Lucas Brandt
@lucasbrandt.bsky.social
Chicago fan of buses, bikes, and beer
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
And these aren't even the big kind. As a property tax payer concerned about the pension liability, I personally would love some more expansion of the tax base.
Many ask: why do mayors want data centers so badly?
They pay tons in property taxes without generating truck traffic. Even after receiving breaks, the 18 DCs in our analysis are paying $71M in property taxes this year — more than most industrial users.
t.co/xuLYatrlTm
They pay tons in property taxes without generating truck traffic. Even after receiving breaks, the 18 DCs in our analysis are paying $71M in property taxes this year — more than most industrial users.
t.co/xuLYatrlTm
https://illinoisanswers.org/2026/08/23/data-centers-near-ohare-win-nearly-100m-in-local-tax-breaks/
t.co
August 24, 2026 at 4:52 PM
And these aren't even the big kind. As a property tax payer concerned about the pension liability, I personally would love some more expansion of the tax base.
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
Venerable
July 18, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Venerable
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
Who is being served here, Chicago? And what is being protected?
June 23, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Who is being served here, Chicago? And what is being protected?
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
I don’t think we should bail out private companies that buy a plot of land for $197 million and then act surprised that they have to pay taxes on it
Urlacher blamed Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois legislators, saying that “you do what you have to do to keep the Bears there.”
Brian Urlacher says Bears belong at Soldier Field, tries to tie potential departure to immigration
chicago.suntimes.com
June 15, 2026 at 7:14 PM
I don’t think we should bail out private companies that buy a plot of land for $197 million and then act surprised that they have to pay taxes on it
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
The driver that doored Riley didn’t have car insurance, was driving on a suspended license, was parked in a no-parking zone, and opened his door in Riley’s path without looking. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/06/b...
Bicyclist killed in Bridgeport crash was CDOT employee devoted to bike infrastructure
A day after his death in Bridgeport, colleagues remembered Riley O’Neil as devoting his life “to making cycling better and safer,”
www.chicagotribune.com
June 6, 2026 at 11:38 PM
The driver that doored Riley didn’t have car insurance, was driving on a suspended license, was parked in a no-parking zone, and opened his door in Riley’s path without looking. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/06/b...
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
Oak Park, Illinois
Pop: 52,381
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_Park,_Illinois
Images: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82796733
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34113295
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=126832386
Pop: 52,381
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_Park,_Illinois
Images: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82796733
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34113295
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=126832386
May 29, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
The Arsenal. Your Premier League champions.
May 19, 2026 at 8:29 PM
The Arsenal. Your Premier League champions.
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
Duran, New Mexico
Pop: 11
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duran,_New_Mexico
Images: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9692303
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9692317
Pop: 11
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duran,_New_Mexico
Images: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9692303
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9692317
May 17, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
For all of my gripes with Brandon there has not been a single moment where I’ve thought “Paul Vallas would’ve handled this better.”
May 12, 2026 at 12:44 AM
For all of my gripes with Brandon there has not been a single moment where I’ve thought “Paul Vallas would’ve handled this better.”
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
“Character of the neighborhood” is/was/remains a dog whistle.
"I'm reaching out as your mayor to let you know officials in Springfield are considering changing the character of every neighborhood in Naperville." - Mayor Wehrli, Naperville
May 11, 2026 at 2:44 PM
“Character of the neighborhood” is/was/remains a dog whistle.
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
2526 West Grand Avenue
April 30, 2026 at 1:15 AM
2526 West Grand Avenue
Immaculate
SoBe Mr. Green (2002-2003): A sort of Dr. Pepper-esque soda, it was notable for being SoBe's first attempt at a carbonated beverage, its green-brown tint, and the addition of ginseng. Aggressively marketed with "X-treme attitude!" and a new mascot, "Mr. Green the Cyber-Lizard", it never caught on.
April 29, 2026 at 1:10 AM
Immaculate
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
We need to re-legalize the very cheap, bare bones housing that keeps people off the street.
More broadly, we need policymakers to be ok with letting people build types of housing that they would not particularly want to live in.
More broadly, we need policymakers to be ok with letting people build types of housing that they would not particularly want to live in.
Cheap Rooms Once Prevented Homelessness. We Need Them Back.
Inexpensive single-room-occupancy dwellings were common in America decades ago, but overregulation has driven them from the housing market.
www.governing.com
April 28, 2026 at 10:25 PM
We need to re-legalize the very cheap, bare bones housing that keeps people off the street.
More broadly, we need policymakers to be ok with letting people build types of housing that they would not particularly want to live in.
More broadly, we need policymakers to be ok with letting people build types of housing that they would not particularly want to live in.
Keeping nuclear reactors running, instead of decommissioning: GOOD, OBVIOUSLY
⚛️⚡️ Over the last 24 hours, enough nuclear energy was available to supply 102% of overall electricity demand in northern Illinois.
⏰ Nuclear plants could meet all electricity demand 50% of the last 24 hours.
⏰ Nuclear plants could meet all electricity demand 50% of the last 24 hours.
April 27, 2026 at 8:04 PM
Keeping nuclear reactors running, instead of decommissioning: GOOD, OBVIOUSLY
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
2411 West Chicago Avenue
April 26, 2026 at 2:00 AM
2411 West Chicago Avenue
Very good restaurant 👍
April 24, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Very good restaurant 👍
The unending allure of buildings like this in places like "Neodesha, Kansas"
April 18, 2026 at 1:25 AM
The unending allure of buildings like this in places like "Neodesha, Kansas"
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
Welcome home, Pippin! 🤍🟢
Our beloved Pippin has returned. Many will remember he departed last summer with something tangled around his foot. We feared the worst.
Pippin has returned to us with his right foot missing and a limp but otherwise appears well.
📸:Liam Francis Shanley
Our beloved Pippin has returned. Many will remember he departed last summer with something tangled around his foot. We feared the worst.
Pippin has returned to us with his right foot missing and a limp but otherwise appears well.
📸:Liam Francis Shanley
April 13, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Welcome home, Pippin! 🤍🟢
Our beloved Pippin has returned. Many will remember he departed last summer with something tangled around his foot. We feared the worst.
Pippin has returned to us with his right foot missing and a limp but otherwise appears well.
📸:Liam Francis Shanley
Our beloved Pippin has returned. Many will remember he departed last summer with something tangled around his foot. We feared the worst.
Pippin has returned to us with his right foot missing and a limp but otherwise appears well.
📸:Liam Francis Shanley
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
Against homeownership populism publiccomment.blog/p/against-ho...
Against Homeownership Populism
Solving for
publiccomment.blog
March 31, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Against homeownership populism publiccomment.blog/p/against-ho...
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
Inverness, Illinois
Pop: 7,376
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverness,_Illinois
Images: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54734812
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60014791
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60539483
Pop: 7,376
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverness,_Illinois
Images: https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54734812
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60014791
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60539483
April 9, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
BEIRUT (AP) - Israeli strikes hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut Wednesday afternoon without warning, hours after a ceasefire was announced in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
@apnews.com
@apnews.com
April 8, 2026 at 1:07 PM
BEIRUT (AP) - Israeli strikes hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut Wednesday afternoon without warning, hours after a ceasefire was announced in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
@apnews.com
@apnews.com
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
610 North Homan Avenue
March 30, 2026 at 10:45 PM
610 North Homan Avenue
Reposted by Lucas Brandt
