Author | Lightnews

Governor of the Backlands

@nikhunder.com

1.6K followers 370 following 6.6K posts

Professional lighter of people, Energy guy when I want to be, policy person, @CHIRPRadio DJ. Bike guy. Chicago Dog stan. Doesn't proofread. Chicago by way of Cleveland | 🇳🇴

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Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 3d

Victory!

Three men stand at the northern end of Halsted St near dusk. Behind them is a blue a-frame IHOP and a flatiron style building where a shallow diagonal meets Halsted

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Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 3m

Yesss. I was waiting for her

Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 41m

Requesting photos of your cats

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Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 2h

That was a very accurate description. I would book them for a rave in the forest

Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 5h

Lol. I did the same for an officer looking at her phone at the Salt Shed. You could see all the rideshare vehicles from her patrol car in the bl and I got told she couldn't leave because she was assigned to watch the crowd that wasn't coming out for an hour

Reposted by Governor of the Backlands

¡matt! ✶✶✶✶ @mattfromchicago.bsky.social · 8h

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Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 8h

Wow, I never could have come up with that on my own. Next time I'll make sure to bring a bike as a sacrifice for him. Surely a single bribe will prevent him from asking for another bribe or sacrifice again in the future.

The guy stole another bike instead of mine.

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Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 8h

The board should get rid of some leadership and start over with a new crop if we get NITA. If the past 5 years have been any example, it's that we need new strategies.

Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 8h

Money is an issue! There's no doubt about that. But to go out of your way to say management isn't–start over. CTA improving in the past year was of its own volition, not becuase of RTA pressure.

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Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 8h

Every month I see a new message from the RTA that says something like 'money is the real issue, not our management of our service boards' and its so *old*. An obfuscated analysis and subsequent messaging campaign that throws smoke in what advocates have been saying for years about how money is spent

Kyle Whitehead @ktwhitehead.bsky.social · 9h

"I've consistently supported rider-focused governance reforms but we are not facing an issue that tweaks to governance are going to solve. Facing the cliff is going to require lawmakers to take tough votes to solve what is and always has been a funding crisis." www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/28/o...

Kirk W. Dillard: The real consequences of not funding transit in Illinois

Illinois ranks last among peer states in state support for public transit, covering just 17% of costs while most states fund 40% to 50%.

www.chicagotribune.com

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Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 9h

They said it would take two angle grinder disks, and it sure looks like the guy only had one on him and had to abandon

Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 9h

I'm sorry but I don't have the money to keep buying $200 locks every time someone decides to try to steal my bike, even if it does stop them becuase now I've got a much easier lock to cut if someone else wants a go.

Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 9h

I just feel as if I'm going to scream. Getting my bike stolen this year made my life incredibly difficult. To see it nearly happen again after giving CPD video with a timestamp that shows where he went next. And as a result, having *nothing* happen frustrates me beyond belief.

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Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 9h

Cut my lock* whatever

Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 9h

Eight months ago I gave video footage that I obtained via FOIA to CPD of the guy who stole my bike. Today, in nearly the same area at the same time, I come back from the grocery store And someone has tried to steal my lock the exact same way.

Direct consequence of a lack of action by CPD.

A bike lock cut halfway through is held above a cropped view of maroon colored bicycle

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Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 13h

Cam buckles ftw

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Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 1d

I'll come out and say it. The Halsted pedestrian detour was wonderful. I might continue to take it after the bridge reopens.

Governor of the Backlands @nikhunder.com · 1d

Rip Jack DeJohnette

Reposted by Governor of the Backlands

Star:Line Chicago @starlinechicago.bsky.social · 1d

If Hakeem Jeffries derails transit reform by taking up the veto session’s oxygen with redistricting to net a *maximum* of two more seats, I will personally phone bank for his inevitable primary challenger.

Go back to New York.