{"items": [{"author": "Avalon", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881179986122", "anchor": "fb-881179986122", "service": "fb", "text": "Yes, I would vote for you.", "timestamp": "1498097715"}, {"author": "Jonah", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881181188712", "anchor": "fb-881181188712", "service": "fb", "text": "If you fight for affordable housing for low-income people I would definitely vote for you. Also I like you so I would probably vote for you anyway, but don't tell you that.", "timestamp": "1498097973"}, {"author": "Jonah", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881181188712&reply_comment_id=881181348392", "anchor": "fb-881181188712_881181348392", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Also I'm sorry you got laid off. :-(", "timestamp": "1498098057"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881181188712&reply_comment_id=881252321162", "anchor": "fb-881181188712_881252321162", "service": "fb", "text": "→ My views on affordable housing are similar to the mayor's; see my comment below: http://www.jefftk.com/p/should-i-run-for-office...

There's a spectrum of views on how to get housing more affordable, from \"all new units should be 100% affordable\" to \"maximize for units built, not affordability\". Not surprisingly, I'm not at either extreme. At the 100% affordable end you're making development much less profitable, very little gets built, and 100% of a low number is still a low number. Building as many units as possible leaves out low-income people: 0% of a large number is still 0.

Somerville's housing crisis isn't just a low-income crisis: all our housing is extremely expensive, and this affects everyone who lives here. We need to build enough additional units to bring market rate down to where most residents can afford it, and we also need affordable housing for people this won't be enough for.", "timestamp": "1498135636"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881181188712&reply_comment_id=881252331142", "anchor": "fb-881181188712_881252331142", "service": "fb", "text": "→ San Francisco's Affordable Housing Bonus Program [1] is a compromise I like: let people build a little taller in exchange for a higher percentage of affordable units.

[1] http://sf-planning.org/affordable-housing-bonus-program-ahbp", "timestamp": "1498135639"}, {"author": "Howie", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881181188712&reply_comment_id=881258408962", "anchor": "fb-881181188712_881258408962", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Jeff Kaufman Is this preferable to reducing the height restrictions across the board? Why have them in the first place?", "timestamp": "1498138001"}, {"author": "Ben", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881182007072", "anchor": "fb-881182007072", "service": "fb", "text": "I'm not a Somerville resident, but I feel in general that more thoughtful people like you should be in charge.", "timestamp": "1498098186"}, {"author": "Sophia", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881182201682", "anchor": "fb-881182201682", "service": "fb", "text": "I might have, but I already got forced out by housing costs.", "timestamp": "1498098385"}, {"author": "Michael", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881183074932", "anchor": "fb-881183074932", "service": "fb", "text": "I think you would be an excellent Alderman, and that you have both skills and talents that would make you good at performing the job, and skills and talents that may be sufficient to get you elected. I would vote for you if I lived in Somerville.", "timestamp": "1498098597"}, {"author": "James", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881184452172", "anchor": "fb-881184452172", "service": "fb", "text": "Yes, I ran for the Massacusetts State Senate, and although I never had any chance at winning, it was fun, interesting, and it expanded my social skill set.", "timestamp": "1498099032"}, {"author": "Sweet", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881185969132", "anchor": "fb-881185969132", "service": "fb", "text": "Yes. Your views on city policy (that I know) are good, you're technologically savvy and thus bring something most folks who run don't have to the table.", "timestamp": "1498099596"}, {"author": "Andrew", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881186238592", "anchor": "fb-881186238592", "service": "fb", "text": "Topher", "timestamp": "1498099657"}, {"author": "Bruno", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881186238592&reply_comment_id=881188234592", "anchor": "fb-881186238592_881188234592", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Elizabeth Edwards-Appell", "timestamp": "1498100445"}, {"author": "Evan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881186802462", "anchor": "fb-881186802462", "service": "fb", "text": "At the local level (at least in my home of Somerville, MA), fixing our broken zoning regulations would be my top priority, so you would definitely have my vote.

Do you have a clear sense of the amount of time involved / opportunity cost?", "timestamp": "1498099911"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881186802462&reply_comment_id=881252875052", "anchor": "fb-881186802462_881252875052", "service": "fb", "text": "→ \"Do you have a clear sense of the amount of time involved / opportunity cost?\"

I think this would be a full-time job. It's possible to do it with less time, but if it's worth me doing at all it's worth me trying to do it very well.", "timestamp": "1498135917"}, {"author": "Michael", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881186987092", "anchor": "fb-881186987092", "service": "fb", "text": "I think it's an extremely worthy cause, but your point of view on housing may be an uphill battle. There's a lot of energy there specifically against new and high density housing. The \"affordable housing\" platform amendment at the state convention that we narrowly fought off (see my post from a few weeks ago) was most heavily supported by Somerville. Also, every time I bring the issue up in front of Somervillians I know, I get pushback. Just some anecdotal evidence.", "timestamp": "1498100066"}, {"author": "Michael", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881186987092&reply_comment_id=881189332392", "anchor": "fb-881186987092_881189332392", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I should clarify: said amendment claimed to support affordable housing, but would have removed language supporting new development and supported removing state authority on zoning.", "timestamp": "1498101169"}, {"author": "Anna", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881186987092&reply_comment_id=881200779452", "anchor": "fb-881186987092_881200779452", "service": "fb", "text": "→ This sounds almost exactly like San Francisco housing politics :(", "timestamp": "1498105597"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881186987092&reply_comment_id=881246442942", "anchor": "fb-881186987092_881246442942", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I think this is relatively tractable, because the mayor is in favor of getting more built. Looking over his recent Twitter:

\"If we had better statewide/local zoning, we'd see more dev for every market segment. Constricted rules foster luxury market.\" [1]

\"Limited development concentrates around the upper market. Current rules make large scale mid-market cost/time prohibitive.\" [2]

\"No, [zoning]'s the mechanism by which we can build the housing we need. Decades of anti-density zoning has created our current regional problem.\" [3]

\"State must update its zoning rules 1st. If all we're doing is chasing 80/20 luxury/affordable we miss the entire mid-market. Need 435k units\" [4]

\"I would allow greater density around transit that would allow developers to build for the underserved mid-market.\" [5]

\"Can't fix a supply & demand problem if you don't increase the supply.\" [6]

Also:

\"80% of MBTA buses run late. Roads too clogged, need dedicated transit corridors. Need to convert road space.\" [7]

[1] https://twitter.com/JoeCurtatone/status/870661434778189824
[2] https://twitter.com/JoeCurtatone/status/870664725138485248
[3] https://twitter.com/JoeCurtatone/status/870665524719624192
[4] https://twitter.com/JoeCurtatone/status/870690949654958080
[5] https://twitter.com/JoeCurtatone/status/870704237109403649
[6] https://twitter.com/JoeCurtatone/status/870704422761910274
[7] https://twitter.com/JoeCurtatone/status/877571066620784640", "timestamp": "1498132424"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881186987092&reply_comment_id=881246467892", "anchor": "fb-881186987092_881246467892", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Here's him writing about the Union Square zoning agreement, again taking positions that seem very reasonable to me:

\"Last night the Planning Board approved a new phase of housing in Assembly Square that ultimately should net the city 80-93 affordable housing units.It was a contentious issue and I appreciate that some people are raw about an outcome that wasn't 100% of what they went in demanding, but I will submit that the public pressure on this application helped achieve a positive result.

The crux of the issue was whether Federal Realty would build its new block with 12.5% of the 500 units being affordable (63), as had been our standard when we signed the agreements on Assembly Row six years ago, or at 20% (100 affordable units) per the City's new inclusionary zoning ordinance that we passed last year. The argument for the 20% was pretty straightforward: we need more affordable housing and Federal Realty stands to make a good chunk of money off this project.

The argument for the waiver is a bit more complicated: we unilaterally changed the terms and conditions around which the original deal was struck, and Federal Realty has shown good faith in the past (e.g. providing the funds to build the new Assembly Orange Line station and building a new waterfront park). Also, when we made the change to 20% last year, we added bonus units for new developers to make it possible to pay for more affordable units. Because of Federal's state permits, it can\u2019t add units and take advantage of these bonuses, while every other developer in the City can. That is the reason that the zoning ordinance allowed Federal Realty (and only Federal Realty, the only entity in the City in the middle of a decade-long project) to request a waiver to build under the old rules.

The Planning Board, which had to decide the matter, faced an all-or-nothing choice. While it wasn't appropriate for me to lobby the board regarding its decision, the avenue open to me as mayor was to put a better alternative on the table. The fundamental problem with denying Federal Realty's waiver request on affordable housing that, at 20%, the project would not have been competitive for Federal to build in 2017. A national development company like Federal can choose to invest in more lucrative projects, leaving this one to wait.

That\u2019s not a threat from them, it\u2019s just a business decision. Meanwhile, no affordable housing is being built, the City isn't receiving the fees for the building permits ($3.5 million), no taxes are being collected on the new housing and the new residents aren't spending their money in our local businesses.

The best case scenario for advocates of the 20% seemed to be a hollow victory, a paper decision but not actual new housing. Meanwhile there was a strong possibility that Planning Board would grant the 12.5% waiver. That didn't sit right with me. We needed a tangible victory that maximized the amount of affordable housing we could get associated with this project.

So I had our planning staff crunch the numbers and what we determined is that, by leveraging the city's 100 Homes program, we could use some of the Federal Realty money to significantly increase the amount of affordable housing. We verified the figures with the Somerville Community Corporation, which is our community partner in the 100 Homes program, and asked Federal Realty if it was amenable to the idea.

The agreement we struck will build half of the new affordable units in the original waiver (6.25% or 31 units) on-site in Assembly Square. The value of the other half will be put toward acquiring housing to be converted into affordable units in our existing residential neighborhoods. In the past, we\u2019ve been reluctant to take money instead of on-site units, because we worried about how to convert that money effectively into additional development. Now, with the 100 Homes program, this money (over $10 million) means new affordable housing in places like East Somerville and Magoun Square and Teele Square. Our estimate is we can increase the total to at least 80 affordable units, or 16%, and potentially 93 units (18.5%) or more. That's far more than the 63 units at 12.5% or the 0 units had this project not gotten built.

I understand we live in polarized times and that there's a ton of cost pressure in our housing market. If I could waive a magic wand and build 450,000 housing units in greater Boston to meet the pent up demand, I'd do it. If I could make the Federal Government commit to housing those most in need (as they stopped doing decades ago), I would do that. Yet I don't have that power. What I can do is try to help the most people I can as often as I can. We are going to get more people into affordable housing in Somerville as a result of this agreement. Risking the roughly 90 units we will be able to offer would have been haphazard, and dozens of families would have been adversely impacted.

In government, we don't always get exactly what we wanted or what we originally planned. When Ikea pulled out of Assembly Square we figured out how to get the infrastructure built and ultimately the biggest employer in New England, Partners Health Care, built its headquarters there, where it now employs more than 4,000 people. When the Green Line extension ran into cost overruns, we made sure a scaled-down version still met our needs and now it's moving toward the major construction phase.

We have to be creative and we have to be willing to work with people. In the case of building affordable housing we have to be willing to work with developers, because that's who will be doing the actual construction. If we have an antagonistic and unpredictable development climate, we stand to get 20% of nothing.

I want to end by thanking the people who came out and advocated for more affordable housing. We need that kind of passion and involvement on every local issue, and it made a difference in this case. People called for something better and we burned the midnight oil trying to deliver it. This was a complex issue and we found a way to help significantly more families in our community. Good intentions are great. Good deeds are better.

We - and when I say we I mean everybody from the community advocates to Federal Realty to the staff at city hall - managed to do some good deeds here. Real people are going to get real help. It may not be perfect, but it's good. Nobody gets to die perfect, but when I go I want people to say I did a lot of good. We did some good here, and it might be a model we can use in the future to do even better.
\"

https://www.facebook.com/.../a.13046443.../1233687826757450/", "timestamp": "1498132490"}, {"author": "Susan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881187012042", "anchor": "fb-881187012042", "service": "fb", "text": "We have had two people on our porch who are running. This is mighty early in the cycle for such interest.", "timestamp": "1498100072"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881187012042&reply_comment_id=881244347142", "anchor": "fb-881187012042_881244347142", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Somerville municipal elections are on odd years, so we're talking about a 2017 election, not 2018", "timestamp": "1498131802"}, {"author": "Susan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881187012042&reply_comment_id=881247470882", "anchor": "fb-881187012042_881247470882", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Jeff Kaufman Never had people campaigning so heavily this far in advance. Just an observation from someone who has lived here for a bit of time.", "timestamp": "1498133197"}, {"author": "Jonathan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881188294472", "anchor": "fb-881188294472", "service": "fb", "text": "If you're leaning socialist, especially in regards to housing policy, I can connect you to some people who would love a candidate to back.", "timestamp": "1498100485"}, {"author": "Evan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881188294472&reply_comment_id=881188444172", "anchor": "fb-881188294472_881188444172", "service": "fb", "text": "→ What exactly would the socialist position on zoning be at the local level?", "timestamp": "1498100538"}, {"author": "Jonathan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881188294472&reply_comment_id=881190719612", "anchor": "fb-881188294472_881190719612", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Not so much zoning as enforcing affordable housing minimums in any new development, and advocating new affordable housing developments. The local DSA chapter has been making noises about turning its attention to housing issues, particularly in Cambridge and Somerville, for a while, and was just starting to organize around it last I heard.", "timestamp": "1498101850"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881188294472&reply_comment_id=881252934932", "anchor": "fb-881188294472_881252934932", "service": "fb", "text": "→ See my response to Jonah above: http://www.jefftk.com/p/should-i-run-for-office...", "timestamp": "1498135971"}, {"author": "Evan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881188608842", "anchor": "fb-881188608842", "service": "fb", "text": "Hey, Jeff -- I'm actually organizing a panel on housing (and tenants unions) at Porter Square Books. If you're going to focus on zoning, we should talk.

(Hope all's well.)", "timestamp": "1498100651"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881188608842&reply_comment_id=881252615572", "anchor": "fb-881188608842_881252615572", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Sure! Happy to talk! When's the panel?", "timestamp": "1498135796"}, {"author": "Evan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881188608842&reply_comment_id=881281108472", "anchor": "fb-881188608842_881281108472", "service": "fb", "text": "→ July 30th! Should be finalizing it this week/weekend. Will drop you a PM not too long after.", "timestamp": "1498144791"}, {"author": "Mark", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881188673712", "anchor": "fb-881188673712", "service": "fb", "text": "If I weren't swapping districts I would vote for you!", "timestamp": "1498100719"}, {"author": "Ben", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881189482092", "anchor": "fb-881189482092", "service": "fb", "text": "I'd like to strongly encourage this. Happy to do some volunteer logistics work remotely, and/or try to recruit people locally.", "timestamp": "1498101236"}, {"author": "Amelia", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881192675692", "anchor": "fb-881192675692", "service": "fb", "text": "I would trust you to be extremely well informed and ethical. Then again, I know you!", "timestamp": "1498102888"}, {"author": "Justin", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881193778482", "anchor": "fb-881193778482", "service": "fb", "text": "Absolutely", "timestamp": "1498103213"}, {"author": "Peter", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881193978082", "anchor": "fb-881193978082", "service": "fb", "text": "I hear many people talking about affordable housing, but I get the impression they think the problem is best addressed by foisting the costs of addressing the issue onto developers. I get the impression you understand the illogic of that. Please respond. Also, I suspect you will have trouble convincing people it is anyone's responsibility to bear the cost besides developers.", "timestamp": "1498103260"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881193978082&reply_comment_id=881253169462", "anchor": "fb-881193978082_881253169462", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Yes; see my response to Jonah above: http://www.jefftk.com/p/should-i-run-for-office...", "timestamp": "1498136071"}, {"author": "Topher", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881194032972", "anchor": "fb-881194032972", "service": "fb", "text": "You had me at the word \"zoning\".

Probably more smart, honest people running for office would be good for the country. It's been argued that not enough do, because it's mostly a pretty thankless job. But from an altruistic perspective, I think there's a pretty good case for it.", "timestamp": "1498103293"}, {"author": "Dustin", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881195295442", "anchor": "fb-881195295442", "service": "fb", "text": "Yes.", "timestamp": "1498103606"}, {"author": "Joan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881199886242", "anchor": "fb-881199886242", "service": "fb", "text": "Daniel Gastfriend may have EA thoughts here", "timestamp": "1498105214"}, {"author": "Caleb", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881199911192", "anchor": "fb-881199911192", "service": "fb", "text": "Rebecca", "timestamp": "1498105253"}, {"author": "Rebecca", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881199911192&reply_comment_id=881246542742", "anchor": "fb-881199911192_881246542742", "service": "fb", "text": "→ ?", "timestamp": "1498132609"}, {"author": "Scott", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881202026952", "anchor": "fb-881202026952", "service": "fb", "text": "This is plausible. I have a friend running for city council and happy to connect you to them if you're interested. Also of course happy to help you campaign and think through messaging/strategy!", "timestamp": "1498105764"}, {"author": "Josh", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792", "anchor": "fb-881205100792", "service": "fb", "text": "I believe the expected impact of this to be much lower than of earning to give.", "timestamp": "1498106737"}, {"author": "Raymond", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881208344292", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881208344292", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I'm a bit torn because I do think the object level obvious answer is this, but I think there's a longer term benefit for more EAs having a wider variety of skill-sets, networks and approaches", "timestamp": "1498107658"}, {"author": "Raymond", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881208394192", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881208394192", "service": "fb", "text": "→ (but honestly torn, because I do think the drop in income here would be pretty enormous)", "timestamp": "1498107693"}, {"author": "Josh", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881211373222", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881211373222", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Raymond I think there's significant reason to believe there's other EAs with the politics-relevant skillsets and networks, and that Jeff is not the best candidate for this type of transition.", "timestamp": "1498108122"}, {"author": "Raymond", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881214217522", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881214217522", "service": "fb", "text": "→ How many are there?

I can probably name 100-200 EA programmers (to be fair, I most them do not earn to give nearly at the level that Jeff does/did, but easily could). I can name maybe... 4 EA people who do anything political", "timestamp": "1498108366"}, {"author": "Linchuan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881214282392", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881214282392", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Raymond, you're a programmer so your social circle is going to be biased here. :)

(Also, are we including policy in the \"anything political\" set?)", "timestamp": "1498108480"}, {"author": "Raymond", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881214616722", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881214616722", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I'm a programmer *because* my social circle is biased.

The people who are easily coming to mind as having anything to do with politics are:

Topher
Elizabeth Edwards-Appell
Matthew Gentzel
Robert Wiblin

Spending a bit more time thinking...
Chloe Cockburn
Other people probably involved at OpenPhil
Is Sentience Politics actually about politics? I'm not sure?

What order of magnitude of EAs with experience in any kind of politics-or-politics-like-things are you thinking about?", "timestamp": "1498108746"}, {"author": "Josh", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881214751452", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881214751452", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Raymond very surprised by those numbers. My 'EA programmers' number is way, way lower. My political number is quite a bit higher. Linchuan it should be included yes.", "timestamp": "1498108784"}, {"author": "Raymond", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881214801352", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881214801352", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Again, what numbers *do* you think you have for EAs involved with politics somehow?", "timestamp": "1498108874"}, {"author": "Raymond", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881215080792", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881215080792", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Animal activism stuff might count as \"anything political\" and might raise the number a bit, but most of it feels fairly specialized (and in any case seems very different than the skills and network I'd expect Jeff to gain here)", "timestamp": "1498108941"}, {"author": "Raymond", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881215155642", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881215155642", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I also, to be fair, have a background belief that most of the purpose of EA-earning-to-give is to costly signal to billionaires that they should pay attention (since a single additional billionaire would dwarf the entire EA community), OR to fund riskier, early stage philanthropy that I don't think Jeff has historically done (but may be wrong about)", "timestamp": "1498109048"}, {"author": "Josh", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881215255442", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881215255442", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Raymond it's tough to say really. The lines for what is included and what isn't is blurry, as is the line for who is an EA and who isn't. I could place the political number anywhere from 5 to 80+ depending on these definitions.

That said, groups you may not be thinking of is some of the people at IPA & J-PAL working on policy, CEA & FHI's advising in the UK, and those at the World Bank and a few other international and national government agencies. There's also some people you likely know who you didn't realize have a strong background in government, such as myself and Sam Deere.", "timestamp": "1498109271"}, {"author": "Raymond", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881215280392", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881215280392", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Gotcha. The line is indeed blurry.

Thing I could find easily from the 2015 EA Survey:

\"A free-form text box was used for occupation, which made the analysis a bit tricky. Of the 963 people who answered, there were 221 people who were programmers of some sort (found by searching for matches to \u201cengineer\u201d or \u201csoftware\u201d or \u201cprogrammer\u201d, then checking and removing those who were e.g. mechanical engineers). 78 people used the word \u201cresearch\u201d in their occupational description, while 48 used \u201cconsult\u201d (i.e. consultancy or consultant), 38 used the word \u201cstudent\u201d, while 24 people had a job that involved \u201cdata\u201d (including 9 \u201cData Scientist\u201d). There was a huge range of careers, including nurses, priests, writers and analysts.\"", "timestamp": "1498109348"}, {"author": "Josh", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881215320312", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881215320312", "service": "fb", "text": "→ > I also, to be fair, have a background belief that most of the purpose of EA-earning-to-give is to costly signal to billionaires that they should pay attention

Whereas I have a very opposite opinion of it. Time and time again the mantra of being primarily 'talent constrained' has proved highly misleading to me within EA, and instead I have a strong belief that EA also remains highly funding constrained, and discussions with some of those who most often claim this have often resulted in them backing off from their previous claims. So I find earning-to-give to be very important.", "timestamp": "1498109414"}, {"author": "Raymond", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881215370212", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881215370212", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I'm not saying it's not funding constrained, I'm saying the way you solve the funding problem is primarily by getting additional highly-rich people involved, and that most of the value of the people earning to give is demonstrating that these are ideas to take seriously.", "timestamp": "1498109523"}, {"author": "Raymond", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881216627692", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881216627692", "service": "fb", "text": "→ (note that I believe this pretty weakly, like 55% confident or maybe even less-than-50-but-still-the-plurality-of-the-strategy-space. But it is shaping how I think about earning to give)

(It sounds like we probably also disagree on some other things in that space and would be interested in meeting up to do a git-merge on world views at some point, but the main crux here was about how to get more funding)", "timestamp": "1498109891"}, {"author": "Leah", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881266143462", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881266143462", "service": "fb", "text": "→ ", "timestamp": "1498141491"}, {"author": "Raymond", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881266353042", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881266353042", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Ah, I had made that assumption without thinking. I think my guess was that it wasn't technically a full-time job but would end up consuming a lot of time/attention in a way that at least curtailed what sort of responsibilities he could have at a day job.", "timestamp": "1498141588"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881266702342", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881266702342", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Leah: I think if I want to go this direction, I should treat it as a full time job", "timestamp": "1498141724"}, {"author": "Leah", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881269292152", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881269292152", "service": "fb", "text": "→ ", "timestamp": "1498142051"}, {"author": "Raymond", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881270809112", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881270809112", "service": "fb", "text": "→ lol at \"I sit corrected\"", "timestamp": "1498142697"}, {"author": "Marcus", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881281607472", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881281607472", "service": "fb", "text": "→ The Aldermanic salary was $25k a year, though I think they may have raised it to $40k recently? (I could only find a story about the proposed raise, not sure if it actually passed.) Leah is correct that most of the Aldermen have other sources of income. Mayor is considered a full-time job, on the other hand.", "timestamp": "1498145133"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881289821012", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881289821012", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I think Mark Niedergang (Ward 5 Alderman) is full-time, but maybe no one else?", "timestamp": "1498147798"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881290574502", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881290574502", "service": "fb", "text": "→ @Marcus: it looks like it's $40k now: https://library.municode.com/.../codes/code_of_ordinances...", "timestamp": "1498148060"}, {"author": "Alexander", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881303588422", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881303588422", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Raymond, Josh: Thinking through the UK EAs I know the politics/policy experience versus
programmer experience ratio is more like 1:2, and I'd estimate both magnitudes to be in the tens.

In particular, note GPP has spent non-trivial time working on and talking to governments about policy (we also have a few people who were or are in 'actual' party politics, but I won't name them publicly. Happy to discuss more in private).", "timestamp": "1498154079"}, {"author": "Howie", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205100792&reply_comment_id=881370958412", "anchor": "fb-881205100792_881370958412", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Alexander I think that's a pretty big difference between the UK EAsphere and the US (especially the Bay).", "timestamp": "1498178549"}, {"author": "Jai", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881205674642", "anchor": "fb-881205674642", "service": "fb", "text": "Yes please.", "timestamp": "1498106955"}, {"author": "Zach", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881206233522", "anchor": "fb-881206233522", "service": "fb", "text": "Do it.", "timestamp": "1498107514"}, {"author": "Catherine", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881215100752", "anchor": "fb-881215100752", "service": "fb", "text": "Might not be the case with you, but I don't quite care enough about the issues that concern people in my local area, compared to all the big issues that I think about in EA. I had an opportunity to run for NZ government recently, and said no, partially for that reason - I just don't care enough... (it was a seat unwinnable by the party I belong to though - so I would have just been campaigning for the party really).", "timestamp": "1498108946"}, {"author": "Benjamin", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881217770402", "anchor": "fb-881217770402", "service": "fb", "text": "Yes!", "timestamp": "1498110424"}, {"author": "Michael", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881220644642", "anchor": "fb-881220644642", "service": "fb", "text": "Unfortunately not allowed to vote for you, but I'd donate.", "timestamp": "1498111755"}, {"author": "Howie", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881228997902", "anchor": "fb-881228997902", "service": "fb", "text": "Is this a full-time job?", "timestamp": "1498119508"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881228997902&reply_comment_id=881253703392", "anchor": "fb-881228997902_881253703392", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I think if it's worth me doing at all, it's probably worth me doing with full focus.

(Currently I think for some it's as a full time job, and not for others? But this is a vague impression; I don't know how the current aldermen spend their time.)", "timestamp": "1498136310"}, {"author": "Howie", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881228997902&reply_comment_id=881253793212", "anchor": "fb-881228997902_881253793212", "service": "fb", "text": "→ It could go either way but for a city the size of Somerville my guess would have been that they all have ft jobs in addition to this", "timestamp": "1498136390"}, {"author": "Rick", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881236512842", "anchor": "fb-881236512842", "service": "fb", "text": "I think Paul would be a good person to talk with about this.", "timestamp": "1498126158"}, {"author": "Chris", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881243364112", "anchor": "fb-881243364112", "service": "fb", "text": "heh heh- are we taking a vote on whether you should run for office? they should do that with all candidates!", "timestamp": "1498130747"}, {"author": "Adam", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881243419002", "anchor": "fb-881243419002", "service": "fb", "text": "I read the headline and reacted \"no, running for office isn't a good strategy for getting anything done because you can't go from zero to elected without a lot of political expertise\", and then I read \"local elections\" and now I feel much more confident both about your chances, and about how reasonable your general thought process here is.

I'm not confident this is the *best* use of your time. but it is at least not a waste of your time.", "timestamp": "1498130841"}, {"author": "Jameson", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881243818202", "anchor": "fb-881243818202", "service": "fb", "text": "Not a Somerville resident, but yes please run, and let more housing be built! (And relatedly, let them build it without parking.)", "timestamp": "1498131335"}, {"author": "Ben", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881252475852", "anchor": "fb-881252475852", "service": "fb", "text": "How long till you are elected (or not)? It seems to have some desirable fail-fast properties.", "timestamp": "1498135747"}, {"author": "Howie", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881252475852&reply_comment_id=881253553692", "anchor": "fb-881252475852_881253553692", "service": "fb", "text": "→ My reaction, too.", "timestamp": "1498136269"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881252475852&reply_comment_id=881253748302", "anchor": "fb-881252475852_881253748302", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Here's the calendar: http://www.somervillema.gov/.../files/election-calendar.pdf

I'd need to register like today, and collect signatures right away. Then the election itself is in the fall.", "timestamp": "1498136382"}, {"author": "Howie", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881252475852&reply_comment_id=881254461872", "anchor": "fb-881252475852_881254461872", "service": "fb", "text": "→ My under informed gut reaction is that you'd learn a lot at little cost if you lost and you'd potentially do a lot of good if you won.", "timestamp": "1498136837"}, {"author": "Ben", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881252475852&reply_comment_id=881258433912", "anchor": "fb-881252475852_881258433912", "service": "fb", "text": "→ I would be interested in the base rate of negative media attention given to people applying to this level of political position. If it's low, then I agree this seems like a low risk high potential info thing to do.", "timestamp": "1498138027"}, {"author": "Hollis", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881254516762", "anchor": "fb-881254516762", "service": "fb", "text": "Do you know my friend Meghan Kallman? She's on the City Council in Pawtucket RI, and she's been encouraging lots of friends to run for office. I'm sure she would talk to you about this. (Like us, she's getting married in a week and a half, so she's a bit busy right now, but it would be worth reaching out anyway).", "timestamp": "1498136873"}, {"author": "Myles", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881254516762&reply_comment_id=881257820142", "anchor": "fb-881254516762_881257820142", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Seconded. Meghan has great things to say about why she's run for office and how she did it.", "timestamp": "1498137650"}, {"author": "Logan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881255414962", "anchor": "fb-881255414962", "service": "fb", "text": "I would vote for you based on your ability to utilize facts and logic to come to conclusions and your compassion for others.", "timestamp": "1498137145"}, {"author": "Kate", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881257346092", "anchor": "fb-881257346092", "service": "fb", "text": "Have you watched an alderman debate? A few of our alderman are really good (Mark Niedergang) but others I don't appreciate quite as much! I suggest you network with someone like Mark in order to learn more about what's involved and whether it's something you'd want to do. :)", "timestamp": "1498137440"}, {"author": "Tee", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881257880022", "anchor": "fb-881257880022", "service": "fb", "text": "Skeptical this would be the highest value use of your time unless you considered a higher level of office, but of course, you have competing priorities and obligations.

I have a genuine question. How good are you at politely fielding ignorant or blatantly untrue questions/statements? I would imagine this is very important for serving your constituents and even addressing opponents. The force of your logic (un)surprisingly won't play as large of a factor in your likability quotient", "timestamp": "1498137660"}, {"author": "Leah", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881266248252", "anchor": "fb-881266248252", "service": "fb", "text": "", "timestamp": "1498141530"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881266248252&reply_comment_id=881266652442", "anchor": "fb-881266248252_881266652442", "service": "fb", "text": "→ That would be great, thanks!", "timestamp": "1498141687"}, {"author": "Leah", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881266248252&reply_comment_id=881269456822", "anchor": "fb-881266248252_881269456822", "service": "fb", "text": "→ ", "timestamp": "1498142161"}, {"author": "Kathryn", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881267116512", "anchor": "fb-881267116512", "service": "fb", "text": "Good Luck I think you would be great but....If you get elected to office, please promise to not spend valuable time discussing minutia and interesting but random and not exactly pertinent issues. You know what I mean...it will dilute the important and valuable messages you could contribute and driving the other Aldermen crazy is fun but not productive! Now if they need a filibuster-master, you are the guy! Anyway, I'd vote for you.", "timestamp": "1498141805"}, {"author": "Ryan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881269985762", "anchor": "fb-881269985762", "service": "fb", "text": "I do not live in MA, so I can't vote for you, but I think you would bring a lot of focus and other good qualities to the table. Talk it over with your family, of course, but if they're on board, I'd say go for it!", "timestamp": "1498142355"}, {"author": "Kevin", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881284840992", "anchor": "fb-881284840992", "service": "fb", "text": "Please.", "timestamp": "1498146161"}, {"author": "Bil", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881285923822", "anchor": "fb-881285923822", "service": "fb", "text": "I can't vote for you, but I can hold signs, knock doors, and make buttons. Go for it.", "timestamp": "1498146687"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881285923822&reply_comment_id=881287909842", "anchor": "fb-881285923822_881287909842", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Thanks! If I do decide to go for it I'd love to take you up on that!", "timestamp": "1498147175"}, {"author": "Nathan", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881296782062", "anchor": "fb-881296782062", "service": "fb", "text": "I'd vote for you and I'll let my Somerville friends know if you do. They'll definitely vote for you.", "timestamp": "1498151425"}, {"author": "Becca", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881299576462", "anchor": "fb-881299576462", "service": "fb", "text": "Yes! Zoning is an important issue to me as well.", "timestamp": "1498152864"}, {"author": "Becca", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881304481632", "anchor": "fb-881304481632", "service": "fb", "text": "And I live in Somerville!", "timestamp": "1498154527"}, {"author": "Kate", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881311138292", "anchor": "fb-881311138292", "service": "fb", "text": "Also, do you get the City of Somerville newsletter? Just saw a bunch of info on upcoming zoning meetings, perhaps of interest!", "timestamp": "1498157272"}, {"author": "Joshua", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881322216092", "anchor": "fb-881322216092", "service": "fb", "text": "Yes! I can't even fit all the reasons why in a comment.", "timestamp": "1498162025"}, {"author": "Zera", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881322216092&reply_comment_id=881329431632", "anchor": "fb-881322216092_881329431632", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Eike's Last Theorem", "timestamp": "1498163602"}, {"author": "Todd", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881360085202", "anchor": "fb-881360085202", "service": "fb", "text": "I'd vote for you, and I do live in Somerville.", "timestamp": "1498173847"}, {"author": "Phillip", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881386686892", "anchor": "fb-881386686892", "service": "fb", "text": "While I think you might do some good, I don't think the process would make a good Jeff.", "timestamp": "1498184427"}, {"author": "Gianna", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881668851432", "anchor": "fb-881668851432", "service": "fb", "text": "I don't live in Somerville anymore but am generally in favor of more elected officials who make decisions thoughtfully, and with data. So yes, I think it would be good for the world if you ran. Whether or not you personally want to invest the effort and spend your time in this way is a personal question only you (with the input of your family, since this job would make you a public figure in many ways) can really discern.", "timestamp": "1498253046"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881716161622", "anchor": "fb-881716161622", "service": "fb", "text": "Update: I've decided not to run. There are a lot of candidates running this year, many of them running very good campaigns, and many of which I'd be quite happy to see elected. Thanks to everyone who gave me advice!", "timestamp": "1498268065"}, {"author": "Erica", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881722339242", "anchor": "fb-881722339242", "service": "fb", "text": "Has the deadline passed to take out papers?", "timestamp": "1498270285"}, {"author": "Jeff Kaufman", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881722339242&reply_comment_id=881723182552", "anchor": "fb-881722339242_881723182552", "service": "fb", "text": "→ It's possible to take out papers until Monday at 5pm, and the deadline for signatures is Wednesday at 5pm.", "timestamp": "1498270730"}, {"author": "Paul", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881775228252", "anchor": "fb-881775228252", "service": "fb", "text": "I see you've decided not to run. I have a million thoughts on this, having been elected to public office in Somerville six times. Two are key. A. I could collect about ten valid signatures per hour doing it by myself. You would need 200 signatures turned in. So, that's a commitment of time. B. If you ran as the ninth candidate, you would trigger a preliminary election in September. This preliminary election would reduce the field to eight candidates. If only eight candidates are qualified for the ballot, no preliminary is required. (Some experienced politicians like to cause a preliminary to gauge the relative strength of their opponents.) Happy to talk more.", "timestamp": "1498307859"}, {"author": "Erica", "source_link": "https://www.facebook.com/jefftk/posts/881178169762?comment_id=881775228252&reply_comment_id=881792358922", "anchor": "fb-881775228252_881792358922", "service": "fb", "text": "→ Paul would be a great person to talk with if you are serious.", "timestamp": "1498316954"}]}