Hi all! I made a video about why I think the campaigns for and against Measure C—our dreaded library tax—harmed our city and why I’m hosting Heal the Hill on Sunday, 7/26 at 3PM in Canyon Trail Park to help us move on together. Hope to see you there! #elcerrito

Reminder: BART crews are working in the Transbay Tube to replace lights today. The work will reduce our normal service from two tracks to one. Trains will run every 30 minutes systemwide Info in the thread👇 https://bsky.app/profile/bart.gov/post/3mqudnoj6zc2x

El Cerrito, join me to Heal the Hill on Sunday, July 26 at 3PM in Canyon Trail Park! Let’s talk to each other in person and recommit to neighborliness. Come as you are, but feel free to bring something—thoughts, feelings, ideas, or snacks—to share with your neighbors. #elcerrito

No one needs permission. You can just get started where you are. A group of 5 people is a good way to begin.

Hi folks! I'm running for El Cerrito City Council. I decided to run because I want to help El Cerritans rebuild trust in their government and reconnect with their neighbors: www.meganasteffen.com/ec-city-coun... You can follow me on Instagram for more hot takes! www.instagram.com/elcerritogad...

Hi folks! I'm running for El Cerrito City Council. I decided to run because I want to help El Cerritans rebuild trust in their government and reconnect with their neighbors: www.meganasteffen.com/ec-city-coun... You can follow me on Instagram for more hot takes! www.instagram.com/elcerritogad...

Having my very own “sliding doors” moment right now (missing my son’s swimming class because of a BART delay)

What happens when you speak for a bit too long at a city council meeting in opposition to a data center being built in your town? In Claremore, Oklahoma, a man was arrested and charged with trespassing. Story by @mjgault.bsky.social here: www.404media.co/man-opposing...

the guy who ran the anti-library campaign in my town is running for city council so i went to nextdoor to ask what he meant when he posted repeatedly for years about "mentally ill leftists" and now his supporters are like "what about YOUR social posts" which is funny because i'm not running

The San Bruno National Archives facility holds family history for many Bay Area families. It is at risk of closure. These immigration records are also important for historical research. There is a letter/email campaign to stop the closure of, details are at www.chcp.org/news/13649760

“I recognized him immediately: not from his appearance, but from his voice crying in the street as he was bleeding out." That's what Ronaldo, one of Lorenzo’s children, shared. As a daughter of immigrants, it’s hard not to see my own family in these tragedies. We just want our papas to come home.

Ashamed to report I put on “Do You Wanna Build A Snowman?” without any prompting from my children this morning. My gradual degradation by and submission to the Disney machine has officially begun 😔

If your understanding of yourself as a man is rooted in power and dominance over others, that's shitty masculinity, wherever you claim to be on the political spectrum. Shitty masculinity is antithetical to civic virtue and a functioning democratic society.

a useless sentiment but whatever, you made the mistake of following me, I just live here - just want to express both gratitude and consideration for anyone who comes forward about being abused by a high-profile man and weathers the nightmare of being a political football afterward. Hero shit.

If roughing up a girlfriend and locking her in a room was a virile, authentic a rejection of “smoothgroined” “HR lady” politics, but a rape is too far, then what’s at stake is not a principled rejection of violence against women but a cynical assessment of how much violence a man can get away with.

My four year old now responds more quickly to “Elsa” than his real name whereas my two year old declared FROZEN “too loud and too scary” and retreated into milder fare (WINNIE THE POOH, 1977 version)

Declared this weekend an emergency, broke glass, and let my four year old watch FROZEN for the first time

Do white USians wonder how it feels like for non-white people to live in a country where the President is a full on racist white supremacist? Like where he announces every single day that you are inferior, unintelligent, and need to be eliminated from the country?

My four year old just hurled while waiting for dinner away from his sick younger brother

Making a punch list of everything I want to do before I am projectile vomiting alongside my two-year-old

My dreams remain consistent and unfulfilled bsky.app/profile/mega...

We had ONE WEEK where no one had a fever, cough, or general malaise, and then as soon as the seven days pass, my two year old wakes up projectile vomiting

Why has my family been sick this ENTIRE spring and summer?!

"Every serious legal mind must inevitably face a fundamental choice: Read the Constitution and apply its words as the bedrock laws of the land, or transcend its tired text and interpret the super-secret invisible version that tells you exactly what you want to hear."

take two

Ok I did more than one Google and uhhhh @richmondside.org I take it back! You are not doing great work here. Why imply this investigation is the result of retaliation by a corrupt federal agency when we (allegedly) have more than enough corruption at home? californiacountynews.org/news/2018/10...

I’m newish to Contra Costa County and generally try to resist the “all government is corrupt” narrative that’s become truly *ascendant* since 2024, but maaaaan my old timer neighbors are telling me this is just the tip of the iceberg with the Assessor’s office and everyone knows it

fun fact

Perfect deck I am only doing decks like this from now on

Every time I sign into Nextdoor I get so bummed out! The vibes are so deeply bad. Why choose to live like this?

What does this even MEAN? A stronger Democratic Party for WHAT? It’s almost too obvious to say but at one point a stronger Democratic Party started the American Civil War! Simply cannot deal with these losers for whom consolidating power is more important than principles (or even winning!)

What is the principle you stand for? What is an issue you would never compromise on? What do you represent in the world? Anything? Or just the naked embrace of power for an institution that you'll grasp at, and try to prevent the evolution of, at any cost?

The speed at which I have texted every lawyer I know in disbelief

YESTERYEAR is to influencer culture what INGLORIOUS BASTERDS is to WWII

Just finished YESTERYEAR and what a truly miserable experience. Is this book a “hit” the way Thomas Picketty’s CAPITAL is a hit (i.e. no one finishes it) or are people actually reading it?! I am mystified

Read this line about the art being hard to see, thought, “come on now, let’s not be so precious, how hard can it be,” clicked through and then screamed with laughter when I saw this photo. Who is this exhibition for, 18-month-olds?! Really great stuff: midbrow.org/confounding-...

Someone asked me what my dissertation field work was about yesterday with real, genuine interest, and as I heard myself trying to explain it, I instantly understood why I could never get an academic job

Decided to try writing something more fun and less furious for @oaklandreviewofbooks.org about the kind of stuff that makes me like living in the East Bay before it’s election season again and I lose my mind! Highly recommend revisiting this gem before you read: www.youtube.com/watch?v=l82X...

If you live anywhere in the Bay Area, you have surely heard people talking about what a horror Oakland is. Say something! Speak up! We can all fight this false, dangerous, profoundly racist lie being spread by mega wealthy assholes. They will come for your community next if they win here.

Violent incidents hours after the festival ended and miles away have been conflated with the event. First Fridays organizers and youth say the blame is misplaced.

In case any of them are reading 👀, I hope the Nextdoor folks come to more El Cerrito City Council meetings! Local politics is slow and infuriating and punishing but it’s also funny and rewarding and clarifying. Participating meetings forces you to commit to your values publicly—it’s a privilege!

When I listen people describe their truly torturous relationships to public service and public servants in these City Council meetings, I wish I were still a teacher and could do my unit on why Weber’s ON BUREAUCRACY is an optimistic text and we should appreciate bureaucrats more, actually!

I am not going to name him, but shout out to the very vocal El Cerrito Nextdoor critic who is at his first meeting and sticking it out till the end. I see you; welcome 😎

I know I am a true sicko because I love watching the woman in charge of El Cerrito’s budget try not to say in 2032 everyone we’re paying unfunded pensions for will be dead

A little bit of dada-esque levity from tonight’s El Cerrito City Council meeting.

“if you have some emotion about the proceeding, talk to the person next to you.” A vibe report from the Elmwood not being historical: www.oaklandreviewofbooks.org/historical-e...

I obviously love this vibe report from the Berkeley Landmarks Preservation Commission, which is both clear-eyed and sympathetic www.oaklandreviewofbooks.org/historical-e... Truly no one is doing it like @oaklandreviewofbooks.org !

Hello please read my magnum opus on moving to Utica, NY (truly the best) newrepublic.com/article/2117...

Time to reframe how we think and debate taxes. “…taxes have long been framed as a burden weighing on people, not as an investment we’re all making so that the place we’ve chosen to live is as good as it can be.”

you have been visited by the Cool Baby!!! repost for good luck