Chris Townley
@cdtownley.bsky.social
I miss the good Internet, maybe I am getting old. Cosplaying as a transportation planner by day. Other interests include old houses, whisk(e)y, photography, and spatial data science. I probably won't talk about any of them though. Jersey grown.
Pinned
@mikiesherrill.bsky.social Us next?
NEW: Abigail Spanberger this afternoon ordered that all state agencies leave ICE's 287(g) program.
This means that the state police (and some other agencies) will no longer be empowered to detain and arrest people for ICE.
Big, big move by the governor within weeks of coming into office.
This means that the state police (and some other agencies) will no longer be empowered to detain and arrest people for ICE.
Big, big move by the governor within weeks of coming into office.
Virginia’s New Governor Ends ICE Program. Local Contracts Remain, For Now. - Bolts
Abigail Spanberger left the 287(g) program, which empowered state law enforcement to detain immigrants. Will Democrats also bar local police and sheriffs from the program?
boltsmag.org
February 6, 2026 at 12:44 AM
@mikiesherrill.bsky.social Us next?
Reposted by Chris Townley
Except WaPo didn't just die. This isn't a natural death. At best, this was negligent homicide. At worst, murder. Bezos killed WaPo, either deliberately or through willful neglect.
February 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Except WaPo didn't just die. This isn't a natural death. At best, this was negligent homicide. At worst, murder. Bezos killed WaPo, either deliberately or through willful neglect.
Reposted by Chris Townley
Fucking surreal that people dressed like this and carrying assault rifles are permitted to kidnap people off our streets
February 3, 2026 at 11:35 PM
Fucking surreal that people dressed like this and carrying assault rifles are permitted to kidnap people off our streets
@kim.senate.gov oversight isn't the answer.
Disbanding ICE & CBP and banning its members from ever holding any office of trust under the United States, including as local cops, would be an anti-crime measure
"Criminality is so rampant inside CBP that it has seen one of its own agents or officers arrested every 24 to 36 hours since 2005."
"it appears the crime rate of CBP agents and offices was higher PER CAPITA than the crime rate of undocumented immigrants." www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/accountabi...
"it appears the crime rate of CBP agents and offices was higher PER CAPITA than the crime rate of undocumented immigrants." www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/accountabi...
February 4, 2026 at 1:11 AM
@kim.senate.gov oversight isn't the answer.
Reposted by Chris Townley
Reposted by Chris Townley
Political Scientists would call it a "tactical concession" (RRS' Spiral Model). Human rights and democracy campaigners need to make sure it leads to more gains (positive spiral) instead of stalling progress (negative spiral).
The biggest risk in this moment is something sociologists call “symbolic compliance.”
That’s when an institution that is violating civil rights gives the public just enough symbolic victories that accountability efforts lose steam before there has been any meaningful change.
That’s when an institution that is violating civil rights gives the public just enough symbolic victories that accountability efforts lose steam before there has been any meaningful change.
January 27, 2026 at 12:40 AM
Political Scientists would call it a "tactical concession" (RRS' Spiral Model). Human rights and democracy campaigners need to make sure it leads to more gains (positive spiral) instead of stalling progress (negative spiral).
Reposted by Chris Townley
This can’t be repeated enough. Not only won’t they investigate, they may never even tell us who did this.
Think about the message that sends to the next ones. Nobody is safe.
Think about the message that sends to the next ones. Nobody is safe.
January 26, 2026 at 5:22 AM
This can’t be repeated enough. Not only won’t they investigate, they may never even tell us who did this.
Think about the message that sends to the next ones. Nobody is safe.
Think about the message that sends to the next ones. Nobody is safe.
Reposted by Chris Townley
This family statement is absolutely devastating to read.
First, it should never have had to be written. The ease with which Trump’s admin takes someone’s life, and in this case a citizen, is disgusting and wrong. 1/2
First, it should never have had to be written. The ease with which Trump’s admin takes someone’s life, and in this case a citizen, is disgusting and wrong. 1/2
January 25, 2026 at 3:27 PM
This family statement is absolutely devastating to read.
First, it should never have had to be written. The ease with which Trump’s admin takes someone’s life, and in this case a citizen, is disgusting and wrong. 1/2
First, it should never have had to be written. The ease with which Trump’s admin takes someone’s life, and in this case a citizen, is disgusting and wrong. 1/2
Fixed my snowblower, so central jersey is no longer going to get any snow this weekend. You're welcome.
January 23, 2026 at 12:23 AM
Fixed my snowblower, so central jersey is no longer going to get any snow this weekend. You're welcome.
Reposted by Chris Townley
The people are saying it loud and clear: ICE is dangerous, violent, and operating with impunity.
Our elected leaders must seize this moment and take bold action to block any more funding of ICE's operations.
Our elected leaders must seize this moment and take bold action to block any more funding of ICE's operations.
Public opinion shifts on ICE as advocates warn of US ‘inflection point’
Amid growing unrest in wake of Minnesota killing, rights observers say US Congress must take action to curtail agency.
www.aljazeera.com
January 22, 2026 at 6:37 PM
The people are saying it loud and clear: ICE is dangerous, violent, and operating with impunity.
Our elected leaders must seize this moment and take bold action to block any more funding of ICE's operations.
Our elected leaders must seize this moment and take bold action to block any more funding of ICE's operations.
Reposted by Chris Townley
Outgoing NJ governor Phil Murphy pardoned a killer driver on his last day in office. The driver was the son of a powerful South Jersey Democratic boss. That looks pretty corrupt to me. A killer hit-and-run driver, who stuck and killed a pedestrian. www.nj.com/politics/202...
In one of his final acts, Murphy pardoned son of Democratic power broker
The driver, the son of a powerful attorney, was pardoned the same day he was found guilty in a fatal hit-and-run.
www.nj.com
January 21, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Outgoing NJ governor Phil Murphy pardoned a killer driver on his last day in office. The driver was the son of a powerful South Jersey Democratic boss. That looks pretty corrupt to me. A killer hit-and-run driver, who stuck and killed a pedestrian. www.nj.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Chris Townley
Minneapolis schools are closing because non-white families can't go outside and Senate Dems are like "ok but you gotta buy some body cameras for ICE"
Minibus is out. Democrats were able to include some guardrails in about ICE:
-restricts ICE to spending $3.8 billion of its annual budget
on detention as opposed to being able to spend $10 billion
-$20 million that must be used for body cameras 1/
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
-restricts ICE to spending $3.8 billion of its annual budget
on detention as opposed to being able to spend $10 billion
-$20 million that must be used for body cameras 1/
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
www.appropriations.senate.gov
January 20, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Minneapolis schools are closing because non-white families can't go outside and Senate Dems are like "ok but you gotta buy some body cameras for ICE"
Reposted by Chris Townley
Abolish Cory Booker.
Jonathan Ross was so well trained he trained other agents.
“New legislation I'm announcing will require ICE to adopt rigorous training hiring standards, and for their agents to wear body cameras.”
Jonathan Ross was so well trained he trained other agents.
“New legislation I'm announcing will require ICE to adopt rigorous training hiring standards, and for their agents to wear body cameras.”
January 17, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Abolish Cory Booker.
Jonathan Ross was so well trained he trained other agents.
“New legislation I'm announcing will require ICE to adopt rigorous training hiring standards, and for their agents to wear body cameras.”
Jonathan Ross was so well trained he trained other agents.
“New legislation I'm announcing will require ICE to adopt rigorous training hiring standards, and for their agents to wear body cameras.”
Reposted by Chris Townley
Stunning photos from Minneapolis, including this one by John Locher for the Associated Press. www.theatlantic.com/photography/...
January 15, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Stunning photos from Minneapolis, including this one by John Locher for the Associated Press. www.theatlantic.com/photography/...
This sign looks like a ransom note. Also I didn't see anyone actually push the button to active the mid-block crosswalk signal.
January 15, 2026 at 2:41 PM
This sign looks like a ransom note. Also I didn't see anyone actually push the button to active the mid-block crosswalk signal.
Reposted by Chris Townley
Give me liberty or give me death.
January 14, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Give me liberty or give me death.
Reposted by Chris Townley
NJ Residents
Here is a phone script from @bikejc.org on the damaging e-bike bill that is about to be put to a full legislative vote on Monday. A6235/S4834 Call your Assembly Members and Senator today. www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-...
Here is a phone script from @bikejc.org on the damaging e-bike bill that is about to be put to a full legislative vote on Monday. A6235/S4834 Call your Assembly Members and Senator today. www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-...
January 9, 2026 at 7:33 PM
NJ Residents
Here is a phone script from @bikejc.org on the damaging e-bike bill that is about to be put to a full legislative vote on Monday. A6235/S4834 Call your Assembly Members and Senator today. www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-...
Here is a phone script from @bikejc.org on the damaging e-bike bill that is about to be put to a full legislative vote on Monday. A6235/S4834 Call your Assembly Members and Senator today. www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-...
Reposted by Chris Townley
ICE out of our cities!
January 8, 2026 at 4:12 AM
ICE out of our cities!
Reposted by Chris Townley
I was sent the full, 4:30 video, so I am posting it here in two parts.
Part 1:
Part 1:
January 7, 2026 at 8:25 PM
I was sent the full, 4:30 video, so I am posting it here in two parts.
Part 1:
Part 1:
Reposted by Chris Townley
About god damn time.
Furious Democrats threaten government shutdown after Minneapolis shooting
"We can't just keep authorizing money for these illegal killers," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal.
www.axios.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:22 AM
About god damn time.
Reposted by Chris Townley
It would be so cool if the United States Congress still existed.
January 4, 2026 at 5:04 AM
It would be so cool if the United States Congress still existed.
Reposted by Chris Townley
It's an old and obvious pattern. An unpopular president - failing on the economy and losing his grip on power at home - decides to launch a war for regime change abroad.
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
January 3, 2026 at 5:08 PM
It's an old and obvious pattern. An unpopular president - failing on the economy and losing his grip on power at home - decides to launch a war for regime change abroad.
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
Reposted by Chris Townley
New speed camera replacement just dropped in Ford’s Ontario
January 2, 2026 at 5:55 PM
New speed camera replacement just dropped in Ford’s Ontario