Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

$312.5 million borrowed so far and not one hydrant, not one mile of firefighting water pipe, no AWSS expansion and now San Francisco wants to borrow another half a billion dollars — ESER Bond, June 2026

open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

Let Justice be done Though the Heavens Fall

“We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.” – Aesop

open.substack.com

January 26, 2026 at 7:26 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

Community Tactical Meeting - Ortega Library
Wednesday, January 21st, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. PST - How Can I Help?
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

Community Tactical Meeting - Ortega Library

Wednesday, January 21st, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. PST - How Can I Help?

open.substack.com

January 21, 2026 at 7:14 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

Tuesday Jan. 20th — 6:30-8:00 pm — Zoom Panel on AWSS with SFFD Chief Dean Crispen, Asst. Deputy Chief Garreth Miller, John Crabtree & Lisa Arjes. -- csfn.net

Ortega Public Library — Community Tactical Meeting — Wednesday, January 21st - 5:30 to 7:30 pm
crabtreej.substack.com/p/bending-th...

Bending the Arc of the Moral Universe

AWSS Zoom Call - 1/20 - 6:30 p.m. - Community Tactical Meeting - 1/21 - 5:30 p.m. PST

crabtreej.substack.com

January 20, 2026 at 6:06 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and remember Alexander Clark, Sr.
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

Alexander Clark, Sr. & Martin Luther King, Jr.

Celebrate them today and every day and please, never forget either of them.

open.substack.com

January 19, 2026 at 3:23 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

Tuesday January 20, 2026 – 6 :30-8:00pm on Zoom
Zoom Panel Discussion on AWSS with panelists SFFD Dean Crispen, Assistant Deputy Chief Garreth Miller, John Crabtree and Lisa Arjes.
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

Zoom Panel on AWSS with SFFD Chief Crispen

Coalition for SF Neighborhoods

open.substack.com

January 18, 2026 at 6:57 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

Lenin said, "a lie told often enough becomes the truth." Thoreau said, “for every thousand hacking at the leaves of evil, there is one, chopping at the root.” Join me and let’s chop this fucker down.
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

A Lie Told Often Enough, Redux

Part II in the Mean What You Say Series

open.substack.com

January 16, 2026 at 6:43 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

A lie told often enough becomes the truth... Lenin
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

A Lie Told Often Enough

Becomes the Truth.

open.substack.com

January 15, 2026 at 8:50 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

A Persistent Conflict of Interest
SFPUC, EFWS & ESER vs. AWSS & SFFD
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

A Persistent Conflict of Interest

SFPUC, EFWS & ESER vs. AWSS & SFFD

open.substack.com

January 10, 2026 at 7:25 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

Michael B. Cheney's Hidden Danger (AWSS Video) -- watch it before it's too late!
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

Hidden Danger (Video)

SF Earthquake, Fires & Water Supply

open.substack.com

January 9, 2026 at 8:40 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

I don't think being called "zealots" by someone who would screw over the Snowy Plovers for a little attention even though the Plovers are on the logo he splashes everywhere, is really all that bad of a thing.
john
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

Zealotry 101

A Primer on the Ad Hominem Fallacy

open.substack.com

January 6, 2026 at 7:11 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

Snowy Plovers & The Great Highway
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

Snowy Plover & The Great Highway

Bare Assertion Fallacy

open.substack.com

January 6, 2026 at 4:49 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

sign onto our letter supporting AWSS expansion citywide — SF Neighbors for Equal Fire Protection for All!
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

ACTION: Sign-on letter - AWSS and post-earthquake firefighting

Be The Change - Way Out West

open.substack.com

January 5, 2026 at 4:47 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

The Path for Though the Heavens Fall and the Way for John B. Crabtree
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

The Path Ahead in 2026

The Path for Though the Heavens Fall and the Way for John B. Crabtree

open.substack.com

December 29, 2025 at 5:18 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

Merry Christmas

Love, always

open.substack.com

December 25, 2025 at 12:24 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

While it will take some more time, The Great Highway can become a highway again, if we have but the will to try.
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

The Road Less Traveled

What's ahead for The Great Highway

open.substack.com

December 23, 2025 at 6:08 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

San Francisco can ill-afford to get this one wrong. AWSS YES! SFPUC Western Potable Boondoggle NO!
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

Earthquakes, AWSS & Public Safety Redlining

Here's the pitch, and this is going to be a big New Year's Resolution for me.

open.substack.com

December 21, 2025 at 9:55 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

San Francisco's City Attorney wants to sell us a pig-in-a-poke but I'm not buying it!
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

Prop. K Goes to Court Next Month

I wonder if the City & County of San Francisco is ready.

open.substack.com

December 19, 2025 at 8:44 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

ACTION! - Say Yes to AWSS!
Another chance for Though the Heavens Fall insiders to sign-on before anyone else!
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

ACTION! - Say Yes to AWSS!

Another chance for Though the Heavens Fall insiders to sign-on before anyone else!

open.substack.com

December 18, 2025 at 4:45 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

ACTION ALERT -- We want AWSS!
Stand up, speak out, sign-on for Equal Fire Protection for All!
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

ACTION ALERT -- We want AWSS!

Stand up, speak out, sign-on for Equal Fire Protection for All!

open.substack.com

December 15, 2025 at 2:40 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

Say what you mean and mean what you say!
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

On the Side of Truth

The Boondoggle Chronicles

open.substack.com

December 14, 2025 at 9:37 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

We’re headed to City Hall! Going to argue AWSS vs. PUC’s Western Potable EFWS Boondoggle. I can hardly wait! Love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...

AWSS v. Western Potable EFWS Boondoggle

Spoiler alert! And off to City Hall we go!

open.substack.com

December 13, 2025 at 7:29 AM

John Crabtree

@jcrabtree.bsky.social

San Francisco appeals decision on disability access to SF recreational facilities and parks (SF Rec & Park) in a blatant show of hubris and utter disregard for persons with disabilities.
open.substack.com/pub/crabtree...