http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/11/12/no-more-squatting-in-sad-old-england Comments On: No More Squatting in Sad Old England by Charles Mudede en-us Copyright 2013 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Sat, 18 May 2013 00:00:01 -0700 Sat, 18 May 2013 14:45:00 -0700 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Posted by Ken Mehlman]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 21:34:49 -0800 The Stranger Posted by jhops]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:15:33 -0800 The Stranger http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMMmPJYqZ…
Posted by venomlash]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 12:38:08 -0800 The Stranger
It would be rather surprising if a law passed in September had emptied out all the squats in London by mid-November.

And I think most people will be surprised if the law is used to roust anyone outside of squats that have been singled out as "problem" or "nuisance" by their surrounding communities (or, of course, by officious busybodies and the property developers who encourage them, when they figure the risk of public backlash to be less than the potential reward).
Posted by robotslave]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 12:34:51 -0800 The Stranger
The fines aren't terribly steep (not to a developer or speculator, anyhow), but they're steep enough to get my ass down to city hall in a fucking fury when I got a letter mistakenly telling me my place, that I live in, was "abandoned" (which it was, before I bought it. But, um, I'm listed as 'occupant', on the title transfer, THAT'S HOW YOU GOT MY NAME FUCKERS. You mailed me the notice to my Goddamn address for fucks sake?! Who was supposed to get that mail in an abandoned building?).

Anyhow, just came here to vent. This issue is complex, so I guess I've got nothing to add.
Posted by Dougsf]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 12:27:10 -0800 The Stranger Posted by skiplogic]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 12:22:31 -0800 The Stranger
Fair enough, but let's finish building the system you've begun construction on, there.

Suppose squatters in need have occupied an abandoned building. What do we do if the landlord decides to redevelop the land? Or if someone buys the property from the landlord, and wants to put it to use more or less as is? Can the squatters simply prevent this at their discretion? Do you send the police in to toss them out on the street if they don't want to go along with the new plan?

Similarly, what do propose we do with property when a landlord loses rights to it? Is this a system in which we will gradually remove property from private hands, and assign it to the state? Or perhaps reclassify it as non-property, that can no longer be owned at all by any entity? Or if you'd rather re-circulate seized property back into the private property pool, how do you go about that, and what do you do with squatting residents when you do it?

I'm not suggesting this or that system is right or wrong, but which system are you trying to build?
Posted by robotslave]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 12:14:12 -0800 The Stranger
I really like @1 PP's idea... tax landlords for leaving their buildings abandoned (perhaps after a grace period). That goes on long enough, the landlord loses rights to the property altogether.
Posted by treacle]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:57:46 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Doctor Memory]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:54:52 -0800 The Stranger
It's rather telling that in identifying the "original purpose" of squatting in Germany, you place political autonomy before, you know, shelter.

It would be surprising, if I weren't already aware of the fact that a devout anarchist is every bit as capable of putting ideology before basic human need as any other political fundamentalist.
Posted by robotslave]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:24:59 -0800 The Stranger #9

http://www.3m.com/


Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 10:43:29 -0800 The Stranger
http://www.communityprogress.net/
Posted by rob!]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 10:42:28 -0800 The Stranger http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK8hNT-qU…
Posted by venomlash]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 10:37:09 -0800 The Stranger Aren't there thousands and thousands of people who have been "squatting" in their own homes here in America by living under a foreclosed mortgage and paying nothing?

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 10:31:40 -0800 The Stranger Posted by chorizo]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 10:28:48 -0800 The Stranger Posted by geoff teardrop]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 10:26:41 -0800 The Stranger
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/96479…

And speaking of jackholes:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/blog/200…

And in case you missed the Bush Family Veterans' Day greetings ("Have a great day, suckers!")

file:///George_W._Bush_and_family.jpg">File:George_W._Bush_and_family.jpg">http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/file:///G…">File:G…


Posted by sgt_doom]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 10:12:17 -0800 The Stranger Posted by More, I Say!]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 10:05:27 -0800 The Stranger
Of course, there is also a significant problem with properties in London that are owned by rich foreigners, but just sit empty for years on end, but that problem is more difficult to "take action against."
Posted by Aaron CM]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:57:28 -0800 The Stranger Posted by mhulot]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:51:42 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Pope Peabrain]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:39:12 -0800 The Stranger