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mostlysignssomeportents · 2 years ago

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Hollywood is the single best example of mature labor power in America

This afternoon (May 6), I’ll be in Berkeley at the Bay Area Bookfest for a 3:30PM event with Glynn Washington for my book Red Team Blues; tomorrow (May 7), it’s an 11AM event with Wendy Liu for my book Chokepoint Capitalism.

Weds (May 10), I’m in Vancouver for a keynote at the Open Source Summit and a book event at Heritage Hall and Thu (May 11), I’m in Calgary for Wordfest.

The Writers Guild is on strike. Hollywood is closed for business. The union’s bargaining documents reveal a cartel of studios that refused to negotiate on a single position. This could go on for a long-ass time:

https://www.wga.org/uploadedfiles/members/member_info/contract-2023/WGA_proposals.pdf

If you’d like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here’s a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/05/06/people-are-not-disposable/#union-strong

The writers are up for it. A lot of people are saying this is the first writers’ strike since 2007/8, but that’s not quite right. That was the last time the writers went on strike against the studios, but in 2019, the writers struck against their own talent agents — within the space of a week, all 7,000 writers in Hollywood fired their agents. They struck against the agencies for 22 months.

https://deadline.com/2023/04/hollywood-strike-writers-guild-studios-talent-agencies-1235333516/

The agencies had consolidated down to four major firms, two backed by private equity who loaded them up with debt that could only be repaid if the agencies figured out how to vastly increase their profits. They did so, by unilaterally switching the way they did business with their clients. Instead of taking a 10% commission on the creative wages they bargained for, the agencies started to take “packaging fees” from the studios for putting together a writer, director, stars, etc. These fees came out of the same budget that the talent got paid from, so the higher the fee was, the less the talent made. Soon, some showrunners were discovering that they were getting 10% and their agents were getting 90%!

The agencies weren’t done, either: they were building their own studios, and planning to negotiate with themselves on behalf of their clients. The writers said fuck this shit. They issued a code of conduct ordering the agencies to knock all that shit off. The agencies swore they’d never do it. Why should they? Every job these writers had ever done came through an agency, and the agencies were staffed with the toughest, most obnoxious negotiators on the planet.

They were sure the writers would cave. After all, the top tier of writers had been handled with kid gloves by the agencies and not ripped off to the same extent as their jobbing, workaday peers. They’d break solidarity and the union would collapse, right?

Wrong. Twenty-two months later, every one of the agencies caved on every single point. Bam. Union strong.

(Want to learn more? Check out Chokepoint Capitalism, Rebecca Giblin’s and my book about creative labor markets:)

http://chokepointcapitalism.com

Now the writers are back on strike and it’s triggered a predictable torrent of anti-worker nonsense (“striking writers will lead to public indifference to torture!) (no, really) (ugh):

https://www.readtpa.com/p/on-the-tv-writers-strike-dont-fall

One common theme in these bad takes is that writers aren’t real workers, like, you know, coal miners or Starbucks baristas. They’re coddled intellectuals, and haven’t the intelligentsia been indifferent to proletarian struggle since, you know, time immemorial?

This is wrong in every conceivable way. For starters, it’s ahistorical. Lord Byron and innumerable other toffs and poets and such were right there with the Luddites, demanding labor justice during the Industrial Revolution, as Brian Merchant writes in his outstanding, forthcoming history of the Luddites, Blood in the Machine:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/20/love-the-machine/#hate-the-factory

But you don’t have to look back to the stocking frame to find this kind of solidarity. As Hamilton Nolan writes in his newsletter, “Hollywood is the single best example of mature labor power in America”:

https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/the-coral-reef-of-humanity-encircling

The entire Hollywood workforce, from grips to carpenters, costumers to plumbers, teamsters to medics, is unionized. That includes writers and actors (I’m a member of IATSE Local 839, AKA The Animation Guild). I live in Burbank, the entertainment industry’s company town (fun fact! The “Hollywood” studios are largely over the city line, in Burbank). Walk down Burbank Boulevard, Magnolia Boulevard, or any of the other major roads, and you’ll pass many union halls.

Burbank is a prosperous place. That’s thanks, in part, to the studios, whose entertainment products are very profitable. But working in a profitable industry is not, in and of itself, a guarantee that you will get a share of those profits. Some of the most profitable industries in the world — e-commerce, fast food, logistics — have the lowest paid workforces.

Burbank is prosperous because the unions made sure that everyone — the grips, the costumers, the animators, the actors, the writers, the teamsters and the pipefitters — gets a decent wage, decent health care and a decent retirement. My pal the set-dresser who worked crazy hours shlepping furniture around sitcom sets for decades? All that work did bad stuff to his joints, which meant that he needed a hip replacement in his forties — which was 100% covered, including his sick leave while he recovered. He was able to take early retirement in his late fifties, with a solid pension, with his health in excellent shape and many years of happiness with his partner stretching before him.

That’s what unions get you: a good job that might be hard at times, and the costs of your work are borne by the employer who profits from your labor. As Nolan writes, the point of unions is to “make sure that people! Are! Not! Disposable!”

Unions deliver the American dream. As Pete Seeger sang in “Talking Union Blues”:

Now, if you want higher wages let me tell you what to do You got to talk to the workers in the shop with you You got to build you a union, got to make it strong But if you all stick together, boys, it won’t be long You get shorter hours, better working conditions Vacations with pay. Take your kids to the seashore

http://www.protestsonglyrics.net/Labor_Union_Songs/Talking-Union.phtml

We tend to focus on wages in union discussions, but unions aren’t merely about getting better pay, it’s about making better jobs. When LA teachers went out on strike in 2019, wages weren’t at the top of their list — they bargained for greenspace for every school, replacing rotting portables with permanent buildings, ending ICE entrapment of parents at the school gates, social workers and counselors for schools…and wages.

I really like how Nolan puts this. The way that the studios make money has changed: streaming is clobbering ad-supported TV and movie theater tickets. The studios are adapting. The workers want to adapt, too. The studios would rather “treat[] their work force as a disposable natural resource to be mined, used up, and then abandoned, as business dictates.”

A union gives workers “the same ability to adapt to changing industries that companies already have.” The studios want to leave workers behind. Unions give workers the collective power to say, “No. You’re taking us with you.”

Union workers are wealthier than their non-union counterparts, but that’s not just because of higher wages. As Nolan writes, “Unions make sure that the people get to adapt to changing industries, and not just the investors and the business owners.”

[Union workers] have a far greater ability to build coherent, long-term careers, as opposed to a constant treadmill of unstable short-term gigs. In non-union industries, businesses can just act like ships cutting through a desperate sea of workers, scooping up whoever they want and then tossing them overboard as soon as it’s convenient. In a union industry, though, the companies are forced to deal with the labor force as an equal. The workers have their own damn boat.

Advocates for market capitalism insist that market forces increase prosperity for everyone. They say that, in the end, having corporations serve their shareholders results in corporations serving everyone.

But a comparison of unionized and nonunionized industries reveals the hollowness of that prospect. Hollywood is wildly profitable and it pays every kind of worker well. That’s because workers have solidarity across sectors and trades. Striking writers like jonrog1 are calling on supporters to donate to the Entertainment Community Fund:

https://twitter.com/jonrog1/status/1654168529728307204

The Entertainment Community Fund supports everyone else who is affected by the work-stoppage, all the other creative and craft trades whose work has been halted by the writers’ struggle. If you want to support these workers, make sure you select “Film and TV” from the drop-down menu when you donate (we gave $100):

https://entertainmentcommunity.org/

Because all the workers are in this together. As Adam Conover explains in this amazing CNN clip, David Zazlav, the head of CNN parent-company Warner-Discovery, made a quarter of a billion dollars last year, enough to pay all the demands of all the writers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL-YwKO81go

And Carol Lombardini, spokesvillain for the studio cartel AMPTP, told the press that “”Writers are lucky to have term employment.” As John Rogers says, she “wiped out the doubt of every writer who wasn’t sure this negotiation really IS so important, that it actually IS about turning us into gig workers.”

https://twitter.com/jonrog1/status/1654506611086606336

The stakes in this strike are the same as the stakes in every strike: will workers get a fair share of the value their labor creates, or will that value be piled up in the vaults of $250,000,000/year CEOs? It’s not like the studios especially hate writers — like all corporations, they hate all their workers. The same tactics that they’re using to make it so writers can’t pay the rent today will be turned on every other kind of Hollywood worker tomorrow — and when the writers win this one, they’ll support those workers, too.

There’s a lot of concern about AI displacing creative labor, but the only entity that can take away a writer’s wage is a human being, an executive at a studio. As has been the case since the time of the Luddites, the issue isn’t what the machine does, it’s who it does it for and who it does it to.

After all, as Charlie Stross points out, a corporation is just a “Slow AI,” remorselessly paperclip-maximizing its way through the lives and joy of the flesh-and-blood people who constitute its inconvenient gut-flora:

https://media.ccc.de/v/34c3-9270-dude_you_broke_the_future#video&t=3478

Catch me on tour with Red Team Blues in Berkeley, Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, DC, Gaithersburg, Oxford, Hay, Manchester, Nottingham, London, and Berlin!

[Image ID: Animators walk the picket-line during the Disney Animator's Strike in 1941.]

Image: LA Times https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Screen_Cartoonist%27s_Guild_strike_at_Disney.jpg

CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en

#pluralistic #slow ai #luddites #solidarity #unions #writers strike #wgaw #labor

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johnwick3474 · 3 months ago

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How Can a Calgary Real Estate Lawyer Protect Your Investment?

When it comes to real estate investments in Calgary, navigating the complex legal landscape is essential. Whether you’re purchasing your first home or adding properties to your portfolio, a skilled Calgary real estate lawyer plays a vital role in safeguarding your investment. Real estate transactions involve numerous legal requirements, and having expert legal counsel ensures your interests are protected from the outset. In this article, we will dive into the ways a Calgary real estate lawyer can protect your investment and why their expertise is indispensable.

Understanding the Role of a Calgary Real Estate Lawyer

A real estate lawyer handles all the legal aspects of property transactions. In Calgary, they assist clients in various stages of real estate deals, from negotiating contracts to closing the deal. Real estate law is complex and differs from other forms of law, making it crucial to have a specialized lawyer who understands the intricacies of local real estate regulations and market trends.

1. Ensuring a Legally Sound Purchase Agreement

A purchase agreement is one of the most important documents in a real estate transaction. It outlines the terms and conditions of the sale, including the purchase price, closing date, and any contingencies that must be met. A lawyer reviews the agreement to ensure all legal obligations are met and that the contract protects your interests. They make sure the agreement is free from ambiguities or unfavorable clauses that could affect your investment down the line.

Key Areas Reviewed by a Lawyer:

Property boundaries and surveys

Title search and ownership verification

Contingencies and inspection clauses

Financing terms and conditions

Without expert review, you could be left vulnerable to hidden fees, boundary disputes, or future legal complications that could undermine your investment.

2. Conducting a Thorough Title Search

One of the core tasks a Calgary real estate lawyer performs is a title search. This process involves checking public records to confirm the property's legal ownership and to identify any liens, encumbrances, or claims against the property. A clear title ensures that you are the rightful owner without any legal disputes over the property.

A lawyer will ensure that:

There are no outstanding liens or unpaid debts tied to the property.

There are no easements or encroachments that could affect your property rights.

You receive clear ownership of the property after closing.

By verifying the title's integrity, your lawyer protects your investment from potential legal challenges that could arise after purchase.

3. Navigating Zoning Laws and Land Use Regulations

Calgary has specific zoning laws and land use regulations that dictate how properties can be used. For example, if you’re buying a property with plans to build or renovate, you must ensure that the property’s zoning classification aligns with your intended use. A real estate lawyer will provide guidance on these regulations and help ensure compliance.

In particular, a lawyer can:

Advise on residential, commercial, or mixed-use zoning regulations.

Assist with obtaining permits or variances if your property doesn’t comply with existing rules.

Provide insights on potential land use issues that may impact your future development plans.

Misunderstanding zoning laws can lead to costly disputes or even penalties, making legal counsel invaluable in this area.

4. Mitigating Financial Risks

Real estate transactions involve significant financial commitments, and even minor mistakes can have substantial financial consequences. A Calgary real estate lawyer ensures that all aspects of the deal are financially sound and that you are not exposed to unnecessary risks.

For example, a lawyer can:

Review mortgage agreements to ensure favorable terms.

Clarify the tax implications of the purchase.

Assist in understanding the financial obligations attached to homeowners’ associations or property taxes.

By addressing these areas, they help prevent unforeseen expenses that could erode your investment’s profitability.

5. Handling the Closing Process

The closing is the final stage of a real estate transaction, where ownership of the property is transferred from the seller to the buyer. This process involves signing numerous documents, transferring funds, and filing official paperwork. A Calgary real estate lawyer will coordinate and oversee the closing to ensure everything is handled correctly.

During the closing, the lawyer will:

Review all closing documents, including the deed, bill of sale, and loan agreements.

Ensure that all funds are transferred appropriately.

Confirm that all property taxes and other fees are settled.

File the necessary documents with the appropriate government authorities.

Their presence ensures that the transaction is completed efficiently and that you can take ownership without any legal complications.

6. Resolving Disputes and Legal Claims

Real estate transactions do not always go as smoothly as planned. Disputes can arise over contract terms, property boundaries, or title issues. Having a Calgary real estate lawyer on your side means you have access to expert legal representation if any issues arise. A lawyer can help resolve disputes through negotiation or litigation, if necessary.

Common real estate disputes include:

Breach of contract claims by buyers or sellers.

Property boundary disagreements with neighbors.

Construction defects or other property condition disputes.

A lawyer’s expertise ensures that any disputes are resolved swiftly and with minimal financial impact.

7. Providing Long-Term Legal Support

Even after the transaction is complete, a real estate lawyer can continue to offer valuable legal support. Whether you’re dealing with rental agreements, property management issues, or even selling the property in the future, a lawyer can provide ongoing legal guidance to protect your interests.

For property investors, long-term legal support helps ensure that:

Rental agreements comply with tenant laws.

Property taxes and other legal obligations are managed effectively.

Future transactions are handled with the same legal rigor as your initial purchase.

Having a trusted lawyer by your side provides peace of mind, knowing that your investment is always protected from a legal standpoint.

Conclusion: The Value of a Calgary Real Estate Lawyer

Investing in real estate in Calgary is a significant financial commitment, and protecting that investment requires expert legal guidance. A Calgary real estate lawyer plays a crucial role in ensuring that your purchase is legally sound, mitigating risks, and handling any potential disputes. From reviewing contracts and conducting title searches to managing the closing process and resolving disputes, their expertise is indispensable.

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seoblog4 · 2 months ago

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Emergency Loans: A Lifeline in Times of Need

In today’s fast-paced world,urgent loans for bad credit canada financial emergencies can strike at any moment, leaving individuals and families scrambling for solutions. Whether it’s a sudden medical expense, car repair, or unexpected job loss, emergency loans can provide crucial support. This article explores the essentials of emergency loans, their benefits, and important considerations to keep in mind.

What Are Emergency Loans?

Emergency loans are short-term financial products designed to help individuals cover unexpected expenses. They typically have quick approval processes, allowing borrowers to access funds rapidly. These loans can come from various sources, including banks, credit unions, and online lenders.

Types of Emergency Loans

Personal Loans: Unsecured personal loans are a popular choice for emergencies. They don’t require collateral and often have fixed interest rates.

Payday Loans: These are small, high-interest loans intended to be repaid by the borrower’s next paycheck. While easy to obtain, they can lead to a cycle of debt if not managed carefully.

Credit Card Cash Advances: Credit cards allow cardholders to withdraw cash up to a certain limit. However, interest rates on cash advances can be steep.

Title Loans: These loans use the borrower’s vehicle as collateral. They can offer quick cash but come with the risk of losing the vehicle if the loan isn’t repaid.

Benefits of Emergency Loans

Quick Access to Funds: One of the most significant advantages is the speed at which money can be accessed, often within a day.

Flexibility: Emergency loans can be used for various purposes, allowing borrowers to address multiple financial challenges.

Improved Credit Options: Successfully repaying an emergency loan can positively impact a borrower’s credit score, improving future borrowing options.

Important Considerations

While emergency loans can be a lifesaver, it’s essential to approach them with caution:

High Interest Rates: Many emergency loans, especially payday loans, come with high interest rates. Borrowers should carefully assess their ability to repay.

Loan Terms: Understanding the terms and conditions, including repayment timelines and any fees, is crucial.

Alternatives: Before taking out an emergency loan, consider other options such as borrowing from friends or family, negotiating payment plans with creditors, or exploring local assistance programs.

Emergency loans can serve as a vital resource during financial crises, providing quick access to funds when they are most needed.urgent loans in calgary However, borrowers must weigh the benefits against the potential pitfalls, ensuring they make informed decisions that won’t lead to further financial strain. By understanding the types of emergency loans available and approaching them responsibly, individuals can navigate financial emergencies more effectively.

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udoandcompany · 6 months ago

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Houses for Sale: How can Buyers Find the Ideal One?

Are you looking to buy your dream home but are getting lost among the plethora of choices? If you answer yes, then you're on the right website. In the vast and often overwhelming world of real estate, finding the ideal abode among houses for sale in Calgary can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. However, with the right approach and knowledge, buyers can simplify their search and increase their chances of discovering the perfect property. Here are some critical strategies for buyers to consider when embarking on their house-hunting journey:

1. Define Your Needs and Wants: Define Your Needs and Wants: Before diving into the market, take some time to outline your priorities clearly. What are your non-negotiables? How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need?

Are you looking for a specific neighborhood or school district? By identifying your must-haves and nice-to-haves, you can focus your search and avoid wasting time on houses for sale that doesn't meet your benchmarks.

2. Set a Realistic Budget: Determine how much you can afford to spend on a home and stick to it. Consider factors such as your income, existing debt, and ongoing expenses.

Remember to account for additional costs such as property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and maintenance. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage can also give you a clearer picture of your purchasing power and make you a more competitive buyer.

3. Research Neighbourhoods: Explore different neighborhoods to find one of the houses for sale that best fits your lifestyle and priorities. Consider safety, proximity to amenities, property values, and community vibe.

Online tools and resources, such as real estate websites and neighborhood guides, can provide valuable insights into local market trends and amenities.

4. Work with a Knowledgeable Real Estate Agent: A reputed real estate agent can be invaluable in your home search. Look for an agent who specializes in the neighborhoods you're interested in and has a track record of success. They can provide expert guidance, help you navigate the complexities of the buying process, and negotiate on your behalf.

5. Attend Open Houses and Virtual Tours: Take advantage of open houses and virtual tours to explore houses for sale firsthand. It will give you a sense of the home's structure, condition, and overall feel. Be bold ask questions, and take notes during your visits.

6. Be Flexible: Keep an open mind and be willing to compromise on certain features if necessary. It's rare to find a property that checks every box on your wishlist, so focus on the most important elements. Remember that cosmetic changes can often be made after purchase, so focus on the property's bones and potential.

7. Conduct Due Diligence: Once you've found a potential home, conduct thorough due diligence before making an offer. This may include hiring a home inspector to evaluate the property's condition, researching zoning laws and property taxes, and reviewing relevant homeowners association documents. The more information you have, the better equipped you'll be to make an informed decision when choosing from houses for sale.

8. Consider Long-Term Value: Look beyond the present and consider the property's long-term value and potential resale prospects.

Assess factors such as appreciation rates, economic trends, and planned developments in the area. A home that fulfills your needs now and holds promise for the future can be a wise investment.

9. Trust Your Instincts: Trust your instincts when choosing the right home. If a property feels the perfect fit and meets your criteria, don't hesitate to make an offer.

On the other hand, if something doesn't feel quite right, listen to your gut and keep searching for houses for sale. Patience and persistence are essential in the real estate game.

In conclusion, finding the ideal home requires careful planning, research, and patience. By defining your priorities, setting a budget, working with a knowledgeable agent, and conducting thorough due diligence, you can navigate the real estate market with confidence and increase your chances of finding the perfect property. Happy house hunting! Contact UDO & COMPANY to simplify your task of purchasing your dream home from houses for sale in Calgary.

#houses for sale in Calgary #houses for sale

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1prabhatsingh · 8 months ago

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A Step-by-Step Guide to Achieve Your Dream Home In Canada

Realtor Advertising

For many individuals, it is a dream come true to have their own house. Whether you are a first-time buyer or thinking of an upgrade, Canada's real estate market is quite varied enough with lots of offerings.

With so much realtor advertising going on, it often becomes hard to know what’s the right way to get your dream home. Worry not in this guide, we are going through the steps of fulfilling your dream of owning your own home.

1. Financial Preparation

Budget: Decide on how much you are able to pay. Consider your income, current debts and monthly expenses. Utilize online calculators to compute your mortgage amortisation.

Credit Score: Credit score is a pivotal factor for getting a mortgage. Make sure you check your credit rating and rectify any issues.

Down Payment: Putting money aside for a down payment. In Canada, the minimum set for a home cost up to $500,000 is 5%. However, for the homes with the cost higher than that, the down payment will be increased.

2. Research and Location

Explore Cities: Canada has lively cities including cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary. Research their real estate market, employment possibilities, and scenarios of life there.

Neighbourhoods: Choose the neighbourhoods which match your specific predilections, like nearby workplaces, schools, parks, and amenities.

Market Trends: Analyze local real estate trends. Is it a seller's or a buyer's market? Visit the agents and market reports.

3. Mortgage Pre-Approval

Lenders: To start the process, approach banks, credit unions, or brokers for pre-approval. They’ll scrutinize your financials and issue a pre-approval letter.

Interest Rates: Evaluate the interest rates and mortgage terms.Fixed or variable?Short-term or long-term?

4. Search for a Real Estate Agent

Expertise: A real estate agent knows the market, acts as your rep, and leads you to the destination.

Interview: Meet the potential agents. Ask them about their accomplishments, the stories they have to tell, and how they deal with people

5. House Hunting

Wishlist: Develop a list of must-haves and would-be nice-to-have items. Always look at the size, the plan, and the finish of the bedroom.

Viewings: Attend open houses and spend some time on site. Take notes on features, do a comparison, and contrast different brands.

6. Make an Offer

Negotiation: Together with your agent, prepare to make an offer. Since price, conditions (e.g. home inspection) and closing date are involved, reflect on them carefully.

Deposit: Suggest a deposit (normally it would be from 1 to 5% of the sale price when having the agreement) with the offer in.

7. House Condition and Valuation

Inspection: Get in touch with a thorough professional inspector. They will look at the state and condition of the property. They will check the structural elements, plumbing and electrical components.

Appraisal: But the lender needs to find out the exact worth of the property by hiring the appraisers.

8. Finalize Financing

Mortgage Approval: Once the offer of your purchase is accepted, the loan you have chosen should be finalised with the lender.

Legal Representation: Find a real estate attorney whom you can trust to take care of the legal matters in the sale/purchase of your home.

9. Closing Day

Paperwork: Make sure the dealing is registered, money is transferred, and you pay the closing costs required (e.g., land transfer fee, legal fees).

Possession: Get behind the wheel and start your amazing homeownership journey!

10. Post-Purchase Considerations

Utilities and Services: Use electricity, water, and gas facilities at your service and change your address.

Home Insurance: The best protection against the risks associated with home ownership is home insurance.

Enjoy!: Celebrating your accomplishment is the culmination of a long and hard journey, the easiest part is finally settling home.

Conclusion

Buying your dream house in Canada is a matter of considering and analyzing the options and engaging professional help when needed. Finally, follow through these steps. Within days you will be sipping coffee on your patio with a view of the Canadian countryside.

#realestate #digital marketing #branding

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credit720britishcolumbia · 8 months ago

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Comprehensive Debt Assistance in Calgary: Reduce Your Debt

Calgary residents, learn valuable debt negotiation tips in our comprehensive guide. Take the first step towards financial relief now.

#debt consolidation services #Debt Consolidation Services #debt consolidation loan Surrey

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ausetkmt · 2 years ago

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The struggles of Skymint in Lansing, one of the largest marijuana operators in Michigan, aren't an anomaly. They're a dank declaration: The state's cannabis industry is in trouble.

Skymint, the brand name for Green Peak Innovations Inc., owes its investors at least $135 million, owes millions in back taxes and is woefully behind on its rent obligations, lawsuits filed by its creditors say.

Its financial outlook is so bleak, a judge in Ingham County Circuit Court has installed a receiver to run the company, representing either a lifeline or a liquidation.

Skymint isn't alone.

At least four other marijuana companies are under the direction of a court-ordered receiver, according to data obtained by Crain's from the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency: Uldaman Inc., which does business as dispensary Green Planet Patient Collection in Ann Arbor; Rehbel Industries, a grow operation in Lansing; Huron View LLC, doing business as Huron View Provisioning Center in Ann Arbor; and Bay Shore Development Group, a grow operation in Bay City.

"It's just bad out there right now," said Doug Mains, principal and co-leader of the cannabis practice for Detroit law firm Honigman LLP. "Everyone is struggling to pay bills and negotiating lending extensions."

Marijuana remains a Schedule 1 drug at the federal level, which bars cannabis companies from being able to use the federal bankruptcy courts to settle debts, leaving state circuit courts as the only means for financial protection.

Skymint said in a statement Wednesday that going into receivership was "a difficult decision, but a necessary one."

"The court-approved agreement will allow us to reorganize our debt obligations to address the financial challenges facing many in Michigan's cannabis industry, including excess supply, decreasing prices, limited access to capital and the increasing cost of capital," Skymint said in the statement.

The company did not respond to additional requests for comment Thursday.

A court-appointed receiver is an unbiased third party that effectively takes control over a company's operations and financial books and then makes a recommendation to the court on what the best path is to satisfy creditors, whether that means a reorganization of the company or a liquidation.

Skymint's investors allege mismanagement in two lawsuits, but unfavorable market conditions are exacerbating its downfall.

Michigan's marijuana industry has suffered an epic price collapse due to product oversupply — recreational marijuana retail prices have plummeted from $512.05 per ounce of flower in January 2020 to just $80.16 per ounce in January this year — effectively eliminating profit margins for businesses across the state.

The question remains of how far the market will fall and what happens to these companies operating under a receiver as rising interest rates make capital more expensive, and selling or buying troubled operations is thorny due to a patchwork of local regulations on license transfers to new owners.

Skymint spent and borrowed big to grow quickly as an early entrant into the legal marijuana market in Michigan. It now employs more than 600 people across 24 retail dispensaries around the state and three indoor grow operations in Dimondale and Lansing.

But a hefty debt load that kept ballooning as the company tried to stay afloat eventually became too much as weed prices kept falling, court filings show.

Tropics LP, a subsidiary of Calgary-based Sundial Growers Inc.'s investment firm SunStream Bancorp Inc., loaned Green Peak $70 million in September 2021 toward the acquisition of competitor 3Fifteen Cannabis and its 12 dispensaries in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Flint and elsewhere. Merida, a majority shareholder in 3Fifteen, also lent $8 million toward the 3Fifteen purchase. Both investors are suing Skymint in circuit court.

With an oversupply of product in the state and finite licenses and communities to sell the product, buying up dispensaries became paramount to Skymint's growth strategy. It was either develop a higher-priced niche product or play on volume with more sales outlets to move product as margins diminish.

Prices had already fallen 50 percent between September 2020 and September 2021, causing lenders to demand stiffer loan terms.

Under the Tropics' promissory note, Green Peak agreed to repay the lender in full by September 2025 at a whopping 12.5 percent interest rate, compounding monthly, as well as sell some common shares of the company to Tropics, according to the lawsuit.

Under that agreement, Green Peak agreed to maintain a minimum cash balance of $7.5 million, which Tropics alleges in the lawsuit that it failed to do in March last year. Tropics appears to have concluded it was either lose much of its investment or dump more money into Skymint in hopes its growth plan was successful.

Tropics loaned Green Peak another $5 million in March 2021, raising the loan total with fees to nearly $81.5 million. Green Peak once again did not meet its loan obligation in June 2022 after failing to raise an additional $15 million in new funding, according to the lawsuit. The company also failed to pay additional fees to Tropics, pay back rent on its East Jolly Road facility in Lansing and pay certain taxes, the lawsuit claims.

The two parties entered into another agreement in November, which included Tropics paying more than $5.8 million toward overdue sales and excise taxes for Green Peak.

Tropics alleges in the court filing that Green Peak's daily sales revenue has dropped from $356,953 in April 2022 to just $184,579 in January of this year, exacerbating an already bad financial picture.

Green Peak owes nearly $4 million in sales and excise taxes by March 25, the suit alleges, and the landlord of its leased cultivation facility in Dimondale is attempting to evict the company for owing roughly $1.1 million in rent.

Tropics is asking the receiver to take possession of Green Peak's assets.

"A lot of companies are on the edge, desperately trying to find additional capital, but costs are so extraordinarily high," said Lance Boldrey, partner at Detroit-based law firm Dykema Gossett PLLC and part of the legal team that designed the state's legalization framework. "Everyone thought the money was so good, they'd do anything to keep the game going. But we're going to see the market shake out. It's following the same pattern we saw in Colorado, Washington and Oregon. Anywhere with unlimited licensure."

The other receivership cases are much smaller in scope, but represent the growing pain in the state's industry.

"We're getting lots of client calls about licensees not getting paid for product and monitoring more and more lawsuits over licenses and money owed," Mains said. "These are the next receivership cases to come."

The legal marijuana framework in the state, approved by voters in 2018, allows the state to license any entity that meets stringent criteria. But those same entities cannot operate without a local license from the municipality where they would like to operate. For instance, Skymint has local licenses in at least 29 municipalities.

Here lies the heavy lift for Skymint's receiver, Gene Kohut, a partner at Detroit-based business advisory firm Trust Street Advisors, if he chooses to liquidate the company's assets to pay back investors.

Under state law, each of those municipalities developed their own licensing framework that often include differing rules and red tape on transferring those licenses to a new owner.

"State licenses have little to no value, it's all about the local approvals," Mains said. "Those ordinances are all over the place. Some only allow equity transfers or no license transfers at all or it's a huge process. The receiver and any potential buyer or buyers is going to have to address each local license at a one-by-one level."

And even if the receiver could navigate these local hiccups, is there a buyer with enough cash and lending power to gobble up Skymint's assets in a declining market?

Michael Elias, founder and CEO of Skymint competitor Marshall-based Common Citizen, said he's examined buying up its assets, but the debt obligations attached are too high.

"Debt is too significant and restructuring too difficult to extract any value," Elias told Crain's. "I'm sure someone could do it, but it's too cumbersome today (under falling prices)."

Andrew Sereno, CEO of Manchester-based niche grower Glacial Farms, said the fall of Skymint would benefit businesses in the market by reducing supply. Glacial Farms sells weed wholesale under the Glacier Cannabis brand and doubled its grow operation by leasing additional space from a defunct grower last year.

Skymint holds five adult-use Class C grow licenses, three adult-use excess grow licenses and eight medical marijuana grow licenses. That translates to the legal ability to grow as many as 28,000 marijuana plants, or about 2 percent of all of the state's legal marijuana plants being grown as of Jan. 31, according to CRA data. Though it's unlikely Skymint is growing anywhere near full capacity.

"For those of us who aren't debtors to (Skymint), this is a great thing as it should mean less (excess cannabis) on the market that's artificially lowering prices," Sereno said.

#At least 5 Michigan marijuana companies in receivership #signaling industry in peril #Michigan Medical Marijuana #313 #white weed #racism in marijuana in Michigan

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fishdonald · 1 year ago

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#Debt Consolidation Calgary #Debt Consolidation Edmonton #Credit Counselling Service #Debt Negotiations #Bankruptcy Service #Debt Consolidation Loan #Consumer Proposal Service Edmonton #Debt Consolidation Red Deer #Consumer proposal Services Red Deer #Debt Settlement Red Deer #Debt Negotiation in Calgary #Credit Consolidation Calgary #Debt Management Services in Calgary #Debt Assistance in Calgary #Money Management Service in Calgary

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fishdonald · 1 year ago

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Bankruptcy's Impact on Home: Managing Financial Struggles

Bankruptcy's influence on homeownership explained. Learn effective strategies for managing financial struggles while safeguarding your home.

#Advantages Of Consumer Proposal #Credit Counselling Service #Debt Negotiations #Consumer Proposal Service #Bankruptcy Service #Debt Consolidation Loan #Personal Debt Counselling Services Calgary #Debt Negotiations Calgary #Advantages Of Consumer Proposal Edmonton #Debt settlement Edmonton #Debt Consolidation Red Deer #Consumer proposal Services Red Deer #Debt Negotiation in Calgary #Money Management Service in Calgary

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prohockeyiq · 7 years ago

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Lets talk NHL Arena... Calgary/Seattle and a lot of uncertainty

What a mess. If you haven’t been following the news surrounding arena talk, we’ll help get you up to speed. We’re talking about struggles to fix up the Saddledome in Calgary, and an intriguing upgrade to the old KeyArena in Seattle.

Source: The Globe and Mail

The good: Seattle’s progress on updated KeyArena

KeyArena was home to the Seattle SuperSonics for 33 of the franchises 41 years in Seattle, before moving to Oklahoma City in 2008, in part because of the arena issues. Well now this old barn looks like it’s getting a makeover. This all thanks to a $600 Million renovation plan orchestrated by the city of Seattle and LA based Oak View Group. While the first thing that comes to mind for everyone is the Sonics and the NBA returning to Seattle, there has already been considerable interest for this arena potentially serving an NHL team. Combined that with the fact the NHL now has 31 teams (Vegas Baby, Vegas), and that Bettman has made no secret of the leagues interest in the Seattle market. So Seattle brining in an expansion team? Hell yea! We’re all for it. Let’s get some hockey in the Northwestern US... Anyone know if King Bezos of Amazon is a hockey fan?

The bad: Calgary Flames future stuck in Arena negotiations?

What is going on in Calgary you ask? The short of it... The Saddledome is very old by NHL standards, built in 1980. The cost to fix up this old legendary rink? $1.8 Billion, with a B! Holy moly thats a lot of cheese. Luckily the Flames are owned by one of the wealthiest families in Canada (see... Oil Money). So everything will work out, right? Welllllll, maybe not. Owner’s have offered to pay $200 Million and the possibility to issue debt to pay for an additional $250 Million... Problem is, they expect the city of Calgary to pick up the remaining $1.35 Billion. Not to get political, but something doesn’t seem right about this. Taxpayers shelving out that kinda cash for something the owners will get direct revenue from? Not to get into the current state of finance macro economics, but Oil is down (not the Oilers, they’re killing it), and if you didnt know, that had a pretty big impact on the economy of the city of Calgary. So how on Earth can the owners expect city officials to sell their constituents on paying for a new arena, when hard working folks are working their bags off just to put food on the table??? Ken King (owner), man up and pay your fair share to keep this franchise where it belongs. The Flames moving would be the biggest tragedy this side of the interest being born for the NHL. Doesn’t matter if there’s gonna be a shinny new arena down the road in Seattle... Calgary=Flames Country. Keep on rocking, C of Red!

The Wild Cards

Quick note, the NHL shouldn’t be looking to relocate any team to Seattle right now. You have 31 teams! An uneven number of teams in the conferences, Seattle has expansion written all over it. And if you do relocate, don’t take a team from one of the most loyal fanbases you have. How about Florida or Arizona puts some butts in their seats...

If you’re looking for an expansion, what ever happened to Quebec City?? Brand new arena in place, unbelievable fans, we certainly haven’t forgot... Fact check, we blogged this in 2014!

NHL, don’t screw this up. Move Arizona or Florida to Seattle, bring in Quebec, and for god’s sake, let Calgary remain Flame’s territory. We know money always plays in these things, but we have to believe there’s some justice in this world.

P.S. If a team does move to Seattle, we’ve just like to leave this here. Lot’s of whales flopping around in the Puget Sound... team name? hmmm ;)

#NHL #expansion #relocation #Seattle #Calgary #Calgary Flames #Quebec #PHIQTopPerformers

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personalcoachingcenter · 6 years ago

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10 ways women can grow their wealth

New Post has been published on http://personalcoachingcenter.com/10-ways-women-can-grow-their-wealth/

10 ways women can grow their wealth

Women can often have a tougher time than men when it comes to money. That’s not because women are bigger spenders than men or that they simply aren’t interested in building wealth and investing. The truth is, there are real structural roadblocks to attaining financial freedom for women compared to their male counterparts.

We’ve all familiar with the gender gap statistics. A recent Maclean’s article highlighted a 26 per cent gap between full-time wages paid to men and women in Canada.

But it doesn’t end there. Women feel financial headwinds in a lot of areas. Surveys clearly bear this out. For instance, according to a November 2017 survey done by Los Angeles-based Capital Group Companies, one of the largest investment management firms in the world, even though women believe they have more economic power as investors than they do in the workplace, eight out of 10 women have personally experienced negative stereotypes about their investing know-how and financial contributions to the household.

Of course, there’s gender price discrimination, known as a “pink tax” (meaning women pay more for “female” versions of products than men do for similar products), wage bias, career bias, investing bias (where men are seen as better investors than women) and wealth building bias (the idea that since women make less and invest less, they also build less wealth over a lifetime). There are plenty of barriers some women can face to getting ahead financially.

Happily, there’s no better way to overcome these barriers than with a good, old-fashioned emergency fund—or what some women would be right to call an FU-fund, especially if they don’t otherwise have the resources to act as a cushion while getting out of a messy divorce, or while taking some extra time with their kids as a single parent. An FU-fund is a constantly growing stash of cash that allows women the time and financial resources they need to better their lot in life—whether it’s quitting a stalled job, adding more skills training or professional credentials.

“An emergency fund and having some of your own money is really about having choices,” says Calgary-based Rose Raimondo, a certified financial planner and owner of Raimondo and Associates. “You don’t want to be cornered and then feel stuck with no money of your own.”

MoneySense is here to help. Here are 10 things you can now to improve your bottom line for the long term.

1. Shop wisely

That means buying men’s versions of almost anything. In many cases—whether it’s beauty products, haircuts, clothes or dry-cleaning—gender-based pricing is a real thing. Known as the “pink tax” it means women end up paying tens of thousands of dollars more over a lifetime for the same goods and services that men do. In fact, a study done in December 2015 by New York City’s Department of Consumer Affairs found that, on average, products for women cost 7 per cent more than similar products for men and women’s products were priced higher 42 per cent of the time.

So what should you do? “Change the gender gouging to your advantage,” says Rita Silvan, an investment and lifestyle editor with goldengirlfinance.com. “Look at generic items like shampoo, soap, razors, and deodorant and shop the men’s shop first…My mother even goes to a barber for a short pixie cut where she pays $20 instead of $100. At the end of the day, hair is hair.” Silvan also recommends that women keep mental track of how much they’re saving. “It can be substantial,” says Silvan. For instance, if you put $5,000 away each year from shopping with the strategy to avoid the pink tax and for 30 years you put that money in an emergency fund and invest it at a modest 5% average annual return, you’ll have $370,413. They key? Tracking your spending. Learn more here.

2. Ask for a pay raise

Start negotiating a raise every year. “Negotiation is a learned skill,” says Raimondo. “Understand what the job is worth and what you’re worth so you’re in a better position to negotiate a raise.” Silvan recommends taking further steps. “If the answer is ‘no’ when you ask for a raise the first time, keep trying. And before you leave your manager’s office get a firm commitment that the two of you can talk about this again in six months’ time.”

Here are some guidelines for achieving negotiating success. Here are steps on how to actually ask for a raise. And for inspiration, here’s one single mom’s story on how saving an emergency fund helped her make bigger life decisions. Oh, and if you’ve learned you’re being paid less than a male colleague, here’s what you can do about it.

3. Don’t neglect your career

Why do women still flock to fields such as education and health sciences while more men choose engineering? A big part of the answer is societal factors that tend to lead girls to underestimate their own abilities and a lack of role models at top levels. Add in other factors, like the fact that many women drop out of the workforce due to maternity leave or decreased hours to accommodate family responsibilities, and it’s easy to see how women fall off the career track.

What helps in closing the career gap is understanding the ramifications of your decisions. “If you decide to drop out of the workforce for 10 years to raise a family, create a 10-year-plan,” says Caird Urquhart, founder, and president of Newroad Coaching in Toronto. “In years 8 and 9, start planning your re-entry, whether it’s by upgrading your skills, working part-time, or simply working a bit from home.” Still dreaming of scoring your dream job? Here are steps towards landing it.

4. Pay yourself first

That means taking 10% gross from your pay and tucking the money away in your FU-fund. Depending on your situation, you might even want to insist on a monthly allowance for yourself from a wage-earning partner while you’re out of the workforce—whether it’s to raise kids, retrain, or become a caregiver to elderly parents. Save a 10% portion of that and keep topping up your FU fund so you can dip into it as needed. Here’s what you need to know to automate your savings.

5. Set financial goals

Once you’ve paid off debt and have a job you like, sit down and set some goals. “If you’re married, or in a relationship, don’t leave it up to your partner to do this alone,” says Urquhart. “It’s not smart to let men control everything in your life. Help draw up the family budget and weigh in on what the family’s goals should be.” Here’s how to also prioritize your financial goals.

6. Get a good advisor

You need to know how your money is spent and invested. Start by choosing a financial advisor you trust and then meeting with him or her annually. Here’s a cheat sheet on how to find the ideal advisor.

7. Educate yourself

Read a couple of personal finance books. It really doesn’t matter which book you start with and what financial savings path you take—as long as you keep moving forward.

8. Understand asset allocation and risk tolerance

“Women, in general, gravitate to low volatility investments—GICs, bonds, and the like,” says Silvan. “But that’s often because they earn less and have less in savings to work with. Women with larger disposable incomes can take more risk.” Here’s why diversification matters.

9. Keep investments simple and cost-effective

Finding one good balanced fund and putting your emergency savings into it is often all that’s needed. Or, simply opting for one of the new Vanguard Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that have all the diversification you need built right into one low-fee fund is also a good move. You can learn more on that here.

And while you’re at it, read Jennica’s story of how she built a simple low-cost portfolio with balanced funds. It’s eye-opening.

10. Monitor your wealth

Wealth is the difference between an individual’s assets and liabilities. But the concept of wealth is so much more. It’s the ability to pay for an emergency or other unexpected expense, the freedom to buy a home or pursue higher education and the security of having enough for retirement. In short, wealth is stability and opportunity.

Draw up an annual net worth statement to see if you’re on track with your financial goals—and to ensure you’re topping up your FU-fund if you’ve dipped into it over the course of the year. If you do this one simple step, you’re more likely to have financial success.

MORE ABOUT SALARIES:

Age, not gender, the new income divide in Canada

Pay raises to average 2.79% in 2015

ETF newcomers

Real estate reality

Are annuities the new RRIFs?

You’re paid more than you think

Where to get a raise

Car insurance costs

Source, N;

#Personal Coaching

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jamesgeiiger · 6 years ago

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Post-nups growing in popularity, say lawyers who share insight into the agreements

TORONTO — When Canadian heart throb Justin Bieber secretly married model Hailey Baldwin last year, tabloids said they didn’t bother with a fancy ceremony or a pre-nuptial agreement to protect their millions.

“He was an idiot not to get a (pre-nup), but we have seen Justin do a lot of stupid stuff,” joked Farrah Kohorst, a Calgary-based lawyer specializing in family law.

But according to Kohorst, 24-year-old Bieber — estimated to be worth $265 million — and 22-year-old Baldwin — rumoured to be worth $3 million — aren’t out of ways to keep their future earnings protected from each other, if they desire.

Kohorst and other experts say the key to safeguarding assets when you didn’t sign a pre-nup lies in a little-known agreement that is growing in popularity: a post-nup.

Often called a marriage contract under the Family Law Act, a post-nup can be signed before or after a wedding and can include clauses to decide what will happen to money, real estate, inheritances and pets if a marriage is dissolved.

Kohorst and other lawyers say most people are prompted to sign a post-nuptial agreement at the behest of their parents or because they want to embark on a financial venture their spouse isn’t keen on sharing the risk for, they suddenly snag a large inheritance or gift they want to keep from their partner or they simply ran out of time to draw up a pre-nup while preparing for their big day.

“I did one recently where the husband found out about a bunch of debt the wife had run up and he wanted nothing to do with that because it wasn’t disclosed to him,” said Kohorst.

“I really pump these to my friends and family because we are looking at 40 per cent divorce rate and 60 per cent common-law breakdown (in Canada).”

She often recommends couples who are trying to figure out what to put in a post-nup focus on their goals and think about whether children, new businesses or windfalls are headed their way. If someone agrees to waive their spousal support and not share property that is jointly held, Kohorst often suggests a settlement where the amount of money they receive for the dissolution of their marriage is based on the length of the relationship or is a portion of the net value of their assets.

She also advises clients to look out for conduct provisions — clauses surrounding infidelity, weight gain and a minimum number of times a week or month a spouse has to agree to sex. They’re popular in the U.S., but are usually frowned upon and often not relevant to legal rights in Canada, she adds.

Kohorst also said most clients don’t realize post-nups aren’t boilerplate documents that can be drawn up in a few days on the cheap. Most take more than one meeting and require several financial disclosures.

“There is a difference between marrying somebody you think is worth $1 million, when they are really worth $50 million,” she said. “You might get a different deal.”

In rush scenarios, Kohorst has seen post-nups come together in six to eight weeks and in situations with prominent families with plenty to protect, she’s charged up to $60,000 to represent her client.

However, most people will spend a few thousand dollars for agreements that take three to four months to draw up.

Kohorst pushes her clients to avoid signing them the same month as their wedding because if one is signed too close to the wedding, it can later be argued the agreement was made under duress. If clients insist, she adds a clause noting both parties agree they are not committing to the agreement under duress.

Rick Peticca, a Toronto-based senior associate specializing in family law, said he recommends post-nups when clients are keen on getting a pre-nup but have six months or less until their wedding, putting themselves in a danger zone for duress arguments.

He suggests signing an agreement well before the six-month mark to avoid those troubles and make use of negotiating advantages you have before tying the knot.

“You have an option not to proceed with the wedding,” he said. “You lose that leverage after the wedding has occurred.”

He has also seen people pursuing post-nups long after their marriage began in hopes of using the agreements as a “security blanket” against situations that recently arose.

“I have a case right now where my client’s spouse was unfaithful and while they work things out, they want something in place,” he said, noting that post-nups should be made to fit each person’s unique situation and concerns.

“Before someone just agrees to anything they really need to think of the consequences. It’s not just trying to satisfy your partner. There are real life consequences, so they need to ensure their views are properly reflected.”

Post-nups growing in popularity, say lawyers who share insight into the agreements published first on https://worldwideinvestforum.tumblr.com/

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mikemortgage · 6 years ago