Alfred Twu

@alfredtwu

Berkeley Rent Board Commissioner (@alfredtwu.net), California Democratic Party AAPI Caucus & CA Dem Renters Council Board, East Bay architect & commercial artist. Reblue/follow/like does not equal endorsement. art:

2,958 Following17,494 Followers7,937 Posts

Bluesky

Is this your profile?Claim it and alfredtwu.dirty.social is yours.Claim profile

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· 27d

Parivar Bay Area, a Kinnar-Hijra-led organization serving trans, gender-diverse, and intersex immigrants and asylees from the Global South, is at risk of shutting down due to lack of funding. Please help them out if you can! They're a one-of-a-kind organization. 🏳️‍⚧️💗https://www.parivarbayarea.net/

Parivar Bay Area
8 Years of Leading the Way
Being the only one across the nation, right here in San Francisco we built something unprecedented. 104,000+ lives supported. 600+ community events. 212 immigrant leaders graduated. 20+ California counties served. 43 awards and commendations. America's first Kinnar-Hijra-led organization protecting Global South Immigrants.

Help us continue, not be remembered. If Parivar Bay Area cannot continue, we won't just lose a nonprofit, we will lose eight years of community, culture, leadership, and belonging: a home where more than 104,000 people found support, healing, opportunity, and hope. If ParivarBayArea ever welcome you, stood beside you, celebrated you, connected you to resources, or touched your life in any way, we need you now. Share your story. Write a testimonial. Introduce us to a partner or funder. Volunteer. Donate if you are able. We are not asking to be remembered after we're gone. We're asking for the opportunity to continue serving while we're still here. Partnerships. Introductions.Testimonials. Shared resources. Donations. Every act of solidarity helps keep our doors open.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· 29d

Palo Alto has long had the worst jobs-housing balance in the entire Bay Area, exporting their housing shortage and driving up housing costs in the rest of the Bay. With SB 79, that's finally changing. 200 homes is a good start, they need at least 60,000 more. planbayarea.org/sites/defaul...

Map 3-1 Jobs to Housing Balance 2017. Silicon Valley has the highest jobs per household balance, with Palo Alto the worst at somewhere between 4-9.1 jobs per household

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 13

Fashion of the Day - Summertime in South Alameda County, catching up with friends old and new at Fremont/Tri-Cities PFLAG's Tea Time! 🍵🧋This chapter has a large Asian American membership and works to reach out to our many communities. pflag.org/chapter/frem...

Alfred at a bus stop, wearing a long white dress and a purple robe

Alfred on BART platform, wearing a straw hat and white dress, along wth a pink and blue necklace.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 12

Construction is moving quickly on the new @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social dorm. Scheduled to finish in a couple years, it will house over 1,600 students and will be Berkeley's first 20+ story building. This will free up a lot of housing for the rest of the city. 🏘️

Huge construction crane above concrete trucks and pumps

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 11

It's lovely! Shark approves!

a blahaj in front of a trans flag that has a Chinese new year calendar with 福 in shiny gold letters in front of it.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 9

Currently in California, many types of major construction projects need to go through an environmental review process, which can lead to a project being approved or denied. Prop 45 would speed up that decision by setting deadlines. It's broad - it would apply to clean energy, but also to highways.

a construction worker with shovel in front of a sign with a bridge, wind turbine, house, and train

Prop 45

Faster review of construction projects
Projects would still need to meet zoning, etc, however, Prop 45 would set deadlines for the decision to approve or deny.

Applies to:
Renewable energy
Utilities such as water & electricity transmission
Housing
Transportation
Education, health, and public safety facilities
Broadband internet

Does not apply to:
Fossil fuel projects
Jails and other detention facilities

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 9

Prop 44 would regulate how nonprofit clinics spend money, requiring 90% of spending to be on services, and no more than 10% on administration (such as executive pay).

pie chart behind a patient and doctor
Prop 44

Requires clinics to spend more on patient services instead of administration
At least 90% of funds would need to be spent on patient care and other mission-related services.

Applies to Federally Qualified Health Centers, a type of nonprofit clinic.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 9

Prop 43 is another anti-tax measure that would make it harder to pass future special taxes, such as transit funding. Currently a special tax placed on the ballot by signature gathering only needs a simple majority to win. If Prop 43 passes, all future special taxes would need a 2/3 supermajority.

a person sitting on cash pile behind a roadblock, two people blocked hold a house and a bus. Prop 43

Makes it harder for voters to fund local services
Raises the number of votes a special tax created by voter petition needs to pass.

Instead of a simple majority, a 2/3 supermajority would be needed.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 9

Another billionaire-backed California ballot measure is Prop 42, which would ban wealth taxes such as the Prop 40 billionaire tax.

a person sitting on a huge bag of cash holding a weird looking puppet
Prop 42

Bans wealth taxes (such as Prop 40)
Bans taxes on financial assets and other personal property, including the Prop 40 billionaire tax.

California does not have any other wealth taxes nor does it plan to.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 9

The billionaires really hate the idea of a billionaire tax and have not one, but two propositions countering it. The first pro-billionaire prop is Prop 41, which would create lots of rules around new taxes, one of which would cancel out the Prop 40 billionaire tax were it to pass.

drawing: a guy carrying a huge bag of cash and holding up a red paper Prop 41

Blocks billionaire tax
Creates new rules and paperwork applying to new special taxes.

One of these rules would cancel out the Prop 40 billionaire tax.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 9

Prop 40 is the Billionaire Tax, a one-time 5% wealth tax on billionaires. Goal is to backfill funding for healthcare and other essential services that was cut by the federal government. A side benefit: reducing the power of billionaires. Every dollar they pay is a dollar they can't use on bribes.

person standing behind school and hospital, holding hand out to a guy sitting on a bag labeled $1 Billion

Prop 40

Billionaire Tax
One-time 5% wealth tax on billionaires.

Money from the tax would replace healthcare funding cut by the federal government, as well as education, EBT and other food assistance.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 9

Prop 39 is a Republican-backed voter suppression law. Similar to ones they've been pushing in other states, it would require voters to provide personal information when voting - even if voting by mail.

elephant with red hat stomping on ballots and intimidating a voter
Prop 39

Makes it harder to vote
Similar to Republican voter suppression laws in other states.

Would require voters to provide personal information when voting - even if voting by mail.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 9

Prop 38 would fund research into cures for cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, and other diseases. The federal government has cut back funding, threatening progress unless California steps in. We've done similar in the past with stem cell research when Republicans refused to federally fund that.

drawing of scientist with beaker, person holding heart and person holding a pill
Prop 38

Funds medical research
Funds research into curing cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and other diseases.

Funding would go to public universities and nonprofits.

$8.4 billion bond measure. Revenue from new medicines would repay the state.

Californians would get discount on these new medicines.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 9

Prop 37 is designed to help more Californians become homeowners. It would fund low cost mortgages for condos, townhouses, and houses. Importantly, these mortgages would only be usable for new housing. That way, instead of bidding up prices of existing homes, it encourages building new ones.

construction worker in front of a house holding a hammer.
Prop 37

Funds to help people build and buy new homes
Encourages homebuilding:
Funds low cost mortgages on new construction or nonresidential buildings converted to housing.

For middle and working class homebuyers who make less than 200% of the area median income and are planning to live in the home.

Funded by a $25 billion bond.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 9

Tired of recall elections? Prop 5 would reform the recall process for state officials such as Governor. Currently in a governor recall, the same ballot also asks voters who they want as the replacement in case the recall passes. If Prop 5 passes, a recalled governor is replaced by the Lt. Gov

Drawing of someone voting, and a 2nd person walking to an empty chair.

Prop 5

Reforms the recall process
Changes process for filling a vacant seat when a state official is recalled.

If a governor is recalled, Lieutenant Governor would move up to be Governor until the next election.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 9

A few California cities have public financing for elections. For example, in Berkeley, candidates can't take corporate money, & if using public financing, can't take over $60 from anyone. However, funds are matched, turning $1 into $7. Prop 4 would allow more cities & the state to do this also. 1/

Drawing of people next to a ballot box refusing a big bag of cash

Prop 4

Allows public financing of election campaigns
Public Financing allows candidates to run campaigns that appeal to ordinary people, rather than relying on big donors.

Currently, only charter cities (typically larger & older cities) can do this, Prop 4 would allow all other local governments and the state government to set up Public Financing programs, such as matching funds or democracy vouchers.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 9

Prop 3 maintains existing funding for childcare, K-12 schools, and community colleges. It renews and makes permanent a income tax on very high income Californians that was created by a previous Proposition that would otherwise expire in a few years.

Drawing of chalkboard, teacher, apple, and book

Prop 3
Maintains school funding

Renews existing income tax on the top 2% highest income Californians. (currently singles earning over $360k, joint filers over $721k).

Funds early childcare education, K-12 schools, and community colleges.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 9

Since California's state budget is heavily dependent on income taxes, the amount of tax money coming in varies dramatically from year to year, even though needs are fairly constant. Prop 2 would expand the Rainy Day Fund, which allows the state to save money during good years for use later.

bear with umbrella over state capitol and piggy bank. Prop 2

Expands Rainy Day Fund

Allows state government to save more money during good years into the Rainy Day Fund.

This money is used to cover budget deficits in other years.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 9

Prop 1 is a housing bond. If it sounds similar to 2018's Prop 1, it's because it is! Since 2018, state bonds have helped lots of affordable homes get built, however, that funding is running out, and in order for California to keep building new affordable housing, we need to issue more bonds.

Drawing of a person with a few residential buildings

Prop 1

Funds Housing
$11.25 billion bond for housing

Includes:
Affordable housing
Homeownership for veterans
Other homeownership assistance
Reducing homelessness
Student housing
Farmworker housing
And more!

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 9

Illustrated summary of the fourteen California Propositions on this year's ballot, which cover topics such as housing, elections, taxes, education, and healthcare! Individual slides at tinyurl.com/2026caprops and in the thread! 1/ 🧵✅

2026 California Propositions, Personified. Art & Summary by Alfred Twu. Election Day: November 3, 2026. Share this at tinyurl.com/2026caprops

Cartoons numbered 1-5 and 37-45.

1 is person with a few residential buildings
2 has bear with umbrella over state capitol and piggy bank
3 has chalkboard, teacher, apple, and book
4 has people next to a ballot box refusing a big bag of cash
5 has someone voting, and a 2nd person walking to an empty chair
37 has a construction worker in front of a house
38 is scientist with beaker, person holding heart and person holding a pill
39 is elephant with red hat stomping on ballots and intimidating a voter
40 is person standing behind school and hospital, holding hand out to a guy sitting on a bag labeled $1 Billion
41 is a guy carrying a huge bag of cash and holding up a red paper
42 is a person sitting on a huge bag of cash holding a weird looking puppet
43 is a person sitting on cash pile behind a roadblock, two people blocked hold a house and a bus
44 is a pie chart behind a patient and doctor
45 is a construction worker with shovel in front of a sign with a bridge, wind turbine, house, and train

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 9

The latest issue of @transplantszine.bsky.social, while nominally a parody of a teen magazine, has remarkably deep commentary on transit, property taxes, and the Washington state legislature. The rest is also great, I haven't laughed this hard in a while. 🚎🏳️‍⚧️ www.transplantszine.org/product/cosm...

magazine article titled "So You Just Moved to Seattle and Gotta Get Around - Cosmo t-girl's transportation journalist on the best wheels for dolls. Article starts with "Congrats on getting out of that red state and moving to a real city! unfortunately, it's now time you learn that even though not every person in our government is a seething fascist who wants to personally strangle the poor in their sleep, enough of them are that our buses still don't work great. Don't get me wrong, King County Metro and Sound Transit do their best with shoestring budgets and asinine car-centric laws."

Article text "A hostile takeover of not just the city of Seattle, but the entire state government of Washington. Okay so hear me out: we wouldn't need to own cars at all if the bus system worked better and the light rail didn't take lifetimes to build. the bus system could work better if it were funded like a public good, instead of run as a business. But King County Metro (KCM) is expected to somehow recoup 25% of its operating costs via bus fares, an ambitious target for any American bus operator, and an utterly unrealistic one for Seattle (current farebox recovery rates are just under 9%). Meanwhile, KCM is legally prevented by the state of Washington from raising its property tax levy to keep pace with inflation. State law forbids increases to property tax levies of more than 1% per year, thanks to 200a's Initiative 747. This means that since 2001, when the cap was passed, KCM has lost out on hundreds of millions of dollars per year as the rate of inflation has greatly outstripped the cap. So we have to rescind I-747 to get better buses.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jul 4

California doesn't fully ban multistory elementary schools, but does require that grades 2 & under are on the ground floor, with some exceptions. The reason I've heard is that stairs are sized for adults, and small kids are more likely to fall, not just during evacuations, but all the time.

452.1.4 Special Provisions
Rooms used by kindergarten, first- or second-grade pupils, and Group E child care, shall not be located above or below the first story.
Exceptions:

Kindergarten, first- or second-grade pupils, or Group E child care may be located in basements or stories having floor levels located within 4 feet (1219 mm), measured vertically, from the adjacent ground level at the level of exit discharge, provided the basement or story has exterior exit doors at that level.
In buildings equipped with an automatic sprinkler system throughout, rooms used for kindergarten, first- and second-grade children or for Group E child-care purposes may be located on the second story, provided there are at least two exterior exit doors, or other egress systems complying with Section 1020 with two exits, for the exclusive use of such occupants. Egress systems for the exclusive use of such occupants shall be maintained until exit discharge at grade is attained.

Group E day-care facilities may be located above the first story in buildings of Type I-A, I-B, II-A, III-A, IV-A, IV-B and IV-C construction, subject to the limitation of Section 503 when:

Facilities with children under the age of seven or containing more than 12 children per story shall not be located above the fourth floor; and
The entire story in which the day-care facility is located is equipped with an approved manual fire alarm and automatic smoke-detection system. Actuation of an initiating device shall sound an audible alarm throughout the entire story.
When a building fire alarm system is required by other provisions of this code, the alarm system shall be interconnected and sound the day-care fire alarm system; and
The day-care facility, if more than 1,000 square feet (92.9 m2) in area, is divided into at least two compartments of approximately the same size by a smoke barrier in accordance with Section 709. In addition to the requirements of Section 508, occupancy separations between day-care and other occupancies shall be constructed as smoke barriers. Door openings in the smoke barrier shall be tight fitting, with gaskets installed as required by Section 716.5.3.1 and shall be automatic closing by actuation of the fire sprinklers, fire alarm or smoke detection system; and
Each compartment formed by the smoke barrier has not less than two exits or exit-access doors, one of which is permitted to pass through the adjoining compartment, and
At least one exit or exit-access door from the day-care facility shall be into a separate means of egress with not less than two paths of exit travel, which are separated in such a manner to provide an atmospheric separation. The egress system shall comply with the requirements of Section 709 for smoke barriers.
The building is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system throughout.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jun 30

Fun fact about this outfit - to avoid having to carry a bag for water, lunch, and such during the parade, I borrowed an idea from fashion history - pockets used to be bags tied to the waist! This allowed truly massive pockets without affecting the shape of the outer layer.

Watercolor sketch showing a semi-translucent view of an outfit with a loose blouse and long skirt. Under it is a dress worn with a tote bag tied to the waist. To the side are smaller sketches showing the three steps of this outfit.

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jun 29

As always, bringing up the rear is Public Works with their street sweepers 😀

A pair of street sweeper trucks in the Pride Parade

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jun 29

I think the Public Health Department's unicorn was my favorite float! 🏳️‍🌈🦄

SF Public Health float with rainbow winged trans unicorn and rainbow sign Health Access for All

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jun 29

Muni's "We put the Trans in Transportation" banner 🏳️‍⚧️🚌

MUNI banner that says We Put the Trans in Transportation

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jun 29

SF Muni @sfmta.bsky.social rainbow bus!

Pride Parade with rainbow muni bus. In foreground people wave rainbow Mexican flags

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jun 29

San Francisco Public Library - can confirm, they have a great selection of trans books, especially on the 3rd floor of the main library sfpl.org 🏳️‍⚧️📚

SF Public Library with a rainbow banner and a sign "Trans Books Forever!"

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jun 29

Yes! Their name is Shark! I did meet someone else with a blahaj at trans march and our sharks said hi to each other - maybe it was them! 🦈

a small blahaj in a bag next to a trans pride flag

Alfred Twu@alfredtwu· Jun 29

UC Merced also marched in the Pride Parade, a couple spots behind UC Berkeley 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍🌈