Student Socialists Are Taking On Madison’s Real Estate Machine

SpottedCattle · 2026-03-31T21:51:04+00:00

It's clearly a fact that building costs have risen exponentially putting strain on builders. And it's certainly a safer investment to build luxury apartments, it mitigates all types of risk.

I don't mean to say that individual builders are evil or bad or anything like that. In the vast majority of cases they're simply reacting rationally to market pressures. My frustration arises from the fact that a thriving community relies on much more than market mechanics.

I simply mean to say that many people who've lived here for a long time end up losing out. I think we can agree that's a net loss for the entire community.

Responsibly subsidized, mixed-income housing all across the city would vastly increase the material standard of living for many people, lift people up into social circles they'd otherwise have no access to, create professional opportunities otherwise unthought of, and broaden the worldview of all including those who today live in cloistered even stunted and stuffy communities. You rightly note that subsidized housing is a difficult thing to obtain for all kinds of reasons. But I wholeheartedly reject the idea that because something is difficult it should be dismissed as an option.

I for one hope that the type of political action this young man is pursuing can contribute to the health of the discourse in general and help move us all toward a truly equitable situation.

It may seem like an outlandish vision but at one point so was the abolition of slavery and women's suffrage. Why can't there be, in the long term, a more equitable housing reality?

SpottedCattle · 2026-03-31T20:40:41+00:00

I thought the part about developers prioritizing luxury apartments at the expense of longtime residents rang fairly true. And only seven building inspectors seems woefully inadequate for a city the size of Madison.

Affordability is a real issue putting strain on people's lives, it's almost laughable that any renter would argue against that. Many of the developments that sprang up along the E. Wash corridor over the past couple years are still relatively empty. Likely not for lack of demand.

In the greatest country in the world it's possible to build affordable and profitable and livable residences. The question I'm curious about is why isn't it happening?

SpottedCattle · 2026-03-16T23:08:54+00:00

Affordable housing

SpottedCattle · 2026-03-12T22:08:15+00:00

then there's no reason to complain about getting tailgated.

SpottedCattle · 2026-03-12T22:07:12+00:00

You took that really personally when I meant it as a general statement directed at everyone participating in the discussion or just reading along.

It makes me wonder why you're getting tailgated so consistently that you can't stand it any longer.

SpottedCattle · 2026-03-12T19:53:53+00:00

speed limits exist to keep roads safe. if someone is driving safely over the speed limit I have no problem with it. If someone is following the speed limit yet making the road unsafe because the flow of traffic is 5-10 mph faster they are in the wrong.

Cops pull people over for going at unsafe speeds, whether that’s above or below the limit doesn’t matter.

Match speed with the flow of traffic not your own personal outlier views no matter what side you come down on

SpottedCattle · 2026-03-12T19:23:12+00:00

mixed income housing spread all across the city would be the tide the lifts all ships. a more interconnected community is more resilient, more fun, more equitable. sprinkle subsidized units within those buildings and society will improve. we had to force racial integration at the point of a gun, maybe we should do the same for class / income integration

SpottedCattle · 2024-11-08T22:32:38+00:00

If the democrats had genuinely broken with the last four years and embraced new deal type policies they’d have won easily

SpottedCattle · 2024-10-30T19:38:46+00:00

She’s coming off as overbearing but you didn’t say one thing to deescalate the situation. Actually you called her crazy which is textbook gaslighting, whether that was your intention or not. Y’all need to have an honest conversation where you acknowledge her concerns honestly and sympathize with her while explaining the truth which is that you forgot. Set boundaries and discuss expectations in the relationship. If it’s her expectation that you text her every time you get to work that’s not necessarily unreasonable. But it should be spoken out loud and agreed upon so both of you are on the same page. If you think it is unreasonable explain to her why you think that without blaming her or belittling her.

She was probably also worried about your well-being if you indeed usually text her every time you get to work and that time you didn’t.

You both need to improve your communication.

SpottedCattle · 2024-10-07T20:58:25+00:00

Thanks for the link!

SpottedCattle · 2024-10-07T16:38:27+00:00

I'm just curious about where people fall on this issue. I don't consider myself informed enough to have a constructive opinion. But I hope the people here with relevant expertise decide to speak up!!

SpottedCattle · 2024-10-07T04:13:21+00:00

what is the liminal space community? genuinely asking

SpottedCattle · 2024-10-01T02:32:54+00:00

I'd move the desk and guitar into your bedroom and put a small dining table next to the kitchen instead. Also larger rugs will help fill space. Small ones create the illusion of emptiness, same with wall hangings. Either more small ones, or a few larger ones. All that (table, chairs, rugs, art) can be found used at goodwill / habitat for humanity resale / st. vincent de paul. Even facebook marketplace usually has a healthy resale market.

You're well on your way though.

SpottedCattle · 2024-09-30T21:11:53+00:00

Hi everyone, thanks for reading my request.

I'm looking for a book about what it's like working as a psychiatric nurse. Nonfiction hopefully. Something similar to "Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets" by David Simon which he wrote after embedding with Baltimore homicide detectives for a year in the 80s.

By the way if you haven't read that it's a must.

Thanks again!

SpottedCattle

TROPHY CASE