The @cubsbot.bsky.social can shove it with their god damn fighter jets over the North Side. You want parking lots and empty militarism then you can join the Bears in the burbs.

Are you supposed to have me believe if we just stop paying consultants to do work city employees can do we save money? But how is a McKinsey business school grad supposed to pay for their over priced lunch!?

The city's 23,000 street vendors are squeezed by expensive permits & government blocks. So I appointed Carina Kaufman-Gutierrez as our new Street Vendor Czar. Carina is a longtime fighter for street vendors. Together, we will make sure city laws and city government are on their side.

Also, re-stating my call for the @chicagocta.bsky.social to just immediately untangle the Howard Junction. I’m sure that was part of the delay. They could do this tomorrow.

Improve service > bring back riders > put people, eyes, and ears back on buses and trains > discourage misbehavior.

The solution to misbehavior (i.e., but it’s really just misbehavior) on transit isn’t cops. It’s service. It’s service! That’ll bring back riders. Exhibit A: it’s 6pm and 95th-bound Red Line trains are mysteriously delayed and the brand new train trackers are broken.

Housing folks, I need some help! I recently saw a graph comparing housing production (or costs) in various metros before and after zoning reforms passed. This included Austin, Chicago (connected communities specifically), and a few others. Does anybody know what I'm talking about and have it!?

Nothing like watching a unionized City of Chicago worker tow an over-sized pick-up truck featuring a pro-oil bumper sticker that was illegally parked and fragrantly so in front of a fire hydrant AND a crosswalk to cap off a lovely and productive Monday.

ICE as TSA again making the case for high-speed rail. Transportation is not a niche issue, and the left needs to start taking it seriously. So many transportation systems we have set up are foundational to the division, suppression, and collapse that we are witnessing.

Ok, this trip to Pennsylvania is gunna make me sappy for a minute.

First round transportation impressions from Pennsylvania: • Pittsburgh’s bus network is surprisingly impressive • SEPTA is being strangled and it’s really sad • It’s criminal that the mainline rail from Pittsburgh to Philly isn’t quad tracked still and never got electrified Cont…

This feels like an appropriate musical choice to wrap up a week on Pennsylvania.

My hottest of hot takes may be that we need to allow smoking inside in more places again, assuming staff, ownership, and customers all consent.

To be clear: I’m quite annoyed tonight. A lot of important stuff in Illinois is off the table for at least 2 years and we’re not even in a good position to talk about these things. Illinois secured itself as a Dem party state tonight, but not necessarily a progressive one. Certainly nothing leftist.

Kat Abughazaleh used her campaign to try a lot of things that the party should been embracing a long time ago. The entire left coalition is better off because she ran.

Illinois progressives and leftists need to spend the next 12-18 months working hard to lay out a clear platform and strategic ground game that will result in real wins. Some of the worst outcomes were averted, but barely. And the outcome we got was meager.

Illinois progressives have put forth some really good candidates lately, but they keep falling just short. The progressive and leftist movement in the state need to really focus going into the municipal cycle next year and the 2028 election if we’re really going to make gains.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, New York.

Reminder: If you're in line by 7 p.m., you're allowed to cast your ballot. 🗳️ Need last-minute Election Day info? Check out our guide: blockclubchi.co/4aCsMRV

Great n’hood tavern in Morton Grove. Zoning code reforms need to also allow small-scale commercial opportunities tucked in neighborhoods. Density w/o places to walk or bike does little to build communities. @govpritzker.illinois.gov @yimbyaction.bsky.social @abundanthousingil.bsky.social

The absolute shit show that’s the Howard Terminal on the @chicagocta.bsky.social could be resolved with two simple fixes: eliminate the Yellow Line and run the Red Line to Dempster (even just every other train) and run the Purple Line all-day to the Loop and onto the South Side elevated. 1/8

I’ve sat down at so many bars and overheard people talking about transit services they wish they had. I’ve never heard anybody ever talk about how they want cops trailing buses in squad cars. This is why people don’t ride. Take a hint at @chicagocta.bsky.social

@chicagocta.bsky.social service still sucks, but I’m glad they’re spending time and resources on security theater to appease Trump for $50 million. Oh, and the city has spent more that on police misconduct lawsuits. But anyway, to hell with service. The CTA has cops.

Between the CTA, Metra and Pace there are daily inconveniences big and small that discourage ridership. This makes the system less safe. No amount of money can be thrown at security to fix that. Better service is the only thing to increase ridership and improve safety. Period.

Lots of ppl with bad intentions are going arguing that security and enforcement is the best way to bring people back onto the CTA. They argue crime and perceptions of safety keep people off the system. That’s a lie. Service levels and quality bring riders. And that makes the system safer.

One of my hot takes is that US cities need to do a lot more to bring back satellite commercial districts, the like “Uptown’s” found in so many cities. This needs to include both retail and entertainment, but also offices.

Favorability: 🟢 Adaptive reuse: +67 🟢 "Database of pre-approved housing plans": +57 🟢 Expanding ADUs: +47 🟢 Permitting more prefab housing: +46 🟢 "More modern building materials": +34 🔴 Higher fees for deconversions: -18 🔴 RETT increase: -29 🔴 Aldermanic prerogative: -32

Globally, a zero-carbon future is a pathway to a significantly more peaceful future as well as a significantly more healthy, safe, and prosperous future.

Sadly, it is an appropriate time to re-up this thread. Among all the other terrible things about this war, gasoline is about to become much more expensive for families that have been give too few alternatives. Here's how state lawmakers can help.

"The primary thesis underlying this report is simple: Increasing housing availability in existing communities cuts transportation pollution by reducing time people are stuck in car traffic and increasing availability of other modes of transportation including walking, biking, and transit."

Today, we released a report outlining 16 actionable, pro-climate housing policies. As the housing crisis grows, it’s critical to address it in a way that reduces pollution and lowers bills.

Wow. Bridget Gainer got at least one endorsement.

Truly incredible to see how many Chicago alders are sticking their necks out to endorse a certain Illinois State Senator who is *famously* Islamophobic. Considering she’s also well into retirement age, why attach yourself to this!?

I would’ve preferred any number of different candidates for Illinois’ open US Senate seat. Unfortunately, we have a race on our hands that’s come down to damage control. With that, I suggest everyone vote for Julianna Stratton. 1/

In addition to reforming our zoning codes, land-use planning, and building codes to make good housing construction easier, we also need to fully invest in our social housing systems, and pass major renter protection laws. The market can solve some issues, but not all. That’s why we need all three.

🚨 Tell the Chicago Meetropolitan Agency For Planning to STOP the DLSD highway expansion project! Send an email or sign up to make public comment at the CMAP board meeting tomorrow. Via @betterstreetschicago.org secure.everyaction.com/-B7h3GjiAEiA...

I’m so excited that this report is out! Can’t wait to discuss and share.

@mayorofchicago.bsky.social: way to let Zohran one up you *again* when it comes to sidewalk snow removal.

Quiet Evening Holly Dyrland c. 2024

US Fed Railroad Admin is apparently directing Amtrak to split itself into 3 entities: —Operations —Rolling stock [& maintenance facilities] —Infra [mainly Northeast Corridor & stations] This approach could have major ramifications for Amtrak. I'm personally quite skeptical it will improve outcomes.

What a bummer this news is being overlooked. www.npr.org/2026/02/20/n...

Yo @danielbiss.bsky.social this kind of response will not get you votes. People are PISSED and you’re vying to be the continuity candidate. But we don’t want continuity. My vote is going to Kat. (I don’t need to explain why Fine isn’t even a contender for me, but it rhymes with “Mack”).

In the suburbs train stations don’t smell like piss. They also (generally) have public bathrooms. In the city train stations smell like piss. They (definitely) don’t have public bathrooms. People who live in the city are clearly just inconsiderate rogues and barbarians.

JD Vance personally invited Pope Leo to the U.S. 250th celebration on the 4th of July. Today the Vatican announced Leo will be spending the day with migrants instead.

Just went for a walk: train is packed! All sorts of people on the train. I cannot emphasize this enough, but transit is great and if you put the work and resources into making it good people ride it. They love! We the people yearn for trains!

Tons of people getting on and off the Metra UPNW in Palatine. The crowd included a shocking number of people going northbound deeper into the suburbs. The people heading into the city include a lot of young adults going out on a Saturday night. This system has such potential.

If you haven’t read this piece by @ear2thepavement.bsky.social @currentaffairs.bsky.social do so now. It is a great break down of the conservative underpinnings of Strong Towns, the infiltration of urbanist politics by the right, and how to contend with their sometimes workable ideas.

Immigration policing & detention now make up 13% of all government spending on the criminal legal system. The U.S.’s commitment to the deportation agenda comes at a steep financial and moral cost.

Today I had the lovely privilege of meeting some incredibly enthusiastic and thoughtful transportation advocates in Milwaukee. I am so excited to be working in Wisconsin again, it’s where I cut my teeth. It’s good to be back home (in its way).

Join us and Better Streets Chicago Action Fund, Chicago Growth Project, IfNotNow Chicago, and Sunrise Movement Chicago for our Coalition Day of Action this Sunday to knock doors for @nickforillinois.bsky.social! Register at: www.mobilize.us/nickforillin...