Soaring cost of living drives residents from California

Even in Britain they are commenting on the sad state of the California economy. This report tells us that for the last 4 years we have experienced a net loss of residents. We are looking for new sources of revenue and hoping things will get better, but as people vote with their feet we see a negative trend.

Here is the story from the London Telegraph: Soaring cost of living drives residents from California

1 dead, 8 injured in Carbon Monoxide leak in SRO Hotel

Monday, 50 tenants were evacuated from an SRO hotel at 816 Geary Street due to a gas leak. One man, only identified as "Eddie" was later found dead inside the building.

The gas alarm had been sounding off for up to 24 hours, but was paid no heed. Eight other hotel tenants were injured in this incident.

SRO hotels are home to many challenged and disabled people. This is the kind of preventable tragedy that could have been avoided through proper training and alarm response.

Our condolences to those involved.

You can read the story from the San Francisco Examiner here: 50 tenants evacuated after deadly monoxide leak

Terry Childs, former Systems Administrator for the City of San Francisco, challenges the charges against him

Terry Childs, 44, a San Francisco Department of Technology network engineer, remains in custody on $5 million bail after being arrested for tampering with the City of San Francisco's FiberWAN network. Mr. Childs designed and installed the network and has written three books on the effort involved. There is some controversy about whether he received a copyright for the design.

Childs is being held on 4 felony counts of computer tampering, and an additional charge of causing large monetary damage. He allegedly withheld the router configurations passwords and allowed them to be in a precarious state of operating with no configuration backups.

Many in the computer industry have questioned the charges surrounding this case. His actions, if accurately described, may be a result of his desire to protect the network from other city managers, who he has described as incompetent. Many computer experts agree that his actions might be described as foolish, but the City is attempting to prove they were felonious. Childs faces 7 years in prison if convicted of all charges.

There is widespread concern in the IT industry that normal, everyday actions can be called illegal by employers. This is a case where an overprotective administrator may or may not have had malicious intent. His intent will determine his fate.

Today he appeared in court with his attorney, Richard Shikman. Shikman persueded the court to allow more time for a challenge to the original charges before a plea must be entered.

You can read the story from the San Francisco Examiner here: City Employee challenges computer tampering charges

Woman released from prison and immediatey robs the same bank again!

The Bank of America has seen Elisa Monique Lipkins, 42, before. She robbed the branch at at 3565 California St. in 2004. Little did they expect that she would come back for a repeat performance.

She had just been released from prison in December, and placed in a halfway house in Oakland to complete her sentence. Once again, like before, she presented a teller with a note and poked her finger from a pocket. She escaped with $7,020.00 this time. Unfortunately for her, an alert FBI agent recognized her picture and they picked her up at home.

Ms. Lipkins is due in U.S. District Court this week to answer her latest charge.

You can read the San Francisco Chronicle's account here: Ex-con robbed bank again, police say

1906 San Francisco quake survivor turns 106 !

Herbert Hamrol was 3 years old when the quake hit in 1906. He was celebrated today as he turns 106, becoming one of the oldest survivors of that era.

You can read his story in the San Jose Mercury News: 1906 San Francisco quake survivor turns 106

We are the First Responders!

California realizes that "We are the First Responders" so they have begun to train homeowners as firefighters in the southern part of the state.  This is a great idea for all of us.  In any disaster scenario there is always a time lag before the full resources of Emergency Management can be brought to bear.  Invariably it is people on the scene who must provide the initial response.  

I salute our leaders who have the foresight to help us protect ourselves.

Here is the link to the story:  California eyes homeowners as firefighters

California Good Samaritan

Here is the link: Court Clears Way for 'Good Samaritan' case

I believe this is a case to watch. I have been following its
progress and it is likely to be significant. If nothing else, it
highlights why we need to train key people in knowing how to respond
in all situations. It was this case that caused me to include the Good
Samaritan portion of my proposal to SF-CARD for SRO Hotel Manager
training. There is a liability issue that cannot be ignored.
Especially in the SROs, which the city is placing people in. We need
to make sure aid is rendered in the widest possible set of scenarios.
They are the largest population of disabled people in the city.

A case like this could easily cause people to avoid rendering aid at
all, and that would be unfortunate.