“Addressing the state’s housing crisis is a shared burden, and Marbleheaders can’t look on from Tedesco’s 18th tee as their neighbors Salem and Lynn do all the work.”

“Addressing the state’s housing crisis is a shared burden, and Marbleheaders can’t look on from Tedesco’s 18th tee as their neighbors Salem and Lynn do all the work.”

20-years after the Keystone Building collapsed into Union Street, New Bedford is finally repairing the gap left in its urban fabric. A new mixed-use development with 45 homes & retail is rising in its place, part of a broader housing renaissance driven by pro-housing leadership.

On its third attempt tonight, Marblehead Town Meeting approved an “MBTA Communities–compliant” district largely centered on the 125-year-old Tedesco Country Club, meeting 3A requirements on paper while all but assuring no new housing would be built. This comment says it all.

Found out on Tuesday that Marblehead is also thinking of trying to do some “historic preservation” on the their portion of the Glover site which would prevent housing from being built on the only part of this zone that isn’t golf course. So yes, they really are being pricks.

"We're following this & we’ll determine post-EOHLC review if there's any legal recourse we can take... There are a lot of people like David... and I applaud the civic engagement at the local level when it comes to housing policies.” - @massago.bsky.social on Marblehead Town Meeting comment

What began as a pilot 10 years ago has become one of Boston’s most beloved traditions. Open Newbury Street brings together residents, families, and visitors, supports local commerce, and has helped reshape conversations around how we allocate space on our urban streets.

looking at maps - there is logistically no reason for newbury street to remain open to cars. There is plenty of redundancy around it to fully shutter it to cars aside from deliveries early morning / late night. During day only allow bike & kei truck deliveries. #boston

Should be every weekend all year round

"If Marblehead residents are being pricks, however, it's because the state law enables them to be pricks... If [Massachusetts] actually wants to build more homes, it needs to prick-proof its housing policy." @reason.com reason.com/2026/05/12/t...

What began as a pilot 10 years ago has become one of Boston’s most beloved traditions. Open Newbury Street brings together residents, families, and visitors, supports local commerce, and has helped reshape conversations around how we allocate space on our urban streets.

"If people want Massachusetts to thrive and succeed, we have to build more housing." Great joining CBS Boston for David Wade’s Question Everything segment discussing David Modica’s viral moment from Marblehead Town Meeting and the broader housing debate playing out across MA.

A major driver of Massachusetts’ housing crisis is every zoning change must survive a ‘Town Meeting’ vote in 300+ towns. Too often, these debates are flooded with lies & fearmongering. This anonymous flyer was mailed to Marblehead voters just days ahead of a 2024 town meeting.

Sometimes I can’t believe I get to live here. ♥️ Salem

Our communities need more housing options. Yet modest townhomes like these, built in Marblehead in 1970, are now illegal to build under overly restrictive modern zoning here and across much of Massachusetts in the 1970s.

Massachusetts voters are sending a pretty clear message on housing: 63% say the more important goal is building more homes & bringing down costs. 28% say preserving local control is more important.

Massachusetts voters are sending a pretty clear message on housing: 63% say the more important goal is building more homes & bringing down costs. 28% say preserving local control is more important.

When your city does malicious compliance. Be honest: tell your residents that you’re going to cut off growth, affordability and the future. @urbantruth.bsky.social

Marblehead: the town that compares new housing laws to the revolutionary war while ignoring their own history from the revolutionary war to present and how it led them to their current moment where someone has to rhetorically ask if they are being pricks. swampscottrjag.medium.com/the-history-...

Imagine proposing Marblehead to Marblehead today…

Imagine proposing Marblehead to Marblehead today…

In the 60's - ’80s, Massachusetts permitted 30,000–50,000 new homes annually. We haven’t exceeded 20,000 permits since 2006. Marblehead alone didn’t create our housing crisis, a fundamentally broken housing system did. Fixing it requires bold action from the Legislature NOW.

“One of the reasons so many younger people have flocked to the pro-housing “yes in my backyard” movement is because they can see perfectly clearly the way that the Marbleheads of the world have blocked their own economic prospects — & they resent it.” - @bostonglobe.com Ed. Board

Important to take a second to ask yourself if you're being a prick.

The housing champion we didn’t know we needed. We need elected officials to get to YES. Folks like this are pricing teachers, cops, firefighters, nurses, service workers and others out of their neighborhoods. It’s shameful.

When we talk about making left-wing policy accessible for voters, this is what it should be. It's not about attacking academia, it's about using plain-spoken language to stand by your ideals and questioning the pricks making the world shittier.

GOAT

So many everyday heroes coming out to contest everything about this corrupt moment. This guy is A++

I love love love the local profile of this guy so much -- incredible details!!!! www.marbleheadindependent.com/he-asked-if-...

Marblehead (where I grew up) deserves the attention it’s getting from this extremely cool dude but it is unfortunately not alone in “meeting” 3A requirements in a way where no housing will actually be built. If you’re in MA, channel this moment’s energy into changing the law. #Chowder #Nomar

This is the story I was waiting for. What a lovely, warm little profile.

This guy is a better messenger than 80% of the Democratic party.

Also - that's reporting a small town paper chose to do. Maybe become a member for a cycle.

Thinking this morning about the fascinating research I saw presented recently at the New England Political Science Assn conference about the history and evolution of Massachusetts Town Meeting arrangements.

“Any moment we spend bullshitting each other,” he says, “is just a sin.”

Modica For President

Every waspy suburban Mass town, my own hometown included, has had pricks shut down proposed housing. Glad to see there are still townies out there fighting the good fight

MA has some of the most segregated public schools in the US and I'm often asked "well isn't that because of where people live?" As though that's not also shaped by power and policy. Grateful that David Modica is bringing attention to a law that could reshape our schools and communities, if we try.

It's refreshing to hear someone who actually lives in a "preserve the character" community realize somewhat in real time that it's mostly a scam.

1,000% this. Theres research that shows a few pro housing voices in local meetings can sway decisions. A vocal minority is how much of the Northeast and the Nation got into our housing crisis. Those voices need to be countered. Show up… or better yet join a local board!

Ah, the Socratic-Dangerfield method.

I’ve seen a LOT of citizen presentations in my 34 years as a city planner, but this one might be my new favourite. Watch it.

This is an amazing video.

This man is a fucking hero. ”The tyranny of townhouses” needs to enter the national lexicon!

me @ fucking everyone in my stupid fucking town who acts like townhouses are skyscrapers (we did eventually pass compliant zoning, but still)

I cannot stop watching this clip.

"Tyranny of townhouses." I love this man.

“We are the luckiest bastards alive,” he says of living in Marblehead. “We can’t also be the most self-interested bastards alive. They can’t be the same thing.” www.marbleheadindependent.com/he-asked-if-...

In a world where so often people are Assholes for Bad, it’s good to see an example of the lost art of being an Asshole for Good. “Are we kinda being pricks?” “I just want to make sure we’re voting on nothing substantive.”