RRR14: Congestion Pricing, American Immigration Attitudes Pt.2, Corridor ID Program, Winter Wonderland, and Jalen Brunson's Burner
🤧💲😒🚝⛄🎯🔥
Anger is a powerful and visceral emotion (😠😒). Often, it significantly alters our worldview.
Judgement becomes clouded when anger narrows our focus, and nibbles away at our ability to process information. This phenomenon is particularly dangerous in our interpretation of societal affairs. Anger, in this context, can lead to a polarized view, impeding our understanding of complex, multifaceted issues.
Anger, therefore, reduces our ability to engage in constructive dialogue.
By recognizing the very moment anger begins to influence our thoughts, we can then seek out the diverse perspectives necessary to understand broader, nuanced context. Only then, can we foster a more balanced and informed view of the happenings around us.
If you can help it, be less angry 😊.
In Recent Times…
Speaking of anger, there’s been quite an uproar over New York City’s conceptually approved congestion pricing (🤧💸). As someone who has entered Manhattan seemingly infinite times in the past year both in my car and via public transit, I felt very strongly about this new policy.
The summary is this: drivers will be charged for entering the central business district of Manhattan (60th street and downwards). The fees are loosely structured around vehicle size. According to NBC New York:
The idea is that the money will serve two purposes. First, it will serve as a disincentive to enter the city by vehicle unnecessarily and cut down traffic. Secondly, the money can be used to revamp NYCs public transit system.
This change will be massively positive.
We absolutely need fewer cars on the road and improved public transit capabilities, that are currently lagging far behind “world-class” status.
Resistance to change is part of human nature, but it’s something we should all consciously challenge. What about this is upsetting?
To be fair, there is a very small percentage of people who this will hurt. For example, let’s say you’re an electrician who commutes into the city every day and you bring supplies with you in your van / truck. This does kind of stink. You’ll have to start passing this cost off to your customers which won’t feel great.
We can be sensitive to those individuals while also acknowledging for the overwhelming majority of NYC dwellers, whether they be residents, commuters, or tourists, congestion pricing will make the city a much better place.
It would be one thing if NYC didn’t have infrastructure to support a mass migration to public transit. Thankfully, that is not the case here.
Less traffic, better air quality, safer for bikers / pedestrians, safer for drivers, money to improve public transportation.
Long live congestion pricing!
At some point, I'll have to indulge in writing about what I perceive to be one of the least spoken about crises in America… aggressive and reckless driving.
Content of the Week 📖🎙📺
“Americans are angry about immigration” by
I recently wrote about the global wave of anti-immigration sentiment. Almost at the very moment I published, one of my favorite writers also took to the internet, offering a very substantive deep dive into the phenomenon of anti-immigration beliefs in the U.S.
Like most great writing, Noah’s take doesn’t conform to the spectrum-less binary of opinion that often dominates public discourse on an issue.
A more permanent solution would be to change U.S. asylum law to allow the Border Patrol to turn away anyone who crosses the border illegally, without letting them apply for asylum. This would probably be doable, because Republicans would vote for it. It would probably be popular, since it would fit Americans’ moral intuition that people should have to apply for asylum without breaking U.S. laws. And it’s probably the only way of putting a permanent and definite stop to the border crisis. The problem is that this would prompt a backlash from movement progressives, possibly weakening turnout for Biden in 2024. As is so often the case, it comes down to swing voters vs. the activist base.
But if Biden won’t do this, then Trump will. Or perhaps Trump will ignore legislative reform and simply defy the courts entirely, causing more institutional chaos and constitutional crises. But one way or another, if Biden loses in 2024 because the progressive base tied his hands on border security, that will not be a good thing for American immigration in the long term. Instead, it will be an invitation to a more general xenophobic backlash and long-lasting restrictions of the type implemented in 1924 — or worse.
As I see it, the goal of immigration advocates like myself shouldn’t be to simply engage in a short-term delaying action to frustrate any and every attempt to regulate the inflow of people. The goal should be to permanently and sustainably cement America’s status as a country that welcomes large numbers of immigrants. And that means stopping, or at least damping out, the cycle of immigration backlashes that often characterizes U.S. immigration attitudes. Right now we seem to be doing the opposite of that.
“BOOM: Google Loses Antitrust Case” by
Everyone should take the time to read Matt’s piece on Google losing a landmark case. The writing goes into fascinating detail around Epic Games’ CEO Tim Sweeney and how his resilience and character allowed him to keep pursuing justice when it would have been easy (and potentially lucrative) just to move on.
There are a few important take-aways. First, this one didn’t come from the government, it was a private case by a video game maker that sued Google over its terms for getting access to the Google Play app store for Android, decided not by a fancy judge with an Ivy League degree but by a jury of ordinary people in San Francisco. In other words, private litigation, the ‘ambulance-chasing’ lawyers, are vital parts of our justice system.
Second, juries matter, even if they are riskier for everyone involved. It’s kind of like a mini poll, and the culture is ahead of the cautious legal profession. This quick decision is a sharp contrast with the 6-month delay to an opinion in the search case that Judge Mehta sought in the D.C. trial.
Third, tying claims, which is a specific antitrust violation, are good law. Tying means forcing someone to buy an unrelated product in order to access the actual product they want to buy. The specific legal claim here was about how Google forced firms relying on its Google Play app store to also use its Google Play billing service, which charges an inflated price of 30% of the price of an app. Tying is pervasive throughout the economy, so you can expect more suits along these lines.
And finally, big tech is not above the law. This loss isn’t just the first antitrust failure for Google, it’s the first antitrust loss for any big tech firm. I hear a lot from skeptics that the fix is in, that the powerful will always win, that justice in our system is a mirage. But that just isn’t true. A jury of our peers just made that clear.
Corridor-ID Program 🚆🚉
A powerhouse of potential. That’s how I would describe the Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor-ID) Program, a byproduct of the Biden Administration’s Infrastructure Bill.
In short, the program’s goal is as follows:
Upgrade existing intercity rail routes, develop new ones, and implement high-speed rail.
However, the program is not just about improving transportation… it has potential to be a catalyst for broader social and economic rejuvenation.
Just like with congestion pricing in NYC, improved intercity rail networks promise to deliver less reliance on cars, which in turn lends itself to more prosperous urban living environments.
Economically speaking, new jobs created through the development and ongoing operations of the rail networks can deliver great results. However, the biggest benefit to the economy will likely be seen by simply moving more people from A to B. Local businesses can see an uptick in activity, tourism can boom in places where it hasn’t before, and the rail networks can create incentive for further development at end points and intermediate locations.
In the current phase, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is awarding $500,000 to each grantee for the development of a scope, budget estimate, and schedule proposal. You can read about all the FY22 recipients here. It’s really cool!
A highlight for me is the proposed high speed line connecting Dallas and Houston.
I was actually shocked to learn there is no public transit connecting the two biggest markets in Texas. Well, maybe I shouldn’t say “no” public transit… you could rail hop a little on Amtrak and make your way in a swift… 20 hours???
Becoming A Winter Enthusiast ⛄❄
A few years ago, I decided that I needed to take action. I had spent most of my life fostering a deep disdain for the winter months. A choice needed to be made; either I could find a way to enjoy a cold and dark winter, or I could move somewhere that didn’t have a cold and dark winter.
I simply couldn’t go on being upset about the weather for the better part of 4 months.
Fast forward to today, and I’ve made Usain Bolt-esque strides in becoming a winter lover.
I hate buying “things”, but I started by making sure I had proper winter gear. Some winter boots made for extreme cold, a proper winter coat, as well as ski gloves made a world of difference for me.
I also started making sure to get outside while the sun was up. There are far less hours of light during a Connecticut winter compared to the summer, so I try to get out in the morning and in the afternoon for a walk at the very least.
I also realized that I needed to find winter-specific activities that I loved. Sure, the hot sun all over your skin in the summer feels great, but the reason I love summer so much probably has more to do with the fact I can play my favorite sports outside, go to the beach, drive around with the windows down, and more. What did I actually like doing that was specific to the winter?
I haven’t perfected that part yet. I have tried multiple times to go skiing in the last couple of years to no avail, either because the mountains were too crowded, or, because the weather was too warm and the mountains closed!
Last year, however, I had the pleasure of getting into some deep cold at a bachelor party for one of my best friends. We were in Lake Owen, Wisconsin 🥶🥶:
The key was dressing warm enough that I could enjoy an ice cold beer in the snow.
Anyways, this year, I am vowing to actively seek out colder weather and more activities that come with it. There’s barely been any snow in Connecticut the past couple of years, which is a far cry from how I remember it as a child. Philadelphia winters, too, lack any reliable snowfall. A return to Portland, Maine, could be in the works? 👀.
The cherry on top is that the holiday spirit has taken over my mind, soul, and body. I’ve been lighting some fires at night, and got the Christmas tree done earlier than usual this year. I’ve even been listening to the corniest “winter jazz calming vibe” videos I can find on YouTube. Here’s one of my favorites :).
If you’re like me and live somewhere cold, let’s all try and thrive together this winter!
Jalen Brunson 50-ball, Golden State and Cleveland Struggle
Let’s start with the good. My New York Knicks have themselves an absolute stud in Jalen Brunson. He has already been tremendous for them, but this season he’s taken his three point shooting to a new level, a nod that he understands the importance of this aspect of the game in today’s NBA.
He’s been a good three point shooter historically, hitting 40% of his attempts. However, he’s increased his three point attempts per game dramatically this year (nearly twice as many as usual), and he’s hitting a jaw-dropping 46% of them.
The culmination of this trend was last night, as he poured in 50 points on a silly 9 for 9 on three point attempts. Enjoy the brilliance:
Meanwhile, two teams who would’ve had high hopes to compete for the title this year are off to really shaky starts. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who on paper have one of the best rosters in the league, are struggling to find consistent wins. They’ve lost three straight and are just 13-12 on the season. More concerning than their record, they’ve shown very few moments of brilliance and “contender” potential. They’re now dealing with major injuries to two of their best players as well.
Looking at the Golden State Warriors, their situation is even worse. What’s more is it’s sad.
They’ve dropped to 10-14 on the season, in a Western Conference that is more competitive at the top than the East. If they keep dropping games, they’ll be lucky to make the play-in tournament, never mind secure good playoff seeding. It’s hard to watch because this once in every 20-30 years dynasty is faltering with the same players who once were directly responsible for its success.
Draymond Green seems as though he cannot help but to do something ridiculous and get himself ejected / suspended every time he laces them up.
Klay Thompson has really struggled to find his form.
Steph Curry is as good as ever, but it has been a strange sight to see the ever-poised and positive leader of the team become visibly frustrated by the teams struggles.
I won’t write them off yet, though. They’ve lost a ton of close games, and in the words of Rudy Tomjanovic, “Don’t ever underestimate the heart of a champion”.
Thanks, as always, for lending me your time and mindshare. Have a great weekend, I’ll be back with more soon ❤.
Some songs I’ve been enjoying this week:
Fast Car (Cover) - Luke Combs
Luven Me - Nelly
Fool in the Rain - Led Zeppelin
-Tiko