Facebook has evolved much over the last decade and even over the last five years. A feature I have grown to appreciate is the “On This Day” feature that allows one to go back to see what one posted exactly a year ago, or three years ago, or depending how long one has been on Facebook eight or nine years ago. A little while ago I found this very economical use of words that I posted as a status update. I think it still articulates my basic view that there are some pretty deep reasons why cities (and this is almost a synonym for density in this case) make sense and are important. You can read a much longer exposition on my old Seattle’s Land Use Code blog. 

I am a density advocate because more people in a smaller space is the most efficient and sustainable use of our limited resources. Density has fewer impacts on the environment. Rather than limit our choice and freedom, land use policy that promotes density helps make us more free, prosperous, and can help us realize some the most basic and accepted goals of every human society, including the Golden Rule, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” or “to love our neighbors as ourselves.”