Author | Lightnews

Irak Cehonski

@irakcehonski.bsky.social

150 followers 220 following 160 posts

Personal account (He/They) Currently, Budget Director for QBP Donovan Richards Jr. Opinions my own in English y Español Born and raised in Tijuana, Mx. Found my home and family in Astoria.

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Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · Feb 21

#AbolishICE

the word artist is surrounded by red and blue pieces of glass

ALT: the word artist is surrounded by red and blue pieces of glass

media.tenor.com

Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · 1d

We are so back!

Reposted by Irak Cehonski

Katie Loeb @katieloeb.bsky.social · 12d

It took a huge amount of vision to see the potential of what this park could deliver in the aftermath of Sandy, and to see it realized is so rewarding. Huge credit to the local leaders, NYCHA TAs, and community organizers who made this a reality when no one believed it could be done.

Hell Gate *subscribe today!* @hellgatenyc.com · 12d

"Something about this version feels more welcoming, one of the rare third spaces in the city where leisure costs nothing and the pluralism on which we pride ourselves bears out." — @jawnita.bsky.social

After All That, the New East River Park Is...Fucking Awesome

We'll have to see whether the new resiliency infrastructure will withstand another superstorm, but we're happy to report that the park itself is, so far, a smashing success.

hellgatenyc.com

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Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · Sep 19

This is so ridiculous.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Sep 19

Cardinal Timothy Dolan on Fox & Friends on Charlie Kirk: "This guy is a modern day St Paul. He was a missionary, he's an evangelist, he's a hero. He's one I think that knows what Jesus meant when he said 'the truth will set you free.'"

Reposted by Irak Cehonski

Open New York @opennewyork.org · Sep 18

Shameful.

New York needs supportive housing. These 80+ homes have been delayed for too long— @Council.nyc.gov should approve them anyways.

Chris Sommerfeldt @c-sommerfeldt.bsky.social · Sep 18

New: First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro ordered city officials to not testify at a Council hearing today about a Bronx housing project for ex-inmates, per sources.This comes after we first reported Mastro has been trying to derail the plan, which Adams used to back.

Story coming

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Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · Sep 18

We must keep in mind:

History remembers, it doesn’t narrate.

It’s up to us to call it what it is & hope it resonates with the rest.

We are living under a fascist regime in the #USA the sooner everyone acknowledge it, the sooner we will deal with it.

We study and learn meanings to use them.

Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · Sep 16

¡Viva México! #independenciademexico

Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · Sep 14

From El Barrio, NYC to the world! #VivaMexico

Reposted by Irak Cehonski

Miser @misernyc.bsky.social · Sep 14

A bunch of Fascists gathered in Astoria today to beg Daddy Trump to come tread on them

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Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · Sep 14

It took him DAYS to “realize” what he says is wrong. 🙄

Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · Sep 14

The dehumanization of homeless individuals continues. Fuck Brian Kilmeade!

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Sep 13

Brian Kilmeade endorses euthanizing homeless people: "Involuntary lethal injection, or something. Just kill them."

Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · Sep 14

The dissonance is incredible

Reposted by Irak Cehonski

Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · Sep 10

We interrupt this coverage of a shooting with another mass shooting at a school.

www.cnn.com/2025/09/10/u...

At least 2 students shot at a Denver-area high school, authorities say | CNN

At least two students have been shot at Evergreen High School in Evergreen, Colorado, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

www.cnn.com

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Reposted by Irak Cehonski

Mother Jones @motherjones.com · Aug 31

Reminder: Most mass shootings are carried out by cisgender men.

Mass Shooters Are Not Disproportionately Transgender

Most mass shootings are carried out by cisgender men.

www.motherjones.com

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Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · Aug 29

What an exit!

So much respect for you, your work and this important statement @drdemetre.bsky.social! Thank you. 🙏🏼 enough is enough!

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · Aug 28

Full resignation letter from Demetre C. Daskalakis, a CDC leader, does not hold back.
"The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud."

My resignation letter from CDC.

Dear Dr. Houry,

I am writing to formally resign from my position as Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective August 28, 2025, close of business. I am happy to stay on for two weeks to provide transition, if requested.

This decision has not come easily, as I deeply value the work that the CDC does in safeguarding public health and am proud of my contributions to that critical mission. However, after much contemplation and reflection on recent developments and perspectives brought to light by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., I find that the views he and his staff have shared challenge my ability to continue in my current role at the agency and in the service of the health of the American people. Enough is enough.

While I hold immense respect for the institution and my colleagues, I believe that it is imperative to align my professional responsibilities to my system of ethics and my understanding of the science of infectious disease, immunology, and my promise to serve the American people. This step is necessary to ensure that I can contribute effectively in a capacity that allows me to remain true to my principles.

The recent change in the adult and children’s immunization schedule threaten the lives of the youngest Americans and pregnant people. The data analyses that supported this decision have never been shared with CDC despite my respectful requests to HHS and other leadership. This lack of meaningful engagement was further compounded by a “frequently asked questions” document written to support the Secretary’s directive that was circulated by HHS without input from CDC subject matter experts and that cited studies that did not support the conclusions that were attributed to these authors. Having worked in local and national public health for years, I have never experienced such radical non-transparency, nor have I seen such unskilled manipulation of data to achieve a political end rather than the good of the American people.

It is untenable to serve in an organization that is not afforded the opportunity to discuss decisions of scientific and public health importance released under the moniker of CDC. The lack of communication by HHS and other CDC political leadership that culminates in social media posts announcing major policy changes without prior notice demonstrate a disregard of normal communication channels and common sense. Having to retrofit analyses and policy actions to match inadequately thought-out announcements in poorly scripted videos or page long X posts should not be how organizations responsible for the health of people should function. Some examples include the announcement of the change in the COVID-19 recommendations for children and pregnant people, the firing of scientists from ACIP by X post and an op-ed rather than direct communication with these valuable experts, the announcement of new ACIP members by X before onboarding and vetting have completed, and the release of term of reference for an ACIP workgroup that ignored all feedback from career staff at CDC.

Their desire to please a political base will result in death and disability of vulnerable children and adults. Their base should be the people they serve not a political voting bloc.

I have always been first to challenge scientific and public health dogma in my career and was excited by the opportunity to do so again. I was optimistic that there would be an opportunity to brief the Secretary about key topics such as measles, avian influenza, and the highly coordinated approach to the respiratory virus season. Such briefings would allow exchange of ideas and a shared path to support the vision of “Making America Healthy Again.” We are seven months into the new administration, and no CDC subject matter expert from my Center has ever briefed the Secretary. I am not sure who the Secretary is listening to, but it is quite certainly not to us. Unvetted and conflicted outside organizations seem to be the sources HHS use over the gold standard science of CDC and other reputable sources. At a hearing, Secretary Kennedy said that Americans should not take medical advice from him. To the contrary, an appropriately briefed and inquisitive Secretary should be a source of health information for the people he serves. As it stands now, I must agree with him, that he should not be considered a source of accurate information.

The intentional eroding of trust in low-risk vaccines favoring natural infection and unproven remedies will bring us to a pre-vaccine era where only the strong will survive and many if not all will suffer. I believe in nutrition and exercise. I believe in making our food supply healthier, and I also believe in using vaccines to prevent death and disability. Eugenics plays prominently in the rhetoric being generated and is derivative of a legacy that good medicine and science should continue to shun.

The recent shooting at CDC is not why I am resigning. My grandfather, who I am named after, stood up to fascist forces in Greece and lost his life doing so. I am resigning to make him and his legacy proud. I am resigning because of the cowardice of a leader that cannot admit that HIS and his minions’ words over decades created an environment where violence like this can occur. I reject his and his colleagues’ thoughts and prayers, and advise they direct those to people that they have not actively harmed.

For decades, I have been a trusted voice for the LGBTQ community when it comes to critical health topics. I must also cite the recklessness of the administration in their efforts to erase transgender populations, cease critical domestic and international HIV programming, and terminate key research to support equity as part of my decision.

Public health is not merely about the health of the individual, but it is about the health of the community, the nation, the world. The nation’s health security is at risk and is in the hands of people focusing on ideological self-interest.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunities for growth, learning, and collaboration that I have been afforded during my time at the CDC. It has been a privilege to work alongside such dedicated professionals who are committed to improving the health and well-being of communities across the nation even when under attack from within both physically and psychologically.

Thank you once again for the support and guidance I have received from you and previous CDC leadership throughout my tenure. I wish the CDC continued success in its vital mission and that HHS reverse its dangerous course to dismantle public health as a practice and as an institution. If they continue the current path, they risk our personal well-being and the security of the United States.

Reposted by Irak Cehonski

News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · Aug 28

BREAKING: Big moment as CDC staff stage a mass walkout.

They have lined the street outside its HQ to greet and salute the four top officials who have resigned in protest at RFK Jr’s attack on the agency’s science base.

(🎥 AP)

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Reposted by Irak Cehonski

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · Aug 28

CDC scientists receive a heroes welcome after walking out today.

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Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · Aug 17

When we are out of this mess. ICE must be abolish, not reconstructed. You can’t reform this and we should not even try.

Reposted by Irak Cehonski

StreetsPAC @streetspac.org · Aug 15

Carlina Rivera will soon be stepping down from the NYC Council to lead NYSAFAH. We're immeasurably grateful for her partnership and leadership during her time in office. @carlinarivera.bsky.social earned our endorsement every time she ran, and her list of accomplishments is long. Among them...

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Reposted by Irak Cehonski

Tiffany Cabán @tiffanycaban.bsky.social · Aug 12

We’re dreaming up the future of our district’s parks, housing, streets and amenities. RSVP to join us at the first of several open house sessions: forms.office.com/pages/respon...

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Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · Aug 9

Hahahahahaahaha 😂 needed this laugh in the morning

Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · Aug 7

This is how we build a safer, stronger Queens, together.

Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · Aug 7

Years of advocacy. Countless voices fighting for their community. Families who turned pain into purpose. Today, Far Rockaway celebrates, all of Queens cheers with them, as we announce $26M in funding from Queens BP @drichardsqns.bsky.social to make the Arverne Esst Aquatic Center to nearly $65M.

Far Rockaway, water safety advocates and elected official announce the $26M investment for Arverne East Aquatic Center.

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Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · Aug 5

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

New York City Council @council.nyc.gov · Aug 4

We’re expanding 7-day library service! 📚

Last year, we fought hard to restore the mayor’s cuts to 7-day service. This year, 11 new branches will have Sunday service thanks to the $2M we proposed and secured.

See you on Sundays!

🎥 @nycspeakeradams.bsky.social @cmcarlinarivera.bsky.social

Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · Jul 26

This beautiful Saturday weather, Team QBPO repping BP @donovanrichards.bsky.social at the #SummerStreetsNYC in Queens!

Irak Cehonski @irakcehonski.bsky.social · Jul 22

The Associated Press @apnews.com · Jul 22

For months, U.N. officials, aid groups and experts have warned that Palestinians in the Gaza Strip face catastrophic levels of hunger. Despite the mounting desperation, there’s been no formal declaration of famine.

Gaza has been at risk of famine for months, experts say. Here's why they haven't declared one

U.N. officials, aid groups and experts have warned for months that Palestinians in Gaza are on the brink of famine without formally declaring one.

bit.ly