Itamar Turner-Trauring

NEW collab w/ @theshoestring.bsky.social: Records I obtained from a lawsuit offer a rare window into the secretive world of sheriffs’ offices, where misconduct is often shielded from outside scrutiny by #Massachusetts’ weak public records law.

More broadly, it's a bit like the MMT proposal of a Federal job guarantee, which among other benefits would pressure employers to treat workers better. Large amounts of decent housing provided by the government pressures landlords to suck less, without needing to legislate or enforce every detail.

Joe Mitchell: "Thank God you're building the ballroom. Thank God you're getting rid of those awful bike lanes. We don't ride bicycles in Iowa."

Relatedly: "virtue signalling" is usually a good thing because a lot of politics is about setting standards for what is acceptable set of policy options (e.g. who counts as a real person). As a result, anyone who criticizes an action as "virtue signalling" should be viewed with deep suspicion.

Nobody NIMBYs like we do! (And, in rare circumstances, we NIMBY for good reasons.)

There's only two weeks left until Election Day! #noon5ma #mapoli

Better yet, instead of mail use an official city election dropbox: www.cambridgema.gov/departments/...

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...

Everyone in the furry universe should be riding bikes. Like, where are you going to put your huge fluffy tail while sitting in a car? On a bike it can be free in the wind! You could even use it to signal turns and wave to friends without having to take a hand off the bars.

“…commissioners criticized (and denied) infill housing while quickly approving a (much more expensive per unit) down conversion. They heaped praise on restrictive covenants, long tools of racial and economic exclusion. In other meetings, they’ve said apartment buildings don’t ‘feel residential.’”

The Toronto Police arrested Aly Van Wyck-Smart, a Paralympian with cerebral palsy who was protecting part of the bike lane from removal. On the bright side, the construction workers put the bollards back and said we'd won for the day.

Ride For Your Life Boston, Sun Oct 25: a free 6-mile ride or 1-mile walk from Boston Common to the State House, then a rally to remember people lost on our roads and push for safer streets. Check-in 10 AM. www.gogreenstreets.org/events/ride-...

Everyone in MA: "Take my Rep... please!"

While being informed is always good, and I've read some good stuff from Bolts Magazine, the _actual_ best antidote to election anxiety is volunteering and/or donating to campaigns or turnout organizations, insofar as you have time and/or money.

MA has 9 statewide ballot questions this year. Be an informed voter! #mapoli www.progressivemass.com/2026ballot/

my "private equity money isn't giving my ballot measure campaign an advantage" t-shirt has people asking a lot of questions already answered by my shirt

former gov candidate fails to secure nomination in partisan primary system. former gov candidate rallies wealthy friends to abolish said system, while insisting that wealth doesn't provide an advantage. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/10/02/m...

Anyone who tells you not to vote is either malicious or incompetent. Anyone who claims you _only_ need to vote is either malicious or incompetent. At worst, voting is harm reduction. At best, it can make things better, some of the time. Is that enough? No. Is that useful? Very much so.

I wonder how many people at Anthropic believe they're in the business of creating slaves.

On Monday, the Cambridge city council will consider following Somerville's lead (from 2020) by decriminalizing consensual, adult sex work. I encourage everybody to read the letter linked below and consider adding your name in support. actionnetwork.org/petitions/pe...

This is ballot initiative question 3 here in MA.

Recall warning for Urban Arrow bikes, the seat post and saddle need replacing apparently: www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2027...

median Cambridge homeowner politics

The WSJ is complaining that rents are low in Portland due to an “oversupply of new housing.” 😈 www.wsj.com/real-estate/...

awoke this morning with a Vision

Cambridge 4 Palestine is having a rally at Cambridge City Hall tonight at 5:30PM. Speakers include @councilloralzubi.bsky.social @votejivan.bsky.social @electerika.bsky.social @mikeconnollyma.bsky.social and Rabbi Greg Hersh.

@misctakes.com that was you speaking, right?

Luisa de Paula Santos shows up to call for reduction to homeowner exemption on property taxes 😍

Shout out to @arjunjaikumar.bsky.social and @lauraclawson.bsky.social for speaking in support of CPSD paraprofessionals.