Jess Sheehan
@jfsheehan.bsky.social
Roslindale to Cambridge. I'll probably talk most about local politics and housing policy. Also into space stuff. Very bad Learned League player.
Given the authoritarian propensity for paranoia, this actually might be doable
Convince ICE that ICE itself is full of illegal immigrants and get them to raid their own headquarters.
February 19, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Given the authoritarian propensity for paranoia, this actually might be doable
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
“Right now we settle for managing problems instead of solving them.”
🚨Massachusetts most effective pro-housing local official is running to become Massachusetts most effective pro-housing state official.
Burhan Azeem for State Senate!
🚨Massachusetts most effective pro-housing local official is running to become Massachusetts most effective pro-housing state official.
Burhan Azeem for State Senate!
I want to believe (and want you to believe) a better Massachusetts is possible so we're running for State Senate!
Join us next Wednesday February 25th 6pm at the Armory as we kick this election off!
February 18, 2026 at 1:04 PM
“Right now we settle for managing problems instead of solving them.”
🚨Massachusetts most effective pro-housing local official is running to become Massachusetts most effective pro-housing state official.
Burhan Azeem for State Senate!
🚨Massachusetts most effective pro-housing local official is running to become Massachusetts most effective pro-housing state official.
Burhan Azeem for State Senate!
New local paper! Run by Marc Levy, formerly of Cambridge Day.
Marc Levy launches the Cambridge/Somerville Independent (csindie.com).
February 17, 2026 at 8:33 PM
New local paper! Run by Marc Levy, formerly of Cambridge Day.
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
Screaming in Boston
San Diego rents fall 5.5%—proof that building housing works.
Add 6,000 apartments, prices drop.
This eases pressure on voucher programs, helps low-income renters, makes the city more accessible.
Want sustained affordability? Keep building.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/02/04/r...
Add 6,000 apartments, prices drop.
This eases pressure on voucher programs, helps low-income renters, makes the city more accessible.
Want sustained affordability? Keep building.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/02/04/r...
‘Rental market is largely frozen’: San Diego rent prices fall in national rankings
National rents are down 2% annually but Zumper said Southern California is seeing more of a slowdown because of increased supply.
www.sandiegouniontribune.com
February 13, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Screaming in Boston
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
Most housing policy has focused on zoning reform. Less attention has been paid to building codes. Allowing single-stair design could unlock more housing overall, including more missing middle housing types that fit comfortably within existing neighborhoods.
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/12/b...
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/12/b...
Maura Healey unveiled her latest plan to tackle Massachusetts’ housing crisis: Fewer staircases - The Boston Globe
Fire codes have long required two staircases in mid-rise apartment buildings. But advocates worry that drives up construction costs. So the state will study doing away with one.
www.bostonglobe.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Most housing policy has focused on zoning reform. Less attention has been paid to building codes. Allowing single-stair design could unlock more housing overall, including more missing middle housing types that fit comfortably within existing neighborhoods.
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/12/b...
www.bostonglobe.com/2026/02/12/b...
Conversely, this is a huge opportunity for MA progressives who want to establish real credibility on the issue of housing affordability. It's one of the most important issues to MA voters, and support for pro-housing policies is growing on the left (see: Mamdani.)
Show us you're serious!
Show us you're serious!
February 11, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Conversely, this is a huge opportunity for MA progressives who want to establish real credibility on the issue of housing affordability. It's one of the most important issues to MA voters, and support for pro-housing policies is growing on the left (see: Mamdani.)
Show us you're serious!
Show us you're serious!
The rent control ballot question is bad policy, and several progressive electeds who publicly support it *know* it's bad policy and have said as much in private.
They're under a lot of pressure to support it despite their misgivings about the merits. 1/2
They're under a lot of pressure to support it despite their misgivings about the merits. 1/2
February 11, 2026 at 7:47 PM
The rent control ballot question is bad policy, and several progressive electeds who publicly support it *know* it's bad policy and have said as much in private.
They're under a lot of pressure to support it despite their misgivings about the merits. 1/2
They're under a lot of pressure to support it despite their misgivings about the merits. 1/2
This is a good idea. There is no longer any justification for the city to be on X, and many reasons for it to leave.
Give people a heads up, some time to figure out which alternatives they like best for getting official city info. Not everyone will move here and that's fine. But yes, leave.
Give people a heads up, some time to figure out which alternatives they like best for getting official city info. Not everyone will move here and that's fine. But yes, leave.
I am interested in hearing from people, especially constituents, about your experiences on X, and whether you would support a move to officially take the City of Cambridge off of that platform. My DMs are open!
Without meaningful pushback from regulators and users, Grok’s example risks setting a permissive precedent—signaling to other nudification apps and platform companies that AI-generated NCII can be treated as funny, harmless, or otherwise tolerable, writes Kaylee Williams.
February 9, 2026 at 9:24 PM
This is a good idea. There is no longer any justification for the city to be on X, and many reasons for it to leave.
Give people a heads up, some time to figure out which alternatives they like best for getting official city info. Not everyone will move here and that's fine. But yes, leave.
Give people a heads up, some time to figure out which alternatives they like best for getting official city info. Not everyone will move here and that's fine. But yes, leave.
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
Time for @massgovernor.bsky.social to terminate the contract.
"In fact, Massachusetts is the only state that voted against Donald Trump in 2024 where a state agency is contracting with the 287(g) program."
#mapoli
boltsmag.org/massachusett...
#mapoli
boltsmag.org/massachusett...
Inside ICE’s Only Contract with a Blue State - Bolts
As part of a 287(g) contract between state officials and ICE, Massachusetts continues to release prisoners into deportation—even as state lawmakers look to ban other forms of ICE collaboration.
boltsmag.org
February 9, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Time for @massgovernor.bsky.social to terminate the contract.
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
GM: Charisma check.
Mamdani: [rolls natural 20]
GM: that’s a d6 how did you
Mamdani: [direct to camera] Did you know you can check out board games at your local public library? 😊
Mamdani: [rolls natural 20]
GM: that’s a d6 how did you
Mamdani: [direct to camera] Did you know you can check out board games at your local public library? 😊
February 7, 2026 at 5:01 AM
GM: Charisma check.
Mamdani: [rolls natural 20]
GM: that’s a d6 how did you
Mamdani: [direct to camera] Did you know you can check out board games at your local public library? 😊
Mamdani: [rolls natural 20]
GM: that’s a d6 how did you
Mamdani: [direct to camera] Did you know you can check out board games at your local public library? 😊
Neither adopting nor rejecting, but a secret, third thing.
I've not gone back and watched the 2024 vote and I don't offer it or its language as a model.
My underlying point is that if the Council wants to Adopt Goals, it should take a vote to Adopt Goals.
Having things happen "automagically" when something is placed on file is goofy and hides the ball.
My underlying point is that if the Council wants to Adopt Goals, it should take a vote to Adopt Goals.
Having things happen "automagically" when something is placed on file is goofy and hides the ball.
February 6, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Neither adopting nor rejecting, but a secret, third thing.
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
This is huge.
Massachusetts is home to tens of thousands of hardworking Haitian TPS recipients who enrich the culture of our state, contribute to our economy, and help ensure we meet the needs of elders and patients in our health care and elder care industries - this victory belongs to them.
Massachusetts is home to tens of thousands of hardworking Haitian TPS recipients who enrich the culture of our state, contribute to our economy, and help ensure we meet the needs of elders and patients in our health care and elder care industries - this victory belongs to them.
BREAKING: Judge Ana Reyes, in DC, issues a stay of DHS Sec. Noem’s decision to end Haiti’s temporary protected status (TPS) designation, a decision that was to go into effect on Tuesday and could have ended legal status for up to 350,000 people overnight. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
February 3, 2026 at 1:00 AM
This is huge.
Massachusetts is home to tens of thousands of hardworking Haitian TPS recipients who enrich the culture of our state, contribute to our economy, and help ensure we meet the needs of elders and patients in our health care and elder care industries - this victory belongs to them.
Massachusetts is home to tens of thousands of hardworking Haitian TPS recipients who enrich the culture of our state, contribute to our economy, and help ensure we meet the needs of elders and patients in our health care and elder care industries - this victory belongs to them.
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
A kind soul just dropped off a bunch of free whistles with LUCE's phone number. In Cambridge, at the registers.
January 31, 2026 at 7:01 PM
A kind soul just dropped off a bunch of free whistles with LUCE's phone number. In Cambridge, at the registers.
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
No one asked — but if you have premium transit (American version thereof) in your town, you have something that’s very scarce.
If you don’t allow growth around it, you are hoarding that scarce asset.
If you can’t minimally comply with the super-permissive MBTA Communities reqs, you should be sued.
If you don’t allow growth around it, you are hoarding that scarce asset.
If you can’t minimally comply with the super-permissive MBTA Communities reqs, you should be sued.
Massachusetts is in a housing crisis – every community in the state has a responsibility to step up and do their part.
The courts have been clear: compliance with the MBTA Communities Law is mandatory. My office will assist any town working to come into compliance.
The courts have been clear: compliance with the MBTA Communities Law is mandatory. My office will assist any town working to come into compliance.
January 29, 2026 at 5:21 PM
No one asked — but if you have premium transit (American version thereof) in your town, you have something that’s very scarce.
If you don’t allow growth around it, you are hoarding that scarce asset.
If you can’t minimally comply with the super-permissive MBTA Communities reqs, you should be sued.
If you don’t allow growth around it, you are hoarding that scarce asset.
If you can’t minimally comply with the super-permissive MBTA Communities reqs, you should be sued.
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
The people of Minnesota have executed one of the most impressive civil resistance campaigns I can remember:
- Organized a city wide general strike
- Maintained nonviolent discipline amidst violence
- Mobilized 10,000s in subzero temps to protest and watch ICE
- Flipped public opinion against ICE
- Organized a city wide general strike
- Maintained nonviolent discipline amidst violence
- Mobilized 10,000s in subzero temps to protest and watch ICE
- Flipped public opinion against ICE
January 26, 2026 at 4:17 PM
The people of Minnesota have executed one of the most impressive civil resistance campaigns I can remember:
- Organized a city wide general strike
- Maintained nonviolent discipline amidst violence
- Mobilized 10,000s in subzero temps to protest and watch ICE
- Flipped public opinion against ICE
- Organized a city wide general strike
- Maintained nonviolent discipline amidst violence
- Mobilized 10,000s in subzero temps to protest and watch ICE
- Flipped public opinion against ICE
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
no matter what else is happening, if feasible, please share photos of your dogs playing in the snow tomorrow
January 25, 2026 at 4:29 AM
no matter what else is happening, if feasible, please share photos of your dogs playing in the snow tomorrow
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
I hope every blue city mayor is paying close attention to how this shakes out & developing concrete plans to ensure ICE can’t muscle its way into investigating itself when they kill people in that jurisdiction
BREAKING: The Tribune confirmed on Instagram that the man shot has died, according to two sources with knowledge of the incident.
ICE attempted to order local police from the scene, but Chief Brian O'Hara refused, sources also told the Tribune. O'Hara instructed his officers to preserve the scene.
ICE attempted to order local police from the scene, but Chief Brian O'Hara refused, sources also told the Tribune. O'Hara instructed his officers to preserve the scene.
Man shot by federal agent in south Minneapolis www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...
January 24, 2026 at 4:52 PM
I hope every blue city mayor is paying close attention to how this shakes out & developing concrete plans to ensure ICE can’t muscle its way into investigating itself when they kill people in that jurisdiction
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
it’s really easy to be cynical about this stuff, particularly when you’re watching it one 300 character post at a time from halfway across the country, but what i am asking is that maybe we can lose some of the cynicism
January 23, 2026 at 4:42 AM
it’s really easy to be cynical about this stuff, particularly when you’re watching it one 300 character post at a time from halfway across the country, but what i am asking is that maybe we can lose some of the cynicism
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
i am generally a little eye rolly about “general strike” calls, because, like, this shit is a lot more complicated than just saying the words on social media, but what’s going on in minneapolis looks — at least from the outside — like a really impressive act of solidarity
January 23, 2026 at 4:39 AM
i am generally a little eye rolly about “general strike” calls, because, like, this shit is a lot more complicated than just saying the words on social media, but what’s going on in minneapolis looks — at least from the outside — like a really impressive act of solidarity
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
if you don’t think you can campaign on abolishing this agency and prosecuting the people involved - if you don’t think you’re able to make that case using this video and other like it - get the fuck out of politics
Minnesota: "School officials say the [5-year-old] child was used as bait. They say [ICE] agents made little Liam knock on the door to ask to be let in in order to see if anyone else was home."
January 22, 2026 at 1:17 AM
if you don’t think you can campaign on abolishing this agency and prosecuting the people involved - if you don’t think you’re able to make that case using this video and other like it - get the fuck out of politics
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
You could say this is a brief about "Abundance." But I eschew the abundance label here because I want to focus on the policy content, and not the culture war/meta-political fights that have taken over abundance discourse. YIMBYism is a more useful frame. rooseveltinstitute.org/publications...
January 21, 2026 at 3:55 PM
You could say this is a brief about "Abundance." But I eschew the abundance label here because I want to focus on the policy content, and not the culture war/meta-political fights that have taken over abundance discourse. YIMBYism is a more useful frame. rooseveltinstitute.org/publications...
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
Only 3% of land in Massachusetts allows a single-family home on a 10,000 sq ft lot or smaller.
...56% requires at least an acre (43,000 sq ft).
...56% requires at least an acre (43,000 sq ft).
January 17, 2026 at 12:23 AM
Only 3% of land in Massachusetts allows a single-family home on a 10,000 sq ft lot or smaller.
...56% requires at least an acre (43,000 sq ft).
...56% requires at least an acre (43,000 sq ft).
Was just chatting with a friend who is exposed to too much online fatalism. I mean, we all are, but not everyone has automatic exposure to counterinfluences.
One counter is just talking to people who do activism irl. Any kind of positive activism works, doesn't have to be extreme or edgy.
One counter is just talking to people who do activism irl. Any kind of positive activism works, doesn't have to be extreme or edgy.
January 15, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Was just chatting with a friend who is exposed to too much online fatalism. I mean, we all are, but not everyone has automatic exposure to counterinfluences.
One counter is just talking to people who do activism irl. Any kind of positive activism works, doesn't have to be extreme or edgy.
One counter is just talking to people who do activism irl. Any kind of positive activism works, doesn't have to be extreme or edgy.
Reposted by Jess Sheehan
If you were at HONKfest in camberville this year, and like me were blown away by the Minneapolis band… just know that they are called Brass Solidarity, and they fully embody the fact that We Will Win www.instagram.com/brasssolidar...
January 15, 2026 at 4:19 PM
If you were at HONKfest in camberville this year, and like me were blown away by the Minneapolis band… just know that they are called Brass Solidarity, and they fully embody the fact that We Will Win www.instagram.com/brasssolidar...
Boston and everywhere else inside 128 need to step it up fast.
Blue states and cities are lifeboats now for so many people. We owe it to ourselves, our neighbors, and our fellow Americans to build many more seats.
commonwealthbeacon.org/housing/bost...
Blue states and cities are lifeboats now for so many people. We owe it to ourselves, our neighbors, and our fellow Americans to build many more seats.
commonwealthbeacon.org/housing/bost...
Boston’s broken land use system blocks the homes we desperately need - CommonWealth Beacon
Rather than reflecting some sort of democratic ideal of local control, Boston’s process empowers those who already have housing to block housing for those who do not.
commonwealthbeacon.org
January 11, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Boston and everywhere else inside 128 need to step it up fast.
Blue states and cities are lifeboats now for so many people. We owe it to ourselves, our neighbors, and our fellow Americans to build many more seats.
commonwealthbeacon.org/housing/bost...
Blue states and cities are lifeboats now for so many people. We owe it to ourselves, our neighbors, and our fellow Americans to build many more seats.
commonwealthbeacon.org/housing/bost...