iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Here is a picture of a speed cushion out in the wild, courtesy of @ericksoen.bsky.social. It is a speed hump with cutouts spaced for the wide axles of ambulances and fire trucks.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

You would think so, but at this moment Oak Park has NEGATIVE vertical deflection with our (not yet completed) speed cushions!

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

This morning, I got to watch as a couple of speed cushion receptacles were ground out. I am looking forward to seeing them finished soon!

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

This month, these speed cushions are being deployed all across Oak Park on Bike Boulevards and with a particular focus near schools and parks. This will absolutely make our community safer for kids who walk or roll to school!

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Arts and crafts on a Sunday afternoon.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Remembering a year of loss and a year of standing up for each other.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

From 2017 through 2021, before all of the Broadview Six stuff happened, I served as a Board Member of Immigration Law and Justice of Northern Illinois (formerly known as Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors).

Image of Immigration Law & Justice of Northern Illinois 2026 Champion for Justice Awardees Charles Wintersteen and Brian Straw.

Fall Fundraiser

2026 Champion for Justice Awardees

Charles Wintersteen

Charles Wintersteen has served as an ILJNI Board Member from 2014-2018, volunteering and offering his gifts as an attorney to our organization. He is the founding partner of Wintersteen Patel Law Group and has been practicing immigration law for +35 years. For almost 20 years Charles served as immigration counsel for the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Brian Straw

Brian Straw is a dad, an attorney, an Oak Park Village Trustee, and a relentless advocate for our immigrant neighbors. Brian became known as a member of the Broadview Six after he and five other Democratic activists were unjustly indicted after protesting outside the Broadview ICE Detention Facility.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The status quo allowed a single family home to be purchased for $212,000, demolished, and replaced with a 3,600 sq ft home which sold for $1.25 million. This removes naturally occurring affordable housing and replaces it with housing at the top of the market. This is the status quo.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

This weekend I had conversations with folks at the Farmers' Market and at the zoning listening sessions. Something wonderful happens when we are able to get past those loudest voices and actually listen and be in conversation with each other: we can find common ground.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Eight hours of community engagement and discussions around implementing missing middle housing in Oak Park. Generally, folks are open to the Shape Oak Park proposal, but have some concerns. I am going to keep listening and working to determine what we can do to address folks' concerns.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

I am incredibly grateful for the support of Oak Park Firefighters Local 95. The men and women of the Oak Park Fire Department put themselves at risk every day to keep our families safe. I'm grateful for their service and proud of the work I've done to make their jobs a little bit safer.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

⏰⏰ Michigan is playing and the brisket is done resting! ⏰⏰ Beef. It's what's for dinner.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Shhhh... The brisket is resting!

A boring suburban dad makes a shushing motion while his brisket rests.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Also, in #BoringSuburbanDad news, a brisket for Labor Day weekend!

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

I had over a hundred conversations at the Oak Park Farmers' Market this morning while collecting signatures. I appreciate folks taking the time to engage in real discussion. That's how we build the Oak Park of the next 50 years - by being in conversation a s learning from one another.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Four years ago, I told you that my goal was to imagine the Oak Park of the next 50 years – a Village that takes care of its neighbors and fights for common sense solutions rooted in our shared values. We’ve made great strides, but the work is not done. That's why I am running for reelection.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

The TomTom app and other mapping apps using OpenStreetMaps still refer to the lake correctly as Lake Ontario. If anyone is looking for alternatives.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

This week is SMART Week. Gun violence is the leading cause of death among children in the U.S. and one of the most effective steps we can take to prevent gun violence is the safe storage of firearms. (1/4)

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Let's go show the week who is the top dog.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

A bit of a break today from your regularly scheduled content.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Waking up to learn that my face made an appearance on John Oliver's @lastweektonight.com is a little bit wild. The segment provides a good primer on the utter collapse of the Department of Justice.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

The U.S. Attorney believes that a "public rebuke" and an internal review are sufficient for egregious prosecutorial misconduct that put my family through hell. My seven-year-old is still having nightmares and panic attacks related to this case. Justice requires transparency and accountability.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Yesterday, Judge Valderrama in the Northern District of Illinois upheld the Village of Oak Park's electrification ordinance which provides that most new construction cannot use natural gas. Excited that the Village has created precedent allowing other communities to move toward a greener future!

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Seeing my son play baseball at Ray Fisher Stadium is an absolute joy. #GoBlue

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

After the show we met Maya Keleher (played Alice Paul) and Trisha Jeffrey (played Mary Church Terrell). Really grateful for the message of @suffsmusical.bsky.social We cannot wait. We cannot stop pushing. Now is the next time.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

And, actually concluding the bookshop crawl, we stopped at The Pile Bookstore on Roosevelt Road where I picked up Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy by @joycewhitevance.bsky.social!

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

I lied, we added on The Looking Glass, a lovely used book store on South Oak Park Ave. We picked up about a dozen new-to-us books!

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

We ended our book crawl at The Dandelion on Oak Park Ave. where I picked up Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws that Are Ruining America by @elienyc.bsky.social I should be all set for some Independence Day reading!

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Our first stop was at The Book Loft on Lake Street in Downtown Oak Park.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Doing a book crawl through the book stores in Oak Park this weekend and picked up The Fix: Saving America from the Corruption of Mob-Style Government by @barbmcquade.bsky.social! Interested in reading how we get out of this quagmire.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

There are those who believe that the Constitution and the Courts will save us. The Supreme Court, by a slim 5-4 vote, upheld the plain language of the 14th Amendment. If Trump nominates just one more Supreme Court Justice, he could literally overturn the plain language of the U.S. Constitution.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

So proud of my 11-year-old and his team who battled all weekend and ultimately won their bracket. Watching him drive in the tying run, and then the next batter singled to walk it off, was such pure joy.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Also, steak dinner at home (because I cook a better steak than 95% of restaurants).

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Happy Father's Day! New hats! Now with 95% less tear gas!

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

While this year has had its share of valleys, Shannon has continued to walk this path with me. And when skies are gray, she is that bright spot demonstrating that the sun will break through again. I love you Shannon. No matter what trials the years bring, I am grateful to face them with you.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

In our vows 17 years ago, @shannonstraw.bsky.social said: I promise to never give up and walk away but to walk with you through the peaks and valleys. I promise to celebrate with you when the sun is shining, and to love you even when the sky is gray. I make these promises to you forever and always.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

The Wednesday Journal is hosting "Life After the Broadview 6: A Community Conversation" about the Broadview 6 case and its aftermath. 🎤 The Panel: Brian Straw, Christopher Parente, and Charlie Meyerson (Moderator). 🗓️: Thursday, June 25 | 7 pm 📍: 19th Century | 178 N. Forest Ave., Oak Park, IL

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

In addition to taking some of the best photos of progressive social movements in Oak Park and Chicago, the inimitable @pgoyette.bsky.social makes a damn fine strawberry rhubarb pie! Thank you!

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Really grateful for all of the work of Legal Aid Chicago that works to make justice affordable and attainable to so many in Chicago.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

The grand jury requirement is meant to prevent abuses of our criminal justice system. It serves as an independent check on prosecutorial power. In other words, the grand jury serves as a "bar to would-be kings misusing criminal law to enforce their rule through politically motivated prosecutions."

American Constitution Society

The Founding Fathers built into the Constitution of the United States a check against overzealous and unwarranted prosecutions: A grand jury of citizens must find probable cause that a crime was committed before the government can charge a person with a serious offense.

This bar to would-be kings misusing criminal law to enforce their rule through politically motivated prosecutions nonetheless has its limitations. Government attorneys who serve as prosecutors are the only people allowed to present evidence to grand jurors or instruct the grand jurors on the applicable legal requirements. Further, the evidentiary standard for approving charges is “probable cause,” a much lower threshold than proof beyond a reasonable doubt, as required to convict a person for the crime charged. Consequently, grand juries historically rarely vote against the government’s request to approve a criminal charge.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

The Broadview Six case involves significant prosecutorial misconduct in the grand jury proceedings. But I think saying that doesn't necessarily explain to non-lawyers why that matters. The grand jury process is a constitutional safeguard contained in the Fifth Amendment.

Constitution of the United States

Fifth Amendment

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Credit where credit is due, the Wednesday Journal in Oak Park knows how to write a subhead: 'Broadview 6': Straw man is free

Article with the headline 'Broadview 6': Straw man is free

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Hosting Christopher Parente, Damon Cheronis, and @meredithshiner.com celebrating not having to prepare for trial!

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Good morning! Bark is well established and now we let it cook to probe tender and rest. #boringsuburbandad

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

The brisket is still smoking, the sun is still shining, and Artemis is enjoying the fact that I am able to spend an entire afternoon outside.

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Brian Straw @brianstraw.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

This was an 18 lb brisket and it'll probably go 18-20 hours. I'll pull it off around 203 degrees (and probe tender) and let it rest for 4-6 hours. I used mustard as binder and traditional salt, pepper, garlic as the rub. I spray with apple cider vinegar, apple juice, and water every hour or so.

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