In other news (apolitical thread)...

[OrangeAfroMan]

There is a lot of new affordable housing near the services here.

I've never seen these two adjectives coincide in my entire life.  But okay.

[jgvol]

This was frustrating during my recent move.
I expect SOME bullshittery with advertised prices, but it was a joke this time around.  As bad as the rental car pricing discrepancy (which should be outlawed - give the actual price, not the pre-fees and service charges nonsense).

it's all a big lie and the customer has to guess how big of a lie it is with each individual place.

Why is upfront honesty just not even an option?!?!  Fuck.

My wife falls for this bullshit nearly every time.

[847badgerfan]

I've never seen these two adjectives coincide in my entire life.  But okay.

They city knows it needs it or nobody will work here.

[Cincydawg]

I was looking at a site that advertises rental properties, or lists them, it's not the property itself.  My GUESS is the apartment does have a studio that is $785 but it's not available now.  So, the price is for a one bedroom.

Live on or near the Atlanta Beltline | Affordable Housing in Atlanta

Atlanta Beltline Housing Dashboard

Explore Affordable Apartments

Click click click ... not a very usable site to figure out rents.

Please contact the property manager for each property for information on availability and income qualification guidelines.

[MikeDeTiger]

This was frustrating during my recent move.
I expect SOME bullshittery with advertised prices, but it was a joke this time around.  As bad as the rental car pricing discrepancy (which should be outlawed - give the actual price, not the pre-fees and service charges nonsense).

it's all a big lie and the customer has to guess how big of a lie it is with each individual place.

Why is upfront honesty just not even an option?!?!  Fuck.

It's been quite a while since I looked for a place to rent (or buy, for that matter), but that wasn't a thing back when I was looking.  It's no-excuse ridiculous to advertise different prices than what you're actually leasing for.  I mean, I expect a little bit of wiggle room if the place is willing to haggle a bit with tenants, but it should be close ballpark.  

What I did run into a lot the last time I apartment-shopped, which was years ago in in the San Marcos area, was the government-subsidized complexes.....or some people called them rent-controlled places, or whatever.  There was no listing on their web pages saying they fell under that, so I'd go to these nice apartments for a decent price and find out I wasn't actually eligible to live there because I wasn't in their income range.  It wasted a lot of time and that got on my nerves. 

[FearlessF]

 not grumpy?

[MikeDeTiger]

About what?

I'm always grumpy, you'll have to be more specific.  

[Cincydawg]

I randomly picked Tifton, GA, small town etc., apartments seem to run about a grand a month.

Apartments for Rent in Tifton GA - Updated Today

It would be about double that near me, possibly with nicer amenities, 2 bedroom.  The difference would matter if you earned $67K a year obviously.  Your net pay would be about $51 K, in your pocket.  I could manage on that, by myself, in Tifton, and maybe some unnicer places in ATL.

Let's say you have a car payment at $300 and food costs a grand a month, phone, cable, blah blah ...tick tock, not really middle class much.  Have kids?

[betarhoalphadelta]

That's a silly chart for California, at least. I imagine for several big states. Middle class in Sacramento is different than San Francisco, Fresno, Corning, Bakersfield, etc. Depends entirely where one lives. It's probably reasonably consistent between Los Angeles, The Bay Area, Orange County, and San Diego County, but a significant part of the state doesn't live in those metro areas. I assume the same is true in Texas, New York, Illinois, Florida, and probably lots of other states.

For sure in Illinois and Florida.

Someone making those amounts wouldn't be able to live where I did in Illinois and where I currently live in Florida.

Yep. That number is *not* middle class where I live... 

[FearlessF]

Influential wine shop to close after 7 years of boosting Cincinnati's restaurant scene

Oakley Wines is closing after seven years as a staple East Side wine shop, the store's co-owner Stephanie Webster announced in an Instagram post on Tuesday.

"This wasn’t an easy decision and comes with a lot of emotion and reflection. The community we’ve built over the last seven years is truly special — this place means so much to so many people, including myself," Webster wrote.

The shop, located at 4011 Allston St., hosts its last day of service on July 27.


Webster, who owns Oakley Wines and its sister shop, The Rhined, with her husband, David Webster, wrote that she was stretched too thin "balancing life as a mom while operating two locations." (The Rhined wine and cheese shop at 1737 Elm St., in Over-the-Rhine, will remain open.)

"I just can’t give Oakley Wines the time and energy it truly deserves to remain a successful and thriving business," Webster added.

[Cincydawg]

I'm curious how a wine shop could boost a restaurant scene, at all.  I never heard of that place.  I'm sure my friend has, he's still part time in the biz.

[FearlessF]

Man arrested for planting bombs at municipal golf course in Iowa


An Iowa man was arrested and charged in relation to improvised bombs found at Waveland Golf Course. The discovery of one bomb on Thursday, July 10, temporarily closed the golf course as a bomb squad responded.

Michael James Valento, 41 of Des Moines, is facing five charges — including four felonies — after two pipe bomb-style improvised explosive devices were discovered at the course, according to a news release from the Des Moines Police Department.

An investigation alleges Valento detonated one of the pipe bombs at the golf course on University Avenue on July 3.

A second pipe bomb-style improvised explosive device was discovered by golfers on July 10. That one had not been detonated, the release said. The Des Moines Police Department Bomb Squad determined it to be a live device and rendered it safe.

Just after midnight on Friday, July 11, police served a search warrant at Valento’s home, about a mile away from the course. Valento was not home during the search, Parizek said, but police spotted him nearby and arrested him.

Valento is facing the following charges:

Two counts of possession of an explosive or incendiary device with intent, a Class C felony
Arson — 1st Degree, a Class B felony
Arson 3rd — Degree, an aggravated misdemeanor
Dominion or control of a firearm / offensive weapon by a domestic abuse offender, a Class D felony
The bomb found on July 10 was in an area that golfers would not normally walk or drive past. It took police about an hour to render the device safe.

Valento is being held in Polk County Jail, according to the news release.

[FearlessF]

[bayareabadger]

It took me a second to realize that chart said income for a family.

That is silly and out of whack, considering that is at minimum of three people. Unless they just listed it wrong. 

It is interesting how the standards for things have risen, but perhaps that’s just society evolving.