Chris Karnes | Tacoma, WA

Chris Karnes | Tacoma, WA

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A clean sweep for Ibsen in Tacoma Mayor's Race

A clean sweep for Ibsen in Tacoma Mayor's Race

In a stunning sweep, Anders Ibsen had the most votes of those running in 130 precincts of 152 analyzed in the City of Tacoma. The next best candidates to were Steve Haverly and John Hines with 6 precincts each, Whitney Stevens with 3 precincts, and Jesus ‘Jesse’ Carlos with 1 precinct.

Using AI and a Bike to Help Fix Tacoma's Potholes

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Using AI and a Bike to Help Fix Tacoma's Potholes

It turns out that machine learning models can be used to help society. My setup uses a GoPro Hero 13 Black and an e-bike to record 4K video and high resolution GPS coordinates.

Transit riders may get a seat on the Pierce Transit Board

Transit riders may get a seat on the Pierce Transit Board

Thanks to a new law passed by the Washington State Legislature and signed by Governor Ferguson (HB 1418), transit agencies like Pierce Transit will have the opportunity to add two voting members to their governing boards who are actual transit riders.

SB 5184: How Tacoma moves beyond Parking Minimums

SB 5184: How Tacoma moves beyond Parking Minimums

Senate Bill 5184 is a significant shift in how Washington cities approach parking, aiming to reduce development costs, encourage more housing, and create more vibrant, walkable communities. This post will explain the bill’s key provisions, its impact on Tacoma, and the next steps for our city.

Housing for the working class

Housing for the working class

If we fail to invest in Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), the consequences will disproportionately harm working-class families and deepen inequality.

Happy Year of the Snake

Happy Year of the Snake

The RedNote phenomenon reflects what the original intent of the Internet was supposed to be in the 1990's: a global communications network without barriers, a platform to help us understand that we, as humans, really have much more in common with one another than we think.

Time to reform Tacoma's Crossroads Centers

Time to reform Tacoma's Crossroads Centers

Despite efforts to promote more pedestrian-friendly design and mixed-use development compatible with cities, the dominance of car-centric infrastructure ultimately undermines community goals.

Home in Tacoma final passage

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Home in Tacoma final passage

Sometimes you have to just take a second and be in awe of all of the work that was put into address one key community need: housing.

towards transit-oriented development

towards transit-oriented development

A primary focus of Home in Tacoma has been to identify just how to absorb new growth into areas outside of the regional growth centers and mixed use centers. The largest change by land area is the conversion of single family zoning to an inclusive zoning framework that enables more

Mapping Transit (In)Equity in the Puget Sound

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Mapping Transit (In)Equity in the Puget Sound

...the quality of transit service is dependent upon on sales tax revenue, which is reflective of an area's economy, tax rates, and past decisions of lawmakers who have chosen one form of urban development over another, [making] transit service prone to geographic disparity.

Addressing transit inequity in Tacoma

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Addressing transit inequity in Tacoma

The most frequent bus route in Tacoma on weekdays, Route 1 - 6th Ave - Pacific Ave, will operate once every half hour on weekdays, due to a lack of bus operators. Here I present a concept plan to address the issue.

Climate and Planning

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Climate and Planning

The debate on the existence of human-driven climate change is over. For the last two centuries humans have been burning solid, liquid, and gaseous fossil fuels in increasing amounts, which has been gradually changing the composition of the atmosphere and our oceans.

The Generational Disconnect in Housing

The Generational Disconnect in Housing

Based on written and oral testimony about the Home in Tacoma project, I conclude that there is an overall generational disconnect between people who bought a home in the housing market 25 or 30 years ago and those who are trying to find a place to live today in the

on transit and housing

housing Featured

on transit and housing

For Tacoma to continue to be a welcoming city to people who make less than the regional median income, we must plan to build more housing in such a way that people will be able to afford it, regardless of their income level or family size.

trees versus views

trees versus views

Does a tree growing nearby "damage" a home's value by obstructing a view? Would regulating that "damage" constitute a well-defined public purpose?

one man data band

one man data band

In my nearly 15 years of working with data I have had one tool that has been there to support me like no other - the R programming language along with the RStudio IDE.