Latest news with #IanFarrell
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Funding plea to rebuild 'unsafe' Cam locks
The group that manages a city waterway say they could go bust if they are unable to find the money to repair two unsafe locks. The Conservators of the River Cam want financial help to carry out full reconstructions of Baits Bite Lock, north of Cambridge at Milton, and Jesus Green Lock in the city centre. Both were closed for repairs more than a year ago, effectively trapping some boaters on the stretch of river between them which is only a few miles long. The Conservators claim that, should the locks fail, the river flow could be reduced to a trickle, impacting boating and punting elsewhere on the Cam. The organisation had started a project to temporarily stabilise Baits Bite Lock island, which was forecast to cost between £1.3m and £1.5m. But Helen Cleary, its chief executive, said a full rebuild was needed at some point on both locks. She said the organisation was limited by its funding model, which came from fees paid by boaters on the Cam. "We have been walking that tightrope in order to get the Baits Bite Lock open as soon as we can and that's where our financial focus is," she said. Ms Cleary has called on other organisations to step in to provide more help. "It's almost unfair that in a wealthy environment such as Cambridge, [boaters] are the people we're solely reliant on for getting an income to resolve these problems," she said. Ian Farrell, a boat owner near Baits Bite Lock, said the situation was "deeply frustrating". He said the Conservators had allowed the locks to fall into disrepair, but sympathised with the lack of funds. "Their funding model is clearly inadequate," he said. "It's not a new problem, that's what's frustrating, why weren't they talking about this ages ago?" Martin Smart, the city council's cabinet member for nature, open spaces and city services, ruled out the authority stepping in to provide money. "They clearly need help, but it's not for us to pick up the tab," he said. He said the council had provided two of its "top officers" to work with the Conservators to come up with a plan. A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said it was aware of the situation. "We are working closely with [the Conservators] who lead on this, as part of a multi-agency group supporting them with this issue to ensure a coordinated and effective response," they said. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Locked-in boaters face summer in limbo Locks closure 'hampers life' for stranded boaters Environment Agency combats 'pollution incident' Conservators of the River Cam
BBC News
27-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Cambridge group pleads for help to repair River Cam locks
The group that manages a city waterway say they could go bust if they are unable to find the money to repair two unsafe Conservators of the River Cam want financial help to carry out full reconstructions of Baits Bite Lock, north of Cambridge at Milton, and Jesus Green Lock in the city were closed for repairs more than a year ago, effectively trapping some boaters on the stretch of river between them which is only a few miles Conservators claim that, should the locks fail, the river flow could be reduced to a trickle, impacting boating and punting elsewhere on the Cam. The organisation had started a project to temporarily stabilise Baits Bite Lock island, which was forecast to cost between £1.3m and £1.5m. But Helen Cleary, its chief executive, said a full rebuild was needed at some point on both said the organisation was limited by its funding model, which came from fees paid by boaters on the Cam."We have been walking that tightrope in order to get the Baits Bite Lock open as soon as we can and that's where our financial focus is," she Cleary has called on other organisations to step in to provide more help."It's almost unfair that in a wealthy environment such as Cambridge, [boaters] are the people we're solely reliant on for getting an income to resolve these problems," she said. 'Pick up the tab' Ian Farrell, a boat owner near Baits Bite Lock, said the situation was "deeply frustrating".He said the Conservators had allowed the locks to fall into disrepair, but sympathised with the lack of funds."Their funding model is clearly inadequate," he said."It's not a new problem, that's what's frustrating, why weren't they talking about this ages ago?" Martin Smart, the city council's cabinet member for nature, open spaces and city services, ruled out the authority stepping in to provide money."They clearly need help, but it's not for us to pick up the tab," he said the council had provided two of its "top officers" to work with the Conservators to come up with a plan.A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said it was aware of the situation."We are working closely with [the Conservators] who lead on this, as part of a multi-agency group supporting them with this issue to ensure a coordinated and effective response," they said. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Trump administration defied the courts twice in one day, and experts say it could hurt America's sterling reputation as an attractive place to invest
The Trump administration has shown it is willing to defy federal courts and even the Supreme Court, escalating a conflict that could result in a constitutional crisis. Experts say if Trump ignores court rulings, the reputation of the U.S. as a safe haven for investment will falter. The Trump administration's recent willingness to defy the courts may lead to a crisis that could cripple the United States' reputation as an attractive destination for investment, experts say. While arguably not yet at the scale of a full-blown constitutional crisis, Trump's lax adherence to court orders has law experts warning that if faith in the justice system deteriorates, so will investment. 'If Trump ignores court rulings, that will be the end of the rule of law,' University of Denver law professor Ian Farrell told Fortune. 'To put it another way, the United States will effectively have no laws for foreign investors to rely on. There would be nothing to stop the federal government from seizing any and all assets of a foreign investor for no reason whatsoever.' It's unclear if ratings agencies would officially downgrade the credit worthiness of American debt, even as they have done so in similar situations for other countries like Mexico, but investors may think twice about investing in government debt, said Jason DeLorenzo, the owner of registered investment adviser Ad Deum Funds. 'I don't know if rating agencies will downgrade because of it, but I'm sure in people's minds, the instability of our government would call into question the risk free nature that U.S. Treasuries are treated with,' DeLorenzo told Fortune. Twice in the same day, President Trump and his administration seemed to repudiate the courts. First, the Trump administration ignored a federal court order by denying reporters from the Associated Press access to an Oval Office press conference with El Salvador president Nayib Bukele. Trump previously criticized the AP for not adopting his rechristening of the Gulf of Mexico. Later, during the event, Trump sat by as self-proclaimed 'dictator' Bukele said he would not return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador protected by a judge from deportation who was mistakenly deported to a maximum security prison in his home country. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Garcia would not return to the U.S. even after the Supreme Court upheld a lower court order that demanded the administration 'facilitate' his release from custody. It's not the first time a U.S. president has spurned the country's highest court, said Craig Smith, an adjunct law professor at The Colleges of Law. In 1832, President Andrew Jackson ignored a ruling by the Supreme Court when he forcibly relocated the Cherokee people west along the 'Trail of Tears.' At the time, Jackson reportedly challenged Chief Justice John Marshall by saying 'Chief Justice Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it.' The earlier conflict highlights a major issue regarding Supreme Court rulings in that enforcement for court orders is left mostly to the executive branch, said Smith. 'Article III of the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court as having the last word on the law. The problem is that it and the lower federal courts have few options as to ways to enforce their rulings and orders,' Smith told Fortune. Only Congress can ultimately remove the president from power through a difficult impeachment process. Although several presidents have been impeached by the House of Representatives, none has ever been convicted by the Senate and removed from office. President Trump was impeached twice, in 2019 and 2021, but was ultimately acquitted by the Senate. For now, the conflict over the deported Garcia has escalated the conflict between Trump and the Supreme Court, but both parties are treading carefully, said UC Berkeley law professor Stavros Gadinis.'So far, both parties are looking for ways to avoid this ultimate showdown,' Gadinis told Fortune. 'Trump is careful to claim presidential authority as legally provided, and present his reaction to court orders as impractical or impossible (e.g., bringing back mistakenly deported individuals). And courts are careful to avoid declaring presidential orders as outright illegal.' This story was originally featured on
