awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 23/09/2026One small step for a YIMBY, one giant leap for YIMBYkind. First post from the second floor of a HUD Code manufactured home. 010
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Factory building can help unlock higher construction labor productivity, better working conditions for residential builders, and savings for home buyers. The recent 21st Century ROAD to Housing law will help unlock even more savings by modernizing the old chassis requirement for HUD Code homes. 011
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialThe Niskanen Center @niskanencenter.bsky.social · 24/07/2026The tax code rewards some retirees for staying in houses that they might want to move on from. Sell, and you could owe taxes on the gains above $250K–$500K. www.niskanencenter.org/to-help-grow... 054
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 27/07/2026Housing lock-in may feel like a post-covid development, but tax law and inheritance rules have discouraged long-tenured homeowners from selling for over a generation. 043
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialMatt Darling @besttrousers.bsky.social · 20/07/2026I have a new piece out for @searchlightinst.bsky.social! Want to make housing cheaper? Stop taxing construction so heavily for being a volatile industry Our unemployment insurance system quietly makes it more expensive to build. Here’s how: (1/12) www.searchlightinstitute.org/research/the...searchlightinstitute.orgThe Hidden Tax on Blue-Collar Workers and Building in AmericaThe unemployment insurance system has a design flaw that penalizes the construction industry, leading to fewer workers and lower productivity. Over time, that means less – and more expensive – housing... 315436
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 15/07/2026This type of unequal property tax treatment based on length of tenure is a crime against youth and vitality. taxfoundation.org/research/all... 000
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 04/07/2026F/A-18s last weekend, firefighting seaplanes this weekend. Human achievement is incredible. 000
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 30/06/2026Auto detailing is pretty lucrative for the time, skill, and materials involved. Plus unlike selling knives and cosmetics, friends and family are usually happy to have their car cleaned. 000
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 13/05/2026Excellent report out from Pew today on preapproved residential building plans. Preapproved plan catalogs allow entrepreneurial localities to cut development costs by a few percentage points and provide developers with significant time savings in delivering new housing. 1/ 1248
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialrohan aras @rohanaras.bsky.social · 06/05/2026The original housing packages in the Senate and House were substantive answers to the housing crisis. As Congress writes a final version, it must take the best bills from both chambers—not just settle for the overlap. See our joint Niskanen Center and Institute for Progress explainer for more:niskanencenter.orgA pro-supply to-do list for Congress’s housing bill - Niskanen CenterAmerica is facing its worst housing crisis since the end of World War II. In a rare moment of bipartisan consensus, Congress has stepped up. 165
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 21/04/2026Housing is one of the clearest places where our policies subsidize older people and disadvantage young workers and families. Property tax laws like Prop 13 (CA) arbitrarily shift public service costs onto new homeowners and discourage interstate migration. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/21/o... 082
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 02/04/2026SROs are often the first rung on the housing ladder in any area. But they are too often missing from local housing markets. A model state bill, the ROOM Act, from @ij.org and @legelawyer.bsky.social would give states a tool to overcome local restrictions. 112
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 17/03/2026Usability is important, and one thing I see on my local zoning appeals board with ADUs. Most ADU applicants will only ever go through this process once or twice in their lives. If we want them to build more housing, making the process straightforward is the least we can do. 0123
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 15/02/2026In @thehill.com with @rohanaras.bsky.social today where we argue that surface transportation policy is not complete without considering housing. thehill.com/opinion/cong... 022
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialJenny Schuetz @jennyschuetz.bsky.social · 09/02/202630+ states have now adopted policies to boost housing production. Which means exciting opportunities for researchers to study these policies' effectiveness. Some guidance from me, via @niskanencenter.bsky.social, on how to design good state policy evaluations: www.niskanencenter.org/how-to-evalu...niskanencenter.orgHow to evaluate state pro-housing policies: Mind the empirical pitfalls - Niskanen CenterAs more state legislatures become laboratories of housing policy experimentation, social science researchers have once-in-a-generation opportunities to evaluate how pro-housing policies are working in... 1106
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 16/12/2025Really good thread from Addison Del Mastro on the intersection of housing policy and natalism 111
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialAddison Del Mastro @ad-mastro.bsky.social · 16/12/2025Long thoughts in today's piece on housing, sex, privacy, and the meaning of "family-friendly housing"thedeletedscenes.comIs YIMBYism About Sex?Sexual mores and housing demand, and the meaning of "pro-family housing" 6105
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 12/12/2025Some interesting data on DC resident age and gender trends post covid, with millennial-age women leading the exodus and return consistent with their larger share of the District's population. ora-cfo.dc.gov/blog/populat... 000
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 09/12/2025Preapproved building plans represent a novel way to lower building costs and speed delivery of infill housing. After recent local leadership, nonprofits, states, and federal policy makers are taking notice. 1/ 121
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialReed Schwartz @reed-schwartz.bsky.social · 09/12/2025I'm in the Sun Sentinel, making the case that DeSantis's tax cuts are insufficiently conservative. www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/12/09/a...sun-sentinel.comA tax on land is the most conservative tax | OpinionAn old but conservative idea to think about amid property tax debates: People ought not to be taxed on how they improve property, but a tax on the underlying land is, in the words of Milton Friedma… 033
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 08/12/202520th Century housing reformers largely banned single room rentals to make their externalities go away. But did so without fully accounting for the unintended consequences. As a result, it’s now harder to move to a new city and easier to go homeless. www.richmondfed.org/publications... 193
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 01/12/2025How your city council is elected can suppress housing production by up to 21%. Cambridge, MA, shows how an at-large city council combined with ranked choice voting can elevate citywide YIMBY coalitions proportionate to their growing support. commonwealthbeacon.org/opinion/how-...commonwealthbeacon.orgHow a 1940 electoral system reform in Cambridge made its 2025 housing breakthrough possible - CommonWealth BeaconThis is more than just a housing “win.” It’s a triumph for Cambridge’s unique brand of representative democracy—one that balances citywide priorities with fair representation for diverse communities. 031
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 29/11/2025- Lincoln Mark VII ($500, first car) - Lincoln Mark VII (5-sp manual swap) - Mercedes-Benz 240d (4-sp, diesel) - Chevy Cruze (diesel) - Mazda Miata (5-sp, 1.6L) 000
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialThe Niskanen Center @niskanencenter.bsky.social · 10/10/2025🚨🚨The Senate has passed the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act as part of the NDAA! This is a historic level of bipartisan cooperation to expand Americans' access to housing. @aarmlovi.bsky.social, @awjustus.bsky.social, and @rohanaras.bsky.social unpack what's in the 310-page bill. ⬇️ 266
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 09/10/20251/ Learning lots about mass timber and prefab construction in a mass timber building in SE DC. The pavilion’s open design provides nice views of the air traffic out of joint base Andrews (c-5 galaxy transport aircraft pictured). 130
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialStephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 08/10/2025I can't stop thinking about this. We're pursuing zero fire risk in multifam, while tolerating much more in single-fam. People respond by building and living in single-fam, where they're exposed to not only one of the highest fire death risks in the developed world, but also TONS more car crash risk 8438116
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialJenny Schuetz @jennyschuetz.bsky.social · 15/09/2025ND Gov. Kelly Armstrong at @yimbytown.bsky.social : on any policy change, 20% of people will be cranky & loud against, 80% are supportive but busy living their lives & don’t speak up. Ignore the 20%. Turn off your social media. Find a compelling emotional hook to engage the silent 80%. 2317
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 15/09/2025“For every five people leaving the trades we only have 1-2 entering,” we need more career and technical education, we need more legal immigration. - ND Gov Armstrong at #yimbytown 140
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialJoey Politano🏳️🌈 @josephpolitano.bsky.social · 05/09/2025America lost 7k construction jobs in August, and overall job growth in the sector is now at its worst pace since the pandemic Over the last year, the US has lost 31k jobs in residential construction and only gained 78k jobs in nonresidential & civil construction 26644180
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialThe Niskanen Center @niskanencenter.bsky.social · 28/08/2025 The Senate Banking Committee has advanced the ROAD to Housing Act—a rare, unanimous, bipartisan package tackling America’s housing shortage. 🏘️ @aarmlovi.bsky.social, @awjustus.bsky.social, and @rohanaras.bsky.social break down what’s in this 310-page bill ⬇️ 174
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 05/08/20251/ The latest from Factory Seconds, @lucagattonicelli.bsky.social drives multiple minivans and discovers that all new cars are not, in fact, good. Most motorists only have chance encounters with unfamiliar vehicles, so many operate with imperfect information when comparing different ones. 151
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialrohan aras @rohanaras.bsky.social · 29/07/2025I have a new piece up (first with @niskanencenter.bsky.social!) The federal government spends billions of dollars on transit each year. What can the feds do to get more on the dollar? Two things: - Create an Army Corp for transit projects - Incentivize legalizing housing near transitniskanencenter.orgMaking federal transit dollars work: Two reforms for better value - Niskanen CenterAmerican transit investments regularly underdeliver compared to the potential of the infrastructure built and the amount of money invested. 3259
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 29/07/20251/ Last week I explored current car headlight rules, tech, and how they perform. This week we look at how headlights developed alongside the automobile to bring us where we are today. 120
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialawjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 20/07/20251/ Car headlights are brighter than ever, but are they helping us see or blinding us with glare? @gluesenkampperez.house.gov is asking the right questions so let's look into the answers and ask a lighting expert along the way. 33514
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 20/07/20251/ Car headlights are brighter than ever, but are they helping us see or blinding us with glare? @gluesenkampperez.house.gov is asking the right questions so let's look into the answers and ask a lighting expert along the way. 33514
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialCarl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 17/07/2025Yeesh. The Prospective Home Buyer index from NAHB. New cycle low. (via Kev Gordon) $XHB 1015843
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 08/07/2025After the Great Recession, we focused a lot on creating jobs and strengthening the economy. But now places with ample jobs are victims of their own success because housing can't keep up with the job growth! Fortunately, many places are already working on this problem but we have room to grow. 041
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialPaul Williams @pewilliams.bsky.social · 08/07/2025Last week, California passed a landmark law exempting many infill housing developments from CEQA. Here’s how we can do the same thing on a national level, exempting urban infill housing from NEPA. New report from Aaron Shroyer for @publicenterprise.bsky.social: 2369
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 07/07/2025Does anyone at Transit Cost Proj. want to take this job? Seems like a great opportunity to put policy into practice. @alonlevy.bsky.social, @ndhapple.bsky.social, @egoldwyn.bsky.social careers.amtrak.com/job/Washingt...careers.amtrak.comDir Financial Planning & Analysis - 90000521 - WashingtonDir Financial Planning & Analysis - 90000521 - Washington 000
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 03/07/2025Detroit files biggest nuisance abatement action in city's history against crypto platform Real Token and their 400+ residential nuisance properties. 1/ www.detroitnews.com/story/news/l...detroitnews.comDetroit sues cryptocurrency-based real estate firm to correct hundreds of property violationsDetroit officials said they filed a nuisance abatement lawsuit against two Florida brothers linked to over 400 properties with blight violations. 121
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialDavid Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · 03/07/2025Me, earlier this year: "Abundance offers a useful lens to confront obstacles standing in the way of affordable housing, quality health care and clean energy. But applying its insights to transportation requires considering the kind of infrastructure that gets built, not just the quantity."bloomberg.comWhat Would ‘Transportation Abundance’ Look Like?Fans of the abundance movement say that adding supply solves big problems in housing and health care. But when it comes to getting around, things get complicated. 1184
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 26/06/2025Good essay on the pickle that is public order discourse and how important it is for public figures to lead by example. 011
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 20/06/2025Trying out a substack with a focus on cross-silo policy analysis covering the places we live, how we move around, and other topics. To explain this idea, I outline the roles of specialists and generalists as depicted in Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry murals. open.substack.com/pub/awjustus...open.substack.comFactory SecondsBreaking dwellings, movement, and machines out of their policy silos 000
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialBrandi @brandita.bsky.social · 18/06/2025This is why this bill is even more horrible, it won’t even lead to more housing just fake ranches for the rich. 021
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialYonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · 18/06/2025Good thread on the federal land sell-off provisions of the GOP's reconciliation bill: 2225
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 18/06/2025The ENR bill gets a lot of heat for exactly what federal lands will be sold for housing. But it remains under-scrutinized on its possible housing production elements. Let’s look 1/ 150
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 17/06/20251/“Once the land is sold, we will never get it back," @repryanzinke.bsky.social is right. If we sell fed lands we should have a good reason because we can only pull this lever once. If a place like SLC is all out of ideas for housing with 1/2 the density of Atlanta it is short of that bar. 100
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 15/06/2025Happy Father’s Day, may you overcome life’s broken bolts with a combination of the proper tools and good temperament. www.motortrend.com/how-to/1808-...motortrend.comRemoving broken bolts, studs, and screwsFew things seem more hopeless than when you’re in the process of removing a bolt, screw, or stud and it breaks. At that point, you know it’s all over but the cr 000
awjustus.bsky.social @awjustus.bsky.social · 13/06/2025Me, a housing advocate: endlessly pouring over the driest reports to make an argument for more homes based on facts. Trucking lobbyist: have you considered our job is a bit stressful? 010
Reposted by @awjustus.bsky.socialVoteVets @votevets.org · 10/06/2025“When I joined the Marine Corps I took an oath to the Constitution, not to a person, not to a party.” — Janessa Goldbeck “The last thing the U.S. military wants is the image of a young man or woman with a rifle imposing the will of executive power.” — MG (Ret.) Paul Eaton 321354447