Latest news with #DavidFischer
BBC News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Birmingham busker calls city crackdown 'outrageous'
A Birmingham busker has called a council crackdown on busking and street preaching in the city centre "absolutely outrageous".Birmingham City Council's public space protection order (PSPO) was enforced on Friday in an attempt to tackle "excessive noise levels" in certain streets across the new order bans musicians and preachers from using amplification equipment and musical instruments on certain roads until at least Fischer, who has busked for about 15 years and performs in Druid's Heath, said he thought the move was "shameful and embarrassing". The areas covered by the order include Victoria Square, New Street, Temple Street, Cannon Street, Needless Alley and part of Waterloo Fischer, who has busked in more than 500 cities in 50 different countries, told BBC Radio WM: "I'm so proud of this city, I think it's a wonderful place. I'm devastated that they've done this""A few weeks ago we had one of the best concerts in musical history here in Birmingham and that's what makes me proud to live in this city."I think we've got such a rich cultural history and I think it's shameful and it's embarrassing that we are the only city in the UK and one of the only cities across the world who has banned busking in the entire city centre."He added: "I can think of one other major city that has banned all busking across the city centre and that city is in Azerbaijan."There's various other rules, there's various different legislations in different countries, but nowhere else have they banned busking across the entire city centre."Mr Fischer claimed "the entire council" had been misled about the proposal and not been told that all busking had been City Council has been approached for a response regarding this claim. Businesses, residents trying to relax at home and landlords attempting to let properties were being impacted, the council about the PSPO, a council spokesperson said: "The council is not considering introducing this PSPO without reason. "We have received a significant and consistent number of complaints from both residents and businesses that there are too many people causing noise in the street and, despite being asked to moderate their noise levels, there has been no respite for the affected people. "The PSPO aims to tackle the excessive noise levels caused by street preachers, buskers, and street entertainers, which have caused alarm and distress to residents and businesses."Mr Fischer said he had done a Freedom of Information request and found that 77 of the noise complaints were sent by the same person, and said people should take the council's claims about excessive complaints "with a pinch of salt".He added that he understood that some buskers were too loud and that he was not saying that the council should have no power to deal with that, but instead suggested legislation that would just deal with people "who are actually causing problems"."There were so many compromises that could have been made," he said. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Toronto Sun
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Florida prepares to build 2nd immigration detention centre to join 'Alligator Alcatraz'
Published Aug 05, 2025 • 2 minute read FILE - A sign marks the entrance to Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, a site used by the Florida National Guard, near Starke, Fla., July 15, 2025. Photo by David Fischer / AP TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration is apparently preparing to build a second immigration detention centre, awarding at least one contract for what's labeled in state records as the 'North Detention Facility.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The site would add to the capacity at the state's first detention facility, built at an isolated airfield in the Florida Everglades and dubbed 'Alligator Alcatraz.' Already, state officials have inked more than $245 million in contracts for that facility, which officially opened July 1. Florida plans to build a second detention centre at a Florida National Guard training centre called Camp Blanding, about 43 kilometers southwest of downtown Jacksonville, though DeSantis has said the state is waiting for federal officials to ramp up deportations from the South Florida facility before building out the Camp Blanding site. 'We look forward to the increased cadence,' of deportations, DeSantis said last month, calling the state 'ready, willing and able' to expand its operations. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Civil rights advocates and environmental groups have filed lawsuits against the Everglades facility, where detainees allege they've been forced to go without adequate food and medical care, and been barred from meeting with their attorneys, held without any charges and unable to get a federal immigration court to hear their cases. President Donald Trump has touted the facility's harshness and remoteness as fit for the 'worst of the worst,' while Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said the South Florida detention centre can serve as a model for other state-run holding facilities for immigrants. Plans for the 'North Detention Facility' The Florida Division of Emergency Management, the state agency that built the Everglades facility, has awarded a $39,000 contract for a portable emergency response weather station and two lightning sirens for what's been dubbed the 'North Detention Facility,' according to records in the state's public contract database. The equipment will help enable 'real-time weather monitoring and safety alerting for staff.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The contract comes as the state approaches the peak of hurricane season, and as heavy rains and extreme heat have pounded parts of Florida. Immigrant advocates and environmentalists have raised a host of concerns about the Everglades facility, a remote compound of heavy-duty tents and trailers that state workers and contractors assembled in a matter of days. Last week, FDEM released a heavily redacted draft emergency evacuation plan for what the document called the 'South Florida Detention Facility.' Entire sections related to detainee transportation, evacuation and relocation procedures were blacked out, under a Florida law that allows state agencies to make their emergency plans confidential. Despite multiple public records requests by The Associated Press, the department has not produced other evacuation plans, environmental impact studies or agency analyses for the facility. Questioned by reporters on July 25, FDEM executive director Kevin Guthrie defended the emergency response agency's plans for the makeshift facility, which he says is built to withstand a Category 2 hurricane, which packs winds of up to 110 mph. 'I promise you that the hurricane guys have got the hurricane stuff covered,' Guthrie said. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Canada World Toronto & GTA Toronto Maple Leafs Canada
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What comes after Twitter and Meta? The founders of 01A share their playbook at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is coming to Moscone West in San Francisco, October 27–29, and we're bringing the heavy hitters to the Builders Stage. On October 28, three names that helped shape the modern internet are sitting down for an exclusive fireside chat on what it takes to build, scale, and fund startups in today's ever-shifting tech landscape. Adam Bain, Dick Costolo, and David Fischer are now leading the charge at 01 Advisors, a venture firm investing in breakout companies like Tipalti and SpotOn. But before they were backing the next generation, they were the operators running some of tech's most iconic companies. Adam Bain, former COO of Twitter, helped transform the platform from a scrappy social tool into a global business. He built Twitter's sales, product, and ad operations teams from the ground up, growing revenue from millions to billions in just five years. Dick Costolo, Twitter's former CEO, led the company through hypergrowth — expanding headcount by more than 400 percent, establishing its long-term strategy, and increasing annual revenue from $28 million to $2.25 billion. Before that, he founded FeedBurner, one of the earliest content distribution platforms, later acquired by Google. David Fischer, former Chief Revenue Officer at Meta, was the architect of the company's global ad business. Over more than a decade, he scaled annual revenue from under $1 billion to over $100 billion and helped more than 200 million businesses connect with customers across the globe. He also helped build Google's early sales engine and once served in the U.S. Treasury Department. This session isn't just about what these three have done — it's about where they believe tech is headed next. From finding product-market fit to scaling with intention, they'll share firsthand advice and stories that go beyond boardroom strategy. Expect sharp takes on fundraising in today's market, how to build high-performing teams, and what they look for when backing founders through 01A. If you're building a company — or betting on one — this is your blueprint for doing it with staying 10,000 tech, startup, and VC leaders at this Builders Stage session — and every other high-impact session, networking opportunity, and bespoke activation happening at Disrupt 2025. It's all part of our 20th anniversary celebration of innovation, ambition, and the builders shaping what's next. Register today and save up to $675 before prices increase.
TechCrunch
27-06-2025
- Business
- TechCrunch
The founders of 01A share their playbook at Disrupt 2025
TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 is coming to Moscone West in San Francisco, October 27–29, and we're bringing the heavy hitters to the Builders Stage. On October 28, three names that helped shape the modern internet are sitting down for an exclusive fireside chat on what it takes to build, scale, and fund startups in today's ever-shifting tech landscape. Adam Bain, Dick Costolo, and David Fischer are now leading the charge at 01 Advisors, a venture firm investing in breakout companies like Tipalti and SpotOn. But before they were backing the next generation, they were the operators running some of tech's most iconic companies. From scaling Twitter to redefining Meta's revenue engine Adam Bain, former COO of Twitter, helped transform the platform from a scrappy social tool into a global business. He built Twitter's sales, product, and ad operations teams from the ground up, growing revenue from millions to billions in just five years. Dick Costolo, Twitter's former CEO, led the company through hypergrowth — expanding headcount by more than 400 percent, establishing its long-term strategy, and increasing annual revenue from $28 million to $2.25 billion. Before that, he founded FeedBurner, one of the earliest content distribution platforms, later acquired by Google. David Fischer, former Chief Revenue Officer at Meta, was the architect of the company's global ad business. Over more than a decade, he scaled annual revenue from under $1 billion to over $100 billion and helped more than 200 million businesses connect with customers across the globe. He also helped build Google's early sales engine and once served in the U.S. Treasury Department. What to expect from this fireside chat This session isn't just about what these three have done — it's about where they believe tech is headed next. From finding product-market fit to scaling with intention, they'll share firsthand advice and stories that go beyond boardroom strategy. Expect sharp takes on fundraising in today's market, how to build high-performing teams, and what they look for when backing founders through 01A. If you're building a company — or betting on one — this is your blueprint for doing it with staying 10,000 tech, startup, and VC leaders at this Builders Stage session — and every other high-impact session, networking opportunity, and bespoke activation happening at Disrupt 2025. It's all part of our 20th anniversary celebration of innovation, ambition, and the builders shaping what's next. Register today and save up to $675 before prices increase. Techcrunch event Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Save $200+ on your TechCrunch All Stage pass Build smarter. Scale faster. Connect deeper. Join visionaries from Precursor Ventures, NEA, Index Ventures, Underscore VC, and beyond for a day packed with strategies, workshops, and meaningful connections. Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW
CNN
13-06-2025
- Business
- CNN
Luxury brands are more expensive than ever. They're telling you why they're worth it
More than ever, high-end brands want you to know exactly how, and where, their goods are made. They are producing enormous glossy coffee table books showing white-coated workers hand-stitching products in glamorous workshops, and creating marketing campaigns emphasizing the exquisite materials and dedicated handiwork that go into the making of their very, very expensive products. These companies are trying to explain the value of their creations to consumers because their profits are slowing, even as their prices are increasing. While the personal luxury goods market was worth €363 billion (about $415 billion) in 2024, up from €223 billion ($242 billion) a decade prior, according to the global management consultancy Bain, the sector has been struggling with some of its slowest growth in years. Luxury companies began to charge more during the pandemic as greater personal savings and financial stimulus led shoppers to spend heavily on high-end products. Now, luxury prices in Europe are at least 52% higher than they were in 2019, according to HSBC. Prices are now testing even the most ardent of luxury supporters. 'I mean, it's outrageous,' David Fischer, founder and CEO of the youth culture platform Highsnobiety, told CNN over a call. 'For the most part, it's not that their quality has gotten 52% better. The prices have gone up tremendously, yet the quality hasn't.' 'Some of these price tags are just wild,' is one typical comment on the Reddit forum called Handbags. 'I get that you're paying for the brand name, but when it comes to actual quality, it feels like we're getting ripped off sometimes.' Sharp markups seem to have subsequently impacted sales, with several companies reporting disappointing numbers. Chanel, for example, saw its operating profit fall 30% to $4.48 billion in 2024 — and while the brand typically increases prices twice yearly, it won't this year. 'I think people are now waking up and saying, 'well, I'm not really willing to spend that much money on something that doesn't hold value,'' said Fischer. What constitutes a luxury product is also broader than ever. No longer is the term confined to traditional categories such as clothing, wine and cars. In the past few years, anything with a high price point that promises quality — a $759 Le Creuset cast iron oval casserole dish, or a $1,270 Acqua di Parma jumbo candle — can also be marketed as premium. Now subdued demand for some luxury brands across all these sectors in the first quarter of 2025 is among the signs that there is a limit to how much people will spend. That's why brands are increasingly leaning into deeper storytelling around craftsmanship – as well as heritage and origin — to rebuild trust and re-establish an emotional connection with consumers. Just this week, Italian brand Ferragamo commissioned Volkan Yilmaz, the content creator behind the viral online persona Tanner Leatherstein, who takes apart and scrutinizes leather products from luxury brands and evaluates their worth. In a sponsored ad, Yilmaz can be seen dissecting one of Ferragamo's top sellers, the €2,400 (about $2,783) Hug bag, and sharing his review of the product. (Yilmaz gave the handbag top marks across craftsmanship, before going on to add: 'The Italian government should set this bag as a benchmark for the 'Made in Italy' label requirement.') #ad Soft Hug by @ferragamo: the first bag to earn my perfect 5. DISCLAIMER: This video is a paid partnership with Ferragamo. The brand provided the Tramezza shoes and also supported the production of this video. However, all opinions, analysis, and commentary are entirely my own—based on my experience as a leather expert and craftsman. #ferragamo #salvatoreferragamo #hugbag #ferragamohugbag #leatherbag #bagtok #bagreview #luxurybag #tiktokfashion The appeal is obvious. The 'emotional factor of being part of a brand' is not to be overlooked, said Gab Waller, a personal shopper with high-profile clients such as Hailey Bieber and Sofia Richie Grainge. Over a call, Waller pointed to the popularity of Prada's sister label Miu Miu — whose retail sales were up 60% in the first quarter of the financial year — as an example of a brand that is driven not only by a 'brilliant way of marketing' that resonates with customers, but also by its association with 'pieces that will last the test of time' — a requirement for many of her current clients. The notion of craftsmanship itself was thrown into question last July when high-end labels, including Armani and Dior, which is owned by the world's biggest luxury company LVMH, were probed by Italian authorities over worker exploitation claims. Valentino, too, became entangled this year, when one of its units was placed under judicial administration for a year after worker abuse inside its supply chain was reported. At the time, both Armani and Dior said they would cooperate with authorities and denied wrongdoing. Valentino also said it would cooperate with the authorities to better understand what prompted the investigation. Many luxury brands typically employ independent factories around the world to make their garments, though a growing number, including Chanel, Brunello Cucinelli and Burberry, have been snapping up suppliers to ensure access to high-quality materials and greater operational control. But those issues alone aren't what prompted brands to assert their value in this way. Claudia D'Arpizio, senior partner and global head of fashion and luxury at consultancy firm Bain & Company, observed: 'While recent controversies like labor scandals or price inflation may have accelerated scrutiny, this shift is less a reaction to individual episodes and more a response to a broader erosion in trust and perceived value.' 'In a context where consumers are questioning what justifies premium prices, brands are going back to what made them meaningful in the first place: their savoir-faire, their narrative, and their cultural relevance,' she said. Scrutiny on luxury supply chains heightened once more in April after US President Donald Trump announced stiff tariffs on China and social media erupted with videos of Chinese manufacturers claiming to expose where luxury goods come from. Many declared that they were the origin of the luxury goods that most of the world had been spending on, not Italy. Those videos garnered so much attention globally that, at best, people no longer knew what to believe, and at worst, believed the claims entirely. The incident demonstrated how easy it was to sway public opinion, observed Audrey Dahmen, brand strategy and marketing lead for TwentyFirstCenturyBrand, a global brand consultancy with clients including Zalando, Everlane and Depop. 'It's especially damaging when something like that happens to luxury brands, because (you're) spending a much higher price point than (you would with) other brands,' Dahmen added, over a call. 'It's part of the image, right? Your aspirational image is part of the justification for the price.' Dahmen attributed the public reactions to a new 'consciousness' that is being 'driven by the rise of platforms like TikTok.' She explained: 'If customers notice something, they are going to talk about it. Last year, it was just someone noticing 'hey, your bag cost something like 35 euros to make, so why am I paying $2,000? We've always known it as the experts, but it's becoming more clear to the actual consumer, especially as they are being squeezed on money and are starting to make better decisions.' For Highsnobiety's Fischer, recent big changes in luxury's creative leadership also add to the uncertainty: Chanel, Dior, Balenciaga, Gucci, Celine, Bottega Veneta and Loewe are among the brands whose new creative directors will present their debut collections in the fall. Meanwhile, Givenchy, Tom Ford, Lanvin and Calvin Klein also have new-ish designers at their helm. 'Some brands are cycling through multiple creative directors and (shoppers) might not even like the (designs) being put out,' said Fischer. 'All of these things happening has ultimately led to mistrust. 'Luxury' is a word that sounds a bit gimmicky at this point.' In June, Italian high-end shoemaker Santoni put out a hefty new hardcover with book publisher Assouline. The tomb, which features more than 180 images, charts the label's journey over five decades — from its humble beginnings in Corridonia, in Italy's Le Marche region, to becoming a global multi-million-dollar business that now also sells bags, belts and other leather goods. 'It felt like the right time to tell our story – not just through products, but through values, vision, and identity,' chairman and executive president Giuseppe Santoni told CNN over email. 'We believe that true value lies in what a product gives back over time – in its quality, longevity, and the emotion it carries.' He added: 'There's a growing appreciation today for authenticity, craftsmanship, and human touch — qualities that have always been part of our DNA. This book is our way of opening a window into that world.' Fellow Italian label Tod's is also celebrating the launch of a new book: Published in April during Milan's designer furniture fair, Salone del Mobile, the 286-page tomb features a series of intimate portraits and conversations that shine a light on the country's artisans. They range from designer Walter Chiapponi (the brand's creative director since 2019) to a fishmonger in Santa Margherita and a glassblower in Murano. A series of events to promote the book has also been rolling out worldwide, from New York to London. Meanwhile, luxury label Bottega Veneta, which shares the same owner as Gucci and Saint Laurent, has a new marketing campaign that doubles as a love letter to slow craft and tactility in the digital age. Titled 'Craft is our language,' and featuring moody black and white endorsements from celebrities such as Julianne Moore, Zadie Smith and Lauren Hutton, it celebrates 50 years of the brand's classic 'intrecciato' leather weave. While an onslaught of craft marketing has hit consumers now, the playbook is not new. Tod's, for example, has long featured its artisans as part of its presentations at Milan Fashion Week. In 2011, it also committed to funding the restoration of Rome's Colosseum, setting a precedent for such stewardship that would later be followed by luxury peers. See the Trevi Fountain, which reopened in 2015 after a restoration funded by Fendi; the Spanish Steps, which were restored in 2016 thanks Bulgari; and the Grand Palais in Paris, which reopened in January after a spectacular renovation — of which €25 million ($28.6 million) was contributed by Chanel. Loewe, which was founded by a collective of leather-making artisans, has since 2016 run the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize, which is annually awarded to two craftspeople. In March, the Spanish brand introduced a new book, 'Crafted World,' to celebrate a decade of work by its former creative director Jonathan Anderson. At Paris Fashion Week that same month, the designer's final collection for the brand was on show. However, there was no star-studded runway — just the designs, displayed on mannequins, which guests could view and appreciate up close. While the focus on craft makes a lot of sense for luxury companies because 'it's so close to the core business,' it's also 'one of the safest spaces,' in the view of the brand strategist Dahmen's. 'DEI or sustainability — two hot topics in luxury in recent years — is ultimately politically charged,' she explained. 'You cannot get politically annoyed by someone talking about crafts. It feels like (luxury brands) are going back to taking a neutral stance and exploring safer territories — (with minimal) legal repercussions.'
