Jun 21

Documents Prove Bottle Deposit Conspiracy Against Consumers

Posted on by

Official Documents From Santa Monica Prove Conspiracy With State Politicians To Cheat Consumers Out of Millions of Dollars

Official Document Directs Consumers To Use City Blue Containers Instead of getting back CRV Deposit

Official Documents from the City of Santa Monica proves the despicable conspiracy with the State politicians to cheat consumers, homeless, and low-income folks out of millions of dollars.  Document #1 (above) gives notice that the BuyBack Center, located at 2411 Delaware Ave., Santa Monica, would permanently close on June 15th.  Note lower down the page where we have placed a red arrow, the City directs consumers to put their bottles and cans in the city (blue) recycle bins for free, not collecting back their CRV deposit.

This cynical conspiracy first started by closing 1,000 recycling centers, including the huge Santa Monica buyback center where thousands of consumers, homeless, and low income folks came to get their deposit money for CRV bottles and cans.  Then the City directs consumers to give them all their CRV bottles and Cans for free.  The State of California collects untold millions of dollars for deposits on cans and bottles, so by choking off the process of returning the CRV deposits that they in effect are holding “in trust” from the consumer, they stand to gain huge amounts of cash for a slush fund for greedy Sacramento politicians.

According to Consumer Watchdog, the State has already amassed hundreds of millions of dollars with the CRV program, simply because most consumers are too lazy or busy to bother with keeping track and returning bottles and cans to get their deposit back.  Over the years, the State has made it increasingly difficult for consumers to return the bottles and cans.  First they allowed markets, liquor stores, gas stations, and other outlets to SELL bottles and cans of water and beverages, but stopped forcing these same locations to ACCEPT the cans back and redeem their deposits.  Then the State contracted with some private company to put in a few machines here and there where consumers could drop in their cans and bottles and get a receipt that would be cashed (redeemed) by a local business or market.  The bad news for consumers is that the machines are not correctly programmed and so do not accept many qualified bottles and cans.  We proved that in 2010 by video taping bottles from Ralph’s Market that would not be accepted by the machines (see video link in previous article).  Ralph’s also refused to redeem the CRV bottles.  This was only one example out of many, many mistakes the machines would reject.

The machines also jam up frequently, and the company removed the custodians who they originally had to empty the machines.  Anyone watching this process for an hour or so will see that the machines can fill up in 30 minutes and then they are jammed for the rest of the day.  Consumers soon tire of haulig around their bottles and cans only to be met with defective, out of order machines.  Many of even these defective and sloppy operations have now been closed down.

By now closing down the big buyback centers, consumers, homeless and low-income folks now have nowhere to go in many areas.  On the West Side of L.A., with Santa Monica closed, there is nowhere to go west of the 405 freeway.  Which brings us to the final insult in Document #2, below:

The first red arrow shows just where your bottles and cans go, you know, the ones you are now GIVING the City FOR FREE.  They are collected by the City and given to a private “Recycling” company who then sells the bottles and cans back to industry.  It is not clear if this company is sorting out the CRV to sell back to the State of California. It should be noted that the CRV deposit is often more that the “per pound” price of plastic and aluminum.

The second red arrow points consumers to the “nearest” redemption centers, one in Cheviot Hills and one in Culver City.  Does anyone in their right mind think for one minute that consumers are going to drive all the way to Cheviot Hills to MAYBE get their CRV deposit back?  Can you envision some poor homeless bloke riding a bike with bags of bottles and cans all the way to Culver City?  This shameless plot against consumers highlights the class war that is going on.  The political elite and their fellow conspirators in Santa Monica City Council have just pulled off a huge heist of millions of dollars from an unknowing, hapless public.  The next question:  IS THERE AN HONEST DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHO WILL BREAK UP THIS CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY.?

The Santa Monica Buyback Center is now CLOSED.

The once bustlling yard is now silent. All employees will lose their jobs.

Jun 18

California State Massive Fraud Against Consumers

Posted on by

Hundreds of Millions Stolen in Bottle Redemption Scam as Recycling Centers Are Closed

Homeless and Low Income Folks Shut Out of Recycling

With the closing this week of the Santa Monica Recycling Center, there is now no place to redeem your bottles and cans west of the 405 Freeway.  Not only has the State failed to return the money collected from consumers to help the local recycling centers, but a criminal conspiracy between the State of California, some of the large grocers, and certain trash waste haulers have put hundreds of millions of dollars into the hands of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats.

Another side-effect is that many thousands of homeless folks, low income folks, and other citizens who make all or part of their meager living by picking up trash and bottles for recycling are finding it hard to keep doing it because over 40% of the recycling centers have closed down, meaning that in many areas there is nowhere to go to turn in your bottles and cans.  Collecting and redeeming bottles and cans brings in a small amount of coin for the poverty class.  Cheating the public in such a blatant way is one more example of the class war that is being conducted by the political elite in Sacramento and many other states..

Over 1,000 Redemption Centers closed in California

According to Susan Collins of  the Container Recycling Institute, over 1000 Redemption Centers have been recently closed.  All of us are forced to pay the CRV (recycling) fee when you buy water or beverages.  You pay 5 cents for small bottles and 10 cents for large containers.  You are entitled by law to get your  money back, but the State of California has found a way to cheat you by making it almost impossible to return the bottles.  When this program started years ago the merchant who sold you the beverage had to take the container back.  Then all the merchants were exempted due to lobbying by the big market chains because it was a bother for them..  The greedy crooks in California didn’t want to cut the markets in for their trouble in collecting the fees and then collecting the bottles back, so they then contracted out to some companies to install machines in some (not all) market locations.These machines were not programmed correctly, here’s a video we shot back in 2010 proving that Ralph’s market collected the CRV and then Rejected the bottle for a return credit.

Consumer Watchdog Accuses California of Breaking the Social Contract 

Jamie Court, President of Consumer Watchdog, has accused the State of California of breaking the social contract with it’s citizens.  The Cal Recycle Agency is sitting on $360 Million Dollars, money they have collected from consumers they have cheated from getting their deposits back.  God knows how many more millions have been siphoned off or stolen.  For instance, who audits the tens of thousands of gas stations, small markets, large markets and other outlets who COLLECT the deposit money.  How much of that cash is actually just EMBEZZLED and never given to the State?  In addition, some independent recycling centers have been caught trucking in plastic bottles from Arizona and selling them to the State for CRV deposit.  The “per pound” price paid for plastic bottles can often be less than the California CRV, another way the consumer is cheated by this system.  The State also was cheated when recycling centers bought plastic bottles from out of state by the pound and sold them to California for the higher CRV.

Santa Monica Closes the Last Redemption Center on the Westside

Santa Monica, choked off from funds even though the gluttonous Governor and his cronies are sitting on hundreds of millions of dollars of consumer paid in money, is closing the last Recycling Center on the Westside of Los Angeles.  The West L.A. area consumers pay around 6 million dollars a year for CRV deposits,  Now, there is nowhere close to go to get your money back.  Here’s a video of the closing, with Jamie Court of Consumer Watchdog and Susan Collins of Container Recycling Institute:

Outrage over Santa Monica City Council Action Closing Center

With the Recycling Center now closed, thousands of homeless and low-income folks have nowhere to take bottles collected off streets.  Consumers have nowhere to get their deposits back.  The City, meanwhile pays trash haulers huge amounts to fill landfills.  The bottles and cans in trash trucks go mostly to landfills because they are contaminated inside the trucks.  The bottles and cans collected by the Recycling centers are generally clean and can be made into new bottles and cans.

The United States Attorney Must Investigate This Corruption in the State of Caifornia

The U.S. Attorney should launch a serious investigation into this multi-million dollar fraud.  Here’s some of the main points.

  1.  The State of California has committed massive fraud on it’s citizens and broken the law by cheating and scamming consumers out of hundreds of millions of dollars through devious means.
  2.  Investigate the large markets, the gas station stores and all stores selling beverages for signs of embezzling the cash from CRV deposits.
  3. Investigate the donations, cash and possible bribes from the trash hauling industry to politicians in Sacramento.
  4. Demand that all outlets that sell beverages must also redeem the CRV.
  5. Re-open enough recycling centers to handle the job.  It should not have to be a half a days trek to return a few bottles.
  6. .Investigate the Cal Recycle bureaucrats for misuse of funds, fraud on consumers, and provoking class war on homeless folks and low income folks who survive on doing society a big favor for very little money.
Apr 27

How To Live Out of a Back Pack – Part 3

Posted on by

Shashi Harrie Shares Her Lifetime Experience – What to Pack to Live

Here’s the third and final part of the series on what of what to pack in your backpack to live anywhere in the world.  Shashi also discusses the problems of monkeys in India and warns about them.  Also check out your local REI store, she purchased a lot of her light weight stuff there.

Apr 16

Nomadic Woman Lives Out of Backpack For 20 Years

Posted on by

A Review of Her Backpack Contents and Tips For Extended Travel

by Adventurer Shashi Harrie

Video by Paulie Hunt

Photos by Julie Webster

Shashi’s Latest and Famous Backpack

Contents of Sashi’s Backpack.

Our dear friend Shashi was just about to leave for another travel adventure.  She had been globe-trotting for over 20 years, living simply and mostly out of her back pack and a rolly suitcase.  She has been almost everywhere, including Tibet and Latin America.  This trip was to go back to India, seeking wisdom at her favorite Ashram.

Before she left we persuaded her to meet at a friend’s apartment and go through her entire backpack kit.  Over the years she had refined the things she carried to get the lightest items, but also the strongest and long lasting items.  I know that one of  her favorite places was REI in Santa Monica for excellent camping gear.  She agreed to share her experience and go through the items that she has found to be a necessity for extended travel and adventure.  She caries a water filter, a rice cooker, and a device to grind nuts and seeds, because she will be eating mostly things she prepares and finds in even small villages, including rice, beans and fresh veggies.. Being on the road can be expensive if you travel like a rich tourist and stay in hotels and have all meals in restaurants.  Shashi prefers to be on foot or bus and find a really cheap place to  stay or camp and cook her own food.  This savings allows her to travel constantly on a very small fixed income.  She also works a little along the way, or  trades services with businesses.  She has fixed computers, done bookkeeping, is a licensed acupuncturist, a trained karate security guard, and many other talents.

Please enjoy the video below and following that some photos we took of her equipment.  Notice that to keep organized, things are kept in cloth or vinyl waterproof bags and little pouches.  For instance, the first aid kit is in one bag, toiletries in another, food prep stuff in another.   That keeps everything organized in her backpack.

Note:  The video below is only 16 minutes.  We will upload the entire 50 minute version soon.

 

Shashi Harri  (L) and Julie Webster

Big Fun Videographer Paulie with Shashi Harri

I am very  sad to say that our dear friend passed away on her last trip in early 2019, due to  being caught in a dreadful storm and getting pneumonia.  We will certainly miss her calm disposition and great knowledge.  This is her last gift to those who live out of their backpacks, by choice or by chance and hard times.  She was so happy to share this information with everyone at gypsycool.  Rest In Peace dear Shashi Harrie.

Mar 13

Sleeping A Crime in Virginia

Posted on by

Sleeping in Your Car on Your Own Property Now A Crime in Virginia

 
Sleeping is Now a Crime
By Eric Peters
Eric Peters Autos
March 9, 2019

It’s become one of those self-evident truths Massa Tom once wrote about to state that government has become overtly punitive – as opposed to keeping the peace, its sole legitimate function.
There are many examples. Here is the latest.
Virginia’s Roanoke County has hurled a fatwa (news story here) making it a crime to sleep in your own car – even if that car is parked on your own property.
Which nicely delineates the true ownership of “your” property.
“Violators” are subject to arrest – and a $250 fine. Also a possible Hut! Hut! Hutting! – since the fatwa endows armed government workers with the legal power to come onto private property, rap their knuckles or flashlights on private property (the vehicle, its windows) and demand ID and so on from someone not harming anyone.

If the person questions, is the least bit recalcitrant . . . Hut! Hut! Hut! Bash the window in and drag the victim out.
Keep in mind: The law not only permit but specifically empowers the AGWs to perform these operations . . . even on private property.
I am test driving the 2020 Mercedes GLE450 this week (review will be posted soon). It comes with massaging seats, which I happen to not have inside my house. And so I have been spending time in the Benz – which is parked on my driveway. The one I am forced to pay taxes on, for the privilege of being allowed to use – and the fiction that I own.
Doubled-down on by this fatwa.
Armed government thugs – what else are they? – who notice me snoozing in the Benz, parked on my driveway, in front of my garage – now have the power to trespass onto my property (I did not invite them, do not want them) and physically accost me.
If I “resist” – i.e., tell them to fuck off and get off my property – it’s time for the Hut! Hut! Hut! routine.
It is obscene.
Even more obscene, the bullies responsible for this outrage have been trying to gaslight their victims. When a local news affiliate questioned the Board of Supervisors, it received the following:
“The purpose of the ordinance is to enable our staff to intervene in serious cases where people are using their automobiles for an extended period of time as sleeping quarters, in place of a residence, hotel or other accommodations. Most importantly, our concern is for the health and safety of the person living in this type of situation, particularly during the cold winter months. Enforcement of the ordinance will be complaint-driven, and individuals in need will be provided with information regarding resources to aid them in their situation. The ordinance does not prohibit short-term napping in vehicles.”
Italics added.
The “health and safety” of the person… who is now to be Hut! Hut! Hutted!
And they will be subject to the Hut! Hut! Hutting! because  . . . it is “healthier” and “safer”to sleep exposed to the cold and rain and whatever else is outside than to shelter inside a warm car.
And the caveat about the ordinance not “…prohibit(ing) short-term napping in vehicles”?
Who will decide what constitutes “short term” and “nap”? Why, the armed government worker on scene; it will be at his discretion.
What was it The Church Lady used t say? Isn’t that special!

Even assuming an AGW who isn’t looking for a reason to hassle someone, the plain fact is the law empowers him to hassle anyone he likes.
The person napping – or sleeping – can no longer tell the AGW to go away. Well, no longer has any legal power to demand the AGW go away.
In his own car – even if parked on his property. Or – and this is just as important – property owned by someone else, who is not complaining about it.
This ugly business is, however, to be expected – and expanded. In many states, it has been illegal for years to sleep it off in your car. The once-upon-a-time responsible  thing to do after having one too many has become the legal equivalent of the irresponsiblething; the “violator” may be charged with drunk driving  . . . even though no driving has taken place.
Thus encouraging drunks to drive.
Why not, after all? At least you’ll be a moving target – and you’ll probably make it home without killing anyone (as opposed to certainlynot killing anyone if you were left in peace to sleep it off).
Both sleeping it off – and just sleeping (or even just napping) have in common the thing which used to be relevant insofar as the law was concerned but no longer is:
No harm done.
Because the law now concerns itself with being the cause of harm. It began a long time ago, with little things – seatbelt laws, for instance – that set the precedent for more (and bigger) things.
I’ve tried, for many years, to get across the point that precedent become practice. That if X is permitted, Y will follow – if the two are based on the same general principle.
Thus:
If a person who has long ago paid the bank in full for his home is forced to continue paying the government what amounts to rent in order to be allowed to live in “his” home, then why not also pass a law making it illegal for him to nap – or sleep – in “his” car, even if it is parked on “his” driveway – and in front of “his” home?
Precisely.

Mar 13

Free Dinners in Encino

Posted on by

Encino Church Offers Help

by Judy

I volunteered today at feed the homeless in Encino.  It is a very impressive place.
Every tues night  6:30 to 8:00pm   and every sunday late afternoon   3:00pm to 4:pm

anyone in need is welcome for a free hot meal and dessert

Location  St Nicholas Episcopal Church – fellowship hall,   17114 ventura blvd, encino, ca 91316

The meals are served as a sit down dinner with entertainment.  The people are served like they were eating at a restaurant.

Dec 10

New Film on Homeless Children in Los Angeles

Posted on by

“Invisible Children of L.A.” Coming Soon – Fundraiser With Senator Kevin deLeon, Producer Maryana Palmer and Actress Mimi Kennedy Highlights Plight of Our Local Kids

Los Angeles is fast earning the reputation as the homeless capitol of America.  Because of skyrocketing apartment rents, the millions of folks who were thrown out of their homes by the bankers during the mortgage melt-down now have nowhere to go.  Thousands of families are living in their RVs, vans and even cars.  This includes thousands of children.  Even if the family gets a “chit” to stay in a motel for a couple of weeks, imagine the impact on the kids.  It is an intolerable situation.

This new documentary focuses on several families, their daily struggle to make ends meet, living with their kids on the street, in motels, in vehicles.  It is a heart-wrenching documentary that is a call to action for society to do something to help this situation.  There are many helpful solutions to these problems, we just need to marshal our society to tackle them

The fundraiser was held on September 29th at the Peace Center in Culver City.  The goal was to get enough money to pay for post production costs for the film, so that it could get released.  The trailer is done.  Gypsy Cool’s friends were at the event, with video cameras to record the highlights of the event.  Please, anyone who can help with a few bucks, go to www.invisiblechildrenofla.org and make a donation to the film through Film Independent.