2015 - Page 12 of 13 - Fairness Radio

2 Fire Pit Incidents Highlight Importance of Outdoor Fire Safety

Mar 16, 2015 Staff 0 Comment


A 45-year-old male resident of Dix Hills, NY, was airlifted to a hospital late on March 12 after he was badly burned in a fire pit explosion, Newsday reported. A gas can was apparently placed next to the fire, exploding around 9:40 p.m. The man suffered first- and second-degree burns on his upper body, hands, and face. He was first treated by local EMTs and paramedics, then transported to Stony Brook University Hospital via helicopter. Police say that he is expected to survive, despite the serious nature of his injuries. This is the second incident involving a fire pit that has made headlines this month alone. On March 2, it was reported that a fire that spread from a pit outside a Lincoln, NE, home had displaced the resident and caused about $40,000 in damage. The home was most recently valued at $52,000, according to the Lincoln Journal-Star. In that case, the propane-fed fire spread to a home addition due to the wind. Once fire crews arrived on the scene, they were able to cut into the roof of the house and control the flames in about 12 minutes. Fire Safety Tips Especially as warmer weather prompts homeowners to spend more time outside, it’s important to remember some basic tips that can allow for safe enjoyment of outdoor fires. Outdoor fires should always be contained in a fire pit or similar fixture, and should be at least 10 feet away from vegetation or structures of any kind. Homeowners should have a garden hose and bucket of water standing ready beforestarting a fire. And, as HGTV recommends regarding fire safety in outdoor fixtures, one of the simplest safety measures to take is limiting the size of outdoor fires: “There’s no need for a blazing bonfire, and the bigger the fire, the greater the potential for disaster.” “Landscaping companies should be telling their customers about the safety hazards of wood burning fire pits,” Tom Rother, owner of Lawn & Leisure. “They need to be completely extinguished before leaving the site, or a screen needs to be put over it. Having pavers underneath the pit also prevents discoloring your deck. Gas fire pits are often much safer than wood because they can be completely and immediately extinguished after use.”

A 45-year-old male resident of Dix Hills, NY, was airlifted to a hospital late on March 12 after he was badly burned in a fire pit explosion, Newsday reported.

A gas can was apparently placed next to the fire, exploding around 9:40 p.m. The man suffered first- and second-degree burns on his upper body, hands, and face.

He was first treated by local EMTs and paramedics, then transported to Stony Brook University Hospital via helicopter. Police say that he is expected to survive, despite the serious nature of his injuries.

This is the second incident involving a fire pit that has made headlines this month alone.

On March 2, it was reported that a fire that spread from a pit outside a Lincoln, NE, home had displaced the resident and caused about $40,000 in damage. The home was most recently valued at $52,000, according to the Lincoln Journal-Star.

In that case, the propane-fed fire spread to a home addition due to the wind. Once fire crews arrived on the scene, they were able to cut into the roof of the house and control the flames in about 12 minutes.

Fire Safety Tips
Especially as warmer weather prompts homeowners to spend more time outside, it’s important to remember some basic tips that can allow for safe enjoyment of outdoor fires.

Outdoor fires should always be contained in a fire pit or similar fixture, and should be at least 10 feet away from vegetation or structures of any kind. Homeowners should have a garden hose and bucket of water standing ready beforestarting a fire.

And, as HGTV recommends regarding fire safety in outdoor fixtures, one of the simplest safety measures to take is limiting the size of outdoor fires: “There’s no need for a blazing bonfire, and the bigger the fire, the greater the potential for disaster.”

“Landscaping companies should be telling their customers about the safety hazards of wood burning fire pits,” Tom Rother, owner of Lawn & Leisure. “They need to be completely extinguished before leaving the site, or a screen needs to be put over it. Having pavers underneath the pit also prevents discoloring your deck. Gas fire pits are often much safer than wood because they can be completely and immediately extinguished after use.”

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To Tattoo or Not to Tattoo? That is the Question Many Employees Are Asking Themselves

Mar 16, 2015 Staff 0 Comment


Tattoos and body piercings are no longer relegated to the young and restless. They can now be found in the corporate boardroom and the doctor’s office. The Kansas City Star reports, however, that the issue of tattoos in the workplace is affecting the relationship between employers and employees. Particularly, it is putting a strain on hiring policies. The paper points out that although having a tattoo or body piercing is perfectly legal and protected under the First Amendment, employers have a right to deny employment to the visibly tatted. Several American courts have ruled that unless the tattoo or piercing is for a religious or class observance, employers have full power to discriminate against people of color…in their skin. Why do employers have this right? According to many court analysts, employers have an inherent right to regulate the appearance of their employees. Physical features that are “mutable” (i.e. capable of change) are not protected under the law in the workplace. Technically, tattoos are reversible, though tattoo removal is often an expensive and painful process. Inevitably, this has cause tension between the generally older managerial class and up-and-coming younger workers. According to the New York Times, 23% of Americans have at least one tattoo. Furthermore, 32% of Americans between the ages of 30 and 45 have a tattoo. However, the workplace dynamics across America are changing. Because tattoos are more common in younger generations, employers often struggle to fully enforce the ban of visible tattoos. A study recently conducted by business professors at Texas AandM University-Corpus Christi suggests that employers should be more lenient with tattoo and piercing bans, considering these bans can block otherwise capable and willing talent from the workforce. “Some of today’s best candidates may have modifications that you consider undesirable,” wrote Profs. Brian Elzweig and Donna Peeples in the study. “Who knows, as these people grow and mature in their careers, the modifications may suddenly disappear. After all, they have to be competitive in their market.” The professors point out the fact that tattoos and piercings are still relatively rare in the upper echelons of business, and that the higher-ups in general “subliminally” discriminate against potential employees with body art, due to the attitude that they are uncouth in the business world. The study recommends that if employers are adamant in banning tattooed employees, they should do so without regard to gender. For example, if a company bans women from having colored highlights in their hair, they should extend that ban to men. If men are required to remove facial piercings or cover tattoos, then their female counterparts should conform to the same standards. Regardless of what older or more conservative employers think about tattoos, the fact remains that the younger generation, whose acceptance of body art is well-known, will eventually come to replace them and will determine rules accordingly.

Tattoos and body piercings are no longer relegated to the young and restless. They can now be found in the corporate boardroom and the doctor’s office.

The Kansas City Star reports, however, that the issue of tattoos in the workplace is affecting the relationship between employers and employees. Particularly, it is putting a strain on hiring policies.

The paper points out that although having a tattoo or body piercing is perfectly legal and protected under the First Amendment, employers have a right to deny employment to the visibly tatted. Several American courts have ruled that unless the tattoo or piercing is for a religious or class observance, employers have full power to discriminate against people of color…in their skin.

Why do employers have this right? According to many court analysts, employers have an inherent right to regulate the appearance of their employees. Physical features that are “mutable” (i.e. capable of change) are not protected under the law in the workplace. Technically, tattoos are reversible, though tattoo removal is often an expensive and painful process.

Inevitably, this has cause tension between the generally older managerial class and up-and-coming younger workers. According to the New York Times, 23% of Americans have at least one tattoo. Furthermore, 32% of Americans between the ages of 30 and 45 have a tattoo.

However, the workplace dynamics across America are changing. Because tattoos are more common in younger generations, employers often struggle to fully enforce the ban of visible tattoos. A study recently conducted by business professors at Texas AandM University-Corpus Christi suggests that employers should be more lenient with tattoo and piercing bans, considering these bans can block otherwise capable and willing talent from the workforce.

“Some of today’s best candidates may have modifications that you consider undesirable,” wrote Profs. Brian Elzweig and Donna Peeples in the study. “Who knows, as these people grow and mature in their careers, the modifications may suddenly disappear. After all, they have to be competitive in their market.”

The professors point out the fact that tattoos and piercings are still relatively rare in the upper echelons of business, and that the higher-ups in general “subliminally” discriminate against potential employees with body art, due to the attitude that they are uncouth in the business world.

The study recommends that if employers are adamant in banning tattooed employees, they should do so without regard to gender. For example, if a company bans women from having colored highlights in their hair, they should extend that ban to men. If men are required to remove facial piercings or cover tattoos, then their female counterparts should conform to the same standards.

Regardless of what older or more conservative employers think about tattoos, the fact remains that the younger generation, whose acceptance of body art is well-known, will eventually come to replace them and will determine rules accordingly.

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Apple Raises the Bar for Service Worker Compensation in Silicon Valley With Sudden 25% Pay Raise for Its 150 Shuttle Bus Drivers

Mar 13, 2015 Staff 0 Comment

Apple is putting a new focus on the benefits of public transportation — specifically of buses — and is now giving a raise to the shuttle bus drivers in southern California who transport Apple employees to and from work. According to the San Jose Mercury News, this is just “the latest in a series of steps to improve conditions for the service workers who keep Silicon Valley humming.”

The drivers, who are employed by third-party contractors, including Compass Transportation and Royal Coach Tours, will begin to see a 25% raise on their hourly pay rates, thanks to Apple’s funding decision. The drivers who work “split shifts,” which include both morning and evening routes, will reportedly see an even bigger raise to compensate for their less-than-convenient work hours. Additionally, Apple plans to work on creating new regulations for the drivers that focus on longer breaks and convenient rest stops.

According to Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet, over 150 drivers will receive raises for running shuttle buses throughout the Bay Area, exclusively transporting about 5,000 Apple employees on a daily basis.

With all of these new changes already in place — and plenty of future improvements that will roll out in the near future — Apple’s drivers have quickly become the highest-paid bus drivers in the area and beginning to set a precedent for how companies in Silicon Valley treat their service employees; with any luck, Apple’s decision could even set a precedent for safety and monetary standards of the thousands of bus drivers that are employed at more than 3,400 individual motorcoach companies across the country.

“[Apple’s raise] is definitely going to help us attract the best drivers and retain the great drivers that we have,” said Greg Gallup, the chief operating officer for Royal Coach Tours.

As for the individual drivers, who work in one of country’s most vibrant tech communities while receiving “few of the industry’s lavish perks,” the raise is certainly appreciated.

“Anything that Apple is willing to do for us, that’s terrific,” said one current shuttle driver. “I can’t wait to see that in my check.”

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Houston Man Refused Service at Breastaurant Because of Facial Tattoos

Mar 11, 2015 Staff 0 Comment

Approximately 45 million Americans have at least one tattoo. In one Texas sports bar, however, some of those people may not be very welcomed.

The Houston Chronicle reports that 27 year-old Erik Leighton, a chemical plant worker and Houston resident, was escorted out of a bar last Saturday because of his facial tattoos. Leighton and a friend of his were kicked out of the bar by a police officer due to concerns that his tattoos indicated his membership in a violent gang.

“I have no criminal record,” Leighton told local TV station KHOU. “I work hard at a plant. I have two cats. I’m the furthest thing from a gang member.”

According to him, Leighton and his friend entered Bombshells, a bar and grill known for the revealing attire its waitresses wear and its campy, retro feel, around 9 P.M. Shortly thereafter, employees reportedly instructed a police officer at the bar to remove the two from the establishment.

Leighton claims that he had been to the bar a few times before and he had never encountered a problem. He also claims that the other Bombshells locations in the area never cited any issues, either.

Leighton has tattoos under his right eye, above his left eye, below his lips, and on top of his beard. He also has other tattoos on his neck, hands, fingers, arms, and head. His companion, 22 year-old Chad Moss, has no tattoos.

“I don’t think I should have been asked to leave, regardless, especially escorted out by a police officer,” Leighton said. “[The police officer] told us that the bar didn’t allow face tattoos.”

The bar’s management has been reluctant to speak to reporters. The Daily News reported that the managers directed questions to a representative, who did not immediately return a call for comment.

After the incident, Leighton took his grievances to social media, railing against Bombshells on Facebook and Yelp. As a result, the bar’s pages on those sites were inundated with complaints. The complaints became so furious and frequent that Bombshells removed its Facebook page for that particular location; its Yelp rating went from 4.5 to 3 stars in a matter of days.

“Well f— bombshells! They just kicked me out for having face tattoos,” Leighton wrote on a Facebook post. “If anyone has time, do me a favor and write a terrible review for bombshells. Let’s make them think twice before discriminating against tattoos.”

The bar’s staff eventually replied to Leighton’s post, offering an apology for any offense the staff may have caused. The staff was quick to point out, though, that “most” facial tattoos are gang-related and that the bar has had bad experiences with gang members frequenting the bar in the past. They also noted that the policy was exclusive to that location. As an olive branch of sorts, the staff offered to meet with Leighton and Moss at the bar, albeit in a different location.

Although there is no word yet on whether Leighton will accept their offer, he does express hope that his protests will lead Bombshells to change its policies.

“I understand I look different and that I took things to a whole level by getting these tattoos,” he said, adding, “if they’re discriminating against face tattoos, what else are they discriminating against?”

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Southern Tier’s Wild Turkey Conservation Efforts Threatened Despite Decrease in NY Hunting Licenses

Feb 25, 2015 Staff 0 Comment


New York State families who enjoy having wild turkey as their Thanksgiving Day bird may not be able to gobble one up if the population continues to decline. The Southern Tier’s wild turkey population is in decline despite continued conservation efforts. The drop has been linked to a gradual decrease in habitat, an increase in natural predators, severe winters, and wet springs and summers — all of which can impact breeding and the survival of young turkeys. In addition, a virus found nearly five years ago causing tumors in wild turkeys may also be contributing to the population loss. While the virus is less deadly than first thought, researchers have discovered that it is widespread. During the 1800s, New York State’s wild turkey population was completely eradicated due to over-hunting and forest clearing, however, wild turkeys were reintroduced in 1948 after a small, remnant population was discovered in Pennsylvania. As abandoned farmland land slowly reverted to forest, New York’s wild turkey population flourished, reaching a high of an estimated 300,000 birds in 2001. The wild turkey population also boomed at the same time rabies significantly reduced the number of raccoons and other nest predators. “There has been a gradual decline over the past decade, to about 180,000 statewide today,” said Mike Schiavone, a wildlife biologist who heads wild turkey research for the Department of Environmental Conservation. The wild turkey population is said to be at a 15-year low in New York. This comes at a time when the state is also experiencing a decrease in hunting licenses. According to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the number of hunting licenses has fallen 15% since 2002. The US Fish and Wildlife service reports a 19% decrease. “You have a much more urban population than say 50 years ago so people that grow up in the city tend to play video games and don’t come out to hunt and fish,” said David Simmons, President of the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. Simmons says continued urbanization and a decline in game such as wild turkey have also contributed to the drop in licenses. Despite a decrease in hunting licenses, statistics reveal hunting is safer than ever in New York state, reporting less injuries from bows and firearms. Statewide, the drop in hunting-related accidents was dramatic, falling from 137 per year during the 1960s to just 22 last year. This includes injuries caused by rifles, shotguns, pellet guns, and bows. In New York State as well as the rest of the U.S., hunters often wear camouflage clothing to disguise themselves from game while hunting. However, it’s common for hunters to also where reflective material, to alert other hunters of their presence.

New York State families who enjoy having wild turkey as their Thanksgiving Day bird may not be able to gobble one up if the population continues to decline.

The Southern Tier’s wild turkey population is in decline despite continued conservation efforts.

The drop has been linked to a gradual decrease in habitat, an increase in natural predators, severe winters, and wet springs and summers — all of which can impact breeding and the survival of young turkeys. In addition, a virus found nearly five years ago causing tumors in wild turkeys may also be contributing to the population loss. While the virus is less deadly than first thought, researchers have discovered that it is widespread.

During the 1800s, New York State’s wild turkey population was completely eradicated due to over-hunting and forest clearing, however, wild turkeys were reintroduced in 1948 after a small, remnant population was discovered in Pennsylvania.

As abandoned farmland land slowly reverted to forest, New York’s wild turkey population flourished, reaching a high of an estimated 300,000 birds in 2001. The wild turkey population also boomed at the same time rabies significantly reduced the number of raccoons and other nest predators.

“There has been a gradual decline over the past decade, to about 180,000 statewide today,” said Mike Schiavone, a wildlife biologist who heads wild turkey research for the Department of Environmental Conservation. The wild turkey population is said to be at a 15-year low in New York.

This comes at a time when the state is also experiencing a decrease in hunting licenses. According to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the number of hunting licenses has fallen 15% since 2002. The US Fish and Wildlife service reports a 19% decrease.

“You have a much more urban population than say 50 years ago so people that grow up in the city tend to play video games and don’t come out to hunt and fish,” said David Simmons, President of the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs.

Simmons says continued urbanization and a decline in game such as wild turkey have also contributed to the drop in licenses.

Despite a decrease in hunting licenses, statistics reveal hunting is safer than ever in New York state, reporting less injuries from bows and firearms. Statewide, the drop in hunting-related accidents was dramatic, falling from 137 per year during the 1960s to just 22 last year. This includes injuries caused by rifles, shotguns, pellet guns, and bows.

In New York State as well as the rest of the U.S., hunters often wear camouflage clothing to disguise themselves from game while hunting. However, it’s common for hunters to also where reflective material, to alert other hunters of their presence.

hompeage Uncategorized

Armstrong World Industries Splits in Two

Feb 23, 2015 Staff 0 Comment

Armstrong World Industries, Inc. announced today that they will be splitting the company into two separate businesses: one for flooring and one for ceilings. The separation will be completed early in 2016, and the new companies will be independent and publicly traded.

Armstrong Chief Executive Officer Matthew J. Espe told BusinessWire.com,“This separation is a continuation of the Company’s actions since emergence from bankruptcy to create long-term shareholder value … The time is right for this separation as these two businesses are well-positioned to deliver value as independent companies.”

Between 2009 and 2014, the flooring industry grew by 1.1% annually, and Armstrong Flooring generated $1.2 billion of revenue in 2014. Following the separation, they will continue to lead innovation in hardwood, vinyl, and laminate flooring. Armstrong flooring will continue to provide trusted brands in a variety of flooring types both in the United States and overseas. Armstrong Flooring will operate 17 manufacturing facilities with 3,600 employees worldwide.

The other company being formed from the separation will retain the title Armstrong World Industries, though it will be made up of the Armstrong Building Products unit. Generating $1.3 billion in revenue in 2014, Armstrong Building products is an industry leader in the production of suspended ceilings for residential and commercial use. It has 200 fewer employees than Armstrong Flooring, but will operate 22 manufacturing operations in eight countries.

With the announcement of the separation, Armstrong World Industries also announced their fourth quarter and full year financial results for 2014. Adjusted operating and net income both increased, by 7% and 8% respectively, and net sales of resilient flooring also increased.

“We anticipate improving market conditions in the U.S. will support modest sales growth despite some anticipated pressure from foreign exchange in our international operations,” Chief Financial Officer Dave Schulz explained to MarketWatch.com. “While earnings are expected to be lower than 2014, the investments we are making will position our businesses to succeed as two independent industry-leading public companies and benefit 2016 and beyond.”

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Ozarks Health Experts Take Medical and Therapeutic Approaches for Fighting the Flu

Feb 17, 2015 Staff 0 Comment


Although the majority of Americans have turned their attention to the ever-expanding measles outbreak, residents in and around the Lake of the Ozarks still have another medical concern on their minds: the 2014-2015 influenza. When U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy visited the Ozarks recently to discuss the region’s most important healthcare concerns, he discussed the importance of vaccinations for serious diseases, including the measles and the flu. While the annual flu vaccine isn’t 100% effective at preventing the flu each year, it can ameliorate the symptoms and shorten their duration. Of course, this year’s flu vaccine hasn’t been as effective as originally planned; it’s estimated that anywhere between 5% and 20% of Americans get the flu each year, but for the 2014-2015 season, that percentage will probably be closer to the 20% mark. In the Ozarks, although KSPR 33 notes that flu cases are abnormally low this year, OzarksFirst.com still states that an estimated 2,200 area residents have contracted the virus so far. One of the more frustrating aspects of viruses like the common flu is that there are neither preventative strategies that can be administered early to prevent contracting the virus (unlike the vaccines for the mumps and measles, which are incredibly effective as preventative strategies), nor are there ways to “treat” the flu after someone has contracted the virus. Instead, many people have begun turning to therapeutic preventative measures, like the Bodywork and Energywork massage therapies offered by the spa and massage therapy service Healing Hands Mobile Massage, located right here in the Lake of the Ozarks. Although these services are not easily measured or tested through scientific studies, countless patients argue that a more therapeutic approach to health — one that addresses both physical healing and mental strength — has very real physical effects on the body that bolster the immune system against viruses and infections. Until a vaccine is created that is 100% effective at preventing the flu, perhaps these therapeutic treatments are the Ozarks’ best shot at staying healthy.

Although the majority of Americans have turned their attention to the ever-expanding measles outbreak, residents in and around the Lake of the Ozarks still have another medical concern on their minds: the 2014-2015 influenza.

When U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy visited the Ozarks recently to discuss the region’s most important healthcare concerns, he discussed the importance of vaccinations for serious diseases, including the measles and the flu.

While the annual flu vaccine isn’t 100% effective at preventing the flu each year, it can ameliorate the symptoms and shorten their duration. Of course, this year’s flu vaccine hasn’t been as effective as originally planned; it’s estimated that anywhere between 5% and 20% of Americans get the flu each year, but for the 2014-2015 season, that percentage will probably be closer to the 20% mark.

In the Ozarks, although KSPR 33 notes that flu cases are abnormally low this year, OzarksFirst.com still states that an estimated 2,200 area residents have contracted the virus so far.

One of the more frustrating aspects of viruses like the common flu is that there are neither preventative strategies that can be administered early to prevent contracting the virus (unlike the vaccines for the mumps and measles, which are incredibly effective as preventative strategies), nor are there ways to “treat” the flu after someone has contracted the virus.

Instead, many people have begun turning to therapeutic preventative measures, like the Bodywork and Energywork massage therapies offered by the spa and massage therapy service Healing Hands Mobile Massage, located right here in the Lake of the Ozarks.

Although these services are not easily measured or tested through scientific studies, countless patients argue that a more therapeutic approach to health — one that addresses both physical healing and mental strength — has very real physical effects on the body that bolster the immune system against viruses and infections.

Until a vaccine is created that is 100% effective at preventing the flu, perhaps these therapeutic treatments are the Ozarks’ best shot at staying healthy.

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Department of Environmental Protection Schedules Meeting to Debate Use of Drilling Byproduct in Tioga County

Feb 13, 2015 Staff 0 Comment

Despite controversy regarding oil and gas drilling, especially near populated areas, some companies are making an effort to recycle byproducts of the drilling process.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a public meeting to discuss one such proposal, which would allow Clean Earth Inc. to use treated natural gas drill cuttings (broken rock material removed from boreholes) to expand Johnson Airport in Tioga County.

The meeting, which will be held at 6 p.m. on Feb. 25 at the Wellsboro Fire Department, will give members of the public the opportunity to give oral testimony of up to five minutes. Alternatively, residents may submit written testimony of any length. The permit application is available for public review at the Tioga County Conservation District office and the DEP’s North-Central Regional office.

Equivocal Evidence

A lull in drilling for oil and natural gas, largely driven by low fuel demand, is giving officials and conservationists in Tioga County time to assess the pros and cons of drilling methods, and to make plans for the future.

Critics of drilling, and in particular the controversial method known as fracking, say that methods disrupt both the environment and area inhabitants. On an immediate level, the drills, pumps and trucks associated with drilling operations can cause noise disturbances for residents (simple methods such as planting trees can mask unwelcome sounds by about 50%, but residents often feel this is inadequate with the decibel levels in question).

Other activists worry about longer-lasting impacts such as contamination of groundwater, methane emissions and radiation exposure. Evidence is still coming in on both sides; a study released Jan. 15 by the Pennsylvania DEP, for example, states that there is “little potential for harm to workers or the public” from radiation exposure associated with drilling for oil and natural gas (including exposure to drill cuttings such as those Clean Earth Inc. proposes to use). However, numerous citations have been issued to drilling sites. The 640 active wells in Tioga County alone have accumulated 497 environmental violations since 2009.

Planning for the Future

Conflicting evidence is prompting a question environmentalists are struggling to answer: Is there such a thing as safe, environmentally responsible drilling?

Jim Weaver, Tioga County’s environmental planner and a biologist, told the Washington Post Jan. 16 that plans to protect groundwater have, to date, been effective, and that negative repercussions of drilling in the area have been minimal.

However, he points out, there’s a difference between ameliorating effects as they come and truly being proactive as to the local area’s energy future.

“As a culture, we’re not going to rest until we burn every drop of oil we can get our hands on,” Weaver told the Post. “And when we’re done with that, we’ll burn all the natural gas. And when the gas is gone, we’ll start on the trees. And the trees are starting to go already. And when the trees are gone, we’ll start burning the furniture. So if we don’t start a furniture preservation program right now, we’re not going to have a place to sit.”

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Debate Continues Over Recreational Marijuana Legalization in Vermont

Jan 30, 2015 Staff 0 Comment

Currently, Vermont is one of 23 U.S. states that has made marijuana legal — but only for medical purposes.

But with California and Washington state going an extra step by legalizing marijuana for recreational use as well, the debate over whether or not Vermont’s marijuana laws should have provisions for legal recreational use has gained momentum.

According to a January 7 Rutland Herald article, an organization has even emerged — Vermont Coalition to Regulate Marijuana — which hopes to push legislation that will regulate and tax recreational marijuana through the state’s government. The coalition held a news conference on January 6, the day before the state’s legislative session.

The movement’s supporters say that efforts to stamp out illegal recreational use have largely been unsuccessful, and that taxing and regulating marijuana would give much-needed revenue to the state in addition to creating jobs and making the state safer.

“Regulating marijuana will take sales out of the underground market and allow for it to be controlled like other products that are legal for adults,” said Matt Simon of the Marijuana Policy Project, a member of the Vermont Coalition to Regulate Marijuana. “Along with improving public safety, it will generate significant new tax revenue and create good jobs for our communities.”

Meanwhile, opposition to the idea of recreational pot has also raised its voice. A group of lobbyists that calls itself Sensible Approaches to Marijuana, or SAM-Vermont, has begun to actively advocate against legalizing it.

SAM-Vermont argues that legalizing recreational marijuana carries too high a risk, especially for teens. Deborah Haskins, a member of the group, said teenage marijuana use can cause one’s IQ to drop by several points, in addition to adversely impacting attention span and memory.

On the governmental end of the debate, Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has said he’s not opposed to the idea of legalizing recreational marijuana, but would like to wait and see how California and Washington state’s laws play out before Vermont follows suit.

Ultimately, it’s unclear if and when Vermont’s legislators will draw up a bill that allows for legal recreational use — and even more unclear if they will vote it into law.

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Queens Apartment Builds Fence to Keep Lower-Income Residents Off Parts of Property

Jan 28, 2015 Staff 0 Comment

Wooden fence in the coutryside

Many property owners like to get privacy fences, which can act as a barrier guarding against unwanted noise and unwanted visitors like animals. One Queens couple claims that this is why their apartment recently built a new fence. Except, it’s not raccoons and other pesky critters that are being kept out, it’s lower-income tenants.

“We’re caged in,” said Q41 building resident Erin McFadzen to the New York Post. “Every time someone comes over, I have to explain why the fence is there… and tell them we’re rent stabilized, like it’s a badge I have to wear.”

McFadzen and her boyfriend, Erik Clancy, live in one of the “affordable” middle-income, rent stabilized units of the Long Island City’s 17-story condo, located at 23-10 41st Avenue. The reason they were willing to pay $2,186 per month for that specific apartment was because of the lovely wrap-around terrace it had.

When they moved in however, they found a “Jurassic Park”-style barricade restricting their access to it.

“I can’t imagine them saying [to market-rate, upper-income tenants], ‘You get this beautiful view of Manhattan behind a giant metal fence,'” said Clancy.

At least eight other units on their sixth-floor have also found that their terraces are now nearly unusable.

Though the building had assured them multiple times that they’d be able to use the balcony, developer Queensboro Development claimed that the fence was a necessary staging area for window washers, who aren’t working or even there at the building at all times, like the couple who lives there.

The building’s former super Gjon Chota allegedly told McFadzen and Clancy that “the fence is there to stay” because of other residents with smaller balconies. It’s only fair to the others that they not get to use all of their terrace.

“If you feel that somehow you have a special privilege from the rest of tenants to use all of the terrace, please provide me with the copy of your lease or lease rider that states that,” wrote Chota in an email.

At the same time, a market-rate apartment in the same building, which goes for $3,692 a month, also has a large terrace, but doesn’t have the wire fence.

The attorney of the couple’s landlord sent them a letter forbidding them from crossing the fence. So it looks like the couple is going to have to either put up with the economic segregation, or move if they want to be treated fairly.

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