🌅 Good morning! As Thailand gets known for mass shootings, officials make fresh pledges to fix gun laws, the New York Times reports.

🔎 Dig deeper: A Pulitzer-finalist Bloomberg investigation traces how US-made guns are fueling violence worldwide, including in Thailand.

🎭 An empty sawmill in Bang Pho has found its second act: a new black box theater aimed at making art accessible to the neighborhood and giving independent artists an affordable stage. Check out our latest feature.

Bangkok aims to cut its daily landfill and incinerator trash by 1,380 tons under a 2027-30 waste management draft plan from the Thailand Circular Economy and PPP Plastics networks.

Why it matters: The push comes as advocates campaign for the national Circular Economy Bill and nearly a year after Bangkok rolled out its trash-sorting program.

By the numbers: The program — which more than 700,000 households have joined — already diverts 523.7 tons of food waste a day, according to the city’s 2027 action plan.

Zooming in: The draft plan adds nine initiatives, including 1,000 new community waste centers, 10,000 new water refilling stations, training for 2,000 saleng (sidecar-attached motorcycle) waste collectors and new maker and repair spaces.

Bangkok’s proposed 93-billion-baht budget for next year has less room for major new projects, but funding for road, sidewalk and drainage improvements across all 50 districts rises by about 30%.

Why it matters: Budget requests were cut from 144 billion baht before reaching the council. The trade-offs suggest Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt is still prioritizing “capillary” fixes, even after pledging to shift toward bigger capital projects in his second term.

Big picture: Two things are squeezing the budget: 6-billion-baht Green Line debt, now paid annually from the budget rather than city reserves, and an estimated 5 billion baht in lost revenue after the national government cut property transfer fee rates.

State of play: With less to go around, councilors questioned whether the budget matches the city’s stated priorities, among them:

What’s next: The proposed budget is now with a council committee for review and amendment until Sept. 18. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

The city is again asking the public to stop distributing food directly to homeless people along Ratchadamnoen Road.

Why it matters: Officials call Ratchadamnoen the country’s “reception room,” arguing the road needs to stay “orderly, clean and safe” for residents, tourists and students. Patrols will now run after 6 p.m.

The other side: The Isarachon Foundation, a nonprofit working with homeless communities, said banning isn’t the fix — the city should systemize coordination with donors instead.

Zooming in: The city asks donors to sign up for their turns, but the group said the city lacks a working scheduling system. Donors show up regardless — some days bringing more than 1,000 boxes, according to the foundation.

What’s next: One of Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt’s proposals for his second term is to push for a local ordinance to refer and incentivize homeless people into welfare care programs.

What to do: If you want to donate, the city asks you to go to Baan Im Jai, located at the former Maen Sri Waterworks site, or any of the city’s 50 district food banks instead. Call 02-221-3255 for more information.

🗺️ Where are the food banks?

Bangkok logged 657 fires in 2025 — roughly one to two a day — and a new Rocket Media Lab analysis of city data found electrical short circuits are the main driver.

Zooming in: The Fire and Rescue Department couldn’t pin down a cause for 143 of the 657 fires, but among the rest, everyday household items like electronic appliances, extension cords and wall outlets top the list.

By the numbers: Bang Kapi had the most fires overall, but Chatuchak logged the most short-circuit incidents, specifically at 61 of 1,407 citywide.

📊 Here’s how your district ranks.

Sixty-two street vendors occupying the sidewalk next to Wat Pathumwanaram School, between Siam Paragon and Central World, will be cleared for a new hawker center.

Why it matters: It’s part of a broader push to get vendors off sidewalks. The center — modeled after the Lumphini Park one — will feature zoned stalls for fresh versus ready-to-eat food. It borders Pathum Wananurak Park.

We had our human rights walk in Phra Nakhon yesterday, covering homelessness, freedom of assembly, gender issues, public bathrooms and community/heritage preservation!

👀 If you’re looking to meet your fellow readers and me for civic discussions, stay tuned for future events. I’m considering hosting this walk again late August or early September, given many wanted to come but weren’t available — please email me if you’re interested.

❤️ Want to support Soiciety? Become a Soi Resident today.

📧 Reach me at [email protected].