David Zoltan (he/they)
@wonkicorn.bsky.social
Human Rights Activist specializing in Housing & Disability policy. Queer, multiply disabled, formerly homeless, socialist, abolitionist, anti-Zionist Jew & son of immigrants. Antifa, always.
All opinions are my own, not of any organization, unless stated.
All opinions are my own, not of any organization, unless stated.
Pinned
“Do not be overwhelmed by the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” -Rabbi Tarfon
As a signatory of the demand letter, I can't lie. This hurts. This trend needs to not just stop, but reverse. This is money that must be used to address social determinants of health & safety, not carceral solutions. We've seen how carceral solutions lead to & enforce fascism. We need to do better.
new: i read the 2026 cook county budget so you don't have to.
spoiler: more money for police and prosecutors (plus a lot of other stuff).
spoiler: more money for police and prosecutors (plus a lot of other stuff).
Cook County law enforcement agencies get more money in 2026
The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved large investments in policing and prosecutions, over objections from advocates.
chicagoreader.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:44 PM
As a signatory of the demand letter, I can't lie. This hurts. This trend needs to not just stop, but reverse. This is money that must be used to address social determinants of health & safety, not carceral solutions. We've seen how carceral solutions lead to & enforce fascism. We need to do better.
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
The orientation for my PhD dissertation is grounded in intersectionality because it so spoke to me. Just so thankful for Kimberlé Crenshaw and all the thinkers who have built the framework
"My mentor always tells me, 'Kim, dogs don’t bark at parked cars." They’re coming after critical race theory, 1619, intersectionality because these ideas mobilized people. They gave them the language to actually articulate what they were seeing with their own eyes," says Kimberlé Crenshaw.
November 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
The orientation for my PhD dissertation is grounded in intersectionality because it so spoke to me. Just so thankful for Kimberlé Crenshaw and all the thinkers who have built the framework
Can't say I'm remotely surprised about Mitchell. How he keeps getting reelected is beyond me. He's absolutely worthless. This is absolutely on brand for him.
But the mayor & the governor can & should be stepping up. That's far more disappointing given all the posturing about fighting Trump they do.
But the mayor & the governor can & should be stepping up. That's far more disappointing given all the posturing about fighting Trump they do.
South Shore residents of the apartment building raided by ICE expressed feeling abandoned by city and state leaders.
One resident said tenants still haven’t heard from Ald Gregory Mitchell (7th Ward). The South Shore building is in his ward.
thetriibe.com/2025/11/buil...
One resident said tenants still haven’t heard from Ald Gregory Mitchell (7th Ward). The South Shore building is in his ward.
thetriibe.com/2025/11/buil...
Building raided by ICE now ‘falling apart from the inside out,’ South Shore residents say • The TRiiBE
“No one paid attention to the fact that people were living here without heat before ICE came,” said Infiniti Gant, a housing organizer with Southside Together. “People were living here with mice and r...
thetriibe.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Can't say I'm remotely surprised about Mitchell. How he keeps getting reelected is beyond me. He's absolutely worthless. This is absolutely on brand for him.
But the mayor & the governor can & should be stepping up. That's far more disappointing given all the posturing about fighting Trump they do.
But the mayor & the governor can & should be stepping up. That's far more disappointing given all the posturing about fighting Trump they do.
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
Not everyone has a lawyer, but even those who don't can be like Audre Lorde on this one (this from her FBI file)
November 25, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Not everyone has a lawyer, but even those who don't can be like Audre Lorde on this one (this from her FBI file)
Important article. Here in Chicago, where 1/2 of renters are paying more than they should for housing, we must demand no development be approved that isn't at least 30% for extremely low income, 30% for low income, & 40% unsubsidized. At. Least. And affordable in perpetuity, not merely 30 years.
The power of developers has reduced the availability of affordable housing units, but progressive mayors like Zohran Mamdani and Michelle Wu could put a stop to the thievery. From Robert Kuttner:
trib.al/MkJGQqp
trib.al/MkJGQqp
Progressive Mayors vs. Developers - The American Prospect
In New York, one of the toughest challenges that Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani faces will be preserving and increasing the supply of affordable housing. Same story in Boston, where progressive Mayor Michelle Wu is constrained by similar forces.
trib.al
November 26, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Important article. Here in Chicago, where 1/2 of renters are paying more than they should for housing, we must demand no development be approved that isn't at least 30% for extremely low income, 30% for low income, & 40% unsubsidized. At. Least. And affordable in perpetuity, not merely 30 years.
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
Stop letting caregivers and parents tell the stories of disabled people. They never understand, and they ALWAYS get the story wrong.
November 25, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Stop letting caregivers and parents tell the stories of disabled people. They never understand, and they ALWAYS get the story wrong.
Jonathan wins the internet for today. 😆😆😆
“By the way—every case you ever brought is dismissed. You’re not a lawfully appointed prosecutor so it’s weird saying that but just letting you know."
Lindsey Halligan's appointment as interim U.S. attorney invalid and dismissed the indictments against James Comey and Letitia James. Screenshot from order in the latter below:
November 24, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Jonathan wins the internet for today. 😆😆😆
Either we need to strongly regulate AI (and tech in general) or the entire internet will become entirely useless. It's seemingly hanging by a string most days already.
Scammers are using AI to create fake retailer websites, phishing emails and deepfake videos that impersonate trusted brands or influencers.
Holiday shopping scams grow due to AI. Here's how to stay safe.
chicago.suntimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Either we need to strongly regulate AI (and tech in general) or the entire internet will become entirely useless. It's seemingly hanging by a string most days already.
I often have serious issues with Pritzker, but I can respect this list.
haven’t seen ROS or Solo but this seems like a pretty ball-knowing list from Pritzker, particularly if he volunteered the name “Star Wars” rather than “A New Hope”
November 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I often have serious issues with Pritzker, but I can respect this list.
Excellent. The best time to form a tenant union at your building is before there's a problem. The next best time is right now.
Moments ago: tenants of the South Shore apartment building that federal immigration agents raided at the end of September held a presser to announce they're forming a tenants union.
They're demanding, among other things, sewage removal and heat and electricity restroration.
More updates TK.
They're demanding, among other things, sewage removal and heat and electricity restroration.
More updates TK.
November 24, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Excellent. The best time to form a tenant union at your building is before there's a problem. The next best time is right now.
If you want to solve the housing affordability crisis, stop approving any development that isn't AT LEAST 30% for people under 30% AMI, 30% for folks under 60% AMI, & 40% unsubsidized. More than half of renters are rent-burdened. Housing will never be affordable until we force developers to do more.
November 24, 2025 at 8:22 PM
If you want to solve the housing affordability crisis, stop approving any development that isn't AT LEAST 30% for people under 30% AMI, 30% for folks under 60% AMI, & 40% unsubsidized. More than half of renters are rent-burdened. Housing will never be affordable until we force developers to do more.
Even more importantly, anyone pushing housing construction without any reference to vacancies or how to ensure we're drastically increasing the percentage of affordable housing available is just repeating real estate industry propaganda seeking to profit off of development rather than house people.
The 2008 crisis was the most deeply scarring event ever to befall housing, people keep trying to find some other explanation and there isn't one, thanks @deanbaker13.bsky.social
cepr.net/publications...
cepr.net/publications...
Ezra Klein Needs to Look More Closely at His Housing Chart
A look at why today’s housing shortage stems less from zoning and more from the long shadow of the 2008 housing bubble and its collapse.
cepr.net
November 24, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Even more importantly, anyone pushing housing construction without any reference to vacancies or how to ensure we're drastically increasing the percentage of affordable housing available is just repeating real estate industry propaganda seeking to profit off of development rather than house people.
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
Major sources of hate speech are located outside the US. Well yeah, we have this conversation every few months. And every few months people reject the bright shiny evidence that easiest way to ruin America is to feed the hate and bigotry that already exists here.
November 24, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Major sources of hate speech are located outside the US. Well yeah, we have this conversation every few months. And every few months people reject the bright shiny evidence that easiest way to ruin America is to feed the hate and bigotry that already exists here.
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
Meta halted internal research that purportedly showed (young) people who stopped using Facebook became less depressed and anxious, according to an unredacted legal filing released on Friday. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/m...
Meta halted internal research suggesting social media harm, court filing alleges
Meta is alleged to have halted internal research suggesting social media harm, according to court documents.
www.cnbc.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Meta halted internal research that purportedly showed (young) people who stopped using Facebook became less depressed and anxious, according to an unredacted legal filing released on Friday. www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/m...
I've learned this lesson the hard way too. I spend far more time doing policy these days than engaging internet trolls, and my life is all the better for it. Work the solutions, not the distractions.
The revelations (that we all basically knew) that some of the largest MAGA influencers on social media are paid trolls from other parts of the world is exactly why I don't debate these Internet bros online.
Like Toni Morrison said, the very purpose of racism is distraction. Don't fall for it.
Like Toni Morrison said, the very purpose of racism is distraction. Don't fall for it.
November 23, 2025 at 9:49 PM
I've learned this lesson the hard way too. I spend far more time doing policy these days than engaging internet trolls, and my life is all the better for it. Work the solutions, not the distractions.
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
November 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
Israel must be dismantled. It must not be allowed to continue to exist.
Israel has violated the US-brokered Gaza ceasefire at least 497 times in 44 days, killing at least 342 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office.
🔗: aje.io/65ptdp| #Infograph
🔗: aje.io/65ptdp| #Infograph
November 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Israel must be dismantled. It must not be allowed to continue to exist.
I really hope the octopi do better than we did.
What I am proposing is, instead of AI, what if mass voluntary human extinction?
Can we just tap out now? Like, as a species...
November 23, 2025 at 4:58 PM
I really hope the octopi do better than we did.
In Illinois, we got Budzinski, Foster, Schneider, and Sorenson. We need to get rid of every damn one of them.
Trump is filling his government with Nazis, consolidating authoritarian power, and eroding democracy at every chance.
And yet these 86 House Democrats voted for a right-wing messaging amendment to say that the real authoritarians are the socialists.
Pathetic.
And yet these 86 House Democrats voted for a right-wing messaging amendment to say that the real authoritarians are the socialists.
Pathetic.
November 23, 2025 at 4:56 PM
In Illinois, we got Budzinski, Foster, Schneider, and Sorenson. We need to get rid of every damn one of them.
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
ICYMI: I spoke with CBS Sunday Morning about my book, There Is No Place for Us, alongside the families whose desperate efforts to secure housing the book follows—people working nonstop and still being pushed into homelessness.
When the employed are pushed into homelessness
In America we are taught hard work is the key to success. But despite having full-time jobs, many families are locked out of the rental housing market, due to low wages, soaring rents and poor credit,...
www.cbsnews.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:34 PM
ICYMI: I spoke with CBS Sunday Morning about my book, There Is No Place for Us, alongside the families whose desperate efforts to secure housing the book follows—people working nonstop and still being pushed into homelessness.
Dismantle Israel. Treat Zionism like every other form of white supremacy. Judaism existed before there was a theocratic nationalist colonialist apartheid committing genocide in our name & will exist long afterwards, just with lots of soul-searching to do on how we allowed some of us to be corrupted.
How AP News whitewashes genocide.
TESTING THE CEASEFIRE??
Israel is *BREAKING* the ceasefire. Do you really think this would be the headline if Hamas killed 24 Israelis?
AP doesn’t even have the integrity to say Israel killed Palestinians. “Are dead” is passive to avoid attributing liability.
TESTING THE CEASEFIRE??
Israel is *BREAKING* the ceasefire. Do you really think this would be the headline if Hamas killed 24 Israelis?
AP doesn’t even have the integrity to say Israel killed Palestinians. “Are dead” is passive to avoid attributing liability.
November 22, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Dismantle Israel. Treat Zionism like every other form of white supremacy. Judaism existed before there was a theocratic nationalist colonialist apartheid committing genocide in our name & will exist long afterwards, just with lots of soul-searching to do on how we allowed some of us to be corrupted.
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
November 21, 2025 at 2:56 PM
We spent a year investigating billionaires for @washingtonpost.com.
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
We found: the wealthiest 100 Americans gave $1.1 billion to influence the 2024 elections — 140x more than they did in 2000. And almost all of that giving boosted Republicans.
washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
hot to go was MADE for picket line chants, tbh
St Louis, MO baristas holding it down!!! 💪
St Louis, MO baristas holding it down!!! 💪
November 21, 2025 at 10:56 PM
hot to go was MADE for picket line chants, tbh
St Louis, MO baristas holding it down!!! 💪
St Louis, MO baristas holding it down!!! 💪
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
“I learned the hard way that affordable housing isn’t guaranteed—it’s conditional. The moment your income changes or an agency misses a form, the system recalculates your worth and can pull the rug out from under you.” citylimits.org/opinion-cond...
Opinion: Conditional Housing Is Still Discriminatory - City Limits
"I learned the hard way that affordable housing isn’t guaranteed—it’s conditional. The moment your income changes or an agency misses a form, the system recalculates your worth and can pull the rug ou...
citylimits.org
November 19, 2025 at 1:32 PM
“I learned the hard way that affordable housing isn’t guaranteed—it’s conditional. The moment your income changes or an agency misses a form, the system recalculates your worth and can pull the rug out from under you.” citylimits.org/opinion-cond...
If that statement isn't setting off every damn alarm bell on the planet for you, you aren't paying attention. The businesses ARE THE PROBLEM in healthcare.
Markwayne Mullin: "Affordable healthcare doesn't work. The Democrats had a community organizer in President Obama that tried to sell us a bill of goods. It isn't working. So let's let a business guy that actually knows business help negotiate a healthcare for the American people."
November 19, 2025 at 2:04 PM
If that statement isn't setting off every damn alarm bell on the planet for you, you aren't paying attention. The businesses ARE THE PROBLEM in healthcare.