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Posts Tagged ‘third’
Uh, in Regard to Yesterday’s MUNI Protest, Isn’t _This_ Kenneth Harding’s Gun?
Tuesday, July 17th, 2012Central Subway Boondoggle UPDATE: “Rescue MUNI” Sells Out But “Save MUNI” Remains on the Case
Monday, December 5th, 2011Here’s the latest from Save MUNI:
“Central Subway Boondoggle = Waste and Inefficiency
A Vibrant Citywide Muni System = Revival and Value”
But those sellouts at Rescue MUNI (who with regularity have the gall to complain about Save MUNI), or most of them, anyway, think that the politically-motivated Central Subway is A-OK as it is.
But You Make The Call.
Here’s Rescue MUNI’s “CS Fact Sheet,” which basically tears apart a straw dog, and here’s Save MUNI:
“SaveMuni.com Comments:
CENTRAL SUBWAY AUDIT
On November 15, 2011, the Transportation Authority held a hearing on the new MTA Audit and ignored the Audit’s 46-page “Appendix VI: Central Subway Project”. Several press articles reported that the Audit examined 29 construction projects, excluding the Central Subway Project. But in fact, the “Limited Scope Performance Audit” evaluated the Subway’s financial risks—although it did not study transit effectiveness because of the contract’s limited scope.
MTA & CENTRAL SUBWAY AUDIT: Central Subway, Pages 171-217.
Auditors may be constrained in their criticism—especially when the scope of work is narrow and their client is a likely future customer. But reading between the lines, the Audit forewarns of potential future fiscal troubles. SOME HIGHLIGHTS:
- · “The potential for variation in the final cost of the project is large” (Page 172): The Audit expands on the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) concerns about construction and financial risks. In the context of the Audit’s study of 29 MTA construction projects and their delays/ cost escalations, past performance is an indicator of future risks.
- · “The Central Subway Project is the highest risk project that the SFMTA has undertaken” (Page 184): The Audit expands on the FTA’s concerns.
- · “There is a 30% likelihood of the total project cost in year of expenditure dollars being equal to or less than $1,578 million” (Page 185). The audit couches potential cost overruns in terms of financial probability theory. Although construction contingency dollars and schedules have been increased, the history of large infrastructure projects, in the Bay Area and throughout the United States, shows astronomical cost overruns and unpredictability—within the same financial/ management models. Moreover, in latest project budgets, contingency dollars appear to have decreased.
- · “A study of the funds required for maintaining the state-of-good-repair expenditures revealed that SFMTA’s total assets on the FTA’s Condition Code were above the 2.5 out of 5 minimum required by the FTA” (Page 197). With the current $1.9 billion in deferred maintenance and $1.6 billion in budget deficits over the next 20 years, MTA should have already devoted higher expenditures to maintain assets in a state of repair. Instead, the Central Subway will only lead to more service cuts, life-safety threats and draconian revenue hikes—unless the project is halted.
- · “However, full funding is not guaranteed and the availability of funds when needed may still be an issue” (Page 198). Officials and the citizenry are increasingly scrutinizing the Central Subway’s data falsifications and misrepresentations—while the FTA reviews the final application and the State of California faces increasing budget deficits and bond indebtedness.
- · “The Audit Team is not aware of consequences for the [MTA] Board or the Board Members if performance is unsatisfactory, nor are there any criteria that define what constitutes unsatisfactory performance” (Page 210). By the Central Subway’s estimated completion date in 2019, most elected officials will not be in office and many MTA staff will be retired. History indicates that it’s too easy to spend other people’s money. The political benefits and quid pro quo of large infrastructure projects outweigh actual transportation benefits. Unless the MTA Board, staff, consultants, Supervisors and Mayor bear some personal liability, taxpayers will be singularly liable for future cost overruns and crippling deficits.
- · “Now, at the half-way point in the project, the cost estimates at completion are approximately double that at initiation” (Page 213). Again, past performance is an indicator of future performance.
- · “[SFMTA] will comply with Prop K policies to delay the expenditure of Prop K funds to the extent possible without putting the project at risk” (Page 271). However, the Subway’s budgets show $72 million of Prop K funds will be expended in the next two years. The recent MTA contract for tunnel boring machines usurped $57 million of Prop K sales tax funds—in lieu of restoring service cuts or improving citywide Muni.
Central Subway Boondoggle = Waste and Inefficiency
A Vibrant Citywide Muni System = Revival and Value
Regards,
Choose or lose!
Newsflash: That New “Fresh & Easy” Gro Sto Wasn’t Put in a “Food Desert” – Most Bayview Residents Not in “Food Desert”
Thursday, August 25th, 2011Well, let’s check the official Food Desert Locator, you know, from the Feds, to see that the location of that new self-serve Fresh & Easy grocery store at 5800 Third isn’t in a “food desert” after all.
See?
Click to expand
The pink areas are the purported food deserts. The blob on the right is mostly mostly-shut-down Hunters Point, where I think I’d get shot if I snuck in to look for a gro sto anyway. And the lower pink blob contains Candlestick Point, which is loaded with parking lots and a dismal state park for parking your RV and a big old stadium, so there you go.
But, even before the new F&E, the vast majority of the residents of Bayview Hunters Point weren’t living in a “food desert,” FTR.
I know it’s fun to use new catchphrases, but you shouldn’t do that when they don’t apply.
So, am I saying [insert ridiculous conclusion-jump here]?
No, I’m just saying:
That New “Fresh & Easy” Gro Sto Wasn’t Put in a “Food Desert” – Most Bayview Residents Not in “Food Desert”
That’s all.
Writers, please try harder. Pols, I know that doing things the right way doesn’t gain you any votes, but don’t you have some pride?
Just asking…
OMG, the Biggest Member of San Francisco’s “City Family,” the SEIU, Endorses Avalos & Yee, Also Dufty, Rejects Mayor Ed Lee
Monday, August 15th, 2011[UPDATE: Explication here from Fog City Journal and the San Francisco Bay Guardian:
"The delegates were in support of both Supervisor John Avalos and State Senator Leland Yee, both progressives with strong labor credentials and records, both having been in SEIU at one time, and both friends. The delegates reasoned that with so many candidates in the race, neither could win without the others second votes, so they made a dual endorsement of them, asking members and supporters to vote their choice of first or second between them."
So yes, I did read this wrong.]
All right, tell me if I’m reading this fresh release the wrong way:
“City Workers Endorse Yee for Mayor – SEIU 1021 reject Lee, back Yee in Mayor’s Race
SAN FRANCISCO – Senator Leland Yee has landed the first choice endorsement of the largest organization of city workers – Service Employees International Union (SEIU 1021) – in his campaign for San Francisco Mayor. The move by the 54,000 member union is a complete rejection of the city’s top official, interim Mayor Ed Lee.
The endorsement comes after Yee has landed virtually every major labor endorsement in the race, including the California Nurses Association, California School Employees Association, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, Laborers International Union, United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Communication Workers of America, and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, among others.
Yee has also been endorsed by the major environmental groups, including the Sierra Club and San Francisco Tomorrow.
“I am proud to be the labor candidate in this race and honored to receive the endorsement from SEIU 1021 and our city’s workforce, who run our city and provide us essential services,” said Yee. “SEIU 1021 represents some of our lowest paid and hardest working employees, including healthcare workers, nurses, and janitors. Together, we have fought to ensure greater transparency and accountability at City Hall and within state government. I look forward to working with SEIU as we move San Francisco forward.”
“Clearly, Leland Yee is the best choice to stand up for working families,” said Jim Stearns, Yee’s campaign manager. “Unlike some candidates, Leland doesn’t believe public employees are the enemy and he’ll fight for good-paying jobs and benefits for those who provide essential services to San Francisco residents.”
SEIU 1021 also endorsed John Avalos as a first or second choice and Bevan Dufty as a third choice.
SEIU 1021 was founded in 2007 when 10 local unions came together in northern California to form one larger, more powerful union. SEIU 1021 represents public service workers in cities, counties, courts, schools, private non-profits, special districts, public health care, and nursing.
______
Yee immigrated to San Francisco at the age of 3. His father, a veteran, served in the US Army and the Merchant Marine, and his mother was a local seamstress. Yee graduated from the University of California – Berkeley, then earned a Ph.D. in Child Psychology, and later served in various mental health and school settings. He and his wife, Maxine, have raised four children who all attended San Francisco public schools. Yee has served in the State Legislature, Board of Supervisors and Board of Education.”
Senator Leland Yee and Board President David Chiu Making National News in Mayoral Race: RCV for You and Me
Thursday, August 4th, 2011Bloomberg News reporter Alison Vekshin is all over our upcoming race for Mayor.
See?
“San Francisco Mayor Candidates Ask to Be Voters’ Second Pick in New Ballot: http://t.co/8eD33pU“
Here’s the new approach, from your state Senator, Leland Yee:
“I will not just simply ask individuals, ‘Can I be your first choice?’ because they may have favorites,” Yee, 62, a Democrat and California state senator, said in an interview after the July 27 campaign stop. “This then gives me an opportunity to ask, ‘Well, what about second choice and third choice?’ The approach is a departure from conventional elections, where coming in first is what counts.”
And here’s how Board of Supervisors President David Chiu is doing it.
On It Goes…
SFPD Kenneth Harding Shooting Update: Gun Shot Residue Found on Suspect’s Right Hand
Tuesday, July 19th, 2011An update:
“Update on Officer Involved Shooting: GSR found on suspect’s hand
11-075a
Posted Date: 7/19/2011
As stated by Chief Suhr during Monday’s press conference, information pertaining to the investigation of the officer involved shooting that occurred on Saturday, July 16, 2011 would be released as it becomes available.
Results from the analysis of evidence collected from the hands of Kenneth Harding revealed that GSR (gunshot residue) was present on Harding’s right hand. The presence of gunshot residue on Harding’s right hand supports statements from witnesses that Harding held the gun in his right hand as he fired at the police officers.
The presence of GSR on an individual’s hands indicates that either: the individual fired a gun, the individual was in close proximity to a gun as it was discharged or that the individual touched a gun or other object with GSR on its surface and particles were transferred to his/her hands.
No GSR was detected on Harding’s left hand.”
SFPD Press Conference Regarding the July 16th, 2011 Shooting of Kenneth Harding
Tuesday, July 19th, 2011Here it is, the July 18th SFPD news conference regarding the July 16th, 2011 shooting of Kenneth Harding, a ”parolee at-large carrying a firearm.”
(I’m ignorant of any video that shows anybody “clearly” picking up any gun myself.)
Anyway. there’s more here from the KQED News Fix.
SFPD ShotSpotter Shows Where the SFPD Fired Ten Times at Kenneth Harding on July 16th, 2011 in the Bayview
Monday, July 18th, 2011Caroline Chen has some more details on the SFPD shooting of Kenneth Harding on July 16th, 2011 in Bayview’s Mendel Plaza near 3rd Street.
The SFPD’s Shotspotter* map indicating the order and location of triangulated shot locations:
Click to expand
Here’s a bigger picture via Google Maps:
The distance across the street from the place where Kenneth Harding fell from the location where shots 2-8 were fired is about 55 feet.
One protest is at 5:00 PM on July 19th and the Community Meeting is at 6:00 PM on July 20th.
*A Shot Spotter sensor looks one of these things, most likely:
District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen Announces Community Meeting for SFPD shooting of Kenneth Harding: July 20th at 6:00 PM
Monday, July 18th, 2011Here it is:
“Community Meeting this Wednesday, 7/20 at 6:00pm at the Bayview Opera House (3rd Street at Oakdale Ave.). Please join us to discuss the recent shooting. Questions? Call (415) 554-7670.”
And here’s the SFPD invite for the same event:
“San Francisco Police Department Community Meeting July 20th
Posted Date:7/18/2011
Police Chief Greg Suhr will conduct a community meeting on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at The Bayview Opera House, 4075 Third Street, at 6:00pm. The meeting will focus on the recent officer involved shooting at Third Street and Palou Avenue.
For further information please contact the San Francisco Police Department Community Relations Unit by calling 415-734-3280, or emailing the unit at
Oh, and here’s the latest protest, skedded for July 19th, 2011 at Dolores Park:
| Title: | RAGE IN THE STREETS: Cops Kill Again! |
| START DATE: | Tuesday July 19 |
| TIME: | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Location Details: | |
| Dolores Park, 19th and Dolores, San Francisco | |
| Event Type: | Protest |
Does This YouTube Video Show a Gun Involved in the Fatal July 16th, 2011 SFPD Shooting in the Bayview or Not?
Sunday, July 17th, 2011[UPDATE: A protest will be on Tuesday night and the official meeting is on Wednesday night. And here's the Second Angle video that's just been posted. And Lilian Kim from ABC7 KGO-TV is all over this with a chat from the videographer who was on the scene. Oh, and the reason why I made this post yesterday is because the IndyBay crowd seemed a little confused over the existence of a gun - this might seem obvious now but it sure as heck wasn't 24 hours ago. And I'll agree with them that whatever got picked up after 1:15 doesn't look like a gun. (And it seems to be in a different location as well. I'm still baffled over this one...) And here's the SFPD SpotShotter map, just released.]
You can see video of the aftermath of yesterday’s SFPD shooting of Kenneth Harding at Third Street and Oakdale on YouTube here, here, and here. (It’s the same 3:28-length video, AFAIK.)
Here’s the scene at 0:15:
Does that look like a handgun? [Something like a silver Taurus Millenium PT138?]
[UPDATE 7-28-11: Oh, here it is, per the SFPD:
A little rusty from Seattle's climate? Could be, don't know.]
Click to expand
At 1:15, somebody picks up something that was in the same general area, but that particular thing doesn’t particularly look like a handgun. It looks like something flat and rectangular.
I don’t know anything about this case, don’t know anything about this video or any gun or who picked up what or who put something where.
I’m baffled.
[UPDATE: Here's a comment on this issue that was just posted a few moments ago here:
@chuckdamailman You're talking about 1:23 into the video. That's not a handgun...it's a small rectangle object and I heard from some that it was his cell phone. Trust me, no gun would be that close to the police and they allow it to stay there. Ahmad770 21 minutes ago
@Ahmad770 15 seconds in bro.. there's a gun on the bottom right corner. not to say it was this young man's weapon, because it could have been anybody's gun. I'm just saying there is a gun in the video. this type of thing frustrates me to the point where I would like to do something. I won't say what that something is. These punk cowards are KILLING our youngsters out here!!! chuckdamailman 3 minutes ago]
[UPDATE: The SFPD weighs in. Oh, and they'll have a community meeting in the Bayview on this topic sometime this week, it's planned.
"Information on the Officer Involved Shooting
Posted Date: 7/17/2011
On Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 4:44pm two uniformed San Francisco Police officers were assigned to a fixed post at Third Street and Palou Street as part of a violence reduction program, in response to recent shootings in the area.
Information is still preliminary. The officers detained a 19 year old male suspect on the Muni light rail platform. This suspect then ran from the police officers who pursued him on foot. It appears that the suspect was armed with a gun and fired at the pursuing officers. At least one of the officers returned fire, in self defense, wounding the suspect. The suspect was transported to the hospital with life threatening injuries. He was pronounced deceased at 7:01 pm.
No officers were injured in this incident. The matter remains under investigation by the Internal Affairs Division (Officer Involved Shooting Team), the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, the Office of Citizen’s Complaints and the SFPD Homicide Detail."]
[UPDATE: The SFPD weighs in again:
Posted Date:7/17/2011
As a result of cooperation from the community and using information obtained through video taken at the scene, just after the incident, San Francisco Police have recovered a handgun believed to be the one used by the suspect in Saturdays incident. The suspects firearm was apparently taken from the ground as officers tended to the suspect and before officers could clear the scene and establish a crime scene."]
