Sara Heymann
@go-for-a-walk.bsky.social
Artist, organizer, library worker.
Chicago Public Library lovers: after a lot of calls, letters and visits to your alders, we got the library levy raised and restored the collections budget to $10 million. This year we were able to avoid cuts! In a contentious budget season, there is one thing we can agree on: libraries need funding.
December 21, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Chicago Public Library lovers: after a lot of calls, letters and visits to your alders, we got the library levy raised and restored the collections budget to $10 million. This year we were able to avoid cuts! In a contentious budget season, there is one thing we can agree on: libraries need funding.
Reposted by Sara Heymann
I'm imagining an instructor somewhere making a syllabus with chat gpt, assigning reading from books that don't exist
But the students don't notice, because they are asking chat gpt to summarize the book or write the essay
But the students don't notice, because they are asking chat gpt to summarize the book or write the essay
July 4, 2023 at 8:23 PM
I'm imagining an instructor somewhere making a syllabus with chat gpt, assigning reading from books that don't exist
But the students don't notice, because they are asking chat gpt to summarize the book or write the essay
But the students don't notice, because they are asking chat gpt to summarize the book or write the essay
Reposted by Sara Heymann
This is an argument I have made for a while - if you want to allow more new housing development, you'll face a lot less opposition if you protect existing tenants with rent regulation. Nice to have some more evidence to back that up.
Um, ok...
This paper forthcoming at the JOP provides evidence that rent control in Germany actually made tenants MASSIVELY *less* NIMBY.
This result was in the opposite direction of the authors' pre-registered expectations.
And the effect sizes are, truly, massive.
This paper forthcoming at the JOP provides evidence that rent control in Germany actually made tenants MASSIVELY *less* NIMBY.
This result was in the opposite direction of the authors' pre-registered expectations.
And the effect sizes are, truly, massive.
December 12, 2025 at 2:20 PM
This is an argument I have made for a while - if you want to allow more new housing development, you'll face a lot less opposition if you protect existing tenants with rent regulation. Nice to have some more evidence to back that up.
Reposted by Sara Heymann
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an ordinary man, has defeated the great might of the US Government
Kilmar Abrego Garcia is free. every bit of cruelty, boasting, slander, and persecution was for absolutely fucking nothing.
December 12, 2025 at 5:36 AM
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an ordinary man, has defeated the great might of the US Government
There are a ton of opportunities to speak to support the library at city council next week! If you would like to speak with us, comment or DM me!
- Monday the 15th 10am
- Tuesday the 16th, 10am
- Wednesday the 17th, 10am
- Thursday the 18th, 10am
- Tuesday the 23rd, 10am
- Monday the 15th 10am
- Tuesday the 16th, 10am
- Wednesday the 17th, 10am
- Thursday the 18th, 10am
- Tuesday the 23rd, 10am
December 11, 2025 at 3:15 PM
There are a ton of opportunities to speak to support the library at city council next week! If you would like to speak with us, comment or DM me!
- Monday the 15th 10am
- Tuesday the 16th, 10am
- Wednesday the 17th, 10am
- Thursday the 18th, 10am
- Tuesday the 23rd, 10am
- Monday the 15th 10am
- Tuesday the 16th, 10am
- Wednesday the 17th, 10am
- Thursday the 18th, 10am
- Tuesday the 23rd, 10am
The finance committee meeting was cancelled ! Stay tuned for more ways to support.
Did you send a letter to your alder, mayor, and commissioner Brown already using bit.ly/LetterFundCPL? Well copy/paste that and send it to the finance committee as a written comment! Write them at [email protected] by 10am on Dec 5th.
December 5, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The finance committee meeting was cancelled ! Stay tuned for more ways to support.
Reposted by Sara Heymann
NEW — Cutting less than one day of the Chicago police would cover the $4.5M needed to ensure there are no cuts to library staffing and resources, one resident writes.
Read this opinion submission about protecting city libraries in the 2026 budget.
thetriibe.com/2025/12/opin...
Read this opinion submission about protecting city libraries in the 2026 budget.
thetriibe.com/2025/12/opin...
OPINION: The Chicago Public Library budget is under threat. Let’s remember what libraries do for us • The TRiiBE
Cutting less than one day of the Chicago police would cover the $4.5M needed to ensure there are no cuts to library staffing and resources.
thetriibe.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:28 PM
NEW — Cutting less than one day of the Chicago police would cover the $4.5M needed to ensure there are no cuts to library staffing and resources, one resident writes.
Read this opinion submission about protecting city libraries in the 2026 budget.
thetriibe.com/2025/12/opin...
Read this opinion submission about protecting city libraries in the 2026 budget.
thetriibe.com/2025/12/opin...
Reposted by Sara Heymann
ProPublica examined months of Fox News’ coverage and reviewed over 700 videos posted on social media.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
“Riots Raging”: The Misleading Story Fox News Told About Portland Before Trump Sent Troops
After reviewing coverage from the network and hours of social media videos that preceded Trump’s decision, ProPublica found that Fox’s portrayal of “Portland rioters” routinely instigating violence wa...
www.propublica.org
December 5, 2025 at 4:15 AM
ProPublica examined months of Fox News’ coverage and reviewed over 700 videos posted on social media.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
Reposted by Sara Heymann
The Institute of Museum & Library Services has restored all previously canceled federal grants to libraries, following a ruling by a federal judge
"Restoration of these grants is a massive win for libraries of all kinds in all states."
"Restoration of these grants is a massive win for libraries of all kinds in all states."
ALA welcomes reinstatement of all federal IMLS grants to libraries
Today, the American Library Association (ALA) greeted an announcement by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) that it had reinstated all the agency’s grants.
www.ala.org
December 4, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The Institute of Museum & Library Services has restored all previously canceled federal grants to libraries, following a ruling by a federal judge
"Restoration of these grants is a massive win for libraries of all kinds in all states."
"Restoration of these grants is a massive win for libraries of all kinds in all states."
Reposted by Sara Heymann
Very happy to see so many folks coming out to offer public comment in support of the Chicago Public Libraries today. Even one of the "chicago turns red" leaders is defending libraries...come on now!
December 4, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Very happy to see so many folks coming out to offer public comment in support of the Chicago Public Libraries today. Even one of the "chicago turns red" leaders is defending libraries...come on now!
Reposted by Sara Heymann
What's happening with the Chicago Public Libraries right now is terrible. The proposed budget of the city would CUT 89 CPL positions. Importantly, 78 positions were lost LAST year. That would be 167 positions in 2 YEARS while COPS KEEP GETTING MORE MONEY. ENOUGH. SAY NO.
December 2, 2025 at 10:51 PM
What's happening with the Chicago Public Libraries right now is terrible. The proposed budget of the city would CUT 89 CPL positions. Importantly, 78 positions were lost LAST year. That would be 167 positions in 2 YEARS while COPS KEEP GETTING MORE MONEY. ENOUGH. SAY NO.
Reposted by Sara Heymann
And to be clear, the mayor's 2026 proposal is not just a "no police cuts" budget -- it's a budget in which CPD (already the city's most expensive dept. by far) received a larger year-over-year net increase of non-grant funds than any other dept.
Larger than most other departments' entire budgets!
Larger than most other departments' entire budgets!
November 30, 2025 at 6:24 PM
And to be clear, the mayor's 2026 proposal is not just a "no police cuts" budget -- it's a budget in which CPD (already the city's most expensive dept. by far) received a larger year-over-year net increase of non-grant funds than any other dept.
Larger than most other departments' entire budgets!
Larger than most other departments' entire budgets!
Did you send a letter to your alder, mayor, and commissioner Brown already using bit.ly/LetterFundCPL? Well copy/paste that and send it to the finance committee as a written comment! Write them at [email protected] by 10am on Dec 5th.
December 2, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Did you send a letter to your alder, mayor, and commissioner Brown already using bit.ly/LetterFundCPL? Well copy/paste that and send it to the finance committee as a written comment! Write them at [email protected] by 10am on Dec 5th.
Reposted by Sara Heymann
The proposed Chicago city budget has a $5 million line item for a ShotSpotter replacement. Abandoning this failed pursuit would free up the funds needed to maintain 2025 funding levels at our city libraries, which would still leave the libraries underfunded but would avoid disastrous proposed cuts.
December 1, 2025 at 9:55 PM
The proposed Chicago city budget has a $5 million line item for a ShotSpotter replacement. Abandoning this failed pursuit would free up the funds needed to maintain 2025 funding levels at our city libraries, which would still leave the libraries underfunded but would avoid disastrous proposed cuts.
Reposted by Sara Heymann
Anyone in city government who makes noises about "efficiencies" or "savings" while simultaneously pledging no reductions in CPD spending is either kidding themselves or kidding you.
You cannot meaningfully shrink a budget without touching its largest operating expenses and debt drivers.
You cannot meaningfully shrink a budget without touching its largest operating expenses and debt drivers.
November 30, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Anyone in city government who makes noises about "efficiencies" or "savings" while simultaneously pledging no reductions in CPD spending is either kidding themselves or kidding you.
You cannot meaningfully shrink a budget without touching its largest operating expenses and debt drivers.
You cannot meaningfully shrink a budget without touching its largest operating expenses and debt drivers.
Reposted by Sara Heymann
1.5% of CPDs budget increase would be enough to fund all the cuts to the library
And to be clear, the mayor's 2026 proposal is not just a "no police cuts" budget -- it's a budget in which CPD (already the city's most expensive dept. by far) received a larger year-over-year net increase of non-grant funds than any other dept.
Larger than most other departments' entire budgets!
Larger than most other departments' entire budgets!
November 30, 2025 at 6:40 PM
1.5% of CPDs budget increase would be enough to fund all the cuts to the library
Reposted by Sara Heymann
1. In Tennessee, public libraries have closed for up to a week to facilitate a Trump-inspired book purge.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett (R) has ordered most of the state's public librarians to remove children's books with LGBTQ characters or themes.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett (R) has ordered most of the state's public librarians to remove children's books with LGBTQ characters or themes.
Tennessee public libraries close for Trump-inspired book purge
One hundred and eighty-one public libraries in Tennessee are reviewing their children’s collections after Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett (R) ordered them to remove books with LGBTQ themes…
popular.info
November 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
1. In Tennessee, public libraries have closed for up to a week to facilitate a Trump-inspired book purge.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett (R) has ordered most of the state's public librarians to remove children's books with LGBTQ characters or themes.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett (R) has ordered most of the state's public librarians to remove children's books with LGBTQ characters or themes.
Reposted by Sara Heymann
@taylorlorenz.bsky.social with a great piece here :
Many people are missing the most dangerous part of Sarah Hurwitz commentary. Her comments reveal exactly what the ruling class in America wants to do to online speech, and why we need to fight back so hard to protect our online freedoms.
Many people are missing the most dangerous part of Sarah Hurwitz commentary. Her comments reveal exactly what the ruling class in America wants to do to online speech, and why we need to fight back so hard to protect our online freedoms.
Obama Aid Goes Mask Off About Online Censorship
YouTube video by Taylor Lorenz
youtu.be
November 21, 2025 at 12:40 PM
@taylorlorenz.bsky.social with a great piece here :
Many people are missing the most dangerous part of Sarah Hurwitz commentary. Her comments reveal exactly what the ruling class in America wants to do to online speech, and why we need to fight back so hard to protect our online freedoms.
Many people are missing the most dangerous part of Sarah Hurwitz commentary. Her comments reveal exactly what the ruling class in America wants to do to online speech, and why we need to fight back so hard to protect our online freedoms.
Reposted by Sara Heymann
"The program has the support of Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling."
Outrageous.
All three of them.
Outrageous.
All three of them.
BREAKING: Chicago police officers will be allowed to file felony gun charges without first getting approval from a prosecutor throughout the city, Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke announced Friday. @wttw.bsky.social
Program Allowing CPD Officers to Directly File Felony Gun Charges to Expand Citywide, Top Prosecutor Announces
The Felony Review Bypass Pilot Program was “an unqualified success,” Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke said.
news.wttw.com
November 21, 2025 at 5:47 PM
"The program has the support of Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling."
Outrageous.
All three of them.
Outrageous.
All three of them.
Reposted by Sara Heymann
As budget talks stall out, I keep coming back to this one.
From a budget perspective, CPD operations are almost entirely discretional. (Mind you, pensions and lawsuits are another matter.)
It is an active choice to prioritize this spending above all other spending, year after year.
From a budget perspective, CPD operations are almost entirely discretional. (Mind you, pensions and lawsuits are another matter.)
It is an active choice to prioritize this spending above all other spending, year after year.
I'll close with a reminder I give every year: unlike our other billion-dollar-plus departments, CPD is almost entirely paid for with the general-purpose corporate fund.
Out of every dollar spent on the police budget, roughly 94 cents could be spent on any other city department, if Council wanted.
Out of every dollar spent on the police budget, roughly 94 cents could be spent on any other city department, if Council wanted.
November 18, 2025 at 12:59 AM
As budget talks stall out, I keep coming back to this one.
From a budget perspective, CPD operations are almost entirely discretional. (Mind you, pensions and lawsuits are another matter.)
It is an active choice to prioritize this spending above all other spending, year after year.
From a budget perspective, CPD operations are almost entirely discretional. (Mind you, pensions and lawsuits are another matter.)
It is an active choice to prioritize this spending above all other spending, year after year.
I support the head tax. You should too. The mayor should also support libraries. He was able to come up w/ 32 *new* positions for CPD and just found $18 million more for business grants with the head tax money.
He can find $4.5 million to cover library staffing.
He can find $4.5 million to cover library staffing.
November 18, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I support the head tax. You should too. The mayor should also support libraries. He was able to come up w/ 32 *new* positions for CPD and just found $18 million more for business grants with the head tax money.
He can find $4.5 million to cover library staffing.
He can find $4.5 million to cover library staffing.
Reposted by Sara Heymann
Specializations are the key to library operations. The sheer breadth of titles available in each area makes it imperative!
Imagine going in and trying to talk to someone about children's books and all they know are the ones they read as a child.
And it's not just readers. People doing research etc.
Imagine going in and trying to talk to someone about children's books and all they know are the ones they read as a child.
And it's not just readers. People doing research etc.
And they’re planning to defund us for the long term. To response to low staffing, they’re proposing getting rid of specializations (children, teen, adult), and streamlining “sister branches”, where library workers work at multiple branches depending on low staffing.
November 16, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Specializations are the key to library operations. The sheer breadth of titles available in each area makes it imperative!
Imagine going in and trying to talk to someone about children's books and all they know are the ones they read as a child.
And it's not just readers. People doing research etc.
Imagine going in and trying to talk to someone about children's books and all they know are the ones they read as a child.
And it's not just readers. People doing research etc.
I see people claiming the head tax is going to public libraries, but as far as we’ve been told- it isnt. The good news is, our lackluster book budget may be restored. The bad news? We’re still facing 89 positions cut. After 52 positions were cut last year. That’s 11% of our workforce!
November 16, 2025 at 12:32 AM
I see people claiming the head tax is going to public libraries, but as far as we’ve been told- it isnt. The good news is, our lackluster book budget may be restored. The bad news? We’re still facing 89 positions cut. After 52 positions were cut last year. That’s 11% of our workforce!
Reposted by Sara Heymann
In other news, here’s a clip from Telemundo of Little Village Ald. Mike Rodriguez getting hit with a flash bang. www.instagram.com/reel/DQ0DnIv...
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www.instagram.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:03 AM
In other news, here’s a clip from Telemundo of Little Village Ald. Mike Rodriguez getting hit with a flash bang. www.instagram.com/reel/DQ0DnIv...