Carlene Cox, for APP Marketplace Published 5:09 p.m. ET March 9, 2020 | Updated 3:24 p.m. ET March 10, 2020

Find a trusted local pro at APP homeservices.(Photo: Getty Images)

Maybe your husband has watched a few too many home improvement TV shows. Maybe your wife has scoured online DIY videos. But when it comes to your homes plumbing, a seemingly straightforward project can quickly become a gushing problem.

Debating whether to tackle that task yourself, or hire a local professional? Heres a quick guide to help make that decision.

The task at hand: Installing new hardware

If youre looking to upgrade your bathroom or kitchen on a budget, a new faucet can transform a space, without costing much. Removing old hardware and installing new is a relatively simple process, and the tools you need are pretty basic as well you probably already have all the ones youll need.

Verdict: DIY

The task at hand: Replacing a toilet

Youve upgraded your bathroom faucet how about taking it a step further and switching out the rooms most important porcelain feature? With the water lines already in place, it might not seem like a tough job. But plenty of pitfalls await. Setting a toilet can be a tricky maneuver, and if youre not careful, you can over tighten your water connections and cause leaks.

Verdict:Find a trusted localpro

The task at hand: A clogged drain

Theres a reason some professionals call liquid drain cleaners a plumbers best friend. Many solutions can actually damage your pipes, leading to expensive repairs needing professional attention. But fixing a clogged drain doesnt have to involve harmful chemicals. If youve already tried baking soda and vinegar to no avail, there are plenty of inexpensive tools thatll have your sink draining fast in no time.

Verdict: DIY

The task at hand: Leaking pipes

Finally, the long winter is coming to a close. But sometimes the welcome warm weather brings with it leaks, as pipes tend to contract or fill with frozen water during the colder months. You might think replacing a pipe or two isnt a daunting task, but the potential for water damage could far exceed what youd save by trying this fix yourself.

Verdict:Find a trusted localpro

The task at hand: Installing a new dishwasher

If you already have a dishwasher in your kitchen, installing a new one yourself would seem to make sense. After all, the hookup is already there. But dishwashers use both electricity and water a potentially dangerous combination.

Verdict:Find a trusted localpro

Whether its a dripping faucet, clogged drain, leaking pipe or low water pressure, sometimes its worth the peace of mind knowing the problem will be solved quickly and professionally.

To make sure the jobs done right (and to avoid another trip to the hardware store) contact a top-rated local plumbing professional for your next project by visiting APP's new homeservices site, a trusted place to find the best home services providers in the Jersey Shore area.

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Plumbing problem? When to DIY or hire a pro - Asbury Park Press

Plumbing issues are bound to arise in any home time and again. Certain practices will help you maintain the condition of your plumbing system, but repairs are inevitable in the long run. Phoenix plumbing companies and others across the world provide services that cater to the needs of every home. In some cases, you might not be able to get your plumbing company to come in on time to salvage the situation in your house, forcing you to seek an emergency plumber. In such circumstances, you do not have the luxury of time to vet your replacement plumber. You need not worry; here are some tips to help you pick the best plumber in the nick of time:

The plumber you choose for an urgent repair must be available immediately to help you out of the plumbing mess that you may be in. The first thing that you ought to know is if the plumber will be able to get to your house or business within the timeframe that you need the repair done. The communication channels provided by the plumber you are interested in must be readily available, and he/she should be able to communicate on time and have an explicit schedule. This will make it easy for you to get the work done on time with minimal hassle. Plumbers who are available around the clock may be suitable for your needs as opposed to those who only work during the day.

This is an essential element that should be among the first things considered. It is possible to gauge the plumbers level of professionalism from the first interaction. As noted above, communication must be top-notch, consistent, and proficient. If the plumber cannot communicate like a pro, then it is an indicator that their work may not be what you are looking for. Engage plumbers who are professionals from the first interaction. If it is a plumbing company, the customer support or whoever you get to speak to first is a reflection of the companys work ethic, and this should guide you on whether to use them for the repair or not.

Emergency services tend to cost more even in other sectors, and the same principle applies here as well. The rates may be higher than what you would have paid to schedule a plumbing appointment for your home. It is wise to ask for a quotation after engaging the plumber on the fixing you need. Compare different quotes and pick one who is within your plumbing budget. In certain circumstances, you may not have the liberty to make this choice since the situation in your residence or business will dictate the plumber you get. Always ask about the cashier options they have and if your insurance company can cover the cost of repair or not.

An emergency plumber should be able to get to your home within the shortest time possible. This, therefore, means that you must seek the services of one who operates within your locality. Other than getting to your home fast, being close to the plumbers will help reduce charges since call out fees and others that may be related to accessing your area will be eliminated if you choose to work with the neighborhood plumber.

For such scenarios, it is always advisable that you work with a renowned company to ensure that you get legit services. The security of your home may also be compromised if you work with a plumber with no physical store.

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Things to bear in mind when hiring an emergency plumber - AZ Big Media

Are you in need of reliable Alexandria plumber to quickly solve your plumbing problems at an affordable price? You can put your trust in PLUMBINGPROSDMV.com. When you invite our veteran owned company to repair the plumbing in your Alexandria home or business, we guarantee that you will receive superior craftsmanship, the highest level of customer service, and a customer service experience unrivaled by other Alexandria plumbing companies in the area.

Plumbing is one of the most important aspects of any home. Showers, toilets, washing machines, dishwashers all require your home to be equipped with plumbing that is reliable and working. When your plumbing system needs any type of repair or replacement, its essential to find the experts who can do the job right, the first time. Alexandria Plumbing Pros is Alexandria premier plumbing service provider, and we take immense pride in providing the best in plumbing services. If your property has endured any type of plumbing trouble, contact us today. A member of our team will be happy to assist you in providing more information about our services and scheduling repair times.

No matter how simple or severe your plumbing issue, you can trust in our expertly trained technicians to listen closely to your concerns and perform a fast, effective plumbing repair or installation.

We understand picking a plumber you can trust can be a daunting task, especially in the panic of an emergency. We want to help make your decision a confident one. We believe there are 4 important characteristics to look for when hiring a trustworthy plumber, and are the foundation of building a great home pro relationship: Experience, Knowledge, Reliability, Reputation.

We call before we arrive, we provide honest and upfront estimates before any work is done, and we take care of your home by using shoe covers and drop cloths as needed. You will not be able to find plumbing services elsewhere in Alexandria that are as friendly, speedy, and professional as ours!

No matter the size of the plumbing project, youll get the highest quality plumbing service, from upgrading your hot water supply to a tankless water, to remodeling your master bathroom, or a whole house plumbing line replacement. Well ensure that your residential or commercial plumbing project is handled smoothly and expertly.

Exceeding your expectations is our #1 goal. In fact, we want you to feel so satisfied that you would call on us again, and trust us to service your family, friends, and colleagues. We like to be easy to work with. Never a hard sell. Just straight forwardplumbing repairs, done right, at the best value.

Our professional Alexandria plumbers will treat you, and your home or business with respect. We pride ourselves on providing quality repairs using the best materials. Ourreviews speak volumes on our plumbers attention to detail and level of customer service. Take a minute and see for yourself why we are a top-rated Alexandria plumbing company. See our reviews online. We look forward to welcoming you to our plumbing familyand being your preferred Alexandria, Virginia plumber.

We have experience in every major type of plumbing repair service.Plumbing services that Alexandria Plumbing Pros offers include:

Alexandria plumbing contractors are your professional, affordable plumbing repair solution. Just call (855) 999-7105 to schedule service.

Media ContactCompany Name: Alexandria Plumbing Pro ServicesContact Person: Christopher PearsonEmail: Send EmailPhone: +1 (855) 999-7105Address:1737 King St #210 City: AlexandriaState: VACountry: United StatesWebsite: https://plumbingprosdmv.com/alexandria.html

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Alexandria Plumbing Pros are one of the best plumbing companies in Alexandria, Virginia - Press Release - Digital Journal

At 38, Eli Wilson has been a plumber half his life.

And hes been a business owner for four months.

In November, Wilson launched Total Plumbing and got busy in a hurry.

We hit the ground running, he said last week. Weve been working eight, 10, 12 hours a day. I never expected it to grow this fast. There are three of us now, but I plan on hiring two more plumbers and two laborers.

Wilson said, Just being honest and fair and having good customer service will get you a lot of good word of mouth.

He said, My brother started Total Plumbing in Denver. He invited me to come out there and work with him to see if I liked it. I really liked the work and the money.

When he moved back to Owensboro, Wilson said, I worked for a large commercial plumbing company for 16 years.

But Im a single parent, he said. And I have a 13-year-old daughter and I wanted to spend more time with her. I was getting up at 5 a.m to go to work and not getting home until 5:30 or 6 p.m. My mother had to come to my house at 5:10 a.m. to help get my daughter off to school and then she had to go to her own job. I couldnt keep asking her to do that.

Another factor in starting his own business, Wilson said, was Kentucky got rid of the prevailing wage. I went from making $35 an hour to making $23 an hour when that happened. Then, the work exploded because the labor was cheaper. We did school after school after school.

He said, I wanted to make more money and I wanted to pick my kid up from school. So, on Nov. 4 or 5, I went into business for myself.

Theres a shortage of licensed plumbers today, he said.

There arent too many kids getting into it, Wilson said. Theyre going out and borrowing thousands of dollars to go to college. Theres a huge demand for tradesmen. The average age of plumbers in Texas is 58. In Kentucky, its been 54 to 56. Think what its going to be like in 10 years.

Total Plumbing, named in honor of his brothers Denver company, has landed several real estate companies as clients.

And Wilson is busy getting the Brew Bridge Brewery at 800 W. Second St. ready to open.

Hes installing a manufactured floor drain system and a new gas line in the kitchen.

The floor drain system, which Wilson said he designed, keeps him from having to individually vent each trench drain from the tanks.

That saves the customer a lot of money in labor, he said.

Kentucky, Florida and New York have the toughest plumbing codes in the country, Wilson said.

Its hard to find a good licensed plumber, he said. But we have a good plumbing community here. If I cant get to a customer, I ask someone else to handle it for me and they do the same for me.

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Plumb Busy: Total Plumbing hit the ground running - messenger-inquirer

Talk about a company making a difference. Cellino Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has stepped up for their annual contest that will help make your non-profit almost $20,000!

You have until this Thursday, March 12, 2020!

Here is how you enter:Just go to Cellino Plumbing nominate your organization. There will be a Truck Wrap link on right on the home page that will link to all the details.

Call your friends, family, volunteers, social media following, and all your supporters in the community to help.

- 64 organizations with MOST VOTES will advance into the 2020 Truck Wrap Bracket.

They will be dividing nominations into 4 categories, based on their areas of focus.o Health & Wellnesso Animal Rescueso Community Improvemento & Miscellaneous, which includes any organizations supporting the arts, environment, education, etc.

All winners will be determined by WNY Votes, so get out there and support your organization!

Cellino Plumbing Heating and Cooling will meet with the Top 2 organizations, and decide on our 2020 winner!They will receive a custom designed Cellino Plumbing truck, wrapped with their logo, and their mission statement all over Western New York, as part of the Cellino Plumbing fleet.

AND the winning organization will get 5% of that trucks annual revenue for a whole year$20k - $30k in annual donations!

Remember, this contest is open to all Western New York non profit organizations! Get tocellinoplumbing.com/truckwrapfor everything you need to know about the 2020 Truck Wrap Contest!

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Win Over $20000 For Your WNY Non-Profit From Cellino Plumbing & HVAC - wyrk.com

One important characteristic to know about Mattioni Plumbing is their promise to grow and evolve. They pride themselves on their ability to innovate as they continue to offer customers the best and most efficient plumbing, heating, and cooling services. Mattioni Plumbing has made a promise to its customers to strive for growth and evolution as time progresses.

With this promise in mind, Mattioni Plumbing believed it was time to find a unique and inventive way to give back to the community. Shortly after learning about the Pennsylvania Sponsor A Highway Program, Mattioni Plumbing knew that funding litter-removal services along some of the busiest highways in Pennsylvania was the most innovative way to lend a hand to a broad demographic of commuters driving along the roads of Philadelphia.

According to Marketing Coordinator, Allison OShea, We chose to join the Pennsylvania Sponsor A Highway Program because we truly care about the community we serve and wanted a way to be able to give back. For this reason, the team is proud to lend a hand to the community by funding highway beautification services that keep drivers safe, while ensuring the highways continue looking pristine.

The Mattioni family started as farmers in the rural outskirts, just outside of Downington, Pennsylvania. In the mid-1900s, they began their newest family business venture known today as Mattioni plumbing. While their business model remains centered around the needs of both their customers and employees, they continue to grow and modernize to offer the best services.

For more information about Mattioni Plumbing visit: https://matplumbing.com/

For more information about the Pennsylvania Sponsor A Highway Program visit: http://www.adoptahighway.com

If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please contact Adopt A Highway Maintenance Corporation at 800-200-0003 or info@adoptahighway.com

About Adopt a Highway Maintenance Corporation

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Mattioni Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Inc. and Sponsor A Highway Are Teaming Up to Keep the Highways of Pennsylvania Clean - PRUnderground

A Derbyshire man has been jailed for his part in a scam which took money off elderly residents.

John Stott, 38, of Corporation Road, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, was jailed for two years after he and his accomplices gloated and congratulated one another in WhatsApp group messages, which glorified their "rip-off" trickery.

Details emerged in Leicester Crown Court of how some shoddy workmanship was not completed and damage was deliberately caused to create extra work, reports LeicestershireLive.

Shocked and distressed victims were often left with inflated bills, up to 10 times the real value, that they could ill-afford to pay.

Some victims felt intimidated into handing over hundreds of thousands of pounds for simple and straightforward jobs.

Adam Pearson, prosecuting, said one customer who phoned to complain was told: "We know where you live."

The court heard that a 92-year-old woman with a leaking bath tap ended up paying out 3,245 for unnecessary work- without the problem being fixed.

It included the fitting of a new bath, which the engineer had said he had had to break in order to access pipes.

The leak was not in fact under the bath.

The parts cost less than 450."

WhatsApp conversations at the time showed members of staff found that episode amusing

One customer was charged 1,554 in April 2017, for work which wrongly included making holes in the ceiling and upstairs floor to access pipes after a leak.

Another customer was charged 1,295 for a job involving a part costing 17.47.

Other examples included a woman who found her downstairs toilet and shower room flooded and ended up paying 595 for a 30-minute job estimated by an expert at 168.

And a 74-year-old woman was charged 510 for a door lock service that involved a 21.99 part and should have cost 100,

Another householder, aged 70, was charged 250 for a minor job to fix a toilet, using a part that cost 7.29.

Mr Pearson, said: "This case relates to two separate but closely-linked companies offering so-called emergency plumbing services Faster Response Ltd and Prestige Property Solutions (Midlands) Ltd also known as Prestige Property Solutions (UK) Ltd.

"Both companies were based in Leicestershire, but operated nationwide, run dishonestly to defraud their often elderly customers.

"Prestige effectively took over the business of Faster Response, when it ceased trading having been exposed as a rogue operation by a BBC Watchdog Rogue Traders programme."

Company boss, Russell Canfield, 44, ran the fraud with employees Stott, Benjamin Molloy, 33, Richard Jones, 38, Leighton Costello, 27, and Zackary Morgan, 21.

Each admitted two charges of fraudulent trading, between 2016 and 2018.

Accountant, Stephen Rice, joined Prestige in August 2017 and was briefly finance director for the following two months.

He admitted one count of fraudulent trading.

The court heard that Canfield's business partner, Liam Cuffe, who admitted his part in the scam was killed in a car crash in December.

Canfield, Cuffe, Molloy and Stott were were said to each be closely involved in the running of the companies either as director, shadow director or senior manager at various times.

Jones, Costello and Morgan were employed as plumbers and or engineers, for both firms, attending the homes of consumers and carrying out works of those that were defrauded.

Leicestershire County Council trading standards department, which prosecuted the fraudsters, received more than 150 complaints from customers during their inquiry.

From the evidence obtained from consumers, certain common themes emerged.

The complainants in this case were often, but not exclusively, elderly people seeking plumbing or locksmiths services.

Despite being based in Leicestershire, the companies advertised in editions of the Yellow Pages for many areas of the UK, and obtained local telephone numbers which gave the impression that they were based in that area.

Typically, after having carried out the work, the engineer would make a telephone call, usually out of earshot of the consumer, before returning with an inflated price.

The consumer is therefore confronted with a fait accompli, feeling that they are left with no option but to pay the price.

On occasions where a challenge was made to the price, the engineer refused to leave until payment was made.

Extracts of group WhatsApp conversations between various of the defendants were recovered from mobile devices seized during searches.

Mr Pearson said: "The tenor of the messages shows a marked contempt for consumers, and an awareness of the nature of the business they were carrying out.

"They were bragging about what they charged for work carried out."

Some plumbers or engineers asked to do sub-contract work wanted no part of the scam.

One contractor told to charge a customer 1,000 said he no longer wanted to be associated with the company.

He told the "stressed" customer, who became so unwell he went to hospital, that he was being "robbed" by Prestige.

A text message from another sub-contractor to Cuffe set out his view clearly: Just go away I will never work for you again ... ripping old people off.

Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: "Canfield and Cuffe are at the top of the level of culpability, relative to the others.

He said: "The customers who contacted the company were provided with a service of sorts, usually resulting in them being charged very significantly over the odds for very modest work.

"They were charged about 10 times what would otherwise be the going rate.

"Customers weren't told in advance of the work being done or the cost, even if they asked they weren't told.

"Work was sometimes carried out unsuccessfully and other work created.

The judge said during the offending period there was a turnover in excess of one million pounds, of which at least 750,000 was fraudulent.

He estimated that only about 100,000 of the income related to legitimate work.

The judge said: "A large number of individuals were defrauded out of sums they could ill afford.

"Faster Response activities were featured in a television programme which would have alerted the defendants to the extent of their improper actions.

"But they continued to do it with some degree of relish and enthusiasm."

Judge Dean said Canfield played "a leading role" and accepted he was "at the top of the tree."

He added: "There's evidence he was bullying towards one or more of the employees, mainly regarding Molloy.

He said that along with now deceased Cuffe, Canfield was a "controlling influence" and the "instigator" of the fraud.

The judge said Molloy had been groomed and bullied to an extent and may have been "psychologically vulnerable."

He added: "But it doesn't explain why he didn't desist."

The judge said Stott played a similar role to Molloy, on a lesser basis.

Jones, Costello and Morgan were said to have been complicit "with some degree of relish" in "ripping off customers," but it was mainly done under instruction from Canfield, Molloy and Stott, said the judge.

Rice was briefly finance director of Prestige Property Solutions and played "a limited role."

The judge said: "Most of the defendants are of previous good character and to some extent it was an aberration albeit prolonged.

What was said in mitigation?

Defence counsel said some of the defendants were under financial pressure as sole providers for their families and all now regretted their actions.

Most had no previous convictions and had been carrying out orders under Cuffe and Canfield's directions.

Canfield accepted he had been motivated by "greed."

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Morgan, the youngest, had been in an apprenticeship at the time and was "naive."

It was "a shock" when he was featured on television.

It was pointed out that despite many complaints, clients of all ages responded to a trading standards survey saying they were happy with the work.

The prosecution did not dispute there were some satisfied customers.

Canfield of Groby, Leicestershire, was jailed three years and four months.

He was banned from holding a company directorship for seven years and now faces a proceeds of crime hearing where he could have any assets confiscated.

Molloy, of Laxton Close, Melton, was jailed for two years and three months.

Rice, of William Street, Nottingham, was given a 15 month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with 200 hours of unpaid work.

Jones, of Glen Park Avenue, Glenfield, Morgan, of Borrowcup Close, Countesthorpe, Leicestershire, and Costello, of Cort Crescent, Braunstone, Leicester, each received 15 month jail sentences, suspended for two years, with 200 hours of unpaid work.

Gary Connors, head of the county council's regulatory services, said afterwards: "These defendants all had their part to play in an emergency call out business which was set up from the outset to extract substantial sums of money, primarily from the elderly and vulnerable.

"A widespread and despicable fraud perpetrated across the country, despite previous undertakings given to trading standards to trade fairly and a subsequent expose on BBC Watchdog.

"The top down culture was about exploiting the 'call out' scenario to extract the maximum payment from victims, regardless of the true cost or necessity for a repair.

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Plumbers conned the elderly out of money and bragged about it on WhatsApp - Derbyshire Live

TEMPE, Ariz., March 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --A new study from the market research team at Zion & Zion, a top-ranked, full-service, national marketing agency, investigates how a consumer's age and income affect their satisfaction with plumbing service-arrival window lengthsi.e., having been quoted a one-hour window for arrival of a plumber vs. a two-hour window, three-hour window or four-hour window.

The Zion & Zion study reveals important findings for plumbing companies and home-service companies in general:

The full research report is available here: How Plumbing Service Wait-Time Satisfaction is Affected by Age and Income

This Zion & Zion research study was based on a nationwide survey of 1,044 adult homeowners ages 25 and older. Authors of the study are Aric Zion, MS; Nicole Ellis; and Thomas Hollmann, MBA, PhD.

About Zion & ZionBased in Tempe, Ariz., Zion & Zion is a full-service national marketing firm specializing in marketing strategy, advertising, public relations, social media and interactive services. The work of the Zion & Zion team includes local, national and international brands, including Aristocrat Technologies, ARS/Rescue Rooter, Bank 34, Barro's Pizza, BD (Becton Dickinson), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Casino Del Sol, Phoenix Raceway, Phoenix Suns, Sun Health, University of Arizona and Walmart. Learn more at http://www.zionandzion.com, follow @ZIONandZION on Twitter, follow Zion & Zion on LinkedIn, and like ZIONandZIONAgencyon Facebook.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zion--zion-study-investigates-how-plumbing-service-wait-time-satisfaction-is-affected-by-age-and-income-301016120.html

SOURCE Zion & Zion

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Zion & Zion Study Investigates How Plumbing Service Wait-Time Satisfaction is Affected by Age and Income - Benzinga

Written by Pratap Bhanu Mehta | Updated: March 10, 2020 9:18:15 am The anti-CAA movement was poignant in its use of a new constitutional language to resist the evisceration of citizenship.

Analytically, we have to admit that the anti-CAA protests have, for the moment, reached a strategic dead end. Many protestors, especially in Shaheen Bagh, have displayed the Gandhian virtues of courage and steadfastness. The protests politicised new constituencies, including women and students, and provided the glimmer that the republic would not topple over. But the protests risked running up against three dominant narratives of our contemporary moment: Communalism, authoritarianism and elite cohesion. These narratives have, for now, trapped the movement into being a curiosity at best, a pretext at worst. The movement revealed more about contemporary India, than it has succeeded at resistance.

The anti-CAA movement was poignant in its use of a new constitutional language to resist the evisceration of citizenship. It held on to that language despite grave provocation from the state, and a despairing lack of support from independent institutions. But the ruling dispensation was keen to portray it as a communal movement. It portrayed it as a velvet glove in which the iron fist of jihad was cloaked. If one moves out of our echo chambers, it must be admitted that this narrative succeeded to a shocking degree. The ruling dispensation will accelerate this narrative in coming days. The second was the violence in Delhi, which, even more than the violence in UP, allowed the communal shadow to hang over the movement.

For the ruling dispensation, the movement, and the riots that accompanied Donald Trumps visit, were part of a single plot to defame India. People often wonder why the rioting took place to coincide with Trumps visit. Was it an accident? Whose political purposes did it serve? We can speculate on that question. But, for the ruling party and its affiliates, the timing of the riots served as exactly the grist they needed for their propaganda mills. Judging by the tone of publications like Organiser, and sections of the Hindi media, the riots served the function of delegitimising the movement as a force that will stop at nothing, including embarrassing India. The violence allowed them to claim that all constitutional protest ends in a communal dnouement.

Opinion | Harsh Mander writes: Protests are not just against the CAA-NRIC-NPR trinity, but have already succeeded in numerous ways

There are reasons why the foisting of the communal narrative around the anti-CAA protests has gained the upper hand. Communal propaganda now so seamlessly works within democratic institutions, mass media and social media. It has become so second nature and ubiquitous, disseminated through so many respectable channels of information, that they have become almost normal political reactions. In this new information order, the asymmetry between truth and doubt works against any movement of resistance, since all you have to do is cast doubt on it. The constitutional subjectivity that is being formed in the protest is running up against our diminishing ability to think from the standpoint of someone else, particularly those who might be made vulnerable.

Orwell once said, one defeats the fanatic precisely by not being a fanatic oneself. This was sage advice. But it underestimated the fact that under certain conditions, the success of communal propaganda is that it is already overdetermined who is a fanatic: The minority and the civic resister were already constructed as such. Under such circumstances, some citizens struggle to claim the civic standing to be heard, even when they are making demands that can easily be addressed.

Editorial |It is not the protests that threaten to divide, their demonisation does that

If the movement became an occasion to deepen communalism, it also becomes the pretext for deepening authoritarianism. For those whom the government could not tar with the brush of communalism, it took out the card of anarchism. In some ways, the fact that someone like Harsh Mander has to be in the dock for advocating constitutional protest is the ultimate parody of Indian democracy. The idea of peaceful political and civic mobilisation has become anathema to the new dispensation. If equal citizenship is communalism in disguise, sparks of peaceful mobilisation are anarchism in disguise.

The authoritarian repression of anarchism will come in three different forms. It has become the pretext for the kind of indiscriminate repression being unleashed in states like UP. It is also increasingly manifest in the Supreme Courts approach to governance. The Court has become the custodian of the rule by law, not the rule of law. The third form in which repression will come is the ruling partys core constituencys demand: That one of the reasons India is not doing well is that the government has been too soft on its critics. The fact of visible resistance or criticism of government is taken as a sign of weakness, not of the strength of Indian democracy. The political climate has now been created for further crackdown on dissent and Indian democracy will have to brace itself. Resistance, in the short run, becomes the pretext for repression.

Opinion | Meghnad Desai writes: PM Modi sees anti-CAA protests as an opportunity to attack Opposition

Well entrenched states are not easy to move, especially if there is elite cohesion. The BJP might like to present itself as a victimised outsider, but the fact is that it is now the state and the establishment, with a firm grip on all tentacles of power. It is difficult to come to the conclusion that, at this moment, the anti-CAA protests have led to any defections or even softening in the establishment. No movement can succeed without some cracks in the establishment. In fact, we are seeing an authoritarian consolidation for two reasons. One, the political opposition to the government has not come up with an even minimal show of political or organisational strength. The conduct of the AAP, both in its abdication in the face of riots, and its imprimatur on authoritarian governance tactics in the aftermath, has convinced most people that there is no effective political cover for taking on the government. The Congress may have taken a stand, but it has not displayed the minimal organisational strength to be even a mild counterweight. So the self-fulfilling dynamic of authoritarianism continues, it is becoming our default condition. Every challenge seems to reveal its power, instead of shaking it.

Finally, if the exaggerated spectres of anarchism and communalism have worked, it is because it is convenient for us to believe in their power. It simplifies our political life by blaming Indias weaknesses at the door of these internal enemies. As the economic crisis deepens, the calls for order will only grow. The anti-CAA protests gave us the poetry to resist. But the hard plumbing of an alternative politics is yet to be worked out.

This article first appeared in the print edition on March 10, 2020 under the title Politics after the poetry. The writer is contributing editor, The Indian Express.

The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest Opinion News, download Indian Express App.

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Anti-CAA protests gave us poetry to resist, but hard plumbing of alternative politics yet to be worked out - The Indian Express

CT-N

Peter Lewandowski of the Office of State Ethics reading testimony that lawmakers have heard before.

Civics teachers, try asking this on your next pop quiz: What parts of the state ethics code stop Connecticuts part-time lawmakers from voting for legislation or otherwise acting in a way that provides a financial benefit to their private employers?

OK, its a trick question. There is no such prohibition.

The code currently bars legislators from voting on matters that uniquely provide a monetary gain to them. There is no conflict unless the gain is greater for them than is realized by any other member of the same profession, occupation, or group.

In other words, a plumber could vote to exempt plumbing supplies from the sales tax, something that would benefit every plumber. He could even vote for a tax break that only would benefit his plumbing company, so long as he did not have an ownership interest.

The Office of State Ethics is proposing a modest change: Lawmakers still could act on matters uniquely benefitting a company that provides them or their spouse with a paycheck, but they would have to disclose the conflict and declare in writing why it was in the public interest for them to vote on the matter.

The purpose of this requirement is to create transparency in the process, said Peter Lewandowski, the executive director of the Office of State Ethics. It does not further limit the actions of the elected official.

To whom, you might ask, are they proposing this?

That would be the Connecticut General Assembly. The Office of State Ethics is responsible for enforcing the ethics rules, not writing them. Ethics rules affecting legislators are written by legislators and set in state law.

The ethics proposal was the subject of a brief public hearing Friday before the legislatures Government Administration and Elections Committee, where some version of the measure has been pitched for the past decade. It cleared the committee on a unanimous vote last year.

Versions were passed unanimously by the Senate in 2017 and 2019, only to languish on the House calendar without a vote.

Weve been gaining traction, said Lewandowski, who was named director last year after 13 years as a staff attorney.

Lewandowski made his pitch Friday, reading testimony little changed from previous years.

No one asked a question.

The standard for conflicts of interest has remained unchanged for more than a decade, at least as it applies to rank-and-file lawmakers.

About two-thirds of state lawmakers typically hold jobs outside the State Capitol. Legislative salaries range from $28,000 for the rank-and-file to $38,689 for the leaders, plus an expense stipend of $4,500 for House members and $5,500 for senators.

Recusals by lawmakers are rare. When they occur, they usually are voluntary, an effort to avoid the appearance of a conflict, not an actual one as defined by state law.

John Kissel of Enfield and Kevin Witkos of Canton, two Republican senators employed by the power company, Eversource, recuse themselves from energy bills, though they are not required to do so.

In 2017, a state representative, Melissa H. Ziobron, lobbied her colleagues to support a bill crucial to the survival of her husbands employer, the Millstone nuclear power station. A lobbyist publicly objected, but she was doing nothing wrong under the ethics code.

House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, is employed by Council 4 of AFSCME, a major public-employees union. But the code does not bar him from voting on contracts negotiated by AFSCME or bills favored by the union, as the office advised him in December 2016 before he became speaker.

In sum, there is simply nothing in the Code nor in the more than thirty-five years of precedent interpreting it that would bar Representative Aresimowicz from serving as Speaker while engaging in his pre-existing employment relationship with the union, or from taking official action on union matters in the absence of a direct financial impact on himself or his family members, he was told in a written opinion.

Lawyers are the leaders of the other three legislative caucuses: Senate President Pro Tem Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven; Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven; and House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby. All have private practices, and Looney also teaches college part-time.

House Majority Leader Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, also is a lawyer. Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk, is a Realtor.

Link:
A tighter ethics code? Maybe third time is the charm. - The CT Mirror