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Post by another_ruined_saturday on Mar 25, 2020 19:56:37 GMT
Yeah but, isn't it a prime example of how the market can solve every problem? Entirely agree but since the wretched Thatcher forced councils to flog their housing stock at market discounted prices and then refused to allow them to reinvest it in new stock I think we can say that this is yet another example of the sheer bloody incompetence of the Tories. Sorry, I'll go and wash my mouth out. Tories...incompetent...can't be right. and ultimately, right to buy is partly responsible for the inexorable rise in homelessness figures. leeds had 115,000 council properties, now it's under 55k, so less than half the peak number (and of course it's more ghettoised - most of the nicest/micellaneous ones not on estates have been bought up). i wouldn't have a problem - at all - with right to buy if thatcher's government hadn't prevented local authorities replacing their stock using the capital receipts generated by the sales. RTB without replacing the stock was solely about turning some of the estates tory - making people think that they must be tories now as homeowners, margaret has empowered them. absolutely terrible.
the reason manchester and birmingham each have 2-3000 people in emergency accommodation, and many councils gatekeep through very harsh interpretation of the legislation and case law, is that it's hard to reduce those numbers because they don't have the properties anymore to discharge their housing duties into. with the ALMOs and LSVT, many authorities don't have proper control over their stock either. some of these measures may have come in under new labour, but essentially the policies are tory, tory, tory. if the company managing the housing stock is private-ish, they don't want their properties filling with homeless scrotes - they're a bad risk. so instead, when authorities are forced to place people in emergency accommodation it's likely to be a long term job, and you find many authorities, especially the london ones, placing people in other authorities, including up to 200 miles away from the borough they've come from. what f***ing way is that to treat people? but it's the constraints that result in those kinds of behaviours.
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Post by gazz on Mar 25, 2020 20:17:56 GMT
Yeah but, isn't it a prime example of how the market can solve every problem? Entirely agree but since the wretched Thatcher forced councils to flog their housing stock at market discounted prices and then refused to allow them to reinvest it in new stock I think we can say that this is yet another example of the sheer bloody incompetence of the Tories. Sorry, I'll go and wash my mouth out. Tories...incompetent...can't be right. and ultimately, right to buy is partly responsible for the inexorable rise in homelessness figures. leeds had 115,000 council properties, now it's under 55k, so less than half the peak number (and of course it's more ghettoised - most of the nicest/micellaneous ones not on estates have been bought up). i wouldn't have a problem - at all - with right to buy if thatcher's government hadn't prevented local authorities replacing their stock using the capital receipts generated by the sales. RTB without replacing the stock was solely about turning some of the estates tory - making people think that they must be tories now as homeowners, margaret has empowered them. absolutely terrible.
the reason manchester and birmingham each have 2-3000 people in emergency accommodation, and many councils gatekeep through very harsh interpretation of the legislation and case law, is that it's hard to reduce those numbers because they don't have the properties anymore to discharge their housing duties into. with the ALMOs and LSVT, many authorities don't have proper control over their stock either. some of these measures may have come in under new labour, but essentially the policies are tory, tory, tory. if the company managing the housing stock is private-ish, they don't want their properties filling with homeless scrotes - they're a bad risk. so instead, when authorities are forced to place people in emergency accommodation it's likely to be a long term job, and you find many authorities, especially the london ones, placing people in other authorities, including up to 200 miles away from the borough they've come from. what f***ing way is that to treat people? but it's the constraints that result in those kinds of behaviours.
I've always considered the Right to buy as the heart of Thatcher's 'divide and conquer' mission, to give those that went on strike an obligation, to make them think twice about going on strike for fear of losing their homes if they don't pay their mortgages. But you're probably right about your 'converting them to Tory' theory too. It's good to read the thoughts of someone who really knows this sector, mate, so thanks for posting that insight.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2020 21:19:49 GMT
and ultimately, right to buy is partly responsible for the inexorable rise in homelessness figures. leeds had 115,000 council properties, now it's under 55k, so less than half the peak number (and of course it's more ghettoised - most of the nicest/micellaneous ones not on estates have been bought up). i wouldn't have a problem - at all - with right to buy if thatcher's government hadn't prevented local authorities replacing their stock using the capital receipts generated by the sales. RTB without replacing the stock was solely about turning some of the estates tory - making people think that they must be tories now as homeowners, margaret has empowered them. absolutely terrible.
the reason manchester and birmingham each have 2-3000 people in emergency accommodation, and many councils gatekeep through very harsh interpretation of the legislation and case law, is that it's hard to reduce those numbers because they don't have the properties anymore to discharge their housing duties into. with the ALMOs and LSVT, many authorities don't have proper control over their stock either. some of these measures may have come in under new labour, but essentially the policies are tory, tory, tory. if the company managing the housing stock is private-ish, they don't want their properties filling with homeless scrotes - they're a bad risk. so instead, when authorities are forced to place people in emergency accommodation it's likely to be a long term job, and you find many authorities, especially the london ones, placing people in other authorities, including up to 200 miles away from the borough they've come from. what f***ing way is that to treat people? but it's the constraints that result in those kinds of behaviours.
I've always considered the Right to buy as the heart of Thatcher's 'divide and conquer' mission, to give those that went on strike an obligation, to make them think twice about going on strike for fear of losing their homes if they don't pay their mortgages. But you're probably right about your 'converting them to Tory' theory too. It's good to read the thoughts of someone who really knows this sector, mate, so thanks for posting that insight. That, and dreaming up an economic "policy" that provided homeowners with the illusion of wealth by inflating house prices beyond all reason by maintenance of artificially low interest rates and removing constraints on lending rather than by income earned at work. How can enough people earn wealth in a low skill/low wage economy?
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 25, 2020 22:58:12 GMT
Latest update on my mate Big Rick, as posted just now by his daughter - but not an easy read:
CHAPTER 2 - RICHARD vs COVID-19:
I'm afraid it's not good news here folks.
Richard took a turn for the worse overnight last night, with oxygen sats dropping to a dangerous level by this morning and not rising again, so the ICU Team decided it was time to put him on to a mechanical ventilator.
We had a hurried last video call with him, which included a doctor in a full protective suit hovering in the background with a mask ready to put him under... and then he was out. He has been moved to an operating theatre room where the critical COVID-19 patients are being kept. This is a seperate room, away from the normal ICU and no visitors are allowed (same policy as before).
We waited for a very long three hours before we received a call from the Consultant who spoke to us frankly about the situation. Without going into too much detail, the odds are definitely not resting in our favour and the mortality rate is a lot higher in these situations (once they get ventilated) that any of us were expecting and this has come as a shock. We are now faced with the very real situation that my Dad might die alone without his family present. We are not allowed to visit him, and video calls are no longer possible. So now, we wait.
The average time on a ventilator for someone in this situation seems to be two to three weeks, if they are to make it through. We are told it should be evident within a week if he is likely to make it, as more complications will potentially arise in this time.
I know it is upsetting, me speaking so plainly about such a difficult and heartbreaking situation (trust me, this doesn't come easily) but I am doing this to update all those who have been following along so far, and mostly, to show the realities of the situation we are all about to potentially face, because the harsh truth is that there is likely to be someone you know, love or care for in the same situation in the coming months.
We were left in the dark, without the knowledge of the outcomes and processes that someone with confirmed COVID-19 faces, and we also had no idea we would be left to face the reality, when we called that ambulance 5 days ago, that it might be the last time we ever set eyes on my Dad in person.
I'm not saying this to make people scared, not everyone that gets the virus end up in hospital, and an even smaller amount end up in critical care, but there is still that chance, and this chance is increased for those in the vulnerable categories. If they go, you CANNOT visit, and if they get onto a ventilator, the odds are not stacked in their favour.
Enough of the negetives now - there is still a chance he will make it, if a slimmer one that we were expecting - and for those that know Richard, he never playes by the odds. We are keeping hope, and supporting each other as a family. This is not the end of the story.
We are receiving a lot of messages at this time and appreciate all the kind words and support, but please do not be offended if we do get back to you straight away, we remain grateful for your words.
Tell your family and friends you love them, wash your hands and stay in your houses!
Lots of love. xxx
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Post by gazz on Mar 26, 2020 1:04:04 GMT
There's not really a lot we can say to that, Maccy, except that we're all hoping he can pull through. This really is harsh reality time, so people really do need to wake up to the very real prospect that this is not just a bug that will go away without a fight.
To those that keep ignoring the advice, that keep partying, that keep gathering in crowds, that keep thinking it's not going to affect them - more people are going to die as a result of your staggering ignorance. It's as simple as that.
My thoughts are with you, your friend and his family at this terrible time, Maccy.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2020 7:16:24 GMT
Certainties are easy to deal with but the alternating waves of doubt and hope associated with this kind of situation are not, so very best wishes to your mate and deepest sympathy to his family and friends.
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on Mar 26, 2020 9:16:32 GMT
A hard read and very sobering. Thoughts and prayers are with the family.
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 26, 2020 10:37:45 GMT
Thanks, gents. Very frightening - but he is a fighter on the squash court, so we are keeping everything crossed that he will win this one.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2020 17:26:49 GMT
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Post by gazz on Mar 26, 2020 19:21:36 GMT
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 26, 2020 19:56:21 GMT
Over a thousand views in five days. This thread has gone viral!
Did I say that? 😎
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Post by gazz on Mar 26, 2020 20:16:29 GMT
Over a thousand views in five days. It was all your idea, matey, so nice work!
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Post by hermannsays on Mar 26, 2020 20:36:22 GMT
Just wanted to post to continue sending our best wishes to you all and your families and friends suffering ill health right now.
Take care, everyone!
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Post by gazz on Mar 26, 2020 20:40:41 GMT
ust wanted to post to continue sending our best wishes to you all and your families and friends suffering ill health right now. Take care, everyone! Duly reciprocated, mate!
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Post by another_ruined_saturday on Mar 26, 2020 22:23:15 GMT
it was pretty quiet on the motorways and then the a roads into the peak district in terms of normal traffic. just lots of lorries. then the A6 was pretty busy through levvy and ardwick, and there were still people just wandering across the road between the traffic looking unconcerned. first time i've been up the A6 through levenshulme during the day in many many years and crikey it looked run down. very quiet through leeds late in the rush hour - never seen it like that before. saw a lot of people out on foot but the vast majority were by themselves - a lot of joggers and the like. very sobering just to see everywhere closed. dad seems to be fine so far, but he's in several of the vulnerable groups and it's anybody's guess how well we'll all manage to keep safe from it long term.
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