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George Spies

@georgespies.bsky.social
1K followers 1.1K following 3K posts

Safe streets, active transpo, dense urbanism, everybody in, nobody out. I like making stuff. Active member of Traffic Violence Rapid Response as well as Seamless Bay Area.

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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 10h
Classic Left-NIMBY bullshit. Reject this woman’s candidacy, and vote instead for @rosszb.bsky.social for Berkeley City Council, District 1
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
LOL! Ok, fantastic. More of this. Also, anyone who grew up poor can tell you that they learned the value of a dollar and how to get by with less better than anyone in the upper income ranges. My God.
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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 29/09/2026
Vote for Adriana Valencia for AC Transit!
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
An ongoing thread of late and cancelled buses. Yet Joel Young says we’ve tried nothing and we’re all out of ideas. How about we replace him with someone who is committed to better service? www.valenciaforactransit.com
valenciaforactransit.com
Adriana Valencia for AC Transit • Ward 3
Adriana Valencia is a frequent transit rider, community transit advocate and product manager running for AC Transit in Ward 3. Unable to drive because of a vision disability, Adriana relies on public ...
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ACLU @aclu.org · 28/09/2026
BREAKING: The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court to allow essential health care to be withheld from transgender people in federal prisons. Denying medically-necessary care to any incarcerated person is cruel and unusual punishment — period.
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Adriana Valencia for AC Transit Ward 3 2026 @valencia4actransit.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
This is why I'm running to be your representative on @rideact.bsky.social's Board of Directors, Ward 3. I believe that the bus should be a viable commuting option in the East Bay, and not an option-of-last-resort that leaves people stranded.
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I hope our use of this wonderful discovery proceeds from the wisdom that this is a rare opportunity that must not be wasted through overuse.
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gamera obscura @ohrobin.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Google earth has updated its satellite images of Gaza. The destruction is almost incomprehensible.
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Banking on less to no resistance from the atomized populations in Sprawl-land.
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The Biking Lawyer LLP @thebikinglawyer.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
"What is certain, however, is that a vast sum of our money will be wasted, countless Torontonians will find themselves profoundly inconvenienced for extended periods, and, eventually, a cyclist will get struck by a car. But at least the congestion will be worse." spacing.ca/toronto/2026...
spacing.ca
EXCLUSIVE: Inside the contract to rip out Toronto's bike lanes - Spacing Toronto
After the Ontario Court of Appeal (ONCA) shot down CycleTO’s legally innovative charter challenge that sought to stop Doug Ford’s attack on the city’s bike lanes, Queen’s Park wasted little time befor...
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Sam @samd.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
we could solve the western water crisis overnight by simply charging alfalfa farmers market rates for water
Across the basin, alfalfa hay uses more than 5 million acre-feet of Colorado River water — that's 26% of all the water consumed in the basin. One acre-foot roughly equals the annual water use of two or three households.
In the Upper Basin, irrigated agriculture consumes 2.8 million acre-feet, or nearly half the water used by Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, the environment, reservoirs and water exports out of the basin. Cattle-feed crops, like alfalfa, consume 90% of all water used by Upper Basin agriculture.
That means alfalfa uses more water than cities, commercial users and industries across the entire basin:
Collectively, these users consume about 3.5 million acre-feet, or 18%, of the river's water. The Colorado River
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
💥🎯🔥 Look at the Chronicle, of all outlets, call it like it is: Chan is a charlatan, a regressive politician and an unreconstructed NIMBY Vote Weiner.
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James Medlock @jdcmedlock.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The GOP cut funding to the IRS because *audits work* and they fundamentally don't believe rich people should have to play by the rules.
Line chart titled "Revenue per audit," subtitled "In-person audits, 2010-2014." It plots average revenue and average cost per audit by taxpayer income percentile, poorer to richer, from the 0–5th percentile to the top 0.1%. Source: Boning et al. 2023, "A Welfare Analysis of Tax Audits Across the Income Distribution."

Across the bottom half of the income distribution, revenue and cost track closely, both around $3,000–$6,000 per audit. Above the median, revenue pulls ahead of cost: about $10,000 vs. $5,000 near the 90th percentile, and about $17,000 vs. $8,000 at the 95th–99th. At the top, revenue jumps to about $31,000 for the 99–99.9th percentile and about $90,000 for the top 0.1%.
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Word.
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Clara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
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Clara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Absolutely scorching endorsement, bringing serious heat for Weiner and against Chan, but a blast furnace at Pelosi for her role in this race and her true reasons for it. Never read an editorial this heated in Chron www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/edit...
sfchronicle.com
Endorsement: Who should replace Nancy Pelosi in Congress? It’s not even a choice
OPINION: The most intriguing thing about the race between Scott Wiener and Connie Chan to fill Nancy Pelosi’s House seat is that it has become a race at all, the editorial board writes.
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Adriana is also running in Piedmont and Alameda, so look down-ballot for your chance to move the East Bay forward!
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Caræsten 🇵🇸 @cara.city · 27/09/2026
I’ve known Adriana for 14 years and she is a really wonderful and thoughtful person, and if you live in Oakland, you should vote for her
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
“Fix transit in the East Bay, Vote Adriana Valencia for AC Transit” and many variations of the same. Has the benefit of being true! Volunteer! Donate! Vote! www.valenciaforactransit.com
valenciaforactransit.com
Adriana Valencia for AC Transit • Ward 3
Adriana Valencia is a frequent transit rider, community transit advocate and product manager running for AC Transit in Ward 3. Unable to drive because of a vision disability, Adriana relies on public ...
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Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Electricity is 23% of global final energy but delivers 37% of useful energy and powers 46% of the global economy. We don't need to replace every fossil joule. We need to replace the services. A much smaller task. Great to see the @iea.org’s new Electrification report finally measure this.
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Here’s a race-specific link to the questionnaire, so you can learn about Adriana’s passion for rider experience, along with Joel Young’s passion to fuck off with that I’m too important. Choose accordingly! questionnaire.transittools.dev#address=1605...
questionnaire.transittools.dev
Sustainable Transportation Questionnaire - November 3rd, 2026 General Election
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Jean Walsh @therealjeanwalsh.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The first step to solving a problem is recognizing there is one. Thanks to the Oaklandside for this important coverage and thanks to @kuanbutts.bsky.social for creating the incredible AC Transit reliability dashboard! (check it out in the article)
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Gwen C. Katz @gwenckatz.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Fuck ChatGPT flyers. The future is broadsheets.
A crowded broadsheet with way too many fonts. It says:
Forget ChatGPT Flyers
Say it with 
Broadsheets
Unlimited fonts
Stretch them
Or cram a really long sentence into one line for no good reason
No whitespace
Mix capital and lowercase
Pointing hands
(They're called manicules!)
Don't be left behind
Broadsheets are the future
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Jordan Grimes @cafedujord.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
You mean to tell me that building more sprawl doesn't actually do anything for urban affordability and is instead predominantly a wealth transfer from those areas to exurban ones? I'm shocked! Anyway, vote no on Prop 45.
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Jeremy Cole @jeremycole.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
@tsch.uy's "Bikes on Amtrak" map is by far the best way to look at Amtrak routes, whether you care about bikes or not. It's so good. Absolutely filled a need for me while planning bike-based transit trekking and a huge help to visualize the mainline routes and connections. 😍 bikesonamtrak.com
bikesonamtrak.com
Bikes on Amtrak
Explore carry-on, checked, and station-level bicycle access across the Amtrak rail network.
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
A record number of responses to this questionnaire, as seamlessness is more importance! But some candidates don't respond at all. When those candidates are running for *transit* boards, that's a red flag. 🆘 Oust Joel Young, and support @valencia4actransit.bsky.social for AC Transit Ward 3!
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Some years ago, a potential candidate for AC Transit board asked Joel about the value of being on the Board. The only thing he cited was the travel opportunities. Not making that up. Dude DGAF
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Dude’s an arrogant climber.
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ren they/them 🏳️‍⚧️ @renzaro.com · 25/09/2026
1. There are plenty of local conferences he could go to if he wanted to learn, but by his own account, there’s nothing to learn from bsky.app/profile/dere...
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Another AC Transit sunk-cost fallacy. Along with defending the offensive and obstructionist Joel Young. Don’t throw good money after bad. Move on!
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Kelly Hereid @kellyhereid.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Really glad to see this feature analytics from @kuanbutts.bsky.social and board advocacy from @therealjeanwalsh.bsky.social Would love to see a ridership-weighted version of these horrible reliability figures - it's not just that they're bad, it's that they're bad on big lines like 1T and 51A.
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Carter Lavin @carterlavin.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Phone banking for the Regional Transit Measure and there is a specific sort of joy that comes from pacing a bunch and making a zillion calls. Action is an excellent treatment for anxiousness sign up to phonebank here luma.com/connectbayarea
luma.com
Connect Bay Area · Events Calendar
View and follow events from Connect Bay Area on Luma. Organizing for the Regional Transit Measure on the November 2026 ballot. Vote Yes on RTM November 3rd! Learn more, request window signs and lite...
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I want her to sue for malicious prosecution and whip their asses.
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Oh my god. And many many thousands more across the country 💔
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Don’t let this be you! Donate, volunteer, vote! @valencia4actransit.bsky.social AC Transit Ward 3 Yes on RTM
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Cyrus Hall @cyrushall.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Heads up if you use Waymo and use the same credit card for transit trips: Waymo now gets a history of your transit use directly from Visa.
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Also extremely true for the inner east bay and the Caldecott tunnel. Yes on RTM!
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Alfred Twu @alfredtwu.com · 24/09/2026
We don't need Prop 45 to build new housing - recent state laws have already streamlined approval of new homes in existing cities and suburbs. Instead, Prop 45 would rubber stamp sprawl in wildfire zones, and make California's insurance crisis worse. Vote No on 45.
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mirvswerve.bsky.social @mirvswerve.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
and donate! secure.actblue.com/donate/coali...
secure.actblue.com
Donate to Coalition for a Safe & Vibrant Berkeley - Yes on U and V
Show your support with a contribution.
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East Bay for Everyone @eastbayforeveryone.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The backers of Prop 45 are counting on the public not being able to tell infill homes near transit from building new roads into wildland / fire areas for sprawl's sake. EB4E recommends a NO on 45 this fall. eastbayforeveryone.org/2026/03/05/s...
eastbayforeveryone.org
Vote No on Prop 45: Streamlining Sprawl/Freeways is NOT Pro-Housing | East Bay for Everyone
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Fight locally. It’s your best chance, and all scales are built on many localities.
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Ok! “Tear out a children’s playground” challenge in effect!
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Gillian Branstetter @gbbranstetter.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Republicans won in 2024 arguing Democrats were too obsessed with trans people to focus on the economy. As billionaires like Elon Musk flood the airwaves with anti-trans ads amid Trump's own floundering economy, Democrats have a chance to flip the tables. My latest for @thenation.com
thenation.com
Transphobia Isn’t Winning Votes. But It Is Making Our Lives Much Worse.
Trans people must now live out another election cycle knowing our friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors are being flooded with agitprop designed to dehumanize us.
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Come help canvass for @valencia4actransit.bsky.social and vote Young out altogether, censure or no.
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Local action has big impacts! You can make the East Bay better by voting Valencia for AC Transit in Ward 3. Donate! Volunteer!
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🦫 Libby Lee-Egan 🦫 @libbington.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Hey Bay Area people! Did you know there's a downballot race where you can have a huge impact? Joel Young is a bully and he's corrupt as hell. Adriana Valencia is running to unseat him on a platform of reliability, access, and transparency. Vote and Donate secure.actblue.com/donate/valen...
secure.actblue.com
Donate to Adriana Valencia
Show your support with a contribution.
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Yes, apparently it’s the dining that’s the danger here…
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The permanent solution to this negative presence on the Board is to vote, donate and volunteer for @valencia4actransit.bsky.social Go here: www.valenciaforactransit.com
valenciaforactransit.com
Adriana Valencia for AC Transit • Ward 3
Adriana Valencia is a frequent transit rider, community transit advocate and product manager running for AC Transit in Ward 3. Unable to drive because of a vision disability, Adriana relies on public ...
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George Spies @georgespies.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
This makes me feel sick and horrified
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Urban Futurist Democrat @urbfuturistdem.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Sept 24, 2025: AC Transit Director Young grabs fellow Director Syed from behind in a creepy "hug" Dec 17, 2025: Investigator hired by ACT substantiates unwanted touching & harassment complaints in letter Sept 14, 2026: Letter comes to light in Democratic Party endorsement process
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