Bill Pitkin
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Bill Pitkin
@billpitkin.net
Just trying to do my part. I root for underdogs.
Pinned
Nothing but blue sky in Topanga, CA today
Woodland Hills, CA 6.14:25
June 15, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Reposted by Bill Pitkin
How can local #leaders advance long-term social mobility and #economic prosperity in their #communities?

A new Toolkit for Increasing Upward Mobility in Your Community from the Urban Institute offers pathways for creating real, community-driven change to increase upward mobility.
Toolkit for Increasing Upward Mobility in Your Community
upward-mobility.urban.org
April 29, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Excited to share the @urbaninstitute.bsky.social toolkit our team built to support local leaders working to advance upward mobility. It includes practical tools and examples for local leaders and is live now: upward-mobility.urban.org/toolkit-incr...
Toolkit for Increasing Upward Mobility in Your Community
upward-mobility.urban.org
April 29, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Reposted by Bill Pitkin
ICE Agents Wait At Edge Of Delivery Table To Deport Newborn
April 28, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Reposted by Bill Pitkin
In recognition of Black History Month, Urban experts used the Upward Mobility Data Dashboard to understand changes in Black homeownership and housing wealth at the county level. A new Urban Wire post shares some of these valuable data insights.
Black Housing Wealth Varies across Local Markets, Despite Recent Improvement in the Black Homeownership Rate Nationally
By identifying notable county-level shifts in the gap between Black households’ share of all households and their share of total home values in recent years, this analysis offers valuable insights for...
www.urban.org
February 26, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Do the math. We have a huge housing shortage and demand for construction workers, a quarter of whom are immigrants.

www.urban.org/urban-wire/m...
Mass Deportations Would Worsen Our Housing Crisis
Mass deportations would reduce the construction labor force, which is highly dependent on immigrant workers, exacerbating the US housing crisis—but some states are more at risk than others.
www.urban.org
February 25, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Have you used the Upward Mobility Data Dashboard to explore insights into the key conditions affecting upward mobility across the US? If so, we’d love your feedback!

Please take a few minutes to complete a brief survey: urban.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
February 20, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Eliminating the Dept of Education could seriously hamper protections and funding for disabled children to get a free, appropriate education, according to Urban colleagues @alexis-weaver.bsky.social @sjpopkin.bsky.social and Dana Ferrante

www.urban.org/urban-wire/h...
How Dismantling the Education Department Could Affect Disabled Students Across the US
Though states and local governments are primarily responsible for K–12 education, the US Department of Education is critical to ensuring disabled children in every community have access to a free, appropriate public education.
www.urban.org
February 19, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Reposted by Bill Pitkin
The National Park Service has removed "T" and all mention of transgender people from the Stonewall National Monument.

Trans women were some of the most influential activists behind the Stonewall movement and what followed.

3 articles of clothing laws were why raids happened.

Erasure.
February 13, 2025 at 10:37 PM
A warning from a self-described "self-respecting conservative"

www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
February 14, 2025 at 1:12 PM
“What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly.” - Pope Francis

nymag.com/intelligence...
Pope Informs J.D. Vance He’s Wrong About Migrants, Christianity
The Catholic VP offered a theological defense of his “America First” immigration policies. Pope Francis had some notes.
nymag.com
February 12, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Reposted by Bill Pitkin
Millions rely on Treasury payments for Social Security, veterans’ benefits, and public services. DOGE’s access to these systems raises risks of delays, security breaches, and political interference. Here’s what you need to know: www.cbpp.org/research/fed...
“DOGE” Access to Treasury Payment Systems Raises Serious Risks | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
This primer explains what the Bureau of the Fiscal Service does, how it has traditionally been managed by career civil servants, and the risks posed by tampering with the system.
www.cbpp.org
February 11, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Bill Pitkin
Turner will try to privatize Fannie/Freddie. Privatizing GSEs will give the upside of massive mortgage market to private shareholders & leave downside to taxpayers. It will also unleash massive predatory financial practices, especially with eviscerated CFPB.

For more: prospect.org/special-repo...
Exclusive | Fannie, Freddie Privatization, Cost-Cutting and New Name Are Priorities for HUD Chief
Scott Turner says he plans to quickly launch a review to root out inefficiencies at the agency.
www.wsj.com
February 6, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Reposted by Bill Pitkin
in less than eight years the NCAA went from banning North Carolina from hosting championships due to its bathroom bill to... this.
Statement from NCAA president Charlie Baker on Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports.

Says the NCAA will move quickly to align with the EO.
February 5, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Reposted by Bill Pitkin
📢 Exciting news as my first Bluesky post! New Local Data for Equitable Communities CFP from @rwjf.bsky.social and @urbaninstitute.bsky.social for #nonprofits using data to advance #equity in the physical, economic and social conditions that affect health. Learn more at urbn.is/localdatagrant
February 4, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Reposted by Bill Pitkin
Federal judge issues restraining order blocking federal spending freeze www.npr.org/2025/02/03/n...
Federal judge issues restraining order blocking federal spending freeze
The order came in response to a memo released by the Office of Management and Budget last week directing agencies to freeze funding for federal grants and other programs.
www.npr.org
February 4, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Reposted by Bill Pitkin
Black Lives Matter fundamentally broke these people’s brains. They couldn’t bear the idea that they might have to tell a different story about this country and thus tell a different story about themselves. They hated it, and now they are using everything they have to never feel that way again.
January 30, 2025 at 9:14 PM
I'm honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. today by reading and reflecting on his "Letter from Birmingham Jail," written over 60 years ago but more relevant than ever.

Key excerpt below and full text available at:
shorturl.at/gnKLS
January 20, 2025 at 4:29 PM
My heart aches for the thousands of people who've lost homes and businesses and the millions more who will continue to be affected by these wildfires for years to come. I've lived through a number of these in my 30 years in LA but this could be the most damaging.
www.latimes.com/homeless-hou...
January 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Smoke yesterday over Topanga/Malibu from #PalisadesFire. So much destruction already here and in other areas that are burning. We are safe, but hoping the winds die down soon.
January 8, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Jimmy Carter's 1979 "crisis of confidence" speech to the nation was much maligned but of course contained many prescient insights.
December 31, 2024 at 2:50 PM