.org/k14472#tab-7...
www.speakupaustin.org/k14472#tab-7...
November 29, 2025 at 6:53 PM
submit your feedback for the downtown austin plan's transition to the new central city district plan:
www.speakupaustin.org/k14472#tab-7...
www.speakupaustin.org/k14472#tab-7...
At Butler Putting for a fundraising golf event. My SO observed the nice views. I said she already knows what I'm thinking. 'it should be housing' 🤣 😊 🥑
November 29, 2025 at 8:28 PM
At Butler Putting for a fundraising golf event. My SO observed the nice views. I said she already knows what I'm thinking. 'it should be housing' 🤣 😊 🥑
Reposted by Kaz
even if you are the hawkiest hawk hawk hawke 🦅🦅🦅 china hawk, you have to recognize that Trump II is the exact fucking opposite of "how to win a cold war 2"
Just got the word that the Trump administration is throwing a brilliant medical researcher friend of mine out of the country because they’re Chinese. Insane and unreal. Literally doing research in the US to help the US
November 29, 2025 at 3:58 AM
even if you are the hawkiest hawk hawk hawke 🦅🦅🦅 china hawk, you have to recognize that Trump II is the exact fucking opposite of "how to win a cold war 2"