Michael Kaess
@WaluigiSoap
Software developer, urbanist, YIMBY, #bikenyc
Is this democracy in action? Bronx Community Board 11’s public hearing on Just Home, a supportive housing proposal in a vacant building on Jacobi’s campus, was quite possibly the most dysfunctional community board meeting I’ve ever attended.
We absolutely NEED this partnership with Amtrak and Metro North to be consistent. We will not allow our commuters and constituents to keep waiting. This is ANOTHER delay in this process. Let’s work together for our common priorities! The elected officials should be more included…
Today I was joined by local elected officials in pushing Amtrak for answers after a third delay to the Metro North Penn Station Access Project was announced this week. The project will extend Metro North access to Penn Station, shortening commutes and opening up new job…
Today I was joined by local elected officials in pushing Amtrak for answers after a third delay to the Metro North Penn Station Access Project was announced this week. The project will extend Metro North access to Penn Station, shortening commutes and opening up new job…
would you look at that, another study showing the YIMBYs are right and that building more housing lowers rents
Awesome paper finding huge benefits from relaxing zoning constraints in NYC, even once you account for the big costs of redevelopment vrollet.github.io/files/city_str…
Subjecting every new apartment building to subjective, politicized, project-by-project negotiations to extract costly concessions in exchange for permission to build is why housing is expensive in cities like New York and San Francisco.
That’s not the point. I support new housing in my district - but we also negotiate deeper affordability, union jobs, & significant investments in Parks and other infrastructure to meet needs of growing communities. This Commission has decided that shouldn’t happen any more.
Decentralization of land use authority is *the most significant driver* of NYC's affordable housing crisis. A strong state that can make clear, rational decisions with input from the community needs to eliminate hyperlocal governance veto points like this. This is how good…
The Charter Commission’s Final Report significantly weakens the City Council’s role in land use decisions. This shift toward executive control undermines democratic oversight and meaningful public engagement. I stand with my colleagues who are fighting back. Our statement below:
"Boogie Down Liberation Front"? Never heard of them. They need to find something more productive to do.
.@AOC’s Bronx HQ was redecorated with red paint tonite by a group called the Boogie Down Liberation Front. The group denounced AOC’s vote to fund Israel & the genocide in Gaza & also called out how politicians (like AOC & Ritchie Torres) use the Bronx to further their careers.
The Bronx deserves a chance. This proposal is beyond one neighborhood but an opportunity to invest in economic development and job growth across the Borough. Thank You Council Members Rafael Salamanca and Kevin Riley for your leadership. #BronxStrong nydailynews.com/2025/07/20/an-…
There are thousands of American counties where the local hospital is both the largest health care provider and the largest employer. The so-called Big Beautiful Bill is going to be a death sentence for the lives and livelihoods of millions of Americans.
The Tower of Grump should've been taller.
Trump wanted his revenge against PBS and Sesame Street since this aired in 1988.
This is my city council person who comes from a blue collar union family, you would think someone like her would have a better class analysis than this weak, classist take on jobs. Not understanding that all labor has value is detrimental to the Bronx.
I'm sorry Riley, but the permanent jobs that offered pay well beyond the average household income in the Bronx were considered to be beneath the councilwoman and her family.
#WednesdayThoughts - Shoutout to all the dishwashers and cocktail waitresses working hard on a career pathway to becoming small business owners, entrepreneurs and restaurant owners. We see you and respect the grind of economic mobility. We want that for our residents and…
Council Member— Like you, I grew up in Throggs Neck, alongside thousands of hardworking people in the service and hospitality industries—waiters, bartenders, dishwashers—many of whom still struggle to make ends meet.
What’s embarrassing is that you think this is what’s best for our community @mikebenedetto82 nytimes.com/2025/07/16/nyr…
Whether "you" here refers to either District 13 resident -BP Gibson or Michael Kaess- this comment by Councilwoman @KristyMarmorato 's District Office Manager is just more "Mean Girls of Morris Park" NIMBY attitude. Not what we want to see from a City Councilmember or her staff.
Maybe you should move to @CMKevinCRiley district
Actually as an employee of the city of which we pay taxes to including Michael. You’re gross, and unprofessional.