William Bowen
@that-mafia.bsky.social
IT professional | transportation advocate
He/Him
He/Him
Reposted by William Bowen
Donald Trump has been accused of holding a party for prostitutes at his Mar-a-Lago resort in yet another FBI file relating to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Epstein Files Dump Reveals Tip on Trump 'Prostitute Party'
The documents released so far have raised fresh questions about the president’s ties to the late sex predator.
trib.al
December 24, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Donald Trump has been accused of holding a party for prostitutes at his Mar-a-Lago resort in yet another FBI file relating to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Reposted by William Bowen
“In DOGE’s published list of canceled contracts and grants, the 13 largest were all incorrect.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
How Did DOGE Disrupt So Much While Saving So Little?
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:29 PM
“In DOGE’s published list of canceled contracts and grants, the 13 largest were all incorrect.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
Reposted by William Bowen
Check out the Top Ten Cycling Developments of 2025 in Monroe County! And if you're able, please consider a year-end donation to strengthen Reconnect Rochester's work in 2026. We could really use the support! 🙏🏼 reconnectrochester.org/2025/12/top-... #ROC #RochesterNY
December 23, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Check out the Top Ten Cycling Developments of 2025 in Monroe County! And if you're able, please consider a year-end donation to strengthen Reconnect Rochester's work in 2026. We could really use the support! 🙏🏼 reconnectrochester.org/2025/12/top-... #ROC #RochesterNY
Reposted by William Bowen
Insane - six towns in Onondaga County could run out of water in less than a week because of a water main break.
McMahon: If residents of six CNY towns don’t conserve water, ‘we have serious challenges’
Without cutting back on water, some areas could lose water in less than a week.
www.syracuse.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Insane - six towns in Onondaga County could run out of water in less than a week because of a water main break.
Reposted by William Bowen
I’m sure there’s a perfectly innocent explanation for a right-wing editor installed by a Trump supporter killing a story that was critical of Trump a few hours before it was supposed to air.
December 22, 2025 at 2:53 PM
I’m sure there’s a perfectly innocent explanation for a right-wing editor installed by a Trump supporter killing a story that was critical of Trump a few hours before it was supposed to air.
Reposted by William Bowen
"97% say scrolling social media and 94% texting/emailing are extremely or very dangerous — yet 28% texted and 37% read messages while driving."
When you force people into cars with no alternative you end up with people engaging in behavior that they know is wrong.
newsroom.aaa.com/2025/12/driv...
When you force people into cars with no alternative you end up with people engaging in behavior that they know is wrong.
newsroom.aaa.com/2025/12/driv...
Drivers Support Promising Solutions to Curb Impaired Driving, New AAA Survey Shows – AAA Newsroom
newsroom.aaa.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:40 PM
"97% say scrolling social media and 94% texting/emailing are extremely or very dangerous — yet 28% texted and 37% read messages while driving."
When you force people into cars with no alternative you end up with people engaging in behavior that they know is wrong.
newsroom.aaa.com/2025/12/driv...
When you force people into cars with no alternative you end up with people engaging in behavior that they know is wrong.
newsroom.aaa.com/2025/12/driv...
Reposted by William Bowen
ICYMI: Hearing from journalists outside of Rochester about all this.
The Airbnb files were a window into how the company, as well as a local machine congressman, operate.
The Airbnb files were a window into how the company, as well as a local machine congressman, operate.
THE AIRBNB LOBBYING FILES, PART 1:
In emails, Airbnb downplayed activity in the Rochester market. But their math didn't quite math. And county officials never challenged them (at least it doesn't appear so, because Airbnb got everything it wanted). 1/
In emails, Airbnb downplayed activity in the Rochester market. But their math didn't quite math. And county officials never challenged them (at least it doesn't appear so, because Airbnb got everything it wanted). 1/
December 19, 2025 at 2:16 PM
ICYMI: Hearing from journalists outside of Rochester about all this.
The Airbnb files were a window into how the company, as well as a local machine congressman, operate.
The Airbnb files were a window into how the company, as well as a local machine congressman, operate.
Reposted by William Bowen
In the 1960s, leaders in Rochester, NY, tore through Black and brown neighborhoods to build a highway. Now, they're rebuilding communities by filling in the old highway, restoring a street grid to the city's downtown core. The end result will be a place built for people, not cars.
Rochester’s Inner Loop Meets Its End
The city looks to revitalize its core by filling in the highway that destroyed it
www.sierraclub.org
December 18, 2025 at 4:24 PM
In the 1960s, leaders in Rochester, NY, tore through Black and brown neighborhoods to build a highway. Now, they're rebuilding communities by filling in the old highway, restoring a street grid to the city's downtown core. The end result will be a place built for people, not cars.
Reposted by William Bowen
We're excited for the Inner Loop North infill to reconnect our community while saving millions in highway maintenance costs!
www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2025-...
www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2025-...
Rochester’s Inner Loop Meets Its End
The city looks to revitalize its core by filling in the highway that destroyed it
www.sierraclub.org
December 18, 2025 at 9:15 PM
We're excited for the Inner Loop North infill to reconnect our community while saving millions in highway maintenance costs!
www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2025-...
www.sierraclub.org/sierra/2025-...
Reposted by William Bowen
Reagan funded and armed death squads, left Americans to die during the AIDS crisis, destroyed the economic tools that built the 20th century, his allies committed treason in 1980 (at the bare minimum, above that Reagan might have been involved) and pioneered "own the libs" politics.
The presidency once served as a reminder of our common humanity. Ronald Reagan described its purpose as building "a nation composed of good and decent people."
December 17, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Reagan funded and armed death squads, left Americans to die during the AIDS crisis, destroyed the economic tools that built the 20th century, his allies committed treason in 1980 (at the bare minimum, above that Reagan might have been involved) and pioneered "own the libs" politics.
Reposted by William Bowen
AIRBNB LOBBYING FILES all parts in one thread.
Part 1: Airbnb downplayed its footprint in the market. But I used tax receipts to show it accounts for about 1 in 10 room nights.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/the-airbnb...
Part 1: Airbnb downplayed its footprint in the market. But I used tax receipts to show it accounts for about 1 in 10 room nights.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/the-airbnb...
The Airbnb Lobbying Files, Part 1: How Airbnb Made Its Numbers Look Small
Private emails show how Airbnb minimized its scale while lobbying Monroe County against stronger oversight.
rachbarnhart.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:39 AM
AIRBNB LOBBYING FILES all parts in one thread.
Part 1: Airbnb downplayed its footprint in the market. But I used tax receipts to show it accounts for about 1 in 10 room nights.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/the-airbnb...
Part 1: Airbnb downplayed its footprint in the market. But I used tax receipts to show it accounts for about 1 in 10 room nights.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/the-airbnb...
Reposted by William Bowen
It is international law 101 that a military blockade is not just a violation of the UN Charter, but a crime of aggression.
Unless that blockade is in response to an 'armed attack.'
None of President's Trump's list of complaints come close to an armed attack.
1/
Unless that blockade is in response to an 'armed attack.'
None of President's Trump's list of complaints come close to an armed attack.
1/
December 17, 2025 at 12:27 AM
It is international law 101 that a military blockade is not just a violation of the UN Charter, but a crime of aggression.
Unless that blockade is in response to an 'armed attack.'
None of President's Trump's list of complaints come close to an armed attack.
1/
Unless that blockade is in response to an 'armed attack.'
None of President's Trump's list of complaints come close to an armed attack.
1/
This is an act of war. Trump has declared war on Venezuela. This is a violation of the constitution. We must call it as such. There is NO justification.
BREAKING: Donald Trump says he is ordering a "complete blockade" of sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela
Trump Says He’s Ordering a Blockade of Oil Tankers in Venezuela
President Donald Trump said he was ordering a “TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS” going into and leaving Venezuela, ratcheting up pressure on Caracas amid a US military buildup in the region and the threat of land strikes.
bloom.bg
December 17, 2025 at 12:27 AM
This is an act of war. Trump has declared war on Venezuela. This is a violation of the constitution. We must call it as such. There is NO justification.
Reposted by William Bowen
Airbnb threatened counties it would stop collecting and remitting taxes on behalf of hosts if Monroe County did a short-term rental registry.
Other counties understood Airbnb couldn't walk away.
Monroe, well, Monroe had its own reasons for using the threat as an excuse.
1/
Other counties understood Airbnb couldn't walk away.
Monroe, well, Monroe had its own reasons for using the threat as an excuse.
1/
December 16, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Airbnb threatened counties it would stop collecting and remitting taxes on behalf of hosts if Monroe County did a short-term rental registry.
Other counties understood Airbnb couldn't walk away.
Monroe, well, Monroe had its own reasons for using the threat as an excuse.
1/
Other counties understood Airbnb couldn't walk away.
Monroe, well, Monroe had its own reasons for using the threat as an excuse.
1/
Reposted by William Bowen
AOC: I want to remind you where the real crime is. It's in the oligarchs taking $170 billion of our money from health care and food assistance and public programs and taking that and funneling it into a secret police program.
December 16, 2025 at 4:20 PM
AOC: I want to remind you where the real crime is. It's in the oligarchs taking $170 billion of our money from health care and food assistance and public programs and taking that and funneling it into a secret police program.
Reposted by William Bowen
Reposted by William Bowen
This is a long one, but the short-term rental vote was a great case study in a lot that is wrong with county governance.
Read: open.substack.com/pub/rachbarn...
Read: open.substack.com/pub/rachbarn...
December 12, 2025 at 8:19 PM
This is a long one, but the short-term rental vote was a great case study in a lot that is wrong with county governance.
Read: open.substack.com/pub/rachbarn...
Read: open.substack.com/pub/rachbarn...
Reposted by William Bowen
We may have lost the vote last night. But so many regular people on social media just “got it.”
December 11, 2025 at 12:24 AM
We may have lost the vote last night. But so many regular people on social media just “got it.”
Reposted by William Bowen
Great story - finally! Balanced - and it did not take at face value this claim that we would lose tax revenue.
Monroe County votes to not track Airbnbs and other short-term rentals
By a vote of 21-8, Monroe County became the only major county in upstate New York to vote to not create a registry for short-term rentals.
www.wxxinews.org
December 10, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Great story - finally! Balanced - and it did not take at face value this claim that we would lose tax revenue.
Reposted by William Bowen
Last night's vote giving Airbnb what it wanted was about way more than a policy decision.
December 10, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Last night's vote giving Airbnb what it wanted was about way more than a policy decision.
Reposted by William Bowen
"congestion pricing didn’t simply relocate air pollution to the suburbs by rerouting traffic. Instead, folks are likely choosing cleaner transportation options altogether, like public transportation or scheduling deliveries at night. This limits how smog compounds when many cars are on the road.”
In the first six months of congestion pricing, air pollution within Manhattan's toll zone dropped 25%.
Pollution fell across the five boroughs and in the suburbs, too. A clean air win all around.
Pollution fell across the five boroughs and in the suburbs, too. A clean air win all around.
Congestion pricing improved air quality in NYC and suburbs | Cornell Chronicle
Cornell researchers tallied the environmental benefits of New York City’s congestion pricing program and found air pollution dropped by 22% in Manhattan, with additional declines across the city’s fiv...
news.cornell.edu
December 10, 2025 at 1:38 PM
"congestion pricing didn’t simply relocate air pollution to the suburbs by rerouting traffic. Instead, folks are likely choosing cleaner transportation options altogether, like public transportation or scheduling deliveries at night. This limits how smog compounds when many cars are on the road.”
Reposted by William Bowen
"In the first six months of the program, air pollution—in the form of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and smaller—dropped by 22% in the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ)... The team also reported declines across the city's five boroughs and surrounding suburbs."
NYC congestion pricing cuts air pollution by 22% in Manhattan, study finds
Since New York City introduced congestion pricing in January 2025, the state has heralded significant reductions in traffic and rush hour delays, fewer crashes and noise complaints, and toll revenue p...
phys.org
December 10, 2025 at 11:12 AM
"In the first six months of the program, air pollution—in the form of particulate matter 2.5 micrometers and smaller—dropped by 22% in the Congestion Relief Zone (CRZ)... The team also reported declines across the city's five boroughs and surrounding suburbs."
Reposted by William Bowen
Read Bello's data dump here. it's everything I suspected.
Morelle's kid - a lobbyist for Airbnb - was deeply involved since last spring in crafting the rushed opt out bill favoring Airbnb we are about to vote on.
Monroe is ALONE among big Upstate counties.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/documents-...
Morelle's kid - a lobbyist for Airbnb - was deeply involved since last spring in crafting the rushed opt out bill favoring Airbnb we are about to vote on.
Monroe is ALONE among big Upstate counties.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/documents-...
December 9, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Read Bello's data dump here. it's everything I suspected.
Morelle's kid - a lobbyist for Airbnb - was deeply involved since last spring in crafting the rushed opt out bill favoring Airbnb we are about to vote on.
Monroe is ALONE among big Upstate counties.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/documents-...
Morelle's kid - a lobbyist for Airbnb - was deeply involved since last spring in crafting the rushed opt out bill favoring Airbnb we are about to vote on.
Monroe is ALONE among big Upstate counties.
rachbarnhart.substack.com/p/documents-...
Reposted by William Bowen
Reposted by William Bowen
Could use some support - pulling out all the stops. Join us!
December 8, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Could use some support - pulling out all the stops. Join us!