jonlink
jonlink
@jonlink.bsky.social
Somerville safe streets, climate, and social justice enthusiast. Possible artist and avid enjoyer of the arts. Also sometimes do software stuff. Somerville City Councilor At-Large. JonForSomerville.com
868 followers560 following981 posts
We should all let this company know how we feel about their partnership with ICE.
Good news everybody - rather than being chased-down by skeletal human-shaped robots, cf. #Terminator2, we will actually be chased-down by adorable dog-shaped robots ... 🤖 (Thanks to @jeremyhsu.bsky.social for the heads-up)
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I've submitted three AI related items for today's city council meeting. The first, is a resolution in in support of the Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act of 2025 which was introduced by Ed Markey and championed by the Rev Chris Hope (hopegroup.ai/team/ & thelooplab.org)
The third item is an AI ordinance. Even though I've been working on this for many months, I recognize it isn't perfect. I don't believe there's agreement on what constitutes perfect, so I'm hoping we can find "good enough." It's a far as it can get in private, now we need to discuss it in the open.
Huge appreciation to my colleagues who've co-sponsored. AI civil rights resolution: @benforward3.bsky.social @wilfredmbah.bsky.social Resolution banning AI art and job stealing: @jtforward2.bsky.social & Cllr Naima Sait AI ordinance: @councilorwheeler.bsky.social & @wilfredmbah.bsky.social
I've submitted three AI related items for today's city council meeting. The first, is a resolution in in support of the Artificial Intelligence Civil Rights Act of 2025 which was introduced by Ed Markey and championed by the Rev Chris Hope (hopegroup.ai/team/ & thelooplab.org)
The next is a resolution calling for a city policy that prohibits two things: 1. using AI to generate art for city materials; 2. using AI to replace city staff.
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Following the Wedgewood polling controversy? You might want to give this piece a read:
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Replying to @bradlander.bsky.social
For harvesting olives. They should all be released immediately. To be clear: Palestinians face far worse consequences every day. These detentions by the IDF are one more attempt to undermine Palestinians’ right to harvest their olive groves, travel on their roads, and live in their homes.
Also up: a report on AI vendor contracts the city holds, $3.1M in borrowing for the Poplar St Pump Station, info on what’s happening with the bankruptcy in Boyton Yards. register to watch: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
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Replying to @jonlink.bsky.social
🗳️ Vote Yes ~ Save Lives ✔️ Ballot referendum in Massachusetts Protect gun safety laws Yes on Question 9 Election Day is Tuesday November 3rd Early in-person voting period now through Oct 30th 🗳️ Vote Yes on 9 For a Safe Massachusetts ✔️ #VoteYesOn9 #VoteYesForaSafeMA Yes on 9 ~ 30-second ad 🔽
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Why are private equity execs flocking to Question 3? It's because they think it's a good for their bank accounts and a way to crush nascent working-class populism. I unpack it in the piece here. working-mass.com/2026/10/19/o...
This seems like it might be fun. Ride an express commuter rail from Boston to Newburyport and then bike around (optional guided ride available). Round trip is $20. www.mbta.com/destinations...
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Police “reform” in action: “The Executive Office of Public Safety hasn’t issued required reports analyzing racial profiling in traffic stops since 2024.” #Massachusetts
Somerville people and Somerville Porchfest Enjoyers. There's a brief survey out from the city asking for your input as they plan for the next one!
I'm glad that there's a prison sentence, even if it's a short one. Street safety is largely an after thought for far too many people. People driving need to understand that they cannot cause irreparable harm to families and friends without consequence.
I'm glad that there's a prison sentence, even if it's a short one. Street safety is largely an after thought for far too many people. People driving need to understand that they cannot cause irreparable harm to families and friends without consequence.
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When we talk about who has access to supposedly secure police records and surveillance databases, this is why I am so skeptical. There are so many versions of this happening. 99% of police could be doing the right thing and it’s effectively the same as if none of them are.
I KNOW YOU LYING TO ME www.wjcl.com/article/sava...
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Iit’s becoming clear to more and more people that we can’t depend on Eversource and other monopolies like it to solve the affordability crisis they’ve manufactured.
I dug into EIA data and found a growing divide between electricity prices at investor-owned utilities and public power providers. Then @michellema.bsky.social and I visited two towns that show what that divide means for customers on the ground. Read our story here! www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
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"For seven years now, DCR has been hosting public meetings for a proposed redesign of the Arborway that would improve safety."
Teen Driver Kills Father of Three In Boston’s Arborway Park @massdcr.bsky.social, which controls the Arborway, has been promising safety improvements for nearly seven years now. mass.streetsblog.org/2026/10/13/t...
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There was a large fire in East Somerville. The fire destroyed Rei Da Pichanha, which has done so much to help the community. They could use the community’s help now.
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If you live in the following states, TODAY is the last day to register to vote before the midterm elections: –Kansas –New Jersey –Oregon –West Virginia –Louisiana (online only) Go to IWillVote.com for more info
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Dates are set for the special election to fill Somerville’s soon-to-be-vacant City Council seats
I was lucky to be at this event. Amy gave a great talk. I don't quite know what it should look like, but I'm convinced we need state-wide reform to remove historic harms that are still being perpepuated today.
At our “Conference on Housing Land Use and Building Reform,” buff.ly/0Rd539c Amy Dain explained how a long, local history of exclusionary policies has shaped today’s housing landscape.
I'm really proud of Somerville for doing this years ago and proving to the rest of Massachusetts that the sky doesn't fall without parking minimums.
"By eliminating our parking minimums, we would free up space for more housing units, open space, and other community-desired uses, which are essential to making sure Chelsea is a vibrant and affordable place to live." - Chelsea City Manager Fidel Maltez commonwealthbeacon.org/housing/chel...
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“Local stores next to the protected bike-lane have seen a 49% increase in sales, compared to an average of 3% for Manhattan as a whole.” (Among MANY other public benefits.) Want To Make More Money? Build A Business On A Bike Lane. #CityMakingMath via @fastcompany.com #BikeLanesMeanBusiness
I’ll definitely look closely into this. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
@somervilleinfr1.bsky.social would benefit from an emergency streets program. While we've had no fatal crashes since 2022, the dangerous street design that resulted in Steven Conley's death will not be fixed until 2027. @jake4somerville.bsky.social @jonlink.bsky.social
A Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) plan for Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) control is currently taking comment until Oct 30. Water & sewer bills in Somerville are the highest in the state and are set to double and CSO is why. Here's a short explainer and what you should do.
A Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) plan for Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) control is currently taking comment until Oct 30. Water & sewer bills in Somerville are the highest in the state and are set to double and CSO is why. Here's a short explainer and what you should do.
1: Please tell your state legislators to amend the MWRA enabling legislation to empower them to address stormwater. Find your legislators here: malegislature.gov/Search/FindM... 2: Tell the MWRA to create a stormwater body, comments go to: UpdatedCSOControlPlan@aecom.com
A Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) plan for Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) control is currently taking comment until Oct 30. Water & sewer bills in Somerville are the highest in the state and are set to double and CSO is why. Here's a short explainer and what you should do.
A Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) plan for Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) control is currently taking comment until Oct 30. Water & sewer bills in Somerville are the highest in the state and are set to double and CSO is why. Here's a short explainer and what you should do.
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Lucky’s Picks: connect with clubs, Burning Man, accessibility and the art of verse
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"Meanwhile, what we need to demand from universities far and wide is clear: Cease to be a place where sexual assault is often subject to less punishment than protesting and plagiarism." www.thecut.com/article/what...
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