A bird's eye view of the vineyard
Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz
Alternative site: https://thesaker.si/saker-a... Site was created using the downloads provided Regards Herb
The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker
Dear friends As I have previously announced, we are now “freezing” the blog. We are also making archives of the blog available for free download in various formats (see below).
What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker
by Mr. Allen for the Saker blog Over the last few years, we hear leaders from both Russia and China pronouncing that they have formed a relationship where there are
Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader
2023/02/27 19:00:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of
The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker
Pepe Escobar for the Saker blog A powerful feeling rhythms your skin and drums up your soul as you?re immersed in a long walk under persistent snow flurries, pinpointed by
The Saker >>
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail supporter? Anthony
Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony
Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony
RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony
Waiting for SIPO Anthony
Public Inquiry >>
Indymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.
Julian Assange is finally free ! Tue Jun 25, 2024 21:11 | indy
Stand With Palestine: Workplace Day of Action on Naksa Day Thu May 30, 2024 21:55 | indy
It is Chemtrails Month and Time to Visit this Topic Thu May 30, 2024 00:01 | indy
Hamburg 14.05. "Rote" Flora Reoccupied By Internationalists Wed May 15, 2024 15:49 | Internationalist left
Eddie Hobbs Breaks the Silence Exposing the Hidden Agenda Behind the WHO Treaty Sat May 11, 2024 22:41 | indy
Human Rights in Ireland >>
News Round-Up Tue Jul 23, 2024 01:16 | Richard Eldred
A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the ?climate emergency?, public health ?crises? and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
The post News Round-Up appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Will Trump Ever Admit Lockdown Was a Mistake? Mon Jul 22, 2024 19:35 | Jeffrey A. Tucker
Will Trump ever admit he was wrong to back lockdown in March 2020 ? a decision that doomed America to years of crisis and sank his re-election hopes that year? Jeffrey Tucker is hopeful that truth will finally prevail.
The post Will Trump Ever Admit Lockdown Was a Mistake? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Joe Biden Out in Apparent Palace Coup Mon Jul 22, 2024 17:30 | Eugyppius
Biden's team was still obliviously tweeting his resolve to fight on hours after he had decided to step down. So was the matter taken out of his hands? It has all the signs of an opportunistic palace coup, says Eugyppius.
The post Joe Biden Out in Apparent Palace Coup appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Who Will Guard Us Against the Guardian?s ?Fact Checks?? Mon Jul 22, 2024 15:34 | David Craig
The Guardian has published a 'fact check' of Donald Trump's claims about inflation and immigration. Just one problem, says David Craig: the 'fact check' gets its facts wrong. Who will guard us against the Guardian?
The post Who Will Guard Us Against the Guardian’s ‘Fact Checks’? appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Biden Delayed Stepping Down as He ?Doubts Kamala? as Senior Democrats Fail to Back Her Mon Jul 22, 2024 13:19 | Will Jones
President Biden delayed stepping down in part because he doubted Kamala Harris was up to the challenge of an election battle with Donald Trump, sources have said.
The post Biden Delayed Stepping Down as He “Doubts Kamala” as Senior Democrats Fail to Back Her appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Lockdown Skeptics >>
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (8 of 8)
Jump To Comment: 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1screw da scribly stuff and keep da good
or
if da government used dere brains dey wud provide graffiti walls
its just logic
yours
cry
The term Graffiti is used to cover a very wide range of what gets sprayed onto the side of buildings. The photos above I think can be considered genuine art, as can a good bit of what you see around town. Unfortunately, this kind of work is in the minority. What seriously gets up my nose is tagging. This moronic pastime was imported from the states complete with the style, giant balloon letters in bubblegum colours in as many places as possible. It's the same as carving your name on a school desk with a compass for those who haven't grown up. Taggers aren't adding anything and often tag other artist's work. It's a moronic pastime.
I suppose it would be too much to hope for that DCC will differentiate between the two.
.
.
'Businesses pay into a fund to "clean up the streets", decide on how an area should be decorated, what sort of public street furniture etc. '
If it is what I think it is - I have seen the results of this sort of thing in two major american cities - the result is an ultra clean 'nice' area of town while the nearby areas rot.
The point is, this is what taxes are for. If your city govt doesnt clean up the city, then why should the city govt make a seperate 'tax' (volunteer as it supposedly is) for a special people in that city?
naturally this sort of thing creates division and resentment among peoples not involved in the scheme - since the scheme was gotten due to business interests (and only very connected business interests) and not because the community at-large needed it or wanted it.
This is an important point - its not just rich vs poor and all that. Its well connected businness interests vs less connected business interests as well.
If you want to oppose these 'BIDs' I'd suggest gaining the support of the members of the business class that will be cut out of the deal - the streets and neighborhoods on the outer periphery of the BID scheme.
Definition of Business Improvement District
For Ireland-related links, google have helpfully provided nine, but three are dead.
http://www.google.ie/search?hl=en&q=Business+Improvemen...tryIE
In there can be found definitions of BIDs by Irish Independent and RTÉ, but I reckon they're not as specific as the ones above (in print fom myself, and on audio from the horses' mouths).
Here's RTÉ's uncritical stenographer definition anyway:
"A BID is a Public Private Partnership arrangement between a local authority and local businesses, set up to improve the local environment and enhance trade".
A US definition can be found at
http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/html/bid.html
Examples
They're not just big in New York City, but other US cities including Chicago and Los Angeles. BIDs came to Britain in the 1970s and Birmingham City cntre is held by Tom Coffee to be a prime example of what they can achieve. (see audio:-).
"What Does it Entail?"
Businesses pay into a fund to "clean up the streets", decide on how an area should be decorated, what sort of public street furniture etc.
Council is let off the democratic hook, and plutocracy steps in.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutocracy
Some representation from local communities have been promised by DCBA, but the extent of BID accountability is unclear and no-one is elected by universal suffrage.
If anyon has read "the life and death of American cities" by Susan Jacobs, you might detect something anarchist in a co-operative sorta way, but the proposed partnership with the council gives it our state legitemacy to do whatever their money pays for.
If the current business rates are high enough, this should suffice for interests to be made by the community (albeit through a noddy council).
"Will we actually get to see more art...?"
If you get time to click on the graffitti links supplied above and know that BIDs are against this, the answer would have to be in the negative.
What you might get is some officially-sanctioned, conformist or neutral, greasy pole of Arts Council art.
What exactly are they? Got any links or examples? What will it entail? Will we actually get to see more art on our streets and grey walls?
Business Improvement District (update proposed by Michael Donnelly (FF).
Christie Burke and another Councillor object to seeing this on the agenda again.
3:38 Tom Coffee (Dublin City Business Association) explains what is meant by a BID.
general support
12:00 Vincent Jackson (Ind).
14:30 Paschal Donohue (FG).
16:30 Andrew O’Connell (SF).
17:30 Naoise Ó Muirí (FG).
17:50 ?Michael Donnelly (FF)
18:12 Daithí Doolan (SF)
20:16 Michael Conaghan (Lab) wants talented Irish designers to improve bland city shop-fronts.
22:40 Michael Rafferty (Ind). Blandness too
anti-graffitti element highlighted and commended.
24:00 Anne Carter (Lab); unqualified priase. Wants rid of graffitti “a big problem”.
more approvals
25:00 Vincent Jackson (Ind).
26:26 Anne Marie Martin (FG). Likes NY model, good to see business “givin’ somethin’ back to the country”.
27:09 Eibhlin Byrne (FF): + but must go hand in hand with addressing social problems.
28:00 John Gallagher (Lab): + likes that Tom Coffee comes from the area.
28:24 Oisín Quinn (Lab) + but will votes depend on financial contributions (and three other points).
29:35 Mary Fitzpatrick (FF) + but to clarify standards and uniformity.
and will BIDS take over DCC tasks, like street-cleaning?
32:15 Julia Carmichael (FF) + but it must benefit every area in the city, small retailers as well as big.
33:55 Tom Coffee responds.
We must meet standards such as European cities like Brussels (Christmas Market). Dublin city is a civic space, not just a shopping centre. BIDS in US and Canada are all different. There is a learning curve once the first one is started here. Area Management structure will be strengthened, not taking place of council. Cleaner streets, less graffitti, less crime…Residential Communities are invited onto boards of BIDs and they don’t have to pay. Relationship with local community is vital with the establishment of a community fund. We’ve been in the city cente a good while and have loads of long-term commitment to it.
BIDs will revive areas of the city. Secondary streets will become the incubation ground for the next high-street businesses of the future (like in the US). Tourist surveys have their limitations. High standard of street furniture. We’ll have to buy a third graffitti machine. If we paint on side of buildings, graffitti artists don’t like defacing other artists work, so this’ll stop ‘em…
Here are some exmples of what the good Councillors are objecting to.
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/74492
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/74345
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/74182
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/73846
and that’s just 2006. A more comprehensive collection of this decade’s street-art is also archived on www.indymedia.ie
to listen to the “debate” check out below link.
42 mins mp3 64kbps
http://radio.indymedia.org/uploads/rjs.r.dublincitycoun...s.mp3