The hottest Urban Policy Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

He Zohran, He Zohwon and Now We Must Fight

Exasperated Infrastructures • 21 implied HN points • 09 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Urban Policy
  1. Remake City Hall and diffuse power so decisions are collaborative and hard for capital interests to undo. Build participatory, block-level governance and align land use and transportation across the city.
  2. Treat the huge, tax-reliant budget honestly: publicly inventory revenues and spending, plan for possible austerity, and reallocate investments to drive affordability without hiding tradeoffs.
  3. Pursue practical, people-first tactics: deliver easy wins like bus and protected bike lanes, use data equitably instead of technocratically, and be willing to fight entrenched interests to protect working‑class outcomes.

Take Infinity: Mini Exasperations #1

Exasperated Infrastructures • 12 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Urban Policy
  1. A plan to publish 52 weekly pieces focused on urban politics and infrastructure, each following a three-part format: a short observation, a few curated articles with context, and a recommended writer.
  2. Infrastructure decisions are political and require clear alternatives analysis and honest cost comparisons; big projects like tunnels or high‑speed rail come with trade‑offs around funding, oversight, and procurement (including Build America/Buy America implications).
  3. There’s an emphasis on building reader community and engagement through a short survey, subscriptions, and by spotlighting other writers to broaden conversation and connections.

Congestion Pricing: Because Nothing Says ‘New York’ Like Paying More to Get Less

Gad’s Newsletter • 23 implied HN points • 03 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Urban Policy
  1. Congestion pricing in New York is aimed at reducing traffic in the city center, but it has also led to increased traffic in other areas. This means the problem of congestion might just be moving around rather than getting solved.
  2. Not all routes are affected the same way. While some key entry points into the city have traffic improvements, local streets used for everyday travel show little to no change, which raises questions about the overall effectiveness of the plan.
  3. Public support for congestion pricing varies greatly and people are concerned about fairness and how the revenue will be used. Making sure to communicate how the money is spent and improving transit options could help gain more acceptance from the public.

Cities of God

Some Unpleasant Arithmetic • 4 implied HN points • 14 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Urban Policy
  1. Many people live in 'slums' or informal settlements because of high housing costs and inadequate access to affordable housing. In Buenos Aires, these areas often lack basic services like sewage and water.
  2. The reasons for housing issues are complex. Economic instability and strict lending regulations make it hard for many to get mortgages, which limits their ability to buy homes.
  3. There are clear ways to improve the situation, like better city planning and cooperation between different levels of government. However, political will and the capacity to implement these changes are significant challenges.

Wanting nice cities isn't Nazism

Indian Bronson • 8 implied HN points • 23 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Urban Policy
  1. Wanting nice cities doesn't mean you're a bad person. It's okay to want a clean and safe environment for everyone.
  2. Some people unfairly label those who care about law and order as extremists. We should challenge those views and believe that improvement is possible.
  3. If we want to make cities better, we need to address the real issues directly instead of ignoring them. This includes finding proper solutions for homelessness and crime.
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