jon ben-menachem
@jbenmenachem.com
criminalization, abolition, labor, politics, journalism—social science theory & methods too. sociology phd candidate @ columbia. @swcolumbia.bsky.social
Pinned
Can speed cameras make streets safer? Quasi-experimental evidence from New York City | PNAS
Each year, approximately 40,000 people die in vehicle collisions in the United States,
generating $340 billion in economic costs. To make roads saf...
www.pnas.org
Our new study provides rare causal evidence about NYC’s speed camera program. We find large reductions in collisions (30%) and injuries (16%) near intersections with cameras. www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... @astagoff.bsky.social ky.social @brendenbeck.bsky.social nbeck.bsky.social 🧪
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
Good analysis and this implies good improvements from expanded red light cameras. (Expansion got watered down, but it’s still increasing)
Our new study provides rare causal evidence about NYC’s speed camera program. We find large reductions in collisions (30%) and injuries (16%) near intersections with cameras. www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... @astagoff.bsky.social ky.social @brendenbeck.bsky.social nbeck.bsky.social 🧪
Can speed cameras make streets safer? Quasi-experimental evidence from New York City | PNAS
Each year, approximately 40,000 people die in vehicle collisions in the United States,
generating $340 billion in economic costs. To make roads saf...
www.pnas.org
December 9, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Good analysis and this implies good improvements from expanded red light cameras. (Expansion got watered down, but it’s still increasing)
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
The police killing of Sonya Massey ignited protests throughout the country. In Illinois, a civilian commission met over the last year to debate changes—holding tense, difficult meetings.
This story follows the commission for months—and captures just how agonizing these processes can be.
NEW:
This story follows the commission for months—and captures just how agonizing these processes can be.
NEW:
A Police Killing Drew National Protests. At Home, a Commission Struggles with How to Make a Difference. - Bolts
Part I: “I’m going to still try” On July 6, 2024, the morning after Sonya Massey was murdered by a Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy, a local citizen journalist named Calvin... Read More
boltsmag.org
December 9, 2025 at 8:28 PM
The police killing of Sonya Massey ignited protests throughout the country. In Illinois, a civilian commission met over the last year to debate changes—holding tense, difficult meetings.
This story follows the commission for months—and captures just how agonizing these processes can be.
NEW:
This story follows the commission for months—and captures just how agonizing these processes can be.
NEW:
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
Aaaahahahaha and now Eric Adams has appointed him to be the interim chair of the entire board.
An Adams appointee to the CCRB has spent the last months arguing that we should threaten people with perjury so fewer people lodge complaints against cops and last month he helped overturn 91 allegations where investigators had found evidence of police misconduct: hellgatenyc.com/ccrb-flip-ra...
This Eric Adams Appointee and NY Post Veteran Is Upending Police Oversight
Civilian Complaint Review Board investigators found evidence of 190 acts of police misconduct in recent cases. Board members made half of them disappear.
hellgatenyc.com
December 9, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Aaaahahahaha and now Eric Adams has appointed him to be the interim chair of the entire board.
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
I have been researching just how hard the "new drug war" laws are/became, and here is yet another example. Totally abandonment of healthcare, housing, etc and just criminal punishment all the way down. "involuntary treatment" is just prison.
Law enforcement who respond to an overdose and would be directed to take the survivor into custody and transport them directly to a screening for treatment. But the bill also goes further.
NJ May Expand Civil Commitment to Anyone Accused of Recent Overdose - Filter
New Jersey legislators are considering a proposal to require involuntary commitment for any overdose survivors revived by law enforcement. It ...
filtermag.org
December 9, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I have been researching just how hard the "new drug war" laws are/became, and here is yet another example. Totally abandonment of healthcare, housing, etc and just criminal punishment all the way down. "involuntary treatment" is just prison.
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
New, from me: by embracing unitary executive theory, the Supreme Court is moving towards making all public employees fireable at the will of the President.
This will not just hurt government competence, it will aid democratic backsliding. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/at-will-wh...
This will not just hurt government competence, it will aid democratic backsliding. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/at-will-wh...
At will? Whose will?
Removing independent agency heads is part of a broader assault on a nonpartisan government
donmoynihan.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:06 PM
New, from me: by embracing unitary executive theory, the Supreme Court is moving towards making all public employees fireable at the will of the President.
This will not just hurt government competence, it will aid democratic backsliding. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/at-will-wh...
This will not just hurt government competence, it will aid democratic backsliding. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/at-will-wh...
Lots of NYC traffic policy wins this week www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
December 9, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Lots of NYC traffic policy wins this week www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
We have the proven technology to address many of the externalities of driving:
-Speed cameras
-Congestion pricing
-Demand based parking pricing
Failure to implement these policies is no longer a shortcoming of knowledge, but rather political will.
-Speed cameras
-Congestion pricing
-Demand based parking pricing
Failure to implement these policies is no longer a shortcoming of knowledge, but rather political will.
Our new study provides rare causal evidence about NYC’s speed camera program. We find large reductions in collisions (30%) and injuries (16%) near intersections with cameras. www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... @astagoff.bsky.social ky.social @brendenbeck.bsky.social nbeck.bsky.social 🧪
Can speed cameras make streets safer? Quasi-experimental evidence from New York City | PNAS
Each year, approximately 40,000 people die in vehicle collisions in the United States,
generating $340 billion in economic costs. To make roads saf...
www.pnas.org
December 9, 2025 at 3:50 AM
We have the proven technology to address many of the externalities of driving:
-Speed cameras
-Congestion pricing
-Demand based parking pricing
Failure to implement these policies is no longer a shortcoming of knowledge, but rather political will.
-Speed cameras
-Congestion pricing
-Demand based parking pricing
Failure to implement these policies is no longer a shortcoming of knowledge, but rather political will.
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
very few things change behavior. Speed cameras DO! Ask anyone who has gotten a ticket from a camera for speeding or breaking a red lights...they rarely do a second time in that location.
When cameras are installed, they issue many violations in the first month, followed by a steep decline in the second month. This suggests that the cameras effectively deter speeding by changing underlying driver behavior rather than relying on sustained revenue extraction.
December 9, 2025 at 3:19 AM
very few things change behavior. Speed cameras DO! Ask anyone who has gotten a ticket from a camera for speeding or breaking a red lights...they rarely do a second time in that location.
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
Automated speed enforcement works extremely well.
Our new study provides rare causal evidence about NYC’s speed camera program. We find large reductions in collisions (30%) and injuries (16%) near intersections with cameras. www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... @astagoff.bsky.social ky.social @brendenbeck.bsky.social nbeck.bsky.social 🧪
Can speed cameras make streets safer? Quasi-experimental evidence from New York City | PNAS
Each year, approximately 40,000 people die in vehicle collisions in the United States,
generating $340 billion in economic costs. To make roads saf...
www.pnas.org
December 9, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Automated speed enforcement works extremely well.
Our study has been online for 8 hours and someone has already edited it into this wikipedia page?? en.wikipedia.org?curid=143861...
Traffic enforcement camera - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
December 9, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Our study has been online for 8 hours and someone has already edited it into this wikipedia page?? en.wikipedia.org?curid=143861...
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
Important new paper on the efficacy of NYC's speed-camera program, the largest in the country
When cameras are installed, they issue many violations in the first month, followed by a steep decline in the second month. This suggests that the cameras effectively deter speeding by changing underlying driver behavior rather than relying on sustained revenue extraction.
December 9, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Important new paper on the efficacy of NYC's speed-camera program, the largest in the country
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
This is a really important thing about speed cameras. They actually do change driver behavior and force people to slow down. They should be an important tool in creating safer streets *along with* design changes.
When cameras are installed, they issue many violations in the first month, followed by a steep decline in the second month. This suggests that the cameras effectively deter speeding by changing underlying driver behavior rather than relying on sustained revenue extraction.
December 9, 2025 at 2:02 AM
This is a really important thing about speed cameras. They actually do change driver behavior and force people to slow down. They should be an important tool in creating safer streets *along with* design changes.
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
Sickos.gif
Our new study provides rare causal evidence about NYC’s speed camera program. We find large reductions in collisions (30%) and injuries (16%) near intersections with cameras. www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... @astagoff.bsky.social ky.social @brendenbeck.bsky.social nbeck.bsky.social 🧪
Can speed cameras make streets safer? Quasi-experimental evidence from New York City | PNAS
Each year, approximately 40,000 people die in vehicle collisions in the United States,
generating $340 billion in economic costs. To make roads saf...
www.pnas.org
December 8, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Sickos.gif
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
Neat work and a comparatively low-cost option for pretty impressive returns.
December 8, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Neat work and a comparatively low-cost option for pretty impressive returns.
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
Do those pesky speed cameras work? New research from me, @astagoff.bsky.social, and @jbenmenachem.com finds they reduce collisions and injuries. Read thread or article for more. DM me for article if you can't scale the paywall.
Our new study provides rare causal evidence about NYC’s speed camera program. We find large reductions in collisions (30%) and injuries (16%) near intersections with cameras. www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... @astagoff.bsky.social ky.social @brendenbeck.bsky.social nbeck.bsky.social 🧪
Can speed cameras make streets safer? Quasi-experimental evidence from New York City | PNAS
Each year, approximately 40,000 people die in vehicle collisions in the United States,
generating $340 billion in economic costs. To make roads saf...
www.pnas.org
December 8, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Do those pesky speed cameras work? New research from me, @astagoff.bsky.social, and @jbenmenachem.com finds they reduce collisions and injuries. Read thread or article for more. DM me for article if you can't scale the paywall.
Our new study provides rare causal evidence about NYC’s speed camera program. We find large reductions in collisions (30%) and injuries (16%) near intersections with cameras. www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... @astagoff.bsky.social ky.social @brendenbeck.bsky.social nbeck.bsky.social 🧪
Can speed cameras make streets safer? Quasi-experimental evidence from New York City | PNAS
Each year, approximately 40,000 people die in vehicle collisions in the United States,
generating $340 billion in economic costs. To make roads saf...
www.pnas.org
December 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Our new study provides rare causal evidence about NYC’s speed camera program. We find large reductions in collisions (30%) and injuries (16%) near intersections with cameras. www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1... @astagoff.bsky.social ky.social @brendenbeck.bsky.social nbeck.bsky.social 🧪
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
can't stop watching this clip of a tesla Optimus teleoperator taking his headset off before properly logging out the robot
December 8, 2025 at 9:29 AM
can't stop watching this clip of a tesla Optimus teleoperator taking his headset off before properly logging out the robot
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
A new @inthesetimes.com investigation by @ottavias.bsky.social w/ @typeinvestigations.org uncovers Texas “boarding homes” where disabled & elderly people face neglect, abuse & exploitation. As the US faces the largest healthcare cuts in its history, Texas' disastrous system is a warning for us all.
December 8, 2025 at 5:10 PM
A new @inthesetimes.com investigation by @ottavias.bsky.social w/ @typeinvestigations.org uncovers Texas “boarding homes” where disabled & elderly people face neglect, abuse & exploitation. As the US faces the largest healthcare cuts in its history, Texas' disastrous system is a warning for us all.
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
Forgot to post here!
Asked Mamdani for comment on the anti-ICE mobilization that sabotaged a major ICE raid last wkd.
Mamdani described the action as people exercising their free speech, that he looks forward to protecting that right.
He has not previously commented on the community defense.
Asked Mamdani for comment on the anti-ICE mobilization that sabotaged a major ICE raid last wkd.
Mamdani described the action as people exercising their free speech, that he looks forward to protecting that right.
He has not previously commented on the community defense.
December 5, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Forgot to post here!
Asked Mamdani for comment on the anti-ICE mobilization that sabotaged a major ICE raid last wkd.
Mamdani described the action as people exercising their free speech, that he looks forward to protecting that right.
He has not previously commented on the community defense.
Asked Mamdani for comment on the anti-ICE mobilization that sabotaged a major ICE raid last wkd.
Mamdani described the action as people exercising their free speech, that he looks forward to protecting that right.
He has not previously commented on the community defense.
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
Rep. Ilhan Omar: "When I think about Stephen Miller and his white supremacist rhetoric, it reminds me of the way the Nazis described Jewish people in Germany."
December 7, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Rep. Ilhan Omar: "When I think about Stephen Miller and his white supremacist rhetoric, it reminds me of the way the Nazis described Jewish people in Germany."
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
One of my neighbors has been putting up these fish facts posters. All kinds of different fish, marine, freshwater, deep, shallow, all kinds. This is a good one. “Stg this real fish” took me out. Good work, neighbor.
December 7, 2025 at 3:39 PM
One of my neighbors has been putting up these fish facts posters. All kinds of different fish, marine, freshwater, deep, shallow, all kinds. This is a good one. “Stg this real fish” took me out. Good work, neighbor.
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
Inbox: Aramis Furse, 32, died on Rikers early Sunday morning. He’s the 14th detainee death this year so far. In April, Laura Swain, a federal judge overseeing DOC said she’d appoint a “remediation manager” to takeover potentially large parts. But she hasn’t selected a candidate yet.
December 7, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Inbox: Aramis Furse, 32, died on Rikers early Sunday morning. He’s the 14th detainee death this year so far. In April, Laura Swain, a federal judge overseeing DOC said she’d appoint a “remediation manager” to takeover potentially large parts. But she hasn’t selected a candidate yet.
Reposted by jon ben-menachem
🚨Pam Bondi is ordering the FBI to “compile a list" of Americans who may be extremists, per signed memo leaked to me:
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/leak-fbi-l...
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/leak-fbi-l...
LEAK: FBI List of “Extremists” Is Coming, Memo Reveals
Are you on Trump's naughty list?
www.kenklippenstein.com
December 6, 2025 at 10:57 PM
🚨Pam Bondi is ordering the FBI to “compile a list" of Americans who may be extremists, per signed memo leaked to me:
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/leak-fbi-l...
www.kenklippenstein.com/p/leak-fbi-l...
If I were one of the wealthiest people in human history, living in a country with ever growing wealth inequality, I might think twice about advocating ritual execution
A Palantir billionaire just called for public hangings.
“It's time to bring back masculine leadership to protect our most vulnerable,” writes Joe Lonsdale.
This is where Silicon Valley authoritarianism is heading:
www.thenerdreich.com/joe-lonsdale...
“It's time to bring back masculine leadership to protect our most vulnerable,” writes Joe Lonsdale.
This is where Silicon Valley authoritarianism is heading:
www.thenerdreich.com/joe-lonsdale...
Joe Lonsdale Calls For Public Hangings
Silicon Valley radicalization escalates
www.thenerdreich.com
December 6, 2025 at 10:20 PM
If I were one of the wealthiest people in human history, living in a country with ever growing wealth inequality, I might think twice about advocating ritual execution