One (small) good deed a day 2024

[LaineyAZ]

Today is the annual food donation day where postal carriers collect non-perishable food items.  They provide a plastic bag and you fill it and put it by your mailbox.  They collect it during normal mail hours.  I've got 2 bags ready to go.

[crocheted_stache]

That's awesome. My parents both went to college and I still didn't feel like they were a ton of help and neither was my guidance counselor (he was a bigot). Someone with recent experience would be so much more helpful than someone who applied 30 years ago like my parents had...

I'm trying to remember anything about our school guidance counselors. I think there were one or two for the whole school, but if I ever saw them, it was a routine thing to make sure my schedule wasn't missing any required classes, stuff like that. Maybe "problem" students or kids who seemed to be struggling academically got sent there more often. I feel like my mom and a couple of my English teachers were more help applying to college.

I have no formal volunteer role as such, but I've helped various people tune up the writing for their college essays and resumes. I even helped one former coworker who had never written a resume before getting laid off in 2008. He'd been hired straight out of vocational school by knowing someone who worked there, then advanced through the same company over about 20 years. He had no idea where to begin, so we started meeting after hours. He loved to tell stories, so I basically got him started and let him talk. "Tell me what it was like to work there back then."

He was amazed to conclude such a story and have another line or two in his resume. I'd ask him to review it for accuracy, of course, but basically, I was just rewriting his stories in resume format. "Well, I used to work with this guy Joe in the shop and they wouldn't even have drawings for the XYZ things they'd bring us..." became, "Custom-fit XYZ assemblies according to engineering requirements."

[Dollar Slice]

I'm trying to remember anything about our school guidance counselors. I think there were one or two for the whole school, but if I ever saw them, it was a routine thing to make sure my schedule wasn't missing any required classes, stuff like that. Maybe "problem" students or kids who seemed to be struggling academically got sent there more often. I feel like my mom and a couple of my English teachers were more help applying to college.

Yeah, that's basically it. Everyone at my school got a little college (or other future plans) chat. Unfortunately he was kind of an ass and totally useless. I had picked two Ivies, my dad's alma mater and a safety (which was still a good school but I thought I was a shoo in with my grades and scores). His one suggestion was somewhere I wouldn't be caught dead attending (a fairly conservative religious school) because he thought I was aiming too high. I got one wait-list and two acceptances including one full tuition merit scholarship, so he can suck it. Yes I'm still a little mad. :-)

[crocheted_stache]

A week ago I got a gift card as a thank you for participating in a volunteer activity. I might use it eventually, but I happened to still be carrying it when someone I know who is not so well off announced they were headed for the store that the card was for. "Hey, if you're going, take this and use it so it doesn't sit in my drawer forever."

[Taran Wanderer]

That makes me smile!

[MaybeBabyMustache]

I've been volunteering for our soccer club's senior night, and the day has finally come. Can't wait to wrap this up!

I'm also 80% of the way done with my training for my other volunteer role (college counselor), which I'm excited about.

[crocheted_stache]

Found and reported two spots where illegal dumping has occurred alongside a local waterway, before the stuff ends up in the waterway and harder to retrieve than it already is. One person/team and a pickup truck should be able to handle it, with no wading or heavy equipment required.

I think I may have persuaded the city to paint a few feet of curb red where there are always parked cars crowding a crosswalk and a curb ramp. It made me nervous crossing there even before someone was killed crossing there. The lack of sight lines to oncoming traffic was supposedly not a factor in that fatality, but that is no reason to wait to make what should be a simple improvement to safety.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Finished my volunteering project for our soccer club's senior night. Hurrah! Grateful that's over. Made some additional donations, worked the concession stand, etc.

I only have one more unit left in my training for my college counselor volunteer role, so I'm close to being able to help out with that.

I also continued my regular task of returning shopping carts to the corral when I'm shopping. I try not to be frustrated at people who leave them all over, blocking the lot & in one case, in the driving lane, so cars had to drive around it, creating a hazard. It makes me irritated that people are selfish & lazy, but I do my part, and return a cart every time I shop.

[crocheted_stache]

Today I arranged for next weekend's group bike ride to visit a small, local business, and I went and let the owner of that small business know the group will be there. If all goes to plan, the bike group discovers a good place to get lunch and snacks and the business gets a bunch of new customers. Owner was smiling brightly by the time I got done talking, and while I stressed that nobody's demanding anything, I won't be surprised if the bike group is greeted with some complimentary cookies or drinks.

While I was out, I found a pair of KitchenAid scissor blades, minus the plastic handles, in the roadway. I removed them before they end up damaging a foot or tire. I picked up and disposed of several other loose pieces of plastic trash, too.

[LaineyAZ]

I brought a container of cut-up watermelon to my neighbor who is in hospice home care.  Her son was visiting and both were happy to get it.
I think I'll do this once a week with different snacks.

[crocheted_stache]

Shared my dinner with a friend who lives alone and sometimes struggles (both financially and functionally) to cook for herself. Also sent her home with an unopened, surplus package of something that's been floating around my kitchen for awhile. I'd use it eventually, but I'm glad to gently take a little load off for her, and I can get more when I run low.

[crocheted_stache]

Sometimes small really is small. Yesterday I picked up and removed a couple of pieces of shattered particle board  about the size of a deck of cards, after running over them in the bike lane. All clear for the next person, even if that was probably DH or myself the next day.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

@crocheted_stache - small is good!

-I went & got finger printed for my volunteer role, filled out a profile & did the last of the training modules.
-I also put some carts back at the grocery store, because not only is that my pet peeve, but it also wastes parking spots & risks car damage.

[FireLane]

I was walking home from dropping my son off at school when I saw a package balanced on top of a mailbox. It was a quiet residential street corner, no one was nearby.

I went over and looked at the package. It was an international delivery with customs info, sent from Japan. It was still sealed, and it was addressed to a house less than a block away.

No idea how it got there. Mail carrier set it down absent-mindedly and walked off without it? Left at the wrong address, and someone thought they did their duty by leaving it on the mailbox for someone else to take care of? A mystery for the ages.

Whatever happened, I assume the recipient would've been disappointed if they'd paid for something to be shipped all the way across the world, only for it to wind up lost this close to its destination. I took it over and left it on their doorstep.

[crocheted_stache]

@FireLane , weird. I've occasionally returned misdelivered stuff (usually things meant for 115 come to me at 155, made up example numbers). Once I found a package for us when I went to look at what had been delivered to a house across the street that was vacant at the time. I've never found one loose like that, though.

Today, I swapped seats on the train so a family with a little kid could sit together, and I put together the report for one of the volunteer groups where I'm serving as a liaison to another group.

[crocheted_stache]

Visiting FIL, who's now a widower living alone in an empty nest house. Partly in self-defense, I surface-cleaned the kitchen and I'm now taking a break from working on the bathroom while the toilet gel does some work without me. I don't know if it's possible to get a housekeeper here or if FIL would sit still for that. SIL, who lives close, is clearly taking on a lot of the caretaking, including shuttling FIL to a doctor appointment this afternoon. I'm going to nudge (DH has agreed) about whether there's anything we can do to make SIL's part easier.

Otherwise, I've caught up with a couple friends from way back who live closer to here than to home. We even managed to pay one of the restaurant tabs before they did, although that one was the usual good-natured "grab the tab" race rather than any concern for the friend's financial well-being.

[oneday]

Gave sunscreen to my cousin while we attended her daughter's graduation. She did not get burned!

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Attended a high school sports banquet last night, and there is no parent manager. It's our only team without one, and..it showed. Helped the coach get everything set up, tracked down missing supplies (plates, silverware, etc - you know, really unnecessary stuff when people are eating. ;-) Also stayed to clean up, and got DS17 to corral all of the teens into cleaning, so the coach or janitorial staff wouldn't be stuck with a mess.

I'm also taking child abuse prevention training for my volunteer role. That's some seriously dark stuff. I need to finish it today. I understand why it's required, but... oof.

[crocheted_stache]

Attended a high school sports banquet last night, and there is no parent manager. It's our only team without one, and..it showed. Helped the coach get everything set up, tracked down missing supplies (plates, silverware, etc - you know, really unnecessary stuff when people are eating. ;-) Also stayed to clean up, and got DS17 to corral all of the teens into cleaning, so the coach or janitorial staff wouldn't be stuck with a mess.

I'm also taking child abuse prevention training for my volunteer role. That's some seriously dark stuff. I need to finish it today. I understand why it's required, but... oof.

@MaybeBabyMustache hang in there. Dark stuff persists in the absence of people willing to see or talk about it. You could save a life or change one for the better.

Today's small thing: occupied myself while waiting for a bus by removing some graffiti from the bus shelter. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer on a napkin removes permanent marker from nonporous surfaces. (I carry a pocket-sized bottle and refill it from a larger one.)

[Dicey]

Attended a high school sports banquet last night, and there is no parent manager. It's our only team without one, and..it showed. Helped the coach get everything set up, tracked down missing supplies (plates, silverware, etc - you know, really unnecessary stuff when people are eating. ;-) Also stayed to clean up, and got DS17 to corral all of the teens into cleaning, so the coach or janitorial staff wouldn't be stuck with a mess.

I'm also taking child abuse prevention training for my volunteer role. That's some seriously dark stuff. I need to finish it today. I understand why it's required, but... oof.

@MaybeBabyMustache hang in there. Dark stuff persists in the absence of people willing to see or talk about it. You could save a life or change one for the better.

Today's small thing: occupied myself while waiting for a bus by removing some graffiti from the bus shelter. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer on a napkin removes permanent marker from nonporous surfaces. (I carry a pocket-sized bottle and refill it from a larger one.)

That is a badass way to use up hand sanitizer, which we all have loads of!

[crocheted_stache]

Today's small thing: occupied myself while waiting for a bus by removing some graffiti from the bus shelter. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer on a napkin removes permanent marker from nonporous surfaces. (I carry a pocket-sized bottle and refill it from a larger one.)

That is a badass way to use up hand sanitizer, which we all have loads of!

And paper napkins that I don't use as fast as they accumulate from restaurants and takeout.

I also use hand sanitizer for my hands, but I prefer soap and water when they're available, so I don't use hand sanitizer very quickly.

[Freedomin5]

Volunteered to be a guest speaker to train employees at a few non-profit organizations that are doing really good and highly necessary work in their communities.

Also signed up to speak to college students. I only signed up for one session, but past experience tells me that once people hear me speak, I am sometimes invited back for more speaking engagements. So I’ve mentally prepared to speak 3-4 times in the next 12 months. This is also a volunteer position.

What I’m thinking of doing with this group is to train the leaders. A lot of the college speaking stuff is simply sharing research that is already out there and putting it into a simple-to-digest PPT, and adding a few discussion questions and activities so the students can interact with the material. It’s pretty simple, but I suspect the leaders don’t know where to find the research. If I can train the leaders and serve as a consultant providing them with materials on whatever topics are salient for the group, it can be a lot more effective because then they depend less on the expats. And it’s something that I can continue doing from Canada.

But first I have to build a relationship with the group. Hence the speaking engagement.

I spent 5 years and USD$100k getting a doctorate and a professional license, then racked up 10+ years of professional and supervisory experience in my field, all while charging $300-400/hr for my services. But what makes me happiest is giving it away to eager folks who want to learn, who would otherwise never be able to access this knowledge/training.

[oneday]

Shared my table at the coffee shop with a stranger so they could access the outlet & charge their phone. They might have been housing-insecure.

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Thanks, @crocheted_stache

Finally finished my training, and I'm all set up to be matched for my volunteer role (college counselor for rising seniors who don't have parents who can help). The timing is perfect, as I'm also helping DS17 with this (last year we paid a million dollars for a counselor, & I ended up doing most of the work myself), so my brain is in the right space to be helping someone else out, while I work through the process with DS17.

[crocheted_stache]

@Freedomin5 yours is awesome, too.

Another arrangement I know of where a train-the-trainers model is working is the Master Gardeners. At least in California, the university agricultural extension agents, who are set up to help farmers, got tired of fielding questions from home gardeners. Master Gardener volunteers get some in-depth training in science-based best practices, and I think a little about doing good research and distinguishing what is science-based from what is baloney or merely untested. In exchange, they volunteer to teach and assist the public for a certain amount of time. It may have to wait until post-RE so I have time during weekdays for the classes and the volunteering, but it's on my "someday" list.

[Freedomin5]

Thanks, @crocheted_stache

Finally finished my training, and I'm all set up to be matched for my volunteer role (college counselor for rising seniors who don't have parents who can help). The timing is perfect, as I'm also helping DS17 with this (last year we paid a million dollars for a counselor, & I ended up doing most of the work myself), so my brain is in the right space to be helping someone else out, while I work through the process with DS17.

A million dollars! I'm in the wrong profession!

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Thanks, @crocheted_stache

Finally finished my training, and I'm all set up to be matched for my volunteer role (college counselor for rising seniors who don't have parents who can help). The timing is perfect, as I'm also helping DS17 with this (last year we paid a million dollars for a counselor, & I ended up doing most of the work myself), so my brain is in the right space to be helping someone else out, while I work through the process with DS17.

A million dollars! I'm in the wrong profession!

Ha, it was not quite that much, but it felt like a ridiculous sum all of the same. She was actually also DS18's executive functioning tutor + college counselor. Her personal style was very, very abrasive & she did not benefit DS18, because...teens aren't prone to working hard for someone they don't like. I made much faster progress with DS18 & knew how to work with him to get results. I think she may have actually been good at portions of her job, but style...nope.

[Loretta]

I inquired about someone’s health today who I normally can’t stand talking to about work stuff.  It will either make him avoid me more often or …be positive in some other way?

[crocheted_stache]

I removed a few stray plastic wrappers from the roadside and removed a sharp screw from a bike path.

While visiting, I've also been trying to keep a young niece and nephew (both under 3) safely amused for long enough at a time for Mom and Dad to get a few things done with both hands at once, and trying to help out with dishes and other small stuff while Mom and Dad wrangle the kiddos.

[crocheted_stache]

Visited a different niece and nephew yesterday. These ones are a little older and both welcomed us with handmade kid art greeting cards.

We were out in public when 6yo nephew got a splinter. I happened to have tweezers and the ever-present hand sanitizer (which I suggested for cleaning the tweezers). Mom got the splinter out while nephew held it together about as well as could be expected under the circumstances. Tweezers saved the day.

[Dollar Slice]

This week I contacted my city council member, state assembly rep, state senator, D.C. senators, and governor about a political issue involving public transit and a cleaner local environment (anyone following NY news probably knows what's up...I'm *incandescent* levels of pissed off).

I also made sure some elderly folks got a seat on the bus when some (I'll be charitable) probably ignorant young tourists were sitting in the front seats that are supposed to be reserved for the disabled/elderly and the other side had been left in the upright position where a wheelchair had been.

[FireLane]

This week I contacted my city council member, state assembly rep, state senator, D.C. senators, and governor about a political issue involving public transit and a cleaner local environment (anyone following NY news probably knows what's up...I'm *incandescent* levels of pissed off).

Congestion pricing? I'm mad about that too. I also wrote to my state reps, for all the good it did.

Just an abysmal failure of leadership. Politicians won't take a step toward saving the planet because they're afraid of riling up car-commuting white suburbanites.

[crocheted_stache]

This week I contacted my city council member, state assembly rep, state senator, D.C. senators, and governor about a political issue involving public transit and a cleaner local environment (anyone following NY news probably knows what's up...I'm *incandescent* levels of pissed off).

Congestion pricing? I'm mad about that too. I also wrote to my state reps, for all the good it did.

Just an abysmal failure of leadership. Politicians won't take a step toward saving the planet because they're afraid of riling up car-commuting white suburbanites.

I'm on the wrong coast for this to have any direct impact, but I do transportation advocacy here, and this decision is likely to hold up similar efforts everywhere else, so thank you for taking action. Efforts to shift the balance away from all cars everywhere often meet with a vocal backlash from drivers, and it's vitalt that elected officials also hear from supporters.

[crocheted_stache]

Handed about USD$60 to a surprised friend who's visiting Ecuador soon. Friend is from a country that uses euros.

 I'm sure he can exchange money somewhere before he leaves, but I was there with a little US currency that wasn't doing much for me while I was in Europe, so I gave it to him for good luck. I told a story about my own visit to South America, where about USD$40 saved the day and got myself and two friends out of a town a little too small and too remote/undeveloped to have an ATM.

[BECABECA]

Gave a couple amps to a friend of a friend who’s kid is getting more serious about guitar. This way they can jam together, and I have two less large heavy possessions to care for. Win win :)

[Dollar Slice]

This week I contacted my city council member, state assembly rep, state senator, D.C. senators, and governor about a political issue involving public transit and a cleaner local environment (anyone following NY news probably knows what's up...I'm *incandescent* levels of pissed off).

Congestion pricing? I'm mad about that too. I also wrote to my state reps, for all the good it did.

Just an abysmal failure of leadership.

What really kills me is that they waited so long that everyone had pretty much accepted that it was happening AND we had spent all the money on implementation - half a billion dollars on cameras, signs, etc. all bought, built, posted up in the city... years of lawsuits and environmental studies done. All flushed down the toilet. It's absolute lunacy. Stuff like this really makes me feel like I'm wasting my time in my day to day conservation efforts. I could go my whole life and not offset this one blunder in terms of sheer fiscal and environmental waste.

Anyway, sorry to derail, this is the wrong thread for this.

[crocheted_stache]

This week I contacted my city council member, state assembly rep, state senator, D.C. senators, and governor about a political issue involving public transit and a cleaner local environment (anyone following NY news probably knows what's up...I'm *incandescent* levels of pissed off).

Congestion pricing? I'm mad about that too. I also wrote to my state reps, for all the good it did.

Just an abysmal failure of leadership.

What really kills me is that they waited so long that everyone had pretty much accepted that it was happening AND we had spent all the money on implementation - half a billion dollars on cameras, signs, etc. all bought, built, posted up in the city... years of lawsuits and environmental studies done. All flushed down the toilet. It's absolute lunacy. Stuff like this really makes me feel like I'm wasting my time in my day to day conservation efforts. I could go my whole life and not offset this one blunder in terms of sheer fiscal and environmental waste.

Anyway, sorry to derail, this is the wrong thread for this.

Wait, and NY is threatening to cut library funding too? No, keep right on making a big-ass stink. Please. That's a good deed, too.

[crocheted_stache]

Mine for today: toughed out the jet lag and made it to my volunteer gig. Might have even said something useful in the process.

[crocheted_stache]

I didn't go out today, so here's one from the archive.

I was at a volunteer workshop, the kind where everyone stands or sits in a circle and you all go around and introduce yourselves and say what kinds of things you are interested in relating to the topic of the workshop. I noticed a woman across the room participating while clutching her collar the whole time. Her top didn't hang quite right on her, and had she let go, the neckline would have opened wider and lower than she wanted.

I carry a few safety pins in my purse, so I fished one out and offered it to her as soon as we were between things. Wardrobe malfunction averted.

(Edit: typo.)

[crocheted_stache]

I've been staying home while I get over a bit of a cold, which is itself a good deed, if you ask me, if not very interesting to report.

I'm starting to feel better these past few days, so I delivered the last couple small Buy Nothing items by bicycle and on foot. Besides stuff not still cluttering my house, I get exercise and save everybody a bunch of short car trips.

I also made a campaign contribution to a friend who's running for local office, and I may have a bit of a volunteer job writing some upcoming blog posts for her campaign. It's not my usual thing, so we shall see how that goes.

[Dollar Slice]

Thanks for keeping the thread going, crocheted_stache.

I have been in the throes of a truly bad migraine again, so not doing a lot for other folks. But I found and forwarded some coupons to a friend who asked if I could help find some discounts for him (he knows how I am, LOL). And I remembered my brother's birthday and got him some chocolates and whiskey even though he hasn't gotten me a birthday present in years.

[Dicey]

Whoops, I didn't even think about campaign contributions...wrote two checks this week and will be doing one more next week. We also volunteered to manage the large campaign signs for three candidates and two took us up on it. Our yard will be sporting small signs for all three.

BTW, having managed campaigns before, I know every online donation gets dinged by fees, so I go old school  and bring an actual paper check to the kickoff event.

[crocheted_stache]

These days, basically all the donation forms have a tick box "☑️ Add an extra $x to cover transaction fees?"

I have been known to show up with a paper check, though. Maybe I'll do that when the kick off party comes around.

@Dicey I'm now 15 forum pages into back-reading your journal and increasingly amazed with all you do. I may ask to pick your brain about supporting this candidate's campaign.

[Dicey]

These days, basically all the donation forms have a tick box "☑️ Add an extra $x to cover transaction fees?"

I have been known to show up with a paper check, though. Maybe I'll do that when the kick off party comes around.

@Dicey I'm now 15 forum pages into back-reading your journal and increasingly amazed with all you do. I may ask to pick your brain about supporting this candidate's campaign.

1. Haven't seen that, but I'd rather not pay 'em.
2. Happy to!

[Poundwise]

This week I contacted my city council member, state assembly rep, state senator, D.C. senators, and governor about a political issue involving public transit and a cleaner local environment (anyone following NY news probably knows what's up...I'm *incandescent* levels of pissed off).

Congestion pricing? I'm mad about that too. I also wrote to my state reps, for all the good it did.

Just an abysmal failure of leadership.

What really kills me is that they waited so long that everyone had pretty much accepted that it was happening AND we had spent all the money on implementation - half a billion dollars on cameras, signs, etc. all bought, built, posted up in the city... years of lawsuits and environmental studies done. All flushed down the toilet. It's absolute lunacy. Stuff like this really makes me feel like I'm wasting my time in my day to day conservation efforts. I could go my whole life and not offset this one blunder in terms of sheer fiscal and environmental waste.

Anyway, sorry to derail, this is the wrong thread for this.

Hmm. I live in one of the bridge and tunnel communities that one could presume is against congestion pricing. Maybe I can get some sort of call the Governor in support of congestion pricing thing going, if you think it's not too late.

[Poundwise]

Been some time since I was here. Great work to everyone!!

My volunteer work is largely wrapped up for the summer, so I collapsed. A couple of random small things:
I've been walking down to the water a few times and on my way out, I pick up a handful of broken glass from the tiny, muddy beach.

One of my low income friends asked if I could help her find cookware suitable to make a pot roast (her teen son has never had it, and she only has aluminum pots). I found her a small, used InstantPot and some classic rock CDs (her government issued internet runs out near the end of the month).  She really loved both. She has already cooked three things with the InstantPot!

[Dicey]

Been some time since I was here. Great work to everyone!!

My volunteer work is largely wrapped up for the summer, so I collapsed. A couple of random small things:
I've been walking down to the water a few times and on my way out, I pick up a handful of broken glass from the tiny, muddy beach.

One of my low income friends asked if I could help her find cookware suitable to make a pot roast (her teen son has never had it, and she only has aluminum pots). I found her a small, used InstantPot and some classic rock CDs (her government issued internet runs out near the end of the month).  She really loved both. She has already cooked three things with the InstantPot!

Badass!

[Dollar Slice]

Hmm. I live in one of the bridge and tunnel communities that one could presume is against congestion pricing. Maybe I can get some sort of call the Governor in support of congestion pricing thing going, if you think it's not too late.

It's too late to get it implemented on time (the original date was tomorrow). But there is still a lot of push and pull going on, and there will be lawsuits, and pressuring the governor can only help. Lawsuits are just another waste of taxpayer money that is totally unnecessary and could be stopped if they went ahead with the original plan. She claims it's a "pause" so she could unpause it any time.

[Poundwise]

Hmm. I live in one of the bridge and tunnel communities that one could presume is against congestion pricing. Maybe I can get some sort of call the Governor in support of congestion pricing thing going, if you think it's not too late.

It's too late to get it implemented on time (the original date was tomorrow). But there is still a lot of push and pull going on, and there will be lawsuits, and pressuring the governor can only help. Lawsuits are just another waste of taxpayer money that is totally unnecessary and could be stopped if they went ahead with the original plan. She claims it's a "pause" so she could unpause it any time.

Then I'll look into it! Maybe there's already a petition or calling day planned that I can join and tell my community about.

[Dollar Slice]

Hmm. I live in one of the bridge and tunnel communities that one could presume is against congestion pricing. Maybe I can get some sort of call the Governor in support of congestion pricing thing going, if you think it's not too late.

It's too late to get it implemented on time (the original date was tomorrow). But there is still a lot of push and pull going on, and there will be lawsuits, and pressuring the governor can only help. Lawsuits are just another waste of taxpayer money that is totally unnecessary and could be stopped if they went ahead with the original plan. She claims it's a "pause" so she could unpause it any time.

Then I'll look into it! Maybe there's already a petition or calling day planned that I can join and tell my community about.

Streetsblog has had good coverage, plus a couple of Twitter posters that do a lot of transit coverage might be good places to start. (Basically the only reason I'm on Twitter is local news coverage/activism...)

https://nyc.streetsblog.org/category/issues-campaigns/congestion-pricing
https://x.com/TransAlt
https://x.com/BrooklynSpoke
https://x.com/DaveCoIon