Sign in

Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter

@jslondonldr.bsky.social
54 followers 83 following 37 posts

Journalist covering Hackney, Islington and Camden for MyLondon. Tips to josef.steen@reachplc.com

PostsRepliesMedia
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The decision to pass the "Zionism is Racism" motion has divided the Green Party following this weekend's conference. So: where does Hackney's Green-led council stand? 🧵
100
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Much of hack life comprises of deciphering politicians' evasive non-answers and infuriating jargon, which perversely makes it refreshing when people don't mince words and respond by calling you an 'Anti-White Christ Hater' 🤷‍♂️ www.mylondon.news/news/north-l...
mylondon.news
Restore campaigner in Camden by-election said 'Jewish ideas ruined Britain'
Patrick McGinnis, who nominated Restore’s candidate Tyler Johnson, filmed himself in 2024 saying ‘Zionists control the media’ and that he didn’t want ‘any Muslims’ coming into the UK
000
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Islington Council has become the latest borough to demand rent control powers from the government as it declared a "renting crisis". I want to speak with private tenants in Islington about their experience as a renter, warts and all. If that's you, DM me or contact josef.steen@reachplc.com.🏚️
001
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Camden Council has told over 200 artists working out of the Regent's Park Estate they need to leave by the end of the year, cutting right to the heart of London creatives' affordability crisis 👇 www.mylondon.news/whats-on/wha...
mylondon.news
Hundreds of artists to be turfed out of 'lifeline' Camden studios
Artists in studios converted from 'uninhabitable' council flats have been told to vacate by January, prompting warnings that it could end careers
000
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Hackney Council has now voted to start the process of de-twinning with an Israeli port city, after the Greens promised to do so at the elections. Full story 👇 www.mylondon.news/news/east-lo...
mylondon.news
Hackney's 60-year partnership with an Israeli city could end after heated debate
The Green-led council voted overwhelming to reconsider the borough’s sister cities partnership amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and in light of a UN Commission of Inquiry concluding Israel committ...
100
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
As narrow boat living becomes more popular, more and more sunken vessels are appearing in London's canals. In my latest, I spoke with boat dwellers who say reckless owners are giving the whole community a "bad name"👇 www.mylondon.news/news/east-lo...
mylondon.news
London canals are being littered with sunken boats abandoned by owners
The rising number of abandoned boats are polluting the water and taking up space while costing the Canal & River Trust £700,000 a year
000
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Hackney Council let a major housing repairs contract lapse, with no replacement for almost seven years - despite internal warnings over the 'shocking' state of many social homes and two damning watchdog reports I've spent the last few months trying to find out why: www.mylondon.news/news/east-lo...
mylondon.news
Workers 'painting over mould' due to Hackney's failure to renew repairs contract
EXCLUSIVE: Former staff claim the failure to strike a deal with contractors since 2019 left the borough's housing estates in a "shocking" state with permanent repairs replaced with short-term fixes
000
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Londoners using routes 19 and 38 will see changes to these services coming into effect from November this year, though TfL's consultation saw significant opposition to the plans: www.mylondon.news/news/transpo...
mylondon.news
2 TfL bus routes to see services cut despite majority opposing changes
Transport for London is restructuring bus routes 19 and 38 due to falling demand and unreliability, but passengers and stakeholders argue it will unfairly impact the elderly and the vulnerable
000
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Islington Council has joined calls urging Sir Sadiq Khan and the Government to reverse the emergency housing measures - making it the second Labour-run borough to do so www.mylondon.news/news/north-l...
mylondon.news
Labour-run Islington opposes Sadiq Khan's housing quota cuts
Islington Council has joined calls opposing Sadiq Khan’s emergency caps to affordable housebuilding requirements in London
010
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Hackney's new Green-led council has announced a brand new gym as part of its community wealth-building campaign - much to the chagrin of the previous Labour councillors, who claim the idea was actually theirs... www.mylondon.news/news/east-lo...
mylondon.news
Hackney Mayor accused of unfairly taking credit for new gym
Hackney Council claims it brought a disused building back to life as part of Zoë Garbett's community wealth building campaign, but Labour says it proposed the idea
110
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
A new play, Camdenwalla, explores how Camden Bangladeshis set up a helpline in the 1980s to protect the community from racist violence. Camden's former council leader, Nasim Ali, explained to me how the real-life project began and what it teaches us about today: www.mylondon.news/news/nostalg...
mylondon.news
Camdenwalla - how borough's Bangladeshis came together in face of hate
Camdenwalla tells the story of a helpline set up to protect South Asian restaurant workers in Camden from rising racist violence in the 1980s and 1990s
000
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
One of Islington Council's designated 'Cool Spaces' meant to give refuge from the heatwave has been forced to shut...after overheating 👇 www.mylondon.news/news/north-l...
mylondon.news
'Cool Space' meant to give refuge from heatwave shuts after overheating
Islington Council continues to promote its 17 other designated Cool Spaces across the borough
000
Reposted by Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter
MyLondon @itsmylondon.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
The iconic pizzeria has opened a new mini restaurant near Finsbury Park Station but was forced to back down on plans for a 2am closing time
mylondon.news
Pizza Express opens self-serve grab-and-go takeaway in North London
001
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
The Greens have narrowly held Hackney Central after swiping the seat from Labour in May but triggering a by-election in the process 👇 www.mylondon.news/news/east-lo...
mylondon.news
Greens hold Hackney Central seat in close race with Labour
Noah Birksted-Breen won the ward seat by 52 votes, filling the seat left vacant after the Greens’ former candidate had to resign his post after the May elections
000
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
In case you missed it, the Greens have won the Dalston by-election result last night. Full report here 👇 www.mylondon.news/news/east-lo...
mylondon.news
Dalston by-election sees Greens retain seat vacated by Zoë Garbett
Manal Massalha has won the council seat for the Green Party as voter turnout fell to 14% amid record temperatures across London
000
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
In Camden, after a victorious Green Party councillor quit his seat straight after May's elections a fresh by-election is being held in Regent's Park in July. The full list of candidates are confirmed here: www.mylondon.news/news/north-l...
mylondon.news
Camden by-election candidates confirmed after Green resignation
Some Camden residents will head back to the polls on July 9 after a Green Party councillor was unable to take their seat due to a rule breach
000
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
A watchdog has slammed Islington Council for delaying its housing support offer to a homeless woman by several months - meaning she missed her surgery for her chronic illness www.mylondon.news/news/north-l...
mylondon.news
Homeless Islington woman missed surgery as council denied her housing
Islington Council must pay the woman £2,700 in compensation after making her wait 10 months for help
000
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
If you're familiar with Hackney's housing crisis, you might recognise the people of Fellows Court, aka 'Faulty Towers'. As leaks, fire risks and hot water outages continue to plague the block, occupants have given an ultimatum to the borough's new Mayor 👇 www.mylondon.news/news/east-lo...
mylondon.news
'Fix our disgraceful block of flats or we'll go to housing regulator'
Residents of Fellows Court in Hoxton have written an open letter to newly-elected Green Mayor Zoë Garbett
000
Reposted by Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter
Dave Comeau @davidajcomeau.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Some uplifting news. A street sweeper in Hackney's Dalston Square will be allowed to stay in her patch after a public outcry over plans to relocate her. Story by @jslondonldr.bsky.social www.mylondon.news/news/east-lo...
mylondon.news
'Beloved' Hackney street sweeper to stay in local area after outcry
Hackney Council was considering moving street cleaner Kim Archer away from her dedicated patch in Dalston Square
011
Reposted by Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter
Dave Comeau @davidajcomeau.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
One of Hackney's Green councillors has been forced to resign almost immediately after being elected, as they unknowingly broke an electoral rule by standing. Report by @jslondonldr.bsky.social www.mylondon.news/news/east-lo...
mylondon.news
Green councillor quits immediately after election for breaking rules
EXCLUSIVE: Local teacher James Tilden won Hackney Central for the Greens at the local elections despite being disqualified from the office
001
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Islington Council says it will be the first to fully divest from firms linked to alleged human rights abuses in Palestine. Yet other councils remain sceptical that this is even legal, which begs the question: how much of this boils down to politics? www.mylondon.news/news/north-l...
mylondon.news
Council claims it could be first to fully divest from 'genocide' profiteers
Islington Council will ask workers if they back measures to eliminate all pension fund holdings linked to alleged human rights abuses in Palestine
010
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
At a public meeting this evening, the Save Ridley Road campaign said Indoor Shopping Village landlord, Larochette, suggested they could move back in as soon as June - but many traders are unconvinced and are yet to have a formal guarantee…
100
Reposted by Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter
Dave Comeau @davidajcomeau.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Hackney Council is planning on forcing an autistic boy to ride a bus with them to confirm the stress of it would cause him a meltdown. They say an autism diagnosis, EHCP and letter from his head teacher isn't sufficient evidence, as @jslondonldr.bsky.social reports www.mylondon.news/news/east-lo...
mylondon.news
Autistic boy to be forced by council to ride bus to prove meltdown claim
Hackney Council says a supporting letter from a head teacher which includes details from medical professionals, plus an autism diagnosis and EHCP are not enough evidence
022
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
NEW: Renter activists stopped Hackney Council bailiffs from evicting a family from their home of 20 years yesterday. Hackney won the legal right to oust them after a tenancy was never transferred - protestors say its a 'quibble' www.mylondon.news/news/east-lo...
mylondon.news
'Resistance' blocks bailiffs from evicting family over tenancy fraud
Hackney Council’s attempt to move a family of five into temporary accommodation was scuppered by an ‘eviction resistance’ that forced bailiffs to turn back around
000
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
The controversial 'Shoreditch Works' project lives to fight another day after a marathon council meeting last week saw councillors vote against their officers' advice to reject the scheme www.mylondon.news/news/east-lo...
mylondon.news
19-storey East London tower decision postponed as developer agrees to changes
Hackney officers said the 9,000-page application to build a new complex in the heart of Shoreditch's 'Silicon Roundabout' was not detailed enough
000
Josef Steen, Local Democracy Reporter @jslondonldr.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
Hackney Council is set to U-turn on proposals to cut library opening hours due to extra government funding www.mylondon.news/news/north-l...
mylondon.news
Council won't cut library opening hours after extra government funding
Hackney's Mayor says the council can now ditch controversial proposals to slash opening hours across the borough's libraries which could have seen some closed for up to three days a week
030