James GleickJan 10, 2023

This is appalling. The oligarchic right wing (Koch brothers; oil magnates; Musk) despise public transit.

Many public services, including transit agencies and police departments, got in the habit of using Twitter to broadcast information. What would it take to help Mastodon become a useful replacement?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/01/10/dc-metro-twitter-account-suspended/

Twitter temporarily bans account for D.C.-area bus system without explanation

The social media app suspended the @metrobusinfo account on Tuesday for about six hours and gave Metro transit officials no explanation why.

The Washington Post
aharsantJan 11, 2023
Show threadPhilip Loring
@JamesGleick If municipalities, state gov'ts, etc. would start setting up their own servers just as they run web and email servers, they could federate and not be at the whim of some CEO... the domain names, e.g., social-dot-xyzcity-got-gov, would also serve as easy verification that the accounts are legit...
Jan 10, 2023 at 10:43pmWeb
Show threadGrassroots JoeJan 10, 2023
@ConserveChange @JamesGleick
Something local grassroots groups could put on their local government lobbying agendas.
Show threadCarrieJLJan 11, 2023
@ConserveChange @JamesGleick
Very interesting concept.