[dangus]

One major example is how Chicago Public Schools has a non-cooperation policy and a policy to refuse warrantless access to school property for ICE agents.

The school district also refuses to consider immigration status as a prerequisite to enrollment in the school system.

This is a huge deal since any state or local school district could decide to do the exact opposite.

This makes nearly every minor inaccessible to immigration enforcement officers during business hours.

[throwaway5752]

Absolutely. Run for the HOA board, run for the school board, run for the town council. Write a letter. Show up to a town hall meeting. Everything makes a difference and people here are more than sufficiently qualified.

We have lots of software developers being laid off. An elected position serves as resume filler, too. You'd be shocked what a difference you can make when you try a little.

[rightbyte]

Ye I more or less got scared with how fast you gain real influence as a local politician by just showing up to some party meetings. I thought there would be a longer vetting period but it is like "oh you breath and don't cite opposing party lines too often we will nominate you for this and this and ...".

[dangus]

It’s also kind of a beautiful thing. Our government is actually run by those who care enough to sign up to do it. There are nonpartisa and partisan resources out there that encourage people to just run for something.

On the negative side, I think there’s a lot that is bad about participating in government often being thankless and financially impractical to anyone that isn’t already funded by donors and backers.

[rightbyte]

Ye it is kinda beautiful just not how I imagined. I thought there would be barriers for randoms like me. But that does not seem to be a problem where I live at all.

I was unwarrantedly cynical about the political system, locally. YMMV.