Friday, February 24, 2017

Frannie: Privatization Is A Pipe Dream - Fannie Mae (OTCMKTS:FNMA) | Seeking Alpha

Frannie: Privatization Is A Pipe Dream - Fannie Mae (OTCMKTS:FNMA) | Seeking Alpha: "Summary:   The prospects for GSE privatization have been significantly reduced due to setbacks in the courts.

The arguments in support of investing in the GSEs are weak, and these stocks have further downside from Mnuchin and the U.S Treasury.

While most of the downside is over, Fannie and Freddie are still compelling shorts."




Thursday, February 23, 2017

Dismal Results From Vouchers Surprise Researchers as DeVos Era Begins - NYTimes.com

Dismal Results From Vouchers Surprise Researchers as DeVos Era Begins - NYTimes.com: "But even as school choice is poised to go national, a wave of new research has emerged suggesting that private school vouchers may harm students who receive them. The results are startling — the worst in the history of the field, researchers say."

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Privatization has been sold by ideologues as a utopian program of private alternatives that were supposedly always better than public sector service provision. But in one policy area after another, the results have not lived up to the hype. But the private service providers will continue to oversell their wares because they make a fortune.

Monday, February 20, 2017

Homeowners outraged that Millennium developers, HOA won't share building's rescue strategy - San Francisco Business Times

Homeowners outraged that Millennium developers, HOA won't share building's rescue strategy - San Francisco Business Times:

 "A strategy proposed by the developer and HOA of San Francisco's sinking, tilting Millennium Tower to fix the building is coming under fire this week from homeowners, who are frustrated that the group refuses to detail its repair strategy...Last August, it was revealed that the 58-story Millennium Tower has sunk more than a foot and is leaning two inches, and now faces a rash of lawsuits from both regulators and angry homeowners worried about their investment in the $350 million building.

Thus far, the San Francisco City Attorney has sued the developer, while two Millennium Tower homeowners have filed a civil claim against both the city and their neighboring Transbay Joint Powers Authority, and a separate group of 20 homeowners has sued Millennium Partners, San Francisco’s Department of Building Inspection, the City Attorney and the Transbay Joint Powers Authority for allegedly conspiring to withhold information about the building's structural issues."

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The situation is in mediation. The association says they are bound by the mediation agreement not to talk about the repair plans. That would be consistent with normal procedures for any mediation. But big HOA disputes tend to spawn multiple claims by various people that can make settlement difficult.