Bryan Wasetis
@bwasetis.bsky.social
Community, systems, and policy focused. Posts about equitable land use, transit, housing, and labor. Opinions mine. ❤️
D2 Portland, OR 💚
he/him
D2 Portland, OR 💚
he/him
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
"Dignity Village’s annual budget is also an order of magnitude less than most shelters." #pdx
The Homeless Community That Became a Self-Governed Village
Portland’s Dignity Village has been a place for people without housing for more than 25 years.
www.nytimes.com
September 30, 2026 at 7:20 PM
"Dignity Village’s annual budget is also an order of magnitude less than most shelters." #pdx
🎯
The negative responses to police abolition often seem to represent a general lack of imagination and education.
I’m not saying you must believe in it, but the knee-jerk reaction is more often than not indicative of a misunderstanding of the relationship between poverty, racism, and crime.
I’m not saying you must believe in it, but the knee-jerk reaction is more often than not indicative of a misunderstanding of the relationship between poverty, racism, and crime.
September 30, 2026 at 6:20 PM
🎯
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
"TriMet said the MAX Yellow Line saw more than 18,000 additional trips from Sept. 13 to Sept. 19 — a 35% increase compared with usual ridership."
Stop making driving easier and they will come.
www.kgw.com/article/traf...
Stop making driving easier and they will come.
www.kgw.com/article/traf...
www.kgw.com
September 25, 2026 at 1:01 PM
"TriMet said the MAX Yellow Line saw more than 18,000 additional trips from Sept. 13 to Sept. 19 — a 35% increase compared with usual ridership."
Stop making driving easier and they will come.
www.kgw.com/article/traf...
Stop making driving easier and they will come.
www.kgw.com/article/traf...
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
Lock the fuck in. Everyone following me sign up
@trimet.org is building a “transit champion” mailing list for the legislative session next year. would encourage everyone who follows me to sign up: trimet.org/champions
Transit needs you now.
Join the Transit Champions and help protect the TriMet bus and MAX service our community depends on.
trimet.org
September 23, 2026 at 5:48 AM
Lock the fuck in. Everyone following me sign up
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
Anecdotally: I-5 being closed pushed some folks to transit, and this is a brilliant example of a) why we need to just demolish the inner eastside part of I-5 and b) why when we do that it will be just fine.
Looks like traffic on the segment under construction is about what it was before, and the overall network might even have less traffic
bsky.app/profile/city...
bsky.app/profile/city...
Carmaggedon? Here are two snapshots of weekday morming commute travel speeds on Portland freeways, one is from before the Rose Quarter shutdown, one is from after. Can you tell which is which?
September 15, 2026 at 3:21 AM
Anecdotally: I-5 being closed pushed some folks to transit, and this is a brilliant example of a) why we need to just demolish the inner eastside part of I-5 and b) why when we do that it will be just fine.
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
If Oregon Department of Transportation was thinking about the future of transportation we'd have more of this and fewer billions poured into freeway expansions.
Separate cycle tracks alongside rural main roads give the elderly or people with mobility issues far more freedom.
Someone on a mobility scooter can travel safely from town to town, without having to rely on a car or public transport.
This is what accessible transport infrastructure looks like.
Someone on a mobility scooter can travel safely from town to town, without having to rely on a car or public transport.
This is what accessible transport infrastructure looks like.
September 10, 2026 at 7:50 AM
If Oregon Department of Transportation was thinking about the future of transportation we'd have more of this and fewer billions poured into freeway expansions.
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
Police budget bloat is a threat to community safety
NEW: Community groups that do violence interruption work have had success in Portland — but budget cuts keep threatening their ability to survive and continue their work.
Great dive: boltsmag.org/portland-vio...
Great dive: boltsmag.org/portland-vio...
In Portland, Violence Interrupters Struggle to Keep a Steady Foothold - Bolts
Funding cuts have threatened the work of community groups that work outside of law enforcement to support crime victims and prevent more violence.
boltsmag.org
September 4, 2026 at 6:11 AM
Police budget bloat is a threat to community safety
💯
The idea that the public cares more about us being “honorable” in our intentions around elections vs actually addressing their material needs when it comes to an oil train that could explode in the city is also hilarious. No one cares. They want results.
September 3, 2026 at 2:43 AM
💯
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
Reminder that when some say Portland has "the highest taxes in the country," they often fail to mention it's only for individuals over $125k/year. And when they say it's higher than California and New York (oh my!), it's about a 3% difference and without those states' 8% sales tax.
August 28, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Reminder that when some say Portland has "the highest taxes in the country," they often fail to mention it's only for individuals over $125k/year. And when they say it's higher than California and New York (oh my!), it's about a 3% difference and without those states' 8% sales tax.
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
This also pertains to folks living outside. Tired of people making a mess outside? Where's the nearest public bathroom?
Public Restrooms 🤝 Bike Parking
You can't expect people to spend their day (and their money) in a neighborhood if there's nowhere to safely leave a bike or comfortably use a restroom. Basic human needs shouldn't be paywalled behind a cafe purchase.
You can't expect people to spend their day (and their money) in a neighborhood if there's nowhere to safely leave a bike or comfortably use a restroom. Basic human needs shouldn't be paywalled behind a cafe purchase.
August 25, 2026 at 4:24 PM
This also pertains to folks living outside. Tired of people making a mess outside? Where's the nearest public bathroom?
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
That's what taxes are, man. That's the definition of taxes. "You are subsidizing things you might never use" man shut the fuck up. My taxes currently subsidize like oil company exec private jets, you think I'm upset at low-income people eating inexpensive bananas?
Opinion: Mamdani's idea may sound appealing, but it's NYC taxpayers who will take the hit, subsidizing discounts they may never even use.
Mamdani's city-owned grocery stores are a socialist trap | Opinion
No matter how good Zohran Mamdani makes grocery affordability sound, he's selling New Yorkers the same broken promise that has failed everywhere else.
bit.ly
August 4, 2026 at 3:02 AM
That's what taxes are, man. That's the definition of taxes. "You are subsidizing things you might never use" man shut the fuck up. My taxes currently subsidize like oil company exec private jets, you think I'm upset at low-income people eating inexpensive bananas?
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
We need this.
Cincinnati has developed a Climate Migration Readiness Plan to absorb as many as 525,000 newcomers by 2050. It calls for building much denser housing, expanding public transit and decreasing the city’s reliance on fossil fuels.
A City With a Plan (Gift Article)
Cincinnati wants to take in people fleeing climate disasters. Plus, the latest on fires in Europe.
www.nytimes.com
August 2, 2026 at 6:34 PM
We need this.
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
Something I'll never understand - if I want to make substantial enough changes to my house, it has to go through a neighbourhood consultation process, but someone on my block can buy a vehicle that significantly increases the chances one of my kids gets run over.
Which vehicles most endanger the drivers of other cars?
Giant pickup trucks — and the Dodge Charger
Source: www.iihs.org/news/detail/...
Giant pickup trucks — and the Dodge Charger
Source: www.iihs.org/news/detail/...
July 31, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Something I'll never understand - if I want to make substantial enough changes to my house, it has to go through a neighbourhood consultation process, but someone on my block can buy a vehicle that significantly increases the chances one of my kids gets run over.
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
The magic trick to Vision Zero success seems to be an urban environment with few to no stroads.
Serious traffic injuries down by 50%, and no deaths in 3 years!
It's just physics. When drivers can't hit people at speed, people aren't killed by cars.
The rest—engineering an environment where even the worst drivers don't hit people at speed—is political will.
www.planetizen.com/news/2026/07...
It's just physics. When drivers can't hit people at speed, people aren't killed by cars.
The rest—engineering an environment where even the worst drivers don't hit people at speed—is political will.
www.planetizen.com/news/2026/07...
Massachusetts town celebrates 3 years with no traffic deaths
Somerville is following Hoboken's Vision Zero playbook with impressive results.
www.planetizen.com
July 21, 2026 at 5:17 PM
The magic trick to Vision Zero success seems to be an urban environment with few to no stroads.
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
Losing my mind at the idea that we can find $300 million for the Moda center but not $300 million for transit
July 3, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Losing my mind at the idea that we can find $300 million for the Moda center but not $300 million for transit
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
My biggest pet peeve is that there's a ton of scam websites that are "Free QR Code Generator"s then the QR code stops working after a few days and then redirects you to ask you to PAY to re-activate it. I made a page on website for making ACTUALLY FREE QR Codes. Enjoy. konig.games/QRCodes/ #QRCodes
July 1, 2026 at 12:31 AM
My biggest pet peeve is that there's a ton of scam websites that are "Free QR Code Generator"s then the QR code stops working after a few days and then redirects you to ask you to PAY to re-activate it. I made a page on website for making ACTUALLY FREE QR Codes. Enjoy. konig.games/QRCodes/ #QRCodes
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
Portland's job market is looking like it'll be pretty bad for a while. I can't think of a better time to encourage entrepreneurship in the city.
Let people build Accessory Commercial Units in their front yards, or run businesses out of their garages.
@councilorepg.bsky.social
Let people build Accessory Commercial Units in their front yards, or run businesses out of their garages.
@councilorepg.bsky.social
September 7, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Portland's job market is looking like it'll be pretty bad for a while. I can't think of a better time to encourage entrepreneurship in the city.
Let people build Accessory Commercial Units in their front yards, or run businesses out of their garages.
@councilorepg.bsky.social
Let people build Accessory Commercial Units in their front yards, or run businesses out of their garages.
@councilorepg.bsky.social
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
and paris has smaller lanes, more traffic, more one way streets, more school streets, more pedestrian areas, more bike lanes - AND way more cars
The Paris Fire Brigade (serving a metro of 10M) has an average fire response of 12 minutes. 7 for EMS.
Houston as a US example has 90th-percentile times of 13 minutes for fire & 15 for EMS.
Smaller apparatus & alternative vehicles improves medical response times without out sacrificing capability.
Houston as a US example has 90th-percentile times of 13 minutes for fire & 15 for EMS.
Smaller apparatus & alternative vehicles improves medical response times without out sacrificing capability.
June 28, 2026 at 6:15 PM
and paris has smaller lanes, more traffic, more one way streets, more school streets, more pedestrian areas, more bike lanes - AND way more cars
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
Remember this picture, & others like it, every time you hear someone in your city say "we're not Amsterdam."
This was #Amsterdam in the 1970s.
Many of the cities we admire made tough choices regarding cars in the past, and are still making better choices today.
Better choices instead of excuses.
This was #Amsterdam in the 1970s.
Many of the cities we admire made tough choices regarding cars in the past, and are still making better choices today.
Better choices instead of excuses.
June 28, 2026 at 5:11 AM
Remember this picture, & others like it, every time you hear someone in your city say "we're not Amsterdam."
This was #Amsterdam in the 1970s.
Many of the cities we admire made tough choices regarding cars in the past, and are still making better choices today.
Better choices instead of excuses.
This was #Amsterdam in the 1970s.
Many of the cities we admire made tough choices regarding cars in the past, and are still making better choices today.
Better choices instead of excuses.
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
I think the lesson of post mall Loyd Center is that if you give Portlanders affordable commercial rents they will do something great. But holding onto this building should not be the lesson. A reconnected street grid and dense urban housing will be great for the city in long term.
First time testifying? Wondering what to say, or how this whole thing works? Check out our testimony guide at dontsavelloyd.com/testify/
June 20, 2026 at 7:08 AM
I think the lesson of post mall Loyd Center is that if you give Portlanders affordable commercial rents they will do something great. But holding onto this building should not be the lesson. A reconnected street grid and dense urban housing will be great for the city in long term.
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
💯 We couldn't agree more! "Prosperity comes from public investments in people and their capacities.'"
By contrast, tax subsidies for corporations are by-and-large a waste of resources #orleg #orpol
By contrast, tax subsidies for corporations are by-and-large a waste of resources #orleg #orpol
Investing in people is clear path forward for Oregon Gov. Kotek's 'Prosperity Council' • Oregon Capital Chronicle
Rather than recycle the big business lobby’s permanent agenda to beef up its bottom line, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s Prosperity Council recommendations should follow the evidence. Prosperity comes from ...
oregoncapitalchronicle.com
June 6, 2026 at 6:03 PM
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
Portland Oregon just does not need as many five lane roads as it has. One could even argue it barely needs any.
You can visit PBOT's 'online open house' for 122nd Ave improvements, but if you are like me, you will notice that very little proposed will allow for cool and shady protected micromobility accessible to families, or decrease surface temps due to excess asphalt
www.portland.gov/transportati...
www.portland.gov/transportati...
May 28, 2026 at 2:26 AM
Portland Oregon just does not need as many five lane roads as it has. One could even argue it barely needs any.
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
Want to increase the supply 3+ bedroom homes? Building dense, market-rate apartments with mostly 1-2 bedrooms does just that, resulting in mostly 3+ bedroom vacancies after the second round of moves that were triggered by the new homes.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3...
papers.ssrn.com/sol3...
May 27, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Want to increase the supply 3+ bedroom homes? Building dense, market-rate apartments with mostly 1-2 bedrooms does just that, resulting in mostly 3+ bedroom vacancies after the second round of moves that were triggered by the new homes.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3...
papers.ssrn.com/sol3...
Reposted by Bryan Wasetis
Such good inspiration for Portland's Residential streets:
1. Narrow roadways (with limited on-street parking) to reduce maintenance costs
2. Infiltration w/ vegetation to reduce storm water drainage/costs
3. Narrow X-ings / wide sidewalks that enable 8 y.o.'s to be independent
4. Family-sized units
1. Narrow roadways (with limited on-street parking) to reduce maintenance costs
2. Infiltration w/ vegetation to reduce storm water drainage/costs
3. Narrow X-ings / wide sidewalks that enable 8 y.o.'s to be independent
4. Family-sized units
A rare example of a quality full redesign of a street in Italy.
Via Amedei, Mantova.
First pic, how it was, i.e. the typical oversized street of postwar peripheries.
Other 3 pics: how it's now, turned one-way, depaved and traffic-calmed.
Via Amedei, Mantova.
First pic, how it was, i.e. the typical oversized street of postwar peripheries.
Other 3 pics: how it's now, turned one-way, depaved and traffic-calmed.
May 13, 2026 at 7:20 AM
Such good inspiration for Portland's Residential streets:
1. Narrow roadways (with limited on-street parking) to reduce maintenance costs
2. Infiltration w/ vegetation to reduce storm water drainage/costs
3. Narrow X-ings / wide sidewalks that enable 8 y.o.'s to be independent
4. Family-sized units
1. Narrow roadways (with limited on-street parking) to reduce maintenance costs
2. Infiltration w/ vegetation to reduce storm water drainage/costs
3. Narrow X-ings / wide sidewalks that enable 8 y.o.'s to be independent
4. Family-sized units