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paneyneygirl · 1 year ago

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When Selecting Removalists, 5 Points To Consider

Relocating may be an intimidating task, whether it's a regional move or even a long-distance relocation. Deciding on the appropriate expert removalist in Marrickville can make a notable difference in the smoothness and productivity of your relocation. To make sure a effective as well as trouble-free moving knowledge, think about these 5 important elements when selecting removalists.

Image as well as Reviews

Among the primary thing you must explore when picking removalists is their track record and consumer testimonials. Start through asking buddies, loved ones, as well as co-workers for recommendations. Spoken communication is actually usually a reliable source of relevant information. In addition, look into on the web testimonial platforms and also websites devoted to moving services, such as Yelp or Google Reviews. Reading both bad and also positive assessments can easily provide you a well-rounded understanding of a removalist's functionality.

Search for removalists Sydney Inner West with regularly positive responses regarding their promptness, professionalism, maintain possessions, and overall customer complete satisfaction. Beware of removalists along with a high number of negative assessments, as this could show reliability concerns or even poor solution top quality.

Licensing and Insurance coverage

Just before entrusting your possessions to a removalist, guarantee they are actually appropriately accredited and insured. Licensing requirements can easily vary coming from one location to yet another, therefore contact your municipality or regulatory agency to know what licenses are needed for movers in your area.

Insurance is actually every bit as important. A reliable removalist must supply enough insurance policy coverage to defend your possessions throughout the step. This coverage should feature both overall responsibility insurance coverage, which safeguards against damage to your property or trauma to laborers, as well as transit insurance, which covers your valuables while they reside in transportation. Don't hesitate to demand evidence of insurance policy as well as licensing to guarantee you are working with a legitimate and reputable provider.

Adventure and also Knowledge

Relocating can show several difficulties, coming from navigating slender corridors as well as stairs to dealing with delicate or valuable items. To avoid potential mishaps, go for removalists along with a tried and tested record as well as experience in handling comparable relocations. A seasoned removalist will certainly have the knowledge to assess the one-of-a-kind criteria of your technique as well as deliver ideal options.

During the course of your first consultation along with removalists, ask about their expertise along with similar sorts of actions as well as ask about any sort of specialized services they deliver. Experienced Inner West removalists in Sydney may give important insights and also tips on just how to streamline the relocating process as well as decrease prospective concerns.

Services Offered

The services used through removalists may vary largely, so it's important to clarify what solutions you need and also whether the removalist can accommodate your demands. Below are some companies to look at:

Packaging as well as unpacking: Some removalists provide full-service packaging and unpacking, which can save you a notable quantity of time and initiative.

Furniture disassembly and also reassembly: If you have complex or even hefty furniture, make certain the removalist supplies this service.

Storing possibilities: If there's a gap between moving and also relocating into your brand new property, ask about the removalist's storing resources and rates.

Specialized thing managing: If you have critical or beneficial things, such as art pieces, pianos, or even antiques, make sure the removalist possesses adventure in dealing with such items.

Lorry options: Depending on the volume of your personal belongings, you may require different-sized automobiles. Make certain the removalist can easily offer suitable alternatives.

Precisely connect your requirements as well as desires along with the removalist to guarantee they can deliver the services required for your move.

Price as well as Estimates

When picking removalists, Finances points to consider are unquestionably essential. It's advisable to acquire numerous quotes coming from various removalists to compare services and prices. Nonetheless, always remember that the most affordable price does not regularly equate to the most effective value.

When seeking quotes, specify concerning the particulars of your action, consisting of the volume of personal belongings, the span to your new location, any sort of added companies demanded, and also any sort of possible difficulties that may complicate the step. This are going to aid removalists deliver clear as well as correct quotes.

While reviewing quotes, look at variables such as the removalist's image, experience, and the companies they give. Equilibrium cost along with quality as well as integrity to create an updated choice.

Lastly, opting for the best removalists is actually a critical action in making certain a hassle-free and trouble-free move. Research study the removalist's credibility and also go through assessments, validate their licensing and also insurance policy, assess their knowledge and also expertise, inquire about the companies they provide, as well as acquire multiple quotes to make an educated decision. By taking these aspects in to point to consider, you can increase the likelihood of a problem-free and also productive moving adventure.

VMOVE

29B Chapel St, Marrickville NSW 2204

02 7201 9367

#Marrickville

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ashapik · 1 year ago

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When Opting For Removalists, 5 Points To Consider

Moving could be a challenging activity, whether it's a long-distance relocation or a regional move. Choosing the best Marrickville removalists can easily create a substantial difference in the smoothness as well as productivity of your move. To make sure a prosperous as well as hassle-free relocating experience, take into consideration these 5 important variables when deciding on removalists.

Credibility and reputation and Evaluations

When deciding on removalists is their reputation and also customer testimonials, one of the first points you need to look into. Start through inquiring friends, family members, and also coworkers for referrals. Spoken communication is typically a reliable source of information. Also, look into on the internet customer review platforms as well as internet sites dedicated to moving solutions, including Yelp or Google.com Reviews. Reviewing both unfavorable as well as positive customer reviews may offer you a well-rounded understanding of a removalist's functionality.

Search for removalists Sydney Inner West with regularly favorable responses concerning their punctuality, professionalism, care for items, and also total consumer contentment. Beware of removalists along with a higher variety of bad customer reviews, as this might signify integrity problems or even unsatisfactory company premium.

Licensing and also Insurance coverage

Before leaving your items to a removalist, guarantee they are adequately licensed as well as insured. Licensing demands can easily vary coming from one area to another, therefore contact your city government or regulatory agency to understand what licenses are needed for movers in your region.

Insurance is actually just as vital. A credible removalist needs to deliver sufficient insurance protection to secure your possessions during the relocation. This coverage must consist of both overall obligation insurance coverage, which protects against damage to your residential or commercial property or injury to employees, as well as transportation insurance, which covers your items while they reside in transportation. Do not wait to request proof of insurance policy as well as licensing to guarantee you are partnering with a dependable as well as legitimate firm.

Adventure as well as Know-how

Moving may provide several obstacles, from browsing narrow corridors as well as stairways to managing fragile or useful products. To steer clear of prospective mishaps, go with removalists along with a proven track record and also expertise in taking care of similar steps. A knowledgeable removalist will have the know-how to evaluate the special criteria of your step and also offer proper services.

Throughout your preliminary appointment along with removalists, ask them about their expertise with similar kinds of moves and also ask about any kind of customized solutions they use. Experienced removalists Inner West may give useful understandings and also recommendations on how to streamline the moving process and also lessen possible problems.

Provider Offered

The services delivered by removalists can easily vary widely, so it's essential to clarify what solutions you require and whether the removalist can support your demands. Here are actually some services to think about:

Packing and unpacking: Some removalists supply full service packaging as well as unpacking, which can spare you a notable quantity of time as well as initiative.

Furnishings disassembly as well as reassembly: If you have complex or bulky home furniture, ensure the removalist uses this company.

Storage alternatives: If there is actually a void in between vacating and relocating into your new house, ask about the removalist's storage space centers and prices.

Specialized product dealing with: If you have delicate or even important things, such as artwork, pianos, or even antiquities, make sure the removalist possesses adventure in handling such items.

Automobile alternatives: Depending upon the amount of your valuables, you might require different-sized vehicles. See to it the removalist may offer ideal options.

Precisely communicate your necessities and desires with the removalist to ensure they can easily deliver the companies required for your action.

Cost and Prices quote

Budget points to consider are definitely crucial when selecting removalists. It's wise to acquire several quotes from various removalists to contrast solutions and also prices. Nevertheless, always remember that the lowest price doesn't consistently translate to the greatest value.

When seeking quotes, be specific concerning the details of your action, including the volume of items, the span to your new site, any sort of extra companies needed, as well as any sort of potential difficulties that could make complex the step. This will aid removalists deliver clear as well as exact quotes.

While reviewing quotes, take into consideration variables like the removalist's track record, knowledge, as well as the companies they deliver. Harmony price along with quality as well as reliability to make an updated choice.

To conclude, selecting the correct removalists is a crucial action in ensuring a smooth and hassle-free action. Research the removalist's credibility and go through customer reviews, validate their licensing and insurance coverage, assess their adventure and know-how, ask about the companies they use, and secure various quotes to create an informed decision. Through taking these elements into factor to consider, you can enhance the possibility of a convenient as well as prosperous moving experience.

VMOVE

29B Chapel St, Marrickville NSW 2204

02 7201 9367

#Marrickville

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sydneycleanservice · 2 years ago

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Sydney Clean Service- Cleaning Marrickville

Located in the inner west of Sydney, Marrickville is a culturally rich suburb with an eclectic mix of residential, industrial and commercial areas. It is also a suburb that boasts a diverse population, which makes it an ideal home for families, working professionals and retirees. It is also home to a number of top-class schools and high-class shopping facilities. It is also home to a wide variety of cuisines, which makes it a popular choice for those looking for a multicultural hub.

Marrickville is a suburb that has undergone substantial gentrification over the past decade. It is a trendy suburb that offers a variety of public and private transport options and is located just 7 kilometers from the city center. It is also home to a variety of restaurants, which offer an array of cuisines to suit any palate. Marrickville is also home to the famous Victorian Gothic mansion known as "the Warren" and a number of high-class shopping centres. It is also the primary site for the annual Sydney Fringe Festival.

In addition to offering a wide variety of services, Sydney Clean Service also supports plan-managed NDIS participants. Their cleaning franchisees have been trained by industry experts in the cleaning techniques that are required for these special facilities. Their franchisees also offer a personalised service, and can be contacted by phone, email or through their website. Their services range from house cleaning to office cleaning and industrial cleaning. They are also able to provide pressure cleaning and cleaning Marrickville services.

Marrickville is also home to the famous Sydney Fringe Festival. It is a multicultural hub in the inner west of Sydney, and celebrates the diversity of the region. The area is home to a number of culturally diverse groups and has experienced a steady population growth. It is also home to an eclectic range of buildings, ranging from historic cottages to modern-age apartments. It is also home to a large number of Vietnamese restaurants, which is a big draw for those looking for a fusion of cultures.

Marrickville is also home to several top-class schools, which makes it a popular choice for families with children. In addition to this, it is home to a number of high-class shopping facilities, which make it a popular destination for young professionals. It is also home to a number historic and Victorian cottages, as well as contemporary apartments.

Marrickville is a suburb of Sydney that has been growing in popularity over the past few years. It is located in the inner west of Sydney, just seven kilometers from the city center. It is a popular destination for people looking for a trendy suburb that has access to a number of public and private transport options, as well as a wide variety of cuisines. It is also home to a wide range of commercial and industrial properties, which makes it a perfect location for a wide variety of companies. It is also home to a number historical buildings, which have witnessed significant gentrification over the past decade.

Sydney Clean Service are Sydney’s trusted cleaning service, providing high quality cleaning service to both commercial and domestic clients. Our team are highly trained cleaning experts, built on more than 10 years of cleaning experience.

#Cleaning business in Sydney #Commercial cleaning western Sydney #cleaning marrickville #carpet cleaning marrickville #cleaners marrickville #house cleaning marrickville #cleaning services marrickville #cleaning artarmon #commercial cleaning artarmon #cleaning lane cove #cleaners lane cove

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artswritings · 3 years ago

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Red 1

Rebecca Solnit: Infinite City: A San Francisco Atlas A few thoughts before beginning:

I remember when this book was on pretty much every coffee table I came across in San Francisco for some time after it came out (2014-2017?)

I swiped it from Piston -- a long-defunct tech startup where I briefly worked as the HR assistant / office manager. Very SF tech scene, my job was largely to process lunch receipts and make sure there was always Four Roses Bourbon in the board room. The 'aesthetic' of the company was old-timey library, so there were a ton of books everywhere. This appeared one day, no one touched it, so on my way out I swiped it. -shrug-

It's been a few years since I read it, but I remember a few things, especially the note about the bus that runs from preppy Marina through the historically Black Fillmore, down through the Mission, and off to oblivion -- how that one bus cuts through the city in a way that gives you an incredible look at many of its layers of flavors

It strikes me what a bold move it is to try to capture this (particularly?) ephemeral city in a book at any given time. I predict that even though it was written less than 10 years ago, I won't recognize most of the San Francisco inside.

What would I add to a San Francisco atlas? I'd like a map of notable murals/street art, arts venues, staircases, and 'urban hikes'

Thoughts while reading:

- I love this gloriously gloomy quote from page 3, "The bay is, in a haunting phrase, called a drowned river mouth. Once, its islands were only hilltops, for the river channel that still goes deep beneath the bridge was carved out when the sea was lower and the rivers stretched farther west."

time has drowned this valley continues to drown and we are the memories flashing by at the end of her life -pg. 5 "The poet-artist Genine Lentine of the San Francisco Zen Center..." Genine! I took a poetry workshop with her! I wonder if she still crawls these streets, what's happening at her Zen Center?

After binging the second half of it:

- Maybe I'm just in a bad mood today, but this book feels indulgent, inaccurate (over time) / outdated, incomplete

-But I suppose one could write a Section 23 in the book itself about ephemeralness and how it's an apt description that can be traced both through the book & through the city

Have I crossed paths with Guillermo Gomez Pena? Or Rebecca Solnit for that matter?

I have crossed paths with Genine Lentine. And then and now I've wondered about zen meditation and Buddhism and its possible place in my life. I left those passages feeling contemplative about futures yet to come for me.

Coffee shops, the mission, evictions, participating in its shifting economies, identities + tribes, the character and complexity of each neighborhood, yerba buena and its dreadful past ... subjects that resonate as I crest my 8th anniversary of living here.

Final Thoughts:

It was a pleasure tracing the maps. Looking at what was marked on each map near familiar intersections. Finding things I knew and recognized + finding things I still haven't yet. I last read this in 2014 or 2015, a couple years after landing here. The city has changed so much (more or less on the same trajectories outlined in the book), and I have gained many more relationships to the city + its past + my past.

I have left and come back (if moving to Berkeley for a year counts), I own property here now. I now have streets that mean several different selves to me.

I worked from my new office last week, and sat on the 22nd Floor. Perhaps the highest up in any building I've gone in San Francisco, certainly the highest I've ever spent much time in. I saw Yerba Buena Center from above, and Salesforce Park from above.

I walk by the noted Cafe Flore every day, it sits vacant now but unchanged from the outside. After years of living nearby, I finally consider Dolores Park part of my inner concentric circle of being.

I have known this city alone, and I now know it more as a couple.

I have gotten married on top of a hill alluded to in one of the stories (a story of hidden staircases).

Anyway, while I appreciated it last time I read the book, I am more familiar with its subjects now, and more grateful for the histories and hidden stories it illuminates. Having lived at 24th & Folsom, a new appreciation for the gang territories in the Mission. Having worked in and read poetry in several coffee shops and frequented many more, a new desire to go to the ones I love so much now before they're gone.

Some subjects I'd like to investigate of San Francisco:

- centers of poetry

- local artist collectives

- concert venues + art centers

- tree tour

- sidewalk scratchings

- how the sunset has evolved

I think I'll try the exercise Guillermo and Rebecca did in one of the maps -- for each part of the city, who am I? Who am I where? And maybe I'd do one similar to the Muybridge one, what are some of the important moments on my timeline and where did they occur? And perhaps I'd like to do a version of the Treasure Island map, choosing 49 treasures throughout the city and placing them on the map.

I think this book should be taken as it is. Admire the gorgeous maps, wonder how you might create similar maps of your city, your neighborhood. Let it inspire you to learn more about those who came before you, be it thousands, hundreds, or merely 5 years ago. Cherish the weird signs, persistent graffitti, seemingly timeless coffeeshops, and the particular sounds that surround you, for either they will change or you will, and you'll love to have a mark of them to look back on.

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aeneasx · 5 years ago

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Mars in the Houses

Mars in the 1st house: Mars in the 1st house creates a fiery, aggressive personality. Individuals with this placement can be quite exciting to be around. They are passionate to the max and full of energy. Where they are, the action is. Because the 1st house rules appearance, they may be powerfully built with a strong, muscular physique. They are not afraid to work hard and they are especially keen to get things started. When negatively aspected, Mars in the 1st can produce people who act before they think or who respond to situations with physical violence. It can also indicate people who are great at starting things but not so hot on finishing. Famous people with this placement: RuPaul, Winston Churchill, Marie Antoinette, Johnny Depp.

Mars in the 2nd house: Cue the Donna Summer music for this placement of Mars produces someone who works hard for their money. They are ambitious for money and material goods. Cash drives them. Often times, they will prefer to work on their own rather than work for a boss or company. Which means: it’s an excellent placement for entrepreneurship. Individuals with this placement can also be financially competitive and quite possessive when it comes to their personal property. Don’t touch their stuff or else you face their wrath! If afflicted, this can produce a person who will do whatever it takes to achieve their financial goals, even if that means resorting to dishonesty or thuggish criminal activity. Famous people with this placement: Freddie Mercury, Vladimir Putin, Elizabeth Taylor, Russell Brand.

Mars in the 3rd house: This placement of Mars indicates a sharp, quick mind. Individuals with Mars in the 3rd are often times brash communicators, able to assert their opinions aggressively. They don’t mince words. In fact, they can often be harsh. The “brutally honest” person is an example. This placement is ideal for people who work in careers where debate is part of their work. For example, attorneys or political commentators could be quite effective if this is where Mars hangs in their chart. On the downside, it can also indicate a person who jumps to conclusions and likes to bicker. Trouble with siblings, neighbors, travel, and communication are also ways this placement rolls when Mars is afflicted. Famous people with this placement: Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Rey, Marilyn Manson, Paul Newman.

Mars in the 4th house: Mars in the 4th house folks expend a lot of energy in the home. This is the old “rule the roost” vibe. They want to be the dominant force in the family, which can often lead to drama, especially if they are unable to regard the feelings of the other members of the household. While they can be protective of their kin, they can also be controlling. Conflicts with parents is typical. If afflicted, the energy is amplified and the family dynamics can be toxic and volatile. There can also be trouble with property. For example, the home could be destroyed by fire. Most people with this placement do better when they move out of the parental home. Famous people with this placement: Amy Winehouse, Prince, Jim Morrison, Ted Bundy.

Mars in the 5th house: This is a hot ’n sexy placement for Mars. Individuals with Mars in the 5th love to pursue romance and pleasure. They are not shy – in fact, they tend to be quite aggressive when interested in someone. They’ve got game, yo! The sexual nature is also strong, which means that they could be quick to hop in the sack. A bit of self-control can help them avoid making mistakes (aka the “coyote ugly” morning). This placement is excellent for teachers as long as the individual keeps their power in check. An afflicted Mars in the 5th could produce a jealous, sexually demanding person or promiscuous one that flits from one relationship to another impulsively. Sometimes this can indicate an unexpected pregnancy. Famous people with this placement: George Clooney, Pamela Anderson, Robert Redford, Charles Manson.

Mars in the 6th house: This is the placement of the workaholic. Folks with 6th house Mars love to work and tend to have plenty of stamina. You will rarely find a lazy person with this placement. They have a good work ethic and often expect everyone to work as hard as they do. Woe be it to the person who works under this person and doesn’t live up to their standards! Routines are important to them and they will spend much time organizing and fretting over details. They can be harsh critics but don’t take kindly when someone criticizes them. If Mars is afflicted here, the natives can be prone to overwork or arguments with coworkers. The terrible boss who makes work hell for everyone else ala Devil Wears Prada would be an example of a poorly aspected Mars in the 6th. Famous people with this placement: JayZ, Julia Roberts, Clint Eastwood, Coco Chanel.

Mars in the 7th house: Mars in 7th house people are aggressive in partnerships, both romantic and business. They will actively pursue relationships and once in them, will be determined to make them work. In a romantic relationship, sex will be important. In business, compromise will be a must. Impulse needs to be avoided in the choice of partners or the individuals will learn some pretty big lessons. Look before you leap into any relationship should be their mantra. This placement of Mars can also produce excellent lawyers. If you need to hire one, check to see if they have Mars here. If Mars is afflicted, relationships can be full of drama and discord, which can cause the severing of ties.Famous people with this placement: Adolf Hitler, Barack Obama, Whitney Houston, Natalie Portman.

Mars in the 8th house: This is another placement that can bring on a strong sexual nature. Passion is paramount for these sensuous folks. They are intense so do know if you’re getting involved with one of these people, you’re gonna be exploring the erotic side like never before! They may be interested in tantra or sex magic as well as the occult. Mars in the 8th house people are extremely psychic – they can tune in quite easily. You can’t fool them for long! Sooner or later they see right through ya. There may be a lot of aggression around joint finances. If the Mars is poorly aspected, it can lead to issues around tax, sex, and inheritances. Famous people with this placement: Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy, Courtney Love, Gary Oldman.

Mars in the 9th house: Here, Mars indicates an interest in travel and philosophy. The individual with this placement may travel widely in order to broaden their perspective. Foreign travel is especially of interest to them. Wanderlust will be strong and the desire to “see the world” may keep them on the road. They are also quite aggressive about promoting their own ideals. That preachy friend who goes on and on about politics or religion – that. If the chart is afflicted, they can become narrow-minded fanatics who try and push their beliefs on others. Think: cult leader. If you’re ever in a cult and your leader has this placement, don’t drink the damn Kool-Aid. Famous people with this placement: Angelina Jolie, Hillary Clinton, Madonna, Kendrick Lamar.

Mars in the 10th house: Individuals with Mars in the 10th work tirelessly towards their way to the top. They want status, which means they will be extremely ambitious and competitive. Power and fame drive them – and in some cases may produce a leader who does what they can to step into the top dog role. You will find many corporate executives and politicians with this placement. When well aspected, they will inspire others as they gain power. If poorly aspected, this can produce the individual who stop at nothing to achieve their goals, even if that means trampling over the rights of others. A fall from grace is possible if that is their method of operation. No one likes a bully. Famous people with this placement: Beyoncé, Kanye West, Andy Warhol, Rasputin.

Mars in the 11th house: Mars in the 11th house indicates individuals who place a lot of importance on friendships. They enjoy working in groups and are often effective leaders. Some of their friendships may be based on professional or political ambitions. They will be excellent networkers who seem to know everyone. Yet they will have few people in their inner circle. They prefer to keep that part rather exclusive. (Sometimes it’s because they are a bit paranoid.) If the Mars is afflicted, there can be treachery through friends or power struggles in groups. They could also attract friends that lead them astray or into dangerous situations. Great care must be taken in the choice of buddies. Famous people with this placement: Taylor Swift, Chris Brown, Oprah Winfrey, Mitt Romney.

Mars in the 12th house: Folks with Mars in the 12th house like to work in secret. Like the Wizard of Oz, they prefer to be behind the scenes, managing operations in order to avoid the scrutiny or opposition of others. They often have deep, dark secrets too. Sometimes these are of a sexual nature. The unconscious mind is strong and may influence their actions. It’s important for these people to be clear on what their motives are when engaging in a situation. If afflicted, this Mars can produce a person who has many secret enemies or who has trouble with honesty. In worse case scenarios, the individuals could be confined to prisons or institutions. In some cases, this could be due to political reasons (ex: a political prisoner or prisoner of war). Famous people with this placement: Donald Trump, David Bowie, Osama Bin Laden, Rose McGowan, Muammar al-Gaddafi.

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nextgenpropertymgmt · 2 years ago

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Open letter to Sydney Tenants - PLEASE read this now!

Open letter to Sydney Tenants – PLEASE read this now!

This is an open letter to our exisiting NextGen tenants but also to all current and future tenants in Sydney. I’ve decided to put pen to paper to share the latest on the current market but also to share my views of what to expect up ahead! If you recently searched for a property to rent, attended an open for inspection or applied to rent a property anywhere in the Sydney Metropolitan and Greater…

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#Best Property Manager #Landlords #property management #Property Management Company Inner West #Property Management Company South West Sydney #Property Management Company St George #property manager #Rental Market #Sydney Inner West

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newstfionline · 4 years ago

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Sunday, March 28, 2021

Alabama, Georgia pick up the pieces after deadly tornadoes (AP) Chainsaws buzzed through fallen trees, stunned residents dug in the rubble that had been their homes, and neighbors rushed in to help on Friday after multiple tornadoes ripped a path of devastation across the Deep South. At least five people were killed. As many as 10 tornadoes—an estimated eight in Alabama and two in Georgia—carved a tremendous path of devastation on Thursday, uprooting 100-year-old trees, stripping roofs from houses, seriously damaging schools and businesses, and scattering treasured family possessions far and wide. Charlene Watson’s apartment building was ripped apart by the tornado. She awoke to sirens and moved as quickly as she could to the basement of her building before the twister tore the roof off her building. “Just be thankful for everything you’ve got, because you are not promised the next day. Nothing is,” Watson said, holding back tears.

Biden’s inner circle maintains close ties to vaccine makers, disclosures reveal (The Intercept) In the coming months, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, President Joe Biden’s ambassador to the United Nations, will hear from a growing chorus of developing nations about the foundering efforts to distribute the coronavirus vaccine globally. The nations, many of which have not even begun vaccinating their populations, are demanding that the U.S. support proposals to temporarily waive certain patent and intellectual property rights so that generic coronavirus vaccines can be produced. The proposals have been fiercely opposed by American drugmakers, including Pfizer, a pharmaceutical giant that Thomas-Greenfield’s former consulting firm has recently counted as a client. Thomas-Greenfield and her number two, Jeffrey DeLaurentis, previously worked for the Albright Stonebridge Group, or ASG, a consulting firm founded by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. The firm, which represents Pfizer, specializes in helping large corporations understand and influence international trade policy, including on intellectual property. Many leading figures in Biden’s administration, including key White House advisers, State Department leaders, and health care officials have financial stake in or professional ties to vaccine manufacturers, which are now lobbying to prevent policies that would cut into future profits over the vaccine.

Children Trapped by Colombia’s War, Five Years After Peace Deal (NYT) At 13, she left home to join the guerrillas. Now, at 15, Yeimi Sofía Vega lay in a coffin, killed during a military operation ordered by her government. Nearly five years after Colombia signed a historic peace accord with its largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the country’s internal war is far from over. Remote towns like Puerto Cachicamo have yet to see the schools, clinics and jobs the government promised in the agreement. Thousands of dissident FARC combatants have returned to battle, or never laid down their arms, and are fighting rivals for control of illicit markets. Mass killings and forced displacement are again regular occurrences. And young people—trapped between an often absent state, the aggressive recruitment of armed groups and the firepower of the military—are once again the conflict’s most vulnerable targets. That was evident this month, when the government bombed a rebel camp in an effort to take out a high-profile dissident FARC leader known by the alias Gentil Duarte. The camp turned out to be full of young people who had been recruited by the group—and the operation killed at least two minors, including Yeimi Sofía.

Why Uruguay’s Schoolchildren Are Doing So Well in the Pandemic (Der Spiegel) Two weeks after Amelia’s first day of school last March, she was suddenly unable to go anymore. Her school had been shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. But for the first grader from Uruguay, it wasn’t such a big deal. She learned the alphabet by way of digital tutorials, and she had so much fun with the digital math lessons that she did additional exercises. There were video conferences three times a week, so she could get to know her teacher and classmates better. And under the leadership of her physical education teacher, Amelia, 7, did gymnastics exercises in her living room. Amelia, though, is not some well-off pupil at a private school. She goes to a public school in Uruguay’s capital of Montevideo. And like all of the other schoolchildren in the small country sandwiched between Argentina and Brazil, she received her tablet computer from the state. Uruguay has been investing in digital education for years in addition to making it accessible to everyone. The country’s education system was better prepared for the pandemic than most of the other countries in the region, and also better than many in the wealthy West. Whereas some teachers in Germany had no contact with their students for several weeks, there was a constant exchange between pupils and teachers in Uruguay. Instead of blurry scans and erroneous internet links hiding content that could not be found, Uruguay was able to offer schoolchildren digital schoolbooks with science experiments, homework in the form of quizzes or games, interactive video conferences, personalized exercises, and chats to clear up any questions. It has already been more than 10 years since the country—as one of six around the world—introduced a one-laptop-per-child policy. On top of that, Uruguay installed free internet in public squares around the country, including in rural areas, and also founded a state agency for digital education called Plan Ceibal. “In general, the last school year worked quite well,” says Fiorella Haim, a manager at Plan Ceibal.

Spurred by lockdown, Spain gives 4-day week a try (AP) After years of waiting tables, Danae De Vries is one step closer to achieving her lifetime dream of becoming a theater coach. Ironically, she owes that to the pandemic. It was after last year’s brutal lockdown that shut the Spanish economy down for weeks that the owners of a small restaurant chain in Madrid offered De Vries to cut her weekly work schedule by one day. Already struggling to make ends meet in a city that has seen rental prices spiral, the 28-year-old was hesitant at first—and then enthusiastic when she was told her wages would remain untouched. Experimenting with cutting back one workday per week is about to go nationwide in Spain—the first country in Europe to do so. A three-year pilot project will be using 50 million euros ($59 million) from the European Union’s massive coronavirus recovery fund to compensate some 200 mid-size companies as they resize their workforce or reorganize production workflows to adapt to a 32-hour working week. The funds will go to subsidizing all of the employers’ extra costs in the first year of the trial and then reduce the government’s aid to 50% and 25% each consecutive year.

Myanmar security forces kill over 90 in 'horrifying' day of bloodshed (Reuters) Security forces killed more than 90 people, including some children, across Myanmar on Saturday in one of the bloodiest days of protests since a military coup last month, news reports and witnesses said. The lethal crackdown, which took place on Armed Forces Day, drew strong renewed criticism from Western countries. British Ambassador Dan Chugg said the security forces had “disgraced themselves” and the U.S. envoy called the violence horrifying. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the junta leader, said during a parade to mark Armed Forces Day that the military would protect the people and strive for democracy. At least 29 people, including a 13-year-old girl, were killed in Mandalay, and at least 24 people were killed in Yangon, Myanmar Now said.

Beaten, Cuffed, Hauled Away: When Myanmar’s Military Comes Knocking (NYT) When the police and soldiers arrived in the middle of the night, they fired their guns into the air, threw stones through the windows and threatened to drive a car through the front door if no one opened it. U Shwe Win and his family were asleep. It was 2:30 a.m. The police and soldiers had come to arrest Mr. Shwe Win’s son, Ko Win Htut Nyein. When they found him, they beat and handcuffed the 19-year-old before hauling him away. His offense, the family was told, was taking videos of the police at a protest in Mandalay the day before. More than two weeks later, Mr. Shwe Win is still searching for his son. The authorities say they have no record of his arrest. Since the Feb. 1 coup in Myanmar, millions of pro-democracy protesters have joined demonstrations against the military and participated in general strikes and a civil disobedience movement that have brought the economy to a virtual halt. Security forces have responded with increasing ruthlessness, shooting people in the streets and arbitrarily beating and arresting people. Soldiers and the police invade homes in the middle of the night, searching for opponents of military rule. Many have gone into hiding. Some are arrested and released. Others wind up missing, tortured or dead.

Israelis gather for Passover, celebrating freedom from virus (AP) A year ago, Giordana Grego’s parents spent Passover at home in Israel, alone but grateful that they had escaped the worst of the pandemic in Italy. This year, the whole family will get together to mark the Jewish feast of liberation and deliverance from the pandemic. Israel has vaccinated over half its population of 9.3 million, and as coronavirus infections have plummeted, authorities have allowed restaurants, hotels, museums and theaters to re-open. Up to 20 people can now gather indoors. It’s a stark turnaround from last year, when Israel was in the first of three nationwide lockdowns, with businesses shuttered, checkpoints set up on empty roads and people confined to their homes. Passover is the Jewish holiday celebrating the biblical Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt after a series of divine plagues. The week-long springtime festival starts Saturday night with the highly ritualized Seder meal, when the Exodus story is retold. It’s a Thanksgiving-like atmosphere with family, friends, feasting and four cups of wine.

Salvager hopes to free ship blocking Suez Canal by start of next week (Reuters) A giant container ship grounded in the Suez Canal could be freed by the start of next week if heavier tugboats, dredging and a high tide succeed in dislodging it, a Dutch firm working to free the vessel said. The 400-metre (430-yard) long Ever Given became wedged diagonally across a southern section of the canal amid high winds early on Tuesday, disrupting global shipping by blocking one of the world’s busiest waterways. About 15% of world shipping traffic passes through the canal, and dozens of vessels are waiting in the waterway and around its northern and southern entrances for the blockage to be cleared.

Piracy fears mount as ships take long way around Africa to avoid blocked Suez Canal (Washington Post) Brand-new Kia automobiles, cases of Heineken beer, live animals and billions of dollars of crude oil and other commodities remained stranded in the Suez Canal throughout the day on Friday. Meanwhile, a number of global shipping companies on Friday began steering ships toward the longer route to Europe via the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa. Detouring around Africa is likely to add a week or two to most itineraries. It will also mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional fuel costs. With more ships potentially being diverted to the Cape of Good Hope, piracy could increase. Pirates have long preyed on ships moving in the waters off the Horn of Africa, and the seas off oil-rich West Africa are now considered among the world’s most dangerous for shipping.

A Year Into Remote Work, No One Knows When to Stop Working Anymore (WSJ) The daily alarm Katie Lipp sets isn’t meant to wake her up. It reminds her to go to bed. The employment attorney in Fairfax, Va., said she has tried a range of techniques to set boundaries while working long days from home running her law practice during the pandemic. Few measures work as well as the 9:45 p.m. alarm she started setting last month, though she admits to snoozing it occasionally to fire out one last email. “You never feel like what you’re doing is good enough, so you get stuck in a trap of overworking,” Ms. Lipp, the mother of a 5-year-old, said. A year into the Covid-19 era, many can relate. Employees say work-life boundaries blurred, then vanished, as waking life came to mean “always on” at work. Experts warn that working around the clock—while slipping in meals, helping with homework and grabbing a few moments with a partner—isn’t sustainable, and employers are trying ways to get staff to dial back.

#headlines #news

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route22ny · 5 years ago

Link

This is a harrowing read, and in the end you may ask yourself, as I asked myself: how was the nation not protected from such criminality? Decades of organized crime involvement culminated in the most corrupt and dangerous president in American history, one who now presides over a reeling nation in the throes of a deadly pandemic.

We watch in horror and disbelief, daily, as he ineptly--or maliciously--mismanages the nation’s response to covid-19, contributing to a death toll expected to surpass that of the Vietnam War...twice. How did we get here?

This is must reading.

***

IN THE EARLY 1980s it was decided—by whom, and for what ultimate purpose, we can’t say for sure—that Donald John Trump would build a casino complex in Atlantic City, New Jersey—probably the most mobbed-up municipality in the state. Dealing with the mafia might have dissuaded some developers from pursuing a Boardwalk Empire, but not Trump. He was uniquely suited to forge ahead.

Donald’s father, the Queens real estate developer Fred Trump, had worked closely with Genovese-associated and -owned construction entities since building the Shore Haven development in 1947, when Donald was still in diapers (the first time around). Fred was an early mob adopter, the underworld equivalent of an investor who bought shares of Coca-Cola stock in 1919. The timelines is important to remember here. Organized crime did not exist in any meaningful way in the United States until Prohibition. Born in 1905, Fred Trump was just two years younger than Meyer Lansky, the gangster who more or less invented money laundering. Thus, Donald Trump is second generation mobbed-up.

When Donald first ventured from Queens to the pizzazzier borough of Manhattan in the seventies, he entered into a joint business deal with “Big” Paul Castellano, head of the Gambino syndicate, and Anthony “Fat Tony” Salerno, of the Genovese family he knew well through his father and their mutual lawyer Roy Cohn. As part of this arrangement, Trump agreed to buy concrete from a company operated jointly by the two families—and pay a hefty premium for the privilege. Only then, with double mob approval, could he move forward with the Trump Tower and Trump Plaza projects. (Among Cohn’s other clients at the time was Rupert Murdoch, whom he introduced to Trump in the seventies; you would be hard pressed to find three more atrocious human beings).

Atlantic City is in South Jersey, closer to Philadelphia than New York, so to build “his” casino, Trump needed to play ball with the Philly mob. That meant dealing with Nicodemo “Little Nicky” Scarfo, head of the most powerful mob family in Philadelphia. Land that Trump needed for his casino was owned by Salvie Testa and Frank Narducci, Jr.—hit men for Scarfo, collectively known around town as the Young Executioners (the nickname was not ironic). To help negotiate the deal, Trump hired Patrick McGahn, a Philly-based attorney known to have truck with the Scarfo family.

(The last name should sound familiar; Don McGahn, the former White House Counsel, is Patrick McGahn’s nephew. And Don McGahn is not the only Trump Administration hire with ties to the Philly mob. Among Little Nicky’s associates was one Jimmy “The Brute” DiNatale, whose daughter, Denise Fitzpatrick, is the mother of none other than Kellyanne Conway. A number of wiseguys paid their respects at DiNatale’s 1983 funeral. I don’t want to make the mistake of condemning Conway or Don McGahn for the sins of their relations. But given Trump’s OC background, it’s fair to question why he chose two children of mobbed-up families for his inner White House circle.)

Trump acquired the needed Atlantic City property at twice the market value: $1.1 million for a lot that sold for $195k five years before. But there were legal pratfalls, shady dealings, chicanery with the documents. The New Jersey Gaming Commission was investigating the matter, because casino owners could not, by law, associate with criminals. And most of Trump’s friends were crooks. It looked like Trump was in trouble—not only of losing his gaming license, but of criminal indictment.

And then, something miraculous happened. On 4 November 1986, Scarfo and eleven of his associates were indicted on charges that included loan sharking, extortion and conducting an illegal gambling business in a racketeering conspiracy. Prosecutors had tried for years to take down Little Nicky. And now, after all that time, they finally had their evidence. Not only that, but the investigation into Trump? It went away. Poof—as if it never existed.

A confidential informant, or “CI,” is a mole run by law enforcement within a criminal enterprise. Not a “rat,” whose treachery is well known to his comrades, but a craftier, more duplicitous breed of rodent. Crimes committed by the CI are overlooked, or allowed to continue unabated, in exchange for good intelligence—“treasure,” as Control calls it in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

A fictional example of a CI is the Greek, a character on the show The Wire (spoiler ahead). Baltimore law enforcement piece together that the Greek is the head of a crime syndicate that deals in narcotics and human trafficking. But when they finally move to arrest him, the operation is kibboshed by the feds, for whom the Greek is a Confidential Informant. This is extremely frustrating for viewers of the show, who rightly regard the Greek as the cause of so much woe in West Baltimore.

In real life, there are two famous examples. The first is Whitey Bulger, the head of the so-called Winter Hill Gang, which operated for decades in Somerville, Massachusetts. In 1975, Bulger became a Confidential Informant for the FBI, handled by a corrupt agent named John Connolly. His intelligence helped take down a rival mob family in Providence, Rhode Island—a city notorious for the influence of organized crime. In exchange, Connolly allowed Bulger and his associates to operate with impunity. At least 19 people were killed by the Winter Hill Gang while the feds looked the other way. When the FBI finally realized its mistake, Connolly tipped off Bulger, who went on the lam for 16 years. He was finally arrested in 2011; by then he was in his eighties. He was killed in prison seven years later.

The second famous CI is Donald Trump’s former associate Felix Sater. Racketeering charges against him back in 1998 ended with a fine of just $25,000—a slap on the wrist. From then on, Sater become a top echelon confidential informant, feeding law enforcement intelligence of “a depth and breadth rarely seen,” as court filings show. “His cooperation has covered a stunning array of subject matter, ranging from sophisticated local and international criminal activity to matters involving the world’s most dangerous terrorists and rogue states.”

The winsome ex-con, still one of the more puzzling figures of Trump/Russia, “continuously worked with prosecutors and law enforcement agents to provide information crucial to the conviction of over 20 different individuals, including those responsible for committing massive financial fraud, members of La Cosa Nostra organized crime families and international cyber-criminals,” prosecutors claim. “Additionally, Sater provided the United States intelligence community with highly sensitive information in an effort to help the government combat terrorists and rogue states.”

His intelligence helped prosecutors break up the “Pump and Dump” and “Boiler Room” mob operations in the 1990s. He turned over useful information about the Genovese crime family (note: the same family Fred Trump fronted for), and provided ample dirt on international arms dealing (note: Jeffrey Epstein’s specialty). And his crowning achievement: he helped the United States track down Osama bin Laden (funny how the Russian mob knew where he was). Sater is proud of his CI work, and has talked it up the last few years, probably to counter his association with the mafiya, and with Trump.

We know about Bulger being a CI because his handler turned out to be crooked. We know about Sater being a CI because he outed himself prior to his sentencing in 2009—and because he keeps boasting about it. If Sater had not come forward, Loretta Lynch, the former Attorney General, would not have been legally permitted to reveal his status.

That’s the thing about Confidential Informants: they are confidential. The informant doesn’t want to be made as a mole, any more than law enforcement wants to burn a source. Both sides are bound to secrecy. It is the good guy version of omertà.

The only way to know for sure if Donald John Trump is a Confidential Informant is if he admits it himself (unlikely), or if law enforcement comes forward (illegal). But the circumstantial evidence is compelling. The pattern is: 1) Trump deals with mobsters as usual; 2) Law enforcement begins investigating Trump; 3) Mobsters suddenly get busted, while 4) investigation into Trump is scuttled. This happened three times that we know about. I’m not counting the first known instance of Trump providing information to prosecutors, concerning Cody and concrete, in the late 70s:

I can conceive of no scenario in which Trump was not a CI, and a top echelon one at that. He’s avoided indictment too many times. No one is that lucky.

Or, put another way: How can someone that lucky manage to run a fucking casino into the ground?

Salvatore Gravano, known as “Sammy the Bull,” was an underboss of the Gambino crime family. After the assassination of “Big” Paul Castellano in 1985—an audacious hit, done in broad daylight—John Gotti was installed as the figurehead capo. But in practice, the Bull was the one calling the shots. His territory? Manhattan. For as long as he was in power, any construction that took place in New York, New York had to be approved by Gravano. “I literally controlled Manhattan,” he told ABC News. He did a lot of business deals with Donald John Trump, and speaks of him fondly.

After his arrest on 11 December 1990, Gravano turned state’s evidence to help put away Gotti, his nominal boss. The lead prosecutor of the case? Robert Swan Mueller III. (This is why, when Trump found out Mueller was named Special Counsel, he collapsed into a chair and muttered, “I’m fucked.”)

We know that Gravano flipped on Gotti. But who flipped on Sammy the Bull?

On 19 July 1990, the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) of the State of New Jersey opened an investigation into Donald John Trump, regarding the Trump Organization’s business dealings with Joseph Weichselbaum, a mob associate and embezzler who had been convicted not once, not twice, but three times. Trump hired Weichselbaum’s company to provide helicopter transportation to Atlantic City, conveying high rollers to and from New York. As a casino owner, Trump was prohibited by law to do any business with the serial felon. He not only continued to do so, but he went to bat for the guy, going so far as to write him a letter of recommendation. (There’s more bizarre stuff with Wiechselbaum, whose case wound up being initially tried by Trump’s sister, a federal judge, but I won’t get into it here).

Six months after the DGE opened its investigation, Gravano got pinched. And once again, as if by the wave of a magic wand, Trump’s legal troubles seemed to vanish.

It’s worth noting here that Sammy the Bull likes Trump personally, then and now, and seems not to blame him for ratting him out. There were likely others who informed on Gravano, too. But given the timing, the investigation against Trump, his disastrous finances at the time, and his long familiarity with federal prosecutors, it stands to reason that Trump, too, turned on his longtime business associate.

The Kurt & Courtney decade was unkind to Donald John Trump. The Bush I recession hit his businesses hard. Trump filed for bankruptcy protection for Trump Taj Mahal (1991) and Trump Plaza (1992). Again: our “lucky” guy had managed to go bust in the casino business. In between those bankruptcy filings, he lobbied Congress for tax relief for real estate developers, began phoning reporters claiming to be a publicist named John Barron, had an affair with a D-list actress named Marla Maples, and divorced his wife of 14 years, the mother of his kids Donald, Ivanka, and Eric: the former Ivana Zelníčková. (Sidenote: Ivana Trump’s father was a big wheel in Czechoslovakia’s Státní bezpečnost intelligence service; Miloš Zelníček helped raise his grandchildren, especially Don Jr., who speaks fluent Czech…but this is a subject for another dispatch).

Things were going south fast. Trump desperately needed a lifeline. He found one in Moscow.

The Soviet Union collapsed on Christmas Day 1991. What the West viewed as the triumph of capitalism over communism was really the subversion of a conventional superpower by the shadowy forces of transnational crime. The Cold War was not over; it just shifted modes of attack. In the early 90s, Russia invaded the United States—not with soldiers, but with mobsters.

The commander of this underworld incursion was a violent ex-con named Vyacheslav Ivankov, known as “Yaopnchik,” or “Little Japanese.” Hardened in the brutal Soviet prison system, Ivankov was a member of the vor y zakone, or thieves-in-law—the arm of the Russian mafiya that originated in the post-Second World War gulags. He was such a nasty, violent motherfucker that when it was necessary to rough someone up to extort them, he didn’t send in a subordinate—he did the job himself.

Ivankov arrived to the United States in 1992, ostensibly to work in the film industry. Even the new Russian government warned the FBI that he was up to no good. The feds lost sight of him almost immediately, even as he traveled from New York to Florida and everywhere in between, consolidating power, and displacing the Italian mob. (That brazen 1985 hit on “Big” Paul Castellano was instrumental in achieving this Vor hegemony, as the Gambino boss neither liked nor trusted the Russians). Per the testimony of Bob Levinson, the FBI’s foremost Russian mob expert:

Ivankov’s organization’s income was derived from a number of sources: his group was implicated by sources to have been involved in the “gasoline tax scam” whereby so-called “daisy-chains” of petroleum handling companies were established with the specific intention of defrauding governmental tax authorities using non-existent or ghost companies to pay the gasoline taxes due.

A primary source of the group’s funds was the collection of “krisha” or protection money from wealthy Russian and Eurasian businessmen operating between North America and the former Soviet republics. In addition, the Ivankov organization organized the collection of, in effect, a “street tax” from Russian-born and Eastern European criminals who were operating their illegal enterprises in North America. Ivankov organization members fanned out across the United States and Canada identifying and then approaching these criminals saying that each now had to contribute to an “obshak” (mutual benefit fund) being collected and organized by the Ivankov group.

In addition, Ivankov and other members of his organization settled business disputes for Russian and Eastern European businessmen operating between North America and the former Soviet Union, receiving in return a percentage of the amount in dispute, usually hundreds of thousands of dollars. Through his authority as a “thief-inlaw” and the head of a criminal organization, Ivankov was able to exercise a kind of informal power in the émigré business community tantamount to decisions made by formal, official courts of law. Those who went against the decisions made by Ivankov and his associates were usually met with violence, including beatings and/or murder.

As Little Japanese worked the States, Semion Mogilevich, the current head of the Russian mob, set up his base of operations in Budapest, Hungary, where he moved in 1992 with his Hungarian girlfriend. “The Brainy Don,” as he is called, soon acquired a bank in Russia, which allowed him access to the global financial system. Meyer Lanksy may have invented money laundering, but it was Mogilevich who took it to Hollywood, so to speak: Lansky wrote the book, and the Brainy Don made it into an international blockbuster. (Note: Levinson, the FBI agent, moved to Budapest around this time, to investigate Mogilevich more closely.)

For three fruitful years, Ivankov did his thing, laying the foundation for what would become the world’s pre-eminent organized crime operation—more S.P.E.C.T.R.E. than GoodFellas. He ran amok. Law enforcement had no idea where he was….until, one day in 1995, they found him living in a deluxe apartment at—you’re not gonna believe it—Trump Tower. And that was not the only Trump property he frequented: Ivankov was also a regular at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. He was arrested in June of 1995, convicted, imprisoned, and deported to Russia in 2004 to face murder changes. Once home, he was promptly acquitted. He was gunned down in Moscow in 2009.

This monster was living in Trump’s building, gambling in Trump’s casino.

What was Donald John Trump doing in 1995? Failing tremendously. That was the year when he declared a loss of an unfathomable $916 million on his tax returns. It was also at this time that Trump Tower became a sort of Moscow on Fifth Avenue, with any number of Russian mobsters scooping up apartments—an arrangement that began in 1984, when the Russian mobster David Bogatin purchased five condos for $6 million. Trump Tower was one of just two buildings in all of New York City that allowed units to be purchased by shell companies. Why did Trump, virtually alone among New Yorkers, allow these fishy deals?

As the indefatigable Craig Unger writes in the Washington Post,

the shady Bogatin deal began a 35-year relationship between Trump and Russian organized crime. Mind you, this was a period during which the disintegration of the Soviet Union had opened a fire-hose-like torrent of hundreds of billions of dollars in flight capital from oligarchs, wealthy apparatchiks and mobsters in Russia and its satellites. And who better to launder so much money for the Russians than Trump — selling them multimillion-dollar condos at top dollar, with little or no apparent scrutiny of who was buying them.

Over the next three decades, dozens of lawyers, accountants, real estate agents, mortgage brokers and other white-collar professionals came together to facilitate such transactions on a massive scale. According to a BuzzFeed investigation, more than 1,300 condos, one-fifth of all Trump-branded condos sold in the United States since the 1980s, were shifted “in secretive, all-cash transactions that enable buyers to avoid legal scrutiny by shielding their finances and identities.”

Unger continues:

The Trump Organization has dismissed money laundering charges as unsubstantiated, and because it is so difficult to penetrate the shell companies that purchased these condos, it is almost impossible for reporters — or, for that matter, anyone without subpoena power — to determine how much money laundering by Russians went through Trump-branded properties. But Anders Aslund, a Swedish economist, put it this way to me: “Early on, Trump came to the conclusion that it is better to do business with crooks than with honest people. Crooks have two big advantages. First, they’re prepared to pay more money than honest people. And second, they will always lose if you sue them because they are known to be crooks.”

It is simply inconceivable that a creature of the underworld, a man who had extensive dealings with mob figures for his entire career, would, in a moment of dire need, be unaware that mobsters were buying his properties, using shell companies to conceal the origin of the dirty rubles.

It is also inconceivable that a mobbed-up real estate developer—a crook whom the government of Australia would not grant a gaming license because of his obvious mob connections; the subject of a 41-page initial investigation by the Department of Gaming Enforcement in the State of New Jersey that, taken together, is positively damning—could have avoided indictment for all these years unless he was covertly helping out law enforcement. Trump is a criminal, yes, but his crimes are not as heinous as Ivankov’s, or Gravano’s, or Scarfo’s. Prosecutors would happily toss a minnow like Trump back into the sea if it helped them catch the big fish.

Nothing about Trump’s term as president suggests he’s turned his back on organized crime. He hasn’t “gone legit.” His Twitter antagonists comprise a “Who’s Who” of the FBI’s Russian mob experts: Robert Mueller, Andrew McCabe, Bruce Ohr, Lisa Page. He has attacked the credibility of those who know what he really is. That is what made Trump’s attacks on Mueller so ironic. He impugned the former FBI director as corrupt, while depending on his incorruptibility to not reveal his (alleged) CI status.

To reiterate: we cannot know for sure if Trump was a CI unless he admits to being one (maybe Yamiche Alcindor can goad him into admitting it?), or if the federal prosecutors in the know break protocol to expose him.

As it stands, prominent G-men have given us clues. When McCabe was fired, he began his statement thus: “I have been an FBI Special Agent for over 21 years. I spent half of that time investigating Russian Organized Crime as a street agent and Supervisor in New York City.” The subtext there is that McCabe knows who Trump is.

In the excerpt of his book Higher Loyalty sent to the press, James Comey compared Trump to Gravano. “The [loyalty] demand was like Sammy the Bull’s Cosa Nostra induction ceremony—with Trump in the role of the family boss asking me if I have what it takes to be a ‘made man.’ ” Of all the famous mafiosos, why did Comey choose Gravano, a relatively obscure figure, as the comp? He wants us to dig into Gravano.

(Gravano himself was asked about the Comey pull-quote by Jerry Capeci of Gangland News; he said, “The country doesn’t need a bookworm as president, it needs a mob boss. You don’t need a Harvard graduate to deal with these people…[Putin, Kim, Xi] are real gangsters. You need a fucking gangster to deal with these people.” This seems to indicate that Sammy the Bull thinks Trump is a “mob boss” and a “fucking gangster.” Takes one to know one?)

Unless he thought it would help him avoid prison, Trump will never cop to being a Confidential Informant. We can only infer that he served that function by presenting the circumstantial evidence to support the hypothesis. But plenty of people can confirm or deny (rather than refuse to confirm or deny) Trump’s involvement. Bob Mueller, certainly, but every prosecutor too that dealt with Scarfo, Gravano, and Ivankov, and plenty of smaller cases besides.

When a Confidential Informant is deliberately fucking up the federal government’s response to a pandemic—when his willful negligence will cost hundreds of thousands if not millions of American lives—protocol must be sacrificed for the greater good. Is not the purpose of that law, of all laws, to protect the people from enemies foreign and domestic? And has not the COVID-19 response, or lack thereof, proven Trump to be an active enemy of the United States?

We don’t need more careful legalese. We don’t need more cryptic phrasings along the lines of “If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so.” We need to hear, loud and clear, what the FBI knows. We need to be told, unequivocally, that Trump is an inveterate crook—a real crook; an actual criminal; not just a cute Twitter assertion—and, even more surprising, and contrary to all recent evidence, that he is capable of telling the truth when it serves him.

Notes:

This piece was written under the expert guidance of Lincoln’s Bible. If you don’t already do so, please follow her on Twitter, and check out her own mafiya reporting at Citjourno.

I encourage everyone to read the State of New Jersey Department of Gaming Enforcement investigation report on the allegations against Donald John Trump in the Wayne Barrett book Trump: The Deals and the Downfall.

The late Bob Levinson was the FBI’s best Russian mob fighter. His Ivankov testimony is also essential reading.

The photo at the top is the Greek, from The Wire—the best show in the history of television.

https://gregolear.substack.com/p/tinker-tailor-mobster-trump

#organized crime #long reads #trump #america is broken #greg olear

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jennyboom21 · 5 years ago

Note

NY Times just published a biased piece re: TS vs. SBP. Geffen has a direct quote there blasting TS and in some many words branding this as an overreaction on her part. For those doubting about this man’s reach, wonder no more. Joe Coscarelli is the author in case you’re interested.

Thanks! The NY Times has pumped out like 3 articles!

Taylor Swift’s Feud With Scooter Braun Spotlights Musicians’ Struggles to Own Their Work

Prince, Janet Jackson and Jay-Z all fought to control their master recordings. In a blog post about the sale of her former record label, Swift put her personal spin on the issue.

[Taylor Swift caused an industry stir on Sunday with a Tumblr post decrying the sale of Big Machine to a company owned by the music manager Scooter Braun.]

By Ben Sisario and Joe Coscarelli

July 1, 2019

It is one of the oldest and hardest lessons of the music industry: No matter how successful artists may be, chances are someone else owns their work.

Prince, protesting how his label, Warner Bros., had control over his master recordings, quipped in 1996: “If you don’t own your masters, your master owns you.” That same year, when Janet Jackson negotiated a landmark contract with Virgin Records, ownership of her original recordings was a major deal point.

Now we can add Taylor Swift to the chorus of artists who have bemoaned that their creative work is someone else’s property, as she once again used her social-media megaphone to stir debate about the inner workings of the music industry.

In a Tumblr post on Sunday, Swift responded bitterly to the news that her former label, Big Machine, had been sold for more than $300 million to a company run by Scooter Braun, the manager of pop stars including Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande.

Swift had strong personal objections to the deal, which included the rights to her first six albums, blaming Braun for orchestrating “incessant, manipulative bullying” against her by Kanye West, an on-and-off client.

But the episode also highlighted the fraught and little-understood industry politics of master recordings — the original copies of an artist’s work — and the copyrights associated with them.

The owner of a master controls all rights to exploit it, including selling albums or licensing songs for movies or video games. The artist still earns royalties from those recordings once associated costs are fulfilled, but controlling the master could bring greater income, as well as a level of protection over how the work is used in the future. (These rights are separate from copyrights for songwriting.)

The deep significance that musicians attach to their masters was highlighted last month, when a group of artists sued the Universal Music Group over a fire in 2008 that destroyed many original recordings, after an exposé was published in The New York Times Magazine.

Historically, record companies have retained rights to masters in exchange for the financial risks they take in backing an artist over the course of their contract.

“Fundamentally, the business model that most record companies operate under is not unlike the venture capital business,” said Larry Miller, the director of the music business program at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development.

“They make investments in unproven talent,” he added. “The trade is that, traditionally, the masters stay with the record company.”

Swift, despite appearing to have an almost unrivaled level of self-determination as a star — like single-handedly getting Apple to change a royalties policy in 2015 — signed such a deal with Big Machine in 2005, at the beginning of her career. Her post on Sunday was partly an admonishment to young artists to avoid those kinds of contracts.

“This is what happens when you sign a deal at fifteen to someone for whom the term ‘loyalty’ is clearly just a contractual concept,” Swift wrote, in a jab at Big Machine’s founder, Scott Borchetta.

Hours later, Borchetta posted a rejoinder, including a snippet of a deal proposal, that suggested that Swift could have earned her recording rights back had she renewed with Big Machine last year. Instead, she signed with Universal. (Her next album, “Lover,” is due in August.)

Borchetta also called into question Swift’s claim that she only learned of the deal once the news broke — he said he texted her the night before — and noted that her father, Scott Swift, was a minority shareholder in Big Machine.

The barbs between Swift and Borchetta, a rare example of such contractual dirty laundry being aired outside of litigation, captivated the industry and raised questions about the age-old power dynamic between artist and label.

“This kind of deal is neither unusual or controversial,” the media mogul David Geffen said. “She didn’t want to put up $300 million. Someone else did. They offered her a deal that she rejected to get ownership of her masters. Only time will tell who made the wise decision.”

Geffen, whom Braun has frequently described as a mentor, added: “I’m betting that Scooter will build an important company with the addition of this asset.”

Steve Stoute, a music and advertising executive whose new company, UnitedMasters, allows artists to keep their rights, saw the Swift episode as a painful illustration of what he called “the fundamental problem with the record industry.”

“The record business historically runs the same business model as sharecropping,” Stoute said. “You build it; we make you think that you own it; you act like you own it; but at the end of the day, we own it.”

The battle between Swift and Braun also divided celebrities on social media, as accusations of exploitation intermingled with personal loyalties.

Some of Braun’s clients, like Bieber and Demi Lovato, defended his personal character. “I have dealt with bad people in this industry and Scooter is not one of them,” Lovato wrote on Instagram.

But other female artists took Swift’s lead as an opportunity to discuss their own experiences in a business that has long faced criticism for its treatment of many creators, especially young women and people of color.

“I signed contracts when I was 15 & I’m still paying the consequences for it,” the singer Sky Ferreira, now 26, wrote on Instagram after pointing people to Swift’s blog post. “Insisting on your rights, value & ownership doesn’t make you difficult.” She added: “Just because this system has been the same for decades doesn’t mean it’s okay or you need to bow down to it.”

In a statement expressing support for Swift, the pop singer Halsey wrote: “it turns my guts that no matter how much power or success a woman has in this life, you are still susceptible to someone coming along and making you feel powerless out of spite.” Alessia Cara chimed in: “stop stealing from women who work hard!!!”

And the rapper Iggy Azalea, while interacting with fans on Twitter, added: “this is why I’m so happy to own my master for this new album, they really do ppl crazy dirty on ownership of their intellectual property in the biz.” After years of limbo on major labels, Azalea recently announced a deal with the distributor Empire that gave her ownership of her recordings.

Tension over the ownership of recordings is nearly as old as the industry, but it has gained momentum as superstar artists have exerted greater control — typically after years of work. Prince rebelled against Warner Bros. in the mid-1990s, after nearly two decades of hits. And when Jay-Z became president and chief executive of the Def Jam label in 2004, he insisted on earning back control of his masters on that label.

The industry’s shift to streaming has begun to change the dynamic between artists and labels, which once held exceptional leverage through their ability to market albums and promote songs to radio stations. Given this change, some younger artists have leaned toward autonomy.

The singer and rapper XXXTentacion, for example, who was killed in a shooting last year, rejected traditional long-term label deals in favor of one-off contracts for each of his releases that offered lower payment upfront, but gave him full ownership and a higher royalty rate.

Swift’s talent for fueling debate continued on Tumblr — the platform where she frequently communes with her most faithful fans — well after she published her account of the deal. “taylor will not be silenced,” wrote one fan who earned acknowledgment from Swift.

Elsewhere, some questioned whether Swift, with her enormous wealth and reputation for careful self-mythologizing, was the best messenger for this ongoing battle, especially after Borchetta pushed back, sharing deal points and private text messages between the two parties.

But the power of Swift’s fame made her message about the importance of ownership a vital lesson, Stoute said.

“If you’re an artist today, you must go into the record deal owning your master,” he said. “If not, then you are basically building an asset that you will not own.”

#gaylor swift #david geffen #scooter braun #taylor’s masters heist

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makistar2018 · 5 years ago

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Taylor Swift’s Feud With Scooter Braun Spotlights Musicians’ Struggles to Own Their Work

Prince, Janet Jackson and Jay-Z all fought to control their master recordings. In a blog post about the sale of her former record label, Swift put her personal spin on the issue.

By Ben Sisario and Joe Coscarelli July 1, 2019