Josh Linden

MCM Hosts Renters Alliance Forum with Democratic County Executive Candidates Renters alliance forum on affordable housing

I'm on this panel tomorrow night! Tune in to hear from your Montgomery County executive candidates on housing issues 👀 www.mymcmedia.org/renters-alli...

at some point traffic engineers & politicians need to be held accountable

There is a lot to say about that state-owned highway, and state-owned highways in general that go through urban and residential areas. None of it is good

Every time this happens, I brace for a story like this. Just devastating, heartbreaking, beyond infuriating

Renewables 2025 – Analysis - IEA Renewables 2025 - Analysis and key findings. A report by the International Energy Agency.

The International Energy Agency forecasts renewables to double generation capacity in the next 5 years. But...their report also dramatically lowered the outlook for the US, revising downward their renewables forecast by 50%

Imagine what we could do if we weren't self-sabotaging

Global Electricity Mid-Year Insights 2025 | Ember Solar and wind outpaced demand growth in the first half of 2025, as renewables overtook coal’s share in the global electricity mix.

Really hopeful trends. As of mid-2025, solar and wind (combined) made up a larger share of global electricity generation than coal for the first time on record

Just as notable - the growth of solar + wind outpaced rising electricity demand. I wonder how long they can maintain that pace...

With everything going on (*gesticulates wildly in every direction*), woke up very thankful to have @bannermoco.bsky.social add to the chorus of local news voices in MoCo, including Bethesda Mag, @sourceofthespring.com, @themocoshow.bsky.social, @mymcmedia.bsky.social, @adampagnucco.bsky.social, etc

One of the best places to watch a match in all of America

Federal agents knock down elderly couple during Portland protest An 84-year-old said she sustained a concussion and was hit with a projectile after she and her husband, a Vietnam vet, were knocked down by federal officers.

An 84-year-old said she sustained a concussion and was hit with a projectile after she and her husband, a Vietnam vet, were knocked down by federal officers.

Play area

Tables with shade umbrellas

Nice vibes

Good space to run around

Finally made it over to the newly renovated Caroline Freeland park. Fun & biiig play area, blend of active & social areas, tables with built in shade umbrellas (!), walkable from lunch, and overall good vibes on an autumn weekend morning. 10/10 kid approved

Awesome job @montgomeryparks.bsky.social!

What Happens When Socialists Are in Charge? Portland Offers a Glimpse.

This article has a lot more important problems so I feel stupid saying this…but umm…the Mercury wrote and published the first major article about the DSA councilors back in June. Of course it isn’t the local reporting linked or mentioned here.

If these people feel so deeply connected to snow, boy are they gonna be upset when they hear about climate change

...right?

Legalizing diverse housing types of course doesn't guarantee they will be built, and property owners get to decide what happens on their land

Except that right now, many property owners who want to welcome more neighbors - or perhaps their kids, parents, or friends - can't make that decision at all

I think this helps crystallize a bit of what we lose with exclusionary zoning. Fewer people have the opportunity to live in an area that facilitates a more environmentally friendly, accessible, convenient, and affordable lifestyle ...

*and*

Neighborhoods become less income diverse over time

Under the status quo, the most that can happen is splitting the lot to allow one additional SFH, which is by far the most expensive housing type in the area

So this downtown-proximate lot has a current capacity of + 1 *very* expensive unit. Rather than +4 or +8 (or more) less expensive units

I walked past a lot today that would be perfect for infill middle housing

Single detached house on a 200 ft-long lot, on a neighborhood greenway just a block from a downtown area. Perfect for car-lite living. Could fit multiplexes, THs, or even small apts

But its zoning won't allow any of that

The US Census website / data.census.gov are down. R users, however, can still access data:

- Geographies (via FTP): tigris github.com/walkerke/...

- Decennial / ACS with geographies: tidycensus walker-data.com/tidy...

- All datasets: censusapi www.hrecht.com/censu...

Inside the Hill Family Biking Kingman Island Friends & Family Ride #BikeSky

One of the biggest problems cities (and urban areas in their orbit) have today is that many of the people who want to live in them - and benefit from all of the wonderful things they provide - cannot afford to do so

We need more people to state unequivocally, and proudly, that cities are great. That they are wonderful areas of opportunity, of rich culture, of innovation and creativity, and of high quality living. Because they are!

Cities (and urban areas generally) consistently get thrown under the bus in the right-left culture wars - but beyond that, many left-leaning people also contribute to the narrative that cities are problematic (if not inherently so, then in practice today). Even people who live in or near them!

About 71 million people live in small cities alone (25k - 100k pop), or 21% of the country

Another 37 million in medium cities (up to 250k), and 63 million in large cities

Altogether that's over half of the US population - which doesn't even count city-adjacent suburbs (urbanized areas)

"...the questioning is typically brief, and those individuals may promptly go free after making clear to the immigration officers that they are US citizens or otherwise legally in the US"

Lower/slower traffic = better neighborhoods. Especially for kids, as research shows that consistent exposure to higher levels of noise can impact brain development. And for older folks, there are increasing connections with cognitive decline and dementia

Exactly, and anyone who's lived on or near a road with lots of car traffic intuitively understands this

Much of the dominant noise from motor vehicles going > 25mph is from tires on the road (rare exceptions for cars with old engines or modified exhaust)

Ugh, very sorry that happened

‘Let’s be nice, please’: Debate over sidewalks gets testy amid safety concerns The Montgomery County Department of Transportation wants to add sidewalks in Kensington. Neighbors are turning on those who welcome the change.

Some neighborhoods in Montgomery County don't have sidewalks. While some residents say this is an access issue, there are others who are vehemently opposed to the idea of their installation in their community. @ninacgiraldo.bsky.social dug into this controversy:
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...

Thank you! Where vacants are available in significant numbers its a crisis of lack of demand due to depopulation, job loss & white avoidance of Black n-hoods. Rehabbing vacants in abandoned areas as subsidized housing has proven to be a very expensive failed strategy—not a solution to homelessness.

This was a tough piece to read. No one should be ostracized by neighbors (or teased, as another neighbor said) for wanting safer streets

Great insights, thanks! Very much agree