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Seth Hall

@loteck.bsky.social
1.3K followers 233 following 179 posts

Technology in the public interest and San Diego localism. Signal: loteck.01

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Seth Hall @loteck.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
From drafting a law, approving that law, rewriting that law, enforcing that law, defending that law, at basically every level of local government, this is a story of San Diego's incompetence. "No way to avoid it" says the only place where this happens. www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/07/05/c...
sandiegouniontribune.com
Court rulings force San Diego to halt vendor crackdown. Will chaos return to downtown, beaches?
Recent court rulings have forced San Diego to halt a city crackdown on street vendors that has been hailed for restoring order to Balboa Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, city beaches and other popular spots...
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Seth Hall @loteck.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Raising one to Kelly Davis today. I was lucky to know her, and her jail deaths reporting at CityBeat and with Jeff has profoundly influenced the way I think about incarceration. Idk if I ever told her that. www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/07/01/k...
sandiegouniontribune.com
Kelly Davis, intrepid reporter who exposed death and despair in San Diego County jails and gave voice to the downtrodden, dies at 53
The 2023 San Diego journalist of the year beat cancer for more than a decade before being diagnosed with a new tumor earlier this year; she leaves a lasting legacy in her adopted hometown.
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Seth Hall @loteck.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
They keep telling us straight up that surveillance technology is a force multiplier. They do not claim it is a crime reducer.
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Sam Biddle @sambiddle.com · 18/06/2026
I think it might be helpful to divorce the question of "should little kids be on social media?" from "should keeping kids off social media be enforced via surveillance?"
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Chris Person @papapishu.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Flesh colored yoda. Just something to consider. Yoda but he’s not green. Imagine it. Picture it.
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Seth Hall @loteck.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Ammar for Mayor 2028
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Seth Hall @loteck.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Currently at last place among my fellow San Diegans, I think you all really slept on Serge Fiankan for Governor. sf4gov.com
sf4gov.com
Serge Fiankan for Governor 2026 | Independent Leadership for California
Explore Serge Fiankan's vision for a transparent, accountable California with solutions for housing, affordability, and opportunity. Join the movement for smarter government.
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Seth Hall @loteck.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Tonight I'm at San Diego City Council listening to San Diegans ask for public funding at the final budget hearing. I bet none of them are here to ask for money for mass surveillance technology. Here are the things San Diegans want, in their own voices, instead of millions of dollars of surveillance:
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Seth Hall @loteck.bsky.social · 24/03/2026
It's a force multiplier guys, chill
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Seth Hall @loteck.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
old.reddit.com/r/sandiego/c... Here's what's up. By the by, von Wilpert thanked @colinparent.bsky.social for sending a letter to public safety endorsing the Flock technology but I couldn't find a copy of it. Let me know if anyone has that letter, I'd like to read it!
old.reddit.com
Help us Get The Flock Out of San Diego (community opposition to Flock license plate readers)
Hi sub, I'm Seth with the TRUST SD Coalition, here to ask for your help with these [Flock license plate...
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Seth Hall @loteck.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Why is there nowhere to debate things in public anymore. We only debate when people are self promoting. I want to debate ideas
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Electronic Frontier Foundation @eff.org · 28/11/2025
Thank you to all the journalists and whistleblowers who bravely speak out against threats to our digital rights.
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Seth Hall @loteck.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/11/20/o... Most days I wake up to new news about the abuse or misue of Flock ALPR cameras in the US, or news about Flock being caught lying about the same. Flock is the worst of the worst surveillance tech right now, and we should get it out of San Diego right away
sandiegouniontribune.com
Opinion: Mayor hypes license plate readers, doesn’t mention abuses
The risks and dangers of Flock are now verified and increasingly well-known.
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Dave Maass 🔦 @maassive.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Cops around the country searched Flock Safety ALPR databases related to the No Kings protests.
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Seth Hall @loteck.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
In true form for San Diego, we are paying for the worst of the worst of the license plate readers systems: Flock. Lies, data breaches, lawsuits, failed audits, abusive practices. Never stop fighting against San Diego adopting the worst products and practices. We can and should have better.
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Seth Hall @loteck.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
Flying some all stars in to San Diego to talk about what's going on with mass surveillance and "public safety." Tickets to the in-person conference are free until we fill up. Please don't register if you won't attend, but you should totally register and attend!
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Darwin Woodka @darwinwoodka.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
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Indivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · 14/06/2025
Stay classy, San Diego. #NoKings
Massive crowd of No Kings marchers. Massive crowd of No Kings marchers.
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Monica de la Cruz @monicadlc.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
Whoa look at this notification on Maps
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Seth Hall @loteck.bsky.social · 31/05/2025
Been talking with city leaders/staffers recently & all want money for good ideas, like the below need for $1.1M to increase fire safety (gift link). we at @sandiegotrust.bsky.social propose redirecting $2M smart streetlights & license plate funding. www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/05/31/w...
sandiegouniontribune.com
With San Diego still failing to manage flammable brush, council members want money in the budget
Frustrated the city still hasn’t made big changes called for in a 2023 audit, council members lobbied the mayor during recent budget hearings to prioritize a more comprehensive approach.
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matt🌻✌️ @28tauri.net · 31/05/2025
Those shoulder patches sure look like stylized fasces from Wikipedia: "... it symbolized a Roman king's power to punish his subjects." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasces
zoomed in view of shoulder patch of paramilitary ICE agents in San Diego, very much resembling the ancient symbol for fascismactual fasces, the symbol of fascism
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Alex Wenzel @alexwenzel.bsky.social · 31/05/2025
I don’t get to say this often so I’m not going to miss the chance. I’m so damn proud of San Diego. youtu.be/nna2gvBU4yQ?...
youtu.be
ICE raid at Buona Forchetta in South Park
YouTube video by Declan Fleming
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Dr Hell-Mart @hockeyeeyore.bsky.social · 31/05/2025
Federal immigration agents raided a South Park (San Diego) restaurant and started with flash bang grenades. www.cbs8.com/mobile/artic...
cbs8.com
Federal immigration agents raid San Diego restaurant
Immigration agents raided a South Park restaurant, using flash bang grenades.
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SoCal Leslie @socalleslie.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
Coyote howling by day down by the Mexican border here in San Diego. I did a quick U-turn to come back and get this shot and I was stopped by border patrol who said I was behaving suspiciously. Of course I was, I’m a birder! 🤣🌿🦊
Howling coyote
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Jim Musil Painter @jimmusilpainter.bsky.social · 18/05/2025
My process for SAN DIEGO SUNSET
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caylen @caylen.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
great job Gavin
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Wendy Fry @wendyfry.bsky.social · 03/05/2025
Guys, #sdjournos PLEASE help out. We really need nominations for “Journalist of the Year.” Please share. The only requirements are 1) the nominee is a journalist 2) in San Diego. 3) is not on SPJ board. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com
Journalist of the year
Please nominate who you think should be journalist of the year. Please include their name followed by a brief explanation of why. Specific examples would be greatly appreciated. If there are notes, do...
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Seth Hall @loteck.bsky.social · 17/04/2025
Today from a brewery filled with conference goers I observed a container ship motoring by the fishing boats parked near the sidewalk where San Diegans jog. Tourists sat beside me eating tacos and I admit I did have a double IPA in front of me . This was the most San Diego moment.
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Jakob McWhinney @jakobmcwhinney.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
here are the elephants at the @sandiegozoo.bsky.social safari park reacting to the earthquake just outside #sandiego. you can see them forming an “alert circle,” as Emily helpfully informed us, during which the adults can be seen "instinctively circling the younger elephants to protect them."
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Seth Hall @loteck.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Not sure that we want people experiencing an earthquake to be tempted to play around with their phone in those critical moments. If the alert arrived meaningfully earlier, OK, but if the jolt and the phone panic arrive together, does it sharply divide peoples attention at the exact wrong moment?
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Joel Calahan @joelcalahan.com · 13/03/2025
This protest zine was made by a student in the Grossmont Union High School District and passed out at the board meeting on Tuesday. The kids are going to be alright.
Handmade zine:

As we know, the Grossmont Union High School District Board of Trustees is a pack of buffoons.

The good news:
Three of the Board members have to run for
re-election in 2026!

Let's tell voters all about these absolute clowns!
Vote out the failed CPA—
Robert Shield
Cartoon with speech bubble: “Has anyone seen my calculator”

Tell voters in Santee + Lakeside about Robert's budget lies!


Next page:

Vote out
Gary C. Woods
Cartoon speech bubble: “The C" stands for Corrupt!”
→ Gary misuses public school funds WHILE he profits from his private school ousiness.
Tell voters in El Cajon about Gary’s little plan!And let's toss out —
Jim "Smelly"
Kelly

(Drawing of a fish with Xs for eyes and wavy stink lines)


Jim’s greatest hits:
L firing librarians.
→ firing teachers.
→ hiring his buddies!
→ Firing school psychologists.
Speech bubble: “WTF”

Tell voters in:
Jamul, Alpine, Lakeside, Harbinson CanyonFront and back of the zine:

Front:

Operation:
Kick out the school board goons
Three cartoon faces, one with a speech bubble that says: “We Stink!” Another says: “me too”


Back, typed:

Please note:
-
Trustee Chris Fite is doing fine. Give him a high five if you see him.
Trustee Scott Eckhart is a spineless little twerp though. We'll get to replace him in the 2028 election.
No one actually knows what Gary's middle initial "C" stands for, so you're free to brainstorm your own fitting C word.
The illustration of Jim Kelly is an artist's rendering. We cannot confirm if flies have gathered in Jim's putrescence at this time.
Jim Kelly lists his business phone number at Allstate on his public GUHSD profile. Be polite and DO NOT call him at 619-562-9199 to share your thoughts about his failures on the Board of Trustees. Come on, guys.
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Andrew Bowen (he/him) @acbowen.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Wowsers. San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava has docketed a vote next Tuesday to repeal the city’s ADU bonus program. Earlier today, the item was to *rescind* the council’s repeal request in order to neutralize a Brown Act complaint. Background: www.kpbs.org/news/local/2...
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Carissa Véliz @carissaveliz.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
It's a perfect example of why we should hold the least amount of personal data as possible. You never know who will inherit an architecture of #surveillance. That's why the safest thing for democracy is never to build it (or to dismantle it if you've already built it).
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Seth Hall @loteck.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
www.kpbs.org/news/politic... No, don't adjust your monitor, this new instruction video on how to participate at local government meetings was designed with a heavy dose of nostalgia baked in. Nice work to Bella and team (tell her to join @jakobmcwhinney.bsky.social)
kpbs.org
San Diego 101: How to attend and comment at a city council meeting
There are many ways you can mobilize as an individual or coalition to make change in your community. But when it comes to matters of local government, perhaps the best place to start is by attending p...
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Moudhy Al-Rashid (she/her) @moudhy.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
For anyone wondering, some possible dog names have survived from cuneiform sources. On tiny dog figurines found buried under a palace in Nineveh, Iraq are inscriptions that seem to be names. dan rigiššu “loud is his bark” munaššiku gārîšu “biter of his foe” mušēṣi lemnūti “expeller of evil”
Photo of 5 dog figurines in profile facing to the left in a staggered line. The closest one is reddish, the three in the middle are beige, and the furthest is dark grey. Each one has a cuneiform inscription on their side.
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Jeremy Ogul @jeremyogul.com · 29/01/2025
Waymo to begin testing a few vehicles in San Diego (not offering rides) www.theverge.com/news/600542/...
theverge.com
Waymo to test in 10 new cities in 2025, starting with Las Vegas and San Diego
Waymo is trying to shorten the length of time it takes to launch robotaxi operations.
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SoCal Leslie @socalleslie.bsky.social · 27/01/2025
Good morning. Stormy ocean. Glorious pounding rain here in San Diego overnight. “Seas” the day.
Storm wave.
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Mike @codingmarine.com · 26/01/2025
Anyone else ever tried the 5 Peak Challenge in San Diego in one day? It's a great hiking challenge! Here is a gear layout of what I hiked with! #hiking #optOutside #gear #photography #sanDiego
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Chris Gordon @bychrisgordon.bsky.social · 23/01/2025
U.S. Air Force C-17s from Travis Air Force Base, Calif. have already landed in El Paso and San Diego to prepare to carry out deportation flights of thousands of people detained by CPB, I’m told. www.airandspaceforces.com/air-force-de...
airandspaceforces.com
Air Force to Conduct Deportation Flights for Thousands of People
The Pentagon plans to use U.S. Air Force C-17s and C-130s to deport 5,400 people currently detained by Customs and Border Protection.
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Jeremy Ogul @jeremyogul.com · 24/01/2025
We need to talk about why it costs $2,000 a month to provide "safe parking" — not even actual housing — to a homeless family on property the government already owns. voiceofsandiego.org/2025/01/22/s...
voiceofsandiego.org
Safe Parking at a City Heights School Isn’t Happening. Here’s Why
A joint school district-city plan to welcome homeless families at the former Central Elementary campus is off.
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BNO News @bnonews.com · 16/01/2025
BREAKING: Debris seen over the Caribbean after SpaceX's Starship explodes during test flight
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Lee Coursey @lee-coursey.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Sculpture at the San Diego Convention Center - taken during an afternoon walkabout of downtown.
Large outdoor abstract sculpture in the shape of a stylized face.
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Realm @bboyrealm.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
This Wednesday at the #Regal #Edwards #Movie #Theater in #MiraMesa #SanDiego! #TheGuyver #Guyver #Toku #RegalMovie
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comedyorworse.bsky.social @comedyorworse.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
This week's Comedy or Worse at Quantum Brewing Open Mic Sign ups are live! Quantum Brewing (5375 Kearny Villa Rd, San Diego CA 92122) for Friday (7:30 pm - 9:30 pm) and Saturday (6:30 pm - 8:30 pm) Here is the shareable link: slotted.co/8yts5oak
slotted.co
Sign up: Comedy or Worse Open Mic
Slotted meets all your signup needs: office hours, open-mic signups, one-on-one meetings, pot-luck parties, volunteers, and much more!
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CalMatters @calmatters.org · 10/01/2025
Employers such as Qualtrics, Johnson & Johnson, Cisco and the San Diego Police Department all offer day care services at the office as a benefit to employees. The hope is that this will attract talent and keep them there. cal.news/40cPl9b 📝 Zayna Syed
cal.news
Employers use onsite daycare to attract employees
Some large California employers have started offering onsite daycare services as a perk to attract employees.
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Pete Casellini @petecasellini.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
Hmm.
Photo of a garbage truck that has been struck by a trolley
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Keryn Young @buyselllovehomes.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
Cheers....Jan 2025 Calendar of Events for San Diego ....
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Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran.com · 09/01/2025
The wind gusts are devastating. Truly a hurricane of fire. Video: @stuartpalley.bsky.social
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Ellen Hopkins @ellenhopkins.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
From a FB post. Hey California friends…my friend’s dog sanctuary in Topanga has burned to the ground. 30 dogs looking for fosters ASAP. Please contact me if you can help, even help for a temporary basis it would do so much . Please call or text me on 248 520 0054
11159813781