Reposted by Richard DayA City That Works @acitythatworks.bsky.social · 10hA string of upzonings on the South Side are a breath of fresh air for housing development in Chicago with immense credit going to Aldermen Desmond Yancy (5th) and Ronnie Mosley (21st) for their work in this process. citythatworks.substack.com/p/a-better-p... 2114
Reposted by Richard DayA City That Works @acitythatworks.bsky.social · 29/09/2026🚨 Chicago ranked dead last among big cities for new housing construction. 🚨 Join us next week as we discuss solutions with Aldermen Red Burnett, @gilbertv36.bsky.social, and Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council that will get our housing development back on track. 293
Reposted by Richard DayMax Dubler 🏳️🌈 @maxdubler.com · 29/09/2026People mistakenly believe that unfunded inclusionary zoning is a way to tax developers and rich people to fund subsidized housing for the poor. It is not. In reality, it’s a tax on working and middle class renters. Actual rich people, who overwhelmingly own single family homes, pay nothing at all. 420033
Reposted by Richard DaySideStreets @sidestreets.bsky.social · 26/09/2026Public advocates need to insert themselves into procurement processes whenever possible. 063
Reposted by Richard DayMichael McLean @michaelmclean.me · 25/09/2026Alderman Burnett and Lawson have introduced an ordinance that could seriously boost housing production across Chicago if enacted. - Removes MLA reqs for RT/RM/Commercial/Downtown parcels - Excludes 'family-sized' units from FAR calcs! chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matt... 5475
Reposted by Richard DaySam @samd.bsky.social · 25/09/2026nothing but solidarity for our Ukrainian allies pursuing a double victory: Victory against Russia at home Victory against Republicans in America 1186795
Reposted by Richard DayMunicipal Corporation @nikhunder.com · 24/09/2026With the RLX in the news cycle again. May I suggest reading about how we got here? 3185
Reposted by Richard DayA City That Works @acitythatworks.bsky.social · 24/09/2026There’s now a light at the end of the tunnel for Chicago’s infamously wretched parking meter deal, and it’s a wonderful, if rare, example of good governance in action. citythatworks.substack.com/p/yes-we-sho... 163
Reposted by Richard DayThomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 23/09/2026“Ensuring all buses, in service and not in service alike, have a reliably smooth and fast trip on DLSD has massive ripple benefits for the entire network, unlocking faster, more efficient, and more reliable operations for buses throughout the city.” citythatworks.substack.com/p/view-from-...citythatworks.substack.comView from the wheel: Dedicated bus lanes on Lake Shore Drive matter more than you thinkBus networks do not survive on in-service routes alone 1508
Reposted by Richard DayWilliam Skudlarek @willskud.bsky.social · 22/09/2026this person evidently missed the message that you’re not supposed to say the quiet part out loud when asked by a reporter why you don’t want upzoning www.oakpark.com/2026/09/22/z... 1246
Reposted by Richard DayA City That Works @acitythatworks.bsky.social · 22/09/2026A City That Works is proud to endorse @jessicabiggs.bsky.social for CPS Board President. Read full endorsement: citythatworks.substack.com/p/endorsemen... 134
Reposted by Richard DayStephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 22/09/2026NIMBYism destroys your commercial property tax base: “Occupied space has climbed in parts of Dallas, Atlanta and Miami along with growing populations…On the flipside, Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland…are among the metro areas where vacancies continue to grow.” www.bloomberg.com/news/feature... 25715
Reposted by Richard DayWilliam Skudlarek @willskud.bsky.social · 20/09/2026TIL For 25 yrs, HUD used urban renewal grant funding to effectively force 4k+ localities to adopt model building codes and drop expensive local req'ts in the process. It ended in 1974 after Congress revoked HUD's authority b/c Chicago refused to comply. babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=ui... 58415
Reposted by Richard DayJeremy Glover @jgrantglover.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Chicago can't tax its way out of a structural deficit, but it just might be able to build its way out. Here's one example: There's been a slew of recent residential redevelopment on Western Ave south of the 606. The projects I highlighted generated 10x as much prop tax in 2025 than in 2009. 79619
Richard Day @rsday.bsky.social · 11/09/2026Every ward deserves an Alder who works this hard to understand, explain and address our housing crisis. 121
Reposted by Richard DayMichael McLean @michaelmclean.me · 10/09/2026Wow, @acitythatworks.bsky.social blog mentioned by a board member during the meeting. He recommended his colleagues take a look at this article citythatworks.substack.com/p/illinois-a...citythatworks.substack.comIllinois already killed parking mandates. Chicago should finish the job.The hard part is done, don't make it harder 052
Reposted by Richard DayDaniel Koslovsky @dtkoslovsky.bsky.social · 09/09/2026My next article in the @acitythatworks.bsky.social building code series is up, doing a deep dive on the plumbing code. Come to learn about the one weird trick the city could use to shave 5% off construction costs, stay to learn about the 19th century joint coupling method the city still mandates!citythatworks.substack.comLet’s fix the plumbing codeLead and oakum joints belong in museums 83412
Reposted by Richard DayA City That Works @acitythatworks.bsky.social · 08/09/2026Chicago has seen a dramatic decline in violent crime over the last few years, but the progress is nowhere near good enough. Thankfully, there are a handful of reforms Chicago's next mayor can implement that can bring about transformative results. 🧵 citythatworks.substack.com/p/chicagos-n... 131
Reposted by Richard DayStephen Jacob Smith @stephenjacobsmith.com · 08/09/2026“Although 2/3 of the respondents live in high-rise developments, 70% of survey respondents said high-rises…reduced quality of life downtown…All but six of the survey respondents own the homes they live in. But Agha said he doesn’t believe the opinions of renters differ greatly from the owners.” 1453
Reposted by Richard DayWilliam Skudlarek @willskud.bsky.social · 07/09/2026The agenda for NITA's first meeting for this Thurday is already up. First orders of business: choosing a board chair AND an interim executive director. nita.illinois.gov/uploads/file... 1152
Reposted by Richard DayProtect Bridgeport Bicyclists @stevevance.net · 04/09/2026basically the way Chicago is going to comply with state law’s ban on parking mandates is by encoding every eligible bus route into the zoning code this is a bureaucratic nightmare if the CTA or Pace changes a route then city staff and city council will have to adopt an amendment 1215
Reposted by Richard DayAbundant Housing Illinois @abundanthousingil.bsky.social · 02/09/2026"The issue here pits those who think the development-friendly policies of the past in this area were a mistake that needs correction against a synagogue that wants to ensure its own future and reasonably argues that many of those who oppose the project actually live in high rises themselves." 1238
Reposted by Richard DayProtect Bridgeport Bicyclists @stevevance.net · 02/09/2026Ald. Hopkins has introduced an ordinance to repeal the city’s landmark designation of the Cortland St bridge 📄 chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matt... 8151
Reposted by Richard DayAlex @acannon.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Many Alexs are saying thissubstack.comIllinois already killed parking mandates. Chicago should finish the job.The hard part is done, don't make it harder 2185
Reposted by Richard DayLake. Big Lake. @lakebiglake.bsky.social · 02/09/2026The NIMBYs want Chicago to be a diminished city. chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/...chicago.suntimes.comBattle intensifies over Emanuel Congregation's new lakefront home in EdgewaterHousing advocates said the synagogue's plan will help bring much needed housing to the area, but some residents and local businesses are against the project, calling for stronger lakefront protections... 4478
Reposted by Richard DayThomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 02/09/2026Per @urbanistcomic.bsky.social @strongtownschicago.bsky.social the City of Chicago is fumbling its implementation of the People Over Parking Act, a key part of the NITA reforms package—ending minimum parking mandates around frequent transit—outlines a fix. citythatworks.substack.com/p/illinois-a...citythatworks.substack.comIllinois already killed parking mandates. Chicago should finish the job.The hard part is done, don't make it harder 0172
Reposted by Richard DayA City That Works @acitythatworks.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Municipal procurement is not only a multi-billion-dollar domain - it’s also an area with substantial untapped savings potential for the City of Chicago. Read the full article: citythatworks.substack.com/p/chicago-is... 1153
Richard Day @rsday.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Wearing an 'Immigrants make America great' T-shirt to a rally opposing more housing is really a choice. 0140
Reposted by Richard DayMunicipal Corporation @nikhunder.com · 31/08/2026I'm on a 39-reports-long streak of using the chat bot to report smoking and CTA not doing anything about it. 1171
Reposted by Richard DayStar:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 29/08/2026There is a real risk that NITA leadership could look at the laundry list of things they are now explicitly empowered to do, say “this all looks hard”, and kick things back to the service boards. And there are folks who would be happy to have that outcome. Advocates need to stay vigilant and vocal. 1141
Reposted by Richard DayAbundant Housing Illinois @abundanthousingil.bsky.social · 28/08/2026if you're in Edgewater and have time on Sunday (August 30, 12:45 PM) and want to support more housing, then please attend this rally 184
Reposted by Richard DayMunicipal Corporation @nikhunder.com · 28/08/2026Pretty wild that no one with any transit management experience is on CTA's new board, which is soon to be their entire job ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 1295
Reposted by Richard DayChicago 🏳️⚧️🌱 @chicagotrans-plant.bsky.social · 27/08/2026This isn't some hypothetical. Go to a zoning meeting and one speaker will say the most racist shit another and the next some woke washed bullshit about how it's not affordable enough, but they both applaud each other. 171
Richard Day @rsday.bsky.social · 27/08/2026We're long overdue to set up the institutional Blue Sky account. 0120
Reposted by Richard DayEmily Hugan @changeurbanlife.bsky.social · 27/08/2026Can someone from NITA hire a software engineer w a sustainable transportation masters degree pls 2224
Reposted by Richard DayThomas Bamonte @thomasbamonte.bsky.social · 27/08/2026Chicago transit board appointments graded @rsday.bsky.social. “We’re just scraping by with a passing GPA here. But it’s worth noting that these appointees do represent a significant improvement over the set of folks who previously served on these boards.” citythatworks.substack.com/p/lets-grade...citythatworks.substack.comLet’s grade some NITA AppointmentsBetter transit requires better leadership 1224
Reposted by Richard DayMr. Brutalism @jmings.bsky.social · 26/08/2026It's almost like all residential areas of Chicago should allow up to 4 flats at minimum… 1263
Reposted by Richard DayStar:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 26/08/2026NITA needs to ensure the Forest Park Branch rebuild is done right: a piecemeal process prolongs the pain on the West Side and could lock in the current inefficient track design for another generation. NITA must be bold in reimagining what the Blue Line can be, then implement improvements accordingly 3448
Richard Day @rsday.bsky.social · 25/08/2026We should not buy the parking meters back - at least at anything approaching the current prices being discussed. citythatworks.substack.com/p/no-we-shou...citythatworks.substack.comNo, we shouldn’t buy the parking meters backSelling was a mistake. But buying would be, too. 000
Reposted by Richard DayMichael McLean @michaelmclean.me · 25/08/2026Growth is not an iron law. It can just… stop. Trump wants us to be isolated like Britain too… 0121
Richard Day @rsday.bsky.social · 21/08/2026More very cool bus reporting today.citythatworks.substack.comView from the wheel: Why are all the buses stacked together?An hour in the life of a simple bus route 0345
Reposted by Richard DayZak Yudhishthu @zyudhishthu.bsky.social · 18/08/2026I sympathize w/ this renter, but there's a structural imbalance: we will never get a Block Club article about the Chicagoans who benefit from these 26 new housing units. It's hard to tell a news-y story about the benefits, even when legit externalities exist... blockclubchicago.org/2026/08/18/a...blockclubchicago.orgA Room Without A View: New Building Goes Up Just Inches From Woman’s WindowLucia Whalen knew the lot next door to her Wicker Park rental would become a garage. But now, she can't even put an air conditioner in her window. 6738
Richard Day @rsday.bsky.social · 18/08/2026Over at A City That Works: Today, CPD solves just 9% of non-fatal shootings. That's bad by almost any standard - including other big cities. Here's how we can fix it: citythatworks.substack.com/p/we-should-...citythatworks.substack.comIn Chicago, only 9% of shootings result in an arrestIn Chicago, only 9% of shootings result in an arrest 030
Reposted by Richard DayM. Nolan Gray 🥑 @mnolangray.bsky.social · 13/08/2026The evidence is by now clear and policymakers/planners are slowly starting to respond to it: unfunded inclusionary zoning programs ultimately hurt housing production and affordability. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/08/13/b...bostonglobe.com‘20 percent of zero is zero’: Some progressive cities are slashing their affordable housing mandates. Should Boston? - The Boston GlobeThe plan — paired with major new city spending on dedicated affordable housing units — underscores how desperation is prompting some left-wing strongholds to make surprising compromises. 222836
Reposted by Richard DayProtect Bridgeport Bicyclists @stevevance.net · 14/08/2026it’s pretty cool that “big tent urbanism” is politically popular in Chicago We had a summer party and 7 incumbents and 7 challengers (mostly for different wards than the incumbent) showed up 6859
Reposted by Richard DayDaniel Koslovsky @dtkoslovsky.bsky.social · 12/08/2026A have a piece up today in A City That Works, introducing a series on where the Chicago building code is ripe for reform with an eye towards improving housing affordability.substack.comA plan to cut construction costsFour changes to boost construction across Chicago 3258
Richard Day @rsday.bsky.social · 06/08/2026citythatworks.substack.comAn agenda for family-friendly housingIn high-income neighborhoods, Chicago rewards studio apartments and mansions 000
Reposted by Richard DayStreetsblog Chicago @chi.streetsblog.org · 05/08/2026Bored this month? Don't blame our colleagues over at A City That Works. citythatworks.substack.com/p/upcoming-e... @rsday.bsky.social @strongtownschicago.bsky.social @chicagogrowthproj.bsky.social 062