Cassandra
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wrennifer.bsky.social
Cassandra
@wrennifer.bsky.social
68 followers 84 following 430 posts
she/her, rooted to Chicago, Strida cyclist, lover of linotype. I watch the trains go by from my living room.
carbrains blocked on sight

Chicago Urbanists Union: https://discord.gg/BDpjWA98qg
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wrennifer.bsky.social
A few.
A Chinese high speed rail map comparison between 2008 and 2024. 2008 has 4 high speed rail lines between 8 cities. 2024 has thousands of miles of high speed rail connecting hundreds of cities.
November 10, 2025 at 2:07 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
RETVRN
A very ominous photo of the Juno Parlour of the Nebraska Zephyr 225. One chair is turned towards the camera and has an embroidered hankerchief draped over the top
November 7, 2025 at 3:50 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
I think it's fake, the Flag Honors are recorded here: www.illinois.gov/about/flag-h...

and there hasn't been one since mid September. Also, the formatting is off compared to the most recent one honoring a deceased Governor. Flag lowerings don't usually start until sunrise the next day.
A screenshot of a Flag Honor bulletin stating: The Department of Central Management Services has received notice from Governor JB Pritzker that all persons or entities covered by the Illinois Flag Display Act are to fly the flags at half-staff in honor of: Governor Jim Edgar Please lower the United States flags and the State flags at all buildings occupied by your agency's personnel from: Sunrise, Monday, September 15, 2025 until the day of Governor Jim Edgar's interment More information is available at https://www.illinois.gov/about/flag-honors.html
November 6, 2025 at 4:54 AM
wrennifer.bsky.social
Engineer's Club of Chicago
A photo of the Engineer's Club of Chicago building located at 315 S Federal
November 4, 2025 at 7:13 AM
wrennifer.bsky.social
There's a pretty restrictive definition of zero-emission vehicle and an escape hatch clause that allows the Authority to continue purchasing diesel vehicles as long as no zero-emission vehicle meets the standard set by the definition.
The bill text of SB2111 as enrolled 10/31/25: "Zero-emission vehicle" means a fuel cell or electric vehicle that: (1) is a motor vehicle; (2) is made by a commercial manufacturer; (3) is manufactured primarily for use on public streets, roads, and highways; (4) has a maximum speed of at least 55 miles per hour; (5) is powered entirely by electricity or powered by combining hydrogen and oxygen, which runs the motor; (6) has an operating range of at least 100 miles; and (7) produces only water vapor and heat as byproducts. (b) The Authority may not enter a new contract to purchase a bus that is not a zero-emission bus for the purposes of a Service Board's transit bus fleet. (c) For the purposes of determining compliance with this Section, the Authority shall not be deemed to be in violation of this Section when failure to comply is due to: (1) the unavailability of zero-emission buses from a manufacturer or funding to purchase zero-emission buses; (2) the lack of necessary charging, fueling, or storage facilities or funding to procure charging, fueling, or storage facilities; or (3) the inability of a third party to enter into a contractual or commercial relationship with the Authority that is necessary to carry out the purposes of this Section.
October 31, 2025 at 7:43 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
per page 201, any tax collected under this provision will be deposited into NITA if the individual resides in the NITA service area, and the Downstate Public Transportation fund if not.
A section of SB2111's text reading: Article 3 Section 3-1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Extremely High Wealth Mark-to-Market Tax Act. References in this Article to "this Act" mean this Article.
October 29, 2025 at 3:03 AM
wrennifer.bsky.social
A photo of a tabby cat sitting in the bottom drawer of a dresser with his head poking out
October 29, 2025 at 12:22 AM
wrennifer.bsky.social
The pilot was supposed to start in 2023, but there were vendor issues with getting the cameras installed on buses. As a stopgap, 4 Dept of Finance vehicles were fitted with the cameras and have collected over $700k in fines so far.
A photo of a department of finance vehicle used for the smart street program taken at the northeastern corner of Ida B Wells and Dearborn looking west.
October 15, 2025 at 10:28 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
Spotted a little guy on one of the windowsills at City Hall
A photo of a bat curled up on the stone windowsill of Chicago City Hall. A photo of a bat curled up on the stone windowsill of Chicago City Hall.
September 28, 2025 at 10:53 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
It's cheap, it's easy, and it's free
A screenshot of the mute words menu. The muted words are "Ezra Klein" and "Klein".
September 28, 2025 at 4:03 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
The confirmed closed or closing Starbucks locations in Chicago
A list of the closed or closing Starbucks locations in Chicago. The list reads: Millenium Station - Underground State & Adams Jackson & Wells Pickup - 120 S Riverside 111 E. Chestnut Riverpoint 55th & Woodlawn - Hyde Park North & Damen Foster & Sawyer - North Park North & Clyborn - CTA Station Halsted & Monroe - Greek Town
September 26, 2025 at 3:40 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
the US if tylenol caused autism
An updated, joke version of the US HSR System map created by Alfred Twu. The lines are nonsensical in their routings and destinations, serving such fabulous destinations as Unincorporated Santa Clara County, CA, Lubbock, TX, Evanston, IL, Chestnut Hill, MA, New Brunswick, NJ, and Starkville, MS.
September 23, 2025 at 6:38 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
I think this narrative is the core of my urbanism. We've made participation in society so expensive through our urban infra choices, and those choices are self reinforcing and serve only to alienate people from the society they no longer have to interact with and now drive through.
a screenshot of a Reddit post, posted 8 hours ago to r/Vent by fourthlago titled "Working in an auto shop is heartbreaking sometimes" The post text is as follows: I can't count the amount of times I've seen grown men and women break down in tears because they can't afford to fix their cars that they rely on to live their entire lives. The economy is so bad right now and we can only discount things so much to make enough profit to keep corporate off our backs. It's sickening to see an elderly man tear up because his only income is doordash and he can't afford to fix the car he literally needs to do it, or a single mother cry because she only has $30 and an unrepairable tire. Sometimes I have to step aside and cry for them myself. I hate what this economy is doing to people.
September 18, 2025 at 5:54 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
New Divvy bikeshare station at Washington & Wabash
A photo taken on the south side of Washington, just west of Wabash. A divvy station is being installed in the foreground by two workers.
September 4, 2025 at 5:53 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
good vibes at an undisclosed location tonight
A photo of a candle backlit drink with ice and a straw on a table with the word "Showcase" written on the top
August 30, 2025 at 1:37 AM
wrennifer.bsky.social
For archival purposes
Posts by @snowball.bsky.social: Not being car dependent is cool, awesome even. I support it. Most car enthusiasts will actually *support less car dependency* because it means less wear and tear on our cars. but my god, the amount of support police state type shit like speed cameras and red light cameras is asinine. Fuck that. ACAB includes all that surveillance shit. Speed cameras & all. They don't make a thing safer, they just mame people who are poor & reliant on their car pay massive fines aimed at revenue & not safety, while rich fucks can easily afford to pay them or ignore them. Kill the cop in your heads. Car dependency is a reality we have to deal with *NOW* and no amount of screaming on the internet will make people stop driving. Driving education as it currently sits is extremely flawed and us the main reason why people drive like dipshits. Proper driving education is the key, not "ban all cars"
August 26, 2025 at 4:06 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
The sidewalk on the north side of Adams at Wells is finally being replaced. I once saw a Streets and Sanitation truck rip its tire apart on the metal wall of the curb, so it's good this is being done.

The bus stop is closed for the repairs.
A photo of the streetscape looking west at the northeast corner of Adams and Wells. There is a large piece of equipment ripping up pieces of the sidewalk. A dump truck is parked in front of the large equipment, to collect the pieces of sidewalk. A photo of the northern Adams street sidewalk taken from the southern sidewalk at Wells. A large piece of equipment is ripping up the metal wall of the curb. A dump truck is in front of the equipment, awaiting the debris from the demolition.
August 18, 2025 at 3:15 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
Clicking the PayPal donation link reveals that the EIN of the actual tax exempt org is 26-3863649, which the IRS lists under the name "Tsogyaling Meditation Center of Evanston". No 990's listed since 2016, but IRS Treas. Reg. § 301.6104(d)-1 allows anyone to demand public disclosure of filed 990s.
A Paypal giving fund page for Heartwood with the EIN 26-3863649
August 15, 2025 at 8:50 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
What my skyline's like today
An altered Onion headline that states "'Fuck the Air and Water Show,' City of Chicago Announces". Above the headline are four men, each enjoying a different variety of meat
August 14, 2025 at 4:07 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
Looks like it was a car dealership called Norm's Auto Sales before 2007 (streetview shows a Norm's Auto Service in 2007). So maybe an early car dealership? showmelocal.pasadenastarnews.com/profile.aspx...

There's a painted ad on the west wall in the 2009 streetview capture that I can't read.
A streetview screenshot of the west wall of Hello Howard parking garage in May 2009. There is paint on the brick surface that was an advertisement for something at the location, but the paint is too faded to read.
July 30, 2025 at 10:36 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
MSPaint drawing of the Spy from TF2. His mouth is completely filled with lit cigarettes. The text underneath reads "GENTLEMEN."
July 28, 2025 at 2:48 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
Upgraded Divvy docks going in at Franklin & Monroe
A photo of Franklin facing North at Monroe. Two trucks in the foreground, one with a small crane. Upgraded Divvy docks are in the street and on the back of the truck with the crane.
July 17, 2025 at 3:16 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
You can tell because the suspect was arrested alive, and that no news article says that the cop was shot by the suspect.
That person fled into a nearby apartment, Snelling said, and when officers followed inside, they were confronted by a second person armed with a rifle who pointed that weapon at police. Snelling said at some point, one officer discharged their weapon. During that encounter, police said, Rivera was shot in the chest. She was rushed to a local hospital where she died of her injuries. "This is the risk our officers take every single day," Snelling said. The initial suspect and the person who allegedly pointed the rifle at police fled on foot but were later arrested, Snelling said. A second officer sustained an injury to their wrist and was hospitalized in fair condition.
June 6, 2025 at 3:25 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
A still frame from King Kong vs Godzilla (1962), Doctor Ônuki, played by Matsumoto Someshô, is center frame with a police officer on either side of him. The subtitles say "If we're lucky, both will die."
June 6, 2025 at 1:58 PM
wrennifer.bsky.social
The epic handshake meme, with one arm labelled "street pedestrianization" and the other labelled "UBI". The handshake is labelled "just one more study bro".
April 29, 2025 at 7:46 PM