Parker “Austin Needs Approval Voting” Welch

Upholding Liberal Education Love of the world, not meaningless tests, must be the heart of liberal education.

“The indispensability of a liberal education is the freedom from being tied to the zeitgeist of one’s age or situation to love what is true, good, and beautiful, and to be initiated into the world while cultivating a love for it.” www.liberalcurrents.com/upholding-li...

2 Teen Mariachi Musicians Released From ICE Detention

Breaking NYT:

Two teenage brothers and mariachi stars who visited the White House last summer were just released with their family from ICE detention centers in South Texas — immediately following the visit of a delegation of Democratic lawmakers who pressed for them to be freed.

On the one-year anniversary of his detention by federal authorities, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and First Lady Rama Duwaji welcomed Mahmoud Khalil, his wife Noor, and their baby boy, Deen, to Gracie Mansion to break the fast together.

In the way a young Augustine wanted to be chaste

First bill of its kind in the US! 👏👏

Int’l code harmonization, cut out of this, was opposed by one (1) interest group: the Big Four elevator companies whose outsize profits are protected by the US’s unique code.

Let’s win the whole loaf in Oregon in 2027 & build the accessible homes we’ll need

The State Senate just approved Washington's elevator reform bill 41-6 after it was amended in the House, sending it to the Governor's desk.

The House's amendments removed language around international harmonization but it still represents a major reform for elevators in smaller buildings.

This is to say: if you're an attorney who's hesitated to take on habeas cases because you think you lack the knowledge, or you're worried about whether you'll really help, I PROMISE you can make a difference. I'm just a dipshit with a 7-year-old laptop and a bad attitude. If I can do it, so can you.

This puts me at 10 people released. I filed my 1st habeas petition 29 days ago. I am an incredibly small-time, nobody lawyer who knew nothing about immigration law the day I submitted that case. I barely know any more today. I had never sued the federal government and now I've beaten them 10 times.

I was also very weirded out reading that

What do you mean all of your friends tell you they shoplift at Whole Foods? The coasts are *not* okay

State and Local Investments in Rail Transit and Transit Passenger Terminals Have Declined to the Lowest Levels Since at Least 2010

Over the past 5 years, the crisis of railway investment the US has only solidified.

Despite the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, national spending on rail projects is half of what it was in 2021.

Compared with Other Wealthy Countries, Since 1990 the US Has Failed to Increase the Length of Its Metro Systems to Match Its Population Growth

The US is falling increasingly behind its peers in rail transit provision.

In 1970s, on a per-capita basis, the US had the 3rd-highest level of metro transit availability of G7 countries. It's now fallen to the very bottom of the pack.

Even in terms of light rail transit, the US has flatlined.

He’s still caucusing with the GOP so no it doesnt

NYC, LA, Seattle (Katie Wilson is mentioned in the article) are all realizing that a genuinely left and democratic politics requires embracing the YIMBY agenda. You absolutely love to see it. Because that's how we make these cities affordable for everyone.

“Well you see, they thought coal dust had an interesting patina”

If you’re pushing housing in lowrise n’hoods, eliminating useless sideyards is the unlock for the urban design everybody says they want.
In exchange for sideyards that no one uses, you get better units, lush interior courtyards, space for trees and play, higher density and lower energy use.

• The federal government spends about twice as much on procurement (about $750 billion according to some estimates) than it spends on federal employees (about $360 billion). • State and local governments spend about twice as much on procurement as the federal government.

Maybe you are wondering “how big of a deal is procurement and contracts to current modes of governing?” The answer: a very big deal.
Political attention is focused on government employees, but we spend more on contracting, often funding the ideological opponents of the government.

May 2nd DART Election Schedule Voters will decide the future of transit in Addison, Highland Park, and University Park

May 2nd DART Election Schedule

It is actually bullshit how much of my young adulthood has been wasted by this fucking moron

Most asphalt is reclaimed, but it still has to be crushed up again, stockpiled safely away from contamination, pass decantation & plasticity tests, and stay below certain maximum ratios of recycled material in the new mix

COA Spec 340.3F talks about it more: library.municode.com/tx/austin/co...

And of course, you have to pay for testing on that material to make sure it meets spec

Compare to asphalt or concrete, which have to be poured out with new material all over again every time you sawcut & demo the pavement for utility work

Syria's Kurds caution Iran's Kurds against aligning with US against Tehran Kurdish residents of northeast ​Syria warned Iran's Kurds against aligning with the U.S. to fight the Iranian government, citing their own experience in Syria in recent ‌months as evidence their Irani...

Syria’s Kurds are warning their Iranian counterparts not to align with the US, saying Washington will eventually betray them and citing their own experience in the last few months as proof.

(More seriously, I have no idea how high fuel costs have to go before electrifying a quarter of a sun belt city’s bus fleet becomes a good decision, but it’s funny to think about)

I may need to make a Randy Clarke apology form about battery buses…

Get ready to learn how to speak bus buddy

They can get to 20% approval, if they dig deep and remember their training, I believe in them

What could go wrong

Sounds great 👍

And even if he chooses to cut and run, whatever embittered regime remains will be much less restrained in using the strait as leverage.

We will essentially be teaching them that the fool-proof way to get what they want is to target civilians in the Arab nations & maritime traffic in the Gulf

Source for the map, was current as of ~2019: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CN...