iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 26/08/2026

Presenting my work on Medicaid estate recovery at the @advancingstates.bsky.social #HCBSconference this morning alongside colleagues at the Aging & Disability Health Policy Lab and @justiceinaging.org, come see us to learn more!

Picture of a metallic placard outside a hotel ballroom displaying a conference session that reads “Medicaid Estate Recovery”

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 23/04/2026

Mets are undefeated since Muppet kept score in right field #LGM

Picture of a bernedoodle at bark at the park at citifield, keeping score for the Mets

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 18/04/2026

Tomorrow, the Google Fired50 are hosting TechLash: Fight Back Against Big Tech — a 9-hour livestream marking two years since Google workers staged coast-to-coast sit-ins to demand accountability from one of the world's most powerful companies.

Event information for “Techlash”, an event covering corruption in big tech and fundraiser for the Fired50

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 05/04/2026

Such a delight to finally cheer on the @newyorksirens.com in New York (i.e., not Newark, NJ) and with the best crew no less!

Picture of a group of friends at Madison Square Garden at a NY Sirens game after the Sirens beat the Seattle Torrent in an overtime shootout

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 28/03/2026

But why is Gary so much colder than Ron and Keith? I missed these guys so much 😭 #LGM

Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling, and Gary Cohen of Mets SNY coverage in the booth on the second game of the season for the Mets, Gary is colder than everyone else

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 21/01/2026

Disgusted and horrified to discover the #NYSirens backup goalie, Callie Shanahan, is a TERF. So sick of these leagues touting inclusivity while platforming transphobic players. TERFs out of the #PWHL now.

Screenshot of a transphobic tweet by Trump liked by NY Sirens backup goalie, Callie Shanahan

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 08/12/2025

Was delighted to celebrate the new Court Street bike lane this weekend with fellow bike enthusiasts, families with small children, advocates from @transalt.org, and of course @cmrestler.bsky.social 🥳

Person on a Citibike riding on the new protected court street bike lane.

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 01/12/2025

We’re so back (from the long weekend and car bullshit). Here we see an SUV flagrantly disregarding a no parking zone. Atlantic is arguably the most dangerous intersection of Court Street for everyone involved and behavior like this only makes it worse! We *must* move beyond flex posts.

Gray SUV (Audi) parked on top of flex posts in no parking zone on Court Street, partially in protected bike lane

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 25/11/2025

Not only do boulders ensure pedestrian islands remain for pedestrians (not cars), but they also provide a much needed place to sit. In a world where benches and public seating are basically nonexistent, the boulders offer a welcome reprieve for dogs and humans alike!

Bernedoodle on a leash sitting on a boulder on a pedestrian island on Court Street next to the new protected bike lane and crosswalks!

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 17/11/2025

When people complain about the new bike lane and say, “we support a bike lane just not this way” (which we hear a lot on CB6), this is why it needs to be protected and not just a lane in traffic. The second a bike lane is not protected it becomes a secondary place for cars to park, as pictured here.

Green car parked in a bike lane at the intersection of Court and Hamilton.

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 17/11/2025

The big day has finally arrived, thanks to the new protected Court Street bike lane there are beautiful new crosswalks at Court & Douglass St! It’s a great day to be a pedestrian looking to safely cross Court Street 😎 (New curb cuts hopefully coming soon, DOT?????)

Crosswalks at a 3-way intersection on Court Street; also pictured: 4-story apartment buildings and Union Market

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 14/11/2025

Ventured further down Court Street this morning close to Hamilton, arguably the most important part of the new bike lane given BQE traffic and the general car chaos that area is known for. Here we already see missing and broken flex posts further underscoring why harder barriers are better.

Protected bike lane at Court and Hamilton with flex posts missing and bent

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 12/11/2025

Monumental update on Court Street. DOT has begun to put boulders in the pedestrian islands !! Restricting the ability for cars/trucks to bowl the flex posts over AND giving pedestrians a place to sit and relax (shown here).

New boulders in pedestrian islands on both side of Court Street, a pedestrian sits with their dog on a boulder and no pedestrian islands are restricted by cars or trucks.

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 04/11/2025

Well now it’s just getting egregious, this truck is endangering both pedestrians by parking in the pedestrian island and cars who can’t see clearly to pull onto Court Street

Baldor delivery truck parked in a pedestrian island on Court Street

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 03/11/2025

Yet another example of a truck completely disregarding both the tan paint and flex posts that DOT uses to denote a pedestrian island on Court Street…la la la we need sturdier barriers on Court Street

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 31/10/2025

Another day, another truck mowed down a flex post on a pedestrian island…

Delivery truck parked over a flex post on a pedestrian island next to Court Street bike lane in Brooklyn

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 30/10/2025

Just a friendly reminder why safe streets advocates are always yelling about things like “hard daylighting” 🤬 Without boulders, planters, seating, or more aggressive barriers, cars continue to disregard flex posts, thus disregarding what should be a lovely pedestrian island. #CourtStBikeLane

Red Prius parked in a pedestrian island next to new Court Street bike lane in Brooklyn

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 22/07/2025

The thread no one asked for because I’m accidentally at the WWE-themed #Mets game (why in god’s name do they have this theme night?). For those watching at home, here’s what you’re missing (obviously with alt-text) #LFGM

Brandon Nimmo on the Mets scoreboard in a WWE-themed outfit

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 24/06/2025

The Carroll Gardens library branch has been closed for over a year so we on @bkcb6.bsky.social worked to open a temporary library branch until they complete the renovations (in 2026). Absolutely thrilled to see I can finally request a library book pick up from the temporary space!

Screenshot of the Brooklyn Public Library website that allows you to choose the Carroll Gardens library as a pick-up location for your books

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 08/06/2025

Come visit my best poster nominee BP-10, “The Association of Medicaid Estate Recovery with Homeownership, Home Equity, and Medicaid Enrollment” at #ARM25. Let’s talk Medicaid estate recovery and why it might be associated with a ~10% increase in home equity with implications for wealth disparities.

Woman standing by academic poster about Medicaid Estate Recovery nominated for best poster at AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 20/05/2025

We’re so back, strikes work 🔥

Screenshot of NJ Transit app with an alert that says NJ Transit rail service has resumed normal operations as of Tuesday, May 20th.

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 04/02/2025

It's hard to convey to people who don't conduct research or policy/advocacy work how detrimental the removal of public data will be for years to come. Access to public data allows researchers to conduct rigorous and timely research that can be leveraged to meaningfully impact policy.

Screenshot of a U.S. government CDC webpage that displays a message, "the page you're looking for was not found".

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 05/01/2025

Muppet and I left the house after 11:30pm in winter to celebrate the start of congestion pricing !!

Picture of group of people with dog (Muppet) in the foreground gathered to support congestion pricing in Manhattan

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 16/12/2024

Absolutely want this to exist, until then here’s a 12ft Halloween skeleton dressed in a Santa suit spotted this year in Dyker Heights

Picture of a Christmas light display featuring a 12 ft skeleton dressed in a Santa suit in front of a full wall of colorful lights

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 23/11/2024

Closing out #APPAM2024 with a panel on reproductive health policy and practice where I’ll be presenting some work with @ericaeliason.bsky.social on the reasons people don’t use contraception in the postpartum period. It’s a stacked panel, come join us before heading home!

A screenshot of a conference schedule from the conference app for a specific presentation entitled, “Generating Evidence to Promote Reproductive Health Policy and Practice”

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 12/10/2023

After a hearty debate about daylighting and its impacts on pedestrian and bike safety, the resolution passed 33-3. CB6 officially joins Queens CB1 whose transportation committee passed a similar resolution in June after the tragic death of two children in their district.

Picture of the resolution CB6 passed to recommend daylighting.

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 12/10/2023

This intervention has been shown to be an overwhelmingly effective tool in the vision zero movement. Cities like Hoboken, NJ (pictured below) have widely implemented daylighting and reduced pedestrian deaths on city roads to zero for two years in a row.

Picture of an intersection in Hoboken from the viewpoint of a car where the intersection is daylit. A pedestrian is pictured safely crossing the street.

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 12/10/2023

First, what is daylighting? Daylighting is a street design intervention where visual obstructions close to intersections (read: parked cars up to and sometimes in, crosswalks) are removed to improve visibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.

Picture of an intersection with a crosswalk. There are two cars parked in either side of the crosswalk thereby obstructing the view for the car that is pulling up to the intersection.

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Mandi Spishak-Thomas @aspishakthomas.com · 12/09/2023

Chaired my first community board meeting today where we unanimously approved licenses for 4 exciting new restaurants/bars in the neighborhood. Year 2 on CB6 off to a fun start!

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