Image by the author.

The Nats won the World Series! WAAHOOOOOOO! And now, ever on-watch for the urbanist angle to a story, GGWash is here to shamelessly embed all of the mocking tweets the DC Council’s Twitter account posted about Houston’s zoning during the World Series.

Houston, for those not in on the joke, is the largest American city without traditional zoning. It’s generally legal there to build a skyscraper much closer to low-density houses than in other US cities. And while it’s true that zoning has serious downsides, and that Houston has other regulations that often work in similar ways, it’s also true that this is great policy wonk joke fodder.

So here you go, beginning with this first tweet from the night the Astros beat the Yankees in the final game of the ALCS:

So, it’s going to be our @Nationals and the Houston @astros in the #WorldSeries. For those of us in the local government world, this means:#STAYINTHEFIGHT…for zoning! pic.twitter.com/gtS7l7SN3Y — Council of DC (@councilofdc) October 20, 2019

Not everyone thinks that’s a fight worth staying in. But this is no time for debate. This is a time for puns.

Right about now, the @astros should be getting “in the zone” for tonight’s #WorldSeries game. Sadly, in Houston, there are no zones for them to get into.

Go @Nationals! #FINISHTHEFIGHT

(h/t to @HoustonChron for the great pix) pic.twitter.com/UU4uNpzBY9 — Council of DC (@councilofdc) October 22, 2019

Whoever runs the council twitter account liked that one so much they posted it twice.

And then, for a few unfortunate days, they put a moratorium on the zoning jokes. And the Nats lost three straight games. Finally as the World Series was set to return to Houston, @CouncilOfDC owned up to it having caused the Nationals’ setback, and brought back the puns.

Well, sorry, but it looks like it’s back to the zoning jokes. We did zoning jokes before Games 1 & 2 & we won. No zoning jokes since, no wins since. We’re trying to remain semi-detached, but it’s time to re-zone our @Nationals coverage. Houston can’t be in the zone without zoning pic.twitter.com/MsPHh0q9OS — Council of DC (@councilofdc) October 28, 2019

By the 29th they had to stretch for a pair of ancillary puns.

Houston famously has no zoning. Well, guess what, it’s time for our @Nationals to come in and plug that hole in the no-zone layer! (Municipal sports cheerleading Twitter is a fraught niche, but since the past zoning jokes helped, so be it!) #worldseries #FINISHTHEFIGHT https://t.co/0gGwH2ccQZ pic.twitter.com/synMj4ma5l — Council of DC (@councilofdc) October 29, 2019

Houston has no zoning. DC does. So, in principle, the @nationals should be able to control the strike zone. And make the outfield a no-fly zone.

Why did I go all in on zoning jokes? I am so in the weeds with zoning jokes! pic.twitter.com/mnjjSbV9MS — Council of DC (@councilofdc) October 29, 2019

After exacting a win in Game 6, they were all-in for Game 7.

May the best team win:

- DC. Zoning. Our city’s historic map IS a baseball diamond! (@treavturner very legally ran the SE border of the map last night)

- Houston. No zoning. See the no-zoning mullet below? (Business in the front & party in the back)

Go @Nationals! #FINISHTHEFIGHT pic.twitter.com/M0O3bgWz5h — Council of DC (@councilofdc) October 30, 2019

And it worked! The proof is in the PUDding!

In the face of adversity, our @Nationals stayed

In.

The.

Zone.



[Farewell, zoning jokes. Your work here is done.] https://t.co/PSausZo4Ey — Council of DC (@councilofdc) October 31, 2019

Thanks @CouncilOfDC, and thanks to the Washington Nationals!