Sanctuary City DC Scaling Back Assistance To Illegals

By William Teach March 14, 2024 – 6:45 am

D.C. is a city that votes beyond overwhelmingly Democrat. They talk a big game on being inviting to illegals, but, when the rubber hits the road, they aren’t all that happy

While bused migrants overwhelm other cities, D.C. scales back services

D.C. has begun to scale back its migrant assistance program and plans to close one of the hotels it uses to house those bused in from Texas and Arizona, even as other cities across the country plead with the Biden administration for more resources to deal with an influx of asylum seekers crossing the border.

No buses have arrived in D.C. since November, sparing the District some of the recent strain that other cities have felt in trying to house and support thousands of migrants. But some immigrant groups say the city is unnecessarily forcing out those who had been staying at three Northeast Washington hotels.

Greg Abbott needs to get on the ball and ship a bunch more

Robert C. White Jr. (D-At Large), who is chair of the D.C. Council’s housing committee, said the city has to set limits on the amount of migrant aid it can provide or risk being overwhelmed like other cities.

“If we send a signal — even if it’s not deliberately — that we have endless resources to help migrants, then we encourage more to come here and we would be setting them up for disappointment,” White said. “What we want is the best possible resettlement, but for a manageable number of people.”

Surprise! Democrats suddenly realize that signalling illegals to come is a bad idea. At least when it is their city getting swamped.

Migrant services have been an expensive proposition for the District; since the buses began arriving, the city has spent about $59.3 million on migrant services such as housing and food, with about $9 million of that amount reimbursed by the federal government, according to DHS.

Yeah, illegals are not free. They’re taking way more out of the system than they could possibly contribute.

BTW, where did D.C. ship all the illegals? How many are taking up space, very expensive space, in D.C.? Space that could be used for lawful residents of the U.S.? And the city will still have to pay to house and feed the illegals.

Read: Sanctuary City DC Scaling Back Assistance To Illegals »

Posted in Democrats, Illegal Immigration | 1 Comment | Trackback URL

Your Fault: Texans Are Trapped In A Fortress Of Solitude Or Something

By William Teach March 13, 2024 – 3:16 pm

The Warmists said we could have fixed this with a tax, but, you had to be difficult

Climate change is trapping Texans in an arid ‘fortress of solitude,’ expert says

Texas faces a brutal climate and development paradox heading deeper into the 21st century, a state climate scientist said.

“Everything is bigger in Texas, including our climate challenges,” said Jay Banner, a geologist at the University of Texas at Austin.

“Texas sees synergistic issue more than anyplace else,” Banner said.

The state is trapped between two difficult realities, Banner told audiences at South By Southwest, Austin’s signature technology and culture event.

About 40 percent of homes in the United States are at “extreme” risk from climate change — whether in the form of heat, wind or air quality, according to data from First Street Foundation.

In other words, complete and utter doom from a tiny increase in the global temperature since 1850. It’s always something doomsday with these folks. But, really, the intention here is to try and convince Right leaning Texans to join the climate cult by preaching doom.

“We wash our hands and it goes down the sink, and then we use clean water to pee in,” Banner said. “Our toilet is filled up with drinking-water quality water. It takes a lot of energy to pick up water and pump it around time. We have to do our business in water that’s drinkable.

“So instead we can use grey water — you wash your hands, could go right to fill up your toilet tank.”

These people.

Read: Your Fault: Texans Are Trapped In A Fortress Of Solitude Or Something »

Posted in AGW Scaremongering, Global Warming | 10 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach March 13, 2024 – 1:00 pm

…is a lake that will soon disappear from Permanent Drought, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Cold Fury, with a post on the virtual lifestyle.

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 3 Comments | Trackback URL

England Bans The Use Of Puberty Blockers

By William Teach March 13, 2024 – 10:30 am

England is starting to show some common sense when it comes to the transgender fad, probably one of the most dangerous fads for kids in the modern era

Children Will No Longer Be Able to Access Puberty Blockers at England Clinics

Children in England will no longer receive puberty blocker prescriptions, the National Health Service (NHS) of England said, confirming that the medicine will only be provided to youth who were taking part in clinical research trials. Children can still receive puberty blockers through some private practices.

Puberty blockers are used to delay the onset of puberty by blocking the body from making sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogen. The hormonal suppressants do not reverse any changes that have already happened, but can block physical changes like breast development and facial hair.

“We have concluded that there is not enough evidence to support the safety or clinical effectiveness of [puberty blockers] to make the treatment routinely available at this time,” an NHS England policy document released on Tuesday read. The decision comes after a public consultation on the topic, interim policy, and independent review of gender identity services for underage children, the NHS England said.

The American College of Pediatrics says about puberty blockers

  • Puberty blockers may cause mental illness
  • Puberty blockers may cause permanent physical harm – Temporary use of Lupron has also been associated with and may be the cause of many serious permanent side effects including osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures, cognitive impairment and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility.
  • Cross-sex hormones (testosterone for women; estrogen for men) may disrupt mental health
  • Transgender interventions for children are experimental and dangerous

The article also notes

…cross-sex hormones put youth at an increased risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, blood clots and cancers across their lifespan. Add to this the fact that physically healthy transgender-believing girls are being given double mastectomies at 13 and hysterectomies at 16, while their male counterparts are referred for surgical castration and penectomies at 16 and 17, respectively, and it becomes clear that affirming transition in children is about mutilating and sterilizing emotionally troubled youth.

The fad is being driven by unhinged adults, including parents, who somehow think convincing children they are trans is a good idea. This is how you end up with parents who have 2-4 kids who claim to be trans, something that never ever used to happen. It was super rare that even one felt that way. The adults and parents should be jailed and the kids placed with responsible, rational adults. Back to the original article

From 2021-2022, more than 5,000 youth were referred to the Gender Identity Development Service, a national health clinic in the U.K., compared to less than 250 a decade earlier. The clinic is closing at the end of March.

That’s a hell of a jump. What caused it? Deranged adults who want to harm children.

The move has been widely criticized by LGBTQ+ groups. Mermaids, an organization that supports gender-diverse children and their families, called the decision “deeply disappointing, and a further restriction of support offered to trans children and young people through the NHS.”

Those people should be jailed for child abuse. Unfortunately

Fewer than 100 youth are receiving puberty blockers through the NHS. The health agency said that those receiving treatment will be able to continue care at Leeds and University College London Hospital.

So, there are other avenues for adults to continue to abuse children. The NHS ban is a good start.

Read: England Bans The Use Of Puberty Blockers »

Posted in Unhinged Tools | 33 Comments | Trackback URL

NYC Warmists Could Force Pizzerias Out Of Business

By William Teach March 13, 2024 – 7:00 am

Following a cult is all fun and games till it kills off your favorite food, and an NYC classic

New York City taking a slice out of iconic pizza shops with new green rule

More than 100 iconic New York City pizzerias could be forced out of business thanks to a quietly approved plan requiring wood- and coal-fired stoves to cut carbon emissions by 75%, a pie shop owner told Fox News.

“This regulation will go a long way to put an end to charming wood-fired pizza restaurants in New York City,” Brooklyn pizzeria owner Paul Giannone, known as Paulie Gee, told Fox News. “A sad day in my opinion.”

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) rule, which will take effect April 27, applies to restaurants with cook stoves installed before May 2016. The mandate, originally proposed in June, requires affected pizzeria owners to install a filter, then hire an engineer to regularly inspect the carbon emissions.

Giannone, who opened Paulie Gee’s Pizzeria around 14 years ago in Brooklyn, told Fox News he spent $20,000 on emission-control air-filters for his wood-fired oven in anticipation of the DEP rule. He said he was glad to install the devices after receiving a neighbor’s complaint about excessive smoke, but added that many businesses can’t afford it.

$20K. That’s no cheap bit of an installation for any small restaurant. Many are just tiny places, and the only way to afford it and stay in business is to increase prices, meaning consumer interest will drop. And then pay the inspectors

“All New Yorkers deserve to breathe healthy air, and wood- and coal-fired stoves are among the largest contributors of harmful pollutants in neighborhoods with poor air quality,” the DEP spokesperson told Fox News in an email. “This common-sense rule was developed with restaurant owners and environmental justice groups and is a product of years of review.”

In other words, they listened to the cultists working for EJGs who most likely have never run a business, much less a restaurant. Soon residents of NYC will get that “healthy air”, because the pizza places will go away. Along with a lot of small restaurants.

The rule led a Jewish bakery to spend over $600,000 on new air filtration systems ahead of its approval, the New York Post reported. Another iconic pizzeria, John’s of Bleecker Street, spent more than $100,000 on a smoke reduction system.

Big places who want to stay in business. This is just insane.

Read: NYC Warmists Could Force Pizzerias Out Of Business »

Posted in AGW Socialism, Food and Drink, Global Warming | 10 Comments | Trackback URL

PRC Looks To Protect Illegals Convicted Of Violent Crimes

By William Teach March 13, 2024 – 6:45 am

Of course it is the People’s Republik Of California leading the way. Will the bill pass?

California bill would extend legal aid to illegal immigrants convicted of violent felonies

A bill introduced in the California state assembly would extend taxpayer-funded legal aid to illegal immigrants convicted of violent or serious felonies, with the Democratic lawmaker who introduced it saying it would be a step forward for racial justice.

The Representation, Equity and Protections (REP) for all Immigrants Act would remove restrictions on grant funds to provide immigration-related legal services to those convicted of violent or serious felonies, according to the official summary of the bill.

The funds would come from the One California program, which provides $45 million in grants each year for nonprofits to provide free immigration legal services, and to conduct “education and outreach” in “immigrant communities.” The funding is intended to help those who cannot otherwise afford an attorney.

These are illegals convicted of violent crimes, often against US citizens in the PRC, by PRC courts. Why this need to give them lawyers at that point?

The services include legal representation, including those facing deportation, and also those applying for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, naturalizing and Temporary Protected Status (TPS). But it currently bars those funds from being used for those convicted of certain crimes.

The bill, introduced by Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D), would end those restrictions and also update the program to expand the services that can be provided to include interpreters, social services and litigation costs.

That’s the point: to make sure these violent illegals are not deported. And I thought they told us that Dreamers were all super awesome law abiding folks.

In a press release, his office said that “the program has failed to match California’s commitment to equity, as the program prohibits funds from being used to assist certain individuals who had past interactions with the criminal legal system.”

It’s equitable to protect illegals who committed violent crimes, usually against U.S. citizens? Against California taxpayers? This is insane. It’s no wonder people were saying San Francisco took a rightward turn when they wanted more a proper number of police: California is just going all-in on protecting criminals rather than victims, than potential victims.

But, hey, Californian’s overwhelmingly voted for this, so, enjoy. Any illegal crossing out of California should be immediately deported.

Read: PRC Looks To Protect Illegals Convicted Of Violent Crimes »

Posted in Democrats, Illegal Immigration | 1 Comment | Trackback URL

Oakland Taco Bells Switch To Drive Thru Only Due To Crime

By William Teach March 12, 2024 – 3:00 pm

You can run for the border but you can’t go in

Well, hey, Democrats in Oakland, you voted for the conditions that caused this

Oakland Taco Bell locations close dining rooms due to safety concerns

Taco Bell locations in Oakland have ceased indoor dining indefinitely, switching to drive-through service only.

As first reported by the Daily Mail, signs posted in the windows of Taco Bell restaurants in Oakland, including the location at West Grand and Telegraph avenues, notified customers of the dining room closure.

The decision to halt dine-in operations reportedly stems from repeated robberies at some of the locations and safety concerns.

In a statement to KTVU, a spokesperson for Taco Bell indicated that the franchise owner and operator chose to shutter the dining rooms.

“Providing a safe environment for team members and customers is the priority at Taco Bell restaurants,” the statement read. “The franchise owner and operator has informed us that they are consistently evaluating and working to ensure a safe environment by implementing procedures, such as closing dining rooms, and hiring security guards, and they have taken extra measures to meet with local law enforcement”.

The locations, for which there are 4 across Oakland (a 5th has different ownership and is a combo with KFC), will also no longer take cash. Some close at 3am and others at 2am. I can see them scaling back the hours soon, as well. If they don’t just close after the window folks getting guns stuck in their faces, even though they have no cash. There are a bunch in San Francisco, you can almost expect them to follow the lead. And the other fast food joints in Oakland will be watching intently and possibly changing their stores to drive-thru only.

Read: Oakland Taco Bells Switch To Drive Thru Only Due To Crime »

Posted in Liberal World | 5 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach March 12, 2024 – 1:00 pm

…is an area already set up to install a solar farm, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is bluebird of bitterness, with a post on fractured fairy tales.

Read: If All You See… »

Posted in If All You See | 15 Comments | Trackback URL

Biden Trots Out Policy To Deal With High Housing Costs

By William Teach March 12, 2024 – 10:30 am

The notion is laudable, but, the actual substance shows it was crafted by people who have little idea how the housing economy works. By people who’ve barely ever worked in the private sector, and certainly not in anything related. Who have no idea of the implications, they just want to buy votes

If he was so concerned, he’d stop letting so many illegal aliens into the country. Let’s take a look at a few of these ideas from people who’ve never worried about their own housing costs

unintended consequencesPresident Biden believes housing costs are too high, and significant investments are needed to address the large shortage of affordable homes inherited from his predecessor and that has been growing for more than a decade. During his State of the Union Address, President Biden will call on Congressional Republicans to end years of inaction and pass legislation to lower costs by providing a $10,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers and people who sell their starter homes; build and renovate more than 2 million homes; and lower rental costs.  President Biden also announced new steps to lower homebuying and refinancing closing costs and crack down on corporate actions that rip off renters.

Got that? It’s Trump’s fault. Does anyone remember complaints about high housing costs and shortages while Trump was president? Or Obama? It wasn’t on Trump’s watch when housing prices skyrocketed about 2.5 times the real value

Mortgage Relief Credit. President Biden is calling on Congress to pass a mortgage relief credit that would provide middle-class first-time homebuyers with an annual tax credit of $5,000 a year for two years. This is the equivalent of reducing the mortgage rate by more than 1.5 percentage points for two years on the median home, and will help more than 3.5 million middle-class families purchase their first home over the next two years. The President’s plan also calls for a new credit to unlock inventory of affordable starter homes, while helping middle-class families move up the housing ladder and empty nesters right size. Many homeowners have lower rates on their mortgages than current rates. This “lock-in” effect makes homeowners more reluctant to sell and give up that low rate, even in circumstances where their current homes no longer fit their household needs. The President is calling on Congress to provide a one-year tax credit of up to $10,000 to middle-class families who sell their starter home, defined as homes below the area median home price in the county, to another owner-occupant. This proposal is estimated to help nearly 3 million families.

And you know what that can cause? Keeping home prices higher. Where’s the money coming from? Also, it’s still a tax credit, people will pay the money upfront.

Down Payment Assistance for First-Generation Homeowners. The President continues to call on Congress to provide up to $25,000 in down payment assistance to first-generation homebuyers whose families haven’t benefited from the generational wealth building associated with homeownership. This proposal is estimated to help 400,000 families purchase their first home.

That will also keep prices higher. But, hey, if you already have a house it’s “generational wealth.” What about a guy who owns two homes, one a fancy one at the beach?

Lowering Closing Costs for Refinancing. The Federal Housing Finance Agency has approved policies and pilots to reduce closing costs for homeowners, including a pilot to waive the requirement for lender’s title insurance on certain refinances. This would save thousands of homeowners up to $1500, and an average of $750, and the lower upfront fees will unlock substantial savings for homeowners as mortgage rates continue to fall and more homeowners are able to refinance. According to independent analysis, across the market title insurance typically pays out only 3% to 5% of premiums in claims to consumers, compared to more than 70% in other types of insurance. Homeowners can still purchase their own title insurance policies if they choose to do so.

That money has to come from somewhere, and sounds rather Socialist in dictating what the private economy does. Brandon wants the same thing for initial mortgages, as well.

He has a tax credit to build more low income rental units. Why would builders do that? There’s not that much return on investment, and they often become dangerous. I know of several which started that way and became regular rentals, and that was during the late Obama era. He wants to force banks to double their contributions to the Affordable Housing Program.

He goes on to yammer about price gouging for rentals and junk fees. So, more Big Government intervention and tyranny. And vote buying. It’s no wonder this policy is being ignored by the news, especially the economic news, because it would invent new price increases. Throwing money at the problem is a great way to heat the housing industry. Much like his $7.3 trillion budget.

Read: Biden Trots Out Policy To Deal With High Housing Costs »

Posted in Economy, Joe Biden | 9 Comments | Trackback URL

Surprise: EV Owners Shocked By Rising Charging Rates As Electric Rates Rise

By William Teach March 12, 2024 – 7:00 am

What happens when a state is having trouble generating electricity because of all their “green” energy projects while doing away with reliable, affordable, dependable energy sources?

‘It’s crazy’: How soaring PG&E rates are impacting California’s electric car owners

California wants residents to buy electric vehicles to fight climate change, to the point of ending the sale of new gasoline-fueled cars in 2035.

But after a 20% rate hike this year by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., charging a car — one of the single biggest items on electric bills — just got more expensive. And the trend is unlikely to let up anytime soon: State regulators are considering further rate increases for PG&E this year.

“It’s crazy,” said Austin Ball, a Walnut Creek engineer and Tesla Model 3 driver whose PG&E bill more than doubled this year.

In Petaluma, Davinder Banger said he’s paying about $20 per charge at a Supercharger this year, compared with between $10 and $14 previously to charge his Tesla Model Y. Banger, 48, said he’s still saving money on his commute to Contra Costa County compared with what he’d be paying for gasoline.

Saving now. What about when electricity costs continue to go up due to relying on wind and solar? What happens when they see surge pricing at certain times?

Electrification proponents worry that rising rates will cause people to balk at giving up their gasoline cars for electric ones at a time when the state needs them to make the switch.

It costs about $73 to fill the tank of a Toyota Camry and travel about 506 miles, said Jack Conness, an electrification policy analyst with Energy Innovation, a Bay Area-based, nonpartisan climate policy think tank. Using data from PG&E and the U.S. Energy Information Administration, he estimated that traveling the same distance in a Tesla Model 3 costs about $32 for charging, while the Chevrolet Bolt would cost $43.

Yeah, but that is due to the skyhigh cost of gas in the People’s Republik Of California. If that same Camry filled up here they’d pay about $45. And could be filled in 5 minutes and on their way. Exactly like I filled up my Civic Monday night at $3.21 a gallon.

A new electric car costs about $2,039 more on average than a conventional gas-powered car as of January, according to a Cox Automotive study. But e-vehicles have lower costs to maintain, repair and fuel up. Rising electricity prices run the risk of scaring potential new owners concerned about their bills, said Severin Borenstein, an economist and professor at UC Berkeley’s Energy Institute at Haas.

Horse fritters! They play a lot of math games to get to that number, factoring in tax breaks and all sorts of weird things, but, few people are going to own one long enough to be equal to or less than a gas vehicle, especially since the average length of ownership is 4 years. Anyhow, it’s always going to be something in the PRC.

Read: Surprise: EV Owners Shocked By Rising Charging Rates As Electric Rates Rise »

Posted in AGW Idiocy, Global Warming | 7 Comments | Trackback URL
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