Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by zach lou

Debt Collective 🟥 @debtcollective.bsky.social · 6d

We just built a NEW tech tool that *any current or former tenant* in the entire country can use for free — it will generate a legal letter for you that reports to collections agencies, credit bureaus and regulatory agencies.

Go to reportmylandlord.org to fight back.

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zach lou @zlousky.bsky.social · 5d

The fact that utilities are ecstatic about the new load growth tells you everything you need to know

Aarón Cantú @aaroncantu.bsky.social · 6d

NEW INVESTIGATION

California predicts data centers will consume as much power as adding another LA to grid by 2030

A utility anticipates additional emissions equal to 21 gas plants

Some environmentalists see reducing gas power as “a lot less likely” due to AI capitalandmain.com/the-insatiab...

The Insatiable Energy Demands of Data Centers Could Increase Fossil Fuel Emissions in California

By 2030, the centers could consume the equivalent of adding another city the size of L.A. to the state’s power grid.

capitalandmain.com

Reposted by zach lou

Aarón Cantú @aaroncantu.bsky.social · 6d

NEW INVESTIGATION

California predicts data centers will consume as much power as adding another LA to grid by 2030

A utility anticipates additional emissions equal to 21 gas plants

Some environmentalists see reducing gas power as “a lot less likely” due to AI capitalandmain.com/the-insatiab...

The Insatiable Energy Demands of Data Centers Could Increase Fossil Fuel Emissions in California

By 2030, the centers could consume the equivalent of adding another city the size of L.A. to the state’s power grid.

capitalandmain.com

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Rachel Cohen Booth @rcobooth.bsky.social · 7d

Tomorrow activists are launching a novel rent debt strike against one of the largest corporate landlords in the country.

I report on their strategy and national goals

Vox @vox.com · 8d

A small group of former Equity Residential tenants is launching a first-of-its-kind back rent debt strike that will go public in early October. The campaign's broader strategy is to challenge what organizers see as systematic abuse of renters.

Tenants say it’s time for landlords to cancel back rent debt

Tenants are going on strike against their landlords.

www.vox.com

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Reposted by zach lou

Thea Riofrancos @triofrancos.bsky.social · 22d

In a world riven by inequality and devastated by climate + ecological crisis, what would it take for "green industrial policy" to empower the working class in Global North + South, and be truly green?

New @cplusc.bsky.social report by me and Isabel Estevez (1/3) t.co/78sQQe4d1g

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zach lou @zlousky.bsky.social · 25d

I think there are 10 renters, but the point still stands. And I think it's telling that the renter's caucus didn't endorse the big tenant protection bill this year (AB 1157)

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zach lou @zlousky.bsky.social · 25d

This is a wild story. Bass tries to insert last-minute state bill to significantly weaken the *LA voter-approved* Measure ULA, then withdraws it less than 48 hrs later.

Real estate & co (Howard Jarvis, CBRT) are pissed about ULA and doing whatever they can to stop it

In abrupt turnabout, Mayor Bass withdraws her bill to overhaul L.A.'s 'mansion tax'

Bass had pushed for the bill to rewrite Measure ULA in the final days of the legislative session, only to reverse course, saying she needed more time.

www.latimes.com

Reposted by zach lou

Daniel Aldana Cohen @aldasky.bsky.social · Aug 26

TODAY!!! Come hear @alybatt.bsky.social talk about her brilliant new book!

Daniel Aldana Cohen @aldasky.bsky.social · Aug 22

I'm so excited to talk to @alybatt.bsky.social about her *brilliant* new book, Free Gifts: Capitalism and the Politics of Nature.

Next Tuesday in SF, at Book Passage! Come through 📚💚

www.bookpassage.com/event/alyssa...

Alyssa Battistoni with Daniel Aldana Cohen - Free Gifts: Capitalism and the Politics of Nature (Ferry Building Event)

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Reposted by zach lou

UAW @uaw.org · Aug 17

Labor's answer to automation: less hours, more pay.

Undated UAW poster from the 1950s.

📸 @reutherlibrary.bsky.social

Vintage UAW poster from the 1950s in yellow, orange, black, and white. The text reads:

"Labor's answer to automation: less hours, more pay."

The image shows a human hand pressing a button on a machine.

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zach lou @zlousky.bsky.social · Aug 14

It's not just that data centers are driving up bills -- we are underestimating the impact of Big Tech's growing ownership of power plants and share of the wholesale electricity market

Big Tech’s A.I. Data Centers Are Driving Up Electricity Bills for Everyone

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by zach lou

Ruthy Gourevitch @ruthygourevitch.bsky.social · Aug 6

The climate crisis is a catastrophe we cannot afford to ignore, means-test, or isolate as an “add-on” to other problems. Workers and tenants across the country understand that, and are advancing green economic populism at home and at work.

So fun to get to dig into it w/ @batul.bsky.social.

In These Times @inthesetimes.com · Aug 5

As Dixon Romeo, executive director of Southside Together, told us, “The tenant organizing feeds into broader campaigns so tenants not only have a union in their building but are also fighting for better neighborhoods.”

The Growing Fight for Green Economic Populism

In Chicago and across the country, unions and progressive leaders are implementing policies to address the climate crisis while improving working people’s lives.

inthesetimes.com

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Seven Years in Quebec @dfeldman.org · Aug 5

AI is the new microwave.

Thats not to say there haven't been growing pains. When a great steak comes out of the microwave I get really excited.
But more than half the steaks that come out of the microwave get sent back by the customer. To solve this problem I now run ten microwaves in parallel cooking ten steaks. One out of the ten steaks will most likely be good. The number of microwaves has required me to upgrade my restaurant's electrical system and I now have a small nuclear reactor installed in
the parking lot.

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zach lou @zlousky.bsky.social · Jul 24

Literally

zach lou @zlousky.bsky.social · Jul 22

In CA's CEQA wars budget deal there was a last minute addition of an exemption for 'advanced manufacturing.'

A few weeks later, California Forever announces they are going to build "largest site for advanced manufacturing in North America."

Hmmm... 🤔 seems like something for @gilduran.com

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zach lou @zlousky.bsky.social · Jul 18

Wrote about the connection between mass deportations and evictions in this week's newsletter.

ICE raids and deportations are causing families to fall behind on rent. And landlords are using the threat to force out tenants.

🏡💚 Deportation, eviction, and the politics of removal

mailchi.mp

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Reposted by zach lou

Zahra Hirji @zhirji.bsky.social · Jul 16

“This climate populism message is one that we really need to lean into,” the Arizona Democrat said at the Bloomberg Green Seattle conference on Tuesday.

Story @bloomberg.com with gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Democrats’ Path to Power Is ‘Climate Populism’, US Representative Says

Arizona Democrat Yassamin Ansari told attendees of Bloomberg Green Seattle that focusing on the rising costs of energy will resonate with voters.

www.bloomberg.com

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zach lou @zlousky.bsky.social · Jul 11

More in Oaklandside: oaklandside.org/2025/07/10/f...

New landlord references immigration to push out Fruitvale renters: ‘Are you legal’

Darrick Chavis, a prolific property investor with a history of renter disputes and legal battles, bought the buildings in the spring. The city attorney has demanded he stop any harassment of the rente...

oaklandside.org

zach lou @zlousky.bsky.social · Jul 11

Evictions and deportations are both about forcibly removing people from their home. Landlord in Oakland (Darrick Chavis) threatens both.

zach lou @zlousky.bsky.social · Jul 10

Extreme heat protections are also popular and common sense, with 76% of all voters (including 71% of Republicans) in support of requiring landlords to provide AC / cooling

Amid Record-Breaking Summer Temperatures, Extreme Heat Protections Are Popular With Voters

An overwhelming, bipartisan majority (87%) of voters support the proposed OSHA rule that would protect workers from extreme heat.

www.dataforprogress.org

zach lou @zlousky.bsky.social · Jul 10

"Renters want air conditioning, need it to stay safe, and believe it should be treated as a right—not a luxury."

Extreme heat kills. Timely new report from SAJE on a renter's right to cooling in the face of climate-driven heat events
www.saje.net/renters-righ...

New SAJE Report Advocates for a Renter’s Right to Cooling July 8, 2025 Over the next decade, climate scientists predict Los Angeles will experience three times more days of temperatures over 95°F. Thi...

www.saje.net

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zach lou @zlousky.bsky.social · Jul 9

A green social housing agenda could drive innovative manufacturing for all of the green home technologies we'll need for healthy + decarbonized homes.

Not just a dream - real examples from NYCHA & Vienna. Great piece by @aldasky.bsky.social, @ruthygourevitch.bsky.social, and @cplusc.bsky.social

Daniel Aldana Cohen @aldasky.bsky.social · Jul 9

I'm thrilled to share my latest essay, We Need a Green Industrial Policy for Housing. We need abundant green housing security. This is how we get it.

Written w the brilliant Julia Wagner & @ruthygourevitch.bsky.social. Short 🧵
climatecommunityinstitute.substack.com/p/we-need-a-...

We Need a Green Industrial Policy for Housing

By Daniel Aldana Cohen, Julia Wagner, and Ruthy Gourevitch

climatecommunityinstitute.substack.com

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Reposted by zach lou

Karen Kubey @karenkubey.bsky.social · Jul 8

Susanne Schindler has done it again! A concise, clarifying read.

bit.ly/460Hhgq

From Seattle to Atlanta, new social housing programs seek to make homes permanently affordable for a range of incomes

Americans are realizing that the country’s two-tiered system of market-rate housing and government-operated, low-income housing isn’t doing the trick.

bit.ly

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zach lou @zlousky.bsky.social · Jul 8

Hello bluesky 👋

If anyone’s out there, give me your best follows for assorted interests in organizing strategy, the climate left, social housing, and technofascism. And/or maybe some uppers like tree facts, the mysteries of space, animals being nice etc etc

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