Conor MacDonald

Law Clerk for Project Law Group & the @Bank_of_Nature project.
Design + community enthusiast. Brown University Public Humanities 2020; RWU Law 2023.

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

For a century, we've looked to market economics to solve our problems, and it doesn't. Does the modern world of advanced modeling and gigantic sources of investment open any new doors?

@Bank_of_Nature

[Tariq Fancy @sosofancy]

Wall Street's sustainability work is generally greenwashing. It's based on a dangerous and self-serving 'free markets self correct' thesis that only serves to delay overdue systemic reforms. Enough is enough: we need government action. #fixtherules https://t.co/1WWT2lDf32

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

@MKorevaar93 @JohnWake @NipseyHoussle @KAErdmann this is a terrific study, and proves just how much work is required for this type of analysis. Do you compare the increased rents to the projected increase without the policy? US Rents are going up more than 4% annually, so hypothetically this may be a reduction in rent growth.

[Matthijs Korevaar @MKorevaar_]

🚨NEW PAPER 🚨: Do investors raise housing costs, crowd-out first-time homebuyers, and change neighborhoods?

My non-twitter co-authors and I study this question by tracking the impact of ban on buy-to-let investment. We can do so almost in real-time!

A 🧵(1/14)

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

@phileil tbh, looking back on it, I'm not ashamed of this association.

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

@the_transit_guy Obviously @RIPTA_RI 🌊🎉 for the ocean views on the 60, and the drivers! Anywhere in the state for $2. Gets you to the airport, the Northeast Corridor Amtrak, the beaches, a dozen adorable downtowns. Bring your bike, snd a book. What a deal.

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

@MoldyBasil @brendanherr Oh 😆🙄 that would be way better, but not an option for the architect!! Definitely a problem of zoning/code/owner interests

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

@brendanherr @MoldyBasil What is the alternative to double-loaded corridor in a wide building? (Agreed on their inefficiency/dismalness)

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

@carfreepvd People can’t be expected to read their phones, stomp the gas AND look at the road all at the same time.

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

It matters who owns buildings. More civic ownership-> more civic life

(Non-gov’t nonprofits included)

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

@ofsevit Is it none? Is that why it’s a trick question

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

@MoldyBasil Those products are where it all began. Why was it possible to put those products in your home? Who did it? Who produced them, and who’s left holding the bag?

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

@rhoderedpvd True, I hope I didn’t insinuate that. Thanks for clarifying

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

@MoldyBasil @_holyspokes It IS new. There are books about it!

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

@MoldyBasil @_holyspokes I hope I didn’t really suggest either one. I like the appearance of the word profit though … why are we prioritizing profit over housing? Time for work but perhaps I’ll write a Twitter rant about it later!

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

@MoldyBasil @_holyspokes But I’m talking about PVD/New England/ the northeast … These towns were built 200 years ago. Idk where you are referencing and can’t speak to it.

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

@MoldyBasil @_holyspokes It’s the exact heart of the issue.

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

@MoldyBasil @_holyspokes Bad buildings don’t suit the needs/comforts of occupants, deteriorate quickly, and are full of toxins.

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

@MoldyBasil @_holyspokes The current system of development emerged in the mid-20th century with the Levittown model. The way developers work has changed dramatically in the past 100-150 years, as have the communities they work in. Two notable changes: the llc and corporate personhood

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

We have a breakdown in our community decision making. Is it that we have completely lost trust?

[Conor MacDonald @conorjmacdonald]

@_holyspokes I grew up in a very affluent, white community full of people like this. They actually were mostly big-hearted. The fight, IMHO, was less against housing than against developers making bank by charging top dollar for bad buildings w/ no accountability. Idk what to do w/ that

[Read Raising Expectations (and Raising Hell) @JPHilllllll]

Now this is how headlines should be written