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No room at the inn on Christmas Eve? No problem: You can still snag a "luxury loft in the heart of downtown," as well as a "Curtis Park charmer" and a "cozy Capitol Hill apartment." These are last-minute holiday miracles you wouldn't have dreamed of finding a decade ago — but that was before Airbnb and other short-term rentals moved in on Denver. But now some residents are wondering if a lack of rules governing such rentals are turning this town into a motel hell.
In the spring of 2008, George Mayl discovered that the owners of the house next door to his in the quiet Cory-Merrill neighborhood of southeast Denver were renting the property out to guests for short-term stays of under thirty days — which is illegal under Denver's current zoning codes.
Those guests did not make good neighbors. Mayl remembers the stink of pot that hung in the air the morning after short-term renters had stayed up late smoking and talking in the back yard. Then there was the time that eighteen members of a baseball team rented the house and took over the block, cutting it off to traffic for an impromptu ballgame in the street. Mayl recalls only one group of guests he enjoyed: a family in town for their daughter's graduation. But that was short-lived.
"It was absolutely devastating," Mayl says of living next to a short-term rental. "A lot of issues with pot, noise, alcohol, etc. Worse than a bad neighbor, because they came here not to rest, but to party…. I called the police, but how many times do you want to call the police? You're taking them off their patrols. You call 311, you might as well just forget about it."
On many several occasions, Mayl attempted to contact the property owners, who lived only a half-mile away on South Harrison Lane, in a house they also used as a short-term rental; he even dropped by when they were getting the neighboring house ready for the next round of guests, but they were "surly," he remembers.
So instead, every time a new occupant moved in next door, Mayl called Neighborhood Inspection Services, a division of Denver Development Services, but an inspector could rarely come right away. And if the inspector did find people in the house, Mayl says, they'd been cued to say they were staying for more than thirty days — which is legal in Denver. To combat that, he would place a newspaper next to a car's license plate and snap a picture, to show the high turnover of visitors on his block. Still, it took over a year for Mayl and the Cory-Merrill inspection representative to build a solid case.
When they'd finally gathered enough evidence, they took it to a hearing of Denver's Board of Adjustment for Zoning Appeals in October 2010. The room was packed with opponents of the rental, including Mayl and two other neighbors, as well as a representative from Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation, the umbrella group for more than a hundred neighborhood associations in Denver; they were armed with six letters of opposition (including one from INC and another from the Cory-Merrill Neighborhood Association) and 35 petitions against the property. No one spoke in favor of the property owners, who were issued a cease-and-desist order by the city. They soon sold the house next to Mayl and moved out of town.
"They ceased being neighbors and became entrepreneurs, with no regard for their neighbors' concerns," remembers Mayl. And while the retired vet won that battle, he's still involved in the fight against short-term rentals in Denver.
Although Denver's zoning code prohibits residents from renting an apartment, home, room in their home or secondary property for fewer than thirty days, thousands break that law by offering their properties as short-term rentals (STR). The practice has become so common — and the complaints about it so loud — that Denver City Council will soon consider an ordinance to regulate the city's sharing economy, with a focus on STRs. Councilwoman Mary Beth Susman has been leading the charge, researching the issue and holding town halls to collect input from disgruntled neighbors and fans of STRs alike.
And STRs definitely have fans. Companies such as Airbnb, VRBO.com and TravelTHC provide property owners and renters with a platform through which they can post a room or property that travelers can rent for a short-term stay; travelers appreciate the ease and value of the rentals. The platforms give hosts a page where they can offer a profile of their properties, describing the location, amenities, ambience and whatever else they might want to share. (Travelers coming to Colorado are often interested in whether a place is pot-friendly.) The property owners can set their own price and offer daily, weekly or monthly rates.
VRBO.com was the first company to formalize this part of the sharing economy. Founded by a husband-and-wife team in 1996, it was bought by Homeaway (an online vacation-rental marketplace based in Austin, Texas) in 2005. Hosts on VRBO.com are exposed to 77 million travelers each month; the top 5 percent make an average of $65,000 a year, according to VRBO.com. The company offers hosts different levels of subscriptions, starting at $399 and rising to $1299 a year, depending on services; it also charges a fee of up to 10 percent of each night's rental. Most VRBO rentals are full houses or apartments.
Airbnb got its start in 2008, when Brian Chesky and roommate Joe Gebbia, both broke college students, began renting out three air mattresses in their apartment in San Francisco, where the company is now based. Today Airbnb is valued at $24 billion, according to the New York Times, and manages some two million listings in 34,000 cities in 190 countries. (By comparison, if the Marriott International and Starwood Hotels and Resorts merger goes through, it will create the world's largest hotel company, with 1.1 million rooms in over 5,500 hotels in 100 countries.) Airbnb charges hosts a simple 3 percent of every night's rental rate in exchange for verifying the property, listing it and providing insurance. According to a data scrape done by Colorado Public Radio in August, there are about 1,700 regular Denver listings on Airbnb; last week, an Airbnb Facebook ad featured hundreds of open spots in Denver for Christmas Eve.
On the Denver Airbnb page, visitors can choose anything from single basement rooms to whole apartments or carriage houses. Some top hits for this holiday week include an "International Microhostel" for $17 a night (also seen for $23 a night) in Glendale; it's a luxury apartment with a shared room and a stocked fridge — and it's 420-friendly. For $70 a night, two guests can have their own entrance to a cozy basement room described as "Bohemian chic in the Highlands." There is no access to a kitchen, but the place does have a coffee maker, a microwave and a full-size refrigerator. Guests can smoke pot outside, but the host asks that they make sure to keep quiet after 10 p.m.
The prices go up from there, to close to a thousand bucks a night for a three-floor condo or a 7,000-square-foot home in Cherry Creek. You can have the entire Castle Marne Bed & Breakfast for $2,380 a night. And in Centennial, a seven-bedroom, five-bathroom, 420-friendly mansion is available for $5,000 a night; with a $1,200 "service fee," a four-day holiday excursion there will run you $21,200.
In Denver, 83 percent of the hosts have just one listing, and 93 percent of those are rented out for fewer than 180 days a year, with the average unit renting for fewer than 55 nights, according to Airbnb. Alison Schumer, Airbnb's public-affairs manager, says that many people who rent places on Airbnb are middle-class families who use the platform "to pay the bills." In turn, she adds, guests make significant contributions to the local economy and support small businesses in the area where they are staying.
Airbnb liaisons work closely with local municipalities to craft rules that fit the needs of both Airbnb and the area, Schumer continues. "Our role is to engage our community of hosts to help policymakers develop the right rules for Denver," she explains in an e-mail. "Effective home-sharing regulations are simple, clear and allow people to share their homes and contribute to the community."
But some STR neighbors don't consider those short-term-rentals much of a contribution to residential neighborhoods.
As she began to hear more and more about the sharing economy, Susman wrote an op-ed for the Denver Post in April 2014. In it, she cited many options that allow people to trade or pay for almost anything, from rides and tasks to meals and houses, and speculated about what role government should play. After that, her phone started ringing off the hook with calls from people asking the councilwoman what she was going to do about short-term rentals. An increasing number of residents were worried that their neighborhoods were turning into cheap, untaxed motel districts.
Section 11.12.2 of Denver's zoning code details "Primary Residential Uses," and defines household living as "residential occupancy of a 'dwelling unit' by a 'single household.'" In the code, tenancy is defined on a month-to-month basis or longer — but never shorter. It recognizes a dwelling unit as a place with one or more habitable rooms used for permanent occupancy. A household is a "dwelling unit occupied by persons...living as a single non-profit housekeeping unit, including any permitted domestic employees." Relatives are allowed, too — but not short-term renters.
In July 2014, Susman formed the Sharing Economy Task Force to tackle issues involved with Denver's sharing economy, starting with house sharing. The task force was later folded into the city council's Neighborhood and Planning Committee, which Susman chairs. Councilman Rafael Espinoza of District 1 in Highland is the vice-chair, and Albus Brooks of District 9, which covers downtown, RiNo and Five Points, is also on the committee. They both represent areas experiencing radical housing changes that are home to many short-term rentals. Lowry and northeast Denver also have a high number of STRs.
Currently, the only way the city knows if a house in one of those areas — or any of the 300,000 residences in Denver, for that matter — is being used for an unauthorized short-term rental is when a neighbor complains, as Mayl found out. After that, a city inspector needs to find the renters, confirm that they are not related to the property owner, and then ascertain if they are renting the dwelling for fewer than thirty days. But the city has only eighteen neighborhood inspectors, and even if one has time to visit the subject of a complaint, that inspector usually ends up leaving a note because no one is home.
That's why Susman is working on a proposed ordinance that will make it easier for the city not only to find short-term rentals, but to make sure they adhere to certain standards. "I think it will make our residents feels safer if there is more regulation to it," she says. "If we can identify and legitimate it, we can make sure they have things like fire extinguishers, CO2 detectors, ensure that the guests can get a hold of the host business."
Under the proposed ordinance, Denver could require hosts to register and get a license that would come with a number that would need to be included in their online profile. That way, Denver listings could be policed. "It would be an easier enforcement process, actually," says Susman.
A major component of the proposal — and one that may force many short-term rentals out of business, specifically those on VRBO.com — is a primary-residency requirement. This provision would allow Denver residents to rent a space for fewer than thirty days as long as they live on the property. Ideally, this would deter any business from buying up houses or even apartment complexes solely to profit off short-term rentals — a situation that has plagued larger cities like New York.
"If you're buying up properties in order to do this, you're kind of in the hotel business," says Susman. "And if you're buying up apartment units, you are actually diminishing what might be the affordable-house inventory in the city. That's not popular with places like VRBO."
City council is also looking specifically at Accessory Dwelling Units, also known as mother-in-law apartments, or smaller buildings separate from the primary home but on the same site. But a host wouldn't be able to rent a room in an ADU as well as a room in the primary residence.
Unlike in some municipalities, Denver City Council is not interested in limiting the number of days an eligible property can be rented in a year. That would be too difficult to track, Susman says. But the city definitely wants to require hosts to charge a tax, most likely the standard lodging tax of 10.75 percent — the same rate that hotels collect from their guests — and then remit it to the city. That lodging tax will become increasingly important in Denver, since voters in November approved assigning the revenue stream to the new National Western Center...indefinitely.
While short-term rentals are a big business in this state, hotels don't see them as the threat that some residents do. According to Amie Mayhew, president and CEO of the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association, which represents hotels, resorts and dude ranches all over the state, Denver's hotel industry has not noticed any negative effects from short-term rentals. In fact, the latest lodging report shows that in October, the 9,000 hotel rooms available in the downtown area had an 85.7 percent occupancy rate at around $202 a night, which is much better than the national vacancy rate of 64.4%.
"This is a part of the new world we live in. That's why Uber and Lyft are here to stay in the world of transportation," adds Mayhew. But Denver's hotels would definitely like to see short-term rentals charged a lodging tax, she notes: "I think what we're doing is trying to make sure that as we move forward in this world, we know what the playing field is for all the parties involved."
The ultimate goal of the ordinance, Susman says, would be to regulate and tax the STR industry in such a way that it's easy for hosts to register their rentals — and for the city to keep an eye on them. "You've got to sit there and noodle a lot: what about this, what about that?And nothing in our ordinances say anything about it, because who knew?" says Susman. "We believe strongly that a simple process for a host is more likely to get compliance than a complicated one."
George Mayl has followed every step of the discussion of STRs in Denver. He's involved with the INC Zoning and Planning STR subcommittee created in September 2014. And although Cory-Merrill is quiet these days, other neighborhoods are not.
At one early meeting of Susman's task force, Mayl says, three people gave glowing reviews of their experiences as hosts, speaking for a total of fifteen minutes. Mayl was given two. One of the hosts told councilmembers he'd collected over $100,000 that year, but when Mayl asked if he'd paid taxes on it, the man kept quiet.
At the end of 2014, Mayl was at another Board of Adjustments hearing where Cannabliss, an STR on St. Paul Street owned by Florida resident Dale Koppel, was discussed. The house has five bedrooms and is decorated for the stoner, complete with original artwork from Amsterdam, vintage ashtrays, a fridge full of munchies and ice cube trays in the shape of pot leafs, according to its listing. Although that listing also says that Cannabliss is only available for rentals of thirty days or more, neighbors said there had been a revolving door of strangers going in and out, with some people knocking on neighboring doors late at night, looking for keys to the rental.
In the Airbnb listing, Koppel says she was frustrated when she couldn't find 420-friendly vacation rentals in Denver where she could toke — so she took matters into her own hands and bought a property where she could do just that. (Koppel could not be reached for comment, but she was allowed to continue renting her property — as long as the rental period was over thirty days.) air
Last February, Mayl attended a meeting on STRs held by INC's Zoning and Planning Committee; Denver Water, Susman, Airbnb and other city players were invited. Again, Mayl asked the many STR hosts in attendance how many had reported their income to the IRS; none raised their hands. Hosts "don't want anyone to know what they are doing," he claims. "Denver says, 'Maybe we're making the laws too strict for them.' It makes no difference. They don't want declared income [and] they could care less about the structure of the neighborhood. That's a commercial operation in a residential neighborhood; it doesn't belong."
Airbnb does provide hosts with 1099 tax forms, those used for independent contractors, so taxes are mostly the hosts' responsibility.
Mayl has no sympathy for the argument that STRs are helping some middle-class families pay their mortgages. He recognizes that there may be isolated cases of that, but he thinks for the most part the business is all about the money — big money. "I would like to go on vacation and make an extra $10,000 or $100,000 a year, but I've got neighbors," he says. "I moved here because I wanted the solitude and protection of a residential neighborhood, and Airbnb and those platforms do not lend to that."
One resident of the Whittier neighborhood says she's had problems with the STR next door to her rowhouse (and she asks to remain anonymous because those problems could affect her business). After April 20 last year, five guys left six trash bags outside the STR for days; the neighbor finally had to call the city to pick up the garbage. In another instance, she and her spouse woke in the middle of the night to pounding on the walls; they feared they were the victims of some sort of home invasion. Instead, it turned out the STR guests were in the middle of some raging, wild sex. Her spouse threatened to call the cops on them, which is what the couple does now with any troublesome guests.
The neighbor says she's tried to contact the owner of the rowhouse, but nothing changes. "I do not respect the intention to profit and play entrepreneur without regulation or paying taxes, especially at the expense of your neighbor's safety and quality of life," she says. "The issue can, has and will continue to hit all-new lows if parameters and enforced regulation are not set by municipalities. [City Council] needs to put their people before profit on this issue."
"There is impact to neighborhoods of people who are coming in and out," says Councilman Brooks, who's investigating the issue. "Now, that's more anecdotal. We're digging into that, as well. But we're hearing some fear from neighborhoods that it breaks up neighborhood stability."
Susman's meetings have brought all the stakeholders to the table, but Denver is definitely behind other cities like Austin and San Francisco in handling questions about STRs, Brooks says. Still, the new representatives who joined city council this year need to be brought up to speed. "So we're going to do a pretty in-depth community perspective and approach so that we can really understand what's the best policy to go with," says Brooks.
While Denver City Council studies the situation, STR hosts are strategizing. In August, Shahla Hebets created the Denver Short Term Alliance as a voice for STR hosts, specifically those renting out secondary properties, who would be hit hardest by the proposed ordinance. The group now has close to a hundred members representing 370 secondary properties listed on VRBO.com (many of which are also on Airbnb), says Hebets, who has been running an STR since 2008 and volunteers her time for the alliance.
When she started reaching out to property owners via VRBO.com, many of them had no idea that what they were doing was illegal, says Hebets. So the first job of the alliance was to inform owners of Denver's zoning regulations, and then let them know how the proposed ordinance might hinder future operations.
A report analyzing the impacts of STRs on Denver released at the end of last year was drafted by INC Zoning and Planning Committee co-chair Margie Valdez, with contributions from the STR subcommittee; Mayl had a hand in it as well. The report discusses safety, loss of affordable housing, drug and crime use, among other issues. After about sixteen pages of bullet points, clip art and a few graphs about Denver's housing market, it concludes that the short-term rental business "destroys the integrity of the neighborhood and, more importantly, the expectations of the property owners who purchased the property with the intention of a neighborhood remaining a residential neighborhood." If STRs are officially allowed by the zoning code, the report predicts, the number of units in Denver could go from 1,000 to 10,000 or even 20,000.
When Hebets read that report, she was concerned that there was only one voice in Denver's conversation of STRs. That's when she started organizing the Short Term Alliance, and she also commissioned the University of Denver to do a report that involved questioning 500 STR guests to determine the effects that short-term rentals have on Denver's economy. "I think there's a perception that you're just rolling in the dough," Hebets says. "But the truth of the matter is that you're constantly reinvesting in that property. So the net, really, isn't that much different when all is said and done…. Yeah, you're making a little bit more and you're investing a lot more, but at the end of the day, your property is pristine and you're giving a service to someone who's coming to spend money in the city you love, so I think there's a lot of positive aspects that make you want to do this…. It's a lovely little business."
As a host, Hebets says, she regularly uses such local services as pest control, lawn care, interior and exterior painters, handymen and cleaning services. She and many other members of the alliance have found that their property is maintained much better when it's used as an STR rather than rented to long-term tenants: Every time a guest leaves, someone has to make sure the house is clean, uncluttered and in good repair — which is better for the neighborhood, she points out.
The alliance is very interested in finding a compromise ordinance that would both benefit STR hosts and protect Denver, Hebets says, adding that her members are fine with imposed safety standards and even the lodging tax. It's the primary-residency requirement that concerns them. Such a provision discriminates against owners who do not reside on the property and is an infringement on their rights as property owners, she explains. The alliance wants to see that provision dropped altogether.
"At the end of the day, we love Denver," Hebets says. "We don't want the neighborhood to go by the wayside because we happen to be hosting travelers in our homes."
Even Mayl doesn't expect to see all STRs prohibited; he agrees with Susman that such a provision would be impossible to enforce. Instead, Mayl wants to see quicker and harsher actions taken against troublesome STRs. He'd like to see high fines if complaints are found to be valid, and suspension of the problem host's ability to rent for a length of time. He also favors imposing limits on the number of STRs allowed within a certain area, especially residential zones — maybe one STR for every four blocks. And he definitely wants to go after owners who fail to sign up for licenses from the STR business altogether.
"As long as there is neighborhood protection," Mayl says. "If we have a problem with somebody, I want it shut down."
The proposed STR ordinance is slated to go before the full Denver City Council in April. Until then, though, Airbnb has a great deal on a "hot spot in the heart of the city" for you. Or how about that "420-Friendly Comfy Cap Hill Suite?" It's only fifty bucks a night.


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Football Outsiders is out and doing Division by Division looks at the salary cap and how it affects each team around the league. To see about the entire NFC South – click HERE Here's the Falcons breakdown, and some of the background on how they think things will play out for the team. Estimated Cap […]
Posts Tagged 'Eric Weems'
A View on How the Falcons Will Deal with the Salary Cap Issues in 2012
February 22nd, 2012 Matt Loede Posted in Free Agency, News, Opinions
Falcons Withstand Late Titans Charge In 23-17 Win
November 20th, 2011 Matt Loede Posted in Game Stories, News, Opinions
It wasn't the ending the team was hoping for, but in the end, a win is a win, and after how last week ended, the Falcons will take it. Matt Ryan threw for 316 yards and a touchdown, as the birds withstood a late charge from the Titans to secure a 23-17 bounce-back win. Michael […]

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London skyscraper melts parts of a Jaguar XJ
Skyscrapers can be a pride to behold for a city. We've got our fair share of mega-structures too. But here, we are emphasising on a new skyscraper nicknamed the "Walkie-Talkie" in London. The English tower has earned the reputation of melting a Jaguar XJ.
BBC reports suggest that the official reason for the meltdown is the light reflected off the "20 Fenchurch Street" skyscraper and focusing on a small part of the street at certain times of day. The parts that took the most damage include the wing mirrors, badges and plastic body panels. The developer is reportedly looking into the matter.
They also have suspended three parking bays around the area. Still, the developers have apologised and paid for the repairs, which have surprisingly amounted to a mere Dhs 5420.


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Last month I was beyond thrilled to travel to Dallas, Tx to meet and photograph Laila's newborn portraits. Laila wasn't super keen to offer up her modeling services at first, but she finally decided it was much easier to just sleep and let us do our thing. 😉 I love the Elvis lip curl below. "Thank you, thank you very much…"
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Just love the colorful elf hat created for me by my dear Great Aunt Marion.
Little Laila fitting nicely in Daddy's hands.
Ryan, Saretta, and now baby Laila make for one beautiful family! Congratulations!!
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A beautiful and inspiring Christian video - the Great Commission in the Old Testament. High definition scenic views from all over the world with a song that reminds us of our responsibility to "shine" to the nations.
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The pediatric mental health nurse from Knoxville, Tennessee currently resides in Orange County, CA with his wife and six kids. Watch his dreams come true as Simon Cowell gives him the golden buzzer on America's Got Talent. Michael Ketterer is a part-time worship leader and has been involved in several Christian music groups. Five of his six children were adopted/rescued from very difficult circumstances.
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Nearly half of all LBQ women have been physically or sexually assaulted
New study examines the social, economic, physical, and psychological well-being of cisgender and transgender LBQ women and girls
A new study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law finds about 5% of cisgender and transgender women in the U.S.—nearly 7 million adults—identify as lesbian, bisexual, or queer (LBQ). In addition, 22% of girls—approximately 3 million high school students—identify as lesbian, bisexual, queer, or questioning (LBQQ).
The study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the demographics, health, and socioeconomic status of LBQ women and girls in the U.S. Results showed that an estimated 46% of LBQ women report being physically or sexually assaulted since they were 18 years old. In addition, one-quarter of LBQQ girls have experienced sexual violence in the last year, compared to 15% of both straight girls and gay, bisexual, queer, and questioning (GBQQ) boys.
Results showed that LBQ women and girls, in particular LBQ women of color, experience disparities in many areas of life, including poverty, depression, criminalization, discrimination, and violence. Fewer LBQ women (60%) felt social support in their lives compared with heterosexual women (76%).
"It is important to note that these data were collected before the COVID-19 pandemic. In many areas, such as economic insecurity, mental health, and victimization, LBQ women and girls may be faring even worse today," said lead author Bianca D.M. Wilson, Senior Scholar of Public Policy at the Williams Institute. "There is an urgent need for public policies that consider the significance of sexual orientation in the lives of all women, but also ones that address their multiple marginalized characteristics, including race and gender identity."
Additional Findings
- LBQ women make up 55% of the LGBTQ adult population and LBQQ girls make up 66% of the LGBTQ youth population.
- 72% of LBQ women identify as bisexual. Among LBQQ girls, 62% identify as bisexual and 25% as questioning.
- Approximately 39% of LBQ women and 57% of LBQQ girls are Latinx, Black, API, American Indian, or another ethnic minority identity.
- About 75% of all LBQ women experienced at least one everyday discriminatory event in the past year.
- Bisexual and queer women were more likely to report everyday discrimination compared with lesbian women; however, lesbians were significantly more likely to attribute the discrimination to their sexual orientation than bisexual and queer women (57% v. 31%).
Economic Insecurity
- About 48% of LBQ women live in a lower-income household (i.e., income less than 200% of the federal poverty level), compared with 42% of straight women, 38% of GBQ men, and 34% of straight men.
- When looking at incomes at the higher end of the spectrum, we also see that only 25% of LBQ women have household incomes over $75,000 compared to 33% of straight women, 40% of straight men, and 32% of GBQ men.
- Fewer LBQ women (46%) were employed than straight women (52%) and straight (64%) or GBQ (55%) men.
Mental Health
- More LBQ women (46%) have been diagnosed with depression than straight women (23%), straight men (13%), and GBQ men (31%).
- Over half of American Indian and White LBQ women reported having been diagnosed with depression in their lifetime.
- 44% of LBQQ girls reported having considered suicide in the last year, compared to 18% of straight girls, 13% of straight boys, and 32% of GBQQ boys.
Criminalization and System-Involvement
- 39% of cisgender girls in juvenile detention are LBQQ. The majority of LBQQ girls (64%) who were incarcerated are girls of color, particularly Black and Latinx.
- LBQ cisgender women make up 33% of women in prison and the majority (61%) are women of color.
- Almost 8% of LBQ women of color report experiencing serious trouble with the police or the law, compared to 3% of White LBQ women.
- About 4% of cisgender adult LBQ women (ages 18–41) reported having lived in foster homes as a child. Lesbians (9%) were slightly more likely than bisexual (1%) and queer (7%) women to report a history of foster care.
- About 68% of transgender LBQ women and 66% of cisgender LBQ women felt connected to the LGBT community.
- Bisexual women (59%) were less likely to feel connected to LGB communities compared with lesbians (81%).
- Fewer LBQ women (60%) felt social support in their lives compared with straight women (76%).
These companies publicly oppose anti-LGBTQ+ bills. Some fund lawmakers who sponsor them.
Lawmakers in 6 states with a high number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills received hundreds of thousands from major companies in the 2020 and 2022 election cycles.
This story was originally published by The 19th
After signing a pledge opposing anti-LGBTQ+ state legislation last spring, companies like AT&T, Amazon, Pfizer, and CVS Health gave thousands of dollars to the campaign efforts of lawmakers who had been backing such bills, according to a recent analysis from Data for Progress, a left-leaning polling firm.
Lawmakers in six states who wrote, signed or sponsored anti-LGBTQ+ legislation received tens of thousands and, in a few cases, hundreds of thousands of dollars, from major U.S. corporations in the 2020 and 2022 election cycles, Data for Progress found.
Alabama, Florida, Arizona, Tennessee, Idaho and Texas have been prolific in their efforts to bar trans students from school sports, restrict gender-affirming care for minors and ban LGBTQ+ discussions from classrooms over the past few years.
At least seven companies tracked by Data for Progress continued campaign donations for the 2022 election cycle to politicians backing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation after signing a pledge against such bills from the Human Rights Campaign and Freedom for All Americans. The pledge says the companies "are deeply concerned" about anti-LGBTQ+ bills and that they call for "public leaders to abandon or oppose" the legislation, but it did not explicitly address campaign donations.
Thirty companies that made campaign contributions were also official Pride sponsors in 2021 or 2022 for various cities across the country. Other companies, including General Motors, signed the pledge after making donations for the 2020 campaign cycle but have not given since then, according to the analysis, which goes through May.
Companies have long engaged in political spending that contradicts their public values while seeking to back other interests, such as favorable and unrelated legislation. This discrepancy is can be particularly stark during Pride month. While the donations may not have been made with anti-LGBTQ+ bills in mind, the money carries extra weight in the states that Data for Progress studied, since lawmakers there have actually passed anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-trans legislation after introducing bills at a rapid pace, local and national LGBTQ+ advocates said.
Among the six states studied by Data for Progress, Alabama had the highest number of anti-LGBTQ+ lawmakers receiving corporate campaign contributions. The state recently passed a felony ban on puberty-blocking medication or hormone treatment for transgender youth — one of the strictest bills limiting access to medical care. It was blocked last month by a federal judge.
Dillon Nettles, policy and advocacy director for the ACLU of Alabama, said the funding from companies that have publicly espoused support for LGBTQ+ rights is "deeply disappointing" — and shows an inconsistent commitment to supporting the community.
"It seems really risky for companies at this point in time to be willing to backslide on that commitment knowing that this is a moment where the country is being more activated and galvanized by these attacks on trans rights, and even more broadly, LGBTQ+ rights," he said.
Data for Progress' analysis is also just a small snapshot of the larger campaign finance contributions that major companies have made to anti-LGBTQ+ lawmakers across the country. The newsletter Popular Information has tracked such spending for several years and has found that 25 companies eager to publicly celebrate Pride have donated $13 million since the start of last year to politicians backing anti-LGBTQ+ bills.
The 19th reached out to 16 companies for comment regarding their campaign contributions to politicians who had backed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. None responded except AT&T, which made the second-most donations of any company tracked by Data for Progress. (Toyota gave the most.)
When taking public positions on government policies, AT&T focuses on areas such as broadband access and expansion, spokesperson Alex Byers said in an emailed statement.
"Contributions to a particular lawmaker do not mean we support their views or actions on every issue," he said. "We are mindful of diverse and complex societal issues that affect us, and we most immediately address these issues through direct social programs, philanthropy, employee benefits, and community involvement."
None of the lawmakers named in this story returned requests for comment.
Victoria Kirby York, deputy executive director of the LGBTQ+ advocacy organization National Black Justice Coalition, said that as anti-trans rhetoric among Republican lawmakers grows and more bills are actually making it into law, corporations that want to support LGBTQ+ people need to reevaluate their relationships with state politicians.
"There's definitely a cognitive dissonance in saying you're about equality and discrimination protections and for racial justice and LGBTQ+ equity and all of the things, and then to give millions upon millions of dollars to people working to undermine and demolish those protections," they said.
In Data for Progress' analysis, contributions to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's campaigns account for well over half of the total money spent on anti-LGBTQ politicians across these six states. He received just over $2.2 million, primarily from three companies based in Texas: Toyota, AT&T and Enterprise Products Partners, an oil and gas company, per Data for Progress' count.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, the second-highest-funded politician the organization tracked, received $302,000 for her reelection efforts, the bulk of it coming from Southern Co., which oversees Alabama Power. Several of her recent campaign ads have specifically showcased her support for anti-trans bills. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton ranked third in campaign contributions at $192,000, with USAA and Farmers Insurance making the biggest donations.
In Texas, the state legislature held back-to-back special legislative sessions in 2021, with the last two specifically called to discuss anti-trans measures, among other bills. This year, Paxton issued an opinion labeling gender-affirming care as child abuse, and under Abbott's order the state began investigations into families accessing gender-affirming care for their children. (The ACLU and Lambda Legal have filed another lawsuit to block state probes.)
Following months of those legislative sessions, Toyota, a Pride sponsor for Los Angeles this year, contributed $150,000 to Abbott's reelection efforts in December, Data for Progress found. AT&T, which signed the Human Rights Campaign and Freedom for All Americans pledge against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation last spring,gave $10,000 to Paxton's campaign in February this year.
To Adri Pérez, a policy and advocacy strategist at the ACLU of Texas, the campaign funds are a clear signal that many corporations will put their own self-interests ahead of standing with LGBTQ+ people.
While Pérez said companies need to be held accountable, they aren't sure this is possible unless everyone makes a conscious choice to put that pressure on — including the LGBTQ+ groups platforming businesses that say they support LGBTQ+ rights.
"Do they have to be held accountable? Yeah. Are they going to change their minds? I don't know," they said.
Emmett Schelling, executive director of the Transgender Education Network of Texas, said that making a pledge to oppose anti-LGBTQ+ legislation while funding politicians who back these laws is ultimately meaningless. Advocates need meaningful help to get out of a "continued cycle of horrific moments," he said, and to him that means going beyond publicly denouncing legislation after the fact.
Companies need to commit to employ more trans people, to provide benefits for queer families, and to not funding elected officials targeting trans youth, he said — while consumers need to reject a lack of integrity from companies who publicly back LGBTQ+ rights.
"It's not going to change overnight," he said. "And at the end of the day, the people have the power to intervene in this."
Rachael Salisbury, vice president at a political research firm for progressive campaigns, who co-authored the Data for Progress analysis as a fellow for the organization, said she hopes that Pride organizations will use the data to screen companies that want to sponsor their events — and that companies will stop such donations.
When companies sign pledges against anti-LGBTQ+ bills, including the pledge by HRC and Freedom for All Americans, "those are just pretty words at this point," she said.
"I want to give those leaders of those companies the benefit of the doubt, and hopefully they're not being intentionally duplicitous, but even if it is just carelessness, we can't tolerate that in our allies anymore," Salisbury said.
HRC and Freedom for All Americans said in emailed statements that working with companies on issues like political contributions or private lobbying, respectively, are key parts of their advocacy work for LGBTQ+ rights.
"We encourage companies not to donate to anti-LGBTQ+ politicians, and to reckon with how damaging and harmful those donations are to the community, including their own LGBTQ+ employees," HRC press secretary Aryn Fields said in a statement.
"Companies have a singular ability to gain audience with lawmakers across the political spectrum, and can help share both the human and business reasons that this kind of policymaking is at odds with corporate values, public opinion, and long-term competitiveness," Freedom for All Americans communications VP Angela Dallara said in an emailed statement.
On whether LGBTQ+ groups should ask companies for financial commitments when signing pledges against anti-LGBTQ+ bills, or if something should be done differently on such letters, Freedom for All Americans does not have a position, Dallara said. HRC declined to comment on what changes should be made to such pledges.
Disclosure: Pfizer, CVS Health, the Human Rights Campaign, and the chairman of Enterprise Product Partners, Randa Duncan Williams, have been financial supporters of The 19th.
The 19th is an independent, nonprofit newsroom reporting at the intersection of gender, politics and policy.
Texas-based hate group was behind attempted riot at Pride event in Idaho, authorities say
Authorities say the 31 suspects are part of an extremist group founded in Texas after the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Eight of those arrested Saturday are from North Texas, officials said.
This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune
Authorities say the 31 people accused of trying to start a riot at an LGBTQ+ Pride event in Idaho this weekend belong to an extremist group based in Texas.
The suspects were released on bond after being charged with conspiracy to riot. Police say all of them belong to Patriot Front, a white supremacist organization headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The suspects include eight people from Texas, whom police identified as Thomas Rousseau, 23, of Grapevine; Robert Whitted, 22, of Conroe; Tommy Walker Jr., 24, of Godley; Josiah Buster, 24, and Connor Moran, 23, of Watauga; and Kieran Morris, 27, Steven Tucker, 30, and Graham Whitsom, 31, of Haslet.
The Coeur d'Alene City Police Department said on Saturday they responded to a call about "a little army" of people with masks and shields getting into a U-Haul van near the Pride event. Law enforcement said they also found at least one smoke grenade in the vehicle.
"I think some of us were a bit surprised by not only the level of preparation that we saw but the equipment that was carried and worn by those individuals along with the large amount of equipment that was left in the van when the stop happened," Lee White, the department's police chief, said at a Monday press conference. "That level of preparation is not something you see every day."
White said it was unclear why the group targeted the Pride event in Idaho.
The white supremacist organization's activity comes less than a week after the Department of Homeland Security issued a warning that recent and upcoming events — including the mass shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo, New York; the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision on abortion access; and the November midterm elections — could be "exploited to justify acts of violence against a range of possible targets."
Rousseau, who was among those arrested Saturday, is from the Dallas-area suburb of Grapevine and founded Patriot Front in 2017 — following the Charlottesville, Virginia, "Unite the Right" riot, according to the Anti-Defamation League. In Charlottesville, white supremacists stormed the city with tiki torches and rammed a car into a crowd of counterprotesters, killing three people and injuring dozens of others.
"They espouse racism, antisemitism and intolerance under the guise of patriotism and preserving the ethnic and cultural origins of European ancestors," Stacy Cushing, the deputy regional director of Anti-Defamation League's Texas/Oklahoma branch, said about Patriot Front. "Their goal is to reclaim America as a white nation. They are white supremacists with neo-Nazi roots."
Last year, nearly 5,000 racist, antisemitic and other hateful messages were identified across the country, with Texas-based Patriot Front responsible for more than 82% of incidents nationally, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
The extremist organization has hundreds of members nationwide. They are responsible for spreading racist propaganda with the intent to invoke fear and hate, said Jeff Tischauser, a senior research analyst at the Southern Poverty Law Center. Compared to other states, he said, the Texas chapter is "the most active."
"Members from Texas regularly cross state lines to take part in racist activism, which includes harassing local residents at the Pride parade in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, as well as traveling out of state to post racist propaganda," Tischauser told the Tribune via email. "Members from Texas also travel across state lines to destroy murals that depict Black life, LGBTQ pride, as well as memorials to victims of police violence and racially motivated mass shootings."
Since the formation of Patriot Front, the extremist group's activity in Texas has included hanging a banner from a Dallas overpass that read, "Take a knee, back in Africa," and heckling attendees at a book fair in Houston with smoke bombs and phrases such as "Blood and Soil," according to the Houston Chronicle. They have also posted racist propaganda across college campuses, the Texas Observer has reported.
Tischauser said Patriot Front has been using restrictive legislation and policies in Texas to recruit people for their cause.
Gov. Greg Abbott issued a directive in February instructing the Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate parents who provide gender-affirming care for their transgender children as possible child abuse. An Austin judge last week temporarily stopped those investigations. Gender-affirming care is recommended by all major medical associations to treat gender dysphoria, the distress one can feel when their gender identity does not align with their biological sex.
Texas Republican officials have also waged a campaign against school material that includes the teaching of history and books with references to sexuality and race. In April, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said he would prioritize a Texas version of the "Don't Say Gay" bill, a Florida law that limits classroom discussions about LGBTQ+ people.
Members of Patriot Front "think the Texas GOP isn't going far enough," Tischauser said.
Disclosure: Southern Poverty Law Center has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them – about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Montana on track to make history with election of two transgender candidates
Zooey Zephyr and SJ Howell, two transgender candidates, are running in safe Democratic districts
After waking up at 6:30 AM and confirming that she was still leading in the Democratic primary for House District 100, Zooey Zephyr got a bacon breakfast burrito and a café au lait from her local coffee shop.
While the café au lait is her standard for days that are not sweltering, the breakfast burrito was a treat, as following Tuesday's primary election, Zephyr, 33, became one step closer to becoming one of the first two openly transgender candidates elected to the Montana Legislature.
Zephyr and SJ Howell, a transgender non-binary candidate for Missoula's House District 95, will both be on the ballot in November.
Their run for office comes at a pivotal time for the transgender community as more and more bills that advocates say are detrimental for LGBTQ folks are being introduced at state legislatures across the country, including Montana. The Human Rights Campaign, a LGBTQ advocacy group and LGBTQ political lobbying organization, went as far as to label 2021 "the worst year for anti-LGBTQ legislation in recent history."
With Zephyr's district located in a decidedly blue slice of central Missoula, her path to victory seems clear — in 2020, Rep. Andrea Olsen, D-Missoula, won the seat with 82% of the vote. And the district has voted Democrat in the last four elections, although before the lines were redrawn in 2014, Republicans dominated between 2003 and 2013.
"I am feeling good, I am obviously excited, primarily I feel awash in gratitude for the people who helped me, for the people who voted for me, for Missoula … there's a lot to do, there's a lot to plan for, but right now I am just overwhelmed with gratitude," Zephyr told the Daily Montanan in a phone interview.
On Tuesday, Zephyr, who has spent much of her career working for the University of Montana, beat her primary opponent David Severson 1,188 to 832, according to preliminary numbers from the Montana Secretary of State's Office. She will face Republican Sean Patrick McCoy and Libertarian Michael Vanecekin in November.
Howell, 41, did not have a primary opponent and will be up against Republican Lauren Subith and Libertarian J.C. Windmueller in the general.
Howell is the executive director of Montana Women Vote, a nonprofit advocacy group, and is also in a secure Democratic district. Between 2003 and 2021, voters in the district only elected a Republican to the office once, but Howell said they are ready to dig in going into the general.
"I certainly don't take the general election for granted. I am excited to get to work; I've been knocking on doors already," Howell said.
If Zephyr and Howell win in November, Montana will be the second state to have elected multiple transgender people to a state legislature — New Hampshire currently has three transgender women in its House of Representatives.
There is a difference between legislators having a conversation about you compared to having a conversation with you.S.J. Howell, candidate, Montana Legislature
In total, 11 openly LGBTQ candidates ran for office in this year's Montana primary, with six advancing to the general election. For Montana and across the country, LGBTQ candidates make up a minuscule amount of elected officials. There are 1,040 "out" LGBTQ elected officials nationwide — only eight of whom are transgender — which amounts to .2% of all elected officials, according to the LGBTQ Victory Institute. And in Montana, there are just six out LGBTQ elected officials, according to the institute's Out for America Map, which tracks out LGBTQ elected officials nationally.
Both Montana candidates advocated for LGBTQ rights at the Capitol during the last session. On Wednesday, they spoke about the importance of having transgender voices in the Legislature after multiple bills were passed last session that affected the trans community.
"It's big for Montana. What feels really exciting to me is that we are sort of going from zero to two, which in a lot of ways feels like a big exponential step forward," Howell said. "I feel that there is a difference between legislators having a conversation about you compared to having a conversation with you, and I think it changes the tone of the debate; I think we both have the intention of getting in and fighting hard for the rights of queer and trans Montanans."
The Legislature took up bills limiting how transgender youth can participate in sports, putting more restrictions in place for updating a gender marker on birth certificates and restricting gender-affirming care for trans youth. While the last of the three failed to pass out of the state house, the other two passed and are currently being challenged in court.
Republicans at the time defended the bills as necessary safeguards for protecting children.
For Zephyr, it's all about representation. Zephyr decided to run after watching Senate Bill 280, which changed transgender Montanans' ability to update their birth certificates, pass the Senate 26-24.
"I remember it passed by one vote, and I thought, I know I could change that heart, I know I could be the difference between a yes and a no there. It would have only taken one person to protect my community from discrimination," Zephyr said. "We will be the best defense there is against this particular brand of hate."
One of the reason's SB280 was so impactful for Zephyr is prior to the passage of the bill, she was able to update her own birth certificate.
"The office of vital records told me as far as the state of Montana is concerned 'we are updating a 30-year clerical error.' It was one of those moments that felt like a full recognition of who I am … it meant an extra layer of safety and acknowledgment of who I am," Zephyr said.
Bills that affect people who are transgender and the rest of the LGBTQ community have proliferated beyond Montana. A spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign said in an email that it is tracking 341 bills across the country it views as harmful toward LGTBQ people; of those bills, more than 143 are anti-trans, including more than 40 healthcare bans, 76 sports bans, and 15 "bathroom bills."
An analysis by NBC News found that the annual number of anti-LGBTQ bills filed in state legislatures across the U.S. increased from 41 bills in 2018 to 238 in the first three months of 2022.
However, during the same period, more LGBTQ candidates have filed to run for office.
"We coined it the rainbow wave. We've seen a number of candidates run and win. And this year, in particular, we have about 50 candidates from the trans community running for office up and down the ballot across the country," said Ceasar Toledo, deputy political director at the LGBTQ Victory Fund — a political action committee that focuses on increasing the number of openly LGBTQ public official. The fund endorsed both Howell and Zephyr in their races this year.
Surveys by the Trevor Project, an LGBTQ youth suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization, outlined how these types of bills and the debates surrounding them negatively impact transgender youth. One survey found that of the 35,000 LGBTQ youth questioned, 42% had considered suicide within the prior year. And another found that two-thirds of LGBTQ youth surveyed said debates about anti-trans legislation had negatively impacted their mental health.
Shawn Reagor, director of equality at the Montana Human Rights Network, said the organization has seen a recent uptick in reports of vandalism and harassment toward the LGBTQ community, which he attributed to increased activity by white supremacist and militia groups in the state.
But Reagor said more LGBTQ representation in the Legislature will help combat those attacks.
"We know that when people are able to build relationships with transgender and nonbinary community members, they are significantly less likely to vote against the needs of the community and make statements that further misunderstanding of who trans and nonbinary people are," he said. "Not only do Howell and Zooey represent role models for the community, but they also provide an important opportunity for other legislators and the state as a whole to further get to know some of the wonderful trans and nonbinary people that live in Montana."
Toledo said having LGBTQ voices present during debates on bills impacting their communities "humanizes the policy." He added, "It's those voices at the table that can be the difference."
And in general, Reagor said he is excited about the likely wins by Zephyr and Howell.
"As a trans person, I am incredibly proud and excited at the possibility that our community could be represented in the state Capitol by great leaders like Zooey and Howell. After the attacks during the last legislative session, I am thrilled to see trans candidates run for office and receive this level of support," he said. "They are smart, hard-working, and have a deep understanding of the needs of our state."
Bryce Bennett, a former Democratic lawmaker and first openly gay man elected to the Legislature, echoed Reagor's message.
"For the first time in Montana history, young people coming to terms with their gender identity will look to their Legislature and see people like Zooey Zephyr and SJ Howell who know their story, their struggles, and the bright possibilities ahead. When they get to the Legislature, the day of people talking about trans people will be over; they will finally have to talk with them. That is why representation is so incredibly powerful," Bennett said in a text message to the Daily Montanan.
The Daily Montanan is a nonprofit, nonpartisan source for trusted news, commentary and insight into statewide policy and politics beneath the Big Sky.
This story was originally published by the Daily Montanan and is republished under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.


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Fantasy Pool Look: Trade deadline impact, part II
So much happened around the NHL last week that to effectively analyze the impact on fantasy-relevant players, I'm breaking it into three columns.
In Part 1, I looked at Ryan Callahan, Jaroslav Halak, Ales Hemsky, Matt Moulson, Martin St. Louis, Lee Stempniak, Tim Thomas and Tomas Vanek.
In Part 3 Thursday, I'll run through the key prospects who changed organizations: Hudson Fasching, Sebastian Collberg, Calle Jarnkrok, Brayden McNabb, Chris Brown and David Rundblad.
Cory Conacher, Buffalo Sabres
Conacher, who the Sabres claimed off waivers from the Senators, is a talented prospect. I still consider him a prospect because, after winning the American League MVP and rookie-of-the-year awards in 2011-12, he played 35 games with Tampa Bay and had 24 points. Then he was traded to Ottawa and right from the start you knew it wasn't a good fit. So from a fantasy-hockey standpoint, I'm erasing Conacher-in-Ottawa from my memory. To me, he's still just a 35-game NHL player coming straight from Tampa Bay.
In Buffalo he picked up an assist in his first game and was lined up with Tyler Ennis and Drew Stafford. He'll do very well in Buffalo, but the caveat to that is – it's Buffalo. Will any player get 60 points next season? Given the answer is probably no, look for Conacher to be one of a handful in that 45 to 55 range.
Martin Erat, Phoenix Coyotes
Something happened to Erat during one of his injuries that has affected his play either physically or psychologically, because he's not the same player. Not even a trade to Pittsburgh to play with Sidney Crosby could help.
In two games with Phoenix, and playing with the Coyotes' top goal scorer and fellow countryman Radim Vrbata, Erat has zero points. I have trouble betting he'll reach 30 points on the season, even though he has 18 games left. He's sitting at 24 points right now.
Marian Gaborik, Los Angeles Kings
On the plus side, the Kings won both games Gaborik has played with them so far and scored seven goals in the process. That's a huge boost in Los Angeles standards, as the team has struggled to put the puck in the net all year.
On the negative side, Gaborik has been held off the scoresheet as a King. But his arrival adds another dimension to the team's attack and the power play is more potent. Gaborik, Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter make up the forward line on the top PP unit that has gone 2-for-7 since the trade. With 17 games left, Gaborik is capable of 18 to 20 points, but I would put my money on something closer to 13 or 14.
David Legwand, Detroit Red Wings
With Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg out for what looks to be a long time, Legwand becomes Detroit's No.1 center. From a short-term standpoint, he'll be in the best position to put points on the board since 2006-07 when he was playing with Paul Kariya and posted career highs.
Right now he's lining up with Gustav Nyquist, who represents Detroit's best offensive player now that the two superstars are injured, along with Johan Franzen.
Roberto Luongo, Florida Panthers
Luongo is back with the team in which he played his best hockey. While with the Panthers, he was hands down the best goalie in the NHL and one of the top, if not the top, fantasy goalies. Sure, the wins were never in abundance, but man did he face a lot of shots. And while this is a different Florida team, in many ways it's the same, including that "giving up a ton of shots" thing.
I get the sense Luongo is at his best when seeing loads of game action and facing a ton of rubber. Those leagues with extensive goaltending categories will love the new/old Luongo.
Michal Neuvirth, Buffalo Sabres
For the next seven months or so, there will be a lot of rhetoric coming out of Buffalo about how Michal Neuvirth and Jhonas Enroth will battle for the No.1 job and that nothing has been decided yet. We saw it in Toronto last summer. But everyone knew that the No.1 guy would be Jonathan Bernier no matter how well James Reimer played.
The same goes here with Neuvirth. He'll be the guy and all he has to do is stay healthy. An injury would hand the job to Enroth, but otherwise Neuvirth should be good for 50-plus starts next season.
Tuomo Ruutu, New Jersey Devils
Ruutu was immediately plunked on a line with countryman Jaromir Jagr and center Travis Zajac. He has two points in two games so far, after managing two in his prior 11 with the Hurricanes.
In his case, any change would have been good. But getting to play with Jagr is a nice bonus and bodes well for his final 17 games. I wouldn't be surprised if he tallied 15 points in that span and worked that ugly minus-18 up to a slightly more respectable minus-10.
Dustin Penner, Washington Capitals
Penner's best opportunity for fantasy value was with Anaheim, so leaving that organization put a nail in his coffin. He had some on-again, off-again chemistry with Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, and as long as the coach was patient with him on that line, he had potential for 60 points.
But coach Bruce Boudreau didn't have the patience to work with Penner through any slumps or perceived lack of effort, so he was frequently removed from the big line or scratched altogether. But at least before the trade, we had the hope that Penner could get back on that line and go on a little run. No such hope with Washington. Penner has zero points in four games.
The signs point to a couple more games with meaningless minutes and then a stint in the press box. I wouldn't touch Penner with a 10-foot pole in any fantasy league.
Darryl Dobbs' Fantasy Pool Look is an in-depth presentation of player trends, injuries and much more as it pertains to rotisserie pool leagues. Also, get the top 300 roto-player rankings on the first of every month in THN's Fantasy section. Do you have a question about fantasy hockey? Send it to the Fantasy Mailbag.
Want more fantasy insider information or to contact The Dobber? Check out dobberhockey.com or follow him on Twitter at @DobberHockey.


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The Hudson House - Subsidized Senior Housing Riverdale NY
All the Warmth of Home
We believe that every older adult should be able to live in a safe, clean, and peaceful environment. Hudson House is part of our commitment to serve our entire community.
Hudson House by RiverSpring Living provides affordable housing in the heart of the Riverdale community to eligible, low-income adults ages 62 and up as part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 202 Housing Program. Applicants who have been displaced, are living in substandard housing, pay more than 50% of their income for rent, or who are victims of elder abuse will receive a preference for placement. We offer activities and assistance, as well as promote independence among our tenants.
Amenities and Community
Affordable housing for low-income seniors
Building management
- On-site housing manager
- Live-in superintendent
Facility Features and Amenities
- Resident lounge
- Elevator
- On-site laundry facility
Rent capped at 30% of tenants' gross income
58 one-bedroom apartments
- Six of which are fully accessible units
- All feature full kitchen
- Senior-friendly bathroom
- Friendly atmosphere
- Convenient access to transportation, shopping, restaurants, houses of worship, and senior centers
Programming and services
- Assistance with entitlements and advocacy
- Recreational and cultural activities
- Emergency call system
- 24-hour security/cameras
Frequently Asked Questions
Hudson House is a federally funded HUD (Housing and Urban Development ) building for low income seniors. The applicant/head of household must 62 years of age and older.
Monthly rent is based on each tenant/family gross annual income. Tenants are required to pay no more than 30 percent of their income for rent. Leases are adjusted annually.
Income limits are set annually by the federal government. Currently the income limits are $30,250 for one person and $34,550 for two people. Although there is no limit to the amount of assets you may have, the interest, dividends etc. from these assets are considered part of your annual income.
Yes. Tenants pay for electricity, phone and cable. Gas and heat is included in rent.
We are located in downtown Riverdale, New York, at 3247 Johnson Avenue, at 235th Street
Meet Our Team
"The staff and tenants at Hudson House work together to create an environment that is not only affordable, safe and clean, but also helpful, accepting, and friendly."


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I am a good shopper. It's something I do well. Shopping online though takes my skill set to a whole new level, and feeds my introverted nature (agorophobia anyone?).
Delighted doesn't come close when I stumbled upon Meekel today. Add to that Yuppie Chef and old faithful Amazon and I hardly ever have to leave the house!
Here are my favorites from Meekel:


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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buckle your seat belts: the Buffalo Bills' next major contract negotiation is right around the corner.
Running back C.J. Spiller is able to become a free agent after this season. Speaking to reporters following his first offseason workout Tuesday, Spiller dropped a line that could send shivers down Bills fans' spines.
"It's my first rodeo. I'll take advice from guys that have been there before. I'll reach out to Jairus [Byrd] and see how he handled it," Spiller said. "I haven't talked to him. I've seen him this offseason but I will [reach out] eventually."
Byrd, of course, was in negotiations with the Bills for over a year until he signed a lucrative, six-year deal with the New Orleans Saints last month, so he's probably not the first person that Bills fans would want talking to Spiller.
Byrd was franchised last offseason and chose not to sign his tender, sitting out the offseason program and most of training camp. Spiller, on the other hand, was with his teammates Tuesday.
"The biggest thing is, I'm here. Last year, Byrd and his situation was different and he didn't show up," Spiller said. "And it worked out in his favor. But I'm here, ready to work."
Spiller was asked if he was taking part in the voluntary workouts as a sign of "good faith" in the upcoming negotiations.
"No, this is a lot of different things. I'm not the type of guy that -- I love being around my teammates. I love working out. So, is that going to boost anything? Who knows," Spiller said. "I can only control what I do. I can't worry about anything else. I understand that this is a business. Decisions have to be made. You have to respect that. But being here has nothing to do with that stuff."
As for any negotiations, Spiller is in the process of hiring an agent. Gary Wichard, who negotiated Spiller's rookie contract in 2010, died in 2011.
"Hopefully I'll get one pretty soon. I'll need one pretty soon. So I kind of got some guys in mind, that I'm looking at. I've had a chance to meet with a couple, so that process has been going pretty well so far," he said. "I just haven't really had enough time to really get into trying to really sit down and see who the best agent would be best for me, with different characteristics that I'm looking for.
"Because my previous guy, I had a unique bond with him and that's kind of what I'm looking for. So it will take a while to try to get a feel for guys, but through a lot of talks and a lot of prayer, I know I'm going to select the right person. So it's nothing to do with trying to delay any negotiations, because I haven't had any time. I've been spending time with my daughter and my family."
Spiller didn't say when he would like to begin negotiations with the Bills' brass.
"I haven't really given it any thought. I'm sure once that time comes, both parties will try to sit down and try to get something down and start negotiating. Right now, I'm pretty sure these guys are getting ready for the draft. I'm getting ready for the season," he said. "I haven't really given it any thought, about this possibly being my last year."
Playing into the contract talks will be the diminished market for free-agent running backs. As explored in a recent piece by ESPN's John Clayton, running backs are having trouble getting paid after reaching free agency.
Spiller still sees the position as valuable.
"If you look at this free agency, running backs really didn't make a big splash in the market. I don't know if teams just decided to make this a passing league, which it already is," Spiller said. "To me, you're always going to need a running back. A quarterback's best friend is the running game. Fortunately for us, that's what we're going to have here in Buffalo. We've had a great running game since I've been here.
"But some reason, some people started looking at that stat sheet, started looking at the age and different stuff, instead of looking at production and what guys done. Take Adrian Peterson, for instance. Look at his production. Look at Chris Johnson, who went for 1,000 yards for six straight seasons. So to me, you got to have a running back. You got to have more than one because of the season."
ESPN NFL Nation writer Kevin Seifert recently examined running backs' performance as they age and found a "cliff" after age 27. Spiller, who turns 27 in August, brushed aside any fears of a possible decline.
"I don't think nothing about it. It's just somebody that came up with a stat. Good on their part," he said. "I don't think my play is going to decline. If you really go look at my body of work, I don't really have a ton of carries. I probably have maybe 600. And this is going into my fifth year. You look at other guys who have almost 2,000 carries, it's a huge difference.
"I don't think about it. I don't pay attention to it. I'll be 27 this year and if people say that's my peak, then that's them. But to me, I'm just going out there and just balling."
Spiller defended his play last season, when he was limited by an ankle injury but rushed for 933 yards.
"I was very pleased. Considering that I was playing on one wheel, really. Almost went for another 1,000-yard season," he said. "That was one of my big goals, trying to get back to that 1,000-yard season. Just came up short. To be able to do it on one wheel, that was pretty impressive."
However, Spiller's production and playing time dipped from the season prior. He and coach Doug Marrone seemed to be on different wavelengths at points last season, with Spiller eventually sitting out one game in October to rest his injured ankle.
"I won't forget what everybody was writing in the papers," Spiller said Tuesday. "What really stung? Everything. 'Should I [have] sat down? Was the 2012 year just a one-year thing?' But it is what it is. You guys get paid to do what you do, and I get paid to do what I do. Like I said, I'm gonna be ready to go this year and hopefully I can get back to that 2012 form."
Despite the potential to test the free-agent market next spring, Spiller said he would welcome a long-term deal with the Bills.
"I would. There's not too many guys that can say that they've played [their whole] career at one spot," he said. "But at the same time, you've got to be a realist with yourself and understand that this is a business, as well. But my goal -- I would love to stay here and finish my career -- but who knows how it'll play out."


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- Why did Hashem create flies? (Well, aside from as in this midrash.) Assuming that flies are indeed what are being mentioned, rather than assuming that they have no purpose, perhaps see what naturalists claim. According to this website, flies have the following impact on the ecosystem:
Flies and other insects, such as burying beetles, are very important in consuming and eliminating dead bodies of animals. Flies are also essential in the conversion of feces and decaying vegetation to soil. Flies serve as prey to many other animals. Some flies aid in pollination.
Because of their habits of being attracted to feces and decaying meat, flies have been implicated in transmission of disease such as dysentery, typhoid fever, and cholera.
- A Beur on Sefer Bereishit by Naftali Hertz Weizel, at HebrewBooks. The edge is too often cut off, though. Here is another one. Perhaps will be useful to learn together with Shadal.
- The NFL schedule had the Jets playing on both Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. This bothered Jewish fans, and there were efforts to change the schedule. As I understand, they eventually succeeded, by moving one of the games a bit earlier. But here is Jimmy Kimmel talking about it, and he has an interview with a Jewish Jets player, who is upset about the situation:
- Life In Israel about fighting over exercise equipment in a public venue, and whether the issue is tznius or public safety.
- The Yeshiva World has how Rav Ovadiah Yosef came out strongly against smoking. At DovBear, Jameel notes the weirdness of the instruction to slap them. Must be a cultural thing.
Update: In the comment section, Michael points us to this video:
- Also at DovBear, A Mother In Israel talks about tznius and breastfeeding in shul. While not taking a position on it, I will note that it is not just culture vs. halacha. There is an intersection of culturally-based attitudes and halachah. For example, spitting in shul, into spitoons, was acceptable practice, and there used to be spittoons in certain shuls. And halachah permits spitting in shul. Nowadays, this is not so acceptable (except perhaps among some Lubavitz, who spit by shehem mishtachavim lahavel varik).
Monday, April 27, 2009
Interesting Posts and Articles #141
Posted by joshwaxman at 12:01 PM BlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook
Labels: news
1 comment:
This is holy slapping. It does tikkun to the soul.
What this:
- Monday, April 27, 2009 2:37:00 PM
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The intertidal mudflats of the Yellow Sea contain the most important stopover sites for migratory shorebirds in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway – a flyway that has transported birds from breeding grounds in the Russian and Alaskan Arctic to wintering areas in Southern Asia, Australia and New Zealand for hundreds of thousands of years. The productivity of the Yellow Sea's mudflats and the food they provide to migratory birds are critical to the survival of many species.
The Yellow Sea also lies at the center of one of the most populated regions on earth. More than 420 million people live in it's vicinity and the pressure on natural resources cannot be overstated. Already more than half of the Yellow Sea's intertidal areas have been converted to land through a process dubbed "reclamation" and the pace of this reclamation is accelerating. If the remaining intertidal areas are lost, long distance migrant bird species and the livelihoods of people that make their living from these mudflats will be lost as well. Already, the Spoon-billed Sandpiper's population has declined to only a few hundred individuals and the IUCN has stated "that unless major steps are taken taken to reverse current trends, the East Asian-Australasian Flyway is likely to experience extinctions and associated collapses of essential and valuable ecological services in the near future."
This film provides a primer on the basic biological principles of migratory shorebird ecology and why the Yellow Sea is a critical international hub for bird migration. It includes footage from a number of trips I've made for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to tell the story of migratory shorebirds – three trips to China, one to South Korea, and expeditions to Chukotka, Russia and the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
This video, along with several others, were produced for conservation partners in Asia. I'm proud to say they are getting a lot of use at high profile meetings and events in China and elsewhere. This video is also available in Korean, Mandarin, Japanese and Russian.
View on YouTube
Russian and Chinese representatives viewing the video at a bilateral meeting on the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats in Russian and China. (Photo courtesy of Elena Lappo)
Video being shown at the Beidaihe Coastal Wetlands and Waterfowl Seminar 2016. The event brought together officials from Chinese government agencies, representatives from provinces and municipalities around the Yellow Sea and Bohai Seas, as well as experts from local and international research institutions and NGOs. The Symposium was jointly organized by the Paulson Institute, the Convention on Wetlands Management Office of the People's Republic of China, China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE), and Hebei Provincial Government. (Photo courtesy of the Paulson Institute)


text: Former Gawkerette turned Radarite Maggie Shnayerson tipped us onto this AP story about how people are criticizing Elizabeth Edwards for John's affair. "I think she's complicit," Brad Crone, a Raleigh-based Democratic consultant told the AP. "Obviously, she knew. While she's the victim, she clearly didn't stand in the way of the cover-up." Sigh. This old meme again, one I'd thought had been retired after it had been used against Hillary Clinton so frequently. We've covered a lot of cheating husbands in the public eye this year — from politicians like Bill Clinton, John Edwards, and our favorite whoremonger Eliot Spitzer to personal-narrative spinners like Elle's Philip Nobel and New York's Philip Weiss - and what strikes me is that in every instance, the betrayed wife is blamed in some way, either by her husband or by pundits.There's another story about John Edwards in yesterday's Daily News, about how he's been calling former staffers and asking for forgiveness for his tawdry business with Rielle Hunter. When we asked Philip Nobel about his research assistant fucking ways, he asked to be "to be treated as an individual case." And here's the thing with both Edwards and Nobel and many other cheating spouses: they've taken for granted the rights and feelings of another individual, with their public philandering... their wives. Their actions did not take place in a vacuum. And even if I could muster some sympathy for a man trapped in a bad marriage or a marriage that made him unhappy, I can never ever feel bad for someone who has forced another person, willing or not, to deal with it in public. And as the following five stereotypes of cuckolded wives show, the fucked-over wifey will be judged by that public, no matter what she does. 1. The Ball Buster: Of course Bill cheated on Hillary, many said, she was a feminazi who never let the poor man have his way. And anyway, like Elizabeth Edwards, Hillary "allowed" the affair to continue and participated in a cover-up because all she wanted was power in the first place. 2. The Doormat:: Silda Spitzer got a lot of this, especially from other women, who were disgusted that she stood behind Eliot at the press conference after he was caught frequenting prostitutes. They called her "nauseating . . . phony and awful." 3. The Nag: Nobel said that his piece in Elle was about "the burden of being a lightning rod for the fears of women and the resentments of burdened men." The implication there is that all married men, even the ones who are happily married, are burdened by the responsibility placed on them by their nagging harpy wives. Who wouldn't want to ditch all that and run off with a twenty-something! Which brings us to… 4. The Crone: Nobel's preference for firm young flesh is shared by another political philandering John: McCain. McCain left first wife Carol for current wife Cindy, because, as Carol said, "John McCain didn't want to be 40, he wanted to be 25. You know that happens...it just does." Even Carol herself has bought into this piece of media claptrap! 5. The Martyr: Those who don't see Silda Spitzer as a doormat probably see her as a martyr — someone's who's keeping the family's life as private as possible so that her three teenage daughters can have some semblance of normalcy in their lives. While this stereotype isn't necessarily negative, I'm sure Spitzer — and the rest of these wives — would much rather not walk down the street and have everyone feeling sorry for them. As Erica Jong said in an impassioned defense of Hillary in the Washington Post earlier this year, "She cannot have enjoyed her husband's playing around. She certainly never condoned it. But he was clever enough for her, he supported her dreams, and they both loved their smart and beautiful daughter. Besides, what does anyone know about anyone else's marriage?" In Which People Are Atrocious To Elizabeth Edwards And Not Nearly Atrocious Enough To Her Idiot Husband [Radar] Edwards' Wife Criticized For Silence On Affair [AP via WRAL] Hillary Vs.The Patriarchy [Washington Post] John Edwards Calling Former Staffers Asking For Forgiveness [NYDN] Earlier: Elle Writer "Didn't Plan To Be The Poster Boy For Male Recklessness" Women On Silda Wall: "I'd Have Paraded In Front Of A Microphone With A Knife" Oh, About That First Wife


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Guacamole is a simple, quick, fresh, and tasty dip to make when entertaining. You can serve it with tortilla chips, or quesadilla wedges, and make it smooth or chunky depending on your taste.
Make sure you use ripe avocados for the best flavor and texture. Most avocados you'll find in the store won't be ripe enough, so plan ahead. Don't puree the avocados, because you want a slightly chunky texture. I like to cut the avocado into pieces, then mashing everything together with a fork.
- 3 ripe avocados , halved, seeded and peeled
- juice of 1/2 - 1 lime or lemon
- 1/2 medium onion , small-diced
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1 medium tomato , deseeded and small-diced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves (or 1/4 cup, diced)
- salt and pepper , to taste
- Dice avocados into small pieces, or gently mash using a potato masher, and place in a large bowl. Immediately mix with the lemon juice. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix to combine. Use a fork to slightly mash the avocado if it's still chunky. Serve immediately. Guacamole is best served the same day it's made.


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Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Dogs: Why I Dislike IBD
Diseases that require surgery to reach a definitive diagnosis are frustrating to deal with.
No matter how persuasive I try to be, owners are understandably reluctant to think that biopsying some internal bit of their sick dog is a great idea. Now the shoe's on the other foot, so to speak.
I recently adopted a pup with just such a condition – inflammatory bowel disease. I feel your pain.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD, not to be confused with IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome) is relatively common in dogs.
The breeds that have a higher than normal incidence of IBD include
- Basenjis
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers
- German Shepherd Dogs
- Shar-Peis
- Rottweilers
- Weimaraners
- Border Collies
- Boxers
We don't know exactly why particular dogs develop it and others do not.
The factors that play a role in most cases include a combination of
- genetics
- environmental stress
- immune dysfunction, and
- antigenic stimulation (food allergies, bacterial overgrowth, metabolic diseases, food intolerance, parasites, etc.)
Most dogs are diagnosed with IBD in their middle years, but the typical symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and/or poor appetite can develop at any age. A dog may have mild or intermittent signs of the disease at first but often his condition will worsen with time.
What is IBD?
A healthy GI system has many layers of defense against the offensive substances (bacteria, toxins, potential allergens, etc.) that it comes in contact with every day. When these systems are broken down or defective, to begin with, triggers are absorbed into intestinal tissues and stimulate the immune system resulting in inflammation. Unfortunately, this inflammation makes the gut wall even "leakier" resulting in a self-perpetuating cycle of immune stimulation leading to increased inflammation and so forth.
Why Does Diagnosing IBD Require Surgery?
The symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite and weight fit with a laundry list of canine diseases. Blood work, x-rays, and other non-invasive tests can rule many of these conditions out and raise the level of suspicion for inflammatory bowel disease, but the only way to definitively diagnose IBD is to biopsy the intestinal wall and have a pathologist evaluate the tissue samples.
Biopsies can be taken either with an endoscope or via abdominal surgery.
Both procedures require general anesthesia and have their pros and cons (e.g., endoscopy is less invasive but usually can't reach the entire intestinal tract). Your veterinarian can help determine which is best in your dog's individual case.
The pathologist's report will also help determine what type of IBD a dog has with regards to the part of the GI tract that is affected as well as the predominant type of inflammatory cell involved. This information can help your veterinarian determine the most appropriate treatment and give you an idea of your dog's prognosis.
How Is IBD Treated?
Treatment for inflammatory bowel disease centers on reducing the numbers of pro-inflammatory triggers the lining of a dog's intestinal tract is exposed to and if necessary, suppressing the immune system.
Hypoallergenic diets play an extremely important role in IBD treatment. Some dogs thrive on foods made with novel ingredients (e.g., venison and sweet potato). Others do better one diets made from hydrolyzed protein (i.e., proteins broken down into pieces so tiny that they evade detection by the immune system) and a single carbohydrate source. Some owners swear by home-prepared diets. Finding the right food for a dog with IBD usually requires some trial and error.
Many dogs with IBD suffer from bacterial overgrowth within their intestinal tracts.
Antibiotics can help control their numbers, and some like metronidazole also have an immunosuppressive effect. Duralactin, a product that contains dried milk protein from hyperimmunized cows, may also help some dogs.
If relatively benign therapies like these do not sufficiently control a dog's symptoms, it's time to reach for the big guns. Corticosteroids and/or other medications like azathioprine are used to suppress the immune system.
Response to treatment depends on the type of IBD a dog suffers from and its severity.
I've had some patients live symptom-free with dietary modification alone, but have had to euthanize others despite trying everything in the book, which is just another reason why inflammatory bowel disease is so frustrating to deal with.
Related articles:
A New Way to Diagnose Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)?
Further reading:
Canine inflammatory bowel disease: The 8 components of therapy


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Size Doesn't Matter: Internal Marketing Starts With Transparency
Sitting at a conference last spring full of corporate internal communicators, I realized that while the mission these communicators are on is starting to take hold at Fortune 500 companies, it remains less prevalent in many smaller firms.
Related: 6 Rules for Effective Peer-to-Peer Communication
Some business owners have told me that their firms are too small to worry about a formal internal communications system; they've said they don't think their employees would be interested, anyway.
The good news is that it doesn't matter what size your business is; employees always prefer transparency. Some thoughts on how to achieve it:
1. Start small.
You don't have to roll out a super-sophisticated intranet in order to build an internal communications program in your firm. Start small, with a monthly newsletter. This is what Mary Ellen Sheets, the founder of Two Men and a Truck, International did when she started TMT back in 1985. She faxed out a few pages of a newsletter to her franchisees, reminding them of the franchise rules, as well as sharing best practices across franchises. That newsletter grew into a nice, glossy magazine, and today, TMT has a comprehensive website and blog where it shares best practices among its 320 locations, which over 30 years have moved five million people.
2. Think big.
Employees do care about every aspect of your business, just as you do. So, don't just share the good news; share the complicated news, too. This is what Ted Castle of Rhino Foods did. When he found that his employees were not paying close attention to the losses in his company's brownie mixes, he showed them how those losses impacted the bottom line for him, and for the company as a whole. That was a big thing for him to share, but it made his employees take ownership in even more aspects of the business.
Related: 8 Tools That Can Make Employees More Efficient
3. Share widely.
Employees really do want to be involved and knowledgeable about your business. Everyone wants to feel valued and a part of things. So show your employees how much you value their contribution by sharing information widely. Let them know, for instance, when you get a new customer. Let them know when one has left -- and why. Let them know when changes are coming, and how it will impact them.
This is what Dennis Quaintance of Quaintance-Weaver Restaurants & Hotels did when he had to close one of his restaurants. Instead of just closing the doors without notice, he let everyone know ahead of time, and helped those workers find jobs at one of his other hotels or restaurants. He explained why it was time for this particular restaurant to close, yet reassured his employees that they were valued and needed elsewhere.
Internal marketing, then, starts with thinking of your employees first and making sure that they feel that they are an important part of your organization. When that happens, you will figure out the best way to openly share information, to create a transparent culture.
Related: Why We Replaced (In)Human Resources with 'Employee Experience'
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salted caramel choc potsrating:
Makes 2 pots
4 tbsp dulce de leche or canned caramel
½ tsp sea salt , plus extra to serve
85g each dark and milk chocolate
100ml double cream
50ml milk
Mix salt and caramel and pour into bottom of two pots - espresso cup sized.
Melt chocolate in a bain marie, then add the cream and milk, then pour onto the caramel.
Recipe interesting because: you don't have to make salted caramel, you can just salt bought caramel!


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DfT 'losing fight on road tax evasion'
* Accounts committee criticises Government * DfT and DVLA 'not doing enough' * VED evasion rose 5% last year to 214m...
The Government and the DVLA have been criticised for not doing enough to combat road tax evasion, which is costing hundreds of millions of pounds each year.
Edward Leigh, chairman of the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts, said: 'The Department for Transport (DfT) and the DVLA are losing ground in their fight against VED evasion, and the DVLA's performance in tackling persistent evaders of road tax has been poor.'
The evasion rate jumped from 3.6% in 2005-6 to 5% in 2006-7, which now represents a cost of 214 million a year.
Motorcycle VED evasion rife
The DVLA was deeply criticised, particularly for failing to do enough on road tax evasion among motorcyclists.
'Nearly 40% of motorcycles are now unlicenced,' said Leigh. 'If the DVLA's enforcement regime is not to be a complete laughing stock, then the agency and the department must make the most of new powers to enforce VED off public roads - and strongly consider more severe measures such as impounding unlicenced motorcycles.'
DVLA and DfT 'must work harder'
The committee also said that the DVLA and the DfT must work more with the police and local authorities to tackle offenders on the road, rather than just using paper records. It also said that using new technology to detect evaders should be 'vigorously pursued'.
'The alternative is an ever-increasing belief among road users that the evasion of road tax is a low-risk priority,' Leigh said.
There was also a call to close a loophole which means that motorists who delay renewing their road tax could avoid paying one month's worth of road tax without being sent a penalty notice. 'This loophole should never have been allowed to exist,' said Leigh.
Reaction to the Committee's findings
Sheila Ranger of the RAC Foundation said: 'VED evasion isn't just about money. Motorists driving without tax are also more likely to be driving without insurance and an MoT certificate. Responsible motorists aren't just picking up the tab for evaders, they are also being put at risk by them.'
She also added: 'Enforcing only from the computer record increases the risk of people dropping out of the system completely and joining the motoring underclass.
'The Government needs to boost the number of traffic police carrying out on-the-road crackdowns, so that the motoring underclass and hard-core tax dodgers are the ones feeling the pressure, not the law-abiding motorist.
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Our sub-editor wants a car that's relaxing on the motorway, capable on tricky terrain and fun to drive elsewhere. Can this family SUV deliver?


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Time to get down to business. There are seven steps you need to go through when building a new membership website:
1) Choose a subject area and website name (e.g. www.flyfishing.com).
2) Design the website layout and look and feel
3) Find a technology partner to build the website. Integrate functionality and payment processing.
4) Start creating the content. Add a starting level of content to the premium area of the site, so that early members feel they are getting value for money.
5) Test and launch the website so it is available over the internet
6) Market the website to your target audience with online and offline marketing
7) Continue to add content and communicate with members to create a loyal and happy community.