Ames Grawert

Just saw a “(cleaned up)” cite in the wild. What hath Appellate Twitter wrought??

cc: @rmfifthcircuit.bsky.social

Canceled DOJ Grants Threaten Bipartisan Work to Support People Released from Prison The cuts undermine public safety and years of bipartisan cooperation on state and federal reentry work.

New from the @brennancenter.org: DOJ recently cut funding for historically bipartisan work designed to help people returning home from prison. Nicole Ndumele and I explored what will happen without this critical funding. 

www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

Great culture can save lives. Literally.

Amazing letter in today’s @thetimes.com about Tom Stoppard

Insight: New York’s Clean Slate Act | The Clean Slate Initiative Advocates and legislators built broad support for Clean Slate in New York by balancing bold reform goals with practical compromise. Their success offers valuable lessons for advancing Clean Slate poli...

Read @amescg.bsky.social and @stroud.bsky.social for insights on lessons learned from the campaign to pass New York’s Clean Slate Act, including strategic principles that can guide advocates working on similar reforms.

Yes!! My daughters devour these

Key lime pie here in lieu of pumpkin, in what I’m hoping becomes a tradition!

NEW: In a new amicus brief, law enforcement officials argue that boundaries around how local police interact with federal immigration enforcement are indispensable to building public trust with local communities. Read their brief here: 

www.brennancenter.org/media/14752/...

2025 Trends in Crime and Safety in New York City New York remains one of the safest cities in the country, but some persistent challenges require close attention.

New York City has seen numerous types of crime drop sharply since spiking during the Covid-19 pandemic. We highlight recent trends:
bit.ly/4o734Zo

What if the United States had high-speed rail? High-speed rail is a proven alternative to gridlocked highways and overcrowded airports. CNN has reimagined a faster, more connected future for US commuters.

This is the most fun thing I've seen in a while: edition.cnn.com/interactive/...

Yes! And go to the places people live; Tribeca and the Upper East/West Sides are a lot of fun to visit. NOT Times Square and NOT Midtown East. Enjoy!

2025 Trends in Crime and Safety in New York City New York remains one of the safest cities in the country, but some persistent challenges require close attention.

What do the facts say about crime in New York City? We chronicle where New York stands compared to other cities, progress it has made since the pandemic — and remaining public safety challenges.

New from the @brennancenter.org:

www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

Clearly I need to try again! I think I used it mainly in a very (let's say) "unique" Lamy 2k nib. But I do have a Schon DSGN Monoc on hand that is pretty wide...

Very pretty but too diluted/unsaturated for my tastes -- at least in the pens I use. But some people prefer their inks that way, and results may vary in different nibs!

Diamine's Autumn Oak is the go-to "fall ink" for the fountain pen community, but I'm here to recommend Pilot's Iroshizuku Momiji ("Autumn Leaves") instead. It's a richer, more saturated tone that evokes the deep red of a Japanese Maple in late fall.

The Wonder and Legacy of Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes, Thirty Years Later - SKTCHD There’s something magical about being a kid. It’s a time of infinite opportunities. A time where pillows aren’t just pillows, but the key to a totally rad fort. The forest behind your house isn’t a we...

It's the 40th anniversary of the debut of Bill Watterson's Calvin & Hobbes, so let's dive back into what made that strip so wonderful with insight from Skottie Young, @chriseliopoulos.com, Michael Cho, and more.

Note: This was written for the 30th anniversary of SKTCHD and is free to read.

Proud to be a part of this latest SCOTUS filing from @janemanners.bsky.social, who breaks down the history behind when presidents can, and can't, fire agency leaders like FTC Commissioner Slaughter. It's one of several briefs filed by our Historians Council members today - check them out below!

And it's greatly to his credit 🎶

YELLEN: “.. businesses feel paralyzed by the uncertainty about policies that represent the strong but really personal whims of a single individual.”

@bloomberg.com
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Harms of the Federal Funding Freeze on Science A venture capitalist and former White House science adviser discusses the impact of the Trump administration’s attempted funding freeze on the future of research and innovation.

Frozen and cut federal grants undermine the rule of law — and undercut American scientific leadership. We spoke with @aratip.bsky.social about the stakes for the future and why private investment matters, but won't fill the gap.

From the @brennancenter.org:

www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...

Kindles are a vastly underappreciated part of the parenting toolkit. Rocking a baby to sleep? Holding a sick baby for hours so she can sleep on your shoulder? Bring an e-reader with you! Unlike a trade hardcover, they're light and can be held and operated with one hand!

What a great shot. Thanks for sharing!

Also Patrick - I hope it goes without saying that I'm glad you and yours are safe!

If either of you folks have data on this I'd be really, really interested...

Taking public safety seriously means following the evidence and starting local.

Read more in the @brennancenter.org analysis that inspired this video, by me and @jchendrickson.bsky.social: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...

Introduced my daughter to the “no vehicles in the park” law school hypo and so far she’s concluded that the rule DOES apply to bicycles because “parks are for play and you can play without a bike.”

It’s so exciting watching her learn to think through a problem; I’m so proud!

Today the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing titled “Blue City Chaos and Tragedy: How the Trump Administration is Addressing the Human Cost of Soft On Crime Policies.” This is a false premise, and the hearing included discussion of several bad ideas that won’t make Americans safer 1/5

FYI NJT commuters --

The M&E and Gladstone lines are a complete mess and running on a revised schedule until further notice. You might've missed this news as NJT did very little to warn riders in advance.

What Actually Works to Fight Crime The administration’s plans to fight crime by dictating state bail policy or deploying the National Guard won’t build long-term safety, but there are many evidence-based ways to reduce crime.

The Administration's plans to fight crime using the National Guard are not the way to build real, lasting safety. Here's what the evidence shows can work, even as we continue to see national declines in crime. New from the @brennancenter.org:

www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...

Effects of Federal Funding Cuts on Public Safety The loss of Justice Department grants and other federal funds will hurt efforts to reduce crime in communities nationwide.

New analysis from my @brennancenter.org colleagues Dr. Josy Hahn and Ruby Nidiry. See our growing series on the fallout from Department of Justice funding cuts: www.brennancenter.org/series/effec...

Federal Cuts to Behavioral Health Will Harm Public Safety Law enforcement and public health professionals agree that initiatives such as mental health crisis response teams and drug treatment reduce arrests and incarceration.

"DOJ has slashed $88 million in grant awards for substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and programs that team police with health professionals," a move likely to hurt people struggling with these problems *and* burden law enforcement:

www.brennancenter.org/our-work/res...