Even when there is no traffic and things are moving quickly, sitting in a car is a miserably dull experience.

Hours after a federal judge paused the Trump administration’s plans to deploy 200 members of the Oregon National Guard to Portland, federal law enforcement officers escalated the tactics used on protesters in the city. Troy and I were on the ground:

Also, so glad I’m at a point in my life where I’m not only comfortable listening to my own voice, I can also recognize that it’s honestly kind of a nice voice haha

Looking forward to listening to this soon

Honestly, it was very cool to read this thread. Not only to see the work I’ve done, but to see the full scope of what my colleagues have done this year too.

If you need something to listen to today, consider listening to me! Jared from @dwellerpodcast.bsky.social interviewed me in October about my thoughts on city living, Chicago, and where we go next.

I spoke with Micheál Podgers (@michealpodgers.bsky.social) about how his experience of living in Europe has helped to inform his approach to advocating for walkable, bikeable, transit-friendly, urbanism in his hometown of Chicago. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m... @betterstreetschicago.org

Safe streets are under attack right now — including from moneyed interests with nefarious political intent. We have much work to do to defend and grow our movement in the coming year. And we have much to do to elect better leaders and hold those in power accountable. Are you with us?

Don’t ever let any of these 30 alders (31 tbh) say they are for working people. Because they all chose to place the burden of this year’s budget on the backs of people too poor to pay off their own debts instead of making big corporations pay their fair share.

This has long been my feeling.

Thank you to Edgewater neighbors for testifying today. Chicago is and must always be a welcoming city www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/18/i...

CBP is in Chicago taunting and intimidating organizers. Yesterday, Border Patrol Chief Bovino & other agents: -Harassed striking Teamsters on the Mauser picket line, asking them their status. -Went to front door of community group Enlace and waved, in what the org describes as creepy & intimidating

It’s worth adding that as more grocery stores opt for self-check out people just don’t tax themselves for the bags they take. Additionally bags are now accessible without making a purchase or going thru a cashier.

NEW: Judge blocks Trump administration's attempt to limit lawmakers' access to immigration jails. Advance notice no longer required & detention facilities at field offices are open to Congress. w/ @kyledcheney.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

Bovino's BS is distracting us from the Chicago budget turmoil, as a large group of alders are blocking Mayor Johnson's budget with a bad alternative

NEW: Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who is running for Congress, confronted Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino today:

I can't be sure how effective this was, but before anyone say it's just posturing, I'd like to point out that it deflates the narrative of "they want us here, they love us doing this". Especially, sadly, coming from a white elected, which prevents the racist chuds from making excuses racistly

Currently watching CBP agents intimidate Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss in a Home Depot parking lot.

Chicago Police Chief Snelling needs to be grilled by all elected officials and journalists about why the *Hell* this is happening. If he ordered it, if he allows it to go on, he must be replaced with someone who won't.

ICE just moved through Rogers Park, headed north into Evanston. The RP community response has not gotten slower in the winter. A lot of folks were out in the streets the moment they got off Lake Shore Drive. Everyone on the North Side is on high alert today. Stay ready.

In Chicago, a man on Facebook Live was following the Border Patrol north on Lake Shore Drive. At the end of the drive, a bunch of city cop cars cut off the man who was following and live-streaming Border Patrol.

In case you still think that local police are going to stand up to federal immigration agents: A few of minutes ago CPD swooped in on a community caravan that was tailing CBP agents to honk horns and warn neighbors, blocking the caravan from following and giving agents a clean break from scrutiny.

a cop is a cop is a cop

#winning 🏆

We’re not doing enough to shift more trips through the city onto the 294 and 355. Everything inside 294/94 from the Indiana border and south of Dundee should be tolled. That’s the base congestion zone. Frankly the first layer of tolls should be 355.

Today, @govpritzker.illinois.gov signed into law the Northeastern Illinois Transit Authority Act. This establishes a new transit authority for the Chicago region (NITA), increases state funding for transit by $1.5 billion, and puts IL on the path for a zero carbon transportation system.

NITA is officially law!

🎉 It's official – @govpritzker.illinois.gov has signed the NITA Act into law! This transformative legislation not only fully funds public transit, but delivers critical reforms to ensure our systems serve us better. Take a moment and join us in thanking our leaders at thanks.savetransit.org!

Vegan leather remains one of the funniest branding gags ever. It’s oil.

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is preparing it's next regional transportation plan. Complete this survey to share your thoughts on the future of transportation in the region. Make sure CMAP knows people want sidewalks, bike lanes and transit. engage.cmap.illinois.gov/2026-rtp/sur...

Please fill out the surveys. They really do work.

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is preparing it's next regional transportation plan. Complete this survey to share your thoughts on the future of transportation in the region. Make sure CMAP knows people want sidewalks, bike lanes and transit. engage.cmap.illinois.gov/2026-rtp/sur...

​Right now, Chicago City Council is weighing drastic cuts to the very safety programs that have driven this unprecedented drop in severe injuries and fatalities on our streets — cuts that would mean more dangerous speeding, more violent crashes, and more families grieving loved ones taken too soon.

URGENT ACTION NEEDED: Mayor Johnson's 2026 bond proposal defunds safe streets infrastructure by a whopping 70% – putting our communities in jeopardy by threatening the progress we've made in preventative infrastructure. Email him and your alderperson today and tell them to reverse course!

The 1st subzero weekend of the season is coming. Here’s how to stay warm and safe: blockclubchi.co/491gaCW

1) I doubt that Altman usesChatGPT in raising his baby, if for no other reason than that this billionaire man likely leaves child-rearing to staff. 2) He’s telling new parents the same thing he tells students: Don’t trust yourself. Place authority in our word generator, not in your own judgment.

Both the @amtrak.com Hiawatha and the proposed MARK service are critical for Chicago. The Hiawatha should continue to be developed as a higher-speed trunk between the two downtowns while the MARK can provide more local connections all along the densely populated lakefront.

Contact your alders to get the plow the side walks pilot off the ground. Yesterday while riding the 80 Irving Park, I saw three elderly gentlemen have to navigate mounds of snow exiting the bus on the street to get to their living facility.

Park district staff using a sidewalk plow, need these everywhere #PlowTheSidewalks

Plowed protected bike lanes show how transformative #PlowTheSidewalks could be. On streets like Milwaukee with plowed protected bike lanes, there is an alternative when a business shirks their legal & moral responsibilities after a snowfall.

It's not as hard as we would all be led to believe. Even a single bus line can make a huge difference. We don't have to do housing first -- in fact doing transit first works way better. climatecabineteducation.org/wp-content/u...

In Elgin, ICE agents have been in a standoff with the community as they’re trying to arrest a man. Here’s an altercation between the feds and residents ending with arrest and pepper spray. Video from Sophia Peterson

NEW — Cutting less than one day of the Chicago police would cover the $4.5M needed to ensure there are no cuts to library staffing and resources, one resident writes. Read this opinion submission about protecting city libraries in the 2026 budget. thetriibe.com/2025/12/opin...

This 👇🏻

TL;DR my vibes model output says, unless you want to wait around for another 35 years watching things get worse, do more than just count on Cheap Chinese EV's to save us. Here's some places to start.

A reminder: Gregory Bovino may be gone and a bunch of his men aren't here anymore but Border Patrol is still in Chicagoland, randomly stopping folks at Home Depots and chasing people through the snow.

I'm not exaggerating when I say following @boltsmag.org rn will unlock money for our journalism. A generous reader, @russ41.bsky.social, has offered to donate $1 for every 1-person increase to our follower count. If you're not following @boltsmag.org yet, it'll directly help fund our reporting!

Want to board a Metra train in Evanston headed for Milwaukee? You might be able to in a few years... www.cbs58.com/news/better-...

Stockton Dr is cleared of all snow and ice right down to the asphalt for cars, but hundreds of daily CTA bus riders at this stop have to navigate icy lumps #PlowTheSidewalks

Department of Streets & Sanitation District 1 office failed to shovel any sidewalks adjacent to its property, including a bus stop. Also in a ward led by a #PlowTheSidewalks opponent. @betterstreetschicago.org