The post argues that The Line mega-project exemplifies a misguided authoritarian approach to urban development, neglecting the organic growth of cities driven by economic factors.
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Jeff Fong is the author of Urban Proxima, a Substack publication focused on cities, technology, and the future, with hundreds of subscribers.
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The blog post examines the historical and ideological factors influencing New York City's economic development and the challenges of land value taxation and urban politics.
The post discusses the housing crisis faced by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and similar research centers, highlighting how high housing costs are affecting the recruitment and retention of scientists. It details the chall...
In part 2 of the conversation between Jeff Fong and Sean Fleming, they discuss the challenges facing municipal power systems, particularly in light of increasing energy demands from electric vehicles and data centers. Fleming high...
The blog post features a conversation between Jeff Fong and energy expert Sean Fleming about the future of municipal power systems. Fleming explains the historical process of power generation, transmission, and distribution, detai...
Michael Tubbs proposes leveraging California's public lands for housing development to address shortages and fund education, aiming to reshape the state's political economy of development.
The post examines the historical and political dimensions of prosperity in New York City, linking past economic policies to current urban reform debates.
The blog post discusses the increasing presence of robots in everyday life, highlighting companies like Waymo, Serve Robotics, and Whill that are developing autonomous systems. It emphasizes the challenges these robots face in nav...
Point Roberts is a unique American exclave located south of Vancouver, Canada, accessible only by crossing the U.S.-Canadian border twice. The community, shaped by historical accidents and geographical isolation, lacks a formal ci...
The post critiques American land use policies and advocates for urban reform movements to address systemic inequities and reshape the economy for future generations.
The blog post argues for a shift from car-centric urban planning to denser, mixed-use neighborhoods that enhance community safety and financial sustainability for municipalities.
Reverse inclusionary zoning offers a viable alternative to traditional affordable housing methods by allowing public developers to finance subsidized units through market-rate housing, enhancing overall housing production.
Georgism is re-emerging as a viable solution to urban inequality through land value taxation and leasing, with advocates achieving significant early successes.
Los Alamos struggles with a housing crisis exacerbated by outdated zoning laws and rising costs, threatening its scientific workforce and productivity.
The blog post discusses modular home construction, focusing on an interview with Vikas Enti, co-founder and CEO of Reframe, a company innovating in this field. Enti explains the advantages of factory-built homes, including faster ...
In the final part of a conversation between Jeff Fong and energy expert Sean Fleming, they discuss the future of municipal power systems, focusing on demand management strategies like time-of-use rates and demand response programs...
The blog post discusses the future of autonomous vehicles (AVs) and their potential impact on urban transportation. It features insights from Andrew Miller, an expert in autonomous transportation, who presents two possible futures...
The article discusses the significant achievement of Helsinki in recording zero traffic deaths in 2024-2025, attributing this success to comprehensive urban planning measures such as lowering speed limits, redesigning streets, and...
Laura Foote outlines the principles of YIMBYism, emphasizing housing abundance as essential for equity, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality while addressing the movement's diverse beliefs and challenges.
The author reflects on a podcast interview featuring Cameron Murray, who argues against the idea that increasing housing supply can lower housing costs. The author disagrees with Murray's macro-determinist perspective, emphasizing...
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and Governor Ron DeSantis advocate for the elimination of property taxes, a move that could have significant political implications. The article critiques this idea, arguing that it could lead...
A retrospective on the author's top five blog posts from 2025, exploring diverse urbanism topics and expressing appreciation for the readership.
The post discusses two conferences, the Abundance Conference in Washington D.C. and the Progress Conference in Berkeley, focusing on their differing approaches to societal improvement. The author, involved with YIMBY Action, contr...
The author discusses upcoming events they will attend, including the Abundance Conference and the Progress Conference, in their role as YIMBY Action National Board Chair. They mention the republishing of Urban Proxima posts by Cao...