California transportation officials have found rust and cracking on one of the 25 foot long anchor rods that secure the Bay Bridge, leading to concerns that the rods may break under the stress of a major earthquake. Charles Pillar has the story for the Sacramento Bee.
“The bridge tower is secured by 424 massive anchor rods, each 25 feet long. Bridge officials reported last fall that about 95 percent of the rods had not been surrounded by grout, a cementlike paste that protects against corrosion. Some of the rods were not grouted at all. Construction spray or rainwater entered spaces around the rods, sparking concerns that corrosion and cracking might occur.
“Rods on the eastern pier of the suspension span corroded under similar circumstances and snapped under tension in 2013, leading to a costly retrofit.
“Robert Bea, an engineering professor emeritus at UC Berkeley and an expert in risk assessment, called the test results worrisome… ’I’ve heard Caltrans incessantly say, ‘”We understand this might be a problem, but the bridge is safe.” When I hear that word “safe,” I get very ill at ease,’ Bea said. ‘They may believe it’s safe, but our job as engineers is to prove it.’”
Prime Healthcare Services is reported to be studying the conditions Attorney General Kamala Harris set for her approval of the company’s plan to buy six hospitals belonging to the Daughters of Charity Health System. Prime hopes to make a decision about whether to move forward with the purchase within a week.
Tracy Seipel, San Jose Mercury News: “Take it or leave it. That's the message to a Southern California for-profit company from Attorney General Kamala Harris who late last week laid out a dozen requirements for Prime Healthcare Services' $843 million deal to buy six cash-crunched nonprofit hospitals.
“On Monday, with the Daughters of Charity Health System running dangerously low on cash, Prime officials said they are diligently studying the mandates and hope to make a decision within a week. Daughters' president and CEO Robert Issai acknowledged Monday there is no wiggle room. ‘We're simply trying to understand what the recommendations mean and the implications for us,’ he said.”
With Kamala Harris off and running in the race to replace Senator Barbara Boxer, California Republicans are scanning their ranks for a candidate to contest the race. The Bee reports that former congressman David Dreier has been approached, although we’re not sure how seriously they take the story: given that the most recent photo they have of Dreier appears to date from 2003.
Josh Richman reports on a newly-launched Draft Condi petition following former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice’s strong showing in a Field Poll assessing the support for potential candidates. There are strong doubts, however, that the ‘movement’ is anything more than a fundraising scam. From Political Blotter:
“The Conservative Action Fund, based in Virginia, has established a webpage to gather petition signatures calling for Rice to enter the race. Chairman Shaun McCutcheon then sent out an email urging supporters to sign it ‘and then make a generous contribution of $25, $50 or even $100 to the Conservative Action Fund, so that we can convince Condi to enter the race and ensure we’re ready to maximize her impact and help propel her to victory!’…
“But whether or not there’s a genuine grassroots groundswell for Rice, potential donors might want to beware.
“The Conservative Action Fund seems to be the poster child for what some are calling ‘scam PACs’ that spend a lot more money on their own fundraising, salaries and other administrative costs than they give to or spend on behalf of candidates. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, this fund spent about 73 percent of its money in the 2014 cycle on fundraising and administrative costs.”
And, speaking of the Field Poll, Governor Brown is doing well – his pet projects, not so much. From David Siders at the Sacramento Bee:
“Although 56 percent of California voters approve of the job Brown is doing, according to a Field Poll released Tuesday, a majority fault him for favoring ‘too many big government projects that the state cannot afford right now.’
“The survey did not identify what big government projects voters might resist, but rail and water are the legacy-making initiatives on Brown’s agenda.
“[Mark DiCamillo, director of the poll] said ‘that’s probably what’s on voters’ minds.’”
With the election set for March 17, the three-way race for SD-7 is winding up, but the money continues to pour in, especially outside spending. From Jim Miller at the Sacramento Bee:
“Outside spending groups representing labor unions, dentists, charter school groups and others have injected nearly $1 million so far into a contentious East Bay state Senate election set for March 17.
“The 7th district race features a trio of high-profile Democratic candidates: Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla of Concord, former Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan of Alamo, and Orinda Mayor Steve Glazer. More than $800,000 of the independent money has gone to support Bonilla or Glazer.”
A new bill introduced by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) would allow the children of live-in help to attend the school district of their parent’s employer. From Tom Chorneau at the Cabinet Report:
“SB 200 by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, comes in response to a high-profile case in the East Bay where a school district initially moved to exclude a second grader after discovering her mother maintained a principal residency in another community although worked as a live-in nanny within the district’s jurisdiction.
“Orinda School District later reversed its decision after the employer agreed to become legal guardian of the child, according to the author’s office.
“’The goal here is to keep the families unified,’ Lara said. ‘We know that students are more successful when students are with their parents and in this case, [the student], she and her mom are fleeing domestic violence. So there was no other option.’”
It’s your worst nightmare: you accidentally ‘butt dial’ the boss, who hears you say something really inappropriate to your buddies. In your case, it would probably be something about said boss’ BO, or how much you hate his/her taste in music, or how that new car purchase is totally an indicator of mid-life crisis.
Worst case scenario: how you’re planning to rob the business and fence the goods.
“An accidental cellphone call landed two Florida men in jail after their employer heard them discussing plans to steal and sell $8,000 in construction equipment, according to police.
“David Fanuelsen, 39, and Dean Brown, 22, remained in jail on Monday facing charges of felony grand theft.
“Their troubles started when Fanuelsen, a construction worker, unintentionally dialed his boss from a phone in his back pocket last Tuesday night, the Key West Police Department said.
“The employer, Stace Valenzuela, told Reuters he overheard the men discussing plans to sell company equipment.
“At the job site where both worked, Valenzuela found three saws missing. He said he then realized that he had received an earlier accidental call in which the men planned the robbery in a voice message.
"’Talk about bumbling idiots,’ Valenzuela said..”
Oopsie.
