Latest news with #QuickFix
IOL News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
'A group of friends with no Constitutional mandate': Joburg's Bomb Squad slammed as undemocratic
Eldorado Park residents doubt the city's new 'Bomb Squad' led by Dr Snuki Zikalala will bring real solutions. Image: Supplied Residents of Eldorado Park have voiced doubts over the City of Johannesburg's newly formed 'Bomb Squad,' led by Dr. Snuki Zikalala, 74, aimed at tackling the city's persistent service delivery failures. Ward 18 Councillor Juwaitiya Kaldine criticised the initiative, calling it undemocratic and unlawful. 'I believe meaningful impact can only be achieved by lawfully elected councilors, not an unlegislated Bomb Squad,' said Kaldine. 'This is a group of friends with no constitutional mandate that undermines elected local government structures. It's a waste of public funds.' Kaldine argued that municipalities are governed by legislation such as the Municipal Structures Act, the Systems Act, and the Municipal Finance Management Act. 'Does Snuki have the budget and powers to redirect municipal funds? If so, he holds more power than MMCs (Members of the Mayoral Committee). But the MFMA doesn't allow this nonsense,' she said. 'No illegal Bomb Squad will make a meaningful impact; only elected and trusted councilors can.' Another concerned resident, Errol Jacobs, echoed the concern, citing unresolved issues including potholes, power outages, water cuts, and rampant crime. 'The government seems to be looking the other way,' said Jacobs. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 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 Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow 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. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ He said they previously launched a community cleaning initiative called Quick Fix, however, it was not quite well received from the community. 'Even though some people didn't support us, we kept going because crime is rising and kids aren't safe, criminals are hiding in overgrown areas.' The area has been struggling with deteriorating infrastructure for over a decade, including blocked drains, overflowing sewage, uncollected waste, and poorly maintained roads. In April, Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale visited the area for a ministerial imbizo to address rising gang violence and policing challenges. While the city acknowledged the longstanding problems. However, residents say little has changed. Meanwhile, the City of Johannesburg confirmed that teams from Joburg Water are currently on the ground addressing the issues. Zikalala vowed to collaborate with the community and elected officials. 'We are determined to find a solution,' said Zikalala. 'We will work with the community, councilors, and stakeholders to ensure residents get the services they deserve.' IOL News previously reported that the Bomb Squad was officially announced by Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero at the Soweto Hotel in Kliptown. The task team, made up of ANC- and EFF-linked members as well as former city executives, is expected to focus on 'crime and grime,' law enforcement, and fast-tracking service delivery. 'Business intelligence gathering will be central to the Bomb Squad's work,' Morero said at that time. 'The team will propose proactive interventions, support rapid response teams in hotspot areas, and enable swift action against lawlessness.' The unit includes former city managers and executives such as Blake Mosley-Lefatole, Mavela Dlamini, Professor Trevor Fowler, and Gerald Dumas. Additional members include governance and finance experts from SALGA, the National School of Governance, and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. Audrey Mothupi, CEO of Systemic Logic Group, will coordinate private-sector partnerships. IOL News
Perth Now
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Child stardom is tough, says Tia Mowry
Tia Mowry found child stardom to be "tough". The 46-year-old actress starred opposite her twin sister Tamera Mowry in Sister, Sister, the hit TV sitcom, in the 90s - but Tia now admits that she struggled to cope with the stresses and strains of fame at such a young age. In response to a fan question on Instagram, Tia explained: "Being a child actor definitely came with its pros and cons. On the plus side, it taught me responsibility early on. By the time I got to college, I already knew what it meant to show up for work, have call times, and stay disciplined. But growing up in front of the world? That part was tough. You're still figuring out who you are, and everyone has an opinion." Tia appreciated being able to lean on her twin sister for support. However, the actress still regrets that she didn't get to experience a normal childhood. She said: "I'm grateful I had my sister and family to keep me grounded. But... I didn't get to experience childhood the same way, especially when it came to things like dating. I was focused on work. And while I'm proud of that, I also think kids need space to just be kids and learn who they are." Meanwhile, Tia previously claimed that she encountered pay inequality and racial bias during her younger years. The actress recalled being treated differently to some of her co-stars. Speaking on her web series, Tia Mowry's Quick Fix, she explained: "It was very evident to me when I would walk on sets and see how certain stars or actors would be treated who weren't of ethnicity - better dressing room, better trailer. "Now I'm like, more aware what that was, which is a budget, but back then I didn't know what a budget was. It was so clear how you would see one show that didn't have a diverse cast that just had a bigger budget so everything just seemed bigger and better. But when it came to my projects and what I was doing, you actually really visually saw the less-than."
Politico
10-02-2025
- Business
- Politico
Reconciliation still up in the air
Quick Fix — Senate Republicans are moving ahead with a budget blueprint for their two-bill reconciliation strategy, while the House GOP is struggling to find consensus. — Rep. Troy Nehls, chair of the House Transportation Committee's aviation panel, is focused on the nation's air traffic controller shortage, and plans to visit the training academy in Oklahoma City. — The NTSB's chair appeared open to Elon Musk digging into an FAA system that sends safety alerts to pilots, saying anyone with 'great ideas' is welcome. IT'S MONDAY: You're reading Morning Transportation, your Washington policy guide to everything that moves. We're glad you're here. Send tips, feedback and song lyrics to Sam at sogozalek@ Chris at cmarquette@ and Oriana at opawlyk@ and follow us at @SamOgozalek, @ChrisMarquette_ and @Oriana0214. 'See you in the marketplace/ Walking around at 8 a.m./ I got two hours before my flight/ Luck be on my side tonight/ You're the reason that I feel so strong/ The reason that I'm hanging on/ You know you gave me all that time/ Well, did I give enough of mine?' Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. Driving the Week THE PRESSURE'S ON: The Senate Budget Committee plans to meet this week to debate and vote on a budget resolution that would unlock a two-bill reconciliation strategy to advance President Donald Trump's domestic agenda, putting the upper chamber on a separate, faster track compared to the House GOP, which is still trying to find consensus on a one-bill blueprint, Jordain Carney reports. The Senate version, from Budget Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), would authorize $85.5 billion in spending per year, with corresponding cuts fully offsetting that amount. — House Speaker Mike Johnson, meanwhile, told reporters Friday that Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) 'seemed to be trying to set up some sort of a government shutdown.' (The funding deadline is March 14, and anxiety is growing on Capitol Hill.) But the Republican chair of the House Appropriations Committee batted down Johnson's assertion. 'That's not true, he doesn't know that,' Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said. 'I mean, we heard [from Democrats] yesterday.' Meredith Lee Hill, Katherine Tully-McManus and Nicholas Wu have the details. Aviation NEHLS EYES STAFFING ISSUES: Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas), the new chair of the House Transportation Committee's aviation panel, in a Friday interview with Sam suggested that addressing the nation's persistent air traffic controller staffing shortage will be a top priority for his panel this year. He also said he plans to visit the FAA's Oklahoma City training academy soon, but is unsure of exactly when. — He said it will be important to 'get a better understanding and see what type of capabilities they have. Are these classes being filled, I mean, are they 100 percent every seat occupied? If not, I'd like to know why. Is it because they're not receiving qualified candidates?' — Nehls added that he wants to hold a subcommittee hearing on the fatal midair collision between a PSA Airlines jet and Army Black Hawk helicopter above the Potomac River. But he said that probably won't happen before the NTSB releases its preliminary report about the disaster, which is anticipated sometime closer to the end of February. WRECKAGE REMOVED: All major pieces of the plane and helicopter have been recovered, the NTSB said Saturday. Investigators will be looking for markings that can provide clues about the angle of collision. An earlier NOAA lidar survey identified what may be additional debris in the Potomac, and divers will be examining those areas. ANOTHER CRASH: Authorities in Alaska said Saturday that the bodies of nine passengers and a pilot had been recovered from the wreckage of a small regional jet that had gone missing Thursday. The Cessna 208B, a Bering Air flight, disappeared while flying from Unalakleet to Nome, which is in western Alaska, according to the FAA. The plane was located Friday on sea ice about 34 miles southeast of Nome. The victims are being transported to Anchorage for autopsies, state troopers said. The NTSB is investigating the incident, and Chair Jennifer Homendy visited the state over the weekend. DOGE WATCH INTERESTING...: Talking to reporters late last week, Homendy dinged the FAA's primary safety alert system for pilots, known as NOTAM, saying it is 'antiquated.' (As MT readers will know, the FAA has grappled with multiple outages over the years.) Homendy continued: 'If Elon Musk or anyone else can provide great ideas, I mean, they are certainly on the cutting edge of technology, then I think that's great.' — Katie Miller, a DOGE official who was previously communications director for then-Vice President Mike Pence, has not responded to requests for clarification on what the cost-cutting squad is going to do with air traffic control. (Musk said Wednesday that DOGE aims to make 'rapid safety upgrades.') Ethics BIDDING FAREWELL: If confirmed by the Senate, Steven Bradbury, Trump's pick to be deputy DOT secretary, will resign from the Heritage Foundation, where he is a distinguished fellow, according to his ethics agreement and financial disclosure, which were published Saturday. (Bradbury reported $259,716 in recent income from the conservative organization.) — In the year after he resigns, Bradbury pledges to not 'personally' and 'substantially' participate in any matter in which Heritage is a party, or represents a party, unless he first gets written authorization to do so by a government official. (As MT readers will know, Bradbury is a longtime lawyer who helped craft Project 2025.) At the Agencies ALL ABOARD: DOT announced more political appointees Friday. They are: Anne Byrd, senior adviser in the Office of the Secretary; Daniel Abrahamson, senior adviser in the Office of the Secretary; John Grant Burdette, special assistant in the Office of the Public Liaison; Kyle Garrett, special assistant in the Office of Research and Technology; Hannah Matesic, deputy assistant secretary for congressional affairs (House) in the Office of Governmental Affairs; Keith Coyle, chief counsel at PHMSA; Sofia Dudkovsky, special assistant at NHTSA; Sean Rushton, director of communications at NHTSA; Melissa Mejias, director of governmental and legislative affairs at the FTA; Matthew Schuck, director of communications and senior governmental affairs officer at the FMCSA; and John Schultz, special assistant at the FRA. Highways FIRST BIG TRIP: Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is scheduled to visit North Carolina and Tennessee this morning to survey the damage that Hurricane Helene caused to Interstate 40. He will get an update on recovery and rebuilding efforts. TALKIN' SAFETY: T&I's highways and transit subcommittee is holding a hearing Wednesday about DOT programs that aim to bolster roadway safety. It's set for 10 a.m. in Rayburn 2167. — The witnesses are: James Willox, a Converse County commissioner in Wyoming, on behalf of the National Association of Counties; Michael Hanson, director of the Office of Traffic Safety at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, on behalf of the Governors Highway Safety Association; Haley Norman, co-owner of Direct Traffic Control Inc., on behalf of the American Traffic Safety Services Association; and Cathy Chase, president of the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. Electric Vehicles NOT HAPPY: Genevieve Cullen, president of the Electric Drive Transportation Association, whose members include automakers such as Ford and General Motors, as well as other companies in the electric vehicle industry, in a Friday statement urged the Trump administration to resume the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, or NEVI, which federal highway officials suspended last week. Such a move would minimize 'uncertainty' for states and businesses, Cullen said. Maritime WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS? Imports at major U.S. container ports are projected to remain high as retailers continue to bring in cargo as Trump's various tariffs loom — those threatened or already in force (i.e. duties against China), according to a Friday report from the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates, a consulting and research firm focused on maritime issues. Further details can be found here. The Autobahn — 'Amtrak agrees to pay $505 million for control of Union Station.' The Washington Post. — 'How Airline Employees Are Coping After Deadly Washington Crash.' The Wall Street Journal. — 'The slash-and-burn tactics Musk brings to Washington often backfired at Twitter.' AP. — 'Passengers Restrain Man Who Bashed a Window on a Flight.' The New York Times. — 'Boeing warns moon rocket program employees of layoffs.' Reuters. — 'Leaders squabble, appropriators stoic as shutdown deadline approaches.' POLITICO. — 'As Trump steamrolls Washington, courts flex their power to slow him down.' POLITICO.
