Community Land Trust Offers Solution to Affordable Housing Dilemma

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/07/affordable-housing-always/397637/

YES! Neighbors Got Together to Buy Vacant Building, Rent to Businesses That Serve the Community

http://www.yesmagazine.org/new-economy/neighbors-got-together-buy-vacant-buildings-renting-bike-shop-brewer

Plants Really Do Clean Pollution from Stormwater

http://ww2.kqed.org/science/2015/07/23/plants-really-do-clean-pollution-from-stormwater/

Freedom of Information Act : Delayed Requests Are a Systemic Issue

“We’re usually talking in terms of many months, if not years, before responses are received,” says David Sobel, an attorney who represents Poitras pro-bono, on behalf of the digital civil liberties group the Electronic Frontier Foundation. “Certainly, for purposes of journalism where the timeliness is critical, these systemic delays in responding to requests have really hampered the ability of journalists to use FOIA as a tool.”

http://www.cjr.org/analysis/when_the_documentary_filmmaker_laura.php

President Obama Visits Federal Prison to Push for Reform

Obama during prison visit: young people make mistakes, just like me.
Posted by NowThis on Thursday, July 16, 2015

"Young people make mistakes..."

"There are people who need to be in prison," he added. "And I don't have tolerance for violent criminals." But he argued it is time to change laws that impose lengthy mandatory sentences on nonviolent drug offenders, who are disproportionately black and Latino.
 On Monday, the president commuted the sentences of 46 federal inmates, most of whom were serving lengthy terms for drug offenses. He's also calling for improved conditions inside prisons, and for steps to help young people before they run afoul of the law.
After meeting with inmates in El Reno, Obama told reporters, "These are young people who made mistakes that aren't that different than the mistakes I made and the mistakes that a lot of you guys made."
What distinguishes many convicts, he says, is a lack of support and second chances.

Source : NPR : http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/07/16/423612441/obama-visits-federal-prison-a-first-for-a-sitting-president

Bjork Version of "If You Don't Open It, You Don't Own It"

This is what happens when you look deeply into something to find out the truth for yourself.

Favorite quote take aways :
"Now I'm curious - and now I want to see how it operates...it's about time."

"I stopped being afraid because I read the truth."

Thanks to Cookie Marenco for the clue and Ray Kimber for the share.

;)

 --- MMT

Ash Beckham : When to Take a Stand and When to Let it Go

Every once in a while, something comes across my screen that I just have to share. This video is my introduction to Ash Beckham, but it is not my introduction to the dilemma of "when to take a stand and when to let it go." Obviously, I thought it worth a share. --- MMT