thedickgrant

[thedickgrant]

I've grown to love 82nd Ave over the years I've been here. I'm from New York originally and value multiculturalism very highly. The language in the documents I've read so far appears to want to preserve that. It is not easy to make an area 'nicer' without pricing out the current residents. I'm seeing the last of the Vietnamese remnants being removed from Sandy and 82nd on down. I would love for the city to serve these ethnic communities rather than the gentrification I see in Alberta for example. I am excited by the prospect of engaging with interested problem solvers to find solutions to these issues - even more excited to see results. 

I suppose that depends on the accepted rules of order. I'm sure if I felt I had an important point I would attempt to make it within our rules. As far as the person being the issue, I might not respond immediately. A rules change might be in order. There is usually a chairperson of some authority to appeal to either in the moment or afterward. I'm not sure that Robert's Rules are perfect for community consensus though being made to follow some set of rules of order certainly reduces conflict. 

I see two big issues and I am not sure how TIF moneys can help. 

First is allowing more opportunities to make money. So many laws written to 'protect' the community raise the barriers of entry. Poorer communities don't have access to business loans. They don't have friends that own businesses. They don't own their house. Their pathway to success is a more DIY approach. We have legislated against things like renting out rooms or having a business in one's home and in so doing crushed the incentive for entrepreneurship. 

Second is to create real future security. It seems here in Portland one can simply complain to the city to have another person or business fined. I watched a Vietnamese owned business get fined because one person complained about the smell. The business had been there for many years without change. They couldn't pay the fine so they closed. 

My section 8 tenant gets harassed by a person who is not a homeowner or a lease holder in the neighborhood. This person is trying to get my tenant fined for zoning violation. Had I not advocated for my tenant he would have been fined. That would have resulted in a $900 a month bill for me which would have put me in the position of having to evict my section 8 tenant. The house is at 9135 Pine St, within the 82nd Av TIF. This is how the majority pushes out the minority. Are we making the area nicer for the people that live there or for the people that are going to live there in 15 years? I believe we could do both if we offer some permanence somehow. 

In my childhood we were both rich then poor then middle-class/affluent and lived in New York, Florida and Georgia. That put me in early contact with a wide range of people - several races, cultures and socio-economic groups. Historically I almost always find myself talking race or politics off in the corner with a black man or a South or Central American man or an Asian. I learned a tremendous amount from a Vietnamese boss I had for a while. I worked with his whole family so we were having collaborative conversations all the time. I'm a musician - that's a collaborative conversation. I've learned a tremendous amount from black musicians in New Orleans and Mexican musicians and workers in Colorado. In Georgia race was always a topic. I am not coming up with a specific story right now. 

We are all on this planet together at this moment. Look around and the people you see are all fellow passengers on this spaceship. People are the most important thing to us on earth. People make the community. Here in our democracy, we the people are the government. Consensus is the goal. We cannot achieve consensus without collaboration. It is impossible to predict with certainty from where the best ideas will come. We cannot know what someone needs without talking to them - no matter what we think they need. 

I have a life long association with the business of affordable housing. My grandfather was a corrupt politician and slum lord in central Florida. He taught me how easy it is to exploit the poor and push people around when there is a perceived power imbalance. Luckily somehow I have morals. While I found his behavior abhorrent - it was extremely edifying.  I believe in using my knowledge to  contribute to the greater good. I have quite a bit of property management experience. I'm a lifelong student and observer of city management and development. I've lived in a wide variety of economic and cultural situations over the decades. Last year I bought a house with a section 8 tenant inside the 82nd Ave TIF. I have been involved with many small businesses in several industries such as construction, food, and commercial agriculture in roles from management to consultant to dishwasher. 

Last year I bought the house at . It came with a section 8 tenant that I intend to continue to provide housing for. I suppose this constitutes a business within the 82nd avenue TIF.

As stated above, last year I bought the house at . It came with a section 8 tenant that I intend to continue to provide housing for. I suppose this constitutes a business within the 82nd avenue TIF from which I could benefit more than $500

[thedickgrant]

All gods, human and otherwise, are made by men

[thedickgrant]

Yes beringer is stolen crap. Only people of low morals and ignoramuses use or promote their products.

[thedickgrant]

It seems every conversation I have with people about AI I find myself thinking the thought just because we can should we. They're usually telling me about some inventive use that they've come up with to use AI and always seems distasteful in some way to me. Not completely you know just bluh.

[thedickgrant]

On a Justin Hawkins live clip I saw and commented on and was replied to:

Yeah man I've been on hundreds of stages. I've dealt with hostile crowds for about 40 years. The decisions that led to that situation were made months before the gig. The performer and the club are responsible - not the paying customers. If you throw something into a rowdy crowd you will have something thrown back at you! That was a real mistake that he made. He lost control of himself and the crowd at that moment. He modeled that behavior for them and reaped what he sowed and then bitched about it. he could play all ages shows. He could work to influence the people that are following him to not drink at his shows without scolding them. He could put himself in less risky environments. He's the one who made all of the decisions that led to this. Hundreds of them. Most notably to make more money at a show that sells alcohol than one that doesn't . He is promoting the use of alcohol by performing at a place that sells alcohol. He is helping them sell the alcohol. That's the only reason he's there is so that the club can sell alcohol. He's there to make money by performing to sell alcahol. He's swimming in so much hypocrisy that he has no other choice than to lash out at someone else when it is so exposed. He's not a crusader, he's a hypocrite.@gaynebula6439

[thedickgrant]

This idea that your renters should toil a certain number of hours on your lawn and upkeep whatever ill-informed decisions you've made is like some sordid desire for indentured servitude.

[thedickgrant]

Why didn't you tell me?

Why didn't you ask? I didn't know what conclusions you were drawing with inadequate information.

[thedickgrant]

Oh Jesus I actually tried to keep listening! 12 minutes 43 I am double done! Are you really this much of a fool! Do you really understand economics this little? Do you not ever ask the question which rich white men are raking in all of my money? Have you tried to calculate how much money you would have to donate to political parties to compensate for the money that you've given directly to Republicans? Are you really one of these socially irresponsible people to whom the truth that their spending has an effect on the world around them is just too inconvenient to ponder?

These companies that you're advertising for, Costco, Google, etc avidly work against you ideologically and financially. Vanguard group does not love democracy. Black Rock does not want rich white men to pay taxes. You are funding them when you shop at Costco. That's why they don't care what you say about them in the media. Because they know when it counts your money doesn't match your morals. They know that greed is as universal as air. The only place anyone's values are truly represented is in their wallet.

[thedickgrant]

9 minutes 50 and I am done! Shut up with your list of consumer items. This has to be an ad. You have to be getting paid by these people. Why else would you dedicate this much air time to these products - the parent companies of which do not align with your political views, I thought? These are either product placement or you are acting as an ignorant and irresponsible broadcaster.

Judge John hodgman May 21st 2025

[thedickgrant]

Language lends itself to misinterpretation

[thedickgrant]

There are no gods in asoiaf - only the belief in them. There is magic. Magic is one of the pillars of Fantasy. Magic has reemerged and is growing in strength - perhaps because of the reappearance of dragons. We are watching many misinterpretations of the rapidly changing world based on individual beliefs. Martin is showing how religion can bend truth to achieve influence.

[thedickgrant]

You say that your purchases don't have a greater impact. You say that the decisions you make on a daily basis of how to spend your money do not have any measurable effect on the world around you or contribute to a better or worse world.

I understand why you would want to believe something like that. I understand why you would be ready to believe someone that told you that. Wishful thinking and logic are just not the same thing.

It is in fact inconvenient for the individual to live in social responsibility. Life is harder if you consider yourself an example to those around you. It does take extra effort to consider all of the ramifications of your actions. But understand that every action of yours has consequences. When you step forward you find that your body has moved. Understanding how far reaching your actions

[thedickgrant]

Asses wiggle and buildings collapse when I play. I am thunder and lightning. Don't hold me back

[thedickgrant]

Your expressions of love are far more transactional than mine. The example that comes to mind is that you will never make a present for someone You will buy something for that person and have it delivered.

[thedickgrant]

She knowingly broke the law with forethought and malice. I think she should be sentenced and pay for her crimes.

[thedickgrant]

How the punchline of a biting satirical joke was turned into a believable economic approach.

Trickle down economics.

When I was a kid I was interested in comedy. I sought out comedy records and listened to old cassettes that I could get my hands on at truck stops etc. George Burns. Andy Griffith. And the cowboy poet himself Roy Rogers. Trickle down economics is the punchline to one of his jokes. He was a humorist and storyteller more than a joke teller. He was waxing about Congress and economic strategy and named their plan trickle down economics because it made available to the people essentially the piss that trickled down a rich man's leg. It's a good joke. It is an apt analogy.

[thedickgrant]

We are all hypocrites. None of us are living lives that don't hurt anyone else. Don't add deception to hypocrisy. Don't lie to yourself and others and say that your choices have no effect. Every dollar you spend - everyone you choose to do business with - it all contributes. Every day with every decision we make we are building the society around us. Everyone matters. Every decision matters.