L.A. freelance writer/editor. Contributor, Gizmodo. Prev. The Verge, Jalopnik, others. Climate/energy, transportation, tech, TV. @zacestrada elsewhere. Signal: zacestrada.01 https://linktr.ee/zacestrada 🏳️‍🌈https://bsky.app/profile/zacestrada.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/zacestrada.com/post/3mwbvahiydc2iThe theme here is like, "The system has succeeded in improving air quality significantly since the 1980s..." but... and that's something people not from CA gloss over a lot. And I've had a daily fail a smog test And what about states with real vehicle inspections? https://www.thedrive.com/news/smog-testing-in-california-is-broken-lenos-law-wont-fix-it24 Sep 2026 18:30 +0000at://did:plc:cdcfyozrsgcfpdrwp5qe6jq2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwbvahiydc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/zacestrada.com/post/3mwbt2u6svc2oYou know this is really a tariff/uncertain economy thing and not an oversupply thing because as late as yesterday they were calling it MY2027 https://insideevs.com/news/809464/volkswagen-id-buzz-delayed-to-model-year-2028/24 Sep 2026 17:51 +0000at://did:plc:cdcfyozrsgcfpdrwp5qe6jq2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwbt2u6svc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/zacestrada.com/post/3mwbctuexf22uWho could have predicted [contains quote post or other embedded content]24 Sep 2026 13:01 +0000at://did:plc:cdcfyozrsgcfpdrwp5qe6jq2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwbctuexf22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/zacestrada.com/post/3mwaiulb7gs2n"In March 1998, at the time the strongest El Niño year on record, a debate over a sea wall off Isla Vista’s coast was in full swing. News articles at the time report decks collapsing after heavy storm conditions" Still no sea wall https://www.independent.com/2026/09/22/uc-santa-barbara-students-return-to-isla-vista-where-el-nino-threatens-cliff-collapse/24 Sep 2026 05:16 +0000at://did:plc:cdcfyozrsgcfpdrwp5qe6jq2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwaiulb7gs2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/zacestrada.com/post/3mwb6p5kldk2mDefine "Deadline." What is dead? And line? https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-09-24/lax-people-mover-contractor-moves-back-expected-openin-to-202724 Sep 2026 11:47 +0000at://did:plc:cdcfyozrsgcfpdrwp5qe6jq2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwb6p5kldk2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/zacestrada.com/post/3mwaiulb7gs2n"In March 1998, at the time the strongest El Niño year on record, a debate over a sea wall off Isla Vista’s coast was in full swing. News articles at the time report decks collapsing after heavy storm conditions" Still no sea wall https://www.independent.com/2026/09/22/uc-santa-barbara-students-return-to-isla-vista-where-el-nino-threatens-cliff-collapse/24 Sep 2026 05:16 +0000at://did:plc:cdcfyozrsgcfpdrwp5qe6jq2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwaiulb7gs2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/zacestrada.com/post/3mw7bxunhok2tThey're really trying to get people genuinely interested in this [contains quote post or other embedded content]23 Sep 2026 17:40 +0000at://did:plc:cdcfyozrsgcfpdrwp5qe6jq2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw7bxunhok2thttps://bsky.app/profile/zacestrada.com/post/3mw6vifx3ck2i"The mayor had 63% unfavorable ratings...with 28% favorable and 9% having no opinion. By comparison, 40% had a favorable view of Raman, according to the poll, while 39% said they had an unfavorable view of her and 21% had no opinion" 33% undecided right now. Wow https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-09-23/raman-takes-big-lead-over-bass-in-latest-poll-for-la-mayors-race23 Sep 2026 13:57 +0000at://did:plc:cdcfyozrsgcfpdrwp5qe6jq2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw6vifx3ck2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/zacestrada.com/post/3mw4zdk3ryc26"Gas station owner John Price hosted Hilton. Price said Hilton the Hilton campaign was paying for the discounted gas—up to $12 gallons, for the first 150 customers." Well, he never said how much gas or how many people would get it for $3/gallon https://www.newspress.com/2026/09/22/save-with-steve-governor-candidate-steve-hilton-visits-fuel-depot-offers-3-a-gallon-gas/22 Sep 2026 20:00 +0000at://did:plc:cdcfyozrsgcfpdrwp5qe6jq2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw4zdk3ryc26https://bsky.app/profile/zacestrada.com/post/3mw4re73jok2k"State Senate President Monique Limón of Santa Barbara said the state had made a 'meaningful investment' in communities hosting the games — pointing to the $20 million for transportation and another $10 million for policing" $30 million vs. $379 million, sure https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-09-22/trumps-la-transit-buses-for-olympics22 Sep 2026 17:38 +0000at://did:plc:cdcfyozrsgcfpdrwp5qe6jq2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw4re73jok2khttps://bsky.app/profile/zacestrada.com/post/3mw4nmkca222t"Yet according to the Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, the U.S. ranks just 64th, behind Botswana but ahead of Panama. Norway is No. 1." https://dankennedy.net/2026/09/22/bringing-cbs-news-and-cnn-under-one-trump-friendly-roof-is-a-disaster-for-freedom-of-the-press/22 Sep 2026 16:31 +0000at://did:plc:cdcfyozrsgcfpdrwp5qe6jq2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw4nmkca222thttps://bsky.app/profile/zacestrada.com/post/3mw4mkkewnk2aThe end pretty much sums everything up about not just housing policies in L.A and California, but the mentality about building here. Pretty much convinced that the state isn't a multifamily one and something more than better transit will have to change that https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-09-22/la-developers-arent-building-more-apartments-despite-epic-housing-shortage22 Sep 2026 16:12 +0000at://did:plc:cdcfyozrsgcfpdrwp5qe6jq2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw4mkkewnk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/zacestrada.com/post/3mvl2ultojc2vIt's very region-specific but if an e-assisted, multi-wheeled vehicle exceeds running speed of a human, it's a motorcycle, which should require a license and to be on the street with other gas-powered multi-wheeled vehicles. It's so simple https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/sep/15/ebike-powerful-illegal-engine-roads-cyclist15 Sep 2026 16:40 +0000at://did:plc:cdcfyozrsgcfpdrwp5qe6jq2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvl2ultojc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/zacestrada.com/post/3mvkvzu2oik2jProof Tom Cruise has no sense of time (like I'm one to judge) [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 Sep 2026 15:13 +0000at://did:plc:cdcfyozrsgcfpdrwp5qe6jq2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvkvzu2oik2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/zacestrada.com/post/3mvkmwbk3d22vBarring any massive price hike, this looks like a win for Volvo and its PHEV lineup, already a long-standing hit. Yeah, it could charge more quickly but that doesn't seem to affect loyalty and as others cheapen interiors, these old Volvos are still nice inside https://www.volvocars.com/us/media/press-releases/00397BA8C7E7A39D/15 Sep 2026 12:30 +0000at://did:plc:cdcfyozrsgcfpdrwp5qe6jq2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvkmwbk3d22v