These estimates are only direct costs for the National Guard. The $223 million taxpayers spent on surging the NG to DC does not include costs for other federal law enforcement or the indirect economic damage: the surge corresponded with a drop in consumer spending. www.brookings.edu/articles/con...

Alex Pretti’s last words were “are you ok?” said the woman next to him who ICE also pepper sprayed in the face.

If you’re someone who loves to shovel snow (maybe to get your workout in), have you considered turning that workout into helping your senior neighbors? Volunteer with Serve DC’s Volunteer Team and help neighbors near you once the snow is done: servedc.galaxydigital.com/snow-team/

This fist person account of a Guardsman in the DC surge rings true. NG volunteers want to help the country + community. He’s frustrated by “counterproductive directives” and our @brookings.edu research confirms: the surge has hurt rather than helped the city. washingtonian.com/2026/01/21/a...

Watching this happen is pretty wild. The LA Metro board is wrong. New transit projects absolutely SHOULD trigger state-mandated upzoning. Everyone needs to understand that infrastructure is not free and dense land use is a prerequisite for transit ROI.

History is repeating itself. nmaahc.si.edu/object/nmaah...

I am also concerned that I am seeing this pattern repeated at the state and local level as people catch the national mood and put their feelings ahead of stable institutions

O67 just got called at Janney Bingo Night and the screaming was so loud I think I’m deaf now

Good read on remote work from @arpitrage.bsky.social arpitrage.substack.com/p/remote-wor...

This is a fun and super informative video about vertical transportation and the regulatory challenges with it in North America. Very well done.

Essential read on the morality and fiscal reality of how streets are governed in DC

Post Bros creative finance for this office conversion is a game-changer. I am fascinated by this and expect much more to come. I'm also delighted to see that I am an investor in this building, since I'm a TIAA member! (more on C-PACE: www.nuveen.com/greencapital) www.wsj.com/real-estate/...

First bus ride of 2026 - coming home from a new hair cut. #YourMetro

[wakes up] “I’m sorry, what”

I finally made it

What time? Time to get home safely! 🎇

I’m down in the Florida Keys basically minding own business and not trying hard and I saw two threatened/endangered species today. This place is so special. I waded off a beach and put my snorkel face in the water and instantly saw a queen conch, and then went to a bar and a manatee was there.

Key Largo lobster pot Christmas tree

I look like I’m praying for land value tax

Finally had a chance to actually eat lunch this week, ofc used it to play @ggwash.org junctions 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟦🟩🟦🟦 🟦🟦🟦🟦 🟪🟩🟩🟩 🟪🟩🟩🟩 🟪🟪🟪🟪 🟩🟩🟩🟩 Not bad if I do say so myself

It was a busy morning but I’m hiding from my next meeting so I can share my @wmata.com #MetroRewind As I’ve noted before, I think my bus rides are undercounted due to broken fare boxes/boxes not turned on. With the box replacement project complete, hopefully next year I’ll have a personal best!

Nice quick read on how local governments can be small-biz friendly from @urbaninstitute.bsky.social www.urban.org/urban-wire/h...

My latest for @brookings.edu looks at trends in consumer spending in 2025 to understand the impacts of Trump administration policies on the DMV region. We find negative impacts to both visitor and resident spending but not the ones you might expect. READ: www.brookings.edu/articles/con...

This entire weekend

“Optimize tasks” is so far afield from “learn” that I struggle to do anything other than roll my eyes or scream when I see these kinds of assertions. Please don’t make a robot your teacher. It’s the same way it’s always been in computer science - you need to know what to tell the machine to do

I read through Metro's strategic plan update one last time (Board vote this week, materials here www.wmata.com/about/calend...). It's very, very bold, while committing to real metrics. If you thought the last 3 years at Metro were transformative, just wait for what's next!

At-Large Councilmember Anita Bonds won't run for re-election in 2026, @trsdc.bsky.social reports. Next year's campaign season is gonna be lit: washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7754...

The joy of knowing someone is here to take me home #YourMetro

Hahaha honestly it takes some courage to wear this sweater with a suit @wmatagm.bsky.social #YourMetro

This composition had eluded me for nearly a decade, but yesterday I was finally able to capture it. A train rolled through just as the Duquesne Incline was crossing over the tracks in #Pittsburgh, creating a picture perfect winter scene. It was worth the hours and hours I've waited over the years.

I know what you come here for, it’s your geographic information systems (#GIS) feel-good story of the day www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Join me & @lohplaces.bsky.social in supporting #transit champion Robbyn Lewis this Saturday in Bethesda! 🚎Red Line advocate, 🚲Maryland's first car-free legislator & now chair of the Land Use subcommittee Rsvp via this link secure.actblue.com/donate/lewis...

My boss grew this from an acorn. I gotta try this.

It’s official 👀

Holy moly this is so cool. My life is divided into before I read this paper and after. 🤯

I LOLed

“Can’t nobody talk bad about this river in front of my face,“ he said. “We got one of the best fisheries on the East Coast.” 💯🎣💎

CUTE ALERT: @wmata.com is having a storytime event for kids age 5-9 at Metro Center tomorrow, led by real live rail and bus operators! Bring your kids to meet their heroes, register for limited space. #MetroStorytime wmata.com/initiatives/...

The train was packed on the way to work today and I felt squished. Then this happened and I remembered all the reasons I love living here and I’m lucky to serve this place. #YourMetro

On my way to @wmata.com HQ for a joint @mwcog.bsky.social and Metro board meeting to build buy-in for the capital commitments to fund this. If we want to bend the cost curve on operating while growing as a region, we must enable long-term multi-year bonding and budgeting for WMATA. #DMVMoves

“Housing shortage – Jews to blame," letter sticker, German Reich, 1938 zwangsraeume.berlin/en/context

Good summary of the local housing policy moment www.thenewlocalism.com/newsletter/t...

Excellent report documenting the real effects of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law on transportation, and a must-read as the transportation reathorization conversation gets rolling in earnest.

Just had a blast meeting some of the amazing veterans of our nation’s military who now work @wmata.com. What makes our #DMV region special is how many people here choose careers of service and purpose, delivered by discipline and teamwork. No one embodies that more than this group. 🇺🇸🚇🚍 #YourMetro

Wow this is a super impressive JMP

Great read. There isn’t nearly enough political, philanthropic, or civic attention on building social capital and increasing access to mental health treatment and gender norms are a big part of the explanation why. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/o...

Earlier this year, I testified to council at a hearing on the business environment in DC that these guidelines were going to hurt our economy. Now it’s happening. It makes zero sense and it makes the District a less attractive place to live and do business.

I've signed up for another term on the @wmata.com board. And tonight is one of those nights where I've buried myself in a 200+ page board book and I still feel like I have more questions than answers, and work to do. This automation topic is huge to grapple with. Let's go.

@aircanada.bsky.social here's another fraudster preying on your customers. Is it in Air Canada's corporate interest for this to be happening instead of simply providing customer service? Hard to believe.