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☆ Seattle's gig worker wage law is just four months old. Now a proposed overhaul could result in pay cuts.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewSince January, gig delivery workers in Seattle have been reaping the benefits of a local law mandating a certain pay level. Under the proposal, gig workers would be paid an hourly rate of $19.97 for their time spent retrieving and delivering orders. Instead, gig workers would get paid 35 cents per mile — down from the current 74 cents. In emails and calls to action sent to gig workers, DoorDash, Instacart, Uber, and others have claimed that there are fewer orders for gig workers to claim. Seattle City Council President Nelson did not respond to a request for an interview from Business Insider.

Persons: —, Sara Nelson, They're, PayUp, Justin Taylor, Taylor, he'll, Nelson, Dashers, Instacart, Uber, it's Organizations: Service, Business, Seattle City, Washington, PayUp, Seattle's, Uber, Seattle City Council Locations: Seattle, Seattle's

☆ Japanese store near Mount Fuji issues apology in response to overtourism
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Lawson’s, one of Japan’s largest convenience store chains, has an outpost in the small town of Fujikawaguchiko. Tourists have flooded into Fujikawaguchiko to take one specific picture – a shot of Mount Fuji behind a Lawson’s store, where the mountain’s classic elegance contrasts with the store’s modern neon signage. Although Lawson’s has not encouraged visitors to take pictures of their store, the company nevertheless issued a statement addressing the issue on May 5. Many of them headed to the same destinations, crowding Kyoto’s narrow streets and the walking trails of Mount Fuji. And Lawson’s is not the only Japanese tourist destination that has resorted to putting up signs warning visitors of bad behaviors.

Persons: Fuji –, Lawson’s, Lawson, –, overtourism, Fujikawaguchiko, Semans Organizations: CNN, Fuji, Mount Fuji, ”, Mount, UNESCO Locations: Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi prefecture, –, Japan, Mount, Yamanashi

☆ Houston Police Chief Departs Amid Inquiry Into Suspended Cases
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( J. David Goodman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The chief of the Houston Police Department retired abruptly amid an investigation into more than 260,000 incident reports since 2016 that were not investigated, including sexual assaults and other felonies, because of a “lack of personnel.”The departure of the chief, Troy Finner, was announced by Mayor John Whitmire during a City Council meeting on Wednesday. He praised the chief and called him a “friend" but said that “new information” related to the suspended cases was distracting the Police Department. After the council meeting, Mr. Whitmire told reporters that the retirement had come after he had discussions with Mr. Finner on Tuesday. “I dealt with it because it was a distraction to the mission of the men and women in H.P.D.,” the mayor said.

Persons: Troy Finner, John Whitmire, Whitmire, Finner, “ Organizations: Houston Police Department, Police Department Locations: H.P.D

☆ Homeowners are suing for the right to demolish the house Marilyn Monroe died in, angering fans who say it's part of Hollywood history
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe owners of the Brentwood home where Marilyn Monroe lived and later died are suing the City of Los Angeles for the right to demolish the property. According to the Los Angeles Times, they purchased the home for $8.35 million. Last September, the Los Angeles City Council intervened to temporarily halt the demolition of the home, which KCAL News reported was welcomed by fans and historians. Marilyn Monroe waves from Arthur Miller's convertible as the newlyweds leave their Connecticut home for a picnic in June 1956. AdvertisementRepresentatives for Milstein, Bank, and the City of Los Angeles did not immediately respond to Business Insider's requests for comment.

Persons: —, Marilyn Monroe, Brinah Milstein, Roy, Monroe, Scott Fortner, Arthur Miller, Arthur Miller's, Bettmann, Fortner, Milstein, Betty White, Joan Crawford, Chris Pratt, Katherine Schwarzenegger, Craig Ellwood, Liz Waytkus, Dezeen Organizations: Service, Brentwood, Roy Bank, Los Angeles Superior, Business, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles City Council, Monroe, Connecticut, City, Bank, Milstein , Bank Locations: Los Angeles, Brentwood, memorializing Monroe

☆ Man Behind California Forever, Silicon Valley's City of the Future
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Hugh Langley | Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +29 min

He sees California Forever. And if he can't undo the damage, there may never be a California Forever. California Forever may be a subdivision, but it's precisely the kind of subdivision America needs right now. But here's the thing: California Forever may be a subdivision, but it's precisely the kind of subdivision America needs right now. Places like California Forever aren't being opposed by the people who are desperate for a place to live.

Persons: Jan Sramek's, Goldman Sachs, Sramek, Reid Hoffman, Laurene Powell Jobs, Marc Andreessen —, They've, Christie Hemm, Peter Thiel, Jan Sramek, Jan, Thiel, Goldman, CheatSheet, Sramek's, hadn't, Jonas Rave, who's, —, Guy Saidenberg, Evernote, Marc Andreessen, Jane Jacobs, He's, he'd, Robert Moses, growth.y Christie Hemm, Flannery, Bronson Johnson, David George, Andreessen Horowitz, Marilyn Farley, Farley, Solano County's, Kathleen Threlfall, Bill Mortimore, California Forever's, Jessica Christian, he's, Lyle Lanley, Solano, Sam Houston, weren't, Gabriel Metcalf, You've, John Garamendi, Garamendi, isn't, they'll, latte, Christie, Travis, I've, aren't, They're Organizations: Silicon, California, BI Development, University of Cambridge, London School of Economics, Party, Rising Star, Facebook, York, Sramek's, BI Sramek, Google, American, Planners, Sacramento -, Travis Air Force Base, Area, titans, Farmers, councilwoman, California Forever, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Air Force, Flannery Associates, Disney, San Francisco, Vallejo Naval, Historical Museum, Rep, BI, Solano, Sierra, Goldman Locations: San Francisco, It's, Sramek, California, Rio Vista, Solano County, Napa, Sacramento, Silicon Valley, America, London, Zurich, England, Czech Republic, Dřevohostice, York, British, Eastern Europe, Cambridge, Bay Area, Hayes Valley, America's cutest, Atlanta, Phoenix, Copenhagen, Barcelona, New York, Sacramento - San Joaquin, San Francisco Bay, Lake Tahoe, Toledo , Ohio, Silicon, Google's, Toronto, Big Tech, China, Calif, Springfield, Vallejo, He's, Atherton, Foreverville, Fairfield, Austin, Solano, Valley, Europe

☆ World Snooker Championship: The near-silent sport which has become the latest focus of Saudi Arabia’s imagination
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-05 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —No one dares speak louder than a whisper as nearly 1,000 people respectfully take their seats inside the dimly lit Crucible Theatre. They’ve come to witness the nerve-shredding, silently electric atmosphere of the World Snooker Championship. The World Snooker Tour (WST) – organizers of the World Snooker Championship – say the sport is watched by half-a-billion people around the world. The Crucible Theatre has been the home of the World Snooker Championships since 1977. Saudi Arabia’s pursuit of snooker should not be surprising, but moving the World Snooker Championship would be an emotional decision for many of its fans.

Persons: they’re, They’ve, Shaun Murphy, It’s, ’, they’ve, George Wood, Mike Watterson, Hossein Vafaei, –, it’s, ” Murphy, Young, Murphy, ” Ronnie O'Sullivan, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Ronnie O’Sullivan’s, O’Sullivan, ”, “, Steve Dawson Organizations: CNN, Crucible, CNN Sport, Sheffield, Crucible Theatre, ‘, Wembley, Snooker, Wimbledon, ”, Theatre Locations: Sheffield, England, Augusta, Saudi Arabia, “, Saudi, China

☆ Inside Rep. Rob Menendez's fight to be more than a 'nepo baby'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

"I don't have the capacity to think through, well, what if, what if, what if," Menendez told me. Mayor Bhalla told me that he began contemplating his primary challenge shortly after the elder Menendez was first indicted in September. AdvertisementSitting in his recently opened campaign office, the mayor told me that the most important facet of his candidacy was his fight against New Jersey's party boss-driven political culture. "Everything here is a headline or a deadline driving the process," Councilman Paul Presinzano said of Mayor Bhalla. Menendez looks on as Bhalla's opening remarks at a Jersey City candidate forum are filmed by a cameraman.

Persons: Rob Menendez —, Sen, Bob Menendez —, Ravi Bhalla, Menendez, —, Rob Menendez, Bob Menendez, who's, that's, frat bro, I've, Stephen Chernin, he's, father's, Phil Murphy, Bhalla, Pete Buttigieg, outraise Menendez, Ted Shaffrey Bhalla, Menendez —, there's, They're, Andy Kim, Tammy Murphy, James Solomon, you've, hasn't, bossism, Anna Moneymaker, deriding, didn't, I'm, wasn't, we're, It's, Sam Bankman, rZ6H2IB4N0, — Rob Menendez, @RobMenendez4NJ, Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, Kim, Fisher, Paul Presinzano, Union City —, Donald Trump, Bryan Metzger, Rob's, Tammy Murphy's, He's, Cory Booker, Rob Menendez Bhalla, Steve Fulop —, corruptly Organizations: Hoboken, Service, Nike Air Force, Gov, Port Authority of New, New Jersey ., Sikh American, Congress, South, AP, New, Democratic Rep, First, Jersey City, Getty, Lipton Tea Company, House Transportation, Infrastructure, Union City, Homeland Security, Democratic, House Democratic, Facebook Locations: New Jersey, Manhattan, Jersey, Hoboken, Port Authority of New York, he's, Jersey City, Washington ,, Washington and NJ, Menendez's, Union City

☆ Live Updates: Police Clear U.C.L.A. Encampment and Arrest Protesters
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Jonathan Wolfe | Mike Ives | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +12 min

But by Wednesday morning, the peace at the University of California, Los Angeles, had been shattered. Many critics were incredulous that even after officers with the Los Angeles Police Department arrived, there were no arrests or suspensions. Campus officials ordered protesters on Wednesday evening to leave the encampment or face arrest. Image A group of counterprotesters attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles, on Tuesday night. seemed to wait too long to call in the Los Angeles police, whose officers did not arrive until after midnight.

Persons: fistfights, “, ”, Marie Salem, Mark Abramson, ANGELES Royce Hall Dickson, Ms, Salem, Aidan Woodruff, Mr, Woodruff, counterprotesters, Philip Cheung, Gene Block, Block, Israel counterprotesters, Karen Bass’s, Counterprotesters, Michael Nasir, Mary Osako, Katy Yaroslavsky, streetlight, Hussam Ayloush, Rob Bonta, Ayloush, Benjamin Kersten, Bella Brannon, Brannon, Jill Cowan, Shawn Hubler, Livia Albeck, Claire Fahy, John Yoon, Yan Zhuang Organizations: University of California, Student, The New York, The New York Times, Los Angeles Police Department, OF, ANGELES Royce Hall Dickson, ANGELES Royce Hall, ANGELES Royce Hall Dickson Court, ., Israel, Royce Hall, Los Angeles police, Police Department, Patrol, California, Credit, . Palestinian Solidarity, Jewish, Fairfax District, Jewish Federation Los, Los, Los Angeles Area, Islamic Relations, Jewish Voice, Peace Locations: Los Angeles, U.C.L.A, Israel, California, . Palestinian, counterprotesters, ”, Westside, Beverly Hills, Iranian, Gaza, Palestine

☆ Milan said it would ban ice cream on the streets after midnight. After a fierce backlash, it backed down.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Milan has reversed a proposal to ban late-night sales of ice cream after a fierce public backlash. Late-night ice cream is a traditional treat for many Milanese. AdvertisementThe Italian city of Milan has U-turned on a controversial proposal to ban the sale of ice cream after midnight, according to multiple reports. It's not the first time Milan has tried to bring an ice cream ban into law. AdvertisementIn 2013, city officials tried and failed to ban late-night ice cream, local paper Corriere della Sera reported at the time.

Persons: Milan, —, Marco Granelli, Marco Barbieri, Sera, Alessia Cappello Organizations: Milanese, Service, Sky, Sky News, Guardian Locations: Milan, Porta Venezia, Venice

☆ Tourists won't stop visiting a forbidden WWII-era landmark even as it's being destroyed due to over-tourism
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Haiku Stairs in Oahu, Hawaii, have long attracted tourists who hike them illegally. Though previously open to hikers who obtained permits, the Haiku Stairs were fully closed to the public in 1987. Hikers on the Haiku stairs, otherwise known as Stairway to Heaven, on Oahu, Hawaii. A woman and her dog were rescued in September after falling 50 feet while hiking the Haiku Stairs trail. In October 2022, local outlet KHON2 reported 118 people had been rescued on the Haiku Stairs since 2010.

Persons: they're, — Organizations: Service, US Navy, Honolulu City, Hawaii, Honolulu Police Department, Hawaii News, CNN, The Honolulu Police Department, Business Locations: Oahu, Hawaii, Honolulu

☆ Tourists continue to visit Hawaii’s Haiku Stairs even as it gets removed for overtourism
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The staircase, which was built during World War II by the US Navy, has remained a tourist site despite being officially closed to visitors since 1987. On April 23, five people were arrested and charged with first-degree trespassing, according to CNN affiliate Hawaii News Now. “On top of (access) being illegal, it’s an active worksite,” Honolulu PD District Maj. Randall Platt told Hawaii News Now. It has not yet been decided where the stairs will go after being removed. One local tourist attraction, Kualoa Ranch, has expressed interest in buying and housing them.

Persons: –, Randall Platt Organizations: CNN, US Navy, Hawaii, YouTube, Hawaii News Locations: Oahu, Honolulu’s, Honolulu, It’s, harm’s, ”

☆ Venice's plan to charge tourists descended into chaos, showing how much of a headache overtourism has become
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The move sparked protests, highlighting the problems city officials face when tackling overtourism. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . When cities are overrun with tourists, officials are often tasked with finding ways to make them more liveable for residents. On peak days, tourists visiting Venice for the day need to buy a ticket online or at booths to enter the city. Other tourist hot spots have implemented caps on the number of daily visitors.

Persons: —, aren't, Simone Venturini, Venturini, Luca Bruno, Manuel Silvestri, it's Organizations: Service, Guardian, Business, AP, Reuters, Mount Fuji, BBC, US National Parks Locations: Venice, Italian, Veniceland, Amsterdam, Japan, Fujikawaguchiko, Austria, Athens

☆ This state is one of the last strongholds for machine politics. That's about to change.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

At the end of March, a federal judge sided with Kim, blocking Democrats from using the so-called "county line" system in the state's upcoming June primaries. That's set to bring a stark change to the way ballots look — and potentially, a total overhaul in the state's political culture. AdvertisementHere's what to know about the "county line" and why it may be going away for good. A 2020 Democratic primary ballot in Mercer County, New Jersey. "I think you'll see a more candidate-centric politics," said Jersey City Councilman James Solomon, a longtime opponent of the county-line system.

Persons: —, Andy Kim, Kim, That's, Kim et, Hanlon, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Hanlon et al, Bob Menendez's, Democratic Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Spencer Platt, Tammy Murphy, Phil Murphy, Zahid Quraishi, Tom Williams, Murphy, Rob Menendez —, Ravi Bhalla, James Solomon, They've, they've Organizations: Democratic, Service, Garden State, New York City, Getty, Democratic Gov, Jersey City Locations: New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware, Salem, Sussex, Mercer County , New Jersey, Hanlon et, New York, Hoboken, Jersey

☆ A woman moved to Florida after her home burned in the Lahaina fires, and the cheapest Maui rental she could find was $10,000 a month
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The fires in Maui, Hawaii, displaced 6,200 families, many of whom are still looking for housing. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Advertisement"There are about 7,000 short term rental units on Maui in apartment zoning and 2,200 are in West Maui," Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, a Maui city councilwoman, told KITV. "It would immediately provide housing for those folks who want to stay in West Maui, which is the majority of our folks looking for housing right now." Paele Kiakona, a member of Lahaina Strong, told Hawaii News Now.

Persons: —, Amy Chadwick, Chadwick, " Chadwick, Shannon I'i, I'i, they'll, KITV, Keani Rawlins, Fernandez, Josh Green, We've, Kiakona Organizations: Service, Associated Press, Lahaina, Hawaii News Locations: Maui, Hawaii, Lahaina, Satellite Beach , Florida, West Maui

☆ University of Southern California Confronts an Unfamiliar Era of Protest
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Shawn Hubler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A leafy quad strewn with camping equipment. But in Los Angeles, the talk has been less about what was happening than about where it was happening: at the University of Southern California, a private, 144-year-old West Coast institution hardly known for intense political rebellion. “This is not the first university you think of when you think of protests and occupying the central quad and confronting the police,” said Zev Yaroslavsky, a former longtime Los Angeles County supervisor and city councilman. ?”Entwined for generations with Los Angeles’s power structure, U.S.C. has long held a special place in the nation’s second-largest city — not just as a school, but also as a community pillar in a sprawling metropolis where fixed points are hard to find.

Persons: ”, Zev Yaroslavsky, “ Organizations: Police, University of Southern, Harvard Locations: Israel, Los Angeles, University of Southern California, West, Los Angeles County, “ Berkeley

☆ Many large U.S. cities are in deep financial trouble. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Carlos Waters | In Carloswaters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Municipal governments across the United States are looking to rein in spending as pandemic-era stimulus dries up and inflation lingers for longer than expected. The group issued a AA investment grade general obligation bond rating for New York City in March 2024. The financial challenges within cities appear to be mounting despite high municipal credit ratings and robust demand for urban commodities like housing. "I think we can all agree that we're broke," said Houston Mayor John Whitmire in a March 2024 City Council budget hearing. Meanwhile, in the case of New York City, leaders remain optimistic about future returns.

Persons: Michael Rinaldi, Brad Lander, Sheila Weinberg, we're, Houston Mayor John Whitmire, Weinberg, We've, Lander, Eric Adams, Rinaldi, Adams Organizations: Fitch, AA, New, Truth, University of Denver, New York, Apple, Houston Mayor, Accounting, CNBC, Lander Locations: United States, U.S, New York City, Chicago, Houston, Portland , Oregon, New York

☆ Why Is This Seder Unlike All Other Seders?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Joseph Bernstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Why was this Seder different from all other Seders? Start with the setup: a glittering table set for 100, running the length of a drafty warehouse in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. Also unlike most seders, this one, on Thursday night (before the start of the holiday), featured a D.J. Guests at the Seder and past parties have included Brett Gelman, the actor; Samantha Ronson, the D.J. ; Richard Kind, the actor; Chi Ossé, the Brooklyn city councilman; and the actor David Schwimmer.

Persons: York influencers, Elijah, Brett Gelman, Samantha Ronson, Richard Kind, Chi Ossé, David Schwimmer Locations: Bushwick, Brooklyn, York

☆ Baltimore officials accused the ship that crashed into the Key Bridge of being 'unseaworthy' and leaving port even though its alarms had already gone off
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewCity of Baltimore officials on Monday accused the owner and manager of the ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge of allowing the vessel to set sail despite it being "clearly unseaworthy." "Reporting has indicated that, even before leaving port, alarms showing an inconsistent power supply on the Dali had sounded," the court petition reads. Authorities found that the 984-foot ship lost power as it navigated toward the bridge, causing it to lose propulsion. The crew on board broadcast a mayday call just before impact, allowing traffic police to seal access to the bridge. AdvertisementMeanwhile, President Joe Biden has said that the federal government will fund the reconstruction of the Key Bridge, and has agreed to disburse some $60 million in aid to the region.

Persons: —, Francis Scott Key, Dali, Grace Ocean, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Joe Biden Organizations: Service, Synergy Marine, Business, Baltimore Mayor, Grace, Synergy, Port, Authorities, National Transportation Safety Board, FBI, Washington Post Locations: Baltimore, Maryland, Singapore, Port of Baltimore, Sri Lanka, Patapsco

☆ Baltimore bridge collapse: City files legal claim against owner, operator of ship that rammed Key Bridge
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Jillian Sykes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Atlanta CNN —Baltimore filed a legal claim on Monday against the owner and manager of the ship that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge last month, causing it to collapse. The Dali, a 213-million-pound ship carrying cargo containers, is owned by Grace Ocean Private Limited and managed by Synergy Marine PTE LTD. As this matter is now the subject of active litigation, we will reserve further comment for the appropriate judicial forum,” the Baltimore City Law Office told CNN. Earlier this month, Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine filed a petition in federal court asking for a $43.6 million limit on potential liability payouts. In its Monday court filings, Baltimore asked the court to deny the companies’ petition to limit liability.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, Dali, Grace Ocean, Darrell Wilson, Grace, — CNN’s Gabe Cohen Organizations: Atlanta CNN, Baltimore, Grace Ocean Private Limited, Synergy Marine PTE LTD, Baltimore’s, City Council, CNN, Baltimore City Law Office, Synergy, Grace Ocean, Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Coast Guard Locations: Baltimore

☆ Summer Lee, ‘Squad’ Member, Wins Democratic House Primary in Pennsylvania
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Anjali Huynh | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Representative Summer Lee, a first-term progressive Democrat, won her primary contest in western Pennsylvania on Tuesday, according to The Associated Press, fending off a moderate challenger in a race that centered on her stance on the war in Gaza. The primary, in Pennsylvania’s 12th District, presented one of this year’s first down-ballot tests of whether left-wing incumbents would be hurt by their opposition to Israel’s military campaign. After Ms. Lee for months faced scrutiny for voting against support for Israel, her victory was partly seen as a reflection of how public, and party, sentiment on the issue has appeared to shift in her favor. The congresswoman was winning by an overwhelming margin with counting nearly complete late Tuesday, underlining the strength of her position as an incumbent this year after she out-raised her opponent with widespread backing from Democratic officials. The seat is considered safely Democratic in the general election.

Persons: Summer Lee, Lee, Bhavini Patel, Patel Organizations: Associated Press, Israel, Democratic Locations: Pennsylvania, Gaza, Pennsylvania’s 12th, Edgewood, Pa

☆ The Supreme Court Takes on Homelessness - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Laura Riley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

In 2013, Grants Pass, Ore., came up with a strategy to deal with a growing homeless population in the city of roughly 40,000, one that might best be described as kicking the can down the road. Through a series of ordinances, the city essentially made it illegal to sleep outside in public. In particular, anyone sleeping anywhere in public with bedding, a blanket or a sleeping bag would be breaking the law. There are no homeless shelters in Grants Pass. At least 600 people in the city were unhoused in 2018 and 2019, according to counts by a local nonprofit that serves the unhoused.

Organizations: City Locations: Grants

☆ Opinion: Shaking off the Trump effect
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. CNN —“We are most deeply asleep at the switch,” wrote Annie Dillard, “when we fancy we control any switches at all. When the Senate voted to send new aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan two months ago, House Speaker Mike Johnson took no action. With the help of Democrats, the House approved aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan on Saturday. Writing for CNN Opinion, he emphasized that there are legal principles that require universities to prohibit expressions of antisemitism.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Annie Dillard, “, time’s, —, Mike Johnson, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Biden, Sleepy Joe ”, Israel, Johnson, MAGA, Julian Zelizer, Walt Handelsman, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s, Kevin McCarthy’s, Clay Jones, Fareed Zakaria, Alejandro Mayorkas, “ Biden, ” Zakaria, Bill Clinton, ” Trump, Jack Ohman, Agency Donald Trump’s, dozed, Elliot Williams, Patrick T, Brown, …, ‘, ’, Attorney Alvin Bragg, ” Will, Jeffrey Abramson, ” “, Norm Eisen, Stormy Daniels, ” Eisen, Michael Cohen, Elie Honig, Frida Ghitis, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Lisa Benson, GoComics.com Peter Bergen, Daniel R, DePetris, Dean Obeidallah, Susanne DeWitt, ” David Schizer, ” Schizer, Danielle Campoamor, Caitlin Clark, Simone Biles, Campoamor, Latika Bourke, John Howard, Justin J, Pearson, Winston Churchill, Holly Thomas, Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak’s, It’s, ” Thomas, YouGov, ” Don’t, Drew Sheneman, Agency David M, Perry, Frankie de la, Angel Reese, Roy Schwartz, Joni Mitchell —, Raul A, Reyes, Sonia Sotomayor, Jules Boykoff, Jaime M, Valiathan, Ed Manning, Sara Stewart, Noah Berlatsky, Taylor Swift Amy Bass, Taylor Swift, Swift, Department ”, ” Bass, “ Swift, Joe, Alwyn, Diana, they’re, Clara Bow, Dylan Thomas, Patti Smith — Organizations: CNN, Republicans, MAGA Republicans, Agency, Congress, Biden, Homeland, National Guard, ‘, Manhattan, Attorney, New York Democrats, Twitter, Facebook, New York Times, Trump, Berkeley, Nazism, Columbia, Nike, Team USA, Sydney, Port, Conservative, Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Central Press, Hulton, National Health Service, WNBA, Ungentlemanly, Department Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Manhattan, Iran, Russia, China, ‘, New, CNN Iran, “ Israel, Gaza, Israeli, Damascus, Iraq, America, Dearborn, Nazi Germany, Berkeley , California, Berkeley, East Bay, Sydney, Port Arthur, Tennessee, Surrey, Croydon, Quebec, Britain, Vancouver, London, Welsh

☆ Amsterdam bans construction of new hotels as a way to fight overtourism
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Lilit Marcus | Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

This means: no overtourism, no new hotels, and no more than 20 million hotel overnight stays by tourists per year,” it said in a statement. This is the latest in a series of measures the Dutch capital has taken to mitigate the issue of overtourism in the city. Last year, the Amsterdam City Council voted to ban cruise ships and close its cruise terminal. The city also banned the use of marijuana on public streets in the red light district and ended guided tours that passed by sex workers’ windows. Under a 2021 ordinance called “Amsterdam Tourism in Balance,” the city council is “obliged to intervene” when tourism numbers reach 18 million people.

Organizations: CNN, Amsterdam City Locations: Netherlands, Amsterdam, Balance

☆ Karen Read trial: Boston cop John O’ Keefe’s girlfriend goes on trial for murder
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

O’Keefe’s body was found in the snow on January 29, 2022, outside the home of a fellow Boston police officer in Canton, Massachusetts. Boston Police Department/AP“It’s fair to say a large number of people in Massachusetts know about this case,” Medwed told CNN. As the trial gets underway at the Norfolk County Superior Court building in Dedham, Massachusetts, here are the key highlights. The body of police officer John O'Keefe was found near the fire hydrant outside this home on Fairview Road in Canton, Massachusetts. Protesters gather outside the courthouse during a recent pretrial hearing for Karen Read at Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham, Massachusetts.

Persons: John O’Keefe, Karen Read, Daniel Medwed, John O'Keefe, ” Medwed, haven’t, Read, Craig F, Walker, Alan Jackson, David Yannetti, Jackson, O’Keefe, ” Jackson, “, Kevin Reddington, Michael Morrissey, ” Morrissey, David L, Ryan, Adam Lally, “ It’s, ” Lally, Helena Rafferty, Karen Read ”, Beverly Cannone, Cannone, ” Cannone, Read’s Organizations: CNN, Boston Police, Boston, Lexus, Northeastern University . Boston Police, Boston Police Department, Court, Boston Globe, US, Office, District of, Massachusetts State Police, Protesters, Superior, WFXT, Canton Police Locations: Canton , Massachusetts, Canton, Norfolk County, Boston, Massachusetts, Norfolk, Dedham , Massachusetts, Fairview, …, Aruba, District of Massachusetts, Superior Court

☆ Deepening US divide over Israel tests the limits of free speech
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Separately, on Monday, the University of Southern California canceled the commencement speech of its valedictorian – biomedical engineering major Asna Tabassum, who is Muslim – after her social media posts were targeted by pro-Israel activists, raising questions about the existence of free speech. “Tradition must give way to safety,” USC Provost Andrew Guzman wrote in an online, campuswide letter announcing his decision to axe Tabassum’s speech. In her Instagram profile, she links to a website that calls for the abolishment of the state of Israel. The content of the commencement speech was not mentioned in Guzman’s letter announcing the cancellation, and he argued it was not about speech but about security. When Fisk tried to grab the microphone from Afaneh, the mixer turned into a social media moment.

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