Nick Zaiac
@zaiac.bsky.social
Regional Planner in VT after years of running the Norman Rockwell town. YIMBY and former DC transportation wonk. Personal account.
Reposted by Nick Zaiac
Pro-housing voices from the right of center are increasingly focused on a "we need housing For Families" framing.
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
To Support Families, Repair the Housing Ladder
The cost of housing is one big barrier to family formation. But simply building more single family homes isn't the answer.
www.governing.com
October 30, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Pro-housing voices from the right of center are increasingly focused on a "we need housing For Families" framing.
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
In a new column I explain why broad-based liberalization, especially for inexpensive types of housing, is important for helping people start families: www.governing.com/urban/to-sup...
Reposted by Nick Zaiac
I don’t know what to make of this, but the group that usually pushes back against greater use of wood in buildings (whether mass timber, ordinary light wood frame, for fire-treated light wood frame) at the ICC hearings is the concrete industry. The firefighters have nothing to say about it.
October 24, 2025 at 7:09 PM
I don’t know what to make of this, but the group that usually pushes back against greater use of wood in buildings (whether mass timber, ordinary light wood frame, for fire-treated light wood frame) at the ICC hearings is the concrete industry. The firefighters have nothing to say about it.
Reposted by Nick Zaiac
Local governments own a lot of stuff, paid for with taxpayer dollars, yet asset management is an often-overlooked management function.
Chicago Public Schools is considering a $60 million contract to track technology after reports showed schools were losing track of thousands of computers and other devices. @chalkbeat reports: blockclubchi.co/42LNSsL
October 20, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Local governments own a lot of stuff, paid for with taxpayer dollars, yet asset management is an often-overlooked management function.
I'd settle for a federal ban on historic review for sidewalk projects.
New federal policy on historic preservation: better to ask forgiveness than permission?
October 21, 2025 at 1:34 AM
I'd settle for a federal ban on historic review for sidewalk projects.
Reposted by Nick Zaiac
I both agree with this and also point out that the average local government has under 100 employees, total—a number skewed upward by teachers and cops. The median number of local government employees per government is 3. Drowning is an understatement.
It’s striking how many local governments, school boards, and small businesses post official statements to Facebook or Instagram and nowhere else, occasionally with restrictions that mean you have to have an account and log in to read them.
October 20, 2025 at 9:29 PM
I both agree with this and also point out that the average local government has under 100 employees, total—a number skewed upward by teachers and cops. The median number of local government employees per government is 3. Drowning is an understatement.
Reposted by Nick Zaiac
Love this new report on buildings' relative fire safety from @alexhrwtz.bsky.social and Pew colleagues.
www.pew.org/en/research-...
www.pew.org/en/research-...
October 8, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Love this new report on buildings' relative fire safety from @alexhrwtz.bsky.social and Pew colleagues.
www.pew.org/en/research-...
www.pew.org/en/research-...
Headed to Peru (,VT, population 531) to revive consideration of its first sidewalk, 22 years after the proposal was first studied.
This ROW was one of the most valuable toll roads in the country, connecting eastern and western VT, when first cut from the frontier in the 1700s.
This ROW was one of the most valuable toll roads in the country, connecting eastern and western VT, when first cut from the frontier in the 1700s.
October 7, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Headed to Peru (,VT, population 531) to revive consideration of its first sidewalk, 22 years after the proposal was first studied.
This ROW was one of the most valuable toll roads in the country, connecting eastern and western VT, when first cut from the frontier in the 1700s.
This ROW was one of the most valuable toll roads in the country, connecting eastern and western VT, when first cut from the frontier in the 1700s.
Reposted by Nick Zaiac
There's lots of cool survey data in @bobbyfijan.bsky.social and @lymanstoneky.bsky.social's new report on family-friendly apartments. Most surprising to me is the parents do not place a huge premium on a short commute compared to non-parents. ifstudies.org/report-brief...
October 1, 2025 at 6:06 PM
There's lots of cool survey data in @bobbyfijan.bsky.social and @lymanstoneky.bsky.social's new report on family-friendly apartments. Most surprising to me is the parents do not place a huge premium on a short commute compared to non-parents. ifstudies.org/report-brief...
Reposted by Nick Zaiac
Newer apartments are SIX TIMES safer from fire deaths than older housing, and FOUR TIMES safer from fire than even new detached houses.
www.pew.org/en/research-...
www.pew.org/en/research-...
Modern Multifamily Buildings Provide the Most Fire Protection
A large body of research has demonstrated that apartment buildings and other types of multifamily housing can provide many benefits to a community, especially when built in high-demand areas where hou...
www.pew.org
September 30, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Newer apartments are SIX TIMES safer from fire deaths than older housing, and FOUR TIMES safer from fire than even new detached houses.
www.pew.org/en/research-...
www.pew.org/en/research-...
Did a “How to use state GIS resources for forestry” class for the local tech center. Warning, exposure of young people LiDAR may cause unpredictable results.
September 30, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Did a “How to use state GIS resources for forestry” class for the local tech center. Warning, exposure of young people LiDAR may cause unpredictable results.
This and undercapitalized utilities are the greatest municipal problems towns face moving forward
A big problem for a lot of local government managers—making sure there is a steady stream of volunteer firefighters.
I did a deep-dive report for @theklc.bsky.social on the growing shortage of volunteer firefighters and what that means for the rural places which survive on those volunteers to survive. klcjournal.com/the-voluntee...
September 24, 2025 at 2:31 PM
This and undercapitalized utilities are the greatest municipal problems towns face moving forward
Reposted by Nick Zaiac
Sep 16, 1977: Canada Post issues a 12-cent stamp—the cost of mailing a letter in 1977—honouring Sir Sandford Fleming (1827-1915). The stamp depicted a train crossing one of the Fleming-designed bridges on the Intercolonial Railway. 1/2
September 17, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Sep 16, 1977: Canada Post issues a 12-cent stamp—the cost of mailing a letter in 1977—honouring Sir Sandford Fleming (1827-1915). The stamp depicted a train crossing one of the Fleming-designed bridges on the Intercolonial Railway. 1/2
Reposted by Nick Zaiac
Today, the Center for Building published “Beyond Zoning” by John Zeanah, Memphis’s Chief of Development and Infrastructure. He chronicles the non-zoning barriers faced by Malone Commons, a low-rise multifam/mixed-use project, and how they worked through them www.centerforbuilding.org/publication/...
September 11, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Today, the Center for Building published “Beyond Zoning” by John Zeanah, Memphis’s Chief of Development and Infrastructure. He chronicles the non-zoning barriers faced by Malone Commons, a low-rise multifam/mixed-use project, and how they worked through them www.centerforbuilding.org/publication/...
Bike planning while watching the Vuelta. Zero regrets leaving town administration to become a planner.
September 5, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Bike planning while watching the Vuelta. Zero regrets leaving town administration to become a planner.
Reposted by Nick Zaiac
New from me, a summary of Montana's recent housing policy wins, which are nearly as impressive as the 2023 Montana Miracle: www.governing.com/urban/what-m...
What Montana Can Teach Us About Housing Reform
Two years ago, lawmakers in the Big Sky State passed one of the most comprehensive state-level housing reform packages in the country. This year, they doubled down on their success.
www.governing.com
September 4, 2025 at 12:33 AM
New from me, a summary of Montana's recent housing policy wins, which are nearly as impressive as the 2023 Montana Miracle: www.governing.com/urban/what-m...
Went to see progress on Bennington’s new bike bridge this morning
August 19, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Went to see progress on Bennington’s new bike bridge this morning
Happy Bennington Battle Day (observed) to those who celebrate! [mostly just state employees and those of governments of southern Bennington county]
August 15, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Happy Bennington Battle Day (observed) to those who celebrate! [mostly just state employees and those of governments of southern Bennington county]
Family first tonight, hosting a public meeting in which two plans were approved from our dining room.
July 17, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Family first tonight, hosting a public meeting in which two plans were approved from our dining room.
It me and the town highway department
‘I Used To Work Here,’ Says Pete Buttigieg, Wandering Onto Busy Highway theonion.com/i-used-...
July 16, 2025 at 9:46 AM
It me and the town highway department
When you can’t decide whether to go to bed.
July 15, 2025 at 4:57 PM
When you can’t decide whether to go to bed.
Wife works at the local tech HS. It's genuinely awesome to have prime access to nurses-to-be as babysitters and young loggers who will do gig chainsaw work.
no, I said I wanted a tradewife. like a union electrician
July 12, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Wife works at the local tech HS. It's genuinely awesome to have prime access to nurses-to-be as babysitters and young loggers who will do gig chainsaw work.
Increasingly interested in transborder fire department mutual aid/coverage contracts after the recent fire in Stewartstown, VT
Point Roberts, WA is fascinating because what do you mean there’s a U.S. town of 1,200 people that’s only accessible from Canada?
July 11, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Increasingly interested in transborder fire department mutual aid/coverage contracts after the recent fire in Stewartstown, VT
Today in Vermonting: Wife is currently driving the LT Governor around town in her school minivan
July 10, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Today in Vermonting: Wife is currently driving the LT Governor around town in her school minivan
Playing connect the dots as a kid does indeed prepare you for rebuilding implies water line maps from hydrant data
June 17, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Playing connect the dots as a kid does indeed prepare you for rebuilding implies water line maps from hydrant data
Peak Infrastructure Week era Politico Morning Transportation playlist remains live and excellent: open.spotify.com/playlist/2mV...
June 13, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Peak Infrastructure Week era Politico Morning Transportation playlist remains live and excellent: open.spotify.com/playlist/2mV...