David Zoltan (he/they)
@wonkicorn.bsky.social
Human Rights Activist specializing in Housing & Disability policy. Queer, multiply disabled, formerly homeless, socialist, abolitionist, anti-Zionist Jew & son of immigrants. Antifa, always.
All opinions are my own, not of any organization, unless stated.
All opinions are my own, not of any organization, unless stated.
Pinned
“Do not be overwhelmed by the world's grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” -Rabbi Tarfon
The Housing Wage in 2025 in Chicago is $33.86/hour. We need to raise the minimum wage drastically.
Retail workers earn less than what's needed to afford the typical apartment in major metros across the country.
Retail workers earn less than half of what they need to afford rent
Retail workers earn less than what’s needed to afford the typical apartment in major metros across the country.
wgntv.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The Housing Wage in 2025 in Chicago is $33.86/hour. We need to raise the minimum wage drastically.
Nothing quite like coming home from a trip to a pupper that loves you. 🥰🥰🥰
November 29, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Nothing quite like coming home from a trip to a pupper that loves you. 🥰🥰🥰
While I agree we'll need to scrub the government of fascist influence & Trump's wild lawlessness, we must not allow a future administration to act on this by fiat lest we end up right back here the next time fascists gain power. If we want a system that rejects fascist dictators, let's act like it.
Mass pardons are coming. There will be no accountability without treating those as null and void. And that means a future administration taking an official position that Trump is not the legitimate president right now because he is disqualified by the 14th Amendment. The two things are inextricable.
November 29, 2025 at 12:12 AM
While I agree we'll need to scrub the government of fascist influence & Trump's wild lawlessness, we must not allow a future administration to act on this by fiat lest we end up right back here the next time fascists gain power. If we want a system that rejects fascist dictators, let's act like it.
The thing I take most umbrage about is the entitlement that comes with thinking that the rich are owed another $12 billion. We need to tax the rich until they aren't rich anymore. They will be quite comfortable with a few less zeroes on their bank account (or more likely, their investment account).
Young people in the U.S. have been priced out of their dreams. Stop acting like it’s their fault.
November 28, 2025 at 11:53 PM
The thing I take most umbrage about is the entitlement that comes with thinking that the rich are owed another $12 billion. We need to tax the rich until they aren't rich anymore. They will be quite comfortable with a few less zeroes on their bank account (or more likely, their investment account).
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
A reminder for those who are not aware: "remigration" is the process of deporting all non-white people from a country. It includes citizens and is, by definition, ethnic cleansing.
And to be clear: this is not fake. I just screenshot it myself.
And to be clear: this is not fake. I just screenshot it myself.
November 28, 2025 at 6:12 PM
A reminder for those who are not aware: "remigration" is the process of deporting all non-white people from a country. It includes citizens and is, by definition, ethnic cleansing.
And to be clear: this is not fake. I just screenshot it myself.
And to be clear: this is not fake. I just screenshot it myself.
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
From Frederick Douglass's 1867 "Composite Nation" speech, a defense of Chinese migration to the United States at a time when anti-Chinese sentiment was intensifying.
teachingamericanhistory.org/document/our...
teachingamericanhistory.org/document/our...
November 28, 2025 at 7:01 PM
From Frederick Douglass's 1867 "Composite Nation" speech, a defense of Chinese migration to the United States at a time when anti-Chinese sentiment was intensifying.
teachingamericanhistory.org/document/our...
teachingamericanhistory.org/document/our...
This is a good thing from Bohacek. But can we please NOT repeat the slur Trump used as we comment on it ffs?
Indiana Republican Sen. Mike Bohacek, who has a daughter with Down syndrome, says he’ll vote No on redistricting following Trump’s “retarded” slur at Gov. Walz.
November 28, 2025 at 10:20 PM
This is a good thing from Bohacek. But can we please NOT repeat the slur Trump used as we comment on it ffs?
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
There was a long long time when many many powerful people refused to stand up to Joe McCarthy. And then McCarthy got weak, and people found their spines.
People finding their spines is always good news, not least because it's a sign of Trump's weakness.
People finding their spines is always good news, not least because it's a sign of Trump's weakness.
A top Republican in Indiana, whose daughter has Down Syndrome, just announced he will be voting to block Trump’s gerrymandering after Trump used the R-word to insult people yesterday.
November 28, 2025 at 9:56 PM
There was a long long time when many many powerful people refused to stand up to Joe McCarthy. And then McCarthy got weak, and people found their spines.
People finding their spines is always good news, not least because it's a sign of Trump's weakness.
People finding their spines is always good news, not least because it's a sign of Trump's weakness.
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
This rhetoric is indistinguishable from the stuff you hear coming out of white nationalists. Completely identical language.
Trump: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries … denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.“
November 28, 2025 at 4:52 AM
This rhetoric is indistinguishable from the stuff you hear coming out of white nationalists. Completely identical language.
Israel is an abomination. Zionists must be stopped. We must ratchet up the pressure to stop them and then dismantle Israel to put up a true democracy that upholds the human and civil rights of all people in its place.
Israel still committing genocide in Gaza, Amnesty International says
Israel still committing genocide in Gaza, Amnesty International says
The NGO’s chief says last month’s ceasefire ‘risks creating a dangerous illusion that life in Gaza is returning to normal’
Amnesty International has said Israel is “still committing genocide” against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, despite the ceasefire agreed last month.
The fragile, US-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas came into effect on 10 October, after two years of war. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Israel is an abomination. Zionists must be stopped. We must ratchet up the pressure to stop them and then dismantle Israel to put up a true democracy that upholds the human and civil rights of all people in its place.
💛💛💛
Okay, the crowd going nuts like someone just scored a touchdown at the Super Bowl all *through* the KDH performance is a hell of a thing to see hear/see:
November 27, 2025 at 7:50 PM
💛💛💛
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
It is time for the annual sharing of the Klingon Turkeys.
November 27, 2025 at 4:47 PM
It is time for the annual sharing of the Klingon Turkeys.
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
This is always the plan with authoritarians wielding militaristic power. They create their own enemies to justify their power grabs.
Netanyahu loved October 7th for this exact reason. His failures led to it, and instead of being held accountable, he got more power than ever.
Netanyahu loved October 7th for this exact reason. His failures led to it, and instead of being held accountable, he got more power than ever.
Place National Guard in harm’s way for no good reason. Two members are tragically and unnecessarily shot. The reckless regime’s response: We’re sending 500 more National Guard troops! What a disgrace.
November 27, 2025 at 5:37 AM
This is always the plan with authoritarians wielding militaristic power. They create their own enemies to justify their power grabs.
Netanyahu loved October 7th for this exact reason. His failures led to it, and instead of being held accountable, he got more power than ever.
Netanyahu loved October 7th for this exact reason. His failures led to it, and instead of being held accountable, he got more power than ever.
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
Our hearts go out to Bethany MaGee and her family, who experienced an unimaginable horror.
Unfortunately, some are blaming the Pretrial Fairness Act. Here is what they have gotten wrong: endmoneybond.org/pretrial-ref...
Unfortunately, some are blaming the Pretrial Fairness Act. Here is what they have gotten wrong: endmoneybond.org/pretrial-ref...
Pretrial Reform Not at Root of Blue Line Tragedy - Coalition to End Money Bond
Our hearts go out to Bethany MaGee and her family, who experienced an unimaginable horror. Her recovery will be long, and we know the pain and fear of what happened will live with her forever. If we ...
endmoneybond.org
November 26, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Our hearts go out to Bethany MaGee and her family, who experienced an unimaginable horror.
Unfortunately, some are blaming the Pretrial Fairness Act. Here is what they have gotten wrong: endmoneybond.org/pretrial-ref...
Unfortunately, some are blaming the Pretrial Fairness Act. Here is what they have gotten wrong: endmoneybond.org/pretrial-ref...
As a signatory of the demand letter, I can't lie. This hurts. This trend needs to not just stop, but reverse. This is money that must be used to address social determinants of health & safety, not carceral solutions. We've seen how carceral solutions lead to & enforce fascism. We need to do better.
new: i read the 2026 cook county budget so you don't have to.
spoiler: more money for police and prosecutors (plus a lot of other stuff).
spoiler: more money for police and prosecutors (plus a lot of other stuff).
Cook County law enforcement agencies get more money in 2026
The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved large investments in policing and prosecutions, over objections from advocates.
chicagoreader.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:44 PM
As a signatory of the demand letter, I can't lie. This hurts. This trend needs to not just stop, but reverse. This is money that must be used to address social determinants of health & safety, not carceral solutions. We've seen how carceral solutions lead to & enforce fascism. We need to do better.
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
The orientation for my PhD dissertation is grounded in intersectionality because it so spoke to me. Just so thankful for Kimberlé Crenshaw and all the thinkers who have built the framework
"My mentor always tells me, 'Kim, dogs don’t bark at parked cars." They’re coming after critical race theory, 1619, intersectionality because these ideas mobilized people. They gave them the language to actually articulate what they were seeing with their own eyes," says Kimberlé Crenshaw.
November 25, 2025 at 7:12 PM
The orientation for my PhD dissertation is grounded in intersectionality because it so spoke to me. Just so thankful for Kimberlé Crenshaw and all the thinkers who have built the framework
Can't say I'm remotely surprised about Mitchell. How he keeps getting reelected is beyond me. He's absolutely worthless. This is absolutely on brand for him.
But the mayor & the governor can & should be stepping up. That's far more disappointing given all the posturing about fighting Trump they do.
But the mayor & the governor can & should be stepping up. That's far more disappointing given all the posturing about fighting Trump they do.
South Shore residents of the apartment building raided by ICE expressed feeling abandoned by city and state leaders.
One resident said tenants still haven’t heard from Ald Gregory Mitchell (7th Ward). The South Shore building is in his ward.
thetriibe.com/2025/11/buil...
One resident said tenants still haven’t heard from Ald Gregory Mitchell (7th Ward). The South Shore building is in his ward.
thetriibe.com/2025/11/buil...
Building raided by ICE now ‘falling apart from the inside out,’ South Shore residents say • The TRiiBE
“No one paid attention to the fact that people were living here without heat before ICE came,” said Infiniti Gant, a housing organizer with Southside Together. “People were living here with mice and r...
thetriibe.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Can't say I'm remotely surprised about Mitchell. How he keeps getting reelected is beyond me. He's absolutely worthless. This is absolutely on brand for him.
But the mayor & the governor can & should be stepping up. That's far more disappointing given all the posturing about fighting Trump they do.
But the mayor & the governor can & should be stepping up. That's far more disappointing given all the posturing about fighting Trump they do.
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
Not everyone has a lawyer, but even those who don't can be like Audre Lorde on this one (this from her FBI file)
November 25, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Not everyone has a lawyer, but even those who don't can be like Audre Lorde on this one (this from her FBI file)
Important article. Here in Chicago, where 1/2 of renters are paying more than they should for housing, we must demand no development be approved that isn't at least 30% for extremely low income, 30% for low income, & 40% unsubsidized. At. Least. And affordable in perpetuity, not merely 30 years.
The power of developers has reduced the availability of affordable housing units, but progressive mayors like Zohran Mamdani and Michelle Wu could put a stop to the thievery. From Robert Kuttner:
trib.al/MkJGQqp
trib.al/MkJGQqp
Progressive Mayors vs. Developers - The American Prospect
In New York, one of the toughest challenges that Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani faces will be preserving and increasing the supply of affordable housing. Same story in Boston, where progressive Mayor Michelle Wu is constrained by similar forces.
trib.al
November 26, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Important article. Here in Chicago, where 1/2 of renters are paying more than they should for housing, we must demand no development be approved that isn't at least 30% for extremely low income, 30% for low income, & 40% unsubsidized. At. Least. And affordable in perpetuity, not merely 30 years.
Reposted by David Zoltan (he/they)
Stop letting caregivers and parents tell the stories of disabled people. They never understand, and they ALWAYS get the story wrong.
November 25, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Stop letting caregivers and parents tell the stories of disabled people. They never understand, and they ALWAYS get the story wrong.
Jonathan wins the internet for today. 😆😆😆
“By the way—every case you ever brought is dismissed. You’re not a lawfully appointed prosecutor so it’s weird saying that but just letting you know."
Lindsey Halligan's appointment as interim U.S. attorney invalid and dismissed the indictments against James Comey and Letitia James. Screenshot from order in the latter below:
November 24, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Jonathan wins the internet for today. 😆😆😆
Either we need to strongly regulate AI (and tech in general) or the entire internet will become entirely useless. It's seemingly hanging by a string most days already.
Scammers are using AI to create fake retailer websites, phishing emails and deepfake videos that impersonate trusted brands or influencers.
Holiday shopping scams grow due to AI. Here's how to stay safe.
chicago.suntimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Either we need to strongly regulate AI (and tech in general) or the entire internet will become entirely useless. It's seemingly hanging by a string most days already.
I often have serious issues with Pritzker, but I can respect this list.
haven’t seen ROS or Solo but this seems like a pretty ball-knowing list from Pritzker, particularly if he volunteered the name “Star Wars” rather than “A New Hope”
November 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I often have serious issues with Pritzker, but I can respect this list.
Excellent. The best time to form a tenant union at your building is before there's a problem. The next best time is right now.
Moments ago: tenants of the South Shore apartment building that federal immigration agents raided at the end of September held a presser to announce they're forming a tenants union.
They're demanding, among other things, sewage removal and heat and electricity restroration.
More updates TK.
They're demanding, among other things, sewage removal and heat and electricity restroration.
More updates TK.
November 24, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Excellent. The best time to form a tenant union at your building is before there's a problem. The next best time is right now.
If you want to solve the housing affordability crisis, stop approving any development that isn't AT LEAST 30% for people under 30% AMI, 30% for folks under 60% AMI, & 40% unsubsidized. More than half of renters are rent-burdened. Housing will never be affordable until we force developers to do more.
November 24, 2025 at 8:22 PM
If you want to solve the housing affordability crisis, stop approving any development that isn't AT LEAST 30% for people under 30% AMI, 30% for folks under 60% AMI, & 40% unsubsidized. More than half of renters are rent-burdened. Housing will never be affordable until we force developers to do more.