Today , we launched our Cracking the Zoning Code feature! This digital tool is designed to break down the elements of zoning—with a focus on its contributions to housing affordability & racial equity.
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Yonah Freemark
@yfreemark
Cities + Transport + Housing + Politics / / Le progrès ne vaut que s'il est partagé par tous / yonahfreemark.com / thetransportpolitic.com
Yonah Freemark’s Tweets
Another slam dunk for Democrats should they choose to take it...put that thing up for a vote immediately and let Republicans sink it!
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Susan Collins tells @JNicholsonInDC that same-sex marriage bill may be doomed now bc of what Dems did on the inflation reduction bill huffpost.com/entry/collins-
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this climate bill literally requires a commensurate oil or gas lease for every wind or solar project built on federal land lol. like there are some okay pieces but come on
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This is on the mark. But states and localities continue to have ability/flexibility to get land use patterns that allow short trips to daily destinations, safe bike & ped infrastructure + more reliable transit out of the $1.2 T BIL funding, and much of this bill's transport $.
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The transportation sector is the largest single contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the US epa.gov/ghgemissions/s
While the Manchin-Schumer reconciliation agreement will encourage declines in transport emissions, it falls far short of being transformative on this front.
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👇 always on point. While there’s some good on transpo in there, it perpetuates a car-driven society.
Esp in this moment of high gas prices, we need more investment in accessible PUBLIC transport.
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The transportation sector is the largest single contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the US epa.gov/ghgemissions/s
While the Manchin-Schumer reconciliation agreement will encourage declines in transport emissions, it falls far short of being transformative on this front.
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Federal action is necessary but insufficient to mitigate the extreme heat and rainfall threatening New York:
must still quickly implement the NYC Streets Plan and #25x25
must finally #FixTheSubway and invest in our future with #6MinuteService
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It's going to be up to state & local governments to transform the auto dependence of their communities. Washington won't be the leader.
This bill may nevertheless be the best compromise environmentalists are going to get in the US this year or any year in the coming decade.
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if offshore wind leasing is going to be tied to o&g leasing, Big Greens should think about what it would take to lease and set aside tracts. under GOMESA, with 2021 lease sale rates, that's almost $900 million to the Land and Water Conservation fund.
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I also am concerned—given overwhelmingly positive reaction among many Senators & environmentalists—that bill reflects a myopia with regard to the transport sector. We *must* think of green transport beyond just electric cars. There is so much more. End:
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It's going to be up to state & local governments to transform the auto dependence of their communities. Washington won't be the leader.
This bill may nevertheless be the best compromise environmentalists are going to get in the US this year or any year in the coming decade.
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It's nice to see the US taking action on climate change—it is a huge deal to finally have a bill.
But, when it comes to transport, this bill is one-dimensional & unlikely to be transformative. It will not do much to contribute to producing vibrant, green cities we need.
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Without a mode shift combined with concerted efforts to encourage better land use, we'll continue to see:
—Degradation of ecological systems with urban sprawl;
—Higher emissions from the building sector;
—Higher resource needs from having to move all those cars around
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This is very concerning. As I noted last night, one of the primary impacts of this bill is simply reaffirming the automobile dependency of the US, giving people huge incentives to invest in cars—and doing almost nothing for an alternative system.
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My immediate takeaway: While this bill could contribute a lot to reducing US emissions, it's going to help reinforce nation's automobile dependency.
No support for transit, cycling, & just a tiny bit for a walkability program—but huge amounts for tax credits for EV purchasing. twitter.com/igorbobic/stat…
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But what the bill would do *nothing* on is:
—Encourage mode shift out of cars (it provides $0 for e-bikes & nothing for transit electrification);
—Encourage more environmentally sensitive land uses; and
—Reduce the resource intensity of the transport sector.
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The bill would include major new and point-of-sale tax credits for new & used electric cars. That's essential for helping the US catch up on vehicle electrification, where it has fallen far behind. twitter.com/johnvoelcker/s urban.org/urban-wire/car
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Whoa! The proposed Senate deal w/Manchin, *IF* it passes, would extend "clean-car" incentives for #EV purchase. (THREAD)
- AND, it would convert them to a point-of-sale rebate. Hurray, hurray, hurray
- Also adds a $4,000 credit f/used clean cars.
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The transportation sector is the largest single contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the US epa.gov/ghgemissions/s
While the Manchin-Schumer reconciliation agreement will encourage declines in transport emissions, it falls far short of being transformative on this front.
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My immediate takeaway: While this bill could contribute a lot to reducing US emissions, it's going to help reinforce nation's automobile dependency.
No support for transit, cycling, & just a tiny bit for a walkability program—but huge amounts for tax credits for EV purchasing.
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Text for the Inflation Reduction Act is out democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/
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No federal e-bike rebate in the new Congressional package.
So you can get $7500 for buying an electric SUV, but 0 for buying an e-bike/e-cargo bike that pollutes a fraction as much (and poses virtually no risk of killing someone in a crash).
I do not understand the logic here.
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Inflation Reduction Act first read thru: No, ebike credit not included. Yes, huge disappointment.
But looks like Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program has $3b for transportation infrastructure. Good.
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for those asking why we spend so much time harping on /'s terrible proposals:
the feds ain't gonna help us.
it's up to us, state by state, city by city, to demand our leaders invest in greener, cleaner, safer transportation investments.
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It's going to be up to state & local governments to transform the auto dependence of their communities. Washington won't be the leader.
This bill may nevertheless be the best compromise environmentalists are going to get in the US this year or any year in the coming decade.
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The compromise bill gives you a tax credit if you buy a pricey truck or SUV… but not if you buy a pricey regular car.
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The EV tax credit is limited to trucks, vans and SUVs with an MSRP of no more than $80,000, while cars could have an MSRP or no more than $55,000 democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/
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We’re excited about a climate bill. We need it, urgently. We’ll still support it. But not including ebikes is a massive blow and missed opportunity.
More critical than ever that states keep stepping up for ebikes incentives.
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A $3 billion appropriations to the USPS for the purchase of zero emission vehicles, nice, with $6 billion more for a clean fleet
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See this thread for more details on the transportation elements of the proposal:
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There's a lot of transportation-related stuff in here beyond the electric vehicle tax credits democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/
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It's going to be up to state & local governments to transform the auto dependence of their communities. Washington won't be the leader.
This bill may nevertheless be the best compromise environmentalists are going to get in the US this year or any year in the coming decade.
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It would provide no funding for affordable housing, no support for better land uses.
In other words, when it comes to a more environmentally friendly urban system, it's all about electrifying the car-based lifestyle, and little else.
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My immediate takeaway: While this bill could contribute a lot to reducing US emissions, it's going to help reinforce nation's automobile dependency.
No support for transit, cycling, & just a tiny bit for a walkability program—but huge amounts for tax credits for EV purchasing.
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Text for the Inflation Reduction Act is out democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/
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No significant funding provided for affordable housing.
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Appears to give clean vehicle credits of up to $7,500 for people purchasing zero-emissions cars; $7,500 for clean commercial vehicles. Puts limit on income & price of vehicle
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I see no mention of rail or public transportation. The bill would provide $1.9 billion to Neighborhood access and equity grant program; $1.1 b for transport investments in low-income neighborhoods
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Text for the Inflation Reduction Act is out democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/
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A potentially huge incentive for electrification of the automotive fleet—which raises the question: will the transportation sector outside of the car market see any benefit?
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The electric vehicle tax credit is in, per sources. Americans would get up to $4,000 for buying a used EV and $7,500 for a new EV, although there would be income thresholds limiting who can access the credit.
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The compromise
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The "Inflation Reduction Act of 2022" would mandate offshore lease sales in the Gulf and off the coast of Alaska, per two sources familiar.
Still, it would be the biggest #climate bill in U.S. history.
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Really strong statement in favor of the Manchin-Schumer deal from one of the top environmentalists in the Senate
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We’ve fought long and hard for climate action and I believe we have agreement on a package that passes the climate test. A historic down payment on emissions reductions, jobs, and justice. I will do everything in my power to get these important priorities across the finish line.
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Climate folks loving it but yet to hear from Sinema
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Just briefed by Chuck on climate stuff. It’s really good! Awesome work, Leader.
Text details posted tonight, devil always there, but looks like a major emissions win.
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Update on Inflation Reduction Act: This will be the biggest climate action in human history. $370B for investments in clean energy, clean transportation, energy storage, farming, home electrification, and clean tech. The planet is on fire. Let’s get it done.
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Several auto industry officials think EV tax credit is in Manchin Schumer deal but there is no confirmation and no details
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A reminder that when we decry the lack of adequate housing construction over the past few decades in wealthy countries, in many cases we’re reporting on the elimination of support for public housing construction.
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The White House’s original Build Back Better proposal included $318 billion for affordable housing. Despite the essential need for investment in housing, that’s been whittled down to $0, first cut from the infrastructure law and nonexistent in the Manchin-Schumer deal.
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Spoiler: it’s HOUSING COSTS.
An “Inflation Reduction Act” that doesn’t address skyrocketing rents and needed housing supply is missing the point. politico.com/news/2022/03/1 cc @Sen_JoeManchin @SenSchumer @BrianDeeseNEC
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"Energy security and climate change" there's just not enough detail there to know what that refers to.
The permitting reform is a separate bill, it can't pass in reconciliation, and the commitment is to get that done by the end of the year.
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As we await bill text for the Inflation Reduction Act, here are the two questions I’ll be using to judge any package:
– Does the suite of policies reduce emissions *on net*?
– Does it improve the political economy of US or global decarbonization?
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