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drbrakeyyt.bsky.social
David Brake
@drbrakeyyt.bsky.social
200 followers 100 following 65 posts
Journalist, policy wonk, urbanist, PhD, dad, CFA. @EssentialTransitNL.bsky.social and @TransportactionATL.bsky.social Vice Chair of @HappyCitySJ.bsky.social, founder of EVs in Real Life Follow @drbrake for my "old life" (media academic, UK/World affairs)
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drbrakeyyt.bsky.social
David Brake @drbrakeyyt.bsky.social · 8d
This looks strangely familiar to those of us in NL - but since our "future of education" report was produced internally I guess we don't get a refund? pivot-to-ai.com/2025/10/07/d...
Deloitte Australia retracts ChatGPT report, refunds government
We noted in August how Deloitte Australia did a report for the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) that looked extremely chatbot. It was full of fake references, and some of the…
pivot-to-ai.com
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Reposted by David Brake
americanfietser.bsky.social
American Fietser @americanfietser.bsky.social · 8d
If your school zone infrastructure doesn't look like this, maybe it's time to start asking why not.
radrevolte.bsky.social
radrevolte @radrevolte.bsky.social · 9d
Fahrradfahren verlernt man nicht. Und in den Niederlanden gibt man den Menschen erst gar keine Gründe, damit aufzuhören
🇳🇱❤️🚲
Ein Herr auf einem Fahrrad auf rot asphaltierter Radinfrastruktur, auf der das niederländische Wort für Schule steht
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drbrakeyyt.bsky.social
David Brake @drbrakeyyt.bsky.social · 10d
I have little insider knowledge but Drew Brown's analysis of the state of NL politics rings dismayingly true. His first step to a solution - keep big money donations out of provincial politics - is as obvious as it is necessary. It's a minor tragedy he's bowing out of covering the scene here.
independentnl.bsky.social
The Independent @independentnl.bsky.social · 10d
We’re cutting through the undergrowth to find out why our political parties feel dead — and what might liven them up

Read Part 2 of Drew Brown's analysis of N.L.'s political system ahead of the 2025 provincial election on Oct. 14.
#nlpoli
theindependent.ca/commentary/a...
How N.L. became the life (and death) of the party – The Independent
We’re cutting through the undergrowth to find out why our political parties feel dead — and what might liven them up
theindependent.ca
drbrakeyyt.bsky.social
David Brake @drbrakeyyt.bsky.social · 26d
Impressive - one of the region's few remaining independent news outlets managed (with Federal help) to get reporting about the Inuit community from an Inuk journalist actually living there.
independentnl.bsky.social
The Independent @independentnl.bsky.social · Sep 15
"We’re seeing the culture slowly fade away,” says Rex Holwell, an Inuk elder from Nain.

Read Part 1 of a new 2-part feature from Frey Blake-Pijogge about how climate change is impacting Inuit in #Nunatsiavut.
#nlpoli
theindependent.ca/news/lji/bea...
Bearing the brunt of climate change in Nunatsiavut – The Independent
Inuit in the self-governing region of Labrador speak about the ways climate change is impacting their mental health, food security and culture
theindependent.ca
Reposted by David Brake
draglikepull.bsky.social
draglikepull @draglikepull.bsky.social · 27d
There's always a local angle.
New In Dildo, N.L., where Kimmel is honorary mayor, some residents worry about U.S. free speech
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drbrakeyyt.bsky.social
David Brake @drbrakeyyt.bsky.social · 28d
My favorite fact from the @happycity.ca issue guide: In 2024 only 80 new housing units have been started in St John’s itself, according to the CMHC (up from 48 the previous year). Meanwhile, across the St John’s Metropolitan Area excluding the city itself 791 housing units were started in 2024.
drbrakeyyt.bsky.social
David Brake @drbrakeyyt.bsky.social · 28d
As the ballots start to go out for St Johns' council election, here's an issue overview from @happycity.ca for voters to consider. There are some under-discussed facts there and it's not too late to ask candidates for their thoughts! stjohnsvotes.ca/2025/09/18/e...
Elections 2025 Issues Overview – stjohnsvotes.ca
stjohnsvotes.ca
Reposted by David Brake
happycity.ca
Happy City St. John's @happycity.ca · 28d
Join us for a walk exploring how urban infrastructure impacts pedestrian safety, comfort, and enjoyment in St. John’s. Hosted by a member of Challenge Car Culture, this walk invites conversation about building a city that puts people first.
Parking (ironically) is available in Churchill Square.
Join us for a Jane’s Walk exploring how urban infrastructure impacts pedestrian safety, comfort, and enjoyment in St. John’s. We’ll walk through key areas to examine crosswalk design, sidewalk conditions, traffic flow, and accessibility features—highlighting what works and what doesn’t. This is a participatory event: bring your observations, ideas, and walking shoes. Hosted by a member of Challenge Car Culture, this walk invites conversation about building a city that puts people first. Jane’s Walks are a series of free community walks held annually to highlight the unseen, under-celebrated and unique stories in the cities where we live. This walk begins at the intersection of Pine Bud Ave and Rowan St. Parking is available in Churchill Square.
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drbrakeyyt.bsky.social
David Brake @drbrakeyyt.bsky.social · 29d
I'm confident some good candidates will be elected this time and they will hit the ground running, trying to understand how the city works (or doesn't) and come up with fixes. But a healthy media could help them ask the right questions of city staff and incumbent councillors when they arrive.
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drbrakeyyt.bsky.social
David Brake @drbrakeyyt.bsky.social · 29d
At @happycity.ca I'm proud we have managed to highlight some issues but increasingly we don't get answers from the city to questions we pose on behalf of the public. We don't have the reach that the media used to have that made it difficult for institutions to ignore them. And we can't take sides.
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drbrakeyyt.bsky.social
David Brake @drbrakeyyt.bsky.social · 29d
There's been progress in formal city transparency but this term the council largely kept divisions behind closed doors, and vital long-term issues rarely come up in public council meetings. We need a strong media that can go past press releases, unearth problems and demand answers for the public
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drbrakeyyt.bsky.social
David Brake @drbrakeyyt.bsky.social · 29d
At @happycity.ca I'm proud we put together three candidate debates (linked). I was inspired by the passion of many of the candidates and their desire to solve the city's many problems, but rarely saw systemic analysis informed by solid numbers. How could they know? www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
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drbrakeyyt.bsky.social
David Brake @drbrakeyyt.bsky.social · 29d
It's true there's a provincial election unhelpfully coinciding with the city one. But backgrounders on city issues could have been done weeks ago if the resources had been available. This time around I have seen not a single city issue analysis piece in advance of the election (HMU if I missed one!)
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drbrakeyyt.bsky.social
David Brake @drbrakeyyt.bsky.social · 29d
🧵I helped @happycity.ca track coverage of candidates and issues in the last city election. We linked to 8 issue-based pieces in the Independent, five by the CBC, three by the Telegram, multiple interviews of candidates and more. This year there's been almost nothing. web.archive.org/web/20211016...
Meet The Candidates – St. John's Votes
web.archive.org
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Reposted by David Brake
energy.iisd.org
IISD Energy @energy.iisd.org · Sep 15
This Thursday! 👇
energy.iisd.org
IISD Energy @energy.iisd.org · Sep 12
Canada is directing billions in public money to support #LNG exports—yet, global demand is increasingly uncertain.

On Sept. 18 IISD’s Danielle LaBrash provides a closer look at numbers from a new report ➕ discusses the economic risks.

Register now:
iisd.org/events/Canad...
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Reposted by David Brake
happycity.ca
Happy City St. John's @happycity.ca · Sep 11
Meet the mayoral/deputy mayor candidates for St. John's!

Join us Sept 15 at 7pm at Memorial University's Bruneau Centre to hear their plans for our city's future.

Register at donorbox.org/events/81254...
St. John's Municipal Election poster featuring "Mayoral/Deputy Mayor Candidate Talk" in large blue text. The design shows two illustrated candidates at podiums against a city skyline backdrop. Event details: September 15, 2025, 7:00 PM at Memorial University Bruneau Centre (IIC 2001). Includes QR code for registration and stjohnsvotes.ca website. Organized by Happy City as indicated by their logo.
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drbrakeyyt.bsky.social
David Brake @drbrakeyyt.bsky.social · Sep 10
Proud to be on the board of @happycity.ca which put on the first of its three municipal debates - did my heart good to see nine city councillor candidates nearly all of whom seemed to have a sense of the changes St John's desperately needs. And a packed house of engaged residents!
Reposted by David Brake
davidzipper.bsky.social
David Zipper @davidzipper.bsky.social · Aug 12
In The Guardian, London Mayor Sadiq Khan calls for urban 20-mph speed limits across the UK:

"There is nothing to be gained by playing politics with speed limits – only people to be injured and lives to be lost."
Dear Britain, it’s now clear: 20mph zones save lives and don’t slow traffic. Implement them | Sadiq Khan
There is too much bluff and bluster on this subject. Ordinary people just want safe streets for themselves and those they love, and we can achieve that, says London mayor Sadiq Khan
www.theguardian.com
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Reposted by David Brake
drbrake.bsky.social
Dr David R Brake @drbrake.bsky.social · Aug 9
🧵This book is definitely a mixed bag with some A+ content, some that has not aged well and some that looks... well... weird! First the best messages...
socio-steve.bsky.social
Stephen Nuñez @socio-steve.bsky.social · Aug 8
My wife just shared with me, "The ABC of City Planning," a children's book Mayor La Guardia’s Committee on City Planning released in 1937. I have a feeling the urbanists on Bluesky are going to like this.

chpcny.org/wp-content/u...
chpcny.org
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Reposted by David Brake
carsten-diekmann.bsky.social
Carsten Diekmann @carsten-diekmann.bsky.social · Aug 9
The city of Bonn is awarding craft businesses a giant cargo bike for one month so they can test whether they can switch to these vehicles.

It's a great project.

Craft businesses in 🇩🇪 in particular are small, often with only a handful of employees, who cannot afford to experiment with their fleet.
Das Projekt "Flottes Gewerbe" soll Handwerksbetriebe in Bonn vom Lastenrad überzeugen
Für viele Betriebe steht bisher fest: Ohne Auto geht's nicht. Die Stadt Bonn will nun Handwerksbetriebe vom Lastenrad überzeugen.
www1.wdr.de
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Reposted by David Brake
sethdklein.bsky.social
Seth Klein @sethdklein.bsky.social · Aug 7
This Massachusetts town banned gas — and housing boomed anyway.
Critics say stringent, pro-electrification building codes and restrictions on natural gas will impede housing developers. A Boston suburb is proving them wrong.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/ele...
This Massachusetts town banned gas — and housing boomed anyway
Critics say stringent, pro-electrification building codes and restrictions on natural gas will impede housing developers. A Boston suburb is proving them…
www.canarymedia.com
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Reposted by David Brake
barrydeutsch.bsky.social
Barry Deutsch @barrydeutsch.bsky.social · Aug 7
Jon Steingart @jonsteingart The Calif. Supreme Court decided a case that could add billions in labor costs to employers' bottom line by requiring them to pay employees for work time that previously went uncompensated w*lic///yp*n_k @wolicyponk Replying to @jonsteingart "you have to pay employees for work" being framed as "adding billions to labor costs" is the most America thing ever
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Reposted by David Brake
sundance.bikesky.social
Sundance @sundance.bikesky.social · Aug 6
Three images the top one is of cars with exhaust fumes in the middle of an EV charger and the bottom is a cargo bike. The text follows the format to the meme “they sell us poison so we buy their cures while they suppress our medicine” Bikesky
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Reposted by David Brake
ryankatzrosene.bsky.social
Ryan Katz-Rosene, PhD @ryankatzrosene.bsky.social · Aug 3
So far this year Canadian wildfires have burned an area (much) larger than the total area of Nova Scotia and PEI combined.
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Reposted by David Brake
tomflood.bsky.social
Tom Flood @tomflood.bsky.social · Aug 3
the journey.

creative developed with @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social
Journey of a bike advocate. Goes on bike ride - smile emoji Experiences the danger - shocked emoji Approaches city council - straight face emoji nothing changes angry enoji person throwing a molotov cocktail Dreams of ending car culture
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