Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Bill Pitkin @billpitkin.net · Jun 29

I ❤️ LA

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

‘We’re seeing the best of LA’: as Ice raids haunt the city, Angelenos show up for each other

With the largest undocumented population of any US city, much of LA locks in with fundraisers, mutual aid networks and grocery deliveries

www.theguardian.com

Bill Pitkin @billpitkin.net · Jun 15

Other ways to help and stand up lapublicpress.org/2025/06/la-p...

Can’t protest? Here are other ways to get involved in LA

There are lots of other ways to make a difference during Los Angeles ICE raids. “We need you, the people, to stand with immigrants.”

lapublicpress.org

Bill Pitkin @billpitkin.net · Jun 15

Woodland Hills, CA 6.14:25

3

Reposted by Bill Pitkin

Urban Institute @urbaninstitute.bsky.social · Apr 29

How can local #leaders advance long-term social mobility and #economic prosperity in their #communities?

A new Toolkit for Increasing Upward Mobility in Your Community from the Urban Institute offers pathways for creating real, community-driven change to increase upward mobility.

Toolkit for Increasing Upward Mobility in Your Community

upward-mobility.urban.org

2 5

Bill Pitkin @billpitkin.net · Apr 29

Excited to share the @urbaninstitute.bsky.social toolkit our team built to support local leaders working to advance upward mobility. It includes practical tools and examples for local leaders and is live now: upward-mobility.urban.org/toolkit-incr...

Toolkit for Increasing Upward Mobility in Your Community

upward-mobility.urban.org

Reposted by Bill Pitkin

The Onion @theonion.com · Apr 28

ICE Agents Wait At Edge Of Delivery Table To Deport Newborn

980 8.7K 38K

Bill Pitkin @billpitkin.net · Mar 4

Great advice from @urbaninstitute.bsky.social colleagues Martha Fedorowicz and Kimberly Burrowes upward-mobility.urban.org/9-tips-susta...

9 Tips for Sustaining Upward Mobility Initiatives amid Political Change

As anyone who has worked in or with government knows, elections can shift community priorities, budgets, policies, programs, and staffing significantly. Although this is evidenced most clearly by our ...

upward-mobility.urban.org

1 1

Reposted by Bill Pitkin

Urban Institute @urbaninstitute.bsky.social · Feb 26

In recognition of Black History Month, Urban experts used the Upward Mobility Data Dashboard to understand changes in Black homeownership and housing wealth at the county level. A new Urban Wire post shares some of these valuable data insights.

Black Housing Wealth Varies across Local Markets, Despite Recent Improvement in the Black Homeownership Rate Nationally

By identifying notable county-level shifts in the gap between Black households’ share of all households and their share of total home values in recent years, this analysis offers valuable insights for...

www.urban.org

1 2

Bill Pitkin @billpitkin.net · Feb 25

Do the math. We have a huge housing shortage and demand for construction workers, a quarter of whom are immigrants.

www.urban.org/urban-wire/m...

Mass Deportations Would Worsen Our Housing Crisis

Mass deportations would reduce the construction labor force, which is highly dependent on immigrant workers, exacerbating the US housing crisis—but some states are more at risk than others.

www.urban.org

1 1

Bill Pitkin @billpitkin.net · Feb 20

Have you used the Upward Mobility Data Dashboard to explore insights into the key conditions affecting upward mobility across the US? If so, we’d love your feedback!

Please take a few minutes to complete a brief survey: urban.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

Bill Pitkin @billpitkin.net · Feb 20

At beautiful Union Station, no less

1

Bill Pitkin @billpitkin.net · Feb 19

Eliminating the Dept of Education could seriously hamper protections and funding for disabled children to get a free, appropriate education, according to Urban colleagues @alexis-weaver.bsky.social @sjpopkin.bsky.social and Dana Ferrante

www.urban.org/urban-wire/h...

How Dismantling the Education Department Could Affect Disabled Students Across the US

Though states and local governments are primarily responsible for K–12 education, the US Department of Education is critical to ensuring disabled children in every community have access to a free, appropriate public education.

www.urban.org

1 4

Reposted by Bill Pitkin

Erin Reed @erininthemorning.com · Feb 13

The National Park Service has removed "T" and all mention of transgender people from the Stonewall National Monument.

Trans women were some of the most influential activists behind the Stonewall movement and what followed.

3 articles of clothing laws were why raids happened.

Erasure.

Stonewall
National Monument
New York
Info

Alerts

Maps

Calendar

Fees
“By the time of Stonewall...we had 50 to 60 gay groups in the country. A year later...1500.”
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living openly as a lesbian, gay, bisexual (LGB) person was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for LGB civil rights and provided momentum for a movement.

Five visitors and one park ranger standing next to an iron fence as they post rainbow flags.
Plan Your Visit
Located in Greenwich Village, New York City, Stonewall National Monument is one of the many parks in New York Harbor.

Educational images of leaning at Stonewall National Monument
Education
No Matter where you are, we can bring Stonewall National Monument to your classroom. Find teachers resources here.

A rainbow flag overlaid with "Stonewall National Monument, Established 2016" with the NPS arrowhead.
LGB Flags
What are LGB flags and what days should we celebrate them? Click here to find out.

150 2.1K 5.5K

Bill Pitkin @billpitkin.net · Feb 14

A warning from a self-described "self-respecting conservative"

www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...

Bill Pitkin @billpitkin.net · Feb 12

“What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly.” - Pope Francis

nymag.com/intelligence...

Pope Informs J.D. Vance He’s Wrong About Migrants, Christianity

The Catholic VP offered a theological defense of his “America First” immigration policies. Pope Francis had some notes.

nymag.com

1 2

Reposted by Bill Pitkin

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities @centeronbudget.bsky.social · Feb 11

Millions rely on Treasury payments for Social Security, veterans’ benefits, and public services. DOGE’s access to these systems raises risks of delays, security breaches, and political interference. Here’s what you need to know: www.cbpp.org/research/fed...

“DOGE” Access to Treasury Payment Systems Raises Serious Risks | Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

This primer explains what the Bureau of the Fiscal Service does, how it has traditionally been managed by career civil servants, and the risks posed by tampering with the system.

www.cbpp.org

1 12 20

Reposted by Bill Pitkin

Dan Immergluck @danimmergluck.bsky.social · Feb 6

Turner will try to privatize Fannie/Freddie. Privatizing GSEs will give the upside of massive mortgage market to private shareholders & leave downside to taxpayers. It will also unleash massive predatory financial practices, especially with eviscerated CFPB.

For more: prospect.org/special-repo...

Exclusive | Fannie, Freddie Privatization, Cost-Cutting and New Name Are Priorities for HUD Chief

Scott Turner says he plans to quickly launch a review to root out inefficiencies at the agency.

www.wsj.com

2 16 30

Reposted by Bill Pitkin

Timothy Burke @bubbaprog.xyz · Feb 5

in less than eight years the NCAA went from banning North Carolina from hosting championships due to its bathroom bill to... this.

Jesse Dougherty @jessedougherty.bsky.social · Feb 5

Statement from NCAA president Charlie Baker on Donald Trump’s executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports.

Says the NCAA will move quickly to align with the EO.

67 1K 3.4K

Reposted by Bill Pitkin

Kathryn Pettit @kpettitdc.bsky.social · Feb 4

📢 Exciting news as my first Bluesky post! New Local Data for Equitable Communities CFP from @rwjf.bsky.social and @urbaninstitute.bsky.social for #nonprofits using data to advance #equity in the physical, economic and social conditions that affect health. Learn more at urbn.is/localdatagrant

"Local Data for Equitable Communities" is in bold text. Below that, a line drawing shows a vibrant community scene with houses, an apartment building, a bus stop, a playground and people of various ages walking, biking, and playing. The scene has a city skyline in the background and is accented with pastel-colored circles highlighting different parts of the community.

1 4 6

Reposted by Bill Pitkin

Diane Yentel @dianeyentel.bsky.social · Feb 4

Federal judge issues restraining order blocking federal spending freeze www.npr.org/2025/02/03/n...

Federal judge issues restraining order blocking federal spending freeze

The order came in response to a memo released by the Office of Management and Budget last week directing agencies to freeze funding for federal grants and other programs.

www.npr.org

5 13

Reposted by Bill Pitkin

Clint Smith @clintsmithiii.bsky.social · Jan 30

Black Lives Matter fundamentally broke these people’s brains. They couldn’t bear the idea that they might have to tell a different story about this country and thus tell a different story about themselves. They hated it, and now they are using everything they have to never feel that way again.

86 1.4K 6.4K

Bill Pitkin @billpitkin.net · Jan 23

New blog from @housingmatters.bsky.social

Tenant Protections Can Fuel Family Upward Mobility and Community Stability

Innovations in tenant protections show the difference housing stability can make for individuals and cities.

housingmatters.urban.org

1 1

Bill Pitkin @billpitkin.net · Jan 20

I'm honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. today by reading and reflecting on his "Letter from Birmingham Jail," written over 60 years ago but more relevant than ever.

Key excerpt below and full text available at:
shorturl.at/gnKLS

I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.
“Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Martin Luther King, Jr., April 16, 1963

1

Bill Pitkin @billpitkin.net · Jan 16

Any thoughts on the biggest capitalist of them all buying LFC?

Bill Pitkin @billpitkin.net · Jan 16

Needs your hot takes