[EconProf]

[quote=AN][quote=CA renter]It might be better to combine test scores with in-class observations and (perhaps) parent and student input.[/quote]
I totally agree with this too. I would never suggest test scores being the only measurement. Maybe, we can have students and parents input, principal input, AND possibly a camera in the classroom as proof, on whether the teachers are really doing their job or not. Maybe limit the camera to the classrooms where the teachers think they’re unfairly judged.[/quote]
Advocates of reform agree…student progress should be only part of the evaluation and pay/promotion system. No one suggest it should be the sole determinant. But the teachers unions say it should have absolutely no weight because it is impossible to accurately measure progress. What they really want to do is protect the poor teachers.
I believe where student learning is part of the evaluation, it is only 25% to 50% of the process.

[EconProf]

Treehugger: there is another advantage to looking on your own and dealing only with the listing agent: they will work harder to get the deal through because they are not sharing the commission.
This is especially helpful since many sellers overestimate the value of their house and need to be brought down to earth by their agent.

[EconProf]

[quote=paramount]One last question: So my new tenant moves in, and finally provides me with an initial move in inspection report that is extremely detailed. For example:

1. The outside condenser unit has rust at the bottom of the unit.

2. A bathroom ceiling light fixture has a small amount of rust stain.

And on and on…

It’s as if they went through the house with a microscope.

It just doesn’t seem right, and I think something is up.

Anyone have a similar experience?[/quote]
You are lucky you have a concientous tenant. And a very detailed list of deficiencies upon move-in is exactly what you want. For starters, it establishes a list both sides can point to upon move-out so that deficiencies NOT on the list can be charged to the tenant. The most frequent statement I hear when a tenant moves out is “That was bad when I moved in”. I pull out their move-in list and say “Show me”. They can’t, and the more detailed their list, the weaker their argument, since they have shown they tried to list everything.
I actually encourage the new tenant to be as detailed as possible, and to wait till they’ve lived there a week to be sure to include every little thing.

[EconProf]

[quote=CA renter][quote=EconProf]I agree, Paramount, especially about voting yes on Prop. 32.
Its main result would be to end compulsory public employee union donations, which fund political advertisements the union members may not agree with. The fact is that many teachers and other union members do not agree with the political stand of their unions, yet are forced to pay for candidates and views they personally oppose.[/quote]

Those who prefer to work in a union-free environment are free to do so all day long. They can work at private schools if they don’t want to pay union dues. What’s funny is that they don’t go there. Nope, they gravitate toward the superior jobs that are (surprise!) made better because of unions.

More “something for nothing” mentality where the deadbeats want something (pay, benefits, working conditions, etc.) that somebody else is paying for (via union dues).

As for getting union money out of politics…I’m all for it, but only if ALL money (and bribes of all kinds) is taken out of politics. No money from “associations” (no different from unions)…no AMA, no NAR, no corporate lobbyists of any kind, no environmental lobbyists, no immigrant lobbyists…nothing. NO money in politics — and no promises of jobs or other positions of power in the private sector.

If capital gets a seat at the table, labor will have a seat at the table. Otherwise, no deal.[/quote]
No, actually, good teachers much prefer the private school/voucher/non-unionized teaching environment. In fact, private schools generally pay far less than the unionized public schools, and have vastly higher productivity. Of course, the weak teachers and time-servers prefer the unionized public schools with tenure protections because it is practically impossible for them to be fired.
Can any teachers–public or private–weigh in here with what they’ve experienced?

[EconProf]

I agree, Paramount, especially about voting yes on Prop. 32.
Its main result would be to end compulsory public employee union donations, which fund political advertisements the union members may not agree with. The fact is that many teachers and other union members do not agree with the political stand of their unions, yet are forced to pay for candidates and views they personally oppose.

[EconProf]

The teachers unions say that job evaluations cannot be fair because too many other factors affect the achievement level of their students. If a teacher gets stuck with a class of poor students, they would be penalized. That is a red herring.
Fair evaluations would measure PROGRESS over the course of the year the teacher has an impact.
A teacher ending the year with a class of students with average test scores, when they started the year with low test scores should get the highest salaries.

[EconProf]

Flu: Interesting. Establish comps by selling my land at FMV to an S-Corp that I own. They would probably claim it was not an arms-length transaction.
Regarding the other two comments: The assessor and their representatives are in a tough spot in negotiations. They naturally want the county to keep as much revenue as possible, but they have to at least appear to be fair and honest. They want to minimize reassessments and not be flooded with appeals. Since they are far more experienced at arguing for their side than the public they deal with, they can sometimes “educate” the public as to why the assessor is right and the homeowner is wrong. They will invoke their “expertise” in the discussions, and it can be a little intimidating to the average citizen. But if you have mustered the evidence and believe you are correct, you must persevere. The truth will win out, and you will prevail.
Your ultimate weapon is to say “I want a hearing”. You are legally entitled to one, and they dread hearing that, because it eats up 20 – 30 minutes’ time of a very expensive group of people. At that point, the other side will argue and argue and then compromise, unless your appeal is truly without merit.

[EconProf]

I’ve had some interesting bouts with the Yuma County Assessor, where I bought several properties over the years. Yuma values have fallen as much or more than San Diego’s (hold the catcalls) and I have appealed the assessments. On some buildings with very close comparables, the assessor immediately slashed my assessments. But on some land parcels with no comparable sales, I have no ammunition to bring to the argument. But I am positive values have fallen drastically (land falls more in a falling market than other real estate types). In fact, I can point to comparable for sale parcels where they are asking way less per square ft. than my assessed value. Sorry, says the assessor, that’s not a comparable sale. This conclusion is so ridiculous that I am considering a court challenge.
Anybody have a similar experience with an assessor?

[EconProf]

Both urbanrealtor and SDR have just given great advice for both landlords and tenants that, if followed, will eliminate most disputes that occur upon moveout.
They both stress the importance of full documentation of the condition of the premises at the outset, and who is responsible for what conditions at the move-out. But the atmosphere at the beginning of rentals works against detailed documentation. There is a sort of “honeymoon” at the beginning since the landlord has found a paying tenant and the tenant has picked these premises over alternatives. Each side likes the other and both are optimistic that everything will just work out fine in the future. That is exactly when each side needs to remind themselves that this a business relationship, and the paper trail they establish now governs everything in their future.

[EconProf]

It appears I am way outnumbered in my suggestion for some self-policing by Rich Toscano here, so let’s just be clear about what I am advocating.
First and foremost, it is not censorship, especially of any exchange of real estate related ideas, opinions, and facts. As I remember, that is what most of us come here for.
No, it is such statements as “Obama sucks capital’s cock like a $2 whore”, a statement which got agreement from a few who chimed in. Somehow I don’t understand how this is enlightening or uplifting as I eat my breakfast and look for the latest real estate news.
So while I think Obama’s policies are awful, it is not constructive, or persuasive to others, to use gutter language to make one’s case. Apparently, some on this site who live in that world believe otherwise.

[EconProf]

Agreed Enron.
What started out as a legitimate topic has been brought low by mindless mudslingers, and it hurts the Piggington brand. Perhaps some censorship by Rich Toscano is in order in self-defense.

[EconProf]

If they have tons of liquidity but all these red flags, you need to simply adjust your deposit for the risk you are taking. Assuming your laws do not limit the deposit and you have consulted an attorney, just CYA with an appropriate deposit and an iron-clad lease, full credit check, detailed application form filled out and checked.
One your applicant has “skin in the game”, he will perform or pay the price. (a lesson lenders disregarded a few years ago)

[EconProf]

CAR: You posted at 3:29 a.m. Get some sleep man. Its a holiday!
OK, we are supposed to bring data, but you are drowning us in it. And you are veering off topic.
The privatisation of Chicago’s parking meter revenues for the next 75 years was indeed a travesty, and us conservatives agree with you that it is another way to kick the can down the road. It is essentially credit card financing and is to be condemned. The then-mayor of Chicago, Daley, then went on to briefly become Obama’s Chief of Staff, but was pushed out because he was too business friendly and not liberal enough. That you show that he later went to work for the very law firm that benefited from the looting of Chicago’s parking meter revenues is indeed crony capitalism at its worst.
At last, something we can agree upon!

[EconProf]

On a more local level, candidate for San Diego Mayor Carl DeMaio has built his whole campaign on pension reform. He is opposed by congressman Bob Filner, who’s record suggests he would do little to oppose the wishes of the public employee unions.

[EconProf]

I just saw this movie and highly recommend it, especially to those who voted for Barrak Obama. The advertisement running for the movie “love him or hate him, you don’t know him” is especially telling.
It was factual throughout, but occasionally misleading when taking statements out of context, and did jump to some unwarranted conclusions. Yes, it pushed a definite point of view, but we need to expose ourself to alternative views to call ourselves objective, which is why I often tune in to MSNBC and read The New Republic, The New York Times, Huffington Post, etc. Liberals, if you claim to have an open mind, see this movie!

[Author]

Posts