Patrick Band

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Politico: Democrats are demanding Republicans negotiate a bipartisan stopgap spending measure. Among their asks is for the GOP to extend certain Affordable Care Act subsidies, which were expanded by Congress in 2021 and are due to sunset at the end of the year. President Donald Trump on Thursday blamed Democrats for making “unserious and ridiculous” demands, foreshadowing what is likely to be the go-to talking point should neither side blink ahead of the Tuesday night deadline. “He read all the shit they’re asking for, and he said, ‘on second thought, go fuck yourself,’” the White House official said.

If you’re worried about losing your health care, apparently Trump has a message for you:

From a funding perspective, capital and operations dollars can almost never be substituted. More reliable busses would have a measurable impact on overall performance and reduce maintenance costs, but that’s *relatively* small potatoes vs to the need for operations $ to expand service & frequency

Why US Cities Pay Too Much for Transit Buses A new paper argues that lack of competition, demand for custom features and “Buy America” rules have driven up costs for transit agencies in the US.

In the US, even a “cheap” transit bus costs 2-3x more than in Asia or Europe -- and one agency may pay twice as much as another for nearly identical vehicles.

In Bloomberg, I explored a ripe opportunity to improve transportation by applying Abundance-coded, supply-side reforms.

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Assuming water is #1, I’m surprised blood, sweat, and tears don’t round out the top 4.

Oh, and beer. Or coffee. Tea perhaps?

Most days, yes. But on behalf of my profession, I finally feel seen by the Wordle gods!!

Really unfair to try to do this across Counties. As a geographic subdivision of climate analysis, they’re effectively useless.

Really helpful reminder (as a Transportation Planner) about how the way we talk about transit and the way we frame questions for decision makers, has tremendous impact.

Where’s the vote from @asmdamonconnolly.bsky.social?

Key section of 1973 War Powers Res: president can take military action in three cases: a declaration of war, “specific statutory authorization” or “a national emergency created by attack upon” the US or its assets. *Congress has often looked the other way, but that’s the legal question.

I think you're incorrectly assuming that the self-described outdoorsy MAGA types are even broadly aware of what Senator Lee and the administration's plans are for public lands.

That being said, those of the more traditional Conservative outdoor mold are NOT happy:

“I was the most transparent, and am, transparent President in history,” Trump said.

I’m going to see Metallica at Levi’s Stadium on Friday. Parking passes cost $250 on the resale market.

The venue is well served by transit, including a light rail stop right at the stadium for $2.50.

Why would anyone would pay for parking when such affordable and convenient transit options exist?

i think it is bad that high level public officials do not respect the offices they hold or the public they are supposed to serve

Why not do both? Your 82 year old body will thank you.

The fact that we uphold reproductive rights in California won't mean much if we close the clinics that provide reproductive health care to millions of patients. I will be working with my colleagues in the Legislature to restore funding to Planned Parenthood in the state budget.

Killer Crab!!

The GOP budget shows this regime’s true colors.

It doesn’t eliminate taxes on tips, social security or overtime. That was just a lie.

Instead, it slashes health care & food assistance.

All to fund tax cuts for the wealthy & corporations.

The grift is almost complete. And we’ll all pay the price.

Same dude. Same.

Sorry to upset your stomach with political reality. Couldn’t agree more re: Prop 13, but I’ll go for a less than ideal impact fee model over communities bereft of parks, or soiled by leaking sewers and pockmarked by broken roadways. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good (neighborhood).

Well that’s…shortsighted. As with most policy areas, the key is striking a balance. Going back to OP’s example, R1 and R5 have no logical basis for such radically different fees. You’re in the housing supply over everything else camp; I’m in the let’s have housing supply and some parks too camp.

Capitulation to what, exactly? More people means more demand for services and amenities. How do you propose paying for those in areas like El Dorado County (to pick a random jurisdiction)?

And I agree on that front; but not every community has the political will to pass a dedicated tax to support parks & open space acquisition, much less maintenance. Ideological purity on issues like this tend to screw over the very people who need these community assets the most.

That makes…no sense. Please feel free to explain how Quimby, which has been law since ‘75, is unconstitutional.

In an ideal non-Prop 13 world, local government would be able to fund parks and open space without a Quimby Act fee structure. But until then, or unless voters are willing to approve a sales or parcel tax, not a whole lot of other good options.

The Energy Star program costs $32 million per year, but delivers $40 billion in annual savings on utility bills.

Killing this program will cost American families $39.9 billion EVERY YEAR!

E.P.A. Plans to Shut Down the Energy Star Program

Making it harder for American consumers to understand the real cost of owning a washing machine isn’t MAGA, it’s just duping us into paying higher gas and electricity bills.

Not for nothing, but the Real ID Act was passed by Congress 20 years ago, and originally planned to go in to effect in 2008.

Plenty to dislike about this Administration, but hard to fault them (alone) for this one.

Clooney’s revival of Good Night & Good Luck on Broadway seems…timely.

I've always thought of Napa as having decent - but admittedly not great - urban tree cover. How wrong I was...

This @washingtonpost.com piece really puts the challenge of cultivating a vibrant urban forest in perspective.

www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...