Thursday, August 27, 2020

Would you rather?



Would you rather leave your child or your elderly parent without care? 

or

Smell urine or uncollected rubbish?

Impossible choices face our communities. But we can #SaveOurServices Write to your MP at https://unsn.uk/3kSnBRU to #DemandThe10Billion

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

"Are You Renting Privately - Know Your Rights"


 If you are being harassed or illegally evicted in Newham then contact our Private Sector Housing Standards on 020 3373 1950 or email privatehousing@newham.gov.uk. Check out aloso www.newham.gov.uk/illegaleviction

To be clear landlords or their agents face imprisonment if they harrass or illegally evict tenants. If appropriate we will also refer to Planning department enforcement team, Council Tax Fraud investigation, Inland Revenue Tax Evasion team and we will support tenants who can claim back Rent Repayment Orders. 

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

The Ambulance Staff Charity & UNISON There For You

 

Do you want to thank NHS and key workers? I have just purchased a Charity pin badge which supports The Ambulance Staff Charity and the wider UNISON "there for you" campaign. 

Monday, August 24, 2020

Chipperfield & Kings Langley Walk

Off message but a glorious 6.5 mile walk on Sunday in Hertfordshire (near Watford). Beautiful countryside; woodlands, green lanes and even a canal walk. Some road noise while crossing A41 but mostly a very tranquil and peaceful stroll. 

Check out this OS Pathfinder  https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/guidebook-hertfordshire-bedfordshire.html

(Will post pictures individually on Facebook). 

Sunday, August 23, 2020

"The Big Short"

 

I finally got around to watching the 2015 film "The Big Short" on Netflix last night.  If you ever want an insight on the reasons why there was a huge international financial crash in 2007/08 (the effects of which are still with us today) then do watch this.

The criminality and corruption that led to the crash was staggering as was the stupidity of many so called "Masters of the Universe". 

In America mortgages had been given (for fat commissions) to people who had no jobs nor sufficient income to pay for them. One example in the film was of a man who applied for a loan (which was granted) in the name of his pet dog! 

These mortgages were bundled up together and sold as super safe "bonds" to other financial institutions such as as pension funds. There was certainly corrupt practices such as collusion to hide the truth about these bonds between debt rating agencies and banks as well as inadequate regulations.  

But also these mortgage bonds were made so complicated that no one really understood them and few had any idea of the risks. 

So eventually these bonds tanked as people defaulted on their mortgages, the prices collapsed and it drove out of business many financial institutions causing a worldwide depression. 

The failure of the "left" to capitalise on this disaster and the years of austerity it caused has always astonished me. We had an "open goal" but in the UK we have lost the last 4 general elections since the crash. 

Even worse I also have little doubt that this austerity weakened the NHS, public health and local government and contributed to the high levels of deaths that we suffered in the UK from Covid-19. 

It is supposed to be based on "real life" but don't know how accurate the film was but I thought the acting was on the whole pretty good but there was a lot of macho male shouting and table banging. Which I suspect was all true. It was an Academy award winner for "Best adapted screenplay" and had a number of nominations including "Best Picture". 

Friday, August 21, 2020

Newham launch of NHS Covid 19 Test & Trace app



Everyone in Newham has been sent a letter explaining about the app and a code to download. I got mine this morning. It took me about 2 minutes to install (make sure you download the NHS covid 19 app and NOT the normal NHS smart phone app) and already it tells me that my post code is "LOW risk"; my contact tracing is is active; how to check into venues; report symptoms and read the latest advice.

Thursday, August 20, 2020

London Ambulance Service (LAS) choose Christina for UNISON General Secretary

 

"This afternoon (20th August 2020) the London Ambulance UNISON Branch Committee met and have decided to nominate Christina McAnea for General Secretary to our great union.

Christina has worked with our branch on many issues and has the experience, a proven track record and vision to lead our union.

We look forward to working with Christina in the future".

https://lasunison.com/unison-general-secretary-nomination

(LAS is one of the biggest branches in London)

https://votechristina.org/unison.html


Wednesday, August 19, 2020

‘Bad housing kills’: How coronavirus overwhelmed the UK’s most overcrowded community

 

A good article in The Independent on Sunday. I have a few factual quibbles about the story, especially since I ranted on and on to the journalist about all the things which we are achieving in Newham.  Also the need for the Government to do more to save lives but understand that he needed a far wider range of experiences than mine.

"Families in east London borough of Newham tell Adam Forrest of ongoing struggles – as experts point to hidden link between Covid-19 and cramped conditions"

"...Newham councillor John Gray – the lead member for housing – is in no doubt about the links. “My postbag is full of messages from single people living with older family members in Bame households who just can’t afford to move out,” he says. “Many families don’t have a choice. Let’s give them a real housing choice.”

The Labour councillor points to the borough’s “ambitious” social housing target (1,000 homes by 2022) and says he’d like the local authority – if it could get more funding – to consider adding another storey onto existing two-storey council housing (while retro-fitting these buildings to tackle dampness problems).

“We need more housing. This is a huge problem. And frankly, Newham council by itself is not going to solve this. But we’re not going to just wring our hands and say it’s terrible and do nothing. We will do things. We also need help from the government....”

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/coronavirus-deaths-uk-housing-overcrowding-newham-london-a9646301.html#comments

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

"Because Black disabled lives matter"

 

Hat tip UNISON  blog: Picture of Peter, my fellow executive member of Greater London Housing Association. Hopefully will see him at our zoom meeting tomorrow evening. 

"UNISON activists Veronica Price-Job and Peter Daley look at how the COVID-19 pandemic has been affecting Black disabled workers

During the course of this pandemic, it has become obvious that workers like ourselves who are both Black and disabled are more likely to be impacted by COVID-19 than non-Black and non-disabled workers. Why?

We’re more likely to be working in front line jobs where we have higher contact with the public. We’re also more likely to be low paid or on zero-hours contracts where we don’t get paid if we don’t go to work. And we’re more likely to face dual discrimination related to our disability and ethnicity so we often don’t want to cause ‘trouble’ by raising concerns about PPE and safety at work.

But it’s not an accident we’re in low-paid, frontline jobs. It’s a result of discrimination in the jobs market – what’s often called ‘structural racism’.

As a result of this pattern of racism and disability discrimination, we’re more likely to die from COVID-19. It’s quite a scary thought.

Like all of UNISON’s Black disabled members, we have been working hard throughout this crisis. We have both been working from home during the pandemic and are extremely fortunate that our employers have been supportive. We know that many other Black disabled members are not in this position.

In fact, a recent survey of UNISON’s Black members showed that 17% of respondents who had a letter requiring them to shield had continued to work in their usual workplace during the pandemic for all or most of the time.

These Black disabled members were continuing to go to work, at great risk to their own health and lives, even though they should have been allowed to either work from home or to take special paid leave.

Other survey respondents who were shielding or had underlying conditions had to take unpaid leave or go on Universal Credit, as their employer would not agree to homeworking or special paid leave. Unfortunately, these challenges are all too common, and this is why UNISON is calling on the government to carry out a full investigation of the equality impact of the pandemic.

It has been a challenging time for us too. Peter has lost two friends to COVID-19. He’s found it really hard not to be able to visit loved ones who are sick and has found the strict funeral restrictions made the process of grieving even harder.

Veronica has been shielding throughout, as have several members of her family. Despite shielding, she has found it difficult to access food deliveries and to get repeat prescriptions without leaving the house or relying on others to go out on her behalf.

The Black Lives Matter movement has raised awareness of the structural racism experienced by Black people in our society, and created a momentum of worldwide anti-racist solidarity.

Now is the time for Black disabled members and allies to stand up, speak out and get active in their union.

UNISON has a Black disabled members’ network, which raises the concerns of the members who self-identify as Black and disabled, and we encourage all Black members and disabled members to get involved in Black and disabled members’ self-organised groups.

We must continue to fight for our rights, and we ask our colleagues to stand up and speak out in solidarity with us. Because Black disabled lives matter".

Monday, August 17, 2020

Aldersbrook Estate Walkabout

This afternoon my colleague Cllr Mohammed and I took part in an inspection with residents and officers in our estate in Aldersbrook, Redbridge. I understand that this area used to be part of Newham (East Ham) but after boundary changes it was transferred to Redbridge. However, the properties still belong to Newham Council. 

Some of the properties date back to 1908 and were originally built as a maternity hospital/children's home now converted to flats. 

The estate is highly sought after but there are still significant problems with ASB, parking, fly tipping and it also needs some housing TLC with regard to communal repairs and redecoration of communal areas. An action plan is being drawn up and this will be followed up with further walkabouts during which we will invite local ward Councillors and Police. 

 I received some really nice comments from the local residents about the housing staff present, including our new Housing Director, Darren Levy (in main picture 3rd from left).  My apologies for looking casual but I had cycled there. 

Sunday, August 16, 2020

Lle Cut, Patagonia by Kyffin Williams

Awst / August 2020 Calendar by Welsh Landscape Artist, Kyffin Williams. The National Library of Wales. 

As a boy I was fascinated by stories of this Welsh speaking community in modern Argentina.

Saturday, August 15, 2020

VJ Day 2020 - Never forget the sacrifice

 "On the day we commemorate #VJDay75 Mayor @rokhsanafiaz
said ‘On behalf of all councillors,the council & residents of Newham, I want to give our thanks to the brave soldiers from the UK & Commonwealth who gave their lives & who we remember today. We will never forget their sacrifice.'