Becky Hammer
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beckyhammer.bsky.social
Becky Hammer
@beckyhammer.bsky.social
9K followers 630 following 13K posts
Environmental lawyer/locally notorious person. Bad Bunny 101 adjunct professor. Alexandria, Virginia.

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beckyhammer.bsky.social
This was the email I was trying to send so maybe it's for the best lol
After few days on the new listserv, my experience is that it seems to be a forum for sporadic announcements about local events interspersed with the airing of grievances about city policy. So, pretty much an exact duplicate of this list. The intended distinctions between the two are no clearer to me than they were before I signed up.
December 10, 2025 at 12:37 AM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
Now we're misunderstanding what a 15 minute city is

This new listserv is giving everyone an excuse to play all the hits
Having grown up in a walk/ public transit environment, and also spent time in small towns—which could be called 15 minute towns—I, too, like the 15 minute city, but there is another side to that coin, which is that you can also be stuck with the options available in a small area, and living in a dense population has its problems. It would be good if the various sides could converse in a respectful manner. We might even agree on some basic principles.
December 10, 2025 at 12:04 AM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
Calm down buddy
Alex posted 48 seconds after the Alexandria Brief did
December 9, 2025 at 11:01 PM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
Sir, this is a Wendy's
Sadly, I think the city is dreaming. If you set aside the cultural issues between the factions (pushy, entitled drivers vs arrogant, morally superior cyclists & rightfully protective parents), On an INDIVIDUAL basis, it still makes little sense to set personal vehicles aside. FWIW, I've worked remotely since 2016 so there are things that might sit in my blind spots. The issues I see are these- Time=money. Metro is impossibly slow for anything that involves a transfer. We're a wealthy region that supports LOTS of cars. The $$ in the region = customers so business accommodates cars. As much as I love Capital Bikeshare (My original plastic dongle is here somewhere) bike /dock availability is spotty. It was spotty when I used it extensively in Arlington & DC in 2011-15 and it was spotty when I used it this year. Who wants hunt for an open dock at the end of a ride? Governments listen to the squeaky wheels so bicycle and pedestrian lobbies get projects built. But, ODDLY, nothing much changes because the people who drive didn't request the changes and don't give a damn about most of it. Some academically-trained urban planners advocate for wasteful projects like the zebra-striped median on Commonwealth that addressed some esoteric/edge case problem. Street and sidewalk maintenance is lacking, Sidewalks are pitched by poorly maintained city trees. Streets are potholed that are exacerbated by the region's freeze/thaw cycles. Do fiscal issues constrain that work? Sure. So what's the solution? We have a workplace culture where your appearance matters. In some cases, it matters more than performance. Taken from a historically perspective, Metro has a justifiably horrific reputation for service/safety/customer satisfaction/arrogance. Has it changed? Yes, notably, but memories are long. Rideshare can get expensive Zoning regulations require parking be included with new development. So the incentives lay where? SO many bitter pills... In denser urban regions like Boston, Philadelphia, and New York that grew up around existing transit, it's generally faster/cheaper to utilize transit. Here, we tried to drop it in after the communities were established so successes are uneven. Would it be great if we all lived in what the new urbanists call the '15 minute city'? Hell yes. And during COVID, we maybe came close to that. But here we find ourselves again....
December 9, 2025 at 10:16 PM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
The state of the transportation survey discourse on the new separatist Rosemont Civic Association listserv:
Please complete the city's transportation survey. The city is collecting information on how we get around. As some of you know, the city is encouraging us to ditch our cars and walk or ride bicycles. https://polco.us/n/res/vote/alexandria-va-transit/2025-city-of-alexandria-transportation-needs-assessment-survey-open-to-all-residents?pn-area=1&pn-method=open
December 9, 2025 at 6:07 PM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
It looks like the frozen beer they sell at EPCOT
A picture of a beer in a plastic cup, the head is whipped and foamy
December 9, 2025 at 2:00 AM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
Our conversation after he sent me the recipe
"Lots of rum" lmao My family is not mathematicians lol
December 8, 2025 at 11:52 PM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
My friend sent me his Puerto Rican grandmother's coquito recipe (with some variations from his sister), and now I'm sharing it with you. ¡Feliz Navidad!
Coquito - 2004 12 egg yolks 1 cup sugar 1 can evaporated milk 1 can sweetened condensed milk 6 cups coconut milk Dash vanilla Lots of rum Beat egg yolks until they are getting very light in color. Continue to beat and slowly add sugar. Slowly add the condensed milk while beating. Mix the remaining ingredients. Refrigerated. Take out of refrigerator 1/2 hour before using. Text messages under the recipe screenshot: I don't use the egg I make a little tea with cinnamon cloves and star of anise first then add it with all the other shit I don't measure the rum I taste test till I taste it There ya go lol
December 8, 2025 at 11:50 PM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
Lot going on here
Wikipedia entry for TEED: Orlando Tobias Edward Higginbottom (born 7 March 1986), known professionally as TEED (formerly known as Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs) is a British electronic music producer, DJ and singer-songwriter based in the United States.
December 8, 2025 at 9:05 PM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
DeSantis calls for restricting data centers The Florida Republican has emerged as one of few governors to criticize an industry that's investing billions in states, as local concern grows over rising electricity costs. Worst person you know makes a great point
December 8, 2025 at 2:28 PM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
Getting solar panels installed today!! ☀️
A solar company truck ready to install my solar panels
December 8, 2025 at 1:49 PM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
Decorated our own (very crooked, very 🍆) tree, went to the neighborhood tree lighting, now we're watching Frosty the Snowman. It's a holidaymaxxing Sunday
8yo's disembodied arms hanging an ornament on a tree leaning decidedly to the left and covered in purple lights A tall tree of disappointing girth lit in festive lights at night in a neighborhood main square
December 8, 2025 at 12:36 AM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
The Ariana Grande of Del Ray Christmas trees
A tall, normal looking tree that is nonetheless unusually svelte for our neighborhood
December 8, 2025 at 12:16 AM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
Gotta say, I do not love being on the same side of the argument as these people
There should not be multiple forums for all Rosemont homeowners to have to follow to be kept apprised of civic issues that affect our property values and well being.
December 7, 2025 at 10:30 PM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
Old school Daddy Yankee is playing and I am eating flan and drinking coquito. Wepaaa
A glass of coconut rum punch and a plate of flan with oodles of whipped cream
December 7, 2025 at 12:41 AM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
Mofongooooo
Mofongo con gandules, plus Joe's pernil con arroz momposteao and a passion fruit cocktail
December 7, 2025 at 12:00 AM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
Visiting Puerto Rico for the evening via dinner at Qui Qui in DC
A virgin pina colada for 8yo, a pitorro rum guava cocktail, and a rum mezcal old fashioned
December 6, 2025 at 11:22 PM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
Westies from the back
Cute dog butts
December 6, 2025 at 4:50 PM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
Corgi time
Many corgis walking in a parade
December 6, 2025 at 4:40 PM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
I'm wearing the world's reddest coat and a silly winter hat if anyone's looking for us
Selfie in red coat, fuzzy hat, and sunglasses. I'm making a peace sign and my expression looks very excited to see PARADE DOGS
December 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
The scoop on the Roaemont listservs for those who have been confused like me:
To help clarify, this listserv is the continuation of the original neighborhood listserv. It was created decades ago by a neighbor who gave it up to another, who then gave it up again until eventually it resided within the leadership of the Rosemont Citizens Association (RCA). Due to many updates to privacy laws, a conflict of interest arose as none of the members of this listserv ever gave the RCA express permission to access their personal data. That is when I, a longtime listserv moderator, stepped up and took over ownership of the listserv, the management of which was divested from the RCA as that was deemed an easier and less disruptive solution to this problem. A bit back, the RCA president was removed from this group due to an angry outburst and his subsequent combative emails towards my moderator and myself. In the wake of this, as I knew this would affect one of the primary communication platforms of the RCA, I spoke to a neutral party to inform the RCA board that while the president was no longer in the group, the RCA was still welcome to post through their other members who are still here (Rosemarie being one of them). I was not aware of this new listserv until this email, which is why I did not announce it, but the RCA newsletter has been posted here since the creation of the new group so I believe it will continue to be sent out through this listserv as well. I believe the new RCA listserv will have a more civic minded focus, so if that is of interest to any of you, please join to get the latest. :)
December 6, 2025 at 2:43 PM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
I have learned that I am not cut out for a life of crime
Blacktop Wasteland by S.A. Cosby
December 6, 2025 at 1:57 PM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
Trader Joe's now sells my favorite pastries (kouign amann) in the freezer section

They're actually quite good warm from the oven but my only complaint is that they're very small
A golden flaky pastry on a light purple plate
December 6, 2025 at 1:48 PM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
Alexandria YIMBYs mentioned
Who's scruffy looking?
December 6, 2025 at 12:42 AM
beckyhammer.bsky.social
8yo's first time
The opening crawl of Empire Strikes Back on my TV
December 6, 2025 at 12:34 AM