Notices by Robin Riley (robin@social.riley.pub)

Just learned about this development through Safe Streets Petaluma. California needs to follow suit!

The Washington state legislation "gives cities the legal authority to create Shared Streets, defined by two key principles:

- A speed limit of 10 mph, and
- Pedestrians have the legal right to occupy the entire street."

https://www.theurbanist.org/2025/05/19/governor-signs-washingtons-first-in-the-nation-shared-streets-law/

#WAPol #CAPol #Urbanism #SFBA #Petaluma

Oooh, a sneak peak at the Petaluma Regional Library's renovations! First major reno since opening in 1976, should be a better fit for how people use libraries these days _and_ be a better shelter during extreme heat and smoke days: https://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/news/petaluma-library-renovations-reopening/?utm_source=article_gift&utm_medium=copy-link&ac=YXJ0aWNsZS1zaGFyZQ==&ah=gz1A5xD2av8y

#Petaluma #SonomaCounty #SFBA #Libraries #GiftLink

Seeing the latest news that Meta is now asking users for permission to mine their unpublished photos, I'm re-upping on this: are you still on Instagram, Facebook, or WhatsApp?

I've had friends say that me leaving FB made their feeds noticeably less interesting, and they were spending less time there.

The network effect does work in reverse!

If you're still on Meta services, ask yourself: what would it take to leave? It can be incremental! https://blog.riley.pub/walking-away-from-facebook/

Thinking about the CASA ruling, it seems like being aware of the federal judicial district one lives in or is traveling through is about to become a lot more important: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_federal_judicial_district

#SCOTUS #USPol #CivilRights

All eyes on LA. Bless those organizers and protestors.

A lovely bit of whimsy 😻

#Petaluma #SonomaCounty #SFBA

30 Random Days Throughout the Year to Be Designated ADHD Month

"Lisa Stapleton, the charity’s CEO, said they wanted to give the public an understanding of what it’s like to have ADHD, plus the other months are already taken many times over by other charities and causes, plus they wanted to give people with ADHD the best chance at remembering one of the dates, plus they couldn’t decide what season would be best because they all have their merits."

https://thesqueakywheel.org/30-random-days-picked-throughout-the-year-as-adhd-month/

#Disability #Satire

I am, unfortunately, looking to consult with a California-based lawyer about a possible defamation case in which I (and possibly a couple others) would be the plaintiff.

Anybody have recommendations? This is new territory for me...

If you're someone who thought the disability community was overreacting when we flagged the many ways eugenicist philosophy was ascendant, but are alarmed by this Administration's policies:

Welcome to our hell. What disability rights org are you donating to? Have you resumed masking in public yet?

#USPol #Disability

@matrix has gone from $0 to $561K in recurring revenue in just 2 years. But our expenses run $1.2M/yr.

We've burned through reserves and are at a crossroads.

It's the classic FOSS funding problem: use and adoption are at an all-time high, wealthy companies and countries use it, and secure decentralized comms have never been more important. And yet we can't pay our bills.

YOU have a role to play in shaping what comes next: https://matrix.org/blog/2025/02/crossroads/

#Matrix #FOSS #OpenSource #IndieWeb #Fediverse

Ok so Columbia is the coward and collaborator of academia. Paul Weiss among law firms. What other institutions -- who can afford to fight -- will feed their legacy and integrity into the wood chipper?

Accommodation isn't an option with fascists. Everyone gets screwed.

#USPol

Oh. OK. Got bigger fish to fry between now and 2028, but if Newsom runs, I won't just be voting for someone else – I'll be campaigning against him.

This craven hairdo on legs can't join the dustbin of history soon enough. California, and the nation, deserve better.

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/07/newsom-trans-bills-00217527

#TransRights #LGBTQ #USPol #CAPol #GavinNewsom

Good news, my MMR vaccine is still effective! Bad news, an unrelated issue I had hoped could be resolved is one I'll deal with for the rest of my life.

Being embodied is a real mixed bag :blobcat_thumbsup:

Discord reportedly exploring an IPO. Hold onto your hat, dear user!

Great opportunity for FOSS alternatives to prepare to roll out the welcome mats. (And not to scold. We know that doesn't work.)

https://kotaku.com/discord-reddit-ipo-gaming-server-gta-6-enshitification-1851768033

Today people were out protesting at all 433 national parks and goodness knows how many Tesla dealerships, in addition to a lot of public demonstrations of support for Ukraine. And one very thorough heckling of JD Vance.

We love to see it.

#USPol

"Q. [...] Some Democratic voices say it’s time to move beyond the issue of trans rights in areas like sports, which affect very few people.

A. You could say that about the Jews, Black people or Haitians, or any very vulnerable minority. Once you decide that a single vulnerable minority can be sacrificed, you’re operating within a fascist logic, because that means there might be a second one you’re willing to sacrifice, and a third, a fourth, and then what happens?

https://english.elpais.com/culture/2024-12-15/judith-butler-philosopher-if-you-sacrifice-a-minority-like-trans-people-you-are-operating-within-a-fascist-logic.html

@skinnylatte love it 🤣 and CONGRATULATIONS! that sounds like a fun new adventure

Staying informed in the US is not going to get easier anytime soon, especially as old standbys fall to billionaires or preemptive obedience to the authoritarian regime.

I've assembled a list of 40+ outlets that I find valuable, prominently featuring:

* nonprofit, co-operative, and independent news rooms,
* outlets relevant to Petaluma and the Bay Area,
* international outlets,
* and, yes, a selection of for-profit outlets.

Many of them are on fedi or Bluesky.

https://blog.riley.pub/news-and-information-in-2025/

#News

@aral thanks for the call to action!

Just donated ✅ and if I can find a way to get a SEPA-compatible payment method as a US-based person I'll join as a member too.

Phase 1 clinical trials have been approved for a nasal COVID-19 vaccine that blocks transmission, a novel approach that could be useful for a variety of respiratory infections for which we have vaccines.

Shout out to Washington University in St. Louis for their work on this!

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adp1290

#COVID #Vaccines #PublicHealth #HealthAndSafety