Ben Wolfenstein
@steelwolfwc.bsky.social
📤 208
📥 419
📝 183
Abundant Housing Illinois. Go Hokies.
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Ben Wolfenstein
Drake Warren for Cook County Commissioner
7 days ago
Thrilled to be endorsed by Abundant Housing Illinois - an organization I work closely with to make housing more affordable across Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois.
#chicago
#illinois
#cookcounty
#urbanism
#housing
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Ben Wolfenstein
Abundant Housing Illinois
8 days ago
Abundant Housing Illinois is proud to announce our endorsement of Drake Warren for Cook County Board of Commissioners, District 10! Drake understands that tackling our housing shortage is essential for reducing poverty and improving quality of life for Cook County residents. 🏘️
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Ben Wolfenstein
Yonah Freemark
17 days ago
What happens when you downzone? Our new open-access research paper in
@findingspress.org
investigates effects of decades of downzoning in Chicago. Findings: —Downzoned areas added 1/7th of the new units as comparable non-downzoned areas; —Downzoned areas became more white & were more expensive.
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Downzoning Chicago: How Local Land Use Policy Has Reduced Housing Construction and Reinforced Segregation | Published in Findings
By Yonah Freemark, George Kisiel. Downzonings were used by US cities in the postwar period to preserve neighborhood character. These land-use policies were associated with lower housing supply, higher...
https://findingspress.org/article/147490-downzoning-chicago-how-local-land-use-policy-has-reduced-housing-construction-and-reinforced-segregation
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Ben Wolfenstein
Steven
19 days ago
Of all the major cities in the United States, Chicago provides the greatest value, with robust amenities and culture without correlated housing costs. But if Chicago wants to retain that status, some things need to change. op-ed by me, Stef, and Jasmine (co-leads for
@abundanthousingil.bsky.social
)
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Commentary: Make 2026 the year to achieve real progress on reforming housing affordability
Growth in and around Chicago depends on lawmakers getting it done, write leaders of Abundant Housing Illinois.
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-forum-chicagos-housing-market/how-chicago-could-maintain-its-housing-affordability-status
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Ben Wolfenstein
Abundant Housing Illinois
18 days ago
Chicago and Illinois urbanists have a lot to celebrate as we close out 2025, so we’re co-hosting a party! 🥳 Please join us at Haymarket Brewing on December 17 for a celebration of our wins at the second annual Big Tent Urbanist holiday party! 🏘️🚇
www.eventbrite.com/e/big-tent-u...
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Big Tent Urbanist Holiday Party
Join us for an end of the year celebration among urban-focused organizations in Chicago!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/big-tent-urbanist-holiday-party-tickets-1974946941466?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile
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Ben Wolfenstein
Abundant Housing Illinois
30 days ago
Is it time for a ballot measure to fast-track affordable housing in Chicago? Marisa Novara and Daniel Kay Hertz highlight NYC’s recent pro-housing wins — and how Chicago’s ADU fight shows we’re moving in the opposite direction. 🏘️ 🗳️
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/13/o...
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Marisa Novara and Daniel Kay Hertz: New York nixes veto power over housing while Chicago unwisely doubles down
The recent granny flat fight in Chicago is an example of the city upholding a tradition that has held back affordable housing.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/13/opinion-chicago-city-council-affordable-housing-veto/
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Ben Wolfenstein
Steven
about 1 month ago
if you’re a candidate following me, take note that
@abundanthousingil.bsky.social
is doing endorsements for these races: Congress & Senate: questionnaires are due Dec. 1 State House & Senate, Cook County Board: due Nov. 21 (Districts must overlap Cook County)
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Ben Wolfenstein
TSN
about 1 month ago
DAVID RODRIGUEZ WITH A SPECTACULAR BICYCLE FINISH IN THE SNOW 😱 CINEMA AT THE
#CPL
FINAL ❄️
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Not enough people are paying attention to the Canadian Premier League (soccer) championship game being played in half a foot of snow. They're currently plowing the field before extra time.
about 1 month ago
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Ben Wolfenstein
Abundant Housing Illinois
about 1 month ago
Want to learn more about the parking requirements impacted by the transit bill? Check out this blog post written by AHIL Lead Steven Vance!
chi.streetsblog.org/2025/10/31/i...
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Illinois legislature adopts People Over Parking Act to right-size parking requirements in transit-served areas - Streetsblog Chicago
At about 4:22 AM this morning the Illinois Senate concurred with the Illinois House on bill SB 2111, approving a revenues and reform package that will avert the Chicagoland transit fiscal cliff, struc...
https://chi.streetsblog.org/2025/10/31/illinois-legislature-adopts-people-over-parking-act-to-right-size-parking-requirements-in-transit-served-areas
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Ben Wolfenstein
Abundant Housing Illinois
about 1 month ago
Everyone’s talking about Illinois’ big transit bill, but here’s what you might’ve missed: it also eliminates parking mandates near high-frequency transit stops statewide! ✨🥳 What counts as high-frequency transit? 🚇 Within 1/2 mile of rail stations and bus hubs 🚍 Within 1/8 mile of bus corridors
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reposted by
Ben Wolfenstein
Steven
about 1 month ago
Illinois adopted parking reform in transit adjacent areas this morning The bill, SB2111, goes to the Governor cc
@steelwolfwc.bsky.social
@parkingreform.org
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reposted by
Ben Wolfenstein
Audrey Wennink
about 1 month ago
Illinois transit is going to be bigger and better than ever! SB2111 passed!!!
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Ben Wolfenstein
Daniel Comeaux
about 1 month ago
It actually happened! Oh my! (I’m not crying, you’re crying!)
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youtube.com/shorts/B6KfT...
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And when I’m back in Chicago I feel it. 🇺🇸 #shorts #chicago
YouTube video by Tristan Laughton
https://youtube.com/shorts/B6KfTEnnBls?si=5pmVFjUZW7Zw1Lhe
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Ben Wolfenstein
Steven
about 1 month ago
I was thinking that if Illinois has very bad roads despite downstate receiving 55% of MFT sales tax revenue then perhaps “more funding” isn’t a sufficient solution and something else needs to be fixed (quality control, contract oversight, too many roads, etc.)
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Ben Wolfenstein
Star:Line Chicago
about 1 month ago
The NITA bill raises taxes downstate by zero dollars but you’d never know that based on these debates
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reposted by
Ben Wolfenstein
Star:Line Chicago
about 1 month ago
My suburban mayor supports this bill by the way
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reposted by
Ben Wolfenstein
Star:Line Chicago
about 1 month ago
Minutes to go but Senator DeWitte, please read this about why the “super-duper-majority” is a good idea, even for the collars
citythatworks.substack.com/p/the-suburb...
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The Suburban Case for Transit Reform
Trips don’t end at the city limits, so why do our transit agencies?
https://citythatworks.substack.com/p/the-suburban-case-for-transit-reform?utm_source=activity_item
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reposted by
Ben Wolfenstein
Steven
about 1 month ago
I wanted to know about this second hypothetical!!
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I'm frozen what's going on?
about 1 month ago
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Ben Wolfenstein
Star:Line Chicago
about 1 month ago
Current mood
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Some of my favorite people in the world
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about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Ben Wolfenstein
Audrey Wennink
about 1 month ago
SB2111 to fund transit operations is being heard in the Senate..at 3:30am!
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TO THE BILL -- SENATE EDITION
about 1 month ago
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Ben Wolfenstein
John
about 1 month ago
🍻 TO THE BILL 🍻
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TO THE BILL
about 1 month ago
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Republicans aren't wrong that the process is messed up. But they should be on board with shifting the road fund to transit because it's a much higher ROI than the current status quo.
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about 1 month ago
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Ben Wolfenstein
Star:Line Chicago
about 1 month ago
Republicans are arguing about process, that usually means Dems have the votes to steamroll
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TO THE BILL
about 1 month ago
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Ben Wolfenstein
Star:Line Chicago
about 1 month ago
Good news: veto session does not have a hard limit, we can keep going far past midnight. Bad news: veto session does not have a hard limit, we can keep going far past midnight.
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Ben Wolfenstein
Powder Pete ⛄
about 1 month ago
Chicago transit bsky having another 18 inning baseball game rn
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reposted by
Ben Wolfenstein
Star:Line Chicago
about 1 month ago
If McHenry County wants to be cut loose of RTA/NITA, I am absolutely open to letting them explore it
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reposted by
Ben Wolfenstein
Star:Line Chicago
about 1 month ago
“For transit in Illinois this bill is a winner.” -Tim Drea, LAPT (labor)
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Man CRGA vote and the committee hearing for transit happening at the same time
about 1 month ago
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Ben Wolfenstein
Mergatroid ΘΔ ☉∇ &
about 1 month ago
UPDATED LINK FOR SUBMITTING WITNESS SLIPS AS A PROPONENT OF SB2111
mbl.ms/mKso5XZhOHV
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reposted by
Ben Wolfenstein
Eric Allix Rogers
about 1 month ago
Witness Slip Warriors: You are a PROPONENT of SB2111 if you love trains and buses! Get to it. (Previously shared an outdated link, this is current.)
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Ben Wolfenstein
lucaisharsh
about 1 month ago
Transit bill witness slips just dropped!
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Ben Wolfenstein
Michael McLean
about 1 month ago
Just got this action alert, I think from
@betterstreetschicago.org
Sign a witness slip immediately for the transit funding bill. Info in alt text
mbl.ms/mKgZnW7m-BQ
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reposted by
Ben Wolfenstein
Parker Welch
about 1 month ago
Illinois folks, please fill this out & support this bill to help save Chicago from cuts that would obliterate 40% of CTA, Pace, & Metra service
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Ben Wolfenstein
Sidestreets
about 1 month ago
We cordially request you take a moment tonight for a witness slip. This bill will be moving shortly.
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Ben Wolfenstein
chlurg
about 1 month ago
save Chicago from transit cuts!!
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Ben Wolfenstein
Abundant Housing Illinois
about 1 month ago
It’s witness slip time! 🚨 Transit funding bill SB2111 has been assigned to committee and we need folks to file witness slips as PROPONENT immediately! The attached graphic provides guidance for submitting a slip.
mbl.ms/mKgZnW7m-BQ
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reposted by
Ben Wolfenstein
Better Streets Chicago
about 1 month ago
🚨 New phone banking shift just added for 6pm! Join us tonight to reach neighbors, asking them to contact their reps and demand they get the job done TODAY. Public transit cannot wait! Sign up and take action with us!
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Phone Bank to Save Transit · Better Streets Chicago
## Help us reach transit riders from the comfort of home! We need legislators to pass funding to save transit this month to avoid devastating service cuts – and we need your help phone banking to urg...
https://www.mobilize.us/betterstreetschicago/event/862578/
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idk
about 2 months ago
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reposted by
Ben Wolfenstein
Star:Line Chicago
about 2 months ago
Longer-term, the revenue component should be straightforward: our expressway system charges tolls for suburb-to-suburb trips with no good transit alternatives while keeping routes parallel to our robust hub-and-spoke rail system free for drivers. Let’s stop subsidizing transit’s primary competition.
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reposted by
Ben Wolfenstein
Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth
about 2 months ago
I missed getting a pic of the
@betterstreetschicago.org
train on the third floor of Illinois State Capitol today! Someone please share 🚊
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reposted by
Ben Wolfenstein
Better Streets Chicago
about 2 months ago
Today, we brought the train to Springfield to deliver nearly 20,000 petitions to legislators urging them to get the job done NOW. Transit cannot wait. Legislators cannot continue to kick the can down the road. It is time to fix and FULLY FUND transit.
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Illinois House Democrats weigh new transit funding plan, eye billionaire and streaming taxes
With time running short in the Illinois General Assembly’s fall veto session, Democratic lawmakers were weighing several alternatives to raise the $1.5 billion advocates say is needed to fund publi…
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/28/illinois-house-democrats-weigh-new-transit-funding-plan-eye-billionaire-and-streaming-taxes/
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reposted by
Ben Wolfenstein
Sidestreets
about 2 months ago
This train rides the Rotunda Rail in the Illinois State Capitol. Save transit!
@itazurakko999.bsky.social
@nerdiesanders.bsky.social
@betterstreetschicago.org
@abundanthousingil.bsky.social
@sierraclubchicago.bsky.social
@atalliance.bsky.social
@ilenviro.bsky.social
@housedemsil.bsky.social
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