Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Carter Rubin

Plenary Popehat Power @kenwhite.bsky.social · 10h

These people are evil. Never stop saying so. Don’t be intimidated into shutting up.

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 12h

Here’s video of the incident

270 3.4K 9.7K

Reposted by Carter Rubin

Oren Ben-Joseph @orenbj.bsky.social · 12h

Finally got to go on the Metro HQ helipad!

1 10

Carter Rubin @carterrubin.com · 11h

Really nice and super clearly written argument for electric rail from @narayangopinathan.bsky.social

Californians for Electric Rail @calelectricrail.org · 15h

Hydrogen rail is not the answer for the Sprinter. With the need for equipment, the Sprinter should be modernized and electrified instead of rolling out unproven, polluting hydrogen trains. thecoastnews.com/hydrogen-rai...

Commentary: Hydrogen rail not the answer | The Coast News Group

The Coast News recently reported that NCTD plans to pilot hydrogen trains for the Sprinter. However, hydrogen is not as great as it seems.

thecoastnews.com

2 1 4

Reposted by Carter Rubin

Warren Wells, AICP @warrenjwells.bsky.social · 13h

Caltrans has released a cross section for the ultimate (raised viaduct) version of SR-37.

Now maybe I'm just being paranoid, but if you were building a road that you planned to keep at 4 lanes wide, I don't think it would look like this.

Cross section of 114' wide bridge structure with each direction having a 12' outside shoulder and a 10' inside shoulder.

10 8 93

Reposted by Carter Rubin

Sergio Perez @sergioperez.bsky.social · 3d

Heaven is a long walk on a sunny 76 degree day in Los Angeles.

2 2 22

Reposted by Carter Rubin

Urban History Association (the official account) @urbanhistorya.bsky.social · 22h

The road has long been tumultuous for Latinos in places like California, as a site where the private space of the automobile and the public space of the street meet. @drgenacarpio.bsky.social on CA car insurance and the cultural history of race, redlining, and risk assessment.

California’s Invisible Infrastructure: What Auto Insurance Tells Us about Race, Risk, and Responsibility

By Genevieve Carpio Being a historian often means living with the contradictions of the present. As an Angeleno, I see my city in pain. There is resilience and courage too, but the suffering caused…

themetropole.blog

5 11

Carter Rubin @carterrubin.com · 20h

Bottom line: We need to improve working conditions in the construction industry while also solving our housing crises and investing in mobility.

3

Carter Rubin @carterrubin.com · 20h

Why? Transit systems and fix-it-first highway projects are more labor intensive than highway expansions, which spend a large share of budgets on buying land and materials. And "Denser housing types result in a greater proportion of work that is conducted by specific Building Trades members..."

1 2

Carter Rubin @carterrubin.com · 20h

Timely new study with SB 79 sitting on Gov Newsom's desk: investments in transit and dense infill create more union jobs at higher wages than highway expansion and sprawl. goodjobsfirst.org/smart-growth...

Smart Growth and Construction Jobs: How Urban Density Benefits Union Density - Good Jobs First

goodjobsfirst.org

2 14 28

Reposted by Carter Rubin

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 1d

i recently got a great deal on a barely used folding ebike and i have to say it has revolutionized my train travel. i can get from my front door to the amtrak station in a little less than 5 minutes!!!

110 210 5.8K

Reposted by Carter Rubin

David Roberts @volts.wtf · 2d

Reminder that @governor.ca.gov is reportedly considering vetoing SB79, the best housing bill to clear the CA legislature in decades.

It would be a *disaster*, substantively & for Newsom's political future. Really hope he doesn't self-immolate.

Tell him!

Contact the Governor | Governor of California

You can contact the Governor a few different ways. The best way is through his online form.

www.gov.ca.gov

23 140 390

Reposted by Carter Rubin

sick public transit, gloria @seung.bsky.social · 1d

this dissonance is most pronounced in Koreatown, where so many of the working class in restaurants, grocery stores, small shops, etc. do not drive but the #1 political issue that makes residents and visitors go crazy alike is the lack of (free street) parking thanks to its high density

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

Reflections on last week's #WeekWithoutDriving in a city that still refuses to acknowledge the existence of its nondrivers — which a comprehensive new report claims make up one-third of LA's population

One-third of Angelenos do not drive

Walking back the "car-free" games promise is unconscionable in a city where the people who don't drive are also the most vulnerable users of our streets

www.torched.la

2 7 61

Reposted by Carter Rubin

Nilo @nilo.bsky.social · 1d

One thing that the Swiss historically pointed to as why transit was so popular in referenda is that people who couldn’t drive (women and the elderly) are far more represented in a referendum than in a legislature or bureaucracy which tend to be filled disproportionately with able bodied men.

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

Reflections on last week's #WeekWithoutDriving in a city that still refuses to acknowledge the existence of its nondrivers — which a comprehensive new report claims make up one-third of LA's population

One-third of Angelenos do not drive

Walking back the "car-free" games promise is unconscionable in a city where the people who don't drive are also the most vulnerable users of our streets

www.torched.la

2 30 120

Reposted by Carter Rubin

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

Highly recommend diving into NRDC's study on car access, which @keawilson.bsky.social wrote about here: usa.streetsblog.org/2025/10/02/report-16-million-have-no-car-access-at-all

Where Nadir was killed, 14% of LA households are car-free. But the infrastructure does not match that reality

A map of Los Angeles showing a breakdown in congressional districts with one highlighted district that reads "driving age people in households with no car" 14.74%

1 17

Carter Rubin @carterrubin.com · 1d

Angelenos Who Don't Drive would be the third largest city in California.

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

Reflections on last week's #WeekWithoutDriving in a city that still refuses to acknowledge the existence of its nondrivers — which a comprehensive new report claims make up one-third of LA's population

One-third of Angelenos do not drive

Walking back the "car-free" games promise is unconscionable in a city where the people who don't drive are also the most vulnerable users of our streets

www.torched.la

1 10 36

Reposted by Carter Rubin

David Weiskopf believes in you @dave.bzky.team · 1d

ONE IN THREE LOS ANGELES RESIDENTS DO NOT DRIVE

Alissa Walker @awalkerinla.bsky.social · 1d

Reflections on last week's #WeekWithoutDriving in a city that still refuses to acknowledge the existence of its nondrivers — which a comprehensive new report claims make up one-third of LA's population

One-third of Angelenos do not drive

Walking back the "car-free" games promise is unconscionable in a city where the people who don't drive are also the most vulnerable users of our streets

www.torched.la

18 63

Reposted by Carter Rubin

Twilight Greenaway @twyspy.bsky.social · 1d

Farmworkers in the Coachella Valley work in intense heat 8 months a year. Air conditioning is essential to their recovery at the end of each day. But it's expensive!

I visited on a sweltering day to document an effort to bring costs down for one family. 🌞
insideclimatenews.org/news/0410202...

Farmworkers in the Hottest Part of California Find State Funds to Cool Their Homes and Save on Energy - Inside Climate News

California allocates $20 million a year for energy efficiency upgrades for low-income homeowners, and supporters of the farmworkers program want $10 million added.

insideclimatenews.org

1 17 60

Reposted by Carter Rubin

Streetsblog NYC @nyc.streetsblog.org · 1d

Uber drivers are getting in-app GPS directions from an app that appears to defy traffic laws — but drivers say they're encouraged to follow the GPS to a T to avoid customer complaints that would lead to getting "deactivated."

@sophlebo.bsky.social explains: www.youtube.com/shorts/Pcc1j...

Uber's In-App GPS Is Encouraging Reckless Driving #uber #rideshare #law #nyc #news

YouTube video by Streetsblog NYC

www.youtube.com

3 7 33

Reposted by Carter Rubin

Ned Resnikoff @resnikoff.bsky.social · 1d

If you live in California, today is an excellent day to call @gavinnewsom.bsky.social at (916) 445-2841 and ask him to sign SB 79. publiccomment.blog/p/newsom-s-f...

Newsom's Fateful Choice

Why the governor needs to sign SB 79

publiccomment.blog

8 63 170

Reposted by Carter Rubin

Clara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · 1d

Solar generated 39% of California's electricity from January-July 2025, up from 33% in 2024.

Fossil fuels plunged to just 26% of CA's power in Jan-July 2025, down 40% in July 2025, compared to July 2024. Wow!

Batteries tripled to 14,000 MW since 2022!

1 35 110

Reposted by Carter Rubin

Mike Levin @mikelevin.org · 4d

Let me get this straight: The House hasn’t voted in weeks, the govt is shut down, the new Democratic member hasn’t even been sworn in, we’re one signature from forcing release of the Epstein Files, and Mike Johnson (the weakest Speaker ever) wants us home so his party won’t implode.

95 420 1.1K

Reposted by Carter Rubin

California Landscapes @calandscapebot.bsky.social · 4d

Bear Valley Resort 2, Alpine County, CA
🗺38.4870, -120.0527 🧭73° ⛰8474 ft
https://ops.alertcalifornia.org/cam-console/17917

1 1

Reposted by Carter Rubin

Bill McKibben @billmckibben.bsky.social · 4d

Hmm. With solar energy, the big explosions take place 93 million miles away

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 4d

A fireball lit up the sky across the Los Angeles area on Thursday night after an explosion at a Chevron refinery in El Segundo, alarming nearby residents who said it felt like an earthquake. The cause of the explosion was not clear. No injuries were reported. nyti.ms/42pPCaW

15 120 520

Carter Rubin @carterrubin.com · 4d

oh man Regretfully Yours is one of my all time albums

1

Carter Rubin @carterrubin.com · 4d

Saw a lot of this kind of vehicle on the beach path yesterday. No pedals. Just an electric dirt bike.