#home permit fees

[asestimationsconsultants]

The Value of a Residential Estimating Service in 3D Printed Home Construction

The rise of 3D printed homes is revolutionizing the construction industry. By using additive manufacturing technology, builders can create homes with greater precision, less waste, and reduced labor costs. However, while the technology promises cost savings, the unique nature of 3D printed homes requires specialized budgeting and planning to ensure projects are financially viable. A residential estimating service plays a crucial role in this process by helping to forecast accurate costs, accounting for the intricacies and potential challenges that arise in 3D printed home construction.

As 3D printing technology continues to evolve, homeowners and developers need reliable estimating services to navigate the complexities of this innovative construction method. These services help ensure that projects stay within budget while meeting quality standards and project timelines.

Understanding 3D Printed Home Construction

3D printing in home construction involves the use of a printer to create walls, floors, and other structural components layer by layer. The primary materials used in 3D printing for homes include concrete, clay, or composites, with printers capable of creating intricate designs that traditional methods cannot easily replicate.

While 3D printing offers numerous advantages—such as rapid construction, reduced labor, and customization options—its costs can vary significantly. Factors such as material choice, print size, project complexity, and technology specifications all impact the overall cost of a 3D printed home.

Budgeting for 3D Printing Materials

One of the primary considerations in estimating the cost of 3D printed homes is the material used. The quality, type, and quantity of the material play a major role in determining the total cost of the build. Concrete, often used in 3D printing due to its strength and durability, is typically more affordable than other materials, but the cost can still fluctuate depending on the supplier and local availability.

A residential estimating service helps clients understand the cost implications of using various 3D printing materials. The estimator will provide a detailed breakdown of material costs, considering factors such as material waste, transportation, and handling fees. Since the technology is still relatively new, these costs may not always be predictable, making an expert estimator’s role all the more vital in forecasting potential variances.

Labor and Printing Time Considerations

While 3D printing eliminates many manual construction tasks, such as bricklaying and framing, there are still labor costs associated with setup, monitoring the printing process, and post-printing tasks. The process of setting up the printer, maintaining equipment, and overseeing quality control requires skilled labor. The printing itself, although automated, is not instantaneous and can take days or even weeks depending on the complexity of the design.

A residential estimating service accounts for these labor costs and the printing time, which can be significantly different from traditional construction projects. The estimator can calculate labor costs for monitoring, troubleshooting, and finishing tasks, ensuring that these costs are incorporated into the budget. They also take into account any additional time required for material delivery, setup, and calibration.

Design Flexibility and Customization

One of the most attractive aspects of 3D printed homes is their design flexibility. With the ability to create complex, customized shapes and structures, 3D printing allows for architectural freedom that traditional construction methods often cannot achieve.

However, this flexibility can impact the budget. More intricate designs may require more material or longer printing times, leading to higher costs. A residential estimating service evaluates the design’s complexity and integrates these factors into the overall estimate. By balancing custom features with cost constraints, the estimator ensures that the project’s design vision aligns with the budget.

Site Preparation and Foundation Costs

Although 3D printing reduces the amount of manual labor required during construction, site preparation remains a crucial part of the process. Depending on the location, this could involve clearing the land, leveling the site, and ensuring the foundation is properly prepared to support the printed structure.

For a 3D printed home, the foundation typically consists of a reinforced concrete slab, which must be poured and cured before printing can begin. The residential estimating service accounts for these additional costs and provides a clear picture of what needs to be done to prepare the site. This includes evaluating soil conditions, assessing the need for grading, and determining the cost of the foundation installation.

Regulatory and Permit Costs

Like traditional construction, 3D printed homes must comply with local building codes and regulations. In some areas, building codes may not yet address 3D printed structures, making it necessary to consult with local authorities and engineers to ensure that the construction meets safety and code standards.

The residential estimating service plays a key role in navigating these regulatory challenges. The estimator helps identify the necessary permits, certifications, and inspections required for a 3D printed home, and factors these into the overall project budget. This helps avoid costly delays caused by missing permits or non-compliance with regulations.

Maintenance and Long-Term Durability

While 3D printed homes offer a unique and innovative building solution, homeowners and builders must also consider the long-term durability and maintenance of the materials used. 3D printed homes are generally built to last, but depending on the material used, they may require specific maintenance or repairs over time.

A residential estimating service can factor in the cost of maintaining the home in the future. For example, if the home is constructed with concrete or composite materials, the estimator will consider the potential for cracking, erosion, or other wear-and-tear issues. This long-term perspective helps homeowners budget for future repairs or upgrades that may be needed after construction.

Conclusion

The rise of 3D printed homes presents both exciting opportunities and unique challenges. While the technology promises cost savings and design freedom, accurately budgeting for a 3D printed home requires a detailed understanding of the materials, labor, site preparation, and regulatory considerations involved. A residential estimating service offers valuable expertise in these areas, helping homeowners and developers navigate the complexities of 3D printed home construction while staying on budget.

By providing a clear, comprehensive estimate, residential estimators ensure that all aspects of the project—from the initial design to the final finishing touches—are accounted for. With their help, homeowners can confidently embrace this innovative construction method while avoiding unexpected costs or delays.

[thelonesgroup]

The Election is Over - What's Next for Housing?

It has been an interesting few days, weeks, months, and even years leading up to the election this week. Depending on whether you have been cheering for team red or blue, you may be celebrating, welcoming in a new era, a bit bewildered, or even accepting and looking ahead.

As a real estate professional and steward of homebuilders in this country, my first inclination when anyone is running for any office that has an impact on housing is to determine what their mission is pertaining to it. Housing is currently flirting with a shortage of 5 million homes nationally and is one of our biggest issues that affects cost of living, the economy (as people have less to spend on purchases when there is so much tied up in a house payment), homelessness, security for seniors, and prosperity.

When it looked like it would be a Harris-Trump matchup, I took a hard look at their proposed housing policies. Both agreed that increasing the supply of housing is at a critical point and have ideas for how to ease the burden on housing supply.

I am going to briefly summarize their plans and provide my thoughts regarding what I think needs to be done in the years ahead.

Harris's Policies

Harris focused on increasing the supply of housing by encouraging the building of 3 million housing units. This would help reduce the deficit of 5 million homes that don't currently exist that we need. To do that, her primary method was to expand existing tax credits to make it easier for builders to build affordable and rental housing.

She also proposed a $40 billion fund for innovations in housing construction, affordable home design, and creative financing.

Another goal of hers was to take a look at existing regulation that is limiting construction, although most zoning, permits, and regulation is at the state and local level. That being said, there are currently limitations in terms of financing that is determined at the federal level that can be reconfigured to allow for more middle housing construction. She has indicated that some of her targets would have been reducing red tape for transit-oriented development and office-to-residential conversions.

She also proposed $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. Although this doesn't actually increase supply - it may make housing more affordable. But without the additional supply of housing, this increased demand may actually cause prices to rise in excess of that $25,000.

Trump's Policies

One of the ways Trump has proposed to reallocate housing supply is to decrease demand by limiting immigration or deporting illegal aliens who are here now. The impact of this policy is not yet clear, and there is concern regarding how a massive deportation will affect the building industry which is already suffering from labor and skill shortages. According to REALTOR.com, a third of the housing market labor force is foreign-born.

Another way he may achieve this is by limiting mortgage access for undocumented immigrants.

He also supports opening more federal lands for housing - both he and Harris supported the idea of utilizing public lands for this purpose. Trump's plan calls for “ultralow tax and ultralow regulation” in order to support large scale housing construction. Trying to match up available public lands with areas of demand is something I foresee as a challenge. According to REALTOR.com, “the federal government owns about 27% of the total land area, but much of that land is located in the Western U.S.” Much of this land is in remote areas. However, I have high hopes that there are areas where this could have a good impact on our housing supply although not quickly as both politicians implied. Infrastructure may take a long time to install. Furthermore, in Washington State, we are hampered by Growth Management Act which curtails density. Even if federal and public lands were opened up, if they were not in areas that each county had slated for development, development would only occur at rural levels. This is a good long-range plan, but not something that will affect us now and even in the next few years.

In addition, he supports removing regulations and permit requirements that drive up the cost of housing, including environmental and safety regulations. The National Association of Homebuilders indicate that nationally, site and building permit fees account for approximately 7.4% of an average new-home cost. However, this will be limited for the same reasons Harris' plan would be - much of permitting and regulation exists at the state and local levels.

In Trump's previous term in office, he created an executive order to create the White House Council on Eliminating Barriers to Affordable Housing Development - the results from this Council could impact future policy. Two points from this have emerged which include changing the affordable housing environmental review process and changes to manufactured home regulations.

Bringing down mortgage rates is another focus of his. Although it is not yet clear how this will be manipulated, this would assist with both general housing costs with resale and in making it more affordable to build.

Trump's platform also calls for tax incentives and support for first-time buyers. It may include tax deductions for mortgage interest, mortgage insurance, or tax credits. But similar to Harris' plan, this may actually result in driving up demand, increasing prices, and essentially erasing this benefit.

Denise's Soapbox (My Top 5)

I was very glad to see that both candidates made housing a priority and I hope the new Trump administration will continue to do so. We have such a deficit of housing which impacts so many other facets of the economy that we need a focused, multi-faceted approach. There are elements of both plans that I believe will help fix what is broken with our housing supply. If I could sit down with President Trump and lay out a plan for fixing the housing shortage, these would be my Top 5:

#1 Remove Barriers that Cause Delays to Getting Initial Approval

There is too much policy and regulation red tape that exists at the state and local levels. This is a national problem and therefore needs a national solution. We don't need to pay a non-profit firm or an internal watch crew to figure this out. There needs to be a state mandate - with consequences - on permitting and processing timelines. Most delays are caused by one or more of these three things:

Lack of permit technicians, planners, and people in the building department OR existing personnel have not dedicated enough time to processing permits (existing personnel are wearing too many hats).

Permit approval process is too segmented and each segment takes too much time - need to streamline.

Too many special reports or studies are needed on properties.

Local government needs to understand how much delays cost every step of the way. This is just one of the reasons the cost of building has gone up - builder carrying costs. Now with interest rates higher, these costs are going to hamper how much risk our builders are willing to take on unless these can be limited.

#2 Remove Costly and Excessive Regulation Causing Barriers to Housing

We live in an exciting time when it comes to housing product innovations. When I am at the International Building Show, I am wowed by all the ways people in other countries are developing products that will help in the construction process or result in a better product for the consumer. However, regulation and red tape keep some of those innovations from coming to the US. We have to get out of our own way.

Additionally, regulation caused by the new energy code, tree ordinances, critical areas ordinances, and more, are driving up the cost of housing - and causing delays that drive up housing costs. We can't keep adding to the Builder Burden - we have to get these under control or perhaps put a pause on some of them - people are in the streets and suffering while we are out measuring tree trunks. Come on, people!

#3 Analyze ALL Government-Mandated Fees Around Housing

My permitting fees have increased an astounding 25% over the last couple of years WITHOUT the benefit of a more-predictable, more-expedient processing timeline. In fact, it has gotten exponentially WORSE. Builders need relief! We can't keep passing these exorbitant fees along to buyers, but we don't have a choice.

According to the Building Industry Association of Washington, it costs approximately $200,000 more to build a home in Washington State than elsewhere due to #1, #2, and #3. Those are costs that builders either have to eat or that get passed along to the buyer. No wonder we can't get enough housing built!

#4 Pre-Approved Plans for Infill Lots

This includes ADUs, DADUs, and small Single Family Residential plans. If a buyer or a builder knows they don't have to wade through the permitting process for the build, there is a lot more certainty in terms of build costs, carrying costs, and build timelines. We must do what we can to eliminate uncertainty and one way we can do that is through pre-approved plans. These plans may be altered for décor like a gingerbread house - the structure is the same, but perhaps the siding and colors can change.

For example, in Washington State, modular and manufactured homes are approved at the state level which essentially means they can be placed anywhere. There is no local permitting that needs to be done on the build, just the land. This same principle can be applied at each state level with federal funding.

NOTE: The above four issues are state and local in nature. But the federal government can provide a mandate and funds to address the issue. For example, the federal government could roll out a program with funding attached, tax incentives, or a combination thereof with stipulations that the fees be used to implement the above objectives. Harris had proposed $40 billion to look at ways to cut costs and improve processes. Something like this could work to achieve the above.

Also, we need to expand tax credits and incentives. All types of housing are needed - permanent supportive housing, partially-supported housing, workforce housing, and luxury homes. It makes sense to provide some sort of sliding scale depending on the type of housing needed per area. For example, King County needs over 300,000 housing units built over the next 20 years and the Washington State Department of Commerce has indicated how much of each economic category is needed. It wouldn't be difficult to create a system of tracking these and once we hit the numbers, that tax credit or incentive goes away.

#5 Institute a Government-Funded Builder Loan Program

Builders have to fight to get money for their projects at market which drives up costs. However, if a lower-interest and lower-fee program were available, builders could build more and housing would be less-expensive.

I have plenty more to say on how the federal government can prioritize housing supply, but the publication timeline is getting too close. So, it will have to wait. But no worries! I have plenty more to say at my upcoming State of the Market class which I am pleased to announce!

Sources

[NPR] Trump-Harris Housing Costs Plan

[Realtor] Donald Trump Will Return to the White House: What His Presidency Means for the Housing Market

[Bi-Partisan Policy] Comparing the Housing Proposals of the 2024 Presidential Campaigns

[NowBam.com] What a Trump Presidency Means for Housing

ANNOUNCING!

REGISTER NOW

The impact of elections is just one of many more important things impacting our industry that I will be covering in more detail at my upcoming 2025 State of the Market. Here are a few other topics I will be covering:

How will a new administration handle our housing shortage?

How will mortgage rates contend with the economy?

What changes can we expect to see with inventory and buyer demand?

How will our comprehensive plans and new housing legislation shape our markets?

How will availability of rentals, a hot legislative topic, impact our market?

What must agents know about second-home and other opportunity markets?

What opportunities are ahead for brokers, builders, and developers?

This year's State of the Market will be online, allowing you to tune-in from anywhere. We are also including 3.0 Washington State Clock Hours for all of you real estate brokers. I hope to see you at State of the Market!

Get your ticket today!

By Denise Lones CSP, CMP, M.I.R.M. The founding partner of The Lones Group, Denise Lones has over three decades of experience in the real estate industry. With agent/broker coaching, expertise in branding, lead generation, strategic marketing, business analysis, new home project planning, product development and more, Denise is nationally recognized as the source for all things real estate. With a passion for improvement, Denise has helped thousands of real estate agents, brokers, and managers build their business to unprecedented levels of success, while helping them maintain balance and quality of life.

[ur-mag]

I was fined $100,000 for a tiny home village on my own land – we had to take drastic action to avoid the permit fees | In Trend Today

I was fined $100,000 for a tiny home village on my own land – we had to take drastic action to avoid the permit fees Read Full Text or Full Article on MAG NEWS

[aymanfamily]

Evacuation of my Neurological Patient Brother 🥹🙏

Dear Friends and Supporters,

I’m reaching out to you today, on behalf of my husband, with an urgent request for assistance. My family is currently facing an unimaginable situation as I desperately seek to evacuate them from the ongoing crisis in Gaza including my brother-in-law, who is a neurological patient, and my mother-in-law who is 70 years old, and she is not only grapples with the challenges of aging but also shoulders the burden of chronic illnesses, including high blood pressure and diabetes. My brother-in-law's condition requires specialized medical care, as he suffers from a benign tumor in the cerebellum. He underwent two major surgeries to remove the tumor, and an internal valve was installed to drain the cerebrospinal fluid.

This operation led to a permanent disability in movement and stiffness in the muscles of the legs, especially the left side. He needs constant follow-up and permanent rehabilitation treatment, as he was receiving two physical therapy sessions weekly to relieve muscle stiffness, but since the beginning of the aggression on the Gaza Strip (more than 4 months ago), he has not received this service, and in the same context, he needs daily medication which is simply not available now in Gaza, as the healthcare system in the Gaza Strip has been severely impacted by the ongoing conflict, with limited resources and a shortage of medical supplies. It is crucial that we act quickly to evacuate him to a safer location where he can receive the necessary medical attention and support, in addition to the evacuation of 6 other members of my family.

As many of you may be aware, Gaza has been experiencing a devastating humanitarian crisis for years. The recent Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has worsened the situation, leaving innocent civilians trapped and in desperate need of help. Knowing that we live in Gaza City, but the Israeli occupation army forced us to evacuate our homes and move to the center or south of the Gaza Strip. We left our home on 13th Oct. 2023 and moved to the center of the Gaza Strip, which was supposed to be a safe area, but then the Israeli soldiers began military operations in the central region. Therefore, we were forced to move to Rafah, living in a house including 20 members. Currently the Israeli Occupation Forces are threatening to invade Rafah, where 1.4 million people are taking refuge in an area of 55 km2. If Rafah is invaded, more massacres will be committed in addition to the massacres that were and are currently being committed in all areas of the Gaza Strip. Note that our house was directly hit by a missile, and currently the Israeli army does not allow us to return to Gaza city and to our homes, in addition to the fact that Gaza currently does not have the minimum necessities of life, such as electricity or clean water, in addition to the scarcity of resources. So, in an attempt to save our lives, we are planning to evacuate to Egypt, but the cost of evacuation is exorbitant, far beyond what our family can afford, therefore I'm setting up a GoFundMe campaign to raise USD $59,000. Here is the breakdown of the funds: • A total of USD $49,000 is estimated to cover the expenses associated with obtaining permits to leave Gaza, as well as crossing fees at Rafah, at the Egypt-Gaza border. This amount breaks down to USD$ 5,000 - $7,000 per person (7 people). • It is estimated that USD $10000 will be sufficient to cover the basic needs of my family in Egypt, including their accommodation, food, and other essential. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will make a difference. Even the smallest contribution can help us an inch closer to our goal of saving our life. Knowing that times are tough, and the invasion of Rafah could happen at any time, noting that the crossing with Egypt is in the city of Rafah, and it is possible that the crossing will be closed at any time due to the invasion, so I hope you help as soon as possible. Many thanks in advance for your contribution to save our lives.

My gofundme link:

Thanks for your trust and support ❤️🙏

[lonniemachin]

Haneen reached out to me on Twitter to share her fundraiser. She’s trying to raise €30,000 to help evacuate her family from Gaza to Egypt. She’s only made €1,543 of her goal as of today, April 2nd 2024. This is urgent!

Please donate if you can, and share if you can’t.

From Haneen’s GFM page:

My name is Haneen, a Palestinian with permanent residency in Belgium... With great sadness, I'm reaching out to you today for help getting my family members out of Gaza to Egypt. My family lost our home when the neighborhood was bombed and destroyed. There are five members of my family in Gaza, including my father, mother and three sisters. My family lost everything in this war, including our businesses and homes. During the war, my family was evacuated from north to south, became homeless and evacuating more than five times. They are now living on the streets, and they do not have anywhere to live. They are now living in the most difficult conditions. Besides my mother, who suffering from health problems. She left intensive care weeks before the war and needs health care, and my father, for whom we cannot find medication, as well as lack of access to clean water and food. My family members are highly educated and come from different backgrounds. My father is a lawyer, my mother is a housewife, and my first three sisters are an engineer, the second is a lawyer, and the other is an administrator, but now they have lost everything and all their sources of income. However, they were unable to receive any financial or food assistance for the displaced and this meant that my family would be responsible for all expenses As a result, I am their only hope of leaving Gaza for Egypt and I am responsible for all costs. Please help me collect travel costs for five people. In order to facilitate the evacuation of my family from Gaza, where the situation is catastrophic and very dangerous. I'm setting up a GoFundMe campaign to raise $30,000, here's the breakdown of the money: $30,000: A total amount of US$25,000 has been allocated to cover expenses associated with obtaining permits to leave Gaza, in addition to transit fees at Rafah, on the Egypt-Gaza border, with US$5,000 being the departure expense for each member of my family. It is estimated that the amount will be US$5,000. Enough to cover the basic needs of my family in Egypt for 3 months , including housing, food, treatment, and other necessities. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a significant difference to my family's safety. The funds raised will be used transparently and efficiently to ensure that every dollar is spent on ensuring their safety. My family and I are deeply grateful for your support, and I am deeply grateful for any assistance you may be able to provide during this difficult time. Please share this campaign with your friends, family, and colleagues so that we can reach our goal and provide safety for my family Please accept my sincere thanks for your kindness and support, as well as your willingness to stand with us in solidarity, as together, we can make a difference and help my family find safety and security. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Haneen

[anas-shaban]

Help Anas Family Escape the Harrowing Conditions in Gaza

I reach out to you with a profound plea for urgent assistance in aiding the evacuation of my beloved family from the harrowing conditions in Gaza to the safety and refuge of Egypt. The issue is life or death

The date October 7, 2023, marks a tragic turning point in our lives. Gaza was engulfed in a violent onslaught perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces, leaving devastation in its wake. Our home, our livelihood we cherished—lay in ruins. My wife, our two children, and I escaped the bombardment and tanks that threatened our very existence. We departed hastily, leaving behind our possessions, our cherished memories, our sense of belonging, and everything we held dear.

My family (Father, Sister, Sister's children, her husband, and my Grandmother) were all killed as a result of this fierce war.

For 200 agonizing days, we sought refuge in Deir Al Balah in the Southern region of the Gaza Strip, only to be displaced once more by the relentless tides of conflict, this time to Rafah. However, we found no assistance in our surroundings. The shelter we found was a mere semblance of a home—lacking basic amenities, overrun by insects, and unfit for human habitation.

Now, seven months after the onset of this war, we find ourselves trapped in dire circumstances, struggling to endure each passing day in this bad environment. It is with a heavy heart that I turn to you, seeking your generous assistance in raising the necessary funds to facilitate our escape from this war-torn zone and secure a haven for my family.

To achieve this, we require a total of €19,059, which equal 222,001.14 SEK (Sweden) broken down as follows:

14,059 €: To cover the expenses of obtaining permits to leave Gaza and the associated crossing fees at Rafah, Egypt-Gaza border. This includes €9,373 for myself and my wife, and €4,686 for our two children.

5000€: To sustain our family's basic needs for two months in Egypt, including accommodation, food, clothes and other essentials.

Your support, whether through financial contributions or by spreading awareness of our plight, would provide us with the lifeline we so desperately need.

Pictures of my destroyed house

Anas is a community activist who works in many local and international institutions and has contributed to the humanitarian field. He worked at the Union of Health Work Committees as a project coordinator and currently works at the Italy organization EducAid, specializing in disability. He always participates in local and international conferences and research papers on the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip

Martyrs of my little family

[reality-detective]

US IRS chief quits after immigration data-sharing deal 👇

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-irs-chief-quit-over-deal-share-data-with-immigration-officials-report-says-2025-04-08/

Accounts Receivable Tax

Airline surcharge tax

Airline Fuel Tax

Airport Maintenance Tax

Building Permit Tax

Cigarette Tax

Cooking Tax

Corporate Income Tax

Goods and Services Tax (GST)

Death Tax

Driving Permit Tax

Environmental Tax (Fee)

Excise Taxes

Income Tax

Fishing License Tax

Food License Tax

Petrol Tax (too much per litre)

Gross Receipts Tax

Health Tax

Heating Tax

Inheritance Tax

Interest Tax

Lighting Tax

Liquor Tax

Luxury Taxes

Marriage License Tax

Medicare Tax

Mortgage Tax

Pension Tax

Personal Income Tax

Property Tax

Poverty Tax

Prescription Drug Tax

Real Estate Tax

Recreational Vehicle Tax

Retail Sales Tax

Service Charge Tax

School Tax

Telephone Tax

Value Added Tax

Vehicle License Registration Tax

Vehicle Sales Tax

Water Tax

Workers Compensation Tax

Tax (VAT) on Tax.

And Now they want to add Carbon Tax!

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago and nations still functioned and the middle class was much larger and mums could stay at home to raise their kids if they wanted.

We are free range animals in a tax farm. 🤔

[moonsetterwastaken]

hey! listen! omori fans or otherwise, don’t scroll past without reading!

if you have the time or resources, i ask you to consider helping our friend mustafa balata from gázá.

mustafa comes from a family of 10 who are all stuck within gázá and are in desperate need of help. mustafa and his 10 family members once lived in a safe, warm house, but as of the óct 7th attacks, their only living situation has been compromised and they have been searching for a new home. like many other páléstínian families, they have been left with the only option to evacuate from gázá go through the ráfáh crossing.

however, many obstacles stand in their way from evacuating. mustafa’s sister, who is six months pregnant as of january 2024, is fearful of not being able to give birth due to the conditions they are currently living through. almost all hospitals are being overwhelmed with several other people in need, and it is currently a horrifying situation for all involved. along with this, a child in the family needs leukimia treatment, but cannot afford to obtain so in the environment they are in.

the fundraiser needs €60,000 to be fufilled to its minimum and is currently more than halfway there.. in the words of fundraiser organizer maha balata,

“However, the financial burden of such a move is staggering, and it's with humility and urgency that I reach out for your support to make this evac//uation a reality. The permit fee to cross Ra//fah is 5000 euros per person, and with ten family members, the total cost is overwhelming. On top of that, we need 8,000 euros to cover immediate living expenses, medical treatment, and care, especially for my sister's delicate health condition. Adding to our challenges, there's a child in the family who recently completed leukemia treatment before the war and needs monthly medical examinations and analyses during this recovery period. Lastly, we require approximately 1,995 euros to cover the GoFu//ndMe transaction fees (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction).”

if you have anything you can give, i beg of you to consider helping a family like this one. even small donations like 5$ or 10$ dónations absolutely matter and can help in large ways. if you cannot, i ask that you bóóst this post as much as you can. reblogging, sharing, commenting, everything helps.

thank you.

edit: i’m fucking stupid and forgot to link the gf//m in the first place REBLOG THIS VERSION

[toronto-tree-removal]

Expert Tree Removal Services in Toronto: Why It Matters for Safety & Aesthetics

Introduction: The Importance of Professional Tree Removal

Trees are an essential part of Toronto’s urban landscape, offering shade, beauty, and environmental benefits. However, there are times when tree removal becomes a necessity due to safety hazards, disease, or urban development needs. At Toronto Tree Removal, we specialize in safe, professional, and efficient tree removal services across various neighborhoods, including The Annex, The Beaches, Liberty Village, and more.

In this post, we’ll discuss when tree removal is necessary, the process involved, and how to choose the best tree removal service in Toronto.

When Should You Consider Tree Removal?

Not all trees need to be removed, but some situations demand professional intervention. Here are common reasons why property owners in Toronto might need tree removal services:

Dead or Dying Trees: If a tree is diseased, decaying, or completely dead, it poses a significant risk of falling and causing damage.

Storm Damage: Severe weather, including strong winds and ice storms, can weaken trees, making them unstable.

Structural Damage Risk: If tree roots are damaging underground pipes, sidewalks, or your home’s foundation, removal may be the best solution.

Obstructing Construction or Landscaping Projects: Sometimes, trees need to be cleared for new buildings, driveways, or other landscaping projects.

Invasive Species & Infestations: Trees affected by pests like the emerald ash borer may need to be removed to prevent the spread to healthy trees.

If you’re unsure whether a tree should be removed, our team at Toronto Tree Removal can provide an assessment.

The Tree Removal Process: What to Expect

At Toronto Tree Removal, we follow a structured and safe approach to tree removal:

1. Site Inspection & Assessment

Our ISA-certified arborists first assess the tree's condition, size, and location to determine the safest removal method.

2. Obtaining Necessary Permits

In Toronto, tree removal regulations require permits for trees over 30 cm in diameter on private property. We assist clients with the application process, ensuring compliance with city regulations.

3. Safe & Efficient Tree Removal

Using specialized equipment such as ropes, harnesses, and cranes, we carefully cut and remove the tree in sections, minimizing damage to surrounding property.

4. Stump Grinding & Cleanup

Once the tree is removed, we offer stump grinding services to eliminate the remaining base, leaving a clean and usable space.

5. Eco-Friendly Disposal & Recycling

We ensure that all removed trees are properly disposed of or repurposed, such as being turned into mulch or firewood.

Why Choose Toronto Tree Removal?

Choosing the right tree removal company is essential for safety, efficiency, and legal compliance. Here’s why Toronto Tree Removal is a trusted choice:

✅ Fully Licensed & Insured: We are WSIB-covered and adhere to all safety regulations to protect our workers and your property. ✅ Certified Arborists: Our team includes ISA-certified arborists who bring expertise and precision to every job. ✅ Fast & Reliable Service: Available 7 days a week from 7 AM to 10 PM, we offer emergency tree removal services when needed. ✅ Competitive Pricing & Free Estimates: We provide affordable tree removal services with upfront pricing and no hidden fees.

For professional tree removal in areas like Rosedale, East York, and Forest Hill, contact us today!

Conclusion: Protect Your Property with Expert Tree Removal

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Citations:

Toronto Tree Removal Services

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[literary-illuminati]

2024 Book Review #60 – Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World by Henry Grabar

This is a book I heard about because the cranky old communist who runs the local daily paper recommended it in some editorial I’ve long since forgotten the actual point of. Which is generally a very high-risk way to get book recommendations, but in this case it worked out! Though I came into this as the friendliest possible audience for the arguments Grabar is trying to make, so I’m genuinely not that sure how convincing a work it is for a less sympathetic reader. It is at least full of fun and somewhat memorable anecdotes.

The book is about, well, (almost) exactly what it says on the tin – the economics and politics and logistics of parking infrastructure in American cities. Specifically, how it is an all-consuming, economy-warping, environment-destroying, city-killing cancer that is the primary causes of decaying urban cores and the lack of affordable housing in gentrifying neighborhoods. The book is loosely organized, with each different chapter approaching the question of and ills caused by parking from a slightly different angle, or considering the history and psychology that has made it such a mighty force, or showing case studies of how different places have started fixing it.

The two main thrusts of the book are a) parking as an un- (which is to say privately-) regulated privilege and entitlement which the great mass of the American public expects to be provided for free (or for an at-most nominal fee) wherever they happen to want to go and b) parking as possibly the least efficient use of developed real estate in the world, and one that absolutely dominates most American cities.

The latter is a bit less interesting to me, just because it’s broadly things I either already knew or could have pretty quickly puzzled out from what I do. It’s still quite well-presented, and quite rage-inducing – the number of square miles of space set aside for the sole use of free parking on every urban street, the eye-watering amount of money cities spend and give up in revenue to subsidize driving and parking, the hundreds of thousands of units of housing whose economics don’t pencil out because of mandatory parking minimums or that are killed by neighbors and ‘community engagement’ out of (ostensible) concern over their effect on parking availability in the neighborhood, and so on. It’s all well-told, but none of it’s exactly groundbreaking (which Grabar is entirely forthright about, to be clear. A large chunk of the book is combination synopsis and advertisement for the older and more more rigorous The High Cost of Free Parking, also cited as one of the main reference texts).

The former is much more interesting reading for me, just because (as a lifelong and involuntary non-driver) the psychology of it is just a bit foreign to me. The sheer fact that so much parking is both free and unregulated means that instead of market pricing or government permitting all manner of fascinatingly dysfunctional private systems to allocate and ration it out develop instead. Fist fights and murders over stolen parking spots, the self-proclaimed vigilantes patrolling condo parking lots for anyone overstaying their welcome, outright criminal conspiracies and organized violence between ice cream truck companies over poaching each others most lucrative routes – many less morbid and attention-getting things too, to be fair, but it’s still all just fascinating. And if ‘explains the world’ is a bit much, does function as an excellent window into a great many neuroses and dysfunctions of American public life.

One of the points the book repeatedly hammers home is that ‘parking shortages’ are, except in a few extremely select neighborhoods, basically a myth. The parking is almost always there – the average American city has more free or subsidized parking spaces and lots than are filled (at least) 360 days of the year. Drivers just expect parking that is simultaneously no more than a couple blocks from their destination, available the moment they pull up, and (almost) free. Garages go half empty while thousands of road-miles are driven every month circling blocks looking for free spots – terrible for the climate, for the roads being driven on, and for traffic and the utility of driving through the city in the first place. Reducing or eliminating free curbside parking (either charging market-clearing rates, or using the real estate for loading zones or patio seating or any of a thousand other things that serve more people in a period than the same amount of parking) thus often makes traffic better, not worse.

This is very much a book written by a journalist rather than an academic, for both good and ill – not that it doesn’t seem densely researched or well-cited (the endnotes run north of 50 pages), but there’s definitely a prioritization of being approachable and readable over being detailed or rigorous. Hence every chapter having at least one and usually several interviews or deeply characterized anecdotes there to be case studies and examples. Sometimes this anecdotes are incredibly interesting and something I’d probably read a book entirely devoted to – the above mentioned New York City ice cream truck feuds, or the fascinatingly blatant and eye-popping amount of corruption around parking ticketing and violations also in NYC, or how the city of Chicago sold the right to operate all its parking meters through the end of the century to Morgan Stanley – but just as (if not more) often it’s just a few pages sketching a sympathetic portrait and life story of someone suffering the travails of some aspect of parking infrastructure so the reader will have someone to empathize with as the problem is described. A trick that does start t get old the more often it’s repeated.

The book’s long digressions into history were (perhaps unsurprisingly) more interesting for me than the contemporary anecdotes. Partially just because the evolution of things like the car garage and how public streets are conceived of is always interesting to learn more about, and partially because of just how long we have at this point known about things like ‘induced demand’ and the various morbid inefficiencies of car-first, -only and -always culture. Literally generations! It's bleak.

Though having said that, this was funnily enough one of the only works of nonfiction I can remember reading in a long, long time that ended on a positive note in a way that didn’t sound like transparent cope. As is mandatory in all works of pop-sociology, -economics or -poli-sci, this one also ends in a chapter or two of examples of Doing It Right and ways society can fix itself going forward. Grabar just actually weaves together a narrative through most of the book of a slowly-increasing pushback and growing political coalitions who are (in the book’s framing) more interested in cheaper housing and more usable public space than traffic jams and parking lots. The COVID lockdowns and sudden need for as much outdoor space as possible – leading to parking lots being repurposed as church pews, curbside parking as patio seating, and a dozen other things – serve as a case in point. The book ends reiterating the point that the USA’s most desirable and expensive neighbourhoods are very often the ones that are dense and walkable enough (and/or sufficiently well-served by public transit) to comfortably live in without owning a car, and the confident belief that such neighbourhoods are only going to grow more common.

All that said, Grabar’s actually much more sympathetic to the pro-car, pro-parking viewpoint than most authors or pundits I have seen make similar points are. Sometimes to a mildly cringe-inducing ‘no don’t run, I promise I’m normal like you!’ way, being entirely honest. But then, one can at least hope that it helps the book actually function as a persuasive text instead of so much elegant preaching to the choir.

[annieqattheperipheral]

TW SA

hockey canada, 2018 world juniors case

jury selection spans today and tmr, then case begins and goes into june.

Rick westhead, og reporter:

the 5 players can decide on whether or not to speak after the Crown (govt prosecution) presents

4 players from the same 2018 team who are not charged will be called to testify-- includes active players currently playing in nhl playoffs. Will be permitted to testify via zoom.

speaks on how this is prompting junior hockey system and hockey culture discussions for change (eg. how young teens move away from home and family care to play on teams; how Hockey Canada used kids hockey fees to fund secret accounts used to cover up assault claims)

This case has so much publicity around it (see how many international journalists are waiting to get into the courtroom today) so definitely they will have to weed out bias in jury selection

Lengthy trial. Will go into June

5 defendants, 5 sets of lawyers (remember earlier: court decided to combine all 5 cases to save the survivor from having to testify for 5 separate cases)

The hotel is just a 15min walk down the road from the courthouse (oof. i feel so much for the now 27yo woman🫂❤️)

Likely will have to withstand cross-examination from 5 sets of lawyers, or however the proceedings are determined to be conducted

"Each lawyer highly motivated to get their own client off" so they may have been on the same team back in 2018, not so much now

Witnesses who will be testifying (see above: active nhl players) identities protected by court order

[aeternallis]

one of the things most frustrating to think about as someone who did go through the immigration system in the US is the fact that there seems to be a genuine belief by a significant portion of the populace in this country that the immigration system is a simple, straightforward process, when it most certainly is not.

for one thing, the applications to gain some form of legal status themselves are confusing af to actually read through. most of the applications uses confusing language and can be upwards of about 15-20 pages worth of documents you gotta spend time actually pouring through.

for example, currently the i-485 form (application for green card) sits at about 24 pages, and requires a couple of hours to fill out. for most immigrants who know little to no english, either they would have to sit with an english-speaking paralegal to help them, or one of their relatives who knows english would need to be the one to help them out.

the i-130 form (application for alien relatives) is about 12 pages, and just as hella confusing to go through.

the i-589 (application for asylum) and i-765 (application for worker's permit) aren't too bad in comparison, at about 7-8 pages, but even so, the legal language is still a hassle to try and understand.

(yes, I have helped both my parents fill out all these forms)

oh, and did i mention that every one of these forms cost money to file and submit to uscis for processing? this is not counting the typical immigration lawyer's fees immigrants have to fork up in order to get some decent representation, most immigrants still need to make a living one way or another, or how else are they to provide for their families and give their children a better future? (and ya know, afford the fees to try and actually go through the process of gaining legal status here???)

not only that, answering any of the questions wrong on any of these forms could be enough for uscis to reject the filing or outright deny it. and no, ofc there's no refunds on the application fees.

for a country that has a horrendous literacy crisis, i would so love to see the rest of y'all try to take a gander at these forms and see if you don't lose your goddamn mind.

have i mentioned how fucking terrifying it is when uscis officers grill you during the interview process???? because yes, there is an interview component to most of these forms. as if their questions are literally designed for you to fail???!!

this is just a few aspect of the immigration process that's so broken right now, it might as well be a 10k puzzle piece scattered in a room.

the strenuous waiting time between processing of applications, the anxiety of the elections every goddamn year because politicians cannot fucking make up their minds with how immigration ought to be tackled in this country, all the while immigrants also have to deal with the stress of everyday life and whatever challenges that brings.

uscis is still working through a backlog of applications from decades ago, and some people in this country really have the goddamn audacity to think, "they have to get here legally and go through the process that way"???!

a fucking luxury (ignorant af though, mind you) for some of y'all to say, indeed, especially if all it took back then for your family to get here was through ellis fucking island.

my aunt petitioned my dad with the i-589 form over 38 years ago when he was still living in the philippines, and mind you, the visa number from that filing was only granted and mailed to my dad's old house last year in december 2024, when we went home to visit relatives for the holidays and long after he's already become a US citizen.

i'm not asking for people to change their minds about immigration or that this country ought to let everyone in, i knowwwwww the system is broken and terrible.

but what i am asking is for people to educate themselves and to be open-minded, to not dismiss the struggles of immigrants, because those who think that the immigration process in this country is easy are hella ignorant and will never understand the sort of anxiety illegal immigrants go through, for the sake of trying to provide a better future for their children.

[ashwantsafreepalestine]

Let's help Sahar & her family survive and evacuate Gaza: @reem-reem-1

Sahar's story:

Hello, I'm Sahar Shehab. I am 14 years old from Gaza. I ask you for urgent help in surviving to evacuating my family from Gaza to a safe place.

The occupation bombed our house and the gym my father owned in the Gaza area.

To date, my family has been displaced over 15 times, enduring unimaginable hardships along the way. 

Since our home was destroyed we have been living in a tent, and it is very difficult because there is no protection from the weather.

Because it's winter now, it's very cold and the tent doesn't provide protection from rain.

The fee required for each person is $5,400 (USD). Since we are a family of 13, the total amount needed for evacuation permits is: 13 individuals × $5,400 = $70,200.

$4,795 // $50,000

Let's help Sahar and her family evacuate from Gaza. Any amount, even a dollar can help.

If you're unable to donate, please share this post.

[monashawa88]

My name is Mona, My family in Gaza is currently trapped in a war zone. It has claimed the lives of loved ones, destroyed the homes and livelihoods of the rest and is continuing to threaten the lives of the surviving families.

I am trying to make arrangements for my family ( 25 members including 6children), which consists of my dad , my two cousins with their families, and two aunts. W need support to evacuate them from Gaza to Egypt through the the Rafah crossing. Unfortunately, the cost of evacuating each person has been escalating, and currently it is $5000 USD.

All of our family houses have been affected and destroyed, as they were located near the Islamic and Al Azhar Universities.

After that, we had to evacuate to Khan Yunis to my aunt’s house. We stayed for more than two months, but it was bombed. My family went to Rafah as well, but the entire house was bombed. Our family is in Rafah, and 5 members of the family were killed and the others were seriously injured including my dad. They were pulled out from under the rubble

My family is currently under constant psychological pressure, fear, confusion, and waiting in difficult living and health conditions. Access to appropriate food has become everyone's dream,

In this fundraising campaign, I am hoping to raise $152,736 CAD (~$112,828 USD) for my family's cost of leaving Gaza, here is the breakdown of the funds needed:

- Crossing Permit for adults ($ 5,000 USD per person): 19 x 7,000 = $133,000 CAD

- Crossing Permit for children ($2,500 USD per kid): 6x 2500 = $ 15000CAD

- A total of $4736CAD will be used to cover GoFundMe transaction fees (2.9% plus $0.30 per donation)

Total: 152,736

Your support can change the course of their lives. I fear for my family not only from losing their lives but also from losing their minds from the traumas of all these successive wars, violence and now the associated displacement, hunger and risk of poverty

I’m heartbroken that it is our turn to be the ones in need.

Thank you for any contribution you can make.

[enmstorytime]

The Mandatory Nudity Study

Congratulations! We are delighted to inform you that you have been accepted into our Masters of Psychology program. Classes begin August 26, 2024, and you are expected to attend all of your courses in person.

As part of your graduate coursework, you have been selected to participate in a research project that will pay for your tuition, student fees, on-campus housing, meal card, and provide an additional twenty-thousand dollar stipend per semester.

If you decide to opt into our program, participation in this research project is mandatory.

Your assigned research project: The impact of Mandatory Nudity on Mental Health.

Overview: For the entirety of a graduate program (three years), one male student will be required to surrender every fiber of clothing he owns to the Psychology Department. This student will then complete coursework, assist classmates with their research, and teach a Psychology 101 Course each semester, sans all clothing. The nude student will conduct weekly mental-health check-ins and attend weekly group and individual therapy sessions to monitor the mental health impact of his mandatory nudity.

Directions for the Nude Subject:

Arrive fully clothed on the first day of courses. We recommend you where your favorite clothes. This will be the last time you will be allowed to wear clothing until after your graduation ceremony. Pack up the rest of your clothing. All of your clothing. Even a forgotten sock will result in rejection from this study (see "Consequences of an Incomplete Study below).

Bring your packed clothing to the campus-wide graduate student orientation. At some point during the orientation, you will be invited on stage in front of all of your peers. Once on stage, you will be invited to hand off all of your packed clothes. Then you will be handed your nudity pass, which you must carry with you everywhere. Your nudity pass can be given to any business or law enforcement officer to allow you to live a normal life while having your clothing restricted. Once you have your nudity pass, you will be asked to surrender the last pieces of your clothing: the shirt, pants, shoes, socks, undergarments, etc. off your back).

You are expected to live on campus and eat at least 90% of your meals throughout your graduate studies in the campus cafeteria. There will be no exceptions to these rules.

Your clothing will not be returned to you until after graduation (in three years time). You are not permitted to buy any clothing until after graduation. This means that you will spend your summers and holiday breaks nude as well. If you choose to return home to your family during holidays and summers, please report to your professor to receive a Traveling Nude Pass which is accepted at all national airports, but may not be accepted by local law enforcement, so travel with caution. If you are arrested for public indecency, it is up to you to ensure that you do not wear any prison assigned clothing. Again: If we discover that you have reserved any clothing or worn a single scrap of clothing (this includes baseball caps, glasses (if you need glasses, we will provide you contact lenses), socks, jewelry, or even towels wrapped around your waist), you will be rejected from the study.

Carry on a normal life. You should work to get involved in student clubs, make friends, attend all of your classes, etc. while remaining fully nude.

You are allowed thirty minutes a day where you can use your hands to cover your genitals. It is up to you to monitor this time, but if we discover that you have spent a second more than your allotted thirty minutes covering yourself with your hands, you will be ejected from the survey.

Attend all mandated therapies. You are assigned to group therapy twice a week, and individual therapy once a week to monitor your mental health throughout this research.

After you walk the stage at graduation, your clothing will be returned to you. Note: If you find that your experience with mandatory nudity has had a positive impact on your mental health, you have the option to retain your Nude Pass for the rest of your life, and the Psychology Department is prepared to redistribute all of your clothing during the graduation ceremony.

Rules of the Study:

You are not allowed to purchase, ask for, or wear any scrap of clothing for the entirety of your graduate program (from orientation to the end of your graduation ceremony. This study defines clothing as anything other than your own hands used to cover even a millimeter of your naked skin (i.e. backpacks, watches, etc.).

You are allowed exactly thirty minutes of time per day to use your hands to cover your genitals.

You must carry your nude pass with you at all times.

You must surrender every article of clothing that you own at the start of your study.

Consequences of an Incomplete Study:

If you are unable to complete this study for any reason, or if you are caught violating any of the rules of the study, your clothing will be retained by the Psychology Department. You will be required to repay the Psychology Department your semesterly stipend of $20,000. Additionally, you will be required to repay your tuition, student fees, housing costs, and meal card. For the sake of fully informed consent, we do not expect you to be able to repay these debts, we simply intend for you to be at the mercy of others' kindness in order to ever wear clothing again.

In order to accept your position in this study and in this program, please send our department your acceptance along with a single pair of your underwear to help mentally prepare yourself for the eventual surrender of every single stitch of your clothing.

[salwafromgaza]

Please Don't Skip🚨‼️

‎‏I am Salwa Girl from Gaza , a third -year Gazan student currently pursuing a degree in Business & Marketing in Islamic University

I live with my family (my mother, father, two brother and three sisters) in Gaza/Palestine.

I lived in many wars in Gaza, during which we endured and were able to maintain our simple lives.

but Since 7/10/2023, my life and the life of my family have completely changed. Because the war on Gaza was very fierce, which forced us to leave our home on the third day of the war, and we were also forced to move from place to place 8 times. And every time we had to start our lives from scratch. Hunger and cold afflicted us, but the pain of hunger is nothing compared to the pain of loss and displacement. We now live in a place (room) far from our home, and we cannot return to it (our building is destroyed , and it is not fit for living even if the war ends)

My family and I deserve a safe life, but getting there is very difficult, because leaving Gaza is very complicated and requires a lot of money, and more than ten months of war and high prices have exhausted everything we have. We lost our schools, our universities (I finished two and a half years of university studies, and it was all in vain). We lost work, our relatives, our clothes, our books, our memories.

Our lives are exposed to danger every minute. We escape death every day and do not expect to survive the next

The funds raised through this campaign will be dedicated entirely to evacuating my family from Gaza, offering them temporary shelter. Exiting through the Rafah land crossing entails substantial costs, ranging from 5 to 10 thousand dollars per person. The payment is essential to have our names added to the list so that they can cross the border and flee to Egypt. Money needs to be paid in advance. Your donations will help me pay the fees of the permits, and immediate relief and essentials during and after the evacuation.

Regardless of the amount, every contribution holds immense significance for me and is vital in saving my family's lives. Your support will be eternally appreciated, and my family and I will be forever grateful for your generosity. Please consider spreading my campaign with your family and friends so I reach my target as soon as possible because every second is a risk of losing them.

✅Vetted by @gazavetters, my number verified on the list is (#342 )✅