this is what happens during a housing shortage

*there’s less than one week until Chicago could legalize ADUs citywide but there are now two proposals and the new one will barely allow ADUs — read on for why*

Two things you can do: 1. Call your alderperson and ask them to support Ald. Lawson’s ADU ordinance on 9/25/25 (Many alders rank more highly messages received via phone) 2. Sign this petition if you haven’t already: actionnetwork.org/petitions/su...

I’ve concluded that this Old Town NIMBY was compelled to write her nonsensical Tribune piece primarily because she saw these posters and got mad lol www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/04/o...

It’s 100% a national crisis how openly Nazi accounts are being promoted on Twitter. I reported a particularly genocidal account with 300k+ followers, but the moderators reviewed it and found no violations of their policies. 🤔 See replies for screenshots of extremely hateful posts (censored) ⬇️

Pro-housing flyer appreciation post. Please put up more of them, people

Open House Chicago is back next month with over 200 sites — including 30 new ones. blockclubchi.co/3VSv7zN

We're over 3,100 signatures now! Only one week left to reach 3,500! Can you help us hit our goal? 🥺

🧵Quick thread about how dense neighborhoods cultivate community (and FUN!) My fiancée and I switch off planning date nights. But this week we had to improvise since we are both super busy. I saw on TikTok that a band was playing a free concert on the lake, so we biked over on a whim. It was PACKED.

Great news, and congrats to Acting President Leerhsen for finally closing the gap

People don’t understand that we’re living in the golden age of urban aurora chasing I’m being 100% serious. There’s never been a better time to see the northern lights in Chicago, but with light pollution/wildfire haze increasing, it could be increasingly difficult to witness

This post that a friend of my partner's shared on FB potentially explains the Kristin Chenoweth thing, and is frightening.

A happy street!

PSA: this is what Chicago’s lead testing kits include. More in replies

California's SB 79 has now passed the State Senate, after passing the State Assembly yesterday. It's now on to the governor's desk. It's a big change in zoning policy for California's cities that will encourage substantial additional housing in neighborhoods around the state's transit stations.

“Every political movement in history, including the most bloodthirsty, has condemned political violence by its opponents. The only real test is whether you also oppose political violence by your allies. This is a test Trump has repeatedly failed.”

In 2023 I visited Mackinac Island (popular, quaint island in Michigan where no cars are allowed.) While in line for the ferry, I overheard a visitor who bragged that he was THE engineer who designed acoustics for Detroit’s loudest muscle cars. IMO, that man did not deserve to board the ferry.

One-third of Chicagoans can't afford cost of living Over the last 10 years: 🏘️ Housing costs ⬆️ 45% 🥕 Grocery costs ⬆️ 28% We MUST build more housing

Great news, everyone, the beleaguered US fossil fuel industry is going to receive $40 billion in new subsidies thanks to the GOP. Finally those underdogs are getting a little help!

It looks like the Edgewater NIMBY contingent is hosting a community meeting next week if anybody wants to go and counter them

Just attended my (former) neighborhood association election. The president—who has surpassed the term limits by many years—was begging people to join the board. He doesn’t want to serve anymore, but nobody else stepped up! Just one more reason why they shouldn’t be responsible for zoning decisions

Sent a letter in support of this common-sense upzoning adjacent to the recently renovated Red Line. This change will densify a vital transportation and commercial corridor within the city, which will provide more housing, support local businesses and careers, and strengthen communities.

Same in Illinois. I’ll never stop beating this drum. Very few Dem leaders in Illinois seem to take this seriously! Every time a housing proposal in Illinois is denied/scaled down, we’re giving electoral votes to Republicans.

Chicago is now catching strays from the Bears because NIMBYs are holding us back so much 😭 “Chicago only has 10 cranes in the sky, which pales in comparison to other major cities.”

Happy new Metra BNSF schedule day!

FYI this is the same line of reasoning that I display the USA flag next to my name I am American. I was born here and will die here. I don’t want the flag to only be associated with people who exclude others. Associate it with me, your friends, parents, children, neighbors etc! We are good people!

Happy Musky Fest 2025! Come on out for last great street fest of the summer—all day on Racine/Nelson in Lakeview. @chicagobars.bsky.social

What a gorgeous sunset

Lots to love about this proposal. If this happens, I think it would kick off feedback loop that results in the redevelopment of many strip malls in the corridor outside of this plan. In which case, the city would really need to prioritize dedicated fixed rail transit Also, new water taxi terminal!

This is the worst argument I’ve heard in…a long time. “New apartments cost a lot, and our neighborhood is getting very expensive. This new apartment will only have 20% affordable units. IS THAT REALLY SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE?” 🤡

this is a huge month for ADUs (granny flats, coach houses, etc.) in Chicago, as City Council will decide on 9/25/25 whether to legalize them citywide. here's my big update 🧵

Great thread. If you ever need content ideas (for writing, social media, TikToks, etc) there is an unlimited amount of material you can generate from just fact checking ridiculous NIMBY claims.

Seen on Roscoe

PSA: the Aurora bike bus will be departing my apartment in 10 minutes

A solar storm is on the way and may cause a moderate or even strong geomagnetic storm on Monday or Tuesday. Impact is predicted for around 20 UT on September 1, and auroras may be seen further equatorward than usual on Monday and Tuesday night. Here's what you need to know... #heliophysics #aurora

Thank you to my elected board member Ellen Rosenfeld. This is what I voted for! Reminder: never listen to anyone who justifies excess spending “because it’s for the kids” if the spending comes from a high interest loan. You’re not helping kids if you’re making them pay when they graduate!

Chicago River appreciation post

(I hope at least one person appreciates that the example address I used for this map is Will’s Northwoods Inn 🫶🏻)

Chicago: use this map to figure out if there’s evidence of lead pipes at your address. Great project! (And reminder to thank the plumbers union and the lead industry for mandating lead pipes into the 1980s, even after detrimental health effects were well documented. Their greed killed people.)

Thank you IG girlies for providing a timelapse that exactly shows why we need dedicated bus lanes and enforcement on DLSD. Those two busses have probably 80-100 people on them

great thread on why ADUs are so wonderful. read through and take action! ADUs for me and you!!

Never forget the United States Government tried to “save money” by firing ~ 600 NWS employees Roughly 0.000093% of the federal budget Just to go back to normal spending levels and not solve the 36 trillion dollar debt problem. A huge waste of time.

One of the worst arguments I’ve seen against the ADU ordinance in a long time. “They’re too expensive because of all the regulations…so let’s not even try to reduce the regulations”

Conservatives now control federal research funding. The next step: actually manipulating research. A conservative law firm is demanding Brown retract research showing connections between anti-wind groups and the fossil fuel industry. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/25/c...

My latest for @bloomberg.com Citylab: Parking reform might be the rare issue that Chicagoans can agree on www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

In 2024, Chicago logged 109 deaths on the road — 38 pedestrians, two cyclists and 69 people in vehicles. Although that represents a drop from a spike during the pandemic, that’s only 18 fewer than in 2017 when the city’s Vision Zero plan was published. trib.al/9UdsIJx

⚠️ ACTION ALERT! ⚠️ We are 1 month away from the next opportunity for Chicago City Council to lift their citywide ban on accessory dwelling units, or ADUs. We need your help to make sure that they follow through! Here’s a thread about why you should care, and what you can do:

we need to have a serious conversation about how NIMBY democratic politicians are essentially handing elections over to republicans at this point they hate housing more than fascism. it’s absurdity

I am sounding the alarm on the real crisis we face today. Donald Trump’s overreach is what our founders warned against – it is unprecedented, unwarranted, and un-American. There’s no emergency here that calls for military intervention.

Cannot be emphasized enough that anti-housing NIMBYs in places like California and New York are objectively working to support a durable MAGA hold on Congress and the presidency.