Daily Archives: October 21, 2021

A Universal Basic Income Is The Private Sectors Job, Not The Taxpayers – Forbes

Posted: October 21, 2021 at 11:19 pm

Employees holding worker rights banners at protest.

Theres been an unanticipated upside to the pandemic. The shutdown altered our most basic assumptions about the nature of the workplace. Millions of workers, and thousands of employers, discovered that they dont need lavish, extensive, and centralized offices to get the job done. As it turns out, far more people than anyone expected can work perfectly well at home. Technology made this possible many years ago, but it took a socially enforced period of isolation to prove how effective remote working can be.

That was the first beneficial reset.

The second is that wages are going up. We face a worker shortage, even though the economy is surging back to life. This is going to have a lasting effect on what people earn, maybe into the foreseeable future. As relief for laid-off workers, the government provided ample unemployment benefits. An unintended outcome of this subsistence-level income is that workers are reluctant to go back to actual jobs since it would mean a lower income, compared to unemployment. The result: employers are raising wages, trying to incentivize the lazier among us who are smart enough to do the math and wait until wages rise enough to make it worth going back to work. This will end in September, when unemployment benefits cease, but wages are sticky. The uptick in pay will have rippleeffects for a while.

As George Bailey said, when he found himself in a powerful bargaining position inIts a Wonderful Life,This is a very interesting situation!

It's been a long, long time since workers have had more power than employers when it comes to establishing a wage workers may not have had this power since the heyday of labor unions.

As CNBC reports, Chipotle is raising wages an average of $15 per hour. Bank of America BAC is up to a minimum of $25 per hour.

The question is whether employers will take advantage of the coming labor surpluswhen everyone floods back into the job marketby offering lower wages and/or freezing wage growth. As the New York Times NYT puts it: Theres a big caveat. If the millions of workers who are currently sidelined start searching for jobs, they could flood the market with a new supply of workers, holding back pay.

Higher wages traditionally are a harbinger of inflation.Inflation is already virulent in the financial markets and especially real estate. Its seeping into the prices of consumer goods normally used to measure the cost of living. Anyone who shops for food sees it. In the automotive sector, inflation is at around 7 percent now.

However, rising wages are not likely to be a contributing factor. More money chasing a comparative scarcity of goods will push prices higher. But for more products now, productive capacity is, in general, as high as it has ever been in human history and its scalable. Nearly everything is commoditized: lower prices and better customer service have become the only way to create a competitive advantage. This downward price pressure is here to stay. If thats the case, then workers are in a good position to get ahead of the curve, economicallythe pandemic has demonstrated how crucial human labor is and how valuable it can be to any companys ability to earn higher profits.

All of which means we may be at an inflection point where some employers will be forced, against their will, to recognize something quite pleasing: the lavish return on investment they get from paying their people a fair wage. Happy workers are devoted and creative workers who contribute ideas for better products and new ways to delight customers. Those are two sure ways to expand markets and increase revenue. Higher wages are thus an investment in the future, not a cost of doing business.

But so far wage increases are very small encouraging, but insufficient. Ezra Klein had a smart, but misguided Op Ed in the New York Times recently, a well-argued but partly clueless case for a Universal Basic Income. To narrow income inequality and eliminate poverty in the U.S., he approved of proposals to guarantee around $12,000 each year to every American citizen. It would essentially be Social Security for everyone, not just the retireda sort of nest egg around which a worker would have more power to choose better work to supplement this foundational income.

It's a fine ideamaking sure everyone has a fair and viable income. But routing money through the government and then back into the pockets of workers is a dismal proposal. A universal basic income is something corporations and most profitable employers should see as their own responsibilityhaving the government take care of it is essentially to let the private sector off the hook. The pressure should be on every American employer to find a way to pay workers all they need to have a life that gives them a chance for a better future.

Why not have the government take control of this? Look at the numbers from the Government Accountability Office (GOA). In a chart on the second page of the report, the GOA lists various federal programs to help lower income families, from Medicaid to Food Stamps. The chart shows the total budget for the program and the percentage of that budget dedicated to administrative costs: salaries of federal workers and other costs rather than funds directed to American citizens who need the help.

Here are the percentages of total budget for a program going to the federal government itself. Medicaid spend 59 percent of its total budget simply to process the payments going to American citizens; the food stamp program devotes an unbelievable 91 percent of its budget to its own administration, and the Child Care Development Fund spends 73 percent of its budget on itself rather than in the form of payments to help provide childcare to workers who require it in order to go to work.

This alone demonstrates why the private sector should take on the responsibility for creating an analog to the Universal Basic Income in the form of higher compensation. It would save taxpayers billions of dollars. Ezra Klein makes a good point: For the most part, America finds the money to pay for the things it values. In recent decades, and despite deep gridlock in Washington, we have spent trillions of dollars on wars in the Middle East and tax cuts for the wealthy. We have also spent trillions of dollars on health insurance subsidies and coronavirus relief. It is in our power to wipe out poverty. It simply isnt among our priorities.

But it should be a priority in the private sector rather than in Washington D.C. All the companies who have embraced stakeholder capitalism have proven that it can be done. Companies like Costco, Home Depot HD , Microsoft MSFT , and dozens of others have already established a living wage for all their workers and have enjoyed remarkable returns leading eventually to higher profits.If this kind of sensible business governance could become universal, proposals for a UBI would wither away. People would already be making enough to build a good life without help from Uncle Sam.

In a way, UBI is a taxation on most working people. They will be subsidizing shareholder profits. In other words, businesses pay workers less, so shareholders can make higher profits, while the government makes up the difference between existing wages and fair wages. Taxpayers pay the government to enable the government to do what the private sector should already be doingpaying people what they deserve.

And why are businesses refusing to pay workers a living wage by sharing with them the value of what they produce? Shareholders are only one of the multiple stakeholders crucial to the success of a company. And they arent the owners of the company.

This insanity must stop. Not paying workers an incremental share of the value they create is simply bad businessbut its also bad economics. Having the government and taxpayers step in to essentially boost profits and enable average workers to pay their bills is unfair, inefficient and dumb.

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A Universal Basic Income Is The Private Sectors Job, Not The Taxpayers - Forbes

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Transcript: The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, 10/19/21 – MSNBC

Posted: at 11:18 pm

Summary

The January 6 committee unanimously voted to advance Steve Bannon criminal contempt referral to full House. Democratic Congressman Pete Aguilar of California is interviewed. President Joe Biden along with Vice President Kamala Harris and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen held two separate meetings with Democrats this afternoon. Two election officials accused of undermining election security are now banned from overseeing Colorado`s November election. A judge has ruled in favor of Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold.

LAWRENCE O`DONNELL, MSNBC HOST: Yeah, when you go there, it will be the first one of the night. I don`t know how I know that. I was watching every minute of your show and interview with Bennie Thompson, which was so important. One of the things that was said tonight was something that I don`t think was quite so clear before and that was when Liz Cheney said that the resistance, the Trump resistance to this investigation and to this particular subpoena actually indicates that Donald Trump was involved in the run-up to the preparation for and what they believe may be the conspiracy to attack the Capitol.

RACHEL MADDOW, MSNBC HOST, "TRMS": And that that is what -- that is the common thread that explains the resistance in terms of what people aren`t handing over and what people are refusing to talk about. I asked Thompson tonight, Chairman Thompson tonight whether or not they sort of seen enough already in their investigation to know to have found things that the public doesn`t know to have found things that will surprise us or indeed shock us in terms of how things went on January 6th and he said oh, yes, the public will be shocked. We have found stuff that will surprise you and then for Liz Cheney to have said that tonight, I feel like they`re starting to give indications where the investigation is going.

O`DONNELL: Yeah, and I`m hoping we can find more about the cooperation they already had. The chairman mentioned that in his statement in the committee tonight about how Bannon is the only one so okay, what does that mean -- what is Mark Meadows doing exactly if Bannon is the only one resisting in the way he is resisting and we have Pete Aguilar, a member of the committee joining us for that discussion. That`s one of the things we`ll see what they can and can`t tell us about that. Because obviously, they are trying to contain how much of the information gets out at this point.

MADDOW: Yes, and rightfully so. They`re going to present their findings when they have findings to present. But as they present the subpoena to Bannon, for example, again, rightfully talking about the fact he`s the one engaging and making clear time is of the essence. They won`t do this fast, they won`t be delayed. They will force this fast.

The vote in the House is Thursday. That`s even faster than we thought it would be. So they`re full steam ahead. This is not something that is plodding along.

O`DONNELL: So, of course, you did your homework and you discovered the last time there was such prosecution for this back in the 1980s. By the way, the name of the show could be "Rachel Maddow`s Homework with Rachel Maddow." That`s one --

(LAUGHTER)

O`DONNELL: That`s one show title that I don`t know, should be on the list. Should think about.

Anyway, so it was great because I vaguely remembered it when you said it but then you said for me, the magic sentence of it was eight days between the time the house voted for the prosecution and the Justice Department actually brought charges in eight days, and those of us who were around back then and in the 1970s during the Watergate investigation, we keep saying all of these processes used to be much faster. Things that happened in weeks and months now used to literally happen in days. And that`s an example.

MADDOW: Yes, that`s -- and, you know, it will be an independent judgment by the U.S. attorney in D.C. to decide whether or not to bring these charges and nobody should think they can inflect that decision, but theoretically, if the U.S. attorney decides to go ahead with this, convening a grand jury or going to a grand jury that`s already empanelled and asking for an indictment in a case like this, shouldn`t become flex. He`s trying to assert executive privilege when the only person that could invoke executive privilege, the current sitting president of the United States says it doesn`t apply here, I`m not the one invoking this.

It`s a fairly simple matter if they decide to do it. I don`t know why it should take more than eight days. We don`t know how the Justice Department will be inclined here, how the attorney general might instruct this U.S. attorney`s office how to handle this.

[22:05:03]

I mean, if you`re Bannon, you`re probably playing the odds that nothing bad will happen to you because you seem to skate when he`s been indicted before but, you know, this is serious stuff and it could move fast if at least on paper, there is no reason to think it couldn`t move fast.

O`DONNELL: The other -- before you go to hit the grand slam, the other great thing that of course in the vote in the 1980s, the vote was unanimous in the House every single Republican member of the House voted for criminal prosecution of a Republican president, a Reagan administration official and there was just no question of course, if she`s going to defy this subpoena, of course we all vote for them.

MADDOW: Yeah. I mean, the unanimous vote, I mean, that was Congress in a non-partisan way standing up for the power of Congress to actually conduct investigations and to be obeyed. And that I feel like those days are passed, but maybe they`ll come back.

O`DONNELL: You got to go, Rachel. They need you.

MADDOW: They do.

O`DONNELL: Thank you, Rachel.

MADDOW: Bye, Lawrence.

O`DONNELL: Thank you.

Before the committee voted tonight, the Republican Vice Chair of the Committee Liz Cheney began her remarks by outlining the case against Steve Bannon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. LIZ CHENEY (R-WY): On January 6th, a mob breached the security perimeter of our Capitol, assaulted and injured more than 140 police officers, engaged in hand to hand violence over an extended period and invaded and occupied the United States Capitol building, all in an effort to halt the lawful counting of electoral votes and reverse the results of the 2020 election.

The day before this all occurred, on January 5th, Mr. Bannon publicly professed knowledge that, quote, all hell is going to break loose tomorrow, end quote. He forecast that the day would be, quote, extraordinarily different than what most Americans expected.

He said to his listeners and his viewers, quote, so many people said if I was in a revolution, I would be in Washington. Well, he said, this is your time in history.

Based on the committee`s investigation, it appears that Mr. Bannon had substantial advanced knowledge of the plans for January 6th and likely had an important role in formulating those plans. Mr. Bannon was in the war room at the Willard on January 6th. He also appears to have detailed knowledge regarding the president`s efforts to sell millions of Americans the fraud that the election was stolen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O`DONNELL: The question before the committee tonight was, should they recommend criminal prosecution of Steve Bannon? And each member answered that question in the role call vote.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLERK: Ms. Cheney?

CHENEY: Aye.

CLERK: Ms. Lofgren?

REP. ZOE LOFGREN (D-CA): Yes.

CLERK: Ms. Lofgren? Aye.

Mr. Schiff?

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): Aye.

CLERK: Mr. Schiff. Aye.

Mr. Aguilar?

REP. PETE AGUILAR (D-CA): Aye.

CLERK: Mr. Aguilar, aye.

Mrs. Murphy?

REP. STEPHANIE MURPHY (D-FL): Aye.

CLERK: Mrs. Murphy, aye.

Mr. Raskin?

REP. JAMIE RASKIN (D-MD): Aye.

CLERK: Mr. Raskin, aye.

Mrs. Luria?

REP. ELAINE LAURIA (D-VA): Aye.

CLERK: Mrs. Luria, aye.

Mr. Kinzinger?

REP. ADAM KINZINGER (R-IL): Aye.

CLERK: Mr. Kinzinger, aye.

REP. BENNIE THOMPSON (D-MS): Has the chair recorded?

CLERK: Mr. Chairman, you are not recorded.

THOMPSON: I vote aye.

CLERK: Mr. Chairman, aye.

THOMPSON: The clerk will report the vote.

CLERK: Mr. Chairman, on this vote, there are nine ayes, zero noes.

THOMPSON: The motion is agreed to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O`DONNELL: Leading off our discussion tonight is Democratic Congressman Pete Aguilar of California. He`s a member of the January 6th Committee and he`s the vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus.

Thank you very much for joining us on this important night.

When did you realize that the committee was going to be unanimous on this vote?

AGUILAR: I think it became pretty clear once we started having the communication back and forth and the communications with the Bannon counsel was detailed in the report that we produced, but it became clear they would not be as corporative as many other witnesses that came forward and subpoenas as well. So, that`s when we knew this might be a little different.

O`DONNELL: What can you tell us about the cooperation of say, Mark Meadows that had a date where he was supposed to testify. He did not show up for the date but he is not being recommended for criminal prosecution?

[22:10:03]

AGUILAR: What I can tell you is that Mr. Meadows and Mr. Patel are engaged with the committee, that`s all I can say at this point. And so that`s why Mr. Bannon is the only one where you`re seeking to elevate to this level with the full House vote for contempt.

O`DONNELL: And the chairman mentioned tonight that you`ve reached out to dozens of witnesses. Does that mean you`ve interviewed dozens of witnesses already?

AGUILAR: There have been dozens of interviews that have taken place and there is coordination and discussion. There were also 11 other subpoenas that that were made public for individuals who played a role in the financing of -- and planning of the January 5th and January 6th rallies. We`re engaged with those individuals and it`s our expectation they will produce documents, as well as sit for interviews.

O`DONNELL: The chairman wasn`t sure at the point of time where you were voting tonight when the full House would vote on that. We now know the full House will vote day after tomorrow. The House has already a busy day pre -- that was already scheduled for tomorrow and you also apparently have to go through the rules committee on this.

Do you have to go through the rules committee before going to the House floor on Thursday?

AGUILAR: Yes, the chair and the vice chair will both present to the rules committee and if reported out favorably, it will go to the house floor on Thursday. That`s our understanding.

O`DONNELL: And so what is your expectation after Thursday? Rachel Maddow was reporting in the previous hour that the last time the House did this, it took eight days between the time the House voted to recommend a criminal prosecution and the Justice Department actually brought charges against a regular administration official. That passage of time was eight days.

AGUILAR: Well, that`s up to the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia and department of justice how fast they proceed. Our expectation is that they will follow the law and so after we pass this off of the House floor, the speaker will certify it. It will get transmitted over to the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia and the federal law is clear that that individual has a duty to bring it before a grand jury. And so that`s our expectation that it would follow the law and bring this to the grand jury.

So that`s what we hope the process that they follow will be on Thursday.

O`DONNELL: Let`s listen to the way Liz Cheney made this point about how the privilege argument appears to suggest that Donald Trump actually was personally involved. Let`s listen to the way she put this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHENEY: Mr. Bannon`s and Mr. Trump`s privilege arguments do however appear to reveal one thing. They suggest that President Trump was personally involved in the planning and execution of January 6th. And this committee will get to the bottom of that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O`DONNELL: What was your reaction to that point?

AGUILAR: It was a strong statement, it was a great statement and Representative Cheney, Vice Chair Cheney has been an amazing colleague to work with an the issues. She`s not going to be shy about calling it like she sees it.

And so, we`re going to continue to follow the leadership of her and the chairman as we guide through this process.

We`re in uncharted territory here. We know that. We have a duty and obligation to find out the truth. That`s all we`ve said we want.

We don`t bring any joy and the chairman talked about this. We don`t bring joy about taking this step. We hope people comply. We hope they feel the patriotic duty to comply with the lawful subpoena.

But if they don`t, there have to be consequences. And we promised the American people we would get to the bottom of what happened on January 6th. This is the next step to do that.

O`DONNELL: How can you get to the bottom of it without sending a subpoena to Donald Trump?

AGUILAR: Well, we`re going to take one step at a time. And so, this is where we are today. Upon every interview we take, we`ll continue to learn more details and we will unlock more issues that we will have to chase down and that will lead to more individuals who we have to interview.

That`s just going to be the process. It`s going to be an investigative process and we`re going to follow that game plan and we`re going to chase every lead as the chair and vice chair have said and to ultimately produce a report for the American public but we won`t get ahead of ourselves. We`re not going to be shy about doing that if warranted but we need to accomplish these few steps first.

O`DONNELL: So just to be clear, you`re not going to be shy about subpoenaing Donald Trump if it is warranted?

AGUILAR: We`re not going to be shy about subpoenaing anyone with knowledge of the events of January 5th and 6th and what led to the violent insurrection of the Capitol.

[22:15:07]

And so, that`s our posture. That`s our position. We`ll chase every lead wherever it goes.

O`DONNELL: Congressman Pete Aguilar, thank you very much for joining us tonight. Really appreciate it.

AGUILAR: Thank you.

O`DONNELL: And joining us now is Daniel Goldman, the majority counsel for the first impeachment trial of Donald Trump. He`s also a former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. He is an MSNBC legal analyst.

And, Dan, I want to start with you on that Liz Cheney point where she says Mr. Bannon`s and Mr. Trump`s privilege arguments do appear to reveal they suggest that President Trump was personally involved in the planning and execution of January 6th. What was your reaction to that point?

DAN GOLDMAN, MSNBC LEGAL ANALYST: That`s a great point. It`s similar to what you would refer to as an adverse inference to someone who takes the Fifth Amendment in a civil case and basically the law is that you could use that assertion of the Fifth Amendment, you can`t use it against them in a criminal case but take an inference against them in a similar case.

It`s a similar idea in impeachment we said every time you obstruct, you are essentially admitting that you have inculpatory evidence. And that`s exactly what Liz Cheney is saying. She is saying you cannot assert executive privilege unless you have relevant information to our committee, which is investigating January 6th.

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Transcript: The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, 10/19/21 - MSNBC

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Jim Stolpestad: Heres why I oppose the rent control proposal in St. Paul – TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press

Posted: at 11:18 pm

I am writing in opposition of the proposed rent control measure on the November ballot in St. Paul.

The last several years have seen unprecedented rental housing development in St. Paul. New construction and renovated buildings with rents at all levels of affordability can be seen throughout the downtown and the West Side river flats, along the University Avenue light rail corridor, on Snelling Avenue south of I-94, and now under construction at Highland Bridge. This list does not yet include the future developments at the Sears site or the former Hillcrest golf course. Alarmingly, the rent control measure would place all of these projects at risk.

Local urban geographer Bill Lindeke (Ph.D., University of Minnesota) made many sound arguments against rent control in his recent Twin City Sidewalks posting, Why the 3% Cap Stops New Housing Construction. Here is an extended passage from his article:

Whether or not its possible (for landlords) to make money with a 3% rent cap in place is irrelevant. Its about the financing Its also not really about whether developers make money. Ask anyone who does economic development, and theyll tell you that developers have trouble getting financing for new housing in Saint Paul as it is. It will become impossible to get loans to build when the city has become three times as risky as anywhere else in the country. The people who finance construction have plenty of choices about where to (finance) build(ings). When it comes to building new housing, Saint Paul will basically be redlining itself. (Italics added.)

Lindeke summarized the flaws in the proposal by saying it would be one of the strictest in the world. The proposal does not contain exclusion for new construction like other cities, and in the end would not really benefit the income groups it is intended to help.

Lindekes comments resonate with me, based on Exeters 30 years of developing, managing, and owning commercial real estate in five of the seven wards in St. Paul.

It is perhaps not widely known that the pandemic has driven down apartment rents throughout the Twin Cities to substantially lower levels than 18 months ago. A blanket 3% rent cap would freeze rents in St. Paul at a point where a great many building owners would have difficulty covering mortgage payments and real estate taxes. As a result, there could be foreclosures and ownership changes that would hurt the downtown and other areas of the city where new rental projects have revitalized entire neighborhoods.

This would be a tragic outcome for St. Paul, which has gained so much development momentum in recent years, with light rail and new sports facilities to go with the citys many outstanding cultural and historical venues and solid large downtown public and private employers.

There are also many complex legal issues associated with the proposal as well. Whether the ballot initiative in fact complies with existing Minnesota law is debatable. The impact of third-party covenants in the citys many tax-increment-financing districts and their possible constraints could affect the ability of the city to entertain, adopt, and/or administer a program like the ballot measure.

Perhaps the most potent potential legal issue would be the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits a municipality from exercising public policy powers that go too far and constitute an eminent domain taking that would require the payment of just compensation to affected property owners. The 2013 U.S. Supreme Court case of Koontz v. St. Johns River Management District gave new vitality to this takings clause of the Fifth Amendment, and a more recent federal district court case in Hennepin County was decided along somewhat similar lines. All of which probably increases the likelihood of a serious and well-funded legal challenge in St. Paul should the ballot measure pass.

Finally, its very distressing to me, a person who has been involved in local public affairs over his entire professional career as a practicing lawyer and then real estate developer, that there has not been a proper public discussion process about the proposal, which normally precedes a significant change in city policy. I believe this has been a glaring oversight. I hope voters will reject the ill-advised proposal and allow for a conversation about how to bring more housing to St. Paul.

James A. Stolpestad is the founder and senior principal with St. Paul based Exeter Group LLC.

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Gym owner who sued Gov. Murphy over COVID restrictions loses appeal – NJ.com

Posted: at 11:18 pm

A New Jersey appellate court on Monday ruled against the owner of a kickboxing gym who sued Gov. Phil Murphy over COVID-19 mitigation measures that she claimed stifled her business and led to its closure. Its the latest example of a court upholding orders state and local governments put in place to slow the spread of the virus.

The decision affirmed a Sussex County court ruling that Darlene Pallay, the owner of a CKO Kickboxing franchise in Franklin Borough, was not entitled to any compensation from the state because of shutdown orders and capacity restrictions last year.

Facing eviction last year before it was allowed to reopen at full capacity, Palley decided to shutter the business on Oct. 31, 2020.

In his analysis of the case, appellate Judge Garry Rothstadt dismissed Pallays argument that state law entitled her to compensation, or that the executive orders amounted to violations of the taking clause of the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution, which prohibits government from taking private property for public use without just compensation.

I am very disappointed in the decision, Pallay told NJ Advance Media via Facebook Messenger. My family has lost so much and we continue to struggle.

She said she plans to file a petition to have the case heard by the states Supreme Court.

The governors office referred comment to the Attorney Generals Office, which declined to offer any.

Palleys argument hinged on whether the state commandeered and utilized her workout studio when, in March 2020, Murphy signed executive orders closing gyms.

Rothstadt began the 29-page decision by dismantling that notion, referencing English definitions of the words commandeer and utilize from Merriam-Webster. Both of them imply the physical taking of assets, the judge wrote. That didnt happen in this case.

She therefore was not entitled to compensation under the states Civilian Defense and Disaster Control Act. Instead, Rothstadt said, the executive orders amounted to regulation, which doesnt come with any level of compensation.

He also said the case did not trigger the federal and state constitutions taking clauses because those typically involve the taking of property; CKO rented its space.

To state a taking claim, it is not enough to allege that government conduct frustrated a business enterprise, Rothstadt wrote, citing a 2020 federal case out of Maine called Savage v. Mills.

Further, the executive orders didnt amount to what the judge called a compensable regulatory taking. He conceded the states measures reduced the studios revenue but said the business was never deprived of every single opportunity to make money, even when government orders shuttered the physical venue.

He noted that the studio offered live online fitness classes but chose not to charge for them. He said the studio didnt take full advantage of the states reopening schedule, choosing to remain an outdoor-only gym for weeks even after Murphy allowed limited indoor capacity. And the gym also lowered its rates. All the while the business qualified for more than $21,000 in federal aid, the judge said.

The State is not liable for a regulatory taking merely because the operations permitted resulted in lower revenue than plaintiff might have earned without the regulations in place, wrote Rothstadt. Indeed, gyms and fitness centers likely would have seen a drop-off in business due to the COVID-19 pandemic, even absent the (executive orders).

Finally, Rothstadt closed by saying Palleys gym wasnt singled out, and that the measures Murphy took were legitimate.

It is undisputed that these limitations constituted valid exercises of the States police powers in the context of a public health emergency, to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the judge wrote.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Josh Solomon may be reached at jsolomon@njadvancemedia.com.

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Former Townsend reserve officer cleared of domestic assault and battery – Sentinel & Enterprise

Posted: at 11:18 pm

AYER Former Townsend reserve Police Officer Christopher VanVoorhis was found not guilty on a charge of domestic assault and battery in Ayer District Court on Monday.

VanVoorhis case was heard in a bench trial before Judge Matthew McGrath. The lone witness to testify was Officer Christopher Tucker from the Townsend Police Department, who arrested VanVoorhis.

The spouse of VanVoorhis, who was the alleged victim, elected not to testify in the trial. After initially choosing not to invoke the marital privilege, his spouse elected to invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. However, the defense submitted six photographs showing bruises and scrapes on her arms, knees and one of her wrists that were allegedly a result of the incident.

According to McGrath, he found the testimony from Tucker to be credible. However, he noted the commonwealth failed to persuade him beyond a reasonable doubt that the actions of VanVoorhis were not in self-defense.

The alleged incident happened on June 19. According to Tuckers report, VanVoorhis was driving his spouse to her Townsend residence when an argument broke out. Tucker said the argument may have been precipitated by past infidelity on the part of VanVoorhis.

During the incident his spouse allegedly threw several items inside the vehicle including a styrofoam container and a cellphone holder.

VanVoorhis allegedly tried to restrain the victim with an armbar technique used by police as a restraint. The commonwealth argued he tried to forcefully remove his spouse from the vehicle.

Townsend Police were asked to investigate by Leominster Police as the incident was believed to have occurred in town. VanVoorhis was arrested by Leominster Police and subsequently transferred to Townsend.

Tucker said when he interviewed VanVoorhis he did not show much emotion and was breaking eye contact.

During his testimony, Tucker said his arrest was based on probable cause. He said he relied on the testimony of both parties involved with the incident and his prior experience with domestic violence cases.

At the time of his arrest, Townsend Chief of Police James Sartell said VanVoorhis had resigned his employment as a reserve officer with the department. He had been placed on administrative leave prior to that. The department was still conducting an internal review regardless of the resignation, Sartell said.

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Why renting your own private island is cheaper than you think – Telegraph.co.uk

Posted: at 11:17 pm

Psychologists insist that most children start to understand the concept of sharing between the ages of three and four, and that kiddie conflict during that preschool phase usually has to do with competition for toys, attention and space none of which the little devils want to share. I agree strongly with the second part of the proposition but say phooey to the first. Hardly any of us have got the hang of sharing by the time we turn four. Or 40. Or ever.

Although we might not care to admit it, much of our behaviour not least when we are travelling expresses the taboo joy that our inner toddler continues to take in not having to share, or in sharing only on limited terms. And nothing expresses this deeply human tendency better than our seemingly irresistible attraction to exclusive-use private islands.

The charm of an exclusive-use private island is not that it is empty, of course, or even particularly far from anywhere else. We want to be vaguely castaway, not cast into oblivion. We also want the presence of others, just not too many of them. Why should a ring of glittering seawater beyond a pristine, palm-fringed perimeter define that paradoxical ideal of distance, closeness, privacy and conviviality so perfectly? Perhaps that is another question for the psychologists.

What is clear is that this delicate balance can be struck in a variety of ways to satisfy a variety of tastes and budgets. Some of us prefer our barefoot luxury with the emphasis on the bare feet, others with the emphasis on the luxury. Whatever your craving whether it is whale sharks or reliable Wi-Fi, butler service or a marine biologists wisdom, a kids club or a composting loo, rustling thatch and reclaimed floorboards or a disco ball and an overwater dance floor whatever your predilection, there is an island out there, somewhere, to suit, as the following list makes clear.

As you drift closer to Miniloc on a paraw, a double-outrigger sailing boat, theres a sense of the other-worldly. This small island on Bacuit Bay in the province of Palawan in the Philippines, is set on its own lagoon, surrounded by water the colour and clarity of gemstones. In the backdrop is a jungle-sheathed limestone mountain. And from a distance are hulking karsts that look like sleeping giants. The island has a coastal village vibe where everyone from guests to staff is resolutely down-to-earth.

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How to choose the best Maldives island for your travel style – Lonely Planet Travel News

Posted: at 11:17 pm

Lets get one thing straight: Not all atolls were created equal. But on the plus side, theMaldiveshasthousands of sun-drenched islands, and discovering the perfect one for your trip is all part of the fun.

Every resort in Maldives is its own private island but choosing the right one for you can be difficult. Want to kick off your Indian Ocean holiday in style? Our guide will help you know what to look for in the hunt for your ideal island, whether youre searching for affordable options or five-star resorts with brilliant dive schools.

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Yes, your sun-kissed island resort might be wonderfully secluded, with no other atoll in sight, but remote locations inevitably crank up the price not simply because there are higher costs to cover (such as getting supplies to the resort in question) but because its likely youll need to pay for a short domestic flight or a seaplane flight to get there. Seaplane transfers are the most expensive option (expect to pay anywhere from US$300 to US$900 for a round trip), while domestic flights to one of the Maldives smaller airports (followed by a boat transfer) will be slightly cheaper.

The good news? Some of the best Maldives resorts are just a boat ride from Mals Velana International Airport, so dont write properties off simply because of their close proximity.

A brand-new resort on the new Fari Islands development, Patina Maldives, the Fari Islands is a 45-minute speedboat transfer from the international airport. Fancy a spot of island-hopping? Traveling between islands in the Maldives can be expensive, but Patina Maldives is just a short shuttle-boat service from the Fari Islands other resorts (a Ritz-Carlton and a Capella), so theres no chance of claustrophobia setting in.

It may sound self-indulgent, but trust us knowing your culinary criteria can make or break a holiday. That tiny, exclusive island youve got your eye on might well have a Michelin-starred chef, but even the most delicious seafood will soon look rather plain after youve eaten your way through the restaurants menu in the space of two days. In summary, bigger is often better if food is a priority.

Opened in October 2021 on the island of Dhigurah, in Noonu Atoll, Siyam World Maldives has eight restaurants, including one with an underground wine cellar and one which specializes in Japanese cuisine. Its also incredibly family friendly, making it perfect for anyone visiting the Maldives with kids in tow.

Why are you going on holiday to the Maldives? If youre dreaming of lazy sunbathing sessions on the countrys best beaches, your priorities will be different than those of the adrenaline-fueled traveler keen to try every high-octane activity available, whether its swimming with manta rays or learning to dive. As a rule, smaller resorts are great for crowd-free downtime, while larger ones are best suited to families and active types.

For the best of both worlds, consider Baa Atoll'sCoco Palm Dhuni Kolhu, where theres a wide range of activities and experiences on offer, but where you can also escape your fellow islanders by signing up for a rather cool activity a night on a nearby deserted island.

Its a myth that you have to be a millionaire to holiday in the Maldives, although without a little research, costs can easily spiral out of control. Travelers keen to make the most of their hard-earned cash should familiarize themselves with the packages on offer to make sure theyre getting the best value for money. Options can range from bed-and-breakfast only packages to to ones which include all meals and drinks, along with certain activities.

A private island in North Male Atoll that's one of the best spots in the Maldives for honeymoons,the Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraanot only has a huge range of room categories, it also offers a brilliant selection of packages, including Island Romance packages, which have fantastic added extras designed with couples in mind.

Taking a second to consider your destinations sustainability credentials wont just benefit Mother Nature, it could also save you serious amounts of cash. If an island is producing its own drinking water, growing its own vegetables and transporting guests by boat rather than gas-guzzling seaplane, there will be lower outgoings, which means less costs to cover all of which translates into lower room rates.

Another Baa Atoll resort,Amilla Fushiexcels in the sustainability stakes. Reverse osmosis is used to produce drinking water, jams, pickles and spa products are made from plants grown on the island and crushed glass is transformed into building materials.

Its easy to become fixated on recreating the images associated with the Maldives, famous for its over-water villas, but there are downsides to these much-sought-after accommodations and in fact, there are numerous reasons to choose a villa that isnt over the water.

They're typically the priciest accommodations and the furthest from resort facilities, and the vistas usually of the sea and nothing else aren't necessarily much to write home about. Over-water villas aredesigned for privacy, so views are often restricted by high walls framing the decking unlike beachfront villas, where theres often more to look at, whether its a cute lizard or a parrot fish zipping through the shallows. Theres usually better noise insulation courtesy of surrounding greenery too.

Located in the natural atoll ofRasdhoo,Kuramathi Island Resortis a teardrop-shaped island where walking trails weave through lush greenery, much of which provides privacy for the large number of villas set back from the beach.

Lets get one thing straight: theres no such thing as a bad time to visit the Maldives. But considering the season is important if youve got your heart set on certain activities. If youre planning on swimming with mantas, for example, a stay on a Baa Atoll resort between May and November is your best bet, although July to October is a great time for manta sightings elsewhere. If youre planning on a surf session, youll need to visit between April and October.

To ensure you experience the Maldives best bits, schedule a holiday every month without fail. Were joking, but you get the point: think what you want to see and do, and brush up on the different areas seasonal selling points.

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10 incredible experiences in the Maldives to go beyond the villa – Lonely Planet Travel News

Posted: at 11:17 pm

Stretching across the Indian Ocean just southwest of Sri Lanka, the Maldives is renowned for countless paradise isles ringed by silky white sands, swaying palms and waters too clear to be true.

Lounging at a lavish resort here takes self-care to new heights, but venture beyond your sunbed and youll find cultural wonders, fiery-hot local food and once-in-a-lifetime wildlife encounters.Keen to find out more about this equator-spanning archipelago? Be inspired with our picks for the 10 best things to do in the Maldives.

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Luxury resorts may be utterly blissful, but they exist entirely within their own private-island bubbles. To experience authentic Maldivian culture, youll need to visit a so-called local island such as Huraa, Hithadoo or Maafushi, where you can stay at family-owned guesthouses, buy fresh-as-can-be mahi-mahi direct from fishermen and wander whitewashed streets as the call to prayer summons mosque-going crowds. Remember Maldives is a Muslim nation; bikinis and speedos are fine at many hotels, but modest clothing is the norm elsewhere.

If youve chosen to travel to the Maldives, chances are youre looking to do some serious chilling. If the chalk-white sands and pastel-pink sunsets arent enough to soothe away your stress, an exceedingly indulgent massage certainly is. The sleep-enhancing treatment at Huvafen Fushi resort is like a lullaby for frazzled grown-ups, and takes place in the worlds first and only underwater spa.

On a Beyonc-level budget? It doesnt get more opulent than the spa at Cheval Blanc Randheli, which occupies its own private island and can only be reached by dhoni (traditional boat). From deep-conditioning Parisian coiffeurapproved hair treatments and four-hand massages to meditation and ocean-view aerial yoga classes, a day here is like having a vacation within a vacation.

If swimming with whale sharks is on your travel bucket list, youre in luck. The Maldives is one of the best places in the world to spot them year-round especially if you make Alifu Dhaalu Atoll (Southern Ari Atoll) your base. Most resorts and guest houses offer whale-spotting snorkel trips and dives; choose a reputable operator that puts the wellbeing of the whales first and remember to keep a good distance away from the gentle giants if you have the good fortune of spotting one.

Step away from the continental buffet. Dont you dare order a steak. Traditional Dhivehi (Maldivian) cuisine deserves your tastebuds' attention. Little produce grows here pineapples and coconuts, primarily and the dominant protein is tuna, but the limit on local ingredients has led to much invention.

Youll find mas huni a cold breakfast dish consisting of chili peppers, coconut, onion and tuna with roshi flatbread everywhere, and spicy fish curries abound. But dont miss a visit to a local cafe or teashop to sample hedhikaa (short eats) such as kuli boakiba (spicy fish cakes), gulha (fried fish dumplings) or bis keemiya (tuna- and egg-filled pastry).

Most people who visit the Maldives completely bypass Male, perhaps due to the fact that its the antithesis of the typical tropical island aesthetic the capital is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, cramming more than 200,000 people into just 3.2 square miles. But linger a while and youll be amply rewarded. Artificial Beach offers the chance to see how urban Maldivians do beach days; the guts-and-all fish market is a sucker punch to the senses and the ancient Old Friday Mosque captivates all those who enter with its intricately carved coral stone.

Weve all seen the photos nighttime beach shots where the surf glows neon blue. Vaadhoo is commonly named as the place to witness this nocturnal phenomenon, which occurs when bioluminescent organisms in the water are disturbed, but the truth is it can happen all over the Maldivian archipelago. Much like spotting the northern lights, you simply need good timing (come between June and October for the best chance) and a big dollop of luck.

Clear blue water is the Maldives defining feature and scuba divers from all over the world come here for the chance to spot hawksbill and loggerhead turtles, manta rays, whitetip reef sharks and more.Unfortunately, rising sea temperatures lead to a devastating coral-bleaching event in 2016, which affected some70% of the Maldives coral. While diving here remains far from the kaleidoscopic explosion of color it once was, the precious seascapes are slowly recovering.

Never dived before? Local island Fulidhoo is a laid-back spot to learn, but youll find PADI-certified instructors at practically every resort and guest house. Scuba-focused travelers might even prefer to skip dry land altogether in favor of a liveaboard dive trip or research expedition. Travel between January and April for the best visibility, or opt for October or November when plankton levels are high and larger fish come out to feed.

Maldives is the lowest-lying country in the world, making it particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Given the environmental impact of flying to these far-flung isles, its important to choose a hotel that prioritizes sustainability. That doesnt mean you have to give up that opulent water villa youve been dreaming about, though some of the most luxurious resorts are leading the pack when it comes to green initiatives.

For example, Soneva Fushi is carbon neutral and home to one of the largest solar power plants in the Maldives. The hotel is 90% waste-free, and you can take part in a glass-blowing workshop upcycling discarded drinks bottles from the restaurant. At Gili Lankanfushi, marine biologists run a substantial coral restoration project, and if youre PADI-certified you can take part in a dive against debris the underwater equivalent of a beach clean.

Free-flowing champagne, fresh sea air and a candyfloss-colored sky youll never regret splashing out on a luxury sunset cruise in the Maldives. Its a classic experience for honeymooning couples, but even if youre not celebrating recent nuptials, you may find you get caught up in the romance of the moment when you spot a playful pod of spinner dolphins surrounding your boat. Theyre plentiful in Maldivian waters and will often pursue boats, corkscrewing out of the water seemingly just for the fun of it.

The Maldives is pretty much pancake-flat (its highest mountain on Villingili is just 5m high), and beyond the odd rooftop pool and seaplane flight, there are few means of getting a bird's-eye view of these turquoise-trimmed islands in all their glory. Despite being touted as an adrenaline sport, parasailing above the Maldives dreamy atolls is actually utterly peaceful just remember to hold on tight to your camera.

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Best Destination Spas – The World’s Best Hotel Spas – HarpersBAZAAR.com

Posted: at 11:17 pm

The need to reset, rejuvenate and disconnect is more important than it ever has been beforeand after a year-plus spent at home, were all hankering for an escape. Though we cant travel to each of them just yet, the worlds very best spas stand out for reasons much deeper than simply luxurious treatments. These serene oases offer a sense of place, regional character, local traditions, and so much more. Whether you need a place to unwind, reconnect with a loved one, or simply get away from it all we've chosen some of the most legendary locations across the world. Ahead, the very best destination hotel spas to plan a visit to.

1Aman Spa at Amangiri

Where: Antelope Canyon, Utah

Amangiri is the stuff of legendsand for good reason. The pace here is peaceful, and life centers around the stunning pool built into the surrounding cliff face, which seems to flow from within the rock itself. Combining natural hues, textures, and designs, the resorts limestone pavilions provide a cool oasis, and the signature Aman Spa is breathtaking and treatments unrivaled, characterized by an overwater sauna pavilion and an ultra-modern floating treatment pagoda. Magic.

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2Spa de la Mer at the Baccarat Hotel

Where: New York City

The stunning Baccarat Hotel was an ideal setting for French heritage skincare brand La Mer to make a splash on the New York City spa scene. The decadent respite within the hotel and residences transports guests into the immersive, highly curated world of both brands. Decorated by Parisian design duo Gilles & Boissier, Spa de la Mer is adorned with a checkered, marble-tiled, 50-foot pool; sea kelp murals; and ambient light resembling a posh European seaside retreat. This oasis in the heart of the bustle of Manhattan is a standoutand a must, particularly for its facials using only the brand's renowned products.

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3T Spa at Grand Hotel Tremezzo

Where: Lake Como, Italy

Housed adjacent to the legendary and breathtaking Grand Hotel Tremezzo, the hotel's signature T Spa is as tranquil an oasis as that of Lake Como itself, with award-winning facilities like a dazzling infinity pool that peers out over the serenity of the lake. A range of Santa Maria Novella treatments are personalized to each client and the hammam suite has decadent and lavish views. Time seems to move slower in this part of the world, and this is the best way to embrace it.

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4Valmont Spa at the Chteau de la Messardire

Where: St.-Tropez, France

Wellness is the acute focus of the Chteau de la Messardire, a ravishing, palatial hotel perched on a hilltop on the outskirts of St.-Tropez. Complete with sweeping views of Provence and the French Riviera, the property underwent an extensive renovation in July, debuting a state-of-the-art Valmont spa boasting nine treatment rooms, Iyashi Dme, hammam, sauna, indoor swimming pool, and a fitness center. You would be remiss not to practice yoga and pick up tennis in this sublime setting, tooboth are on offer for the self-practicing or with lessons taught by pros.

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5Chabl Spa at Chabl Yucatn

Where: Merida, Mexico

Chabl is a sanctuary set amid tropical gardens in Merida, and while small in stature, the spa is one of the most magical setups imaginable. Inspired by and in reverence to the natural world, Chabl Spa oozes tranquility and rejuvenation, and truly is in a league of its own. All things revolve around a natural cenote, and this spa has shaken up the wellness game by blending ancient mysticism and modern methodologies. Chabl is a true reset in every sense of the wordthe perfect place for a touch of relaxation and replenishment.

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6Espa Life at The Corinthia

Where: London, England

Its hard to find a more glamorous setting than The Corinthia London, and its spa Espa, a four-floor subterranean setup, is one of the finest we've seen. This veritable oasis in bustling London exudes peace and tranquility from every corner. With 17 treatment rooms, signature sleep pods, a thermal floor with two pools, an amphitheater sauna, and an ice fountain, you are sure to leave refreshed and revitalized.

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7THE WELL at Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection

Where: Prez Zeledn, Costa Rica

THE WELL debuts next month at Hacienda AltaGracia in Costa Rica and promises unparalleled innovation. True to form, Auberge Resorts Collection has thoughtfully reimagined the spa experience, with East-meets-West healing practices, expert-driven health coaching and workshops, and holistic treatments. This will mark the lauded wellness brands first international foray where it will introduce Talamancan healing traditions, fusing advanced therapies with local healing traditions. The setup for the spa is Casa de Agua, a greenhouse-style pool and therapy room with heated stone beds for natural clay treatments and relaxation, which overlooks rolling hills and a lush endless canopy of trees. Whether you're a spa novice or a wellness aficionado, this retreat is not to be missed.

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8The Spa at Xigera Safari Lodge

Where: Okavango Delta, Botswana

Deeply rooted in the heart of Botswanas expansive Okavango Delta, Xigera Safari Lodge offers a very different type of safari experience, from close encounters with wildlife to stargazing on its lookout deck; it is a truly world-class, new addition to the region. While there are so many special safari destinations, not many boast award-winning spa programs, but Xigera most certainly does. Revival, renewal, and rejuvenation are all buzz words for this heavenly setup that was designed to make the most of the captivating views of season flood plains and riverine forests. The spa here exists harmoniously within the natural world. A commitment to wellness means all treatments employ products that are hyper-potent, 100% natural, and non-toxic. Picture unwinding after a day spent on safari in a spectacularly sublime setting; here, that's what you'll getalong with unparallelled treatments.

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9The Spa at Finca Cortesin

Where: Malaga, Spain

Set in the rolling hills of the Costa del Sol, tucked away from all the tourists, is the stylish and stunning Finca Cortesin, an homage to Andalusian architecture that brims with Mediterranean charm and houses one of the finest spas imaginable. Wellness is a priority here, and the spa is vast, housing thermal baths, a heated indoor saltwater pool, a dynamic massage offering, three thermal areas, Turkish baths, and Spains first Snow Cave. Restorative treatments abound in the inspiring setting; the spa at Finca Cortesin is undeniably a game changer for the region.

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10NIHI Sumbas Spa Safari

Where: Sumba, Indonesia

Deep in the heart of an undiscovered paradise tucked discreetly in the Indonesian archipelago, NIHI Sumba Island is simply paradisical; with sweeping views of the glittering Indian Ocean, its known as the lost world islandand for good reason. Pristine and private, the property offers an indulgent and bespoke Spa Safari Nihioka, which includes a trek through the hills, treatments in a private cliffside bale, and brisk swims in the ocean. This sustainable gem exudes serenity and natural beauty, all to a dramatic backdrop of serene white beaches juxtaposed with the turquoise ocean. Trust us: Add it to your bucket list.

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11Spa at Malliouhana Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection

Where: Anguilla

Perched atop an ocean cliff in captivating Anguilla, Malliouhana overlooks crystal clear waters and perfect white sand beaches. The restorative, newly launched spa has spacious treatment rooms that employ local botanical ingredients, a private infinity pool overlooking the Caribbean, and a best-in-class private fitness training setup. Chilled-out color palettes of white and sky blue give off serious island vibes.

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12Hina Spa at Conrad Bora Bora

Where: Bora Bora, French Polynesia

In the far reaches of the Pacific Ocean, Conrad Bora Bora Nui is what desert island castaway dreams are made of. The cuisine and setting are nearly mythical, but the hilltop Hina Spa shines through as a veritable temple of well-being. Nestled within an invigorating volcanic rock, treatments here are revitalizing and among the best in French Polynesia.

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13The Spa at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort

Where: Chiang Rai, Thailand

Enveloped by virgin forests on a ridge overlooking both the hills of Myanmar and Laos, this laid-back but utterly luxurious resort and spa is in a truly unique setting in Northern Thailand. The soulful spa is a cut above, set up in a three-story, open-air pavilion with wood treatment suites that quite literally overlook three countries. The treatments here employ centuries-old northern wellness traditions that are fused with indigenous and local medicinal ingredients. The spa's peaceful setup is a short amble to a rice paddy pavilion that is set up for yoga and massages.

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14The Spa at Song Saa

Where: Song Saa Private Island, Cambodia

Song Saa is made up of two islands connected by a footbridge and surrounded by idyllic beaches, exquisite tropical reefs, and protected virgin rainforest floating effortlessly in the Gulf of Thailand. This is one of the very best honeymoon spots on earth and the spa with no walls, with a nod to the name Song Saa (or The Sweethearts), embraces the Buddhist tradition of cultivating loving-kindness. This is not your run-of-the-mill spa, as its made up of little sublime sanctuaries dotted across the islands, surrounded by the natural world.

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15The Spa at Gleneagles

Where: Auchterarder, Scotland

Surrounded by splendid isolation, with rooms and suites overlooking vast landscapes of rolling countryside hills in Scotland, Gleneagles epitomizes sumptuous luxury. The Spa at Gleneagles has picked up numerous awardsand for good reason. Completely redesigned, its treatments employ balms, oils, and scrubs all naturally derived from botanicals found locally on the estate. They take wellness quite seriously at Gleneagles, so much so that theyve brought on Dr. Barbara Sturm to elevate bespoke treatments and leading naturopath and nutritionist Rosemary Ferguson to craft healthy, new menus to accompany guests' treatments with a nourishing diet during their stays.

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16The Spa at Islas Secas

Where: Islas Secas, Panama

Islas Secas is a sumptuous hidden gem and private island blending barefoot luxury with intrepid experiences. In line with its untamed, wild locale, The Spa at Islas Secas celebrates a time stood still sensibility where simplicity becomes indulgent, set up across two luxury treatment tents. Open to the elements, in line with the resorts eco-conscious commitment, a treatment here is to embrace the outdoors. At this spa, products are ethical, organic where possible, and natural, drawing inspiration from plants endemic to the island such as coconuts and ylang-ylang. Set amid lush jungle foliage, the spa sits tucked away within the very center of the property, evoking the sensations of being in a secret, and ethereal, garden.

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17Willowbrook Spa at The Lake House on Canandaigua

Where: Finger Lakes, New York

A relative newcomer to the hotel scene, The Lake House on Canandaigua in the Finger Lakes has already made a name for itself with its chic, design-forward aesthetic and an understated but thoughtful take on luxury, with sand-colored wood juxtaposed with rich hues of greens and blues. Its inspired Willowbrook Spa has solidified The Lake House as a wellness destination unto itself in with two signature water-view barrel saunas overlooking the serene Canandaigua Lake. Residential-feeling treatment rooms host experiences, products, and services developed in collaboration with TLee Spas and Born Bathing, with interiors from legendary designer Cate Mills. An oasis in upstate.

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18Asaya at Rosewood Hong Kong

Where: Hong Kong, China

The glamorous and soaring Rosewood Hong Kong couldnt be in a better location in the city, and its flagship Asaya Spa and wellness concept takes personal well-being to a whole new level, covering an expansive 40,000 square feet over two floors with 11 treatment rooms, blissful relaxation areas, and an outdoor swimming pool with stunning harbor views. Treatments and therapies are bespoke, and the spa's experts treat well-being as an ecosystem that can be balanced, to help promote a more enlightened and optimized life.

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19Six Senses Spa Shaharut

Where: Shaharut, Israel

Six Senses Shaharut is a mesmerizing escape within the dazzling Negev Desert. Designed to preserve and reflect the natural landscapes of the Ramon Crater and the nearby Dead Sea, this luxurious wellness respite is nestled into a dramatic cliff face where panoramic views of burnt-orange sunsets close each day, leading to unobstructed dark skies at night. The renowned spa uses camel milk in professional massage creams specially tailored for the property; the milk is rich with proteins and vitamins such as B12, A, B2, B1, C, and keratin, which are all vital for keeping the skin healthy and supple. Natural treatments help fight anti-aging and are anti-inflammatory and deeply therapeutic in healing.

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20The Valmont Spa at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel

The grand dame of luxury hotels in New York CityThe Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotelcollaborated with Swiss skincare brand Valmont to debut their namesake New York spa and first stateside flagship store, La Maison Valmont. Tucked away on the third floor of the iconic property, The Valmont Spa is the ultimate hideout for relaxing luxury in the city that never sleeps, featuring treatments exclusively tailored to The Carlyle aided by the brand's signature butterfly motion that sets the tone for each treatment. The products and treatments, particularly the facials, are all about Valmont's results-driven skincare.

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We May Know Less About The Deep Sea Than The Moon. Should It Be Mined? – Honolulu Civil Beat

Posted: at 11:17 pm

Much remains unknown about the long-term effects of deep-sea mining in the Pacific and its role in the greater climate crisis. Given that, activists, governments and the private sector support a 10-year moratorium on deep-sea mining.

Yet the Republic of Nauru has made its intentions clear: Within two years, it will start mining the deep sea of the Clarion Clipperton Zone.

The CCZ between Hawaii and Kiribati, extending eastward towards Mexico is just one area of interest for mining outfits, covering 4.5 million square kilometers of the Pacific.

The area is filled with seamounts and deep-sea mountains, home to minerals including manganese, cobalt and several other elements integral to batteries that power smartphones and electric vehicles, among other things.

Governments, such as the Cook Islands, along with private mining outfits, are also looking to do exploratory work in their own waters, which has caused concern due to the unknown fallout.

Mining the deep sea involves the harvest of tennis ball-sized nodules scattered across the sea floor up to four miles below the surface. The nodules are sucked up to ships from the seafloor with vacuum-like machines and sifted from the sediment, which is then pumped back into the water.

Plumes of sediment are created by the machines as they negotiate the sea floor. In addition, the sediment that goes back into the water after sifting spreads before settling again on the seafloor. A recent modeling study has shown that the plumes could spread for hundreds of miles from the mining site, in all directions.

With all this type of research, theres a lot of assumptions that need to be made, because we know mining hasnt happened. So we dont know what its going to look like, said Daniel Wagner, ocean science technical advisor for Conservation International, an international environmental nonprofit. The potential implications for impact are enormous.

Anti-mining advocates often say more is known about the moon and that science needs time to catch up. Wagner says research commissioned by mining outfits is biased.

Wagner has been researching deep-sea ecosystems for several years, and continues to discover new species of coral in the Pacific Crust Zone, another area targeted for exploration. These deep-sea ecosystems have developed over tens of thousands of years or more, while the nodules attracting prospectors are older than humanity itself, he said.

The coral reefs are not like weeds or grasses that might, if you cut it, they will come back. They are more like redwood forests in that if you remove it, its basically permanently gone, Wagner said. They grow very slowly, they reproduce very slowly Theyre not equipped to withstand impact.

These deep sea corals are important sinks for carbon. In addition, the ecosystems hold potential importance for humanity in other ways. Early Covid-19 vaccine testing included the use of enzymes found in these habitats.

Its really important that we know before we take any major decision in terms of strip-mining an area, Wagner said.

While all nations have power over their own waters, the International Seabed Authority regulates the floor of international oceans and has been working on the regulatory framework of deep-sea mining. It first signed contracts for exploratory work for 15 contractors in 2001, mostly in the CCZ, under the United Nations Law of the Sea. It has granted 30 exploratory contracts to date.

Andrew Friedman, who leads the Deep Sea Mining Project at The Pew Charitable Trusts, said the regulatory framework had been hastily formulated, faster than science has been able to understand the deep sea.

Nauru triggered the two-year rule a Seabed Authority regulation that its members can use to signal intent to mine under whatever regulations exist two years later.

Since then, advocates and scientists have voiced concern that the frameworks development being expedited would compromise the integrity of any future agreement. The International Union for Conservation of Nature, in its World Conservation Congress in September, voted overwhelmingly against it.

Friedman said all nations should have their concerns heard and addressed in the regulations but feared that was not the case.

Communities and conservationists throughout the Pacific are voicing opposition not only to plans to mine the CCZ, but also their own or neighboring nations waters. Fijis prime minister with Ni-Vanuatu and Papua New Guinean support called for his fellow Pacific states to implement a 10-year moratorium on seabed mining.

But for nations like the Cook Islands and Nauru, the prospect of economic salvation was enough to convince them exploration was worth it, according to Maureen Penjueli of the Pacific Network on Globalisation, a regional watchdog organization focused on Pacific autonomy. The group feared Naurus use of the two-year rule trigger could create a domino effect of other cash-strapped nations.

Mining was presented positively in Nauru and, without much grassroots advocacy to counter it, the idea of mining a plot in the CCZ was perceived as a distant issue, said Penjueli.

In the Cook Islands, however, the Te Ipukarea Society, an environmental nongovernmental organization, has recently completed a nationwide public awareness program in which it visited all but one of the countrys 15 islands, in an effort to set the record straight on mining following a government-run public relations campaign.

The governments outreach on deep sea mining had been focused on boosting and diversifying the economy, on top of contributing to the green, low-carbon economy, led by Prime Minister Mark Brown. A panel is currently entertaining proposals to explore, not mine, the Cook Islands cobalt-rich seabed. A decision could be made by the years end.

They talk about the benefits that come from deep-sea mining, which are of course financial, said Kelvin Passfield, the societys technical director. They do mention that there are risks, but they really glaze over the risks. We highlight the risks: The main risk being that we dont know what the impacts will be at this stage.

Despite political criticism of Te Ipukarea Societys message, most Cook Islanders were receptive, Passfield said. But the opposition Democratic Party this year nonetheless expressed its support for deep sea exploration.

The society has been pushing the government to impose a minimum 10-year moratorium on deep-sea mining, to better understand its environmental implications. But the government has stated its granting of exploration licenses demonstrated a measured approach, which it hoped would quell climate concerns, Passfield said.

The government says that there needs to be more research. We want research by independent organizations that arent actually likely to rush things, said Passfield, adding that it was common sense to hold off.

Asian Development Bank estimated the countrys gross domestic product would contract by 26% in 2021, with its tourism-dependent economy being decimated by the pandemic. A 2016 report on mining estimated the economy could benefit from $43.2 million of new revenue. The countrys total GDP in 2020 was just $384 million.

In the governments view, the potential economic benefits of the cobalt-rich seabed mean money for infrastructure, better health and education facilities and a generally prosperous nation.

The deep-sea mining initiative comes as the Cook Islands are in a uniquely precarious economic spot tourism has plummeted and its fisheries are no longer a reliable source of income because of fluctuations in fish stocks.

In 2017, the Cook Islands protected Marae Moana, an area covering all of its waters. The environmental project put the nations reputation at an all-time high, but the governments amenability to mining companies changed everything, according to conservationist Jacqueline Evans.

Evans, who was director of the Marae Moana project and won the Goldman Environmental Prize, was fired from her government role after calling for a moratorium on deep-sea mining in 2018. Though mining was never taken off the table during the implementation of Marae Moana, it was always perceived to be a far-off issue, Evans said.

Our reputation was ruined, she said.

With bipartisan support for mining and a stifled economy, the future seems set for the Cook Islands. Yet Cook Islands residents still consider the ocean tremendously important to their culture and wellbeing, and any environmental fallout would face massive backlash, said Evans.

Although it says in our legislation that licenses cant be issued if there are environmental risks, Evans said, Im concerned that the threshold for environmental risks will be lower for the panel than it is for the people.

While the seafloor nodules are attracting corporate interests to the Pacific islands, which have all suffered from a tourism downturn, there is a growing fear over potential liabilities if exploration or mining work goes awry.

Deep-sea exploration in Papua New Guinea, run by the Canadian outfit Nautilus Minerals, made international headlines after its project ran aground due to insufficient funding. In the meantime, sharks dispersed when the work was being done, leaving Papua New Guinea communities struggling to continue their cultural practice of harvesting sharks. Papua New Guinea invested almost $106 million in the failed project.

Theres this ongoing debate on who stands to benefit from this. Ultimately they (Pacific nations) will be the last to benefit and they will be left with the liability, said Penjueli of the Pacific Network on Globalisation.

We have to take a guess on the level of harm that we can deal with, she said.

In the Cook Islands, Evans continues to question the integrity of her countrys Seabed Minerals Act, which sets a framework for exploring deep-sea mining. In an Oct. 9 letter to the Cook Islands News, Evans raised concerns unaddressed by the government, including how the nation would defend against potential legal challenges. She also called for a referendum.

In a response to Evans in the same paper, Seabed Minerals Commissioner Alex Herman wrote, Where valid concerns are raised, including by Ms. Evans, the Authority will publish those questions and responses for the public I will not be responding to further letters to the editor, particularly those containing sensationalist statements.

The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority did not respond to questions.

Obviously its unfortunate that some countries dont have the luxury to plan or think about 20, 30, 50 years ahead, Wagner, of Conservation International, said. They have to be concerned about keeping the lights on today and tomorrow. And thats always the problem: short-term economic benefits.

Conservation International is one of many NGOs, nations, private corporations and regional groups calling for a moratorium. The United Nations has called for the 2020s to be the decade for creating a sustainable ocean, with calls for 30% of it to be protected by 2030. By then, the science will paint a clearer picture of the potential harm of deep-sea mining.

The more we look, the more we find At that point, it will be basically irrefutable, Wagner said.

While some organizations have called for a moratorium, Penjuelis Pacific Network on Globalisation called for an outright ban in 2017 following what happened in Papua New Guinea.

Our position is that science is already very clear, said Penjueli.

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We May Know Less About The Deep Sea Than The Moon. Should It Be Mined? - Honolulu Civil Beat

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