Pinned
CJ Fenton
@cjfenton.bsky.social
· Jan 12
So hi, if you just got followed, you were either on a starter pack or I recognized you from the Twitter account I deactivated three years ago.
👀
December 10, 2025 at 3:12 AM
👀
The big question is what will the post-Johnson left look like in this city?
It’s hard to explain the massive damage the Brandon Johnson administration has done to Chicago’s left wing coalition of organizers but this is a really good starting point.
Well that’s easy: all of the conspiracists and right wing wackos are right, UWF is primarily a front for CTU and SEIU and now that they got what they wanted/are at each others’ throats they’ve decided that even pretending to do what their mission is isn’t worth it
December 7, 2025 at 1:15 AM
The big question is what will the post-Johnson left look like in this city?
I've actually seen some local teachers arguing that classroom tech is necessary so that kids know how to use iPads for state tests, and no, that is not, in fact true.
This was just sent to me by an LAUSD parent. A 4th grader was assigned to design a book cover for Pippi Longstocking using Adobe for Education. Here is what the AI tool generated:
December 6, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I've actually seen some local teachers arguing that classroom tech is necessary so that kids know how to use iPads for state tests, and no, that is not, in fact true.
For all the lamenting about the lack of plowed sidewalks, it’s REALLY bad in the suburbs today.
December 3, 2025 at 5:25 PM
For all the lamenting about the lack of plowed sidewalks, it’s REALLY bad in the suburbs today.
I don’t know how to break this to people outside Chicago, but Johnson has a sub-20% approval rating and helped start a completely unnecessary feud between the Teachers Union and the SEIU.
If you want to unite the working class, you might want to look elsewhere…
If you want to unite the working class, you might want to look elsewhere…
October 20, 2025 at 6:04 PM
I don’t know how to break this to people outside Chicago, but Johnson has a sub-20% approval rating and helped start a completely unnecessary feud between the Teachers Union and the SEIU.
If you want to unite the working class, you might want to look elsewhere…
If you want to unite the working class, you might want to look elsewhere…
I keep thinking of how much I missed The Freeze every time I see that ad.
the thing about the vanilla pro ad is that everyone likes ice cream cones and a world where everyone is carrying a vanilla ice cream cone is super pleasant
October 13, 2025 at 3:18 PM
I keep thinking of how much I missed The Freeze every time I see that ad.
Absolutely shameless.
Eleven of 21 CPS board members sent a letter to the interim CEO, saying a pension payment and loan must be in this year’s budget. They were not in the CEO’s budget released Wednesday.
CPS board rebuffs budget plan from school district leaders
Eleven of 21 board members sent a letter to the interim CEO, saying a pension payment and loan must be in this year’s budget. They were not in the CEO’s budget released Wednesday.
buff.ly
August 14, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Absolutely shameless.
Ok, but that’s not unique to Meta though…
Google is the worst offender here.
Google is the worst offender here.
metaverse was the biggest flop in modern tech history, and the clumsy AI in Instagram and Facebook feels utterly pointless and duct-taped to the side of the product, offering nothing that's actually useful or interesting or improves anything
but no matter!
but no matter!
July 8, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Ok, but that’s not unique to Meta though…
Google is the worst offender here.
Google is the worst offender here.
This is the way.
Anyway I encourage everybody to be cringe as fuck, it's cleansing
June 14, 2025 at 9:17 PM
This is the way.
Cubs at home, Pope thing at Sox Park, massive protest, Puerto Rican fest, soccer double header…
Extremely good vibes out today.
June 14, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Cubs at home, Pope thing at Sox Park, massive protest, Puerto Rican fest, soccer double header…
Extremely good vibes out today.
June 14, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Extremely good vibes out today.
I know the solutions and causes are certainly up for debate, but I’m glad we’re at least finally putting the spotlight on this issue. The closure moratoriums have had their own consequences.
Dwindling enrollment has left about 150 Chicago schools half-empty, while 47 operate at less than 1/3 capacity. One city school is down to only 28 students.
New, @propublica.org @chalkbeat.org @jsmithrichards.bsky.social & Mila Koumpilova:
New, @propublica.org @chalkbeat.org @jsmithrichards.bsky.social & Mila Koumpilova:
100 Students in a School Meant for 1,000: Inside Chicago’s Refusal to Deal With Its Nearly Empty Schools
Declining school enrollment has left 30% of Chicago public schools at least half-empty. The city’s failure to address this problem has come at a high cost to the district — and its students.
www.propublica.org
June 14, 2025 at 1:59 PM
I know the solutions and causes are certainly up for debate, but I’m glad we’re at least finally putting the spotlight on this issue. The closure moratoriums have had their own consequences.
How is it possible that our “educator” mayor’s board couldn’t find a leader who wasn’t drowning in controversy?
Chicago Board of Education chooses City Hall advisor and former principal as interim CEO
https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/06/11/cps-school-board-picks-interim-ceo/
https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/06/11/cps-school-board-picks-interim-ceo/
Chicago Public Schools has a new CEO, for now: City Hall advisor and former principal Macquline King
In a close vote, the school board voted to appoint King, despite concerns by some board members over her record.
www.chalkbeat.org
June 12, 2025 at 2:15 AM
How is it possible that our “educator” mayor’s board couldn’t find a leader who wasn’t drowning in controversy?
Ironically enough, having children was a major point of de-radicalization for me.
The rise of doomers, preppers, and antinatalists on the Left reveals something deeper than the hollow posture of rebellion: a collapse of belief in tomorrow.
A Left that chants “No future” isn’t just demoralized — it’s unserious, misanthropic, and bound to lose.
A Left that chants “No future” isn’t just demoralized — it’s unserious, misanthropic, and bound to lose.
The Fatal Flaws of the Futureless Left
The rise of doomers, preppers, and antinatalists on the Left reveals something deeper than the hollow posture of rebellion: a collapse of belief in tomorrow. A Left that chants “No future” isn’t just demoralized — it’s unserious, misanthropic, and bound to lose.
jacobin.com
June 8, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Ironically enough, having children was a major point of de-radicalization for me.
Brandon Johnson, a man who was hand-picked by Davis-Gates and CTU, has had full control of the school board for the last two years and failed to acquire money for the district.
Sorry, but this is on you. Take some accountability.
Sorry, but this is on you. Take some accountability.
The Chicago Teachers Union is threatening to sue the Chicago Board of Education over budget plans proposed by outgoing schools chief Pedro Martinez that it says constitute unfair labor practices and violations of the recently ratified contract.
CTU threatens to sue over proposed CPS budget cuts
The Chicago Teachers Union is threatening to sue the Chicago Board of Education over budget plans it says constitute unfair labor practices and violations of the new teachers’ contract.
www.chicagotribune.com
June 4, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Brandon Johnson, a man who was hand-picked by Davis-Gates and CTU, has had full control of the school board for the last two years and failed to acquire money for the district.
Sorry, but this is on you. Take some accountability.
Sorry, but this is on you. Take some accountability.
Well, SOME good news came out of the legislative session…
With lawmakers scrambling to pass a state budget and agonizing over the future of mass transit, the Bears’ team of lobbyists was left on the Capitol sideline in their push for a bill that would potentially pave the way to a dome in Arlington Heights. www.wbez.org/politics/202...
Bears blocked from stadium help again as legislative clock runs out
Three bills surfaced in the Illinois General Assembly that could’ve thrown the team a block in their rush to the former Arlington International Racecourse, but none made headway by the time lawmakers ...
www.wbez.org
June 2, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Well, SOME good news came out of the legislative session…
And this is why I never got into prediction markets.
Picking Underwood, FWIW.
May 27, 2025 at 7:48 PM
And this is why I never got into prediction markets.
This is really cool.
Meet Chicago Public Schools’ only competitive bass fishing team: blockclubchi.co/3HbND2h
May 27, 2025 at 7:46 PM
This is really cool.
This seems like the stupidest possible solution to the problem at hand.
That said, these “trends” keep resulting in teenagers getting shot so just pretending it’s just “kids hanging out” isn’t helpful.
That said, these “trends” keep resulting in teenagers getting shot so just pretending it’s just “kids hanging out” isn’t helpful.
In a 10-7 vote this afternoon, the “snap curfew ordinance” passed out of committee.
The Chicago City Council is set to vote on it tomorrow.
The Chicago City Council is set to vote on it tomorrow.
The Chicago City Council’s Committee on Public Safety is meeting right now.
Here’s the link to watch: www.chicityclerk.com/committee-pu...
Here’s the link to watch: www.chicityclerk.com/committee-pu...
May 22, 2025 at 1:03 AM
This seems like the stupidest possible solution to the problem at hand.
That said, these “trends” keep resulting in teenagers getting shot so just pretending it’s just “kids hanging out” isn’t helpful.
That said, these “trends” keep resulting in teenagers getting shot so just pretending it’s just “kids hanging out” isn’t helpful.
Going out of your way to have right wing business practices when your customers are residents of Logan Square is certainly a choice…
my sister is the worker who was fired for wearing a mask to protect my immunocompromised fiancé. i went to mikos to confront the owner directly after and he told me mikos “did the whole mask thing; we’re done with that” and that masks were “disguises”
v different than his comments here! hmmm 🤔
v different than his comments here! hmmm 🤔
Miko’s Italian Ice is facing backlash after a worker says she was fired for masking. blockclubchi.co/3FhwDa0
May 18, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Going out of your way to have right wing business practices when your customers are residents of Logan Square is certainly a choice…
This really feels like a political move more than something done for quality improvement.
…especially some schools seem to be headed in the right direction since the pandemic!
www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
…especially some schools seem to be headed in the right direction since the pandemic!
www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
Illinois could lower the scores students need to be considered proficient on state exams
State Superintendent Tony Sanders says that some students have been “misclassified” as not proficient even though they have done advanced coursework or enrolled in higher education.
www.chalkbeat.org
May 16, 2025 at 2:33 PM
This really feels like a political move more than something done for quality improvement.
…especially some schools seem to be headed in the right direction since the pandemic!
www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
…especially some schools seem to be headed in the right direction since the pandemic!
www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025...
The extent to which you need administrative skills to navigate Chicago Public Schools is one on my least favorite things about parenting in this city.
May 4, 2025 at 1:02 PM
The extent to which you need administrative skills to navigate Chicago Public Schools is one on my least favorite things about parenting in this city.
(sigh…)
Chicago Public Schools floats hundreds of layoffs as one option to close $529 million budget gap
https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/04/25/cps-faces-529-million-budget-deficit/
https://www.chalkbeat.org/chicago/2025/04/25/cps-faces-529-million-budget-deficit/
Are layoffs ahead for Chicago Public Schools?
In an internal presentation, district officials outlined potential layoffs as a way to close the budget gap.
www.chalkbeat.org
April 27, 2025 at 1:28 AM
(sigh…)
Picking Underwood, FWIW.
April 24, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Picking Underwood, FWIW.