Reposted by James Cooper
"Bystanders and passersby started following the officers, chanting: 'ICE, go home!' The agents stopped at the intersection with Oak Street. Several got in vans that drove away. For another 15 minutes, the crowd of protesters around them grew bigger, yelling 'shame,'" reports @chicagotribune.com
In show of force, dozens of armed federal immigration agents patrol downtown Chicago
Dozens of federal immigration agents were seen patrolling downtown Chicago Sunday afternoon.
www.chicagotribune.com
September 28, 2025 at 9:33 PM
"Bystanders and passersby started following the officers, chanting: 'ICE, go home!' The agents stopped at the intersection with Oak Street. Several got in vans that drove away. For another 15 minutes, the crowd of protesters around them grew bigger, yelling 'shame,'" reports @chicagotribune.com
Reposted by James Cooper
If you're in Illinois, good time to fill this out and ask the assembly to fund transit.
Please ask the IL General Assembly to fix and fund our transit system | Active Transportation Alliance
Illinois is standing at the edge of a transportation crisis. This past spring, lawmakers left Springfield without resolving the looming […]
activetrans.org
August 21, 2025 at 5:27 PM
If you're in Illinois, good time to fill this out and ask the assembly to fund transit.
Reposted by James Cooper
Op-ed by Ellen Steinke: "Study: Cutting $771 million from Chicagoland’s transit budget could cost Illinois’ economy $14 billion a year. Why is that even on the table?"
@chicagocta.bsky.social @ctaction.org @yonahfreemark.com @atalliance.bsky.social @betterstreetschicago.org
@chicagocta.bsky.social @ctaction.org @yonahfreemark.com @atalliance.bsky.social @betterstreetschicago.org
Study: Cutting $771 million from Chicagoland's transit budget could cost Illinois' economy $14 billion a year. Why is that even on the table? - Streetsblog Chicago
By Ellen Steinke Ellen Steinke is a Chicago-based writer focused on transit, civic engagement, and systemic reform. Last fall, the study “Impact of Transit on Mobility, Equity, and Economy in the Chic...
chi.streetsblog.org
July 21, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Op-ed by Ellen Steinke: "Study: Cutting $771 million from Chicagoland’s transit budget could cost Illinois’ economy $14 billion a year. Why is that even on the table?"
@chicagocta.bsky.social @ctaction.org @yonahfreemark.com @atalliance.bsky.social @betterstreetschicago.org
@chicagocta.bsky.social @ctaction.org @yonahfreemark.com @atalliance.bsky.social @betterstreetschicago.org
Reposted by James Cooper
🚨 HOUSING WIN 🚨
Today, the Chicago City Council eliminated costly parking mandates for all residential zones located near CTA and Metra bus and rail stations. 🥳
This important reform will lower construction costs and make it easier to build new homes across almost all of Chicago. 🏘️
Today, the Chicago City Council eliminated costly parking mandates for all residential zones located near CTA and Metra bus and rail stations. 🥳
This important reform will lower construction costs and make it easier to build new homes across almost all of Chicago. 🏘️
July 17, 2025 at 1:35 AM
🚨 HOUSING WIN 🚨
Today, the Chicago City Council eliminated costly parking mandates for all residential zones located near CTA and Metra bus and rail stations. 🥳
This important reform will lower construction costs and make it easier to build new homes across almost all of Chicago. 🏘️
Today, the Chicago City Council eliminated costly parking mandates for all residential zones located near CTA and Metra bus and rail stations. 🥳
This important reform will lower construction costs and make it easier to build new homes across almost all of Chicago. 🏘️
Reposted by James Cooper
Commentary: Chicago has a housing inventory problem, and as its costly effects price out residents, we need creative solutions.
Real estate brokers: Chicago needs to legalize citywide granny flats now
Chicago needs to legalize accessory dwelling units to help relieve the pressure on our strained housing supply.
www.chicagotribune.com
July 17, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Commentary: Chicago has a housing inventory problem, and as its costly effects price out residents, we need creative solutions.
Reposted by James Cooper
ADUs roll call in the zoning committee today (City Council will vote tomorrow)
Yes (13):
La Spata
Hall
Ramirez
Sigcho-Lopez
Fuentes
Burnett
Cruz
Conway
Quezada
Villegas
Knudsen
Clay
Lawson
No (7):
Hopkins, 2nd
Dowell, 3rd
Harris, 6th
Beale, 9th
Moore, 17th
Mosley, 21st
Reilly, 42nd
Yes (13):
La Spata
Hall
Ramirez
Sigcho-Lopez
Fuentes
Burnett
Cruz
Conway
Quezada
Villegas
Knudsen
Clay
Lawson
No (7):
Hopkins, 2nd
Dowell, 3rd
Harris, 6th
Beale, 9th
Moore, 17th
Mosley, 21st
Reilly, 42nd
July 15, 2025 at 8:36 PM
ADUs roll call in the zoning committee today (City Council will vote tomorrow)
Yes (13):
La Spata
Hall
Ramirez
Sigcho-Lopez
Fuentes
Burnett
Cruz
Conway
Quezada
Villegas
Knudsen
Clay
Lawson
No (7):
Hopkins, 2nd
Dowell, 3rd
Harris, 6th
Beale, 9th
Moore, 17th
Mosley, 21st
Reilly, 42nd
Yes (13):
La Spata
Hall
Ramirez
Sigcho-Lopez
Fuentes
Burnett
Cruz
Conway
Quezada
Villegas
Knudsen
Clay
Lawson
No (7):
Hopkins, 2nd
Dowell, 3rd
Harris, 6th
Beale, 9th
Moore, 17th
Mosley, 21st
Reilly, 42nd
Reposted by James Cooper
I need more signatures from 9th ward and 37th ward residents!
the results of this ADU support petition will be given to the Chicago zoning committee on Monday morning, so sign it and ask three fellow Chicagoans to sign it by Sunday night. #AccessoryDwellingUnits #BuildMoreHomes
Support ADUs citywide in Chicago
What's going on? Currently, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are only legal in five pilot areas in Chicago, which were established May 1, 2022. Since the pilot areas were established, 106 permits…
actionnetwork.org
July 14, 2025 at 2:31 AM
I need more signatures from 9th ward and 37th ward residents!
Reposted by James Cooper
and if you're a Chicagoan looking to do lower-effort ADU advocacy...then sign this petition.
actionnetwork.org/petitions/su...
actionnetwork.org/petitions/su...
Support ADUs citywide in Chicago
What's going on? Currently, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are only legal in five pilot areas in Chicago, which were established May 1, 2022. Since the pilot areas were established, 106 permits tota...
actionnetwork.org
July 8, 2025 at 3:46 AM
and if you're a Chicagoan looking to do lower-effort ADU advocacy...then sign this petition.
actionnetwork.org/petitions/su...
actionnetwork.org/petitions/su...
Reposted by James Cooper
Join 1,490 other Chicagoans who have signed this petition to re-legalize coach houses in the city.
They already exist everywhere, but we banned them. Time to retvrn.
They already exist everywhere, but we banned them. Time to retvrn.
and if you're a Chicagoan looking to do lower-effort ADU advocacy...then sign this petition.
actionnetwork.org/petitions/su...
actionnetwork.org/petitions/su...
Support ADUs citywide in Chicago
What's going on? Currently, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are only legal in five pilot areas in Chicago, which were established May 1, 2022. Since the pilot areas were established, 106 permits tota...
actionnetwork.org
July 8, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Join 1,490 other Chicagoans who have signed this petition to re-legalize coach houses in the city.
They already exist everywhere, but we banned them. Time to retvrn.
They already exist everywhere, but we banned them. Time to retvrn.
Reposted by James Cooper
Re: the Ran/Mich intersection, here's a previous discussion of one of many things that are wrong: There's no crosswalk on the S. leg, so you have to make 3 crossings to get between the cultural center and Millennium Park.
chi.streetsblog.org/2014/12/10/c... @betterstreetschicago.org @stevevance.net
chi.streetsblog.org/2014/12/10/c... @betterstreetschicago.org @stevevance.net
May 29, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Re: the Ran/Mich intersection, here's a previous discussion of one of many things that are wrong: There's no crosswalk on the S. leg, so you have to make 3 crossings to get between the cultural center and Millennium Park.
chi.streetsblog.org/2014/12/10/c... @betterstreetschicago.org @stevevance.net
chi.streetsblog.org/2014/12/10/c... @betterstreetschicago.org @stevevance.net
Reposted by James Cooper
Chinese HSR does Beijing-Shanghai – which is about the distance as NYC-Atlanta – in just over four hours, and gets six times the ridership of airlines. $1.8 billion in net profit last year. scmp.com/economy/chin...
‘More convenient’: why China’s travellers are ditching planes for bullet trains
More passengers on busy Beijing-Shanghai route are choosing high-speed rail, which offers flexibility, comfort and stable internet access.
scmp.com
May 25, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Chinese HSR does Beijing-Shanghai – which is about the distance as NYC-Atlanta – in just over four hours, and gets six times the ridership of airlines. $1.8 billion in net profit last year. scmp.com/economy/chin...
Reposted by James Cooper
Unironically they should buy up the domains for about 60 defunct local newspapers in swing states. Hire two reporters to write almost exclusively about highschool sports and new restaurants opening with every 10th article about how the local GOP is screwing over people.
NEWS:
Democratic mega-donors are debating plans to spend tens of millions of dollars on a range of influencer plans to "find the liberal Rogan."
We've got pitch decks, investor meetings, and internal docs.
One Democrat has a spreadsheet of 26 different proposals.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/20/u...
Democratic mega-donors are debating plans to spend tens of millions of dollars on a range of influencer plans to "find the liberal Rogan."
We've got pitch decks, investor meetings, and internal docs.
One Democrat has a spreadsheet of 26 different proposals.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/20/u...
Democrats Throw Money at a Problem: Countering G.O.P. Clout Online
www.nytimes.com
May 21, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Unironically they should buy up the domains for about 60 defunct local newspapers in swing states. Hire two reporters to write almost exclusively about highschool sports and new restaurants opening with every 10th article about how the local GOP is screwing over people.
Reposted by James Cooper
Half of business owners on this Toronto street estimated that more than 25% of their customers arrived by car.
In fact, it was 4%.
And the % of customers who who walked or cycled? 72%.
Retailers routinely overestimate the # of “car customers.” Via @carltonreid.com www.forbes.com/sites/carlto...
In fact, it was 4%.
And the % of customers who who walked or cycled? 72%.
Retailers routinely overestimate the # of “car customers.” Via @carltonreid.com www.forbes.com/sites/carlto...
March 25, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Half of business owners on this Toronto street estimated that more than 25% of their customers arrived by car.
In fact, it was 4%.
And the % of customers who who walked or cycled? 72%.
Retailers routinely overestimate the # of “car customers.” Via @carltonreid.com www.forbes.com/sites/carlto...
In fact, it was 4%.
And the % of customers who who walked or cycled? 72%.
Retailers routinely overestimate the # of “car customers.” Via @carltonreid.com www.forbes.com/sites/carlto...
Reposted by James Cooper
Residents of small townships are filing more witness slips than we are. We need your support filling out these slips by Wednesday, March 19th @ 8am to make sure cities are held liable for poor road conditions that injure cyclists.
Proponent: HB 2454 would designate bicycles as intended users of all roads they are permitted to ride on.
Slip 1: my.ilga.gov/WitnessSlip/...
Slip 2: my.ilga.gov/Hearing/Hear...
Slip 1: my.ilga.gov/WitnessSlip/...
Slip 2: my.ilga.gov/Hearing/Hear...
Witness Slip
Dashboard for the Illinois General Assembly
my.ilga.gov
March 17, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Residents of small townships are filing more witness slips than we are. We need your support filling out these slips by Wednesday, March 19th @ 8am to make sure cities are held liable for poor road conditions that injure cyclists.
Reposted by James Cooper
It's not just fdr. One of the things the epa did not long after it was formed was document the nation's pollution via photography. That can seem frivolous, but generations of Americans have no idea why the EPA was necessary. This broke a million views when we published it in 2017
This is what America looked like before the EPA cleaned it up
A snapshot from America before the impact of the EPA and the effects of rules regulating clean water and air were felt.
www.popsci.com
February 15, 2025 at 5:10 AM
It's not just fdr. One of the things the epa did not long after it was formed was document the nation's pollution via photography. That can seem frivolous, but generations of Americans have no idea why the EPA was necessary. This broke a million views when we published it in 2017
Chicago is in a housing crisis & in dire need of tax revenue. Yet Alderman Hopkins has decided to oppose a project that would bring $2.5m/year in tax revenue, a new grocery store, and is identical in scale with its neighboring high-rises. Ald. Hopkins is an agent of our city's decline.
January 24, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Chicago is in a housing crisis & in dire need of tax revenue. Yet Alderman Hopkins has decided to oppose a project that would bring $2.5m/year in tax revenue, a new grocery store, and is identical in scale with its neighboring high-rises. Ald. Hopkins is an agent of our city's decline.
Reposted by James Cooper
After *three years* of negotiations, Alderman Brian Hopkins has killed the 500 home development proposed at North and LaSalle in Old Town.
The project would have included 💯 affordable homes in one of Chicago’s most expensive neighborhoods.
Wondering why we have a housing crisis? Look no further.
The project would have included 💯 affordable homes in one of Chicago’s most expensive neighborhoods.
Wondering why we have a housing crisis? Look no further.
January 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM
After *three years* of negotiations, Alderman Brian Hopkins has killed the 500 home development proposed at North and LaSalle in Old Town.
The project would have included 💯 affordable homes in one of Chicago’s most expensive neighborhoods.
Wondering why we have a housing crisis? Look no further.
The project would have included 💯 affordable homes in one of Chicago’s most expensive neighborhoods.
Wondering why we have a housing crisis? Look no further.
Reposted by James Cooper
Got to attend a presentation today about a Toronto-Chicago passenger rail connection through Detroit/Windsor!
Amtrak has been able to negotiate using the CPKC Detroit River Rail Tunnel once a day without affecting freight operations. (1/2)
Amtrak has been able to negotiate using the CPKC Detroit River Rail Tunnel once a day without affecting freight operations. (1/2)
January 23, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Got to attend a presentation today about a Toronto-Chicago passenger rail connection through Detroit/Windsor!
Amtrak has been able to negotiate using the CPKC Detroit River Rail Tunnel once a day without affecting freight operations. (1/2)
Amtrak has been able to negotiate using the CPKC Detroit River Rail Tunnel once a day without affecting freight operations. (1/2)
Reposted by James Cooper
The price of eggs in the US is spiking, mostly due to #H5N1 bird flu. Solving the problem requires urgent, important communications from the CDC & FDA* and rapid development of research by the NIH**
* Currently paused by Executive Order
** Grant reviews now all canceled
www.kcur.org/news/2025-01...
* Currently paused by Executive Order
** Grant reviews now all canceled
www.kcur.org/news/2025-01...
Egg prices are soaring again. Here’s why and what to expect
Bird flu has killed millions of hens in recent weeks, shrinking the supply of eggs and hiking up prices at grocery stores.
www.kcur.org
January 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
The price of eggs in the US is spiking, mostly due to #H5N1 bird flu. Solving the problem requires urgent, important communications from the CDC & FDA* and rapid development of research by the NIH**
* Currently paused by Executive Order
** Grant reviews now all canceled
www.kcur.org/news/2025-01...
* Currently paused by Executive Order
** Grant reviews now all canceled
www.kcur.org/news/2025-01...