Category Archives: Housing

The Weirdest (and Freakiest) NIMBY Argument Yet

Posted on October 9, 2023 by mikethemadbiologist

Recently, the Boston Globe described the reality of trying to build denser housing in Boston suburbs with access to mass transit*. The typical arguments against increasing density are made by the opponents, and there are the usual local officials who … Continue reading →

Posted in Fucking Morons, Housing | 3 Comments

Housing and Economic Anxiety

Posted on September 19, 2023 by mikethemadbiologist

Ned Resnikoff makes a very important point about the Hollywood strikes (boldface mine): But one of the most important background conditions for these two strikes is the housing crisis. As labor historian Nelson Lichtenstein recently noted, dizzying housing costs in … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Music | 1 Comment

It’s All About Housing Prices

Posted on July 21, 2023 by mikethemadbiologist

Well, obviously, not everything. But Ned Resnikoff makes a good point about the context in which the entertainment industry strikes are occurring (boldface mine): Characteristically, I’d like to dedicate the rest of this post to discussing the last issue: the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Housing, Unions | Comments Off on It’s All About Housing Prices

Cities Are DOOOOMED!!

Posted on March 17, 2023 by mikethemadbiologist

That’s what the NY Times would have us believe anyway*. Yes, cities right now are suffering some revenue shortfalls–though why the NYT led with D.C., when D.C. will be immune to declines in income tax revenues due to people working … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Urban Planning | 1 Comment

What to Do with D.C.’s Downtown

Posted on January 27, 2023 by mikethemadbiologist

We start with this quick hit from Axios (boldface mine): Driving the news: Bowser and Mendelson spoke last night at an event hosted by the planning advocacy group Committee of 100. Bowser reiterated her support for raising the federal Height … Continue reading →

Posted in DC, Fucking Morons, Housing | Comments Off on What to Do with D.C.’s Downtown

If We Tax the Rich, They’ll Leave D.C.

Posted on July 20, 2021 by mikethemadbiologist

Blah, blah, blah. This came across the Twitterz: Former D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams is urging members of the business community to write @councilofdc in opposition to proposed tax increases on high earners. "Highly skilled workers are more mobile than ever. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, DC, Housing, Taxes | 4 Comments

When Elected Officials Are Above and Apart

Posted on February 25, 2021 by mikethemadbiologist

This post accidentally spooled out over the weekend. Since it seemed to be somewhat popular on the Twitterz, I’m reposting it: A point I made long ago in the context of transportation policy bears repeating: for services to work well, … Continue reading →

Posted in DC, Housing | Comments Off on When Elected Officials Are Above and Apart

We Still Have Multiple Housing Crises

Posted on February 24, 2021 by mikethemadbiologist

In the Before Times, some asshole with a blog observed: One housing crisis, and the one that gets the least attention, exists in those places where housing prices are too low, but I’m not going to discuss that here. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing | Comments Off on We Still Have Multiple Housing Crises

When Elected Officials Are Above and Apart

Posted on February 21, 2021 by mikethemadbiologist

A point I made long ago in the context of transportation policy bears repeating: for services to work well, those who govern said services must use them–and suffer when they fail. In a more general sense, elected officials can’t be … Continue reading →

Posted in DC, Housing | 1 Comment

We Focus on Housing Costs, but Ignore Transportation Costs

Posted on January 30, 2020 by mikethemadbiologist

And when you include transportation costs, suddenly those low-cost areas aren’t so low-cost anymore. At all. Many moons ago, some asshole with a blog noted: Even though I want to deport everyone to urban hellholes think urbanization is a good … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Transportation | Comments Off on We Focus on Housing Costs, but Ignore Transportation Costs