[{"publishDate":"2024-12-14","title":"Does America’s Tax Code Perpetuate Gender Inequality?","body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b5c8af7fc704","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.vox.com/policy/390779/tax-wedding-marriage-joint-filing-women","_key":"3f991321715f"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It’s something we’re all compelled to do by April 15 each year, but few if any of us actually look forward to forking over a big chunk of our earnings to Uncle Sam. For some Americans, however, filing taxes is more than just a bummer — it’s a ","_key":"da2774a197a20"},{"text":"vestige","_key":"da2774a197a21","_type":"span","marks":["3f991321715f"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of the nation’s patriarchal past.","_key":"da2774a197a22"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"An outdated policy?","_key":"ff35dbdfd5040"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1b5d5409a799"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"dfc9afff24dc0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Nearly eight decades ago, the U.S. introduced joint filing for married couples. Though not explicitly stated as a goal, this option resulted in further limiting the professional ambitions of women since the spouse who earns less — often the wife — pays a higher tax rate than the higher-earning spouse."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2df66936d879"},{"_key":"b928a9f55b2a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And that built-in disincentive still exists. Even though married couples can choose to file separately, the net result of filing jointly typically is a lower overall tax bill.","_key":"57264346f44f0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d8c9a75ad508","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Gender equality activists have voiced opposition to this tax policy for decades, but","_key":"542e0e8d4d270","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" the criticism has grown more acute","_key":"48a1a257a3e6"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in recent years. Many are calling on the U.S. to remove the joint filing option entirely, like a number of other nations around the world did long ago.","_key":"e23c46014644"}]},{"_key":"b4bc7d034c01","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Critics argue that taxing a woman’s earnings at a higher rate than her husband’s can impact her life in the short term by limiting the chance for career advancements and in the long-term by curbing her retirement savings.","_key":"e8fbcf9af3410"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Will things change?","_key":"4c081156e3af0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b3cfe63425bc","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"aa8f5cc9e621","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Abolishing such a key component of the tax code would take some real effort by officials in D.C., and let’s face it, this issue isn’t near the top of the priority list. But that doesn’t mean ongoing activism won’t result in","_key":"7f90aa9c7a630"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" some meaningful reform","_key":"3487cc6714a8"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" along the way.","_key":"220d5eead3c4"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Pursuing provisions like second-earning deductions and childcare subsidies are a couple of things advocates say would help alleviate the problem.","_key":"81e6220c47bd0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6fbbb552e28b","markDefs":[]}],"_type":"story","slug":"/story/2024/12/does-americas-tax-code-perpetuate-gender-inequality","id":"YvKe5Y9O","category":"us-news","summary":"Critics say it's time to for some serious reforms.","_id":"8d072be7-f427-4e55-b249-961669e02b51","_updatedAt":"2024-12-13T21:56:02Z","visibility":"true","_rev":"mw31OwMEaa0zhVrXPyschk","image":{"hotspot":{"y":0.5,"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9349315068493149,"x":0.5},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"2b1cf1b5fb1deb4fdb8c8ccde84beb651da5af65","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/2b1cf1b5fb1deb4fdb8c8ccde84beb651da5af65-400x223.gif","metadata":{"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"width":400,"aspectRatio":1.7937219730941705,"height":223,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions"},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"M99H9hVr8w=pDiE=x]x:MxI9X7MyR3pL$|","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightVibrant":{"population":0,"background":"#8eb9eb","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"darkVibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.68,"background":"#0e478b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightMuted":{"population":6.53,"background":"#cfd9e1","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000"},"vibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":7.56,"background":"#2066b7","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":7.56,"background":"#2066b7","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.7,"background":"#3d315c"},"muted":{"population":0.76,"background":"#a8695d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"}}},"mimeType":"image/gif","source":{"name":"jon stewart television GIF","id":"8NmSc99idQsk8","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/television-politics-jon-stewart-8NmSc99idQsk8"},"_updatedAt":"2024-12-13T21:55:16Z","_rev":"2Dj5d7GNbqXB0KaXiCq7fG","assetId":"2b1cf1b5fb1deb4fdb8c8ccde84beb651da5af65","_createdAt":"2024-12-13T21:55:16Z","size":632385,"uploadId":"a38YQitJs0Q89YowXxJPRGK3bggJkMRk","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/2b1cf1b5fb1deb4fdb8c8ccde84beb651da5af65-400x223.gif","_id":"image-2b1cf1b5fb1deb4fdb8c8ccde84beb651da5af65-400x223-gif","originalFilename":"52b65ccd-1d1c-409f-8b9f-63253938dd73.gif","extension":"gif"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0}},"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_createdAt":"2024-12-13T21:56:02Z"},{"_rev":"wY2M0cMS7HxrcE9YGySN6J","_updatedAt":"2024-12-09T21:17:05Z","summary":"And many concerned citizens want to do something about it. ","visibility":"true","body":[{"markDefs":[{"_key":"5a87099a5c45","_type":"link","href":"https://www.vox.com/money/389782/crumbl-cookies-tiktok-viral-consumption"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It’s no secret that the ","_key":"e95314e622670"},{"_type":"span","marks":["5a87099a5c45"],"text":"demand","_key":"e95314e622671"},{"marks":[],"text":" for increasingly large vehicles has remained constant for many years. The rise of SUVs has coincided with this cultural quest, but fuel economy hasn’t been the only casualty.","_key":"e95314e622672","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0099889abca2"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Pedestrians big and small","_key":"d480f8ac5aa40","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"dfc38dc3cb8d"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0766ca252d6b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In D.C. alone — and in 2021 alone — 20 individuals were killed when they were struck by a motor vehicle","_key":"e367cf778a270"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" while walking or riding a bike","_key":"34a832be8482","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". 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Making matters worse, the prevailing design trend is boxy, which can reduce visibility.","_key":"91a7af3bed710"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1b5b12b76ec4","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"c9e650b15710","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Young children are ","_key":"a685fdceb22d0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"text":"especially vulnerable","_key":"67e1e7f321f5","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to these sprawling blindspots. That’s why Jessica Hart and her Families for Safe Streets organization is calling on lawmakers and regulators to include pedestrians in the equation when determining a vehicle’s safety rating.","_key":"80f56d96e27a"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Making progress","_key":"0973faeb9d7a0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"905a52249333"},{"style":"normal","_key":"53b83f5b0036","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Amid pressure from Hart’s group and others across the nation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has confirmed that its New Car Assessment Program will be updated to ","_key":"1cb01fdfb23f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"factor in pedestrian safety","_key":"f73f6a273fe1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"99135c344a6d"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"a532267dd05d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"This move will put American 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","slug":"/story/2024/11/new-jersey-still-has-a-bunch-of-dry-towns-but-one-is-dropping-off-the-list","id":"3ih3USnZ","_createdAt":"2024-11-07T20:50:18Z","title":"New Jersey Still Has A Bunch Of ‘Dry Towns’ — But One Is Dropping Off The List","category":"us-news"},{"_updatedAt":"2024-10-23T20:24:26Z","id":"sA8ZC4ez","_createdAt":"2024-10-23T20:24:26Z","body":[{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://gizmodo.com/you-can-now-get-fined-51744-for-writing-a-fake-review-online-2000515494","_key":"8965f8dc9de8"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In our culture of online shopping, reviews have become a pivotal reference point for products we can’t try on, test out, or touch before buying. 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Google recently rolled out a new policy that temporarily precludes businesses from receiving new reviews after a fake review is identified on a Google Maps profile.","_key":"6f0357455ffa0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3e5128bfa34b"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Firefox offers a feature on its web browser that is designed to","_key":"45c96534a4b50"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" identify dishonest or fake reviews","_key":"9d543070dceb"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"6c87004960e5"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"17e38eb60382","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"5c5e7ee85d02","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But the FTC clearly believes its regulatory might is needed to make a more significant impact on the problem.","_key":"35a3d43c43870"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"“By strengthening the FTC’s toolkit to fight deceptive advertising, the final rule will","_key":"5844b83958860","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" protect Americans from getting cheated","_key":"a3f07da66f98"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", put businesses that unlawfully game the system on notice, and promote markets that are fair, honest, and competitive,” explained FTC Chair Lina M. 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But that’s exactly what complainants are "},{"marks":["1252953c0038"],"text":"accusing","_key":"0540b5fb582c1","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" a company called RealPage (as well as many apartment complexes that use its software) of doing.","_key":"0540b5fb582c2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Digging into the lawsuit","_key":"8c1cfce07e1e0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d0c395b9a93f"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The U.S. Justice Department filed a civil suit against the Texas-based company over the capabilities of its algorithm, claiming that it is being used to ","_key":"a04db6d8ed110"},{"text":"coordinate prices among properties","_key":"a5024845ecea","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_key":"7cf1f132b4fb","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" at the expense of increasingly cash-strapped renters."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4c729c51caa5"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here’s how it reportedly works in a nutshell: RealPage’s proprietary algorithm keeps tabs on all of the lease details provided by its clients and shares that information in the form of suggested rental prices, thus allowing apartment complexes far and wide to coordinate their rates.","_key":"6d3137ece5c10"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8e6d5e5f6eb9"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"And with a whopping ","_key":"48e4d3f134b80","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"80% stake in the software market","_key":"6ec2e73812c8"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" within the apartment rental segment, that means roughly 3 million rental units across the U.S. could be involved in this alleged scheme.","_key":"a81d58deed0c"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9972665c465c"},{"_key":"8eced75bf281","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco asserted that “RealPage has found a modern way to violate a century-old law through systematic coordination of rental housing prices.”","_key":"1107e408289a0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"RealPage defends itself","_key":"1a08679100960"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5c146bd6371d","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"For its part, the company claims that it hasn’t done anything wrong. 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The term refers to people who target typically uninhabited homes and begin living in them without the permission of their owners.","_key":"80ed83968e5f0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"20215c2b98a8","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"b9f7a148d4c8","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"And in some cases,","_key":"bde267dab3590","_type":"span"},{"text":" it can be a huge legal hassle","_key":"2f838a96928e","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"marks":[],"text":" to evict the squatters once they move in.","_key":"c327b10a2af8","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-other-states-have-signed-bills-protect-homeowners-against-squatters","_key":"10e0e2bd3ec7"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In ","_key":"c0e9ffbb64b50"},{"_type":"span","marks":["10e0e2bd3ec7"],"text":"response","_key":"c0e9ffbb64b51"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to the trend, a handful of states have begun passing new laws aimed at making it easier and less expensive for homeowners to force squatters out.","_key":"c0e9ffbb64b52"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"04f6e012c7a8"},{"_key":"0bc35a48358a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Let’s take a look at how three southern states are implementing laws that their supporters hope will catch on nationwide.","_key":"e2b7d7e07cea0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"53cdfeae223c","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"0f3735720ed10","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Alabama"},{"text":": Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill that went into effect earlier this year, which increases the criminal penalties against individuals found guilty of illegally occupying a home and/or using false documents to indicate they are permitted to reside in a home. The new law also empowers police to expedite the eviction process against squatters.","_key":"5cac15f9416f","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Florida","_key":"8c2cf7196ada0"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Although it won’t be implemented until next month, the Sunshine State’s approach has been among the strictest in the nation by essentially repealing all of the existing safeguards that squatters have cited in their efforts to stave off eviction. Gov. Ron DeSantis said upon signing the bill in March that his state is “ending the squatter scam once and for all.”","_key":"1b278a39ad5c"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"984d76e6afce","listItem":"bullet"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4d69da688769","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Georgia","_key":"f3ddcec60f210"},{"marks":[],"text":": Gov. Brian Kemp signed the Georgia Squatter Reform Act into law in April, approving measures similar to those enacted in Alabama. In addition to measures that “stiffen the penalties” and “speed up the eviction process,” Kemp said the law will also “allow the property owner to go after these squatters for damages.”","_key":"20135652c452","_type":"span"}],"level":1},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Other states, from Pennsylvania to Texas, are in various stages of advancing bills aimed at bolstering homeowners’ rights.","_key":"0123ebb988d60","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6e90919a0ec8"}],"_rev":"ReC8dwFPgTpUpdBZu35fG6","title":"Here’s How Three States Are Taking On The 'Squatting' Issue","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"slug":"/story/2024/06/heres-how-three-states-are-taking-on-the-squatting-issue","_createdAt":"2024-06-21T21:19:47Z"},{"_updatedAt":"2024-06-17T00:31:19Z","body":[{"_key":"76e5429131e0","markDefs":[{"_key":"e076aa42f66e","_type":"link","href":"https://www.mickeynews.com/parknews/disney-fans-rejoice-dream-key-passholders-to-receive-9-5-million-settlement/"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It’s no surprise that tickets to Disney’s theme parks have gotten considerably more expensive in recent years. 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","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Four decades ago, Sammy Hagar recorded an anthem to automotive speed with his hit “I Can’t Drive 55.” Back then, 55 mph was the highest speed limit allowable under U.S. law.","_key":"95e71d541f070"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bc8b0800fa72"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But what about around-town driving? 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been nearly 70 years since the Tropicana first opened its doors to visitors in an emerging oasis of adult-themed fun in the Nevada desert. 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Construction cost $15 million, which is nothing by today’s standards but was a massive investment at the time.","_key":"25de9ac5a17d","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"a1f03028575b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"And there wasn’t much around it, unlike the","_key":"6460af848fd40","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" densely packed Strip","_key":"22be3d3fb28b"},{"_key":"6e4d9c4fac39","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that now serves as the focal point of Las Vegas. Over the years, the Tropicana built on its nickname — the Tiffany of the Strip — by welcoming high rollers with an elegant experience and offering performances by some of the biggest stars of the day."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"18c9814c5df5","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A few of the","_key":"55cca90c4f760"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" most notable acts","_key":"0fb5de7ad484"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to play its showroom included:","_key":"6b8c83d5ece9"}]},{"_key":"23efa2f176b0","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"de16b7cf69e80","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Frank Sinatra"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"1c97430be051","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Elizabeth Taylor","_key":"cfcdfa3cd31c0"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"ee92688229dd","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Gladys Knight","_key":"862ef7f1e6980","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Wayne Newton","_key":"a7d3845b04e30"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"73c07f1688a5"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Debbie Reynolds","_key":"b0b723d7b86e0"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"58472e708f1e","listItem":"bullet"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Sammy Davis Jr.","_key":"8899a6cc476c0"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f5f287d5e489"},{"_key":"4431c9eb2206","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It was even good enough","_key":"1b896cd3cdcf0"},{"_key":"a332f25d978a","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" for James Bond himself"},{"marks":[],"text":" in the 1971 classic “Diamonds Are Forever.”","_key":"4d62c1f360e1","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"But times have changed, and the Tropicana now only exists in the memories of those who have experienced it.","_key":"fa2a6829fb390","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ba9ece867bfc"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c5dc5148f62e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"“It’s ran its course”","_key":"5fa009c180270"}]},{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"So why was yesterday the last for this historic location? It stems from a larger","_key":"11c42a5babe10","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" shift away from casinos","_key":"da44b360b52d"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and toward other forms of entertainment — sports in particular.","_key":"5d187152c0bc"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"36c5584ac132","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The hotel is set to be demolished in October and in its place will be a Major League Baseball stadium expected to cost 100 times more than the Tropicana did when it was built.","_key":"473cf8ca42250"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a6a60805523a"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Longtime Tropicana bartender Charlie Granado has mixed emotions, explaining: “It’s time. It’s ran its course. 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