J. I. Swiderski, MURP
@swiderski.bsky.social
// 🚶, 🚲, & 🚌 advocate & planner
// DC Michigander; Pitt+VATech alum
// fan of PGH, SF, cities; walking, bikes, & buses; libraries; maps; baseball, football, & hockey; puns; oxford commas; & semicolons
// Opinions mine, but you can have 'em
// 💜🤍💚 they/he
// DC Michigander; Pitt+VATech alum
// fan of PGH, SF, cities; walking, bikes, & buses; libraries; maps; baseball, football, & hockey; puns; oxford commas; & semicolons
// Opinions mine, but you can have 'em
// 💜🤍💚 they/he
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
Pulling the most recent police log led me to once again see an incredible holiday decoration picture a cousin in Omaha sent me
November 26, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Pulling the most recent police log led me to once again see an incredible holiday decoration picture a cousin in Omaha sent me
"On average, something that cost $25,000 in 1986 would take about $75,000 to purchase today. But health care costs have risen even faster…$25,000 in 1986 medical expenses equals about $145,000 today. Yet DC’s [driver insurance] minimums have stood still for nearly 40 years."
Sam Trumbull: DC’s outdated insurance laws are failing victims — and Councilmember McDuffie’s committee could fix it
I was born in 1986. Marion Barry had just started his third term as mayor. The space shuttle Challenger disaster had shocked the nation. The Washington football team made it to the NFC championship game as a wild card. And, while seatbelts had been mandatory for 18 years, fewer than 60% of people used them regularly.
It was also the year DC’s current car insurance minimums were set.
thedcline.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:48 PM
"On average, something that cost $25,000 in 1986 would take about $75,000 to purchase today. But health care costs have risen even faster…$25,000 in 1986 medical expenses equals about $145,000 today. Yet DC’s [driver insurance] minimums have stood still for nearly 40 years."
"What is the return-to-office paradox?"
"…When leaders keep talking about 'returning,' it sounds less like a strategic plan and more like nostalgia for a pre-2020 world.…The paradox is that leaders are trying to 'return' to a place that no longer exists for many in their own organization."
"…When leaders keep talking about 'returning,' it sounds less like a strategic plan and more like nostalgia for a pre-2020 world.…The paradox is that leaders are trying to 'return' to a place that no longer exists for many in their own organization."
Rethinking work: Why human-centered collaboration beats return-to-office mandates
When University of Michigan professor Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks hears the phrase "return to work," he recognizes a paradox: In the post-pandemic era, business leaders seek to "return" to a place that neve...
news.umich.edu
November 26, 2025 at 2:40 PM
"What is the return-to-office paradox?"
"…When leaders keep talking about 'returning,' it sounds less like a strategic plan and more like nostalgia for a pre-2020 world.…The paradox is that leaders are trying to 'return' to a place that no longer exists for many in their own organization."
"…When leaders keep talking about 'returning,' it sounds less like a strategic plan and more like nostalgia for a pre-2020 world.…The paradox is that leaders are trying to 'return' to a place that no longer exists for many in their own organization."
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
I heard there was a Cohen song,
And all the Christians got it wrong,
But you don’t really get the meaning do ya?
‘Cause you see its about getting laid,
It’s sex, and love, and Jewish faith,
But all the gentiles heard was “hallelujah!”
And all the Christians got it wrong,
But you don’t really get the meaning do ya?
‘Cause you see its about getting laid,
It’s sex, and love, and Jewish faith,
But all the gentiles heard was “hallelujah!”
November 23, 2025 at 4:13 AM
I heard there was a Cohen song,
And all the Christians got it wrong,
But you don’t really get the meaning do ya?
‘Cause you see its about getting laid,
It’s sex, and love, and Jewish faith,
But all the gentiles heard was “hallelujah!”
And all the Christians got it wrong,
But you don’t really get the meaning do ya?
‘Cause you see its about getting laid,
It’s sex, and love, and Jewish faith,
But all the gentiles heard was “hallelujah!”
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
Voters were clear that this was what they wanted. It’s a good program that expands democracy and the Board of Elections has told us they are ready to implement. It’s time to move forward.
Fresh off grilling elections officials at a hearing yesterday, Wendell Felder introduces a bill meant to delay the implementation of ranked-choice voting.
A similar push failed during the budget talks. And, FWIW, BOE said Monday it was on track to have RCV ready by June...
A similar push failed during the budget talks. And, FWIW, BOE said Monday it was on track to have RCV ready by June...
November 25, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Voters were clear that this was what they wanted. It’s a good program that expands democracy and the Board of Elections has told us they are ready to implement. It’s time to move forward.
"Over a year ago, we approached WAMU about [possibly] acquiring DCist’s newsletter list and social media accounts.
Last week, we received a final answer: No."
(Can't say I'm entirely surprised, but it shouldn't have taken a year to reply. Either way, sign back up now: 51st.news/membership/?...)
Last week, we received a final answer: No."
(Can't say I'm entirely surprised, but it shouldn't have taken a year to reply. Either way, sign back up now: 51st.news/membership/?...)
When DCist was shut down, it had 70,000+ subscribers.
The 51st is proud to carry forward the spirit with which DCist served our city.
But we can’t stop thinking about how most of those subscribers — our neighbors and friends — are just no longer receiving the kind of local news they signed up for.
The 51st is proud to carry forward the spirit with which DCist served our city.
But we can’t stop thinking about how most of those subscribers — our neighbors and friends — are just no longer receiving the kind of local news they signed up for.
November 25, 2025 at 10:56 PM
"Over a year ago, we approached WAMU about [possibly] acquiring DCist’s newsletter list and social media accounts.
Last week, we received a final answer: No."
(Can't say I'm entirely surprised, but it shouldn't have taken a year to reply. Either way, sign back up now: 51st.news/membership/?...)
Last week, we received a final answer: No."
(Can't say I'm entirely surprised, but it shouldn't have taken a year to reply. Either way, sign back up now: 51st.news/membership/?...)
Glad to see @cmnadeauoffice.bsky.social's newsletter today lead off with a strong defense of streateries in DC, especially on 18th St, and follow with links both to the Crosstown Bus Priority Project and the Strategic Bikeway Plan Public Workshop for Ward 1.
preview.mailerlite.com/o4e2r1n7b8/2...
preview.mailerlite.com/o4e2r1n7b8/2...
Ward 1 Update: Preserving progress for pedestrians
preview.mailerlite.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Glad to see @cmnadeauoffice.bsky.social's newsletter today lead off with a strong defense of streateries in DC, especially on 18th St, and follow with links both to the Crosstown Bus Priority Project and the Strategic Bikeway Plan Public Workshop for Ward 1.
preview.mailerlite.com/o4e2r1n7b8/2...
preview.mailerlite.com/o4e2r1n7b8/2...
Metro could be forgiven for forgetting that Amtrak stops at Rockville, seeing as it receives exactly one (1) train per day in each direction.
Today's westbound train, incidentally, is currently over four hours late. Hope you didn't have a transfer to catch or someone waiting to pick you up….
Today's westbound train, incidentally, is currently over four hours late. Hope you didn't have a transfer to catch or someone waiting to pick you up….
We forgot to also mention Rockville! That means Amtrak is accessible from FOUR Metro stations making your Thanksgiving travel plans even easier!
November 25, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Metro could be forgiven for forgetting that Amtrak stops at Rockville, seeing as it receives exactly one (1) train per day in each direction.
Today's westbound train, incidentally, is currently over four hours late. Hope you didn't have a transfer to catch or someone waiting to pick you up….
Today's westbound train, incidentally, is currently over four hours late. Hope you didn't have a transfer to catch or someone waiting to pick you up….
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
A councilmember who won his primary last year with 23.7% of the vote wants to delay implementing ranked choice voting. The at-large CM who won her last primary with 35.9% agrees that making her run for reelection next year under RCV would be a bad idea.
Felder continues to be critical of the election board's capacity to pull off ranked-choice voting in 2026.
"Before we roll out something of this magnitude I would think we need to do a needs assessment," he says to Evans. "You’ve been tasked with an arduous task. It’s unfair."
"Before we roll out something of this magnitude I would think we need to do a needs assessment," he says to Evans. "You’ve been tasked with an arduous task. It’s unfair."
November 24, 2025 at 7:16 PM
A councilmember who won his primary last year with 23.7% of the vote wants to delay implementing ranked choice voting. The at-large CM who won her last primary with 35.9% agrees that making her run for reelection next year under RCV would be a bad idea.
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
once again, getting a little "L'État, c'est moi" up in this bitch
The White House's LinkedIn presence has changed their icon from the presidential seal to Trump's glowering face, so now anybody who worked for the White House has this shit on our LinkedIn profiles. www.linkedin.com/company/the-...
November 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
once again, getting a little "L'État, c'est moi" up in this bitch
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
A different type of loaf.
November 24, 2025 at 4:52 AM
A different type of loaf.
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
Is it pretentiousness or a desire to legitimize conflict to fuel more articles and more clicks that drives NYT to use phrases like “challenge scientific orthodoxy” instead of just reporting it straight-up as “ignoring decades of data”?
Breaking News: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he personally instructed the CDC to abandon its position that vaccines do not cause autism. The move underscores his determination to challenge scientific orthodoxy — in this case, that vaccines save lives — and bend the health department to his will.
RFK Jr. Says He Instructed CDC to Change Vaccines and Autism Language on Website
In an interview, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cited gaps in vaccine safety research. His critics say he is ignoring a larger point: Vaccines save lives.
nyti.ms
November 23, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Is it pretentiousness or a desire to legitimize conflict to fuel more articles and more clicks that drives NYT to use phrases like “challenge scientific orthodoxy” instead of just reporting it straight-up as “ignoring decades of data”?
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
I’ve suggested this before, but this is an even clearer case where folks need to form a group named something like “Penn Jews Against Antisemitism” and then sue the admin—with their name leading on the caption.
Well, this is chilling AF.
The Department of Education is suing Penn (in their quest for "combat antisemitism") requesting detailed information about Jewish faculty and staff.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
1/2
The Department of Education is suing Penn (in their quest for "combat antisemitism") requesting detailed information about Jewish faculty and staff.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
1/2
storage.courtlistener.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:28 PM
I’ve suggested this before, but this is an even clearer case where folks need to form a group named something like “Penn Jews Against Antisemitism” and then sue the admin—with their name leading on the caption.
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
Why would they want to silence and intimidate you? You’re a reliable Republican vote for rolling back DC’s local policing reforms and against “Socialism” on the eve of Mayor-elect Mamdani’s visit to the White House. Mike Johnson loves you.
This week, I demanded the release of a 2019 phone call transcript between President Trump and MBS. This obviously touched a nerve. The very next day, they spew lies to silence and intimidate me.
It’s not going to work
It’s not going to work
November 22, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Why would they want to silence and intimidate you? You’re a reliable Republican vote for rolling back DC’s local policing reforms and against “Socialism” on the eve of Mayor-elect Mamdani’s visit to the White House. Mike Johnson loves you.
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
all my homies are
November 22, 2025 at 2:15 PM
all my homies are
I suppose chickens in leather _was_ the inevitable result of cows hawking (*cough*) chicken sandwiches…
[alt: a DC Peruvian-chicken shop with a giant inflatable chicken perched above the shop window wearing black boots and a pleather(?) beret. There's a large leather-pride flag over the door.]
[alt: a DC Peruvian-chicken shop with a giant inflatable chicken perched above the shop window wearing black boots and a pleather(?) beret. There's a large leather-pride flag over the door.]
November 21, 2025 at 11:34 PM
I suppose chickens in leather _was_ the inevitable result of cows hawking (*cough*) chicken sandwiches…
[alt: a DC Peruvian-chicken shop with a giant inflatable chicken perched above the shop window wearing black boots and a pleather(?) beret. There's a large leather-pride flag over the door.]
[alt: a DC Peruvian-chicken shop with a giant inflatable chicken perched above the shop window wearing black boots and a pleather(?) beret. There's a large leather-pride flag over the door.]
The 51st's giant ad blocks occasionally produce some...entertaining juxtapositions....
November 21, 2025 at 3:04 PM
The 51st's giant ad blocks occasionally produce some...entertaining juxtapositions....
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
Across all the planets in the milky way the average number of trees per planet is at least 30
Man, everything is so bleak, anyone got a fun fact or little bit of trivia they want to share
November 21, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Across all the planets in the milky way the average number of trees per planet is at least 30
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
i don't harbor any illusion that it's even possible to opt-out of every AI, every absurd overreach of data collection and invasion of privacy, but it does feel good to toggle everything off that you can get your hands on, if only out of spite
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 10:30 PM
i don't harbor any illusion that it's even possible to opt-out of every AI, every absurd overreach of data collection and invasion of privacy, but it does feel good to toggle everything off that you can get your hands on, if only out of spite
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
Why does @gene4va.bsky.social keep voting for horrible Trump bills that take away DC home? If you are his constituent, perhaps you could call his office and ask?
I am especially disappointed in @gene4va.bsky.social. He has now voted SEVEN times to advance Trump’s takeover of DC. He claims to support democracy, but then opposes it at almost every turn for the city just 40 minutes away. Why is this local Dem supporting Trump’s agenda so strongly?
November 20, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Why does @gene4va.bsky.social keep voting for horrible Trump bills that take away DC home? If you are his constituent, perhaps you could call his office and ask?
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
Autocorrect has become our worst enema.
November 19, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Autocorrect has become our worst enema.
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
As a District resident, it’s really hard to articulate just how morally offensive this is.
These 20 House Democrats just joined Republicans in voting to fully repeal DC's police reform laws.
Wiping off the books critical laws on use of force, transparency, and preventing violent cops from getting rehired.
They think that they should have more say over DC police than the people of DC.
Wiping off the books critical laws on use of force, transparency, and preventing violent cops from getting rehired.
They think that they should have more say over DC police than the people of DC.
November 20, 2025 at 3:36 AM
As a District resident, it’s really hard to articulate just how morally offensive this is.
Suit alleges hostile work environment at DC Dept of Employment Svcs due to sexist boss & unresponsive HR.
DC's response seems to be "being witness to numerous abusive comments doesn't make it a hostile work environment, plus some of those comments weren't sexist, they were abusive in other ways…."
DC's response seems to be "being witness to numerous abusive comments doesn't make it a hostile work environment, plus some of those comments weren't sexist, they were abusive in other ways…."
Renata Naylor reported “rampant sex discrimination” by her boss at DOES. She says agency leaders failed to address her complaints and fired her soon after.
Now she’s suing the District. Full story:
Now she’s suing the District. Full story:
Department of Employment Services Manager Fired After She Alleged Sexual Discrimination and Retaliation
Renata Naylor accused Daniel King of persistent sexual harassment and discrimination. She was fired soon after.
buff.ly
November 19, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Suit alleges hostile work environment at DC Dept of Employment Svcs due to sexist boss & unresponsive HR.
DC's response seems to be "being witness to numerous abusive comments doesn't make it a hostile work environment, plus some of those comments weren't sexist, they were abusive in other ways…."
DC's response seems to be "being witness to numerous abusive comments doesn't make it a hostile work environment, plus some of those comments weren't sexist, they were abusive in other ways…."
Reposted by J. I. Swiderski, MURP
I know we’re all desensitized to this and he says truly dangerous things regularly but this is objectively ridiculous and it makes him sound like a child.
Trump: My pollsters said, 'sir, if George Washington and Abraham Lincoln came back from the dead and they aligned and they went for the president, vice president as a combination, you'd be beating them by 25 points.'
November 19, 2025 at 7:37 PM
I know we’re all desensitized to this and he says truly dangerous things regularly but this is objectively ridiculous and it makes him sound like a child.