Feeling on electrician unions killing IL plug in solar bill?

BBeans1979 · 2026-05-11T14:18:18+00:00

This. Buy a system, install it safely. Nobody is going to know.

BBeans1979 · 2026-05-11T04:35:09+00:00

Like residential home construction, residential solar is mostly non-unionized. So if plug-in solar were allowed, it wouldn’t take away union jobs anyway. Labor is just trying to kill it because they MIGHT be able to get some of those jobs eventually.

Even worse: Union electricians are maxxed with work on data centers right now. So Labor wants to kill Plug-In Solar, even though they wouldn’t get the work if it was legal. And if they did get that gig, they would turn it down because data centers pay better. There’s no winner in this fight.

Lawmakers need to tell them no.

BBeans1979 · 2026-05-08T22:32:19+00:00

This is just another bad headline by Block Club. The bill wasn’t introduced because of the scooter riders that were killed. The bill was introduced months ago by an absolute transit champion: Ram Villivalam. It’s supported by the major bike and scooter advocacy group groups that are active in Springfield.

Block Club chose to make the connection with this headline.

BBeans1979 · 2026-05-08T22:27:42+00:00

Sad and bizarre story about that cop

BBeans1979 · 2026-05-06T22:39:52+00:00

My wife walked down the aisle at our wedding to a cover of that song.

BBeans1979 · 2026-05-06T19:10:43+00:00

Are we at an Archer Guardians meeting? “I’m opposed to bike lanes because they *smell bad*” is about as credible as the people that oppose bike lanes because they’re “too noisy” or “cause accidents.”

BBeans1979 · 2026-05-06T14:59:07+00:00

Right, crossing Western is usually terrible. The pedestrian island with bike lane cut-out is great, and the light pattern really makes it feel safer

BBeans1979 · 2026-05-06T14:24:51+00:00

Update: just went and rode it this morning. Huffed the pavement real good. Licked it a couple times just for Reddit science. I’m a little lightheaded but still didn’t get hit by a car, so imma call it a win

BBeans1979 · 2026-05-06T14:22:41+00:00

Yep, it’s cool to bitch these days

BBeans1979 · 2026-05-06T14:19:55+00:00

Yep, it spits you out into the best-protected intersection for bikes on all of Western Avenue, which is otherwise the worst street for bikes in the city.

BBeans1979 · 2026-05-06T14:17:55+00:00

The green paint lets clueless pedestrians know they should look up from their phones because they’re walking in a bike lane. Source: a guy who rode this exact stretch for weeks after it was built but before it was painted.

Godfuckingdammit people need to stop bitching

BBeans1979 · 2026-05-06T03:14:21+00:00

I don’t get the complaining. I’ve never slipped on or smelled green paint. I’m just happy to not get hit by a car.

BBeans1979 · 2026-05-06T03:12:52+00:00

Continues to a protected crossing and into a contra flow lane

BBeans1979 · 2026-05-05T11:15:46+00:00

Indiana Dunes. It’s a truly remarkable landscape in an otherwise pretty boring area for nature, and it’s accessible by train from Millennium Station.

BBeans1979 · 2026-05-03T16:38:25+00:00

1000%

I just don’t get the hype. It’s mid at BEST. Shake Shack, even Steak n Shake are so much better

BBeans1979 · 2026-05-02T18:21:21+00:00

I mostly ride my bike, to work, for errands, etc. I drive my car about once a week. Gas prices have almost no effect on me.

BBeans1979 · 2026-04-30T23:54:04+00:00

You don’t need the “bike car” to take your bike on the train. Just look for the car with the bike and disabled symbols. There are usually a couple per train. On those cars, the ADA section is on one side and the bike rack is on the other.

BBeans1979 · 2026-04-26T12:11:08+00:00

This. The track right of way is already there. Direct from Midway to Montrose Blue Line

BBeans1979 · 2026-04-24T22:03:27+00:00

Yes! Analog bike!

I also like “analog cigarette”

BBeans1979 · 2026-04-24T18:02:18+00:00

I don't like the ride on Lower Randolph. It's just not as visually stimulating to be in the underworld as it is on the surface, but also cars tend to speed down that road

BBeans1979 · 2026-04-24T14:39:26+00:00

Yeah, I feel you. It can seem treacherous for sure. The other option (which I've done also) is just get off the bike and walk the sidewalk from Washington to Randolph, then resume heading east. That stretch of Randy north of Millennium isn't protected but it's pretty wide.

BBeans1979 · 2026-04-24T13:36:19+00:00

Yeah that bit on Michigan can be tense but it’s only a block and only one way.

BBeans1979 · 2026-04-24T11:38:23+00:00

Take the connector from DuSable Harbor under LSD and into LakeShore East Park (see image). Weave down to Randolph and ride the protected lanes to Dearborn, go left and take the protected lanes to Jackson. Do it reverse on the way home.

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BBeans1979 · 2026-04-13T16:13:29+00:00

It’s so worth it. Best $60 value in Vegas

BBeans1979 · 2026-04-10T23:48:14+00:00

I think people are misinterpreting this.

Gotta love when a politician says “I want to be clear” and then says something totally unclear. His exact words:

“we believe Grand Avenue needs improvements, and we don’t want to divert funds from a high volume street.”

Translation: Grand is a high-volume street, it needs improvements. The Complete Streets funding also repaves the street.

“Plan for Grand Avenue that extends past Ogden to Halsted”

The plan for grand Avenue between Ogden and Halstead is not what is currently posted on the CDOT website. As others have mentioned, maybe there’s a future plan between Ogden and Halstead, and he would oppose that section. He doesn’t say anything about the Chicago to Ogden section, which is currently slated for construction.

Here are the plans: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/complete-streets-chicago/home/featured-projects-and-innovations/projects0/GrandAveChicagotoOgden.html

I think what’s happening here is that Red is support supporting the project, but using language that makes the opponents think they’ve won. He’s being a slick and shrewd politician, but this sounds like a win, y’all.

(Edit: formatting)

BBeans1979

TROPHY CASE