Replies

taniel, 16 days ago to random

We had a few pieces that I loved getting to publish this week at @bolts.bsky.social, let me share them ↓ below.

And please keep in mind: Our content is free and not paywalled, but we need our readers' support to keep thriving. If you can, become a member or donor here: https://boltsmag.org/donate-page/donate

taniel, 16 days ago

1. If you want bail reform to succeed, you could try keep connecting ppl to services instead of throwing them in jail... who knew?

Well, a community group in Chicago is showing the way, with fascinating success, as we reported here. Will it be scaled up? https://boltsmag.org/illinois-pretrial-success-act/

taniel, 3 months ago to random

not all about the Santos seat and Trump/Biden: there are a ton of critical elections coming up literally in coming weeks.

here are just four you should know about.

taniel, 3 months ago

1. the former sheriff of Los Angeles, ousted after protecting police abuse, is trying a comeback in 3 weeks: https://boltsmag.org/los-angeles-county-board-of-supervisors-alex-villanueva-jail-deaths/

taniel, 3 months ago

2. Cleveland's March primary for prosecutor is one of the most interesting of the spring, with two very distinct visions of criminal justice between the incumbent & his challenger. wrote a bit about it here. https://boltsmag.org/ohio-prosecutor-elections-2024/

taniel, 3 months ago

3. The Los Angeles DA race seems sure to go to November... but the question of who'll get the top 2 spots between DA Gascon & his 10 challengers will be decided in 3 weeks.

see this must read profile of Gascon's policies in his 1st term: https://boltsmag.org/los-angeles-da-george-gascon-blanket-policies/

taniel, 3 months ago

4. Control of Pennsylvania's legislature is on the line in 3 days.

Yup, nothing less than that: it all comes down to a special in Bucks County. One of our main February elections to watch. https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/february-2024/

taniel, 3 months ago

I shouldn't have promised to stop at 4... but as bonuses, I'll mention:

--> the referendum in Reston, WA, to make the minimum wage one of the highest in the nation: this Tuesday. (see the link above)

--> and the California congressional primaries that'll decide if a party is shut out in 3 weeks.

taniel, 6 months ago to random

Great coverage by my colleagues at @bolts all week. I hope you're reading to not miss huge news in local politics.

1/ Ohio Republicans are already plotting to roll back the marijuana ballot measure. Here's how: https://boltsmag.org/ohio-voters-issue-2-legalized-marijuana-equity-provisions-expungement/

taniel, 6 months ago

2/ The Massachusetts governor signed a new reform into law that'll make prison phone calls, and other communications for incarcerated people, free.

A big milestone that took a lot of organizing. https://boltsmag.org/massachusetts-prison-jail-phone-calls/

taniel, 6 months ago

3/ Houston's mayoral election is poised to scale up policing in the city, with the frontrunner's proposal to bring in state troopers concerning local civil rights advocates. Here's why: https://boltsmag.org/houston-mayors-race-2023-runoff/

taniel, 6 months ago

4/ A huge voting rights milestone for Michigan: the state is poised to be the first (finally) to implement automatic voter registration as people leave prison.

And the bill expands automatic registration in a bunch of other critical ways. https://boltsmag.org/michigan-automatic-voter-registration-prison/

taniel, 6 months ago

As always... we'd love your help to continue this reporting as strongly as we are now.

If you're not following us, do so at @bolts

We also have a newsletter: http://boltsmag.org/newsletter

And this is best time to support us: any gift will be 'matched' thru December, and new monthly contributions will be multiplied by 12! boltsmag.org/donate

taniel, 6 months ago to random

"The election is in one year." No. Elections are in 2 days.

Control of the state government is at stake in 4 states! Also, a key supreme court seat. An abortion measure. Major DA & sheriff races. Mayors. Election deniers seeking elections office. M4L trying to take over school boards.

A sampling:

taniel, 6 months ago

1️⃣ Pennsylvania's supreme court.

There's a vacant seat on a swing state court that's frequently rendered tight decisions. GOP candidate has indicated she'd be interested in restricting mail voting, in a state where that's sure to have cases next year.

https://boltsmag.org/pennsylvania-supreme-court-2023-election/

taniel, 6 months ago

2️⃣ Mississippi's governorship

Dems vying for an upset to break the GOP trifecta for the first time in 20+ years. In the background: the hundreds of thousands of people who can't vote. https://boltsmag.org/mississippi-felony-disenfranchisement-in-2023-elections/

taniel, 6 months ago

3️⃣ Abortion in Ohio

I hear people who think this was over in August. No, that was "only" a contest over the GOP trying to change the rules. The big one is on Tuesday: will the state entrench abortion rights?
An under-appreciated dimension of this vote: https://boltsmag.org/ohio-abortion-amendment-issue-1-probation-parole/

taniel, 6 months ago

4️⃣ Control of Virginia's government

GOP is hoping to take over the legislature & control of VA. Youngkin has indicated GOP would pass new abortion restrictions, & other measures Dems have stalled so far (e.g.: repealing same-day registration) loom too. https://boltsmag.org/state-government-trifectas-2023/#VA

taniel, 6 months ago

5️⃣ DA race in Pittsburgh/Allegheny County

Probably Tuesday's biggest test for criminal justice issues: it pits a longtime DA whose record is remarkably punitive, mostly against Black residents, and who just flipped to the GOP after losing the Dem primary. https://boltsmag.org/allegheny-county-executive-and-district-attorney-elections-2023/