Latest news with #Hanney
Axios
08-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
D.C.'s new breakup trend: divorce coaches
One trend that's becoming more and more common in the Washington divorce world: divorce coaches. The big picture: It's a young profession that's picked up in popularity over the past decade, local coaches tell Axios, as more people look for personalized help during what can be an expensive and drawn-out process. "You could call us an accountability partner," says Michelle Hanney, a Washington-based divorce coach. "A lot of people have no idea what they're getting into." How it works: Divorce coaches are something of a doula for the breakup world, guiding their clients through the process. Coaches can help clients prepare a legal team, gather paperwork and documentation, communicate with their spouse and attorneys, co-parent through separation and manage what can be an emotional and high-stress process. Yes, but: They're not therapists and they're not lawyers, although they often work in tandem with their clients' legal or mental health team, coaches tell Axios. Zoom in: Keeping divorce costs low is especially appealing to potential clients right now, given the uncertain economic climate, say coaches. This is doubly true in Washington, where President Trump's policies are affecting local divorces and where many have been impacted by federal layoffs. DMV-based coach Sharri Freedman says she's seeing more locals hesitant to pursue divorce because of the financial implications. Hiring a divorce coach can be an investment — Hanney says her hourly rate is $225, anda 10-session package runs $1,950; while Freedman says she charges $2,000 a month for a six-month contract. But it can ultimately save a client money by making the legal process quicker and more efficient, coaches tell Axios. "We're working to reduce conflict — essentially to settle via mediation and not to have a lengthy litigated divorce," says Hanney. The intrigue: Divorce coaching has become popular in large metro areas like D.C., where white collar professionals have the resources to hire them, say coaches. And Washington's transience can also lead to more conflict in relationships and, therefore, divorce, says Hanney. She often works with expats or diplomat families, whose international connections can complicate a separation. Between the lines: Do your research — the divorce coach landscape is not well-regulated, meaning it's easy for people to say they're coaches without having formal certification, reported the New York Times.
Calgary Herald
03-07-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Calgary renters leading nation in considering jump to ownership
Renters are ready to make the move. Article content A new survey shows that Calgary renters are among the most likely in the nation to make the jump to ownership in the future. Article content Article content 'We had a pretty good push in the last couple of years where local buyers really had to compete with out of province buyers,' says Josh Nelson, Realtor Royal LePage Mission. Article content Those bidding brawls for homes were also partly fueled by demand for rental properties, and developers responded with record activity for purpose-built rentals. Yet the new Royal LePage 2025 Canadian Renters Report notes that many renters, who found themselves sidelined in recent years, still have their sights set on ownership. Article content It shows 63 per cent of respondents are likely to buy in the next five years with 22 per cent indicating they would do so within two years. Article content Article content By both measures, Calgary led the national survey. Article content 'The findings show the confidence in the economy of Alberta,' says Andrew Hanney, president and chief executive officer of Platinum Property Management Group in Calgary. Many drivers exist for seeking homeownership, including a sense of stability. Article content 'When people are looking toward homeownership, they're looking for security, and you don't have that as a renter given you're not sure how long the landlord will hold the property,' says Hanney, spokesperson for Royal LePage. Article content That is particularly so for renters of single-family detached homes and townhomes, which the survey found are in high demand and short supply on the rental market. Article content Article content 'Calgary has a lot of families seeking single-family housing — for rent and for ownership,' Hanney adds. Article content Conditions have led some older homeowners to rent their detached home and buy new condominiums to reside in while the rent from the detached home pays the mortgage on the new property, he adds. Article content First-time buyer or empty-nester, current market conditions for condominium apartments favour buyers. Calgary Real Estate Board statistics from late June show resales for apartment condominiums, down 34 per cent year over year. At the same time, new listings are up nearly 76 per cent. Article content The conditions have led the average price to drop nearly 4 per cent year over year to about $338,000. Article content Falling demand reflects easing in the rental market. Calgary has a large secondary rental market whereby investors buy condos to rent out, but increased new purpose-built rental activity has significantly boosted supply, leading to flattening rent growth, Nelson says.
Extra.ie
25-05-2025
- Extra.ie
Coercive control victims 'are not being believed' by authorities
An author and coercive control survivor who suffered years of abuse at the hands of a serving garda said abused women are 'not being believed' by the authorities. Nicola Hanney spoke out after new figures provided by the DPP confirm there has been just 25 successful prosecutions since legislation making coercive control a criminal offence was enacted six years ago. This is despite separate figures which confirm more than 60,000 calls alleging coercive control were made to garda stations across the country last year alone. Pic: AlvaroOut of the 25 convictions recorded since January 2019, just two people were convicted on a sole charge of coercive control. But in these two instances, which include Ms Hanney's case, the perpetrator was originally charged with more offences. In her critically acclaimed memoir, Stronger: What Didn't Kill Me, Made Me, Ms Hanney detailed the living hell she endured at the hands of Garda Paul Moody, who was sentenced to three years and three months in prison for coercive control in 2023. This abuse included smashing up her apartment, threatening to take their newborn son away while she received cancer treatment and isolating her from her friends and family. Nicola Hanney. Pic: RTÉ Ms Hanney described coercive control an 'assault on the mind', and said it is 'shocking' more perpetrators have not been convicted. She told 'I'm one of the two [where the sole charge was coercive control]. There were more charges to start, but they were dwindled down to one charge of coercive control.' The resolute mother, who was being treated for stage four cancer at the time of her abuse ordeal, said all women 'deserve to be free'. She added: 'It's a life sentence for women, but the evidence shows they aren't being believed. Domestic abuse is not being taken seriously in the country still. Pic: Getty Images 'Two convictions [for sole coercive control] is shocking. Coercive control is an assault on your mind, it's a horrible form of abuse.' In response to queries from the Office of the DPP confirmed 'the total number of convictions recorded on our case management system for the offence of coercive control contrary to section 39 Domestic Violence Act 2018, since the enactment of the Act is 25'. Asked how many of these were for standalone coercive control convictions, a spokeswoman confirmed: 'Just two.' Nicola Hanney. Photo: RTÉ. In stark contrast to the low level of convictions, gardaí confirmed that provisional figures show there 'in excess of 61,000 domestic abuse-related contacts in 2024' to stations across the country. Ms Hanney, who continues to advocate for abused women, said she is 'not surprised at all by low levels of convictions' given the stories she hears from victims. She added: 'People are begging me for help, they feel they are not being believed and some just give up because of that. 'I can understand why women give up and live a life of hell. It's like you're being defeated all the time.' Ms Hanney warned that, unless the justice system changes, 'women are going to take their own lives. And what about the children who are witnessing the abuse? It will have a lifelong effect on them.' She told 'It should be a human right you're protected. But my heart is broken for these women. The lack of convictions in sending out terrible message.'
The Advertiser
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Council's deep dive: review finds Newcastle pools' tender process 'compliant'
A CONTROVERSIAL tender awarded to BlueFit to manage City of Newcastle's five inland pools was "compliant", an independent review has found. Davidson Business Advisory was brought on to independently review the council's policies, processes and procedures. While regular pool users previously described the council's handling of the tender process as "disappointing" and "mind-boggling", Davidson found the tender process adhered to council policy and the Local Government Act. "The City of Newcastle has developed a detailed Inland Pool Strategy 2043, which we believe is of very high quality," Davidson consultant Justin Hanney said. While it may have ticked the legal boxes, the community was left less than impressed with the council's efforts to notify the public about the proposed lease. A notice inviting comments on the proposed lease of the five public pools appeared in Sydney newspaper the Daily Telegraph classified section on July 3, 2023. The notice also appeared on the council's website on the public notices page as a link titled 'Proposed Lease'. The Local Government Act requires the council to give public notice of community land lease proposals that are for a term of more than five years. The public must be given 28 days to make a submission, and if someone makes a submission objecting to the proposal, the council cannot grant the lease without the Minister's consent. At the time, regular pool users said they were not aware of the call for public submissions, as did several Newcastle councillors. Mr Hanney said contracting out the inland pools was supported by a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis and capital investment benchmarking, which was presented to councillors to inform the tender process. "The tender process adhered to the council policy and the Local Government Act," Mr Hanney said. "Additionally, there's evidence of effective management of conflicts of interest demonstrated by the former lord mayor and six councillors exiting the chamber during the tender discussion due to a declared conflict of interest." The decision was delegated to the CEO after Labor councillors declared conflicts of interest in the matter, meaning a quorum of councillors could not be reached to vote on awarding a tender. City of Newcastle's seven Labor councillors recused themselves from a confidential debate on awarding a contract to lease and operate the five council pools because they said interactions with an unnamed politician had created a conflict of interest. While Davidson said the pool decision showed "evidence of effective management of conflicts of interest", the firm found room for improvement generally in how conflicts of interest were managed within the council. The review did not find issues with illegality or a lack of compliance around conflicts of interest, but instead noted there were issues with "how members of the public perceive conflicts of interest being handled". "There is a need, however, for constant vigilance in conflict of interest declarations and to ensure consistency in the way that councillors actually make them," Davidson consultant Colin Jensen said. The full review report will be publicly released on May 21. A CONTROVERSIAL tender awarded to BlueFit to manage City of Newcastle's five inland pools was "compliant", an independent review has found. Davidson Business Advisory was brought on to independently review the council's policies, processes and procedures. While regular pool users previously described the council's handling of the tender process as "disappointing" and "mind-boggling", Davidson found the tender process adhered to council policy and the Local Government Act. "The City of Newcastle has developed a detailed Inland Pool Strategy 2043, which we believe is of very high quality," Davidson consultant Justin Hanney said. While it may have ticked the legal boxes, the community was left less than impressed with the council's efforts to notify the public about the proposed lease. A notice inviting comments on the proposed lease of the five public pools appeared in Sydney newspaper the Daily Telegraph classified section on July 3, 2023. The notice also appeared on the council's website on the public notices page as a link titled 'Proposed Lease'. The Local Government Act requires the council to give public notice of community land lease proposals that are for a term of more than five years. The public must be given 28 days to make a submission, and if someone makes a submission objecting to the proposal, the council cannot grant the lease without the Minister's consent. At the time, regular pool users said they were not aware of the call for public submissions, as did several Newcastle councillors. Mr Hanney said contracting out the inland pools was supported by a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis and capital investment benchmarking, which was presented to councillors to inform the tender process. "The tender process adhered to the council policy and the Local Government Act," Mr Hanney said. "Additionally, there's evidence of effective management of conflicts of interest demonstrated by the former lord mayor and six councillors exiting the chamber during the tender discussion due to a declared conflict of interest." The decision was delegated to the CEO after Labor councillors declared conflicts of interest in the matter, meaning a quorum of councillors could not be reached to vote on awarding a tender. City of Newcastle's seven Labor councillors recused themselves from a confidential debate on awarding a contract to lease and operate the five council pools because they said interactions with an unnamed politician had created a conflict of interest. While Davidson said the pool decision showed "evidence of effective management of conflicts of interest", the firm found room for improvement generally in how conflicts of interest were managed within the council. The review did not find issues with illegality or a lack of compliance around conflicts of interest, but instead noted there were issues with "how members of the public perceive conflicts of interest being handled". "There is a need, however, for constant vigilance in conflict of interest declarations and to ensure consistency in the way that councillors actually make them," Davidson consultant Colin Jensen said. The full review report will be publicly released on May 21. A CONTROVERSIAL tender awarded to BlueFit to manage City of Newcastle's five inland pools was "compliant", an independent review has found. Davidson Business Advisory was brought on to independently review the council's policies, processes and procedures. While regular pool users previously described the council's handling of the tender process as "disappointing" and "mind-boggling", Davidson found the tender process adhered to council policy and the Local Government Act. "The City of Newcastle has developed a detailed Inland Pool Strategy 2043, which we believe is of very high quality," Davidson consultant Justin Hanney said. While it may have ticked the legal boxes, the community was left less than impressed with the council's efforts to notify the public about the proposed lease. A notice inviting comments on the proposed lease of the five public pools appeared in Sydney newspaper the Daily Telegraph classified section on July 3, 2023. The notice also appeared on the council's website on the public notices page as a link titled 'Proposed Lease'. The Local Government Act requires the council to give public notice of community land lease proposals that are for a term of more than five years. The public must be given 28 days to make a submission, and if someone makes a submission objecting to the proposal, the council cannot grant the lease without the Minister's consent. At the time, regular pool users said they were not aware of the call for public submissions, as did several Newcastle councillors. Mr Hanney said contracting out the inland pools was supported by a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis and capital investment benchmarking, which was presented to councillors to inform the tender process. "The tender process adhered to the council policy and the Local Government Act," Mr Hanney said. "Additionally, there's evidence of effective management of conflicts of interest demonstrated by the former lord mayor and six councillors exiting the chamber during the tender discussion due to a declared conflict of interest." The decision was delegated to the CEO after Labor councillors declared conflicts of interest in the matter, meaning a quorum of councillors could not be reached to vote on awarding a tender. City of Newcastle's seven Labor councillors recused themselves from a confidential debate on awarding a contract to lease and operate the five council pools because they said interactions with an unnamed politician had created a conflict of interest. While Davidson said the pool decision showed "evidence of effective management of conflicts of interest", the firm found room for improvement generally in how conflicts of interest were managed within the council. The review did not find issues with illegality or a lack of compliance around conflicts of interest, but instead noted there were issues with "how members of the public perceive conflicts of interest being handled". "There is a need, however, for constant vigilance in conflict of interest declarations and to ensure consistency in the way that councillors actually make them," Davidson consultant Colin Jensen said. The full review report will be publicly released on May 21. A CONTROVERSIAL tender awarded to BlueFit to manage City of Newcastle's five inland pools was "compliant", an independent review has found. Davidson Business Advisory was brought on to independently review the council's policies, processes and procedures. While regular pool users previously described the council's handling of the tender process as "disappointing" and "mind-boggling", Davidson found the tender process adhered to council policy and the Local Government Act. "The City of Newcastle has developed a detailed Inland Pool Strategy 2043, which we believe is of very high quality," Davidson consultant Justin Hanney said. While it may have ticked the legal boxes, the community was left less than impressed with the council's efforts to notify the public about the proposed lease. A notice inviting comments on the proposed lease of the five public pools appeared in Sydney newspaper the Daily Telegraph classified section on July 3, 2023. The notice also appeared on the council's website on the public notices page as a link titled 'Proposed Lease'. The Local Government Act requires the council to give public notice of community land lease proposals that are for a term of more than five years. The public must be given 28 days to make a submission, and if someone makes a submission objecting to the proposal, the council cannot grant the lease without the Minister's consent. At the time, regular pool users said they were not aware of the call for public submissions, as did several Newcastle councillors. Mr Hanney said contracting out the inland pools was supported by a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis and capital investment benchmarking, which was presented to councillors to inform the tender process. "The tender process adhered to the council policy and the Local Government Act," Mr Hanney said. "Additionally, there's evidence of effective management of conflicts of interest demonstrated by the former lord mayor and six councillors exiting the chamber during the tender discussion due to a declared conflict of interest." The decision was delegated to the CEO after Labor councillors declared conflicts of interest in the matter, meaning a quorum of councillors could not be reached to vote on awarding a tender. City of Newcastle's seven Labor councillors recused themselves from a confidential debate on awarding a contract to lease and operate the five council pools because they said interactions with an unnamed politician had created a conflict of interest. While Davidson said the pool decision showed "evidence of effective management of conflicts of interest", the firm found room for improvement generally in how conflicts of interest were managed within the council. The review did not find issues with illegality or a lack of compliance around conflicts of interest, but instead noted there were issues with "how members of the public perceive conflicts of interest being handled". "There is a need, however, for constant vigilance in conflict of interest declarations and to ensure consistency in the way that councillors actually make them," Davidson consultant Colin Jensen said. The full review report will be publicly released on May 21.
