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Aaron Berdofe

@aaronberdofe.bsky.social
278 followers 306 following 1.9K posts

Welcome to my personal journal. It’s mostly about Swampscott. I’m sorry if you came here for something else.

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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 6h
The license plates are just saying the quiet part out loud now…
Photo of a vanity license plate that reads “BFASH”.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 6h
There’s something poetic about an auto collision business actively campaigning against the Lynnway redesign project which is in part intended to reduce auto collisions.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
MA Republicans giving big NIMBY energy. Nice to see alignment between progressives and MA Dems though.
Infographic table of all 9 MA ballot measures abd where 4 groups stand on them:

Sources: progressivemass.com (Aug. 5, 2026); LWVMA statement (Jan. 22, 2026); Mass. Democratic Party;
MassGOP 2026 Ballot Guide (Sept. 20, 2026).

2026 Mass. Ballot Questions:
Where Four Groups Stand
Massachusetts state election, November 3, 2026

#
Question
Progressive
Mass
League of Women Voters
Mass.
Democrats
Mass.
Republicans
1
Public records for Governor and Legislature
YES
YES
YES
YES
2
Union rights for public defenders (CPCS)
YES
No position
YES
No position
3
All-party "top two" primary
NO
No position
NO
NO
4
Election Day voter registration
YES
YES
YES
NO
5
Cap on state tax revenue growth, with rebates
NO
NO
NO
YES
6
"Nature for All" conservation fund
No position
No position
YES
NO
7
Smaller minimum lots for single-family homes
YES
YES
YES
NO
8
Repeal recreational marijuana sales
NO
No position
NO
No position
9
Keep the 2024 gun law (YES = keep,
NO = repeal)
YES
YES
YES
NO
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Tech companies right now are being told they need to integrate LLMs into their work and become dependent on them otherwise…well…the consequences are unclear, but no one has shown how they have revolutionized anything yet so I guess we are all still figuring out what problems they solve.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
What is the opposite of tokenmaxxing? It took 2 minutes just to figure out my name. It used to take 2 minutes to just call someone and handle this…
Screenshot of a “live” chat with a couple of different bots on the Chewy support chat. It took 2 minutes just to figure out my name. 

V Chat Live With Us
End
Please stay on the chat, and the representative will be right with you.
Thanks for being the best part of Chewy!
Omar E. 1:34 p.m.
Hi, my name is Chris V. (Supervisor).
Please allow me a moment to review your previous chat so can better assist you.
Chris V. 1:41 p.m.
Hello Aaron! My name is Chris I am the supervisor on shift. Let me take a moment to review your previous chat so can better understand the reason for your contact.
Chris V. 1:43 p.m.
Oh no l am so sorry the order was delivered but didnt arrive. I understand how worrying this is. I am going to look into this now.
Chris V. 1:47 p.m.
While I look how is Astro?
Chris V. 1:50 p.m.
© Type a message...
>
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Oh? bsky.app/profile/jare...
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
[insert every American with Italian roots who visits Italy for the first time]
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
I love how people vacation to cool, walkable places and then get home and yell about how’s there’s nowhere to park in their town and how bad traffic is and then rally to reject any zoning changes their town tries to make that would improve walkability for them everyday.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Swampscott did the whole “let me rename this body of water for no reason at all” thing before Trump. swampscotttides.org/featured/swa...
In the 1902 brochure, Ainslie and Grabow rename Orient Street, calling it "Puritan Road," a full 13 years before the town of Swampscott adopted the name change at Town Meeting.
They experimented briefly in attempting to change the name of Nahant Bay to Swampscott Bay (see postcard caption at top), but the Lynn Daily Item wouldn't hear of it, so that name change didn't stick.
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Jonathan Berk 🏠 @berkie1.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
"A drop of approximately 20% in inflation-adjusted rents—as happened in Austin, Texas, and Minneapolis after those cities made reforms—could reduce poverty by 18% to 26% and child poverty by 21% to 38%." @pewresearch.org www.pew.org/en/research-...
pew.org
The Housing Shortage Is a Major Driver of Poverty
Housing costs are usually the largest item in a household’s budget and can determine a family’s financial stability.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
In fairness, Chuck is still mourning the loss of his vacuum.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Legal advice is 👌 though.
Screenshot of a question and response from the America.gov website 

Can the president set tariffs or is that illegal?
Congress holds the constitutional power to impose tariffs. The President may set or change tariffs only when a statute Congress passed allows it, and only under that law's conditions. It is not automatically illegal for a President to impose tariffs, and it is not unlimited.
Who has the power
• The Constitution gives Congress power to
"lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises" and to "regulate Commerce with foreign Nations."
Congressional Research Service
• The President has no inherent peacetime power to impose tariffs. Authority must come from Congress.
Sunreme Court 1 parnina Resnurces Ine 1Screenshot of a question and answer from the America.gov website:

Can the president force states to change how they do elections?
No. The President cannot unilaterally force states to change how they run elections.
Who sets election rules
• States have the main authority over "Times, Places and Manner" of congressional elections. Elections Clause, Art. 1, $ 47
• Congress may pass laws that make or change those rules for federal elections. Examples include the National Voter Registration Act 7 and the Help America Vote Act r.
• For presidential elections, each state legislature directs how electors are appointed.
Congress sets the nationwide Election
Day. CRS 7
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Iowans are in two camps right now: Hawkeye fans and non-college sports people: “What a moron!! This guy didn’t even try to Google it?!” Iowa State fans: “This is a reasonable mistake that people make all the time…”
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
A lot of people in health tech give the current DOGE administrator a pass for her retconning of DOGE activities because she has a long history in health tech government service. I don’t see why more journalists won’t just continually ask her questions about DOGE functions today.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
What if you exclude Dunkin’ Donuts though?
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Great symposium today from @abundanthousingma.org which brought together housing advocates across the state to share and collaborate on the shared goal of bringing more housing to Massachusetts. Excellent conversation between @jessekb.bsky.social and @jamellebouie.net too. @berkie1.bsky.social
Photo of Jesse Kanson-Benanav and Jamelle Bouie discussing housing. Photo of Lt Governor Kim Driscoll discussing the need for housing in the state.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Apropos of nothing I’m coming from a conference where the current DOGE administrator (and now “Chief product officer”) told everyone that AI will be what radically transforms the US healthcare system. Maybe she’ll put Big Balls on it.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I may have tipped them off. swampscotttides.org/featured/rec...
swampscotttides.org
Records Show Swampscott Police Lack Flock-Specific Policy Amid Misuse Investigation - Swampscott Tides
As a Swampscott police officer remains on administrative leave amid an investigation into potential misuse of Lynn’s Flock license-plate reader system, it has become clear that the Swampscott Police D...
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
This differs from politics which a lot of people think is mostly finding “common ground”. You can’t find common ground with someone who is wrapped up in conspiracy theories, but you will welcome their vote as an activist for the thing you’ve been pushing if they decide they want that too.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Activism is being prepared to take advantage of opportunities, any opportunity, to advance your cause. Anyone is welcome to come along with you, but you are leading and stay true to the cause.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Tired: trying to impress people with your Claude output. Wired: shaming people for producing unreadable Claude output and not taking the time to edit it and make it something people can actually understand.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
It’s really just one select board member who has concerns…and it’s 4 units with one subsidized one. 4 units within walkable distance to a pizza shop, a Mexican restaurant, a daycare, a hot yoga studio, and next door to a large park. swampscotttides.org/featured/sel...
swampscotttides.org
Select Board Weighs Whether to Push Back on Lodge Road Development - Swampscott Tides
A developer is seeking to develop a Lodge Road property that was previously deemed unsuitable for construction, prompting the Select Board to question whether it has the ability — and...
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Should have seen the denial of basic flock audit logs coming, but nice to get confirmation they never put a specific policy in place pertaining to the Lynn system they had access to. I suspect most police departments are a little fast and loose with policies around access to sensitive info.
Screenshot of an email:

RE: Audit records
Good afternoon,
The Swampscott Police Department does not have a Flock specific policy. Attached is our Automated license plate reader policy.
The department owns one ALPR system (cruiser mounted) however it has not functioned in approximately five years. Subsequently, it is not installed on anything currently and is in storage.
Regarding your Flock specific information request, under M.G.L. c.4 s.7(26)(f) materials pertaining to on-going and active investigations, it cannot be released.
Regards,
Lt. Michael J. Frayler
Administrative Lieutenant
Video/Records Unit
Firearms Licensing/Firearms & Taser Instructor/ Armorer
Fleet Management
Swampscott Police Department
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Reposted by Aaron Berdofe
NBC10 Boston @nbcboston.com · 23/09/2026
Massachusetts' governor and lieutenant governor are supporting a Nov. ballot question that would allow for single-family homes to be built on smaller lots to help with housing affordability. on.nbcboston.com/BoGWctv
on.nbcboston.com
Mass. starter-home proposal gets key Beacon Hill endorsements
Massachusetts' governor and lieutenant governor are supporting a Nov. ballot question that would allow for single-family homes to be built on smaller lots to help with housing affordability.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Honestly, kudos for not using AI slop for this.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
I love it when NIMBYs treat attempts at transit-oriented development like their house is in some ecological preserve next to the commuter rail station.
A screenshot of a digital flyer: 

SAVE OUR STREETS!
SWAMPSCOTT RAILROAD AREA: SMART GROWTH ZONING DISTRICT
ZONING IS TRYING TO BE CHANGED SO THAT MORE HOUSING CAN BE BUILT
STAND UP AGAINST THIS AT THE MEETINGS AND MANY OTHER NEW BUILDING UNITS IN SWAMPSCOTT-SAVE OUR TOWN!
MEETINGS SELECT BOARD
9/23
PLANNING BOARD
10/6
SPECIAL MEETING ABOUT
PROPOSED ZONING
CHANGES
10/19
PLANNING BOARD MEETING
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
The more affluent areas can do NIMBYism better so demand pressure for more housing gets put on everyone else. I’ve long compared this to one of those “which bucket will fill first” puzzles where no one builds a bigger bucket.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Unsurprisingly I believe most research points out that NIMBYism (aka xenophobia) in more white and more affluent areas of a metropolitan area are generally what cause the gentrification of less-affluent and more culturally interesting neighborhoods.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Suddenly more curious for what my request for flock audit logs from the Swampscott police department will turn up…
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Anyway, the best places to build housing in Swampscott are around the train station, Vinnin square, and a bit on the non-ocean side of Humphrey. People want to live in these places because they are close to things to walk to!
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
The irony too of Swampscott knowing the historic fish house won’t survive climate change and not just being ok with tearing it down and making it an actually useful facility for the fishing industry like this one in Chatham certainly exemplifies how we view history here.
Photo of the Swampscott historic fish house. Photo of the Chatham fish processing building at the town pier.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
I have zero sympathy for people who can afford a >$4million house and this happens on the road in front of your house every minor rainfall event. I also think the town should start eyeing ways to take over any and all coastal properties so we can use them as public spaces.
Screenshot of a real estate listing on Zillow for a coastal home in Swampscott listed at $4.3million. Photo of an SUV plowing through a flooded Puritan Rd in Swampscott with the water splashing higher than the vehicle and onto the neighboring lawn over their hedges.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
This is always an interesting topic to me and why I’ve been mostly hands-off in pushing for housing for the Hawthorne location, because if the private course takes up 7% of Swampscott’s land, the FEMA flood risk zones apply to…well much more than that.
Screenshot of a FEMA flood map showing the entire Swampscott coast, maybe 20% of the entire land area of the town, eyeballing it, is in either the AE or VE areas.
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Reposted by Aaron Berdofe
shaunt @shaunvids.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
the republicans are wide open on several fronts, historically unpopular president, unpopular war, record high gas. any dem throwing trans people under the bus at this moment is doing it because they want to. not like they need to, do they. even if it worked as a vote winner, which it doesn't
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
You know this movie pulled all of that from the book it’s based on, right? It was just a poorly made movie based on a very prescient book.
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Reposted by Aaron Berdofe
Faine Greenwood @faineg.com · 18/09/2026
Why talk about how nuts the AI rationalist sex cult is, and not just focus on the (very real) risks and harms of AI? Well, when we're discussing "who should get to regulate AI, and how," I think it's VERY relevant to talk about the antisocial, unsettling ways many people running US AI think.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
This was also the first song I learned how to play on the guitar once I got past learning my G, C, D, Em chords. My mom used to encourage me to not listen to “such depressing music”, but I never found it to be that, just beautiful. youtu.be/rfbx8Lh7Rec?...
youtu.be
In the Absence of Sun
YouTube video by Duncan Sheik - Topic
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I don’t get emotional about celebrity deaths, but this one absolutely breaks my heart. Duncan Sheik has been my favorite and most influential artist on my own music since I heard In the Absence of the Sun on The Saint soundtrack as a teenager. abcnews.com/GMA/Culture/...
abcnews.com
Duncan Sheik, Tony Award-winning composer, dies at 56
Duncan Sheik, the Tony Award-winning composer behind "Spring Awakening" and more, has died, according to his Instagram. He was 56.
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Jason Kint @kint.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Eye popping. Court just unsealed Summary Judgment motions in New York Times v OpenAI / Microsoft. Easy to see why the AI companies had so many redactions (pink). Their own people wrote the lede for NYT, the "largest theft of labor in human history"... "more and more substitutive..." /1
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I’ve never thought the “intern” analogy ever fit LLMs. I think a better one is a consultant who can sure make a slide deck or report look pretty, but doesn’t actually understand the contents or implications of their output and doesn’t care because they’ll be moved on to the next thing soon.
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Reposted by Aaron Berdofe
Ben Collins @bencollins.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Maybe the most important political story of our time. People just want the bullshit to stop.
gizmodo.com
71% of Americans Say They're Completely Exhausted
A CDC report shows that people are not feeling relaxed and restful in the United States.
1401266986704
Reposted by Aaron Berdofe
UAINE @mahtowin1.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Inside North America’s Largest Indigenous-Led Housing Development in Vancouver. The vision underpinning the architecture of Sen̓áḵw. thetyee.ca/News/2026/09...
thetyee.ca
Inside North America's Largest Indigenous-Led Housing Development | The Tyee
The vision underpinning the architecture of Sen̓áḵw.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Also, another case of the news outlet not mentioning that Glover’s regiment was perhaps the first racially integrated unit in US history in stark contrast to the demographics of the towns where this SECOND home of Glover sits today. His first is already a historic property in Marblehead.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Go for it.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
“Won’t someone think of the country club?!??!”
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
It should be noted that the nearest housing is an assisted living facility tucked away a good 200 yards from the closest corner of this site, so I’m sure the person asking about pool hours was definitely on the level.
Screenshot FP article text: Public commenters asked for full descriptions of pool timing; environmental impacts; the effects on Tedesco Pond Place and the country club; the reason for chimneys; concrete plans to maintain the Glover House; and overall "better descriptions" of the project.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I see they are going with 90s colonial as their architectural style to appease the most discerning of neighborhood character critics.
A screenshot from the project presentation showing 5 different renderings of the proposed buildings. It states: The Proposed Project will have intentionally designed structures, with a maximum height of 50 feet.
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Happy to see the new property owner is moving quickly. swampscotttides.org/top-story/pl...
swampscotttides.org
Planning Board Hears Plans for 140-Unit Glover Residences, Historic House Preservation - Swampscott Tides
Attorney Gerry D’Ambrosio, counsel for the Glover Residences project, presented revised plans for the 140-unit development to the Planning Board Monday, confirming that the historic Glover House will ...
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Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I spent over a minute scrolling on LinkedIn the other day, and I honestly don’t even know what I read on that site. There were words, yes, but none of them seemed to fit together very well.
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Reposted by Aaron Berdofe
Aaron Berdofe @aaronberdofe.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Sorry for the bad picture but all the houses on this street in Swampscott have these S.O.S (save out street) signs because of a proposed 5 unit condo and I can’t stop laughing at them.
A blurry photo of a yard sign with “S.O.S.” In bright red letters (Save or Street in blue above it), and “no condos on our street” below it.
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