Shane Quinn
@shanequinn.bsky.social
Cities. Reading. Writing. Storytelling. Culture.
Work: Belfast Buildings Trust
Civic: Deputy Lieutenant, Belfast
Board: Academy of Urbanism | National Museums NI | The MAC Belfast
Churchill Fellow and RSA Fellow
All Personal 🏳️🌈
Work: Belfast Buildings Trust
Civic: Deputy Lieutenant, Belfast
Board: Academy of Urbanism | National Museums NI | The MAC Belfast
Churchill Fellow and RSA Fellow
All Personal 🏳️🌈
Reposted by Shane Quinn
Every part of this is bonkers. The intro is bonkers. The transition to his health is bonkers. The mention that other presidents didn't need cognitive exams is bonkers. The claim that this screening test is somehow hard is bonkers. The idea that criticism of him is treason is bonkers. All of it.
December 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Every part of this is bonkers. The intro is bonkers. The transition to his health is bonkers. The mention that other presidents didn't need cognitive exams is bonkers. The claim that this screening test is somehow hard is bonkers. The idea that criticism of him is treason is bonkers. All of it.
Reposted by Shane Quinn
Labour bearing down on immigration will fix this any day now.
GB News now broadcasting calls to remove the ethnic minority MPs from parliament
December 4, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Labour bearing down on immigration will fix this any day now.
Reposted by Shane Quinn
Think this is exactly right - political journalism that is completely abstracted from policy, which was not the norm before 2017, has become the default. Impossible to have a serious attempt to either shrink what the state does or widen the tax base (have to do at least one) on that basis.
All this budget news, claims, counter claims is confusing, but two things of consequence.
1. We're all talking about that, not any financial benefits (or losses) of the budget.
2. Yet more focus on the very weird few weeks and politics of it all. Starting to feel dangerously like a norm.
1. We're all talking about that, not any financial benefits (or losses) of the budget.
2. Yet more focus on the very weird few weeks and politics of it all. Starting to feel dangerously like a norm.
December 1, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Think this is exactly right - political journalism that is completely abstracted from policy, which was not the norm before 2017, has become the default. Impossible to have a serious attempt to either shrink what the state does or widen the tax base (have to do at least one) on that basis.
Reposted by Shane Quinn
Attention is on NEETs today, but the problem is much worse.
NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.
Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.
NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.
Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.
November 20, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Attention is on NEETs today, but the problem is much worse.
NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.
Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.
NEETs include stay-at-home parents & jobseekers.
Strip those out to focus on people not working, not seeking work, not in education & not parenting: this group of economically & socially dislocated young adults has *doubled* in a decade.
Reposted by Shane Quinn
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
November 7, 2025 at 7:39 AM
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
Reposted by Shane Quinn
The White House heard the complaints
Dismissed them as “manufactured outrage”
And kept demolishing the East Wing on Tuesday
New photo and update with @jonathanreports.bsky.social
Dismissed them as “manufactured outrage”
And kept demolishing the East Wing on Tuesday
New photo and update with @jonathanreports.bsky.social
White House continues East Wing demolition amid cries of Trump overreach
More of the structure was torn down Tuesday to make way for President Donald Trump’s planned ballroom, despite complaints about the project’s lack of transparency,
www.washingtonpost.com
October 21, 2025 at 10:21 PM
The White House heard the complaints
Dismissed them as “manufactured outrage”
And kept demolishing the East Wing on Tuesday
New photo and update with @jonathanreports.bsky.social
Dismissed them as “manufactured outrage”
And kept demolishing the East Wing on Tuesday
New photo and update with @jonathanreports.bsky.social
Reposted by Shane Quinn
'Arguments that adaptive reuse might stymie architectural freedom are dispelled by the sameness of most contemporary urban redevelopment.' > 💯 spot on by @edwinheathcote.bsky.social. To his highlights of reuse schemes, I'd add the hundreds of community-led ones in the UK. www.ft.com/content/0ae2...
Adapt or die: the architects pioneering a new wave of building reuse
Thanks to innovators and smart policy initiatives, demolition is becoming more unfashionable. But is the tide changing fast enough?
www.ft.com
October 2, 2025 at 8:17 AM
'Arguments that adaptive reuse might stymie architectural freedom are dispelled by the sameness of most contemporary urban redevelopment.' > 💯 spot on by @edwinheathcote.bsky.social. To his highlights of reuse schemes, I'd add the hundreds of community-led ones in the UK. www.ft.com/content/0ae2...
Reposted by Shane Quinn
Retrospectively removing indefinite leave to remain would be immoral and economically damaging. It would tear families apart.
Attacking it as ‘potentially illegal’ is completely beside the point.
Argue with the (awful) idea. Don’t try ’well, actually you can’t do that’.
Attacking it as ‘potentially illegal’ is completely beside the point.
Argue with the (awful) idea. Don’t try ’well, actually you can’t do that’.
September 22, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Retrospectively removing indefinite leave to remain would be immoral and economically damaging. It would tear families apart.
Attacking it as ‘potentially illegal’ is completely beside the point.
Argue with the (awful) idea. Don’t try ’well, actually you can’t do that’.
Attacking it as ‘potentially illegal’ is completely beside the point.
Argue with the (awful) idea. Don’t try ’well, actually you can’t do that’.
Wrote something for the AoU Journal about the lessons from this year’s AoU Congress in Utrecht for those of us interested in shaping better places.
Have a read and let me know what you think.
Have a read and let me know what you think.
In the Summer 2025 issue of the Here & Now e-journal, Congress Curator Shane Quinn and fellow Board Directors reflect on lessons learnt from this year's Congress in Utrecht, concluding on 6 pointers for other urban centres.
Read the detailed piece at www.theaou.org/resources/he...
Read the detailed piece at www.theaou.org/resources/he...
September 14, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Wrote something for the AoU Journal about the lessons from this year’s AoU Congress in Utrecht for those of us interested in shaping better places.
Have a read and let me know what you think.
Have a read and let me know what you think.
Reposted by Shane Quinn
Shot, chaser
Young men more likely to vote Green than Reform. Young men second most progressive group of any demographic. Combined right-wing vote barely bigger than Green vote alone for young men
Young men more likely to vote Green than Reform. Young men second most progressive group of any demographic. Combined right-wing vote barely bigger than Green vote alone for young men
September 14, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Shot, chaser
Young men more likely to vote Green than Reform. Young men second most progressive group of any demographic. Combined right-wing vote barely bigger than Green vote alone for young men
Young men more likely to vote Green than Reform. Young men second most progressive group of any demographic. Combined right-wing vote barely bigger than Green vote alone for young men
Reposted by Shane Quinn
Today marks the fifth anniversary of Utrecht finishing the restauration of the Catharijnesingel 🥳
The former highway now is a beloved living space for Utrecht residents and one of the most famous and inspiring examples in the world of how cities can change for the better by undoing past choices.
The former highway now is a beloved living space for Utrecht residents and one of the most famous and inspiring examples in the world of how cities can change for the better by undoing past choices.
September 12, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Today marks the fifth anniversary of Utrecht finishing the restauration of the Catharijnesingel 🥳
The former highway now is a beloved living space for Utrecht residents and one of the most famous and inspiring examples in the world of how cities can change for the better by undoing past choices.
The former highway now is a beloved living space for Utrecht residents and one of the most famous and inspiring examples in the world of how cities can change for the better by undoing past choices.
Reposted by Shane Quinn
The precise moment when and where in recent weeks America crossed that invisible line from democracy into authoritarianism can and will be debated by future historians, but it’s clear that the line itself has been crossed. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/america-ti...
America Tips Into Fascism
Today is different than before.
www.doomsdayscenario.co
August 25, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The precise moment when and where in recent weeks America crossed that invisible line from democracy into authoritarianism can and will be debated by future historians, but it’s clear that the line itself has been crossed. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/america-ti...
Reposted by Shane Quinn
From the rehearsal room to the stage, it’s been a joy watching Alice By Heart come to life at Carlisle Memorial.
Special thanks to the Creative Belfast interns, who’ve made their mark in production, costume/set design, and tech roles.
It’s opening night- break a leg everyone!
Special thanks to the Creative Belfast interns, who’ve made their mark in production, costume/set design, and tech roles.
It’s opening night- break a leg everyone!
August 6, 2025 at 3:37 PM
From the rehearsal room to the stage, it’s been a joy watching Alice By Heart come to life at Carlisle Memorial.
Special thanks to the Creative Belfast interns, who’ve made their mark in production, costume/set design, and tech roles.
It’s opening night- break a leg everyone!
Special thanks to the Creative Belfast interns, who’ve made their mark in production, costume/set design, and tech roles.
It’s opening night- break a leg everyone!
Reposted by Shane Quinn
New YouGov polling. A monumental failure of our political class to educate, a monumental failure of our media to report fairly, for a generation
August 5, 2025 at 6:27 AM
New YouGov polling. A monumental failure of our political class to educate, a monumental failure of our media to report fairly, for a generation
Reposted by Shane Quinn
Interesting finding on the impact of London’s ULEZ expansion.
“… [it] led to increased footfall on local high streets, particularly in deprived areas, where the policy may have heightened reliance on nearby commercial hubs”
Argues creates new need/opportunity to invest in local town centres.
“… [it] led to increased footfall on local high streets, particularly in deprived areas, where the policy may have heightened reliance on nearby commercial hubs”
Argues creates new need/opportunity to invest in local town centres.
The impact of the ultra-low emission zone on high streets economy and social equality in Outer London
Many cities are adopting transport policies that regulate vehicle emissions, informed by policy impact assessments primarily focused on traffic, air p…
www.sciencedirect.com
August 1, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Interesting finding on the impact of London’s ULEZ expansion.
“… [it] led to increased footfall on local high streets, particularly in deprived areas, where the policy may have heightened reliance on nearby commercial hubs”
Argues creates new need/opportunity to invest in local town centres.
“… [it] led to increased footfall on local high streets, particularly in deprived areas, where the policy may have heightened reliance on nearby commercial hubs”
Argues creates new need/opportunity to invest in local town centres.
Reposted by Shane Quinn
Exclusive: The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History removed references to President Trump’s two impeachments from an exhibit — an apparent change to its plans to update its collection of artifacts about the historic U.S. proceedings.
Smithsonian removes Trump from impeachment exhibit in American History Museum
A temporary placard, on display since 2021, described the president's historic impeachments. Officials said the exhibit was restored to an earlier version following a review of legacy content.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 31, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Exclusive: The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History removed references to President Trump’s two impeachments from an exhibit — an apparent change to its plans to update its collection of artifacts about the historic U.S. proceedings.
"The world is failing the Palestinian people - a failure that will haunt western nations in particular for years to come."
FT Editorial: "Unless the Israeli government agrees to an immediate end to the war and a surge of aid into Gaza, western countries should be sanctioning Netanyahu and his government." www.ft.com/content/69d5...
July 29, 2025 at 2:03 PM
"The world is failing the Palestinian people - a failure that will haunt western nations in particular for years to come."
This is the result of unforgivable decisions and actions by supposedly democratic governments.
One in three Gazans goes multiple days without eating.
Malnourished mothers can no longer produce milk to breastfeed their children and hospitals have run out of nutritional supplements to treat gaunt babies https://on.ft.com/3H9L154
Malnourished mothers can no longer produce milk to breastfeed their children and hospitals have run out of nutritional supplements to treat gaunt babies https://on.ft.com/3H9L154
July 27, 2025 at 11:31 AM
This is the result of unforgivable decisions and actions by supposedly democratic governments.
Reposted by Shane Quinn
"the most relaxing way is a drift", says @shawnmicallef.bsky.social . Walk randomly! Make the city a little messy through your unpredictable route.
July 22, 2025 at 7:53 PM
"the most relaxing way is a drift", says @shawnmicallef.bsky.social . Walk randomly! Make the city a little messy through your unpredictable route.
Reposted by Shane Quinn
This is excellent. In three minutes she explains how democracies become dictatorships. It's happened so many times, yet in each country, most people said, 'it can't happen here'
#StaceyAbrams explains how to achieve an #autocracy in 10 steps.
We're at step 9.
The military is in our streets. Is our democracy worth the effort to defend it?
We're at step 9.
The military is in our streets. Is our democracy worth the effort to defend it?
July 22, 2025 at 8:07 PM
This is excellent. In three minutes she explains how democracies become dictatorships. It's happened so many times, yet in each country, most people said, 'it can't happen here'
Reposted by Shane Quinn
What a truly grotesque image: burning the effigies of migrants - who the organisers ensured all had brown skin. Even from the perspective of the loyalists involved, this is stunningly stupid: it might be a migrant's vote that swings a border poll. (Photo by the great @kscott94.bsky.social)
July 11, 2025 at 8:15 AM
What a truly grotesque image: burning the effigies of migrants - who the organisers ensured all had brown skin. Even from the perspective of the loyalists involved, this is stunningly stupid: it might be a migrant's vote that swings a border poll. (Photo by the great @kscott94.bsky.social)
Reposted by Shane Quinn
‘Grenfell’ by Steve McQueen will be shown at the MAC from 17 July – 21 September 2025
Find out more about the exhibition: bit.ly/MAC-Grenfell
Find out more about the exhibition: bit.ly/MAC-Grenfell
July 5, 2025 at 4:03 PM
‘Grenfell’ by Steve McQueen will be shown at the MAC from 17 July – 21 September 2025
Find out more about the exhibition: bit.ly/MAC-Grenfell
Find out more about the exhibition: bit.ly/MAC-Grenfell
Reposted by Shane Quinn
The A5 debacle is classic Stormont: It wants to slash carbon emissions but emit more; it wants it to be compulsory to protect the environment but be allowed to damage the environment; it wants to cut road journeys while building bigger roads. This is insane - but it's not the judge who's mad.
A5 court outcome is insane, but it’s not the judge who’s mad - it’s just classic Stormont
Last week, Belfast High Court blocked the building of a major road on technical grounds, even though the judge accepted his decision would likely lead to people being killed and seriously maimed.
www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
June 29, 2025 at 12:43 PM
The A5 debacle is classic Stormont: It wants to slash carbon emissions but emit more; it wants it to be compulsory to protect the environment but be allowed to damage the environment; it wants to cut road journeys while building bigger roads. This is insane - but it's not the judge who's mad.
Reposted by Shane Quinn
The longstanding trend of rising support for gay marriage in America is reversing. Why? A few theories stand out https://econ.trib.al/Bc7BI6G
June 28, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The longstanding trend of rising support for gay marriage in America is reversing. Why? A few theories stand out https://econ.trib.al/Bc7BI6G