It's always nuts to me when ppl say things like "we live in one of the most dangerous places", are constantly fearful of violence. The stress people must feel at all times is crazy. I walk through downtown Hamilton with very little worry knowing it's one of the safest places on Earth (from violence)

Running it into the ground and selling it for parts… That’s what organized crime does with a “business” like the one Trump has taken over, namely the United States of America.

Wheeee!

Too many city plans are still using language like “balancing competing priorities” because at some point, we city planners decided that the word balance made us sound reasonable and less scary. But let’s be clear — in most cases balance has been a myth, and is often NOT the correct goal or approach.

According to this ranking, Canada’s reputation has improved since 2024. We are now the 2nd most reputable country in the world. The United States has dropped from 30th to 48th in that same year, the biggest drop of any nation BY FAR. Its reputation-peers are now Kuwait, Algeria, Kazakhstan…

Politicians peddling fear are lying to you. Know who they are and ignore them.

Qatar, who famously gave Trump a plane as a bribe, is rated a few spots above the US.

Get ready for a lot more of this

Sandwich hero triumphs.

This is a completely random point, but I’ve never really liked the term “members of the public.” It gets used by city planners & city halls a fair bit. I’ve always thought it sounds odd & kinda begs the question “are there some of the public that aren’t members?” Anyway, I just say “the public.”

So the Epstein vote isn't the only reason Mike Johnson should fear Rep. Yassamin Ansari. More of this, please.

reminder that the president raped kids

New York’s wealthy and powerful had warned of a business exodus if Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral race. But small business owners say his victory is a reason to stay in the country’s most expensive city. https://cnn.it/43hK82x

Hey, sounds pretty convincing!

👏👏👏🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦👏👏👏

I don't believe these stats. I need proof. The only way to know for sure is for me and my family to live in Toronto to verify this is true. To get a good sample size we will probably need to stay for 20 to 25 years, maybe longer. We will also need Blue Jays season tickets.

According to this ranking, Canada’s reputation has improved since 2024. We are now the 2nd most reputable country in the world. The United States has dropped from 30th to 48th in that same year, the biggest drop of any nation BY FAR. Its reputation-peers are now Kuwait, Algeria, Kazakhstan…

Top two in reputation. We are dependable, fair, resilient and credible.

Canada is statistically the second safest country in the world for travel in relation to violent crime, and is the fifth safest country in the world overall. Japan takes the top spot, with Belgium in 3rd. Via @cultmtl.com Comments?

Elevators are a form of public transit. A very successful form.

The East Wing demolition and bribe-funded ballroom construction provide a lesson everyone should’ve learned a while ago: adjudicating the merits of lies is a waste of time. Just call bullshit. “Don’t need permission, it’s only demolition”? BS. Illegal, corrupt and symbolic destruction. Always was.

Investing smartly in public transit checks ALL the boxes right now, @mark-carney.bsky.social. It’s a credible example of both real nation-building & climate action. It’s a proven cost SAVER with a great ROI that makes Canadian cities more successful & competitive. It supports equity & affordability.

There is definitely gonna be a WH swimming pool by next summer

I’m not suggesting that Carney NEEDS the NDP strategically. He doesn’t, as I don’t think for minute that the NDP or any party will trigger an election now. It would be political suicide. I’m saying that because it’s a right thing for the NDP to ask for, and a right thing for Carney to say yes to.

Let's do what Brent is suggesting

Gates' subtle anti-renewables messaging, possibly related to his investments in small modular nuclear reactors, was well known, but this is next level: financially supporting a guy whose core business it is to argue for less climate action.

Trump is utterly a creature of self preservation and if he continues to sink he’ll find people to blame. May I nominate Stephen Miller.

All of the fuss about a Canadian Conservative MP “defecting” to the Liberal Govt is tiring in its hypocrisy. As someone said today, it’s a “selfish betrayal” if it hurts your party, and “selfless patriotism” if it helps your party. There really should be more consequences for obvious hypocrisy.

“They didn’t just walk in chasing one person, they went into multiple rooms asking and looking for teachers while children were present,” Ramirez said. “This is an agency that has gone rogue and it an agency that believes that as long as they can cover their face, they can get away with anything.”

Inevitable, unless he’s beaten.

Weird, classless and gross.

A couple weeks ago a friend was telling me about someone she knew who had been on maternity leave, and said she had taken "the full year." I said, "A whole year? Wow, what kind of fancy job does she have that gives her a YEAR of leave?" and my friend looked surprised & said, "... welcome to Canada?"

Another example why it’s so hard for some US cities to get any better.

COVID-19 infections lead to much higher heart risks in children than vaccination, says major study https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/covid-19-infections-lead-to-higher-heart-risks-in-children-than-vaccination-study/ 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 ⇢ CanadaHealthwatch.ca/newsletter

Pelosi: "Trump is a vile creature. The worst thing on the face of the earth. Because he's the president of the United States and he doesn't honor the Constitution of the United States."

“In his final budget before facing voters next October, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is presenting a property tax freeze and $50 million more for police, & major cuts to arts, culture, community services & sustainability.” Brutal austerity for everything else, but $50 million more for over-budget cops.

And here's your 1st #HubFundraiser2025 update! We've been LIVE for just over a day & we're already just $100 shy from raising our first $1000 Love what we do? Give us a hand. Every cent goes towards REAL #ClimateAction in Calgary #DONATE TODAY: give.crowdfunding.alberta.ca/92dn21?ref=s... #yyc

A primer in why MAGA/GOP loves the government shutdown: They hate anything in govt that works. Bad job/economic statistics won't be reported. Healthcare premiums rise, threatening Obamacare. The poor won't get food support. They can continue to destroy govt programs without oversight. Add your own:

If the sandwich don’t split, you must acquit

Last night’s election results, in a nutshell. (watching this legitimately made me laugh out loud)

This is city planner @lindseyboylan.bsky.social. She was the 1st whistleblower to bravely come forward with sexual misconduct allegations against Andrew Cuomo. 12 others joined her. Cuomo resigned as Governor. His “comeback” never should have been enabled. She earned this moment more than most.

“Roughly 80-89% of the world’s people want their governments to ‘do more’ to address #ClimateChange, and nearly 2/3rds are on board with that action costing them a bit. Yet most think they are the minority, telling pollsters they believe that only around 30% also want stronger climate action.”

Word on the street is that there are a bunch of new folks joining Bluesky right now, so it seems like a good time to re-share my first & biggest STARTER PACK of urbanists & city-making organizations from across the world. Hope you’ll consider following the excellent accounts here. And please share!

Still one of the most amazing photos I've ever seen - aerial view of Central Park in Manhattan, #NewYorkCity.

We democracy scholars need to explain *why* the coming economic and social breakdowns are downstream from *democratic* breakdowns. We need to explain democracy’s benefits in dollars and cents terms and not just values 8/x

In some ways, I get this impulse. Our civics education teaches people America is democracy is if it’s a matter of nature, rather than an institution that requires constant maintenance and renewal. This is a mistake 3/x

When January 6th happened, it was crystal clear that MAGA had rejected democracy. It was a full masks off authoritarian move. Yet, we collectively chose to whitewash it 1/x

Most people, especially Americans, simply do not understand the power tech companies have to "sway" users to vote for the tech company's interests..... which has been republicans for some reason. I personally think it's far over 50% of Americans who no longer have full control over their "thinking"