Kumar Ramanathan's Avatar

Kumar Ramanathan

@kumar.fyi.bsky.social

Political scientist at the University of Illinois Chicago. I study the politics of inequality, law, policy, parties, and cities in the United States. Timeline may include 🎬 /πŸ€ content. More at www.kumar.fyi.

1,626 Followers  |  508 Following  |  64 Posts  |  Joined: 22.07.2023  |  2.2805

Latest posts by kumar.fyi on Bluesky

Mississippi Masalaβ€”an impeccable, beautiful film, start to finish

03.08.2025 03:43 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Deep v. shallow capital subsidy, or: What is the Montgomery County model's secret sauce? In a previous post, I wrote about how it's worth separating the way we fund affordable housing into two buckets: Capital subsidy, which helps the government or a mission-oriented third party buy or bu...

Hello, would you like to read about capital subsidy and social housing daniel-kay-hertz.ghost.io/deep-v-shall...

27.07.2025 23:01 β€” πŸ‘ 66    πŸ” 17    πŸ’¬ 5    πŸ“Œ 7

Most of the internet used to be like this. This is actually the default, it took companies enclosing the internet and adding weird, soul-killing incentives to make people behave the way they do now. In a way, there is truly nothing special about Wikipedia except that it survived longer.

26.07.2025 17:28 β€” πŸ‘ 22364    πŸ” 8016    πŸ’¬ 146    πŸ“Œ 158

From Portland to Chicago to Philadelphia, transit agencies across the U.S. are facing existential peril. If you’re not already engaged in the fight to secure stable, robust, long-term funding for transit in your community then now’s the time to roll up your sleeves.

24.07.2025 15:53 β€” πŸ‘ 79    πŸ” 20    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
CHILEE OIL | Handcrafted Chili Oil from Chicago CHILEE OIL

chileeoil.com

11.07.2025 00:31 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The Six Elections to Watch This July - Bolts We’re only days removed from the political earthquake in New York City’s mayoral race, but the election calendar matches on: There are many fewer contests on the ballot in July... Read More

More details on tonight's elections in San Diego (and also St. Louis!)β€”and what we know of the resultsβ€”in the article below.

And also follow @boltsmag.org to make sure to stay on top of local elections happening in all corners!

02.07.2025 05:56 β€” πŸ‘ 544    πŸ” 118    πŸ’¬ 6    πŸ“Œ 3

Rear, if I am remembering correctly

18.06.2025 16:24 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I do not, but I remember it was on Pleasant St, near the corner of Home Ave

18.06.2025 16:24 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

A friend of mine used to live in an Oak Park courtyard building with an active inner space. They had some porch furniture and a shared grill + fridge setup. It was an awesome hangout space; wish more courtyard buildings did this.

18.06.2025 16:15 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

Today is publication day for Liberation Stories. Cathy Cohen, @kumar.fyi, and I contributed a chapter to this volume: β€œData for Liberation: the Role of Surveys in Social Movement Infrastructure.”

(1/6)

17.06.2025 16:54 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Reconciling a Liberalism that Builds with a Liberalism that Cares How can we balance abundance and equity?

This is good. It's not "anti-Abundance" but it favors a sort of equity-focused abundance. It gets at some of my concerns with the book/movement.

(And please don't @ me with "abundance is always equitable" simplistic B.S., thank you.)

04.06.2025 22:08 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 4

Great @chicagotribune.com op-ed from Richards (fmr @septaphilly.bsky.social GM). Promises of funding later do not pay the bills. We need public plan on specific $ sources to prevent cuts (better yet, expand service with more investment). Still relevant op-ed www.chicagotribune.com/2024/08/19/o...

22.05.2025 15:38 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Packaging for a "tactical scrubber bundle pack"

Packaging for a "tactical scrubber bundle pack"

Spotted this in a store last week

03.05.2025 02:47 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 1
Cafe Nova

Generally true, but there is a (relatively new) Sri Lankan spot in Rogers Park! thecafenova.com

03.05.2025 02:44 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

The visualization is less appealing, but I wanted to share a similar analysis of these data that goes back further (made this for a presentation a while back). We've only had *two* instances since 1920 where a candidate won more votes than the (estimated) number of non-voters: 1964 and 2020.

18.04.2025 19:55 β€” πŸ‘ 141    πŸ” 27    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 0

This is very well put. Even without reviewing any of the data, any claim about outcomes "if everyone voted" is immediately suspect for this reason.

26.03.2025 13:48 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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19 United Center Express - Bus Route Information - CTA Buses operate between Michigan/Randolph near Millennium Park and United Center with service before Bulls and Blackhawks games and select events.

$2 < $5
www.transitchicago.com/bus/19/

05.03.2025 14:46 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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New Uber Shuttle service to offer fans leaving the United Center $5 rides Riders will be able to reserve a seat on a shuttle using the Uber app up to two days before an event, an Uber spokesperson said. Riders can book up to four seats at a time on 23-passenger buses to the...

Can't wait to chuckle at the people getting fleeced by this as I get on the CTA express buses that are lined up directly outside the United Center after every event. chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/03...

05.03.2025 14:46 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Looking forward to reading this!

14.02.2025 18:37 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Courtney Vandersloot is expected to sign with the Sky as an unrestricted free agent: sources According to multiple sources out of Unrivaled, the Sky's All-Time assist leader is expected to make her return to the franchise that drafted her with the third overall pick in the 2011 WNBA draft.

So it turns out good news still exists πŸ₯Ή chicago.suntimes.com/sports/2025/...

29.01.2025 21:47 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

(of course, the real test will be how the full Council votes in light of the alder's opposition)

24.01.2025 22:51 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0
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Sterling Bay's Marcey Street Project Likely Heading To Full Council For Vote β€” Without Alderman's Support Sterling Bay’s 600-unit project could advance under the city’s Connected Communities Ordinance, bypassing aldermanic prerogative.

This made me think of the Marcey St development in the 32nd ward moving to full Council despite alder opposition and a no from zoning cmte, via Connected Communities Ordinance provisions (blockclubchicago.org/2025/01/17/s...). I wonder if that path might end up happening for this proposal too.

24.01.2025 22:47 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

We have a Samsung one that has been great. The largest burner is 11" in diameter, but you can combine the two small 7" burners to make one bigger burner that's roughly 7" wide and 16" long -- makes sense for a large rectangular pan (but not for a large round pot if that's what you have in mind).

14.01.2025 16:03 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Hoping for some political will from city as we're about to see agency leadership change. CEO decision not the only major factor 4 CTA future but choice matters. Tumlin/SF & Clarke/DC have great reputations, but confident more amazing leaders (inc. beyond white men) flying more under national radar

13.01.2025 17:59 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
Screenshot from β€œThe Night Agent” of VP’s daughter planning to skip a what would surely be a fascinating session of her American political development course at Georgetown.

Screenshot from β€œThe Night Agent” of VP’s daughter planning to skip a what would surely be a fascinating session of her American political development course at Georgetown.

Watching β€œThe Night Agent” on Netflix.

Good News: The VP’s daughter is enrolled in APD.

Bad News: She skips APD to go shopping.

08.01.2025 22:41 β€” πŸ‘ 9    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
A graphic flyer titled "Know your building. Know your landlord." The flyer includes a short description of the workshop as well as dates and locations: "In this workshop, you’ll learn to use public records to research code violations and property ownership for any building in Chicago. Jan. 25, Lincoln Square, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Sulzer Regional Library (4455 N. Lincoln Ave.). Feb. 8 West Garfield Park | 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Legler Regional Library (115 S. Pulaski Rd.). Feb. 22 Woodlawn, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Coleman Library Branch (731 E. 63rd St.)"

A graphic flyer titled "Know your building. Know your landlord." The flyer includes a short description of the workshop as well as dates and locations: "In this workshop, you’ll learn to use public records to research code violations and property ownership for any building in Chicago. Jan. 25, Lincoln Square, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Sulzer Regional Library (4455 N. Lincoln Ave.). Feb. 8 West Garfield Park | 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Legler Regional Library (115 S. Pulaski Rd.). Feb. 22 Woodlawn, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Coleman Library Branch (731 E. 63rd St.)"

πŸ“£ Attention Chicago renters πŸ“£ We’re hosting workshops over the next two months to teach you how to research building code violations and landlords using public records. Registration is required! https://buff.ly/4a51ZLY

07.01.2025 13:00 β€” πŸ‘ 29    πŸ” 17    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 4
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Casual Viewing | Will Tavlin A decade before Airbnb persuaded homeowners to transform their homes into hotels, Netflix convinced its users to turn theirs into mini Netflix warehouses. Customers who held onto their DVDs for longer...

One of the best things I’ve read in a while.

www.nplusonemag.com/issue-49/ess...

28.12.2024 19:58 β€” πŸ‘ 653    πŸ” 101    πŸ’¬ 36    πŸ“Œ 11

This should've been the one πŸ₯²

24.12.2024 04:57 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
EFORMS - FormPublic Survey for the Division of Planning and Policy

CDOT has a new Division of Planning and Policy, and they have a survey for you!
webapps4.chicago.gov/eforms/cdotp...

18.12.2024 03:46 β€” πŸ‘ 15    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

@kumar.fyi is following 19 prominent accounts