Buyers Are Taking Their Sweet Time And Being A Lot More Selective, As They Enjoy A Lot More Choice

‘one square meter of housing currently costs between 1,200 and 2,500 euros, depending on the area and quality of the building’

I had to read that a few times. Jeebus.

Federal workers detail mental health toll of government downsizing

Amid a wave of changes and constant fear of potential job loss as layoffs loom, many federal workers found themselves struggling with high levels of anxiety, seeking therapy and medication for the first time in their lives, experiencing chronic insomnia, depression, aggressive outbursts, isolation and even self-harming thoughts, Federal News Network found in a new online survey.

Of the survey respondents, 2,032 individuals, or about 95% of respondents, said they have experienced increased stress, anxiety and depression as a federal employee since Jan. 20.

“The impacts of the uncertainty and administration’s cruelty have been brutal,” wrote one respondent.

“It’s been overwhelmingly stressful. I already have anxiety from being a veteran so adding this to my life, I mean … I wake up having panic attacks at least four times a week. It’s affecting my entire life. Which means my family. My husband is trying to help but I cannot keep dumping everything on him. We also just had our oldest daughter graduate, our youngest just finished kindergarten. My stress has affected all of us and I hate myself for this,” another respondent wrote.

Another respondent wrote, “I could get RIF’d at any moment. I am forced to compete for my job with my friend and co-worker. I never thought I’d like Mondays more than Fridays. Because the RIF notices go out on Friday afternoons.”

Many survey respondents said they once felt deep pride in their roles as civil servants and a strong connection to their mission of public service. Now, for many, that mission feels increasingly unclear. In fact, many don’t even mention what they do anymore.

In an interview with Federal News Network, one Defense Department civilian employee, who has worked in government for 19 years following a 17-year career in the private sector, described their current position as “the best job ever.”

“A lot of people come into government, it’s not about the money, it’s about the service and the commitment and just the security,” the DoD civilian employee said. “I don’t think people really understand the significance of the federal government and why we do what we do.”

But the stigma now attached to federal employment is unlike anything they have experienced before.

“I’ve just heard from other people saying, ‘Don’t let anybody know you work for the government.’ It is like we have a scarlet letter on us, making us feel bad because we work for the government. It’s scary,” they said. “And every time I’m thinking maybe things have calmed down, something will happen.”

One survey respondent echoed the sentiment, saying, “The weaponization of words against us hardworking feds has been devastating. I am a proud civil servant, I used to proudly describe my job to those who ask. Now, if anyone asks, ‘What do you do?’ I do not talk about my job unless it is a high-level statement and then move on to a different topic.”

Another respondent described how the loss of purpose in their work has taken a toll on their mental health: “The lack of mission has made me depressed. I show up every day not knowing the mission of the agency anymore.”

“The lack of respect for being a civil servant with this administration is stress alone. Never in my 36 years of service have I ever felt this disregard as an employee. To be made to feel like you don’t matter causes anxiety in anyone. The fact that we were forced to make a life-changing decision to take your chance and stay or take the [deferred resignation program] was the worst thing I have had to go through. Then you still have to sit here and do your job to the best of your ability with always in the back of your mind wondering if you will be RIF’d after all the dedication you have put into your career,” another respondent said.

“The changes are nonsensical and show a clear lack of understanding of the functions, workload, challenges, and capabilities,” one federal worker wrote. “The level of chaos and disrespect is astounding.”

“This has been a never-ending nightmare,” another respondent said.

Many said they want to leave their government job but not until they have another opportunity lined up.

“I love my job, but I am considering looking elsewhere,” one federal employee said.

“I care about my job and don’t want to leave, but it’s painful to be forced out, defunded and told we don’t matter,” another federal worker wrote.

Meanwhile, some said they are staying in their job as an “act of resistance.”

“I currently describe myself as being fueled by spite. The administration’s goal is to make federal employees’ lives so miserable and ‘put us in trauma’ that we quit. And that makes me feel more resilient to not quit,” one federal employee said.

“I have always been in the top 5% of performers in my agency taking on extra duties or working longer to finish important projects. I no longer do any of that. I barely have the mental stamina to complete my normal duties, and I refuse to take on additional stress or do any more then exactly what is required to meet my job standards. I no longer care about the completion of the mission or have a vested interest in the well-being of my agency and the government,” one respondent wrote.

Another respondent said, “Almost got divorced, became suicidal, child suffering with self-harm issues, work team in shambles over political differences, ineffective organizational leadership due to vacancies has left a power vacuum at the top and the sludge is being sucked upward.”

Some workers said their motivation decreased significantly, while others simply stated, “I don’t care to go above and beyond anymore,” or “Why go above and beyond if we’re really ‘slackers?’”

“How can you perform well when you’ve dedicated your life to service of this country and are constantly being told you are inefficient bloat? How can you have good relationships with people when you know either of you may not last the week?” one respondent said.

Another respondent said, “Why would I want to put any extra effort into an employer who thinks I’m a money sucking liability rather than an investment for the agency? Employee moral is so low now, I think everyone has taken on this attitude. I could get fired at any time. I feel like I’m waiting around to get RIF’d. This keeps me up at night.”

An overwhelming majority of federal employees — more than 80% — said their workplace culture has changed in ways that negatively impacted their mental health. Out of more than 2,100 respondents, just under 4% said the culture had changed for the better, while about 9% reported no change at all.

“There is no more workplace culture. Everything has been stripped away from us,” one respondent wrote.

“Camaraderie among colleagues seems not existent. Mostly [in] survival mode now,” another respondent said.

For many federal employees, what was once a vibrant and collaborative environment has deteriorated into a workplace where people just shut their doors and keep their heads down, one respondent said. And there is a constant sense of loss.

“It feels like a funeral every day at work. There is no innovation going on anymore,” the respondent wrote.

“Lots of retirement parties for folks who took the DRP that put a false smile on folks cutting their careers short. I had to stop attending. Folks are generally demoralized and at a loss for how to respond,” another federal employee said.

Many reported losing most of their supervisors; some said their immediate supervisors are just as frustrated about the recent changes.

“I perform insider threat work and lost my manager, his manager and his manager to DRP. I continue to perform my job every day and refer my findings to other departments without supervision, but I also don’t have anyone advocating for me or my work. I help identify the bad people that [the Department of Government Efficiency] wants to eliminate but I don’t think they know I exist or that I’m helping accomplish some of their work. I wake up feeling dread every day that I will lose my job and my mission to help secure my agency will fail,” one federal employee said.

Another respondent said, “They’re just as stressed as I am. My commander literally told us that he couldn’t answer any of our questions and that we would probably find out via social media before he was told.”

“The administration keeps them in the dark and has stripped most of their supervisory power and ability,” one federal worker said.

Some federal employees, however, reported that their immediate supervisors were “looking after themselves first.”

“Less communication and guidance. Usually, ‘Look for guidance elsewhere, we cannot respond,’” one respondent said.

One federal employee wrote, “Lack of information and uncertainty is creating a distrust for management and leadership.”

“New agency leadership has no desire to learn about the agency and employees. Their intention is destruction, not learning and leadership,” one federal employee said.

Many expressed distrust toward their agencies, saying they do not feel safe using internal resources.

“I don’t need to give them an additional reason to DOGE me out of the government,” one worker wrote.

Another federal employee said, “I assume that using any resource means it’s being tracked and monitored now.”

When asked about what they wanted the public and agency leaders to better understand about the current environment, many respondents spoke passionately about their commitment to public service and the toll recent changes have taken on their mental health.

“We’re your neighbors, friends and family. We’re in it for the amazing missions of our agencies. There is a reason it is called the civil service. But there is only so much we can take. Check on us. Turning a blind eye to us is so demoralizing. We do these jobs in service of our country,” one respondent said.

“Most federal employees are working very hard at jobs that directly serve the public. They’re doing so despite abuse from that same public and administration leadership. They typically make less money than they could in the private sector, and they’re broadly non-partisan public servants,” another federal employee said.

https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-report/2025/07/a-never-ending-nightmare-federal-workers-detail-mental-health-toll-of-government-downsizing/

More people are experiencing homelessness in Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – After years of decreasing numbers for the amount of people experiencing homelessness, the most recent Point in Time survey is showing a spike.

The survey is conducted on one given day of the year. It involved volunteers doing a census of people experiencing homelessness, and this year, it was done on a particularly cold day, where many were in shelters and, according to the city’s chief housing and homelessness officer, Aimee Cox, more volunteers were ready to take a more comprehensive survey than years before.

The city is able to help support the people who have access to support systems, according to one man who said it helped him turn things around after a rough period of time.

“I was homeless for eight years, went to prison, got to a halfway house and it changed my life,” said William Brown.

Brown was walking his dog in Acacia Park, an area of downtown Colorado Springs that has become known as an area where people experiencing homelessness tend to gather, either to rest or to use the park’s fountain to bathe. It’s a life familiar to Brown, but after taking advantage of some of the city’s services, he said things began looking up.

“I even got a puppy now,” Brown laughed. “I found a job, I got all the IDs I needed… and I just started saving money. And I bought a place to stay and I still have it.”

Cox and Becky Treece, the chair of Pikes Peak Continuum of Care, said the increased number is due, in part, to that more comprehensive approach; but largely, they said it has to do with access to housing.

The city of Colorado Springs is facing a budget shortfall of more than $11 million, forcing cuts across the board. Furthermore, on a federal level, Treece said there have been some cuts, and there has been uncertainty.

“The concern is great that we do not have the resources necessary in our community to meet the need,” Treece said. “There are programs that are critical to the success in our community that are on the chopping block. And the only way they get saved is by the voice of the community saying that’s not okay.”

https://www.kktv.com/2025/07/29/more-people-are-experiencing-homelessness-colorado-springs/

‘use the park’s fountain to bathe’

Honey let’s take Rover down to the park and watch Willie and the boys have a wash!

Here’s how a major Mexican tomato exporter is affected by Trump’s 17% tariff

AJUCHITLAN, Mexico (AP) — The Trump administration’s decision to impose a 17% duty on fresh tomatoes imported from Mexico has created a dilemma for the country providing more tomatoes to U.S. consumers than any other.

The import tax that began July 14 is just the latest protectionist move by an administration that has threatened dozens of countries with tariffs, including its critical trading partner Mexico. It comes as the Mexican government tries to also negotiate its way out of a 30% general tariff scheduled to take effect Aug. 1.

Climate controlled and pest free, Veggie Prime’s greenhouses in Ajuchitlan send some 100 tons of fresh tomatoes every week to Mastronardi Produce. The Canadian company is the leading distributor of fresh tomatoes in the U.S. with clients that include Costco and Walmart.

Moisés Atri, Veggie Prime’s export director, says they’ve been exporting tomatoes to the U.S. for 13 years and their substantial investment and the cost to produce their tomatoes won’t allow them to make any immediate changes. They’re also contractually obligated to sell everything they produce to Mastronardi until 2026.

“None of us (producers) can afford it,” Atri said. “We have to approach our client to adjust the prices because we’re nowhere near making that kind of profit.”

In the tariff’s first week, Veggie Prime ate the entire charge. In the second, its share of the new cost lowered when its client agreed to increase the price of their tomatoes by 10%. The 56-year-old Atri hopes that Mastronardi will eventually pass all of the tariff’s cost onto its retail clients.

Experts say the tariff could cause a 5% to 10% drop in tomato exports, which last year amounted to more than $3 billion for Mexico.

The Mexican Association of Tomato Producers says the industry generates some 500,000 jobs.

Juan Carlos Anaya, director general of the consulting firm Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agrícolas, said a drop in tomato exports, which last year amounted to more than 2 billion tons, could lead to the loss of some 200,000 jobs

When the Trump administration announced the tariff, the Commerce Department justified it as a measure to protect U.S. producers from artificially cheap Mexican imports.

California and Florida growers that produce about 11 million tons would stand to benefit most, though most of that production is for processed tomatoes.

In reaction to the tariff, the Mexican government has floated the idea of looking for other, more stable, international markets.

Mexican Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegué said Thursday that the government is looking at possibilities like Japan, but producers quickly cast doubt on that idea, noting the tomatoes would have to be sent by plane, raising the cost even more.

President Claudia Sheinbaum said recently her administration would survey tomato growers to figure out what support they need, especially small producers who are already feeling the effects of a drop of more than 10% in the price of tomatoes domestically over fears there will be a glut in Mexico.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/here-s-how-a-major-mexican-tomato-exporter-is-affected-by-trump-s-17-tariff/ar-AA1JmwNC

There are photos of the green houses at the link, they are yuuge.

Self-imposed lockdowns, surveillance fears and forced separations: life for California’s undocumented farmworkers

Driving into the Salinas valley, about two hours south of San Francisco, hand-painted signs fly by, advertising cherries, pistachios, avocados and garlic.

The Guardian spoke to more than a half-dozen Spanish-speaking farm workers at two farms in Salinas Valley about the unprecedented militarized raids on farms, factories, courthouses and other spaces in California this summer, and how the fear they have caused is affecting their lives, families and dreams for the future.

Peligro, 52, is the majordomo overseeing the harvest. Despite his nickname, which means “danger” in Spanish, Peligro has a gentle face and an infectious laugh when he banters with his crew of workers.

He moved to Salinas from Guadalajara in Mexico at 18, and all three of his children were born in the US. His eldest son is 22 and would ordinarily be able to sponsor Peligro’s green card, but because Peligro entered the country without authorization, he would first have to leave the country and risk being banned from re-entering for 10 years.

Peligro’s mother, who is 81, has a visa to visit the US, but doesn’t want to come because of the political climate. The last time he saw her was when he got married three years ago, and though he sends her money for medicine, he wonders if he will ever see her again.

It’s unclear what percentage of farm workers in Monterey county – one of the California counties with the highest number of farm workers – have legal status, but scanning his crew of 25 workers, Peligro counts only one citizen, two who have visas and two who are currently protected by Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca), the 2012 program that gives work permits and temporary status to undocumented migrants who came to the US as children. That means that in this field, 80% of workers are undocumented.

Workers feel safest at home or here in the fields, Peligro said, so the roads, gas stations, shops and public spaces they once crossed every day now feel treacherous.

“Do you think Americans will do this work?” Peligro said, then immediately answered: “If they do, they won’t do it for $17 an hour. It’s really hard work.”

Over a 9am meal of tortillas, chicken and pasta salad, Lupe, 39, from Jalisco, said she moved here at 13 with her whole family. She made it through three years of high school, learned English and is currently protected from deportation by Daca.

But Lupe’s current legal status doesn’t stop her from fearing deportation: “I’m watching the news and they’re taking people with Daca and visas too.” (Earlier this year, a deaf Daca recipient was swept up in an Ice raid near Los Angeles and was detained for nearly a month, despite his status.)

As a single mother and main breadwinner for six children ranging from three to 19, she feels a lot of pressure.

“We’re scared. When we go to the store to get groceries, we have the feeling that someone is following us. Sometimes we don’t want to go to the doctor or dentist,” said Lupe.

She depends on federally funded food assistance, healthcare and pre-school (which are all facing major cuts under the Republicans’ new budget bill), and fears this could make her an easy target for Ice agents to track down. She said: “They have all my information, but small kids have to go to the doctor and the dentist.”

Lupe is most fearful for her extended family, almost all of whom are undocumented. “It’s bad news every day. I can’t live my life like before,” she said. Her mom, who is here on a tourist visa from Mexico, is too scared to take her kids out to the park, so they’re spending the summer indoors in their small, cramped house.

Cooking, cleaning the house, doing laundry and watching action movies is what helps her take her mind off the news of Ice raids.

“We are hard-working people. We don’t come here to take anyone’s jobs,” said Lupe. “We just want to do what we’re doing free from fear and be the support for our families.”

Elvia moved to Salinas 19 years ago from Guanajuato.

In addition to her work at the cauliflower farm, Elvia is a member of Líderes Campesinas, an organization that advocates for the human rights of farm-worker women across California. She helps fellow farm-worker women navigate resources, fill gaps related to food insecurity, and organizes to create healthier working conditions.

She is one of the two workers in this cauliflower field who has a visa. It’s a special kind of non-immigrant visa that protects victims of crimes who suffered substantial mental or physical abuse while in the US.

Still, she doesn’t feel the visa will protect her. “It’s scary and frustrating to have to go out to work not knowing if we’ll return home.”

Elvia survived domestic violence by her former husband, who was deported back to Mexico. Her 18-year-old daughter, who is finishing high school and wants to study to be a teacher, is particularly on edge these days. She witnessed the violence against her mother and fears Elvia could be deported back to her former abuser.

“She’s always crying, fearing there will be a separation,” said Elvia about how the Ice raids have reopened old wounds for her eldest daughter.

Since then, Elvia remarried and also has two other children, ages three and six.

After being diagnosed with PTSD, Elvia got therapy and learned some tips for coping with stress.

“Before, I used to scream a lot,” she said. “Now, I’m trying to find other ways, so that I don’t transmit my stress to my small children.”

Alba, 58, moved to Salinas 30 years ago from the port city of Acapulco.

It’s been 25 years since she’s seen her mother in person and wonders if they will ever meet again. They FaceTime, and Alba sends her money to pay for her arthritis and osteoporosis medicine. She wants to eventually retire in Mexico, but fears that if she returns now, or gets deported by Ice, she won’t be able to come back to the US and make enough money to pay for her mom’s medicine.

“My dream is to have a house where I could welcome my mom and get her visa,” Alba said.

Alba knows many people who qualify for the supplemental nutrition assistance program (Snap) but don’t apply for it in case it could somehow hurt their immigration status in the future. During the first Trump administration, a “public charge” rule was introduced for a little more than a year to make it harder for people to get visas or green cards if they used or had used public nutrition, housing and health programs.

Until recently, Alba would work six days a week, for up to 10 hours a day, but a new law requiring overtime pay means that farms hire workers for a maximum of 40 hours a week. She would like to see land be made available to farm workers so that they could grow their own crops and sell the bounty themselves.

Maria has been picking and weeding lettuce, broccoli, artichoke and more up and down the Salinas valley since 2007.

“We live day to day with this fear,” said Maria over a tamarind soda in the corner of a restaurant where she felt safe enough to meet. “I’ve always lived with the fear that they [Ice] might pass us, but today it’s much bigger.”

Like Alba, Maria used to go to the beach or go shopping after work, but these days she goes straight home to her three daughters, 10, 12 and 17, who “are panicking and stressed”, wondering if she’ll make it home from work or get taken away by Ice.

“My daughters have fear, panic and tremors with anxiety,” said Maria.

Ten years ago, when her eldest was seven and the others were still babies, Maria’s husband went out to buy bread and milk for the kids and never came back. She said he was detained by Ice, deported to Mexico and they haven’t seen him in person since, though they speak over the phone.

Maria doesn’t have a backup plan for her daughters if she gets deported. She doesn’t trust anyone. When her eldest turns 18, she hopes she can transfer custody to her for the younger girls, if necessary.

But her 17-year-old, despite years of therapy, suffers from “nervous breakdowns” and engages in self-harm, Maria said. When she goes to work, Maria tries to leave her with a babysitter. Listening to music helps to calm her daughter’s nerves.

“It’s hard as a mother to be in such insecurity. I don’t want to leave her alone,” said Maria, so the prospects of transferring custody to her feel unimaginable.

The constant uncertainty and panic, she said, was “like a thorn stuck in your side that’s constantly pricking”.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/28/ice-raid-farm-workers-california

‘She depends on federally funded food assistance, healthcare and pre-school (which are all facing major cuts under the Republicans’ new budget bill)’

Tell me about this ‘cheap labor’ again?