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Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
The fliers say ‘Save Our Services.' Airbnb is actually pulling the strings
When Marni Lustig saw a flier for the Save Our Services campaign, she didn't immediately grasp what she was reading. The flier appeared to be about Los Angeles' budget crisis, potential layoffs of city workers and possible cuts to public services. But when she spotted a sentence about expanding short-term rentals, she realized the campaign applied directly to her. Lustig, a fashion photographer, already rents her Pico-Robertson home on Airbnb. She said she would buy another home in L.A. and rent it too, if the campaign achieves its goal of legalizing short-term rentals of second homes — which, according to supporters, would generate tax revenue to help address the budget crisis. 'I'd like to be able to buy in L.A., but because we're not allowed to [rent second homes] here, I've been looking outside of the city. So they'll get my money, not L.A.,' Lustig said. In the last few weeks, residents around the city have been flooded with fliers hung on their doors and canvassers polling them about Save Our Services. Some of the fliers don't mention short-term rentals and only describe the budget crisis while including a QR code for the campaign's website. That website paints a grim picture of the city's finances and proposes a solution: allowing 'a limited number of people to rent their second homes to travelers.' Supporters say the plan could generate about $80 million in tax revenue annually, especially as tourists descend on Los Angeles for the 2026 World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl, and 2028 Olympics. 'We can generate millions in new tourism revenue dedicated for L.A.'s long-term recovery — paid for by tourists, not taxpayers,' the website says. Fliers for the campaign, which urges the City Council to amend the short-term rental ordinance to include second homes, list as supporters a broad coalition of groups, from unions like Teamsters Local 911 to the business-aligned Central City Assn. Conspicuously absent from the website and fliers is Airbnb, the short-term rental giant that is a backer of the campaign and would profit from the change. Nick Gerber, an organizer for the hotel and restaurant workers union Unite Here Local 11, which opposes the campaign, said that when a canvasser knocked on his door, he asked who the campaign's supporters were. He knew the campaign involved short-term rentals, so he was surprised not to see Airbnb's name. 'I looked at the back of the shirt with all the [organizations] listed and did not see any of these short-term rental companies, but right away, I thought this was clearly something they were behind,' Gerber said. City Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, a former Unite Here organizer, said he learned of Save Our Services when he came across a flier in his parents' South L.A. neighborhood. 'It doesn't say Airbnb on it, but this is something that Airbnb has been pushing for years, and they're using what I think is pretty deceptive tactics to try to get sympathy from the public,' Soto-Martínez said. When the City Council debated a home sharing ordinance in 2018, Airbnb pushed for second homes to be included. But the council limited the final version to primary residences, in part to avoid decreasing the number of long-term rental properties amid a housing crisis. Airbnb confirmed that it is involved in Save Our Services but declined to say whether it has contributed any money to the campaign and did not respond to questions about its exact role. 'It's pretty simple: new tax revenue from tourists can give Los Angeles much-needed funding for city services and union jobs that are at risk,' said Justin Wesson, senior public policy manager for Airbnb. Wesson said that Airbnb has organized a 'diverse coalition' for the campaign and will continue to 'support practical short-term rental policies that balance the benefits of tourism with community needs.' The campaign does not appear to be registered with the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission, according to the commission's website, and Airbnb did not immediately respond to a question about whether the campaign has registered. Anyone who spends $5,000 or more to attempt to influence municipal legislation, and who is not a lobbyist, is required to register with the commission as a 'major filer' and report their spending. A commission spokesperson said there was no record of a major filer report from Airbnb after 2016. Airbnb said in an email that 70% of the 50,000 people polled by canvassers supported the Save Our Services campaign. The campaign website notes that the additional tax revenue would come in two streams: an estimated $38 million from the sales tax generated by tourists spending money at local businesses and another $41 million from the transient occupancy tax of 14% on short-term rentals. The city of Los Angeles faced a $1-billion budget shortfall this year, closing the gap through proposed layoffs and other cuts. The financial woes are likely to continue for several years, amid weak tax revenues, skyrocketing legal payouts and increasingly expensive union contracts. Critics of Save Our Services said that Airbnb hosts often evade the transient occupancy tax and that the city should step up its enforcement of the tax instead of opening up more homes for short-term rentals. Randy Renick, executive director of Better Neighbors LA, which focuses on regulating short-term rentals, said evading the tax is 'the fundamental issue,' with some Airbnb hosts claiming their residences are outside city limits. Maria Hernandez, a spokesperson for Unite Here, which is part of the Better Neighbors LA coalition, said an increase in short-term rentals would exacerbate the city's housing shortage by removing units from the long-term market. 'We are facing a housing crisis for working people, and this only makes it worse,' Hernandez said. 'The way for the city to address its budget crisis is to enforce existing laws, fining the landlords who illegally convert housing to hotels, and making sure the platforms actually pay the taxes they avoid.' The campaign has created some strange bedfellows. The hotel industry and Unite Here have battled over a $30 hotel and airport worker minimum wage, among other issues, but have aligned against Save Our Services. City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, who often spars with Soto-Martínez, also opposes the campaign, saying she doesn't want to create an incentive for people to buy up properties and turn them into short-term rentals. She added that the city's limited housing stock should be for the people who live and work here. 'It's where I actually align with my colleague,' she said of Soto-Martínez. Still, Save Our Services supporters say a short-term rental expansion would be an effective way to raise revenue. 'Labor, community, housing, business, and civic organizations have come together to find immediate and practical solutions that would help generate nearly $80 million in new annual revenue to save jobs and services, protect Angelenos' livelihoods, and stabilize the city's finances,' said Eric Tate, executive secretary treasurer for Teamsters Joint Council 42, in a statement.
Fox News
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Navy veteran escalates defamation battle against Associated Press after local outlets pull article
FIRST ON FOX – U.S. Navy Veteran Zachary Young, who is seeking nearly $500 million in a defamation lawsuit against the Associated Press, continues to push for punitive damages after the outlet wrote he "helped smuggle people out of Afghanistan." Young, who successfully sued CNN for defamation earlier this year, prevailed after alleging that CNN smeared him by implying he illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan on the "black market" during the Biden administration's military withdrawal from the country in 2021. When covering the trial in January, AP media reporter David Bauder wrote that "Young's business helped smuggle people out of Afghanistan." Young's legal team has said that the AP article "went even further than CNN's falsehoods," and previously updated the complaint to include 40 Associated Press articles that use the term "smuggling" to describe criminal conduct. The court previously ruled that Young did nothing illegal. Young's attorney, Daniel Lustig, notified the 14th Judicial Circuit Court in Bay County, Florida on Friday that U.S. News & World Report, WTOP News and The Minnesota Star Tribune have all removed their republication of the Associated Press article. "Each did so shortly after receiving Plaintiffs' letter. While none of these outlets formally admitted fault, the timing and action speak for themselves. These removals further support Plaintiffs' argument that the Defamatory Article was understood as a criminal accusation and carried reputational risk, and that the Associated Press's refusal to retract or correct its version, despite having greater knowledge and post-litigation obligations, reflects express malice and deliberate disregard for the truth," Lustig wrote in a court filing. "The removals also reinforce that the defamatory implication was clear to reasonable publishers, underscoring that AP's continued publication was not a good-faith editorial judgment but a knowing act of reputational harm," Lustig continued. "The Associated Press's decision to stand alone in continuing publication also reflects a reckless and knowing departure from accepted journalistic standards, which further supports the finding of actual malice." Lustig believes the court should authorize the filing of a claim for punitive damages. "We've now shown the court that the Associated Press escalated a false accusation even after multiple outlets who trust and rely on AP for content removed the article, and after a Florida judge ruled the claim was untrue," Lustig told Fox News Digital. "The damage to Mr. Young's reputation continues, and AP's refusal to correct the record while publicly calling the lawsuit frivolous isn't journalism. It shows malice," Lustig continued. "This filing asks the court to treat it that way." Indeed, the AP has referred to the lawsuit as "frivolous" in past statements to the press. "AP's story was a factual and accurate report on the jury verdict finding in Zachary Young's favor. We will vigorously defend our reporting against this frivolous lawsuit," an AP spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital. Young is seeking at least $18 million in economic loss, $50-75 million in reputational harm, $5-10 million in emotional distress and $300-350 million in punitive damages, according to a Notice of Filing. The Associated Press did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.
Economic Times
30-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Economic Times
Are you settling for pleasure while chasing happiness? Doctor explains the brain chemistry behind true fulfillment
The Seven Truths: Unpacking the Pleasure-Happiness Divide When Dopamine Drowns Out Serotonin You Might Also Like: Passenger offers seat to elderly man on bus, walks away with a life-changing lesson The System Is Rigged — And It's Selling You Pleasure A Radical Prescription: The Four Cs You Might Also Like: From career to fitness, what is secret of happiness? Billionaire Harsh Goenka shares a life lesson from Gaur Gopal Das Are You Really Happy — Or Just Numb? It began with a casual comment. In a striking anecdote from an old University of California lecture, Dr. Robert Lustig recounted a moment that sparked a profound realization. A woman, fresh from bariatric surgery, was asked how she stayed so slim. Her response was matter-of-fact: 'I eat only when I'm hungry.' To which another responded, 'Eating is for happiness.'That reply, simple yet striking, sent Lustig down a path of inquiry. Had we, as a society, blurred the line between hunger and emotional craving? Between fleeting pleasure and sustainable happiness?Lustig, professor emeritus at UCSF and a pioneer in childhood obesity research, presents a clear framework. Pleasure, he explains, is short-lived, visceral, and inherently self-centered. It's driven by dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for the brain's reward system. Think sugar highs, Instagram likes, and online shopping splurges — they light us up for a moment, but leave us emptier by contrast, is long-lasting, ethereal, and tied to giving rather than taking. Its chemical anchor is serotonin, the neurotransmitter linked to calm, contentment, and connection. Unlike pleasure, it isn't addictive — you can't overdose on too much real kicker, Lustig says, is that dopamine and serotonin don't coexist peacefully. The more we chase dopamine-driven highs — through sugar, screens, status, or substances — the more we downregulate our serotonin receptors. In essence, the relentless pursuit of pleasure doesn't just fail to deliver happiness. It actively sabotages neurological seesaw is why today's hyperconnected, hyperstimulated lives leave so many feeling more anxious, lonely, and dissatisfied than ever Madison Avenue to Silicon Valley, Lustig argues, powerful industries have learned to exploit this confusion. They've hijacked our neurochemistry to sell pleasure as a stand-in for happiness. A fast-food meal becomes a comfort ritual. A social media notification mimics a hug. A shopping spree promises fulfillment. But none of these deliver the real his provocative book The Hacking of the American Mind, Lustig lays bare how corporations thrive on this neurological sleight-of-hand — and how we, unknowingly, participate in our own what's the cure? Lustig doesn't just diagnose; he offers a roadmap. His prescription for long-term happiness revolves around what he calls the Four Cs:Connect – Invest in genuine relationships. Whether it's friends, family, or even pets, human connection boosts serotonin and grounds us – Do something bigger than yourself. Volunteer, teach, share your knowledge — the act of giving nurtures – Take care of your mind and body. Sleep well, practice mindfulness, and stay active. Coping is not avoidance; it's – Reclaim control over what you eat. Preparing real food with real ingredients counters the chemical chaos of processed a culture that equates success with speed and fulfillment with consumption, Dr. Lustig's message is a call to pause — and question. Are you truly happy, or just comfortable? Are you finding peace, or merely escaping pain?You may not be addicted to a substance, but if the difference between a 'want' and a 'need' has blurred, it might be time to pleasure will always whisper — but happiness waits for those who listen more deeply.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- Time of India
Are you settling for pleasure while chasing happiness? Doctor explains the brain chemistry behind true fulfillment
It began with a casual comment. In a striking anecdote from an old University of California lecture, Dr. Robert Lustig recounted a moment that sparked a profound realization. A woman, fresh from bariatric surgery, was asked how she stayed so slim. Her response was matter-of-fact: 'I eat only when I'm hungry.' To which another responded, 'Eating is for happiness.' #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack PM Modi-led 'Super Cabinet' reviews J&K security arrangements Pakistan's General Asim Munir is itching for a fight. Are his soldiers willing? India planning to launch military strike against Pakistan within 24 to 36 hours, claims Pak minister That reply, simple yet striking, sent Lustig down a path of inquiry. Had we, as a society, blurred the line between hunger and emotional craving? Between fleeting pleasure and sustainable happiness? The Seven Truths: Unpacking the Pleasure-Happiness Divide Lustig, professor emeritus at UCSF and a pioneer in childhood obesity research, presents a clear framework. Pleasure, he explains, is short-lived, visceral, and inherently self-centered. It's driven by dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for the brain's reward system. Think sugar highs, Instagram likes, and online shopping splurges — they light us up for a moment, but leave us emptier afterward. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 3 Reasons to Plug This Into Your Home Today elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo Happiness, by contrast, is long-lasting, ethereal, and tied to giving rather than taking. Its chemical anchor is serotonin, the neurotransmitter linked to calm, contentment, and connection. Unlike pleasure, it isn't addictive — you can't overdose on too much happiness. When Dopamine Drowns Out Serotonin The real kicker, Lustig says, is that dopamine and serotonin don't coexist peacefully. The more we chase dopamine-driven highs — through sugar, screens, status, or substances — the more we downregulate our serotonin receptors. In essence, the relentless pursuit of pleasure doesn't just fail to deliver happiness. It actively sabotages it. You Might Also Like: Passenger offers seat to elderly man on bus, walks away with a life-changing lesson This neurological seesaw is why today's hyperconnected, hyperstimulated lives leave so many feeling more anxious, lonely, and dissatisfied than ever before. The System Is Rigged — And It's Selling You Pleasure From Madison Avenue to Silicon Valley, Lustig argues, powerful industries have learned to exploit this confusion. They've hijacked our neurochemistry to sell pleasure as a stand-in for happiness. A fast-food meal becomes a comfort ritual. A social media notification mimics a hug. A shopping spree promises fulfillment. But none of these deliver the real thing. In his provocative book The Hacking of the American Mind , Lustig lays bare how corporations thrive on this neurological sleight-of-hand — and how we, unknowingly, participate in our own discontent. A Radical Prescription: The Four Cs So what's the cure? Lustig doesn't just diagnose; he offers a roadmap. His prescription for long-term happiness revolves around what he calls the Four Cs: You Might Also Like: From career to fitness, what is secret of happiness? Billionaire Harsh Goenka shares a life lesson from Gaur Gopal Das Connect – Invest in genuine relationships. Whether it's friends, family, or even pets, human connection boosts serotonin and grounds us emotionally. Contribute – Do something bigger than yourself. Volunteer, teach, share your knowledge — the act of giving nurtures purpose. Cope – Take care of your mind and body. Sleep well, practice mindfulness, and stay active. Coping is not avoidance; it's resilience. Cook – Reclaim control over what you eat. Preparing real food with real ingredients counters the chemical chaos of processed diets. You Might Also Like: Peace first or happiness first? Rs 5,000 crore man's advice will make you rethink Are You Really Happy — Or Just Numb? In a culture that equates success with speed and fulfillment with consumption, Dr. Lustig's message is a call to pause — and question. Are you truly happy, or just comfortable? Are you finding peace, or merely escaping pain? You may not be addicted to a substance, but if the difference between a 'want' and a 'need' has blurred, it might be time to recalibrate. Because pleasure will always whisper — but happiness waits for those who listen more deeply.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Navy veteran suing Associated Press over Afghanistan story says 'smuggling' language implied criminal conduct
"Smuggling" could be the new "black market" in Bay County, Florida, if U.S. Navy veteran Zachary Young's defamation lawsuit against the Associated Press goes to trial. Young, who successfully sued CNN for defamation earlier this year, alleged that CNN smeared him by implying he illegally profited when helping people flee Afghanistan on the "black market" during the Biden administration's military withdrawal from the country in 2021. Throughout the CNN trial, Young's legal team pointed out the term "black market" is typically used to describe illegal behavior. When covering the trial in January, AP media reporter David Bauder wrote that "Young's business helped smuggle people out of Afghanistan." Young is now seeking punitive damages in a defamation lawsuit against the AP for "an article that went even further than CNN's falsehoods," and on Saturday updated the complaint to include 40 Associated Press articles that use the term "smuggling" to describe criminal conduct. Navy Veteran Who Proved Cnn Defamed Him Sues Associated Press, Says He Was Falsely Painted As 'Smuggler' Young's counsel, Daniel Lustig from Pike & Lustig, submitted examples of the AP using the terms "smuggling," "smugglers" and "smuggle" when referring to illegal behavior, often related to deadly human trafficking. The lawsuit, which alleges the "AP blatantly accused Mr. Young of engaging in criminal human smuggling," claims that the AP has used the term "smuggling" in dozens of prior articles to "describe plainly criminal conduct such as human trafficking, drug operations, and transnational crime." Read On The Fox News App AP headlines submitted include "UK leader tells Interpol meeting world must 'wake up' to threat from people-smugglers," "Panama arrests 15 people for smuggling Chinese migrants through the Darien Gap," "Florida man at center of fatal human smuggling case pleads not guilty in Minnesota," "US government indicts Guatemalan suspect on smuggling charges over deaths of 53 migrants in trailer," and many more. Young is seeking the same venue for his lawsuit against the AP as he had with CNN: Bay County, Florida. The court previously found that Young did nothing illegal. The AP, which has stood by its reporting since Young's lawsuit was filed, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on examples provided by Lustig. U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT RETRACTS AP ARTICLE ABOUT VETERAN ZACHARY YOUNG, BUT AP STANDS BY THE STORY Lustig said the CNN trial was proof that news organizations shouldn't automatically receive the benefit of the doubt. "The CNN trial showed us exactly how media companies operate under pressure – and how far they'll go to avoid responsibility when they know they've published something false. That harm is even more serious when the target is a veteran who served this country honorably. We're not intimidated by the Associated Press," Lustig told Fox News Digital. "We trust a Bay County jury to look at the facts," Lustig continued. "Just like they did before." Young believes the AP acted with actual malice and is seeking "damages in excess of $50,000.00, exclusive of interest, costs and attorneys' fees," along with punitive damages. Jury Finds Cnn Committed Defamation Against Navy Veteran, Settlement Reached On Punitive Damages Last week, U.S. News & World Report retracted its republished version of the AP report, but the AP continued to stand by its reporting. "AP's story was a factual and accurate report on the jury verdict finding in Zachary Young's favor. We will vigorously defend our reporting against this frivolous lawsuit," an AP spokesperson told Fox News Digital. Young's team has continued to amp up pressure on the AP, filing another amendment on Monday to include the news organization referring to the lawsuit as "frivolous" to media outlets. The AP did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In January, a six-person jury decided Young was owed $4 million in lost earnings, $1 million in personal damages such as pain and suffering and said that punitive damages were warranted against CNN. A settlement was reached before punitive damages were decided by the article source: Navy veteran suing Associated Press over Afghanistan story says 'smuggling' language implied criminal conduct
