I woke up this New Year's morning and the Davis Vanguard wouldn't load. I thought God had smiled down upon me and Davis and our civic nightmare was over — The Davis Vanguard was GONE!!!
But a couple of hours later it loaded again. Shit.
God fails again.
So I would wish you all a Happy New Year, but why?
But is there hope? I dunno, I got some letter from an anonymous sender referencing articles in the "California Globe" from October 2021 and April 2022. Seriously, I don't know who sent it to me, but they knew my mailing address. The article they referenced seems to refer to:
New IRS Complaint Against Non-Profit Davis Vanguard News Service
By Katy Grimes, October 22, 2021 3:35 pm
New IRS Complaint Against Non-Profit Davis Vanguard News Service
AND . . .
Attorney Says Non-Profit Davis Vanguard News Service ‘Continues to Violate’ Despite IRS Complaint
By Katy Grimes, April 22, 2022 10:33 am
Attorney Says Non-Profit Davis Vanguard News Service ‘Continues to Violate’ Despite IRS Complaint
Each is subtitled: "It is unfair and illegal for the Vanguard to receive tax-free status and revenue to develop a website and then use that website to campaign for/against certain candidate". The cover letter for the anonymous letter has just one sentence in a sea of white: "Why Isn't Anyone Reporting on This?"
So what the hell is this? Doesn't the attorney so-named know that unless someone actually sues and wins, or the IRS takes action, there is no determination of legality? And doesn't the sender realize that someone named Katy Grimes is, indeed, reporting on this — so the assertion that no one is reporting on this is refuted on the next page. But maybe they mean — in Davis?
And then it occurred to me, the letter wasn't anonymously sent: maybe there was no sender. No human sender. The letter may have been 'immaculately sent', if you will. Yes, God Almighty Its-Self has chosen me to post this information on Al's Corner!!! God has chosen ME to Save Davis!!!
God, I'm honored. I will obey.
Maybe it will be a half-decent 2023 after all 😐
Davisite 
Comments
95 responses to “Welcome to Al’s Corner – “Pouring Gasoline on the Dumpster Fire of Davis Politics” – January 2023”
SUBJECT: “Council Commits To Car-Free G St; Permanent Features” [Today’s Blog de la Vanguard de la Davis]
David Greenwald January 18, 2023 at 11:19 am
I can tell you, there used to be a lot more vomit on the street, pre-2020. I can tell you that such problems are endemic in California now – not just vomit, but feces and urine smell. I don’t go to Winters very often, but I know that Sacramento and San Francisco, it’s a persistent problem.
No vomit, feces nor urine smell in Winters, nor visible so-called homeless [there are some there in the creek and elsewhere]. Somehow under the same conditions Winters achieved with their pedestrian block what Davis could not.
There used to be WAY more ‘vomit on the street’ Fri-Sun mornings pre-Ket-Mo-Ree murder. Was much more chill after the fallout from that.
Winters is not Davis. They have historic buildings, a setting against the mountains, and are a convenient/pleasant “destination” – primarily from folks from Davis who feel like going on a short trip (via bicycle or car).
Winters also isn’t a college town, overwhelmed with students (and resulting pizza establishments).
And yet, those businesses (in Winters) still interfere with sidewalk traffic. (Which isn’t that big of a problem there, since no one is “walking” anywhere else – other than to those businesses).
And the primary “highway” going through town isn’t blocked off (yet, at least).
Note: I’d have dialog on the Davis Vanguard, WS, but when they enacted their new quash policies unanimously approved by their board, their moderdicktrator wouldn’t publish most of what I sent in. lt is SO nice to take the time to write something and be JUDGED by ONE. One guy with a plant store. So I committed commenticide and started Al’s Corner, so I could comment with an audience of whomever may wander this way. And no Censhors !!!
So feel free,
Walter Schwe,
to dialog on here with me,
Or remain forever bound in Vanguard Glor-“e”
SUBJECT: “Charges Filed against SF Business Owner Who Sprayed Homeless Woman with Hose”
According to a demographic survey that was done as part of the UCI Cost Study, there were three top reasons why people became homeless. The top two causes were finding a job that paid a sustainable wage, and finding housing that’s affordable. Over 75 percent cited these issues as what caused them to fall into homelessness. The third reported cause of people’s homelessness was family issues, which encompassed events like death of a family member, divorce, or abuse. The findings from this study correlate with similar studies across the nation in finding that these are the top causes of people’s homelessness.
I don’t disagree overall, but what we are talking about is not the overall homeless and those who need a helping hand and are capable of taking it. What this article is about is the DALOs and MILOs, the visible so-called homeless that are literally trashing our cities. I’m not calling them trash, I’m calling them out for leaving trash piles everywhere for rest of society to clean up. People are getting sick of it. This story is a linchpin, or more like a grenade pin, on society’s divide on this issue.
For the clear minority that do suffer from mental illness, reopening the state hospitals would cost hundreds of millions of dollars per year.
So leave them on the street? What is that costing us, and them? I really don’t understand your point — do you want them left on the street because it is too expensive to take the MILOs off the street?
“The top two causes were finding a job that paid a sustainable wage, and finding housing that’s affordable. Over 75 percent cited these issues as what caused them to fall into homelessness. The third reported cause of people’s homelessness was family issues”
Ummm, how come drug usage wasn’t mentioned? I have to believe that’s the number one issue when it comes to homelessness.
KO, I don’t know that drug use is, as homelessness is defined here for this study. Many defined as homeless actually do have a roof over their head, though it may be a shelter or temporary. What you are talking about, I believe, and what is the problem most sane people in society want ‘cleaned up’, if you will (and I realize many of you won’t) is the DALOs and MILOs that are visible and trashing our outdoor spaces, literally with trash. Honestly if these people would simply clean up after themselves instead of mercilessly contributing massive litter to our cities and towns, I wouldn’t mind so much if they stayed around as neighbors.
But yeah, I too LOL’d when Mr. S didn’t even mention drug use as a contributing factor. I was rolling, I was on the floor, and I was laughing. All three.
SUBJECT: “Guest Commentary: Harsher Penalties for Fentanyl Will Not Save Lives” [Today, Bloggy Bloggy Poo]
David Greenwald January 20, 2023 at 8:49 am
Research from Drug Policy Alliance: “Prosecutors and legislators claim harsh penalties for drug-induced homicide will deter drug selling, and thus reduce drug use.
I don’t care if it does or not.
Yet research consistently shows that neither increased arrests nor increased severity of criminal punishment for drug law violations results in less use (demand) or sales (supply). In other words, punitive sentences for drug offenses have no deterrent effect.”
For ‘drug offenses’. That’s a broad term. Somewhere between smoking a joint and killing children via sales. That’s almost as wide a range as the difference between a Woodstock’s Pizza and a Symposium Pizza.
Plus studies have found that people are less likely to call 911 in case of an overdose if they fear being charged with murder.
Sounds like a rational fear.
Thus research finds: ‘ Elevating punishments for drug-induced homicide charges has a chilling effect on people seeking medical assistance and, as a result, leads to more, not fewer, avoidable overdose fatalities.”
Research finds. Robot Voice: “I am evidence based. Research says it is so. Thus it is so. Everyone else is wrong. Because science says so. I am evidence based. Research says it is so. Thus it is so. Everyone else is wrong. Because science says so. I am evidence based. Research says it is so. Thus it is so. Everyone else is wrong. Because science says so.”
Howzabout, yeah, when you get involved selling drugs, bad shit can happen.
But truly, people with beliefs such as Greenwald’s are polluting the minds of others into believing this shit, and I have no desire for Davis to become “Little Seattle (is dying)”. We all know it’s crap, so let’s call it out as crap. I don’t need research. I have God. God trumps research. God trumps Trump, too.
SUBJECT: “Opportunity Not Fear with G St” [That Blog — what’s it called?, Today]
What a condescending load of crap from David Greenwald. Ever notice whenever Greenwald wants to put down a point of view or a side or a group or a person, he pulls out the word “FEAR”, as if their viewpoint is based on fear, while his of course is ‘evidence-based’. DG’s personal view of G Street is not evidence based, it’s anecdotal, at best.
No one wants G Street to be what it was, but choosing G Street because it comes from an emergency, so let’s just keep it that way, is a terrible path to make a decision.
This article spends much of it’s time telling another business what it “should do”. I’m sure they appreciate the patronization. I am not the owner of said business, but if I were, I would walk down the street, poke my head in the door of the Davis Vanguard and yell, “F*ck you, Greenwald!”.
Nonviolently, of course.
“I am not the owner of said business, but if I were, I would walk down the street, poke my head in the door of the Davis Vanguard and yell, “F*ck you, Greenwald!”.
Thereby leading to another “foot-in-the-door” incident.
I’m tellin’ ya, you’ve got to get one of those fake feet if you’re going to do this.
Do you suppose that Daffy got this from ACME Corporation?
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/363454632428842302/
In other Davis Vanguard-related news, rogue nonprofit orgs blatantly violating rules against electioneering don’t get punished:
“Robert Maguire of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said Judicial Watch’s coziness with Trump is proof that the IRS is incapable of enforcing regulations on tax-exempt groups. “This is further evidence of the absolute inability of the IRS to take action against these groups that are clearly political outfits that are using their tax-exempt status as a shield,” he said.”
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-judicial-watch_n_63c98db4e4b07c0c7dfadbff
RO: “Thereby leading to another “foot-in-the-door” incident.”
More like a “finger-in-the-door” incident. The one in the middle 😐
“This article spends much of it’s time telling another business what it “should do”. I’m sure they appreciate the patronization. I am not the owner of said business, but if I were, I would walk down the street, poke my head in the door of the Davis Vanguard and yell, “F*ck you, Greenwald!”.
Come on now, DG knows what’s best for Davis, just ask him so, he’ll tell you. (rolling my eyes)
“Robert Maguire of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said Judicial Watch’s coziness with Trump is proof that the IRS is incapable of enforcing regulations on tax-exempt groups. “This is further evidence of the absolute inability of the IRS to take action against these groups that are clearly political outfits that are using their tax-exempt status as a shield,”
LOL, I guess you’ve never heard of Lois Lerner. She purposely went after political tax exempt groups as long as they were conservative.
KO: “DG knows what’s best for Davis, just ask him so, he’ll tell you.”
To be fair, so will I.
SUBJECT: “Opportunity Not Fear with G St”
Don Shor January 20, 2023 at 10:14 am
One of the points several restaurants I talked to on Tuesday made
Did you talk to any of the other businesses?
David Greenwald PJanuary 20, 2023 at 10:58 am
A number of times
AAAAAAND ????????????
SUBJECT: 2nd verse same as the first
Walter Shwe January 20, 2023 at 12:22 pm
I have resided in Davis since 1994. In my observations, few people access Downtown on bike or through public transportation. The overwhelming number of people use personal vehicles to go to Downtown.
That’s true like in 99.5% of the United States.
So your point is that we need more bike access? More public transportation? That G Street will attract people to use bikes? That because cars are dominant we should cater to them? I honestly don’t know your point, WS
“as wide a range as the difference between a Woodstock’s Pizza and a Symposium Pizza.”
I just want to make sure that this excellent comment isn’t overlooked.
Today’s lead Vanguard article:
“My View: Davis Faces an Affordable Housing Challenge – Is Not Alone by Any Means”
What, no crisis, now it’s a “challenge”?
OMG, just beat me over the head with a hammer…
SUBJECT: “My View: Davis Faces an Affordable Housing Challenge – Is Not Alone by Any Means”
KO: What, no crisis, now it’s a “challenge”?
It’s been downgraded from a Crisis to a Challenge, like when a Hurricane gets downgraded to a Tropical Storm. It’s a challenge like the Ice Bucket Challenge now. And to solve the Davis housing crisis, I mean challenge, newly formed subcommittee members Gloria Partida and Bapu Vaitla will stand on the dais (that’s Davis without the “V”!) and pour buckets of ice over themselves.
Which will solve the housing crisis about as well as what the City has done in the past, and will do in the future.
KO: OMG, just beat me over the head with a hammer…
The Davis Vanguard has been beating us all over the head with a hammer, re: housing, for the last several years. But at least today we “learn” that Davis is not alone, by any means! No means, no!
DG: “Moreover, with interest rates now surpassing seven percent on a 30-year mortgage, it’s actually worse than you think.”
How do you know what I think?
I actually already was thinking that 😐
And for more of what I think: As long as we manipulate the currency by flooding the country with cash, by flooding the City with Recovery Act money, and trying to solve the housing challenge with government cash, we are actually making the problem worse and warping the market while simultaneously saddling us all, and most hurting those with low income (the working poor), with the most regressive tax of all: inflation.
THAT is what I THINK.
How many different ways can DG write articles about the housing crisis, , oops, I meant challenge? Then there’s the endless affordable housing pieces (you know either the small “a” or capital “A”) as in ‘A’nnoying.
But if that bores you at least there’s an article about DeSantis, the new boogeyman hated by the left.
But unfortunately there’s no “Looking Back” article by Jeffrey Deskovic. I always look forward to those. But who knows, the day is young.
Traffic and Weather Together here on Radio DVGD
Looks like blue skies for the next several weeks, after weeks of an atmospheric river,
The wets are getting wetter and the dries and getting dryer, and it’s all about because of climate change, right Roy?
Roy: That’s right David.
Looks like another low comment Saturday here on Radio DVGD. We’re playing the hits: We just heard from the Ron Ortel band, and up next is the Walter Schwe Solo Project with “There’s No Parking Downtown” which just hit #287 on the Comments Charts. If we don’t start playing the hits and getting up the ratings, rumor has it they might turn us into a country station, right Roy?
Roy: That’s right David.
Regarding Walter Shwe, I’m (at least) glad that he has one issue in which he doesn’t simply “parrot” David Greenwald’s views. (I was beginning to think he was a bot.)
By the way, whatever happened to Craig Ross?
Regarding Walter Shwe, I’m (at least) glad that he has one issue in which he doesn’t simply “parrot” David Greenwald’s views.
I’m still not clear what his views are on the parking. He seems to be saying we need to keep auto infrastructure downtown, but that seems to go against his politics, so I’m unclear if he is actually saying how bad it is that people use cars to get downtown, but then again he seems to really want to use his car downtown.
(I was beginning to think he was a bot.)
Jury is out
By the way, whatever happened to Craig Ross?
They say Craig Ross and Walter Shwe have never been seen in the same room together.
Hmmmmmmmmm . . .
“I’m still not clear what his (Walter’s) views are on the parking. He seems to be saying we need to keep auto infrastructure downtown, but that seems to go against his politics, . . .”
This provides evidence that he’s actually a human being, and not a bot.
“. . . so I’m unclear if he is actually saying how bad it is that people use cars to get downtown, but then again he seems to really want to use his car downtown.”
He doesn’t want streets closed-off to vehicles, and parking spaces lost. He’s pretty consistent about that (as is Ron G. -I think).
Then again, Walter stated that he does not support single-family housing, but I’m not sure if his views are based upon perceived affordability, or greenhouse gasses caused by continued sprawl. Either way, it seems strange that he doesn’t like Measure J, since most of what’s proposed outside of city limits IS single-family housing.
Ron G, on the other hand – doesn’t seem too concerned about contributions to greenhouse gasses – including in another Vanguard article, today (in which he was “concerned” about an extension of a public transit line. (He has, however, previously pointed out that airline travel is a major contributor.)
https://www.davisvanguard.org/2023/01/new-transportation-option-for-ucla-students-extension-of-the-metros-d-line/#comment-470036
It would be interesting if either of these guys “clarified” their views regarding contributions to greenhouse gasses, at least.
And for Walter, it would be interesting to see how he reconciles his opposition to Measure J, while also being against single-family housing.
SUBJECT: ““My View: Davis Faces an Affordable Housing Challenge – Is Not Alone by Any Means” [DV today]
Moderator/Plantiguy: “This comment was submitted but without the author’s full name. Just a reminder that in order to comment on the Vanguard you must register with your full name and a valid email address.”
Just a reminder that despite that warning, the comment was published anyway, just without the persons name, the whole of which they didn’t give anyway.
Alan, as you, I and others came to realize, the comment rules on the Vanguard aren’t objectively enforced.
Don Shor January 22, 2023 at 12:20 pm
What makes for a more diverse community is move-up housing. When renters can save enough money for a down payment and buy a home, whether s-f or half of a duplex or a manufactured house. Davis is short of that type of housing because many of the older s-f homes are student rentals, and because failing to allow a steady supply of new homes prevents the turnover that allows the move up. That is why our schools are losing population.
People who are saving up and finally buying those homes are going to Woodland and Dixon and West Sac because their choices here are so limited.
The simplest way Americans have built wealth to fund their retirements and to pass on to their children has been by buying a home and having it appreciate in value over many years.
The simplest move-up homes are duplexes and their ilk, because they can be integrated into existing neighborhoods without much impact. It’s not much different than adding bedrooms to a s-f rental. But it allows people to gain entry into the housing market, have 1/3 of their income going to build their wealth rather than increase a landlord’s wealth.
At this time there is a huge disparity as to who is renting and who is buying. Most of us probably know homeowners who leveraged their way from smaller homes or duplexes into the larger home they now occupy and which represents the largest fraction of their personal wealth.
By excluding people of color from areas where housing values have increased — first systematically, and then by restricting housing growth — our housing market has functioned to sustain and increase the wealth disparity between different ethnic and racial groups.
I know there are people who want to believe that all of that racial and housing discrimination is a thing of the past, but we have a multi-generational impact from past policies.
Look at the genocide that occurred in Tulsa a hundred years ago (Tulsa “race riot”) and think about the consequences. A prosperous community of Black property and business owners had developed following the classic American dream of buying houses, starting businesses, and even providing financial services within their community to help others get a step on that ladder.
All of that was destroyed, systematically and intentionally with full support of the legal authorities. All the wealth that several hundred Black families had created and accumulated was wiped out, many were killed, and the rest were driven from the community. Later their properties were bought up by white residents.
Decades later there were apologies and some reparations. But the question is, what was the long-term impact of that? Because that was not an isolated event in American history.
Where did the Blacks go who were driven from Tulsa? They had to leave with no financial resources and go to other cities where racial barriers to home ownership, covenants that excluded them from home ownership, existed to block them from creating and accumulating wealth. If they came to Sacramento, where could they live? How about Davis? If they could actually buy a house (unlikely), what value increase would it have over the next decades compared to wealthier white neighborhoods from which they’d been excluded?
So the ripple effect of the Tulsa genocide continued for generations.
A community that does not have a range of housing choices will likely become whiter, wealthier, and older. And in so doing, it precludes others from achieving wealth and a better life for their children.
TLDNR 😐
Alan: Regarding “TLDNR”, you should see my response (where I break-down Don’s statements individually, and respond to them).
My response is the “mother of all TLDNRs”.
But you can’t see it, because Don hasn’t posted it (so far, at least). I submitted the response in the early afternoon.
SUBJECT: [Same]
RO: Regarding “TLDNR”, you should see my response (where I break-down Don’s statements individually, and respond to them).
That’s very Alan Miller of you. I considered that, but after about 1/3 of the way through these three, four-lettered, capitalized words kept growing in size and cover the text. Those three words were: BLAH, BLAH & BLAH.
My response is the “mother of all TLDNRs”.
You actually have to not read it for it to be a TLDNR. Although I suppose the mother of TLDNR could involve reading the article her offspring did not.
But you can’t see it, because Don hasn’t posted it (so far, at least). I submitted the response in the early afternoon.l
Looks like he posted it. Damn, now I can’t say justify writing all the horribly insulting things I was going to say 😐
SUBJECT: “Monday Morning Thoughts: Stronger Than Expected Support for a Vehicle-Free Area” [Fravis FlanVaguard, Right Now!]
DG is so full of hypocrishit 😐 If a bunch of people go to a meeting and say something he is against, the group is explained away and dismissed. If they agree with him, it shows overwhelming support.
Let’s call out the real demon here. It’s private organizations buying an organized mass student voice by contributing to their nonprofit/organization. We saw it with the college democrats and Trackside. Open your eyes, look up to the sky, and see.
SUBJECT: “How the Yolo DA Uses Its Restorative Justice Diversion programs”
RJH: The DA could have never filed formal charges and used an alternative method, declination, and found a better solution for the college grad.
For “the college grad” ? I thought it was people without opportunity that y’all were fighting for. Now you are fighting for the so-called privileged. OK, I get it, the goal is for no punishment and no incarceration. Criminals take over the world. Please, feel free. Sorry the rest of you. Now, crime pays.
Judge: “You have several unsafe lane changes almost causing traffic collisions with a couple of cars, cutting people off at five in the afternoon, and extremely dangerous driving behavior,”
Hey no problem. Almost kill innocent people, you scumbag. No consequences according to RJH and the Vansplard. No probleem.
The study showed higher declination rates led to lower criminal contact for the individuals who pass through the system.
Don’t care.
Basically, choosing to bring down the hammer on people who have broken the law, does not enhance public safety.
Don’t care.
“Law enforcement has historically pursued punitive policies directed at these ‘quality of life’ offenses in the belief that those policies enhance public safety, But we’re now starting to learn that such policies don’t always produce more public safety. This study indicates they may make us less safe.”
Bullshit.
“DG is so full of hypocrishit 😐 If a bunch of people go to a meeting and say something he is against, the group is explained away and dismissed. If they agree with him, it shows overwhelming support.”
So true. “hypocrishit” at its best.
“Law enforcement has historically pursued punitive policies directed at these ‘quality of life’ offenses in the belief that those policies enhance public safety, But we’re now starting to learn that such policies don’t always produce more public safety. This study indicates they may make us less safe.”
I say bullshit too. This reminds me of Prop 47, “The Safe Neighborhoods And Schools Act is a California statute adopted by ballot initiative as Proposition 47 of 2014. The legislation was intended to reduce the number of prisoners in California prisons by reclassifying some nonviolent crimes from felonies to misdemeanors.”
Yeah right, somehow setting convicts free make neighborhoods and schools more safe. BwHaHaHaHaHa, you can’t make the shit up if you tried.
😐 It’s a tufer Monday at the Vanglard. Tu comments all day. A true community forum of joy, consensus and open discussion. Maybe some eggs and bacon is all we need to make things right and help me make it through the night. Glarb bleedin vonk munk hidle fee fo.
Today’s Vanguard subject, I bet you can guess.
“Commentary: Can the City Move Forward With Much Needed Affordable Projects in a Timely Manner?”
Instead of using waterboarding for torture, why not just subject terrorists to a daily stream of Vanguard articles?
KO, I read an article last night — an evidence-based article!!! — that said if you write about affordable housing every day in your blog, that hundreds of billions of dollars in state subsidies will appear to build that housing!!! Yay!!! So maybe DG is on to something.
Like obsessive compulsive disorder 😐
And those subsidies can be found . . . say it with me people: “at the end of the rainbow, rainbow, rainbow, rainbow, rainbow . . . “
The Vanguard got more than “tu” comments today, up to eleven now. So all of that huge volume led the moderator to post this warning:
“Moderator January 24, 2023 at 11:11 am
5 comment rule is in effect.”
Can’t have too many comments, he must maintain control to keep it from getting out of hand. LMAO
KO, that’s exactly what I was going to write!!! Great minds.
I wonder if plant sales have increased, with less to do. The law on unintended consequences.
Or were they?
Meanwhile, the all time classic Vansplard headline of all time appears today:
“Commentary: A Summary & Conclusion”
Just draws you in with the mystery, doesn’t it? 😐
And for the topper of all the toppers – the lead article today is on — wait for it — HOUSING!!!
Yay!!!! My day is complete 😐
DG: “When I inquired as to whether Davis could do something similar and acquire sites to create affordable housing, one of the concerns mentioned was cost and location.”
Inquired of WHO, Vague Boy ??? Your SPECIAL, MAGICAL, SECRET City Contact?
‘ONE of the concerns mentioned was COST and LOCATION.’ Yeah, Ya THINK ???!!!
And by the way, President David Biden, that’s TWO concerns, ROFL 🙂 😉 🙂 ROFL ROFL
“Let Me Start Off With TWO Words: Made In America!” — Joe Biden
SUBJECT: “A Look at SF’s Historic Affordable Housing Plan and What We Might Take Away From It”
So, if it takes $19 billion to build the “needed” “affordable” housing for San Francisco, then by dividing our population into SF’s as a rough estimate, Davis only needs $1.6 billion.
No problem 😐
Especially because: Davis is special.
“Davis only needs $1.6 billion.”
That would be one Hell of a parcel tax.
SUBJECT: “Workers at North Davis Peet’s vote to unionize, rally planned Saturday” (Davis Enterprise, 2023-01-26)
“This is the first time in my entire life that I feel I can stay in a job and be happy,” Trinity Salazar, a Peet’s Coffee barista who has been working at the North Davis location since July 2022, said in a statement. “We are all struggling, and we came together. Now, we’re more united. We have every right to be able to say how much we’re being paid, or at least negotiate it. If you’re sick, you’re sick. The company does not decide it. I don’t want my body to be destroyed when I am 21 years old. I’m literally 21 with back problems because of coffee.”
I don’t understand the above statement. What is the meaning behind ‘the company does not decide if you’re sick’ ? That seems obvious, and so what? What is causing her body to be destroyed at the age of 21? Is it because of an illness? And why does she have back problems ‘because of coffee’ ? None of the reasons or connections are explained.
I’m literally 21
As opposed to “figuratively”?
with back problems because of coffee.”
Well, stop drinking it then.
SUBJECT: “Workers at North Davis Peet’s vote to unionize, rally planned Saturday” (Davis Enterprise, 2023-01-26)
Alyx Land, a shift lead at the North Davis Peet’s Coffee [said], “We’re just scrambling all the time, opening and closing every single day and then trying to go to school and then trying to have a life,”
Sounds like most every retail job I’ve had. I assume the reason a barista may be ‘trying to go to school’ is so that they won’t have to be a barista working for barista wages for the remainder of their lives.
I assume the reason a barista may be ‘trying to go to school’ is so that they won’t have to be a barista working for barista wages for the remainder of their lives.
Depends upon the type of degree pursued.
Sometimes, “barista wages” are needed to start paying-off student loans, post-graduation.
SUBJECT: “How Long Must We Sing This Song?” (Flavorless Flanguard, 2023-01-28)
Answer: Forever. People are messed up. Society is messed up. Forever.
It is unrealistic to think it will get better. Better to be surprised if it does.
What good does it do to call it based on racism, as opposed to claiming it is not?
Can we all agree it is messed up and cops can’t beat people to death?
No, it must be because of racism, says DG. And, what? A certain number of people agree with DG, and certain number of people don’t — and that accomplishes what? DG being able to wag his finger at those who disagree with him? Wouldn’t it be better to start with what most everyone agrees with and work from there? Seems these days the answer is no.