Sam Spade's San Francisco

Published since 2005. San Francisco is a city that belongs to the people of the world. Hence this blog has a global focus. The name "Sam Spade's San Francisco" refers to an exciting era in the City's history, the time of Dashiell Hammett's fictional gumshoe and San Francisco character, Sam Spade. My name is Tom Dunn and I edit the blog. I'm not as exciting as Sam Spade, but I am definitely a San Francisco character.Contact or on Twitter -- Search blog below.

Showing newest 13 of 74 posts from August 2010. Show older posts

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Yuch! Read this report: disgusting conditions led chickens to produce poison eggs

I read the following post on Marler Blog which describes itself as providing commentary on food poisoning outbreaks and litigation. The Marler Blog is written by Bill Marler, a personal injury and products liability attorney.

Here's the truth about the egg producers responsible for the salmonella poisoning outbreak courtesy of Attorney Marler. These egg producers should have never been able to supply eggs to the national food chain. The degree of their negligence is so extraordinary that I wonder if it does not warrant criminal charges.

Here is Bill Marler's report:

As I was boarding a plane to Chicago, my inbox filled up with Wright County Egg's and Hillandale Farm's first ever FDA inspection - the so called 483. Here are the highlights (more like lowlights) of Wright County Egg. Frankly, it was hard to read this one. I'll leave Hillandale's for another day. If you want to read them in full, head over to the FDA Website.

• Chicken manure located in the manure pits below the egg laying operations was observed to be approximately 4 feet high to 8 feet high at the following locations: Layer 1 – House 1; Layer 3 – Houses 2, 7, 17, and 18. The outside access doors to the manure pits at these locations had been pushed out by the weight of the manure, leaving open access to wildlife or domesticated animals.

• Un-baited, unsealed holes appearing to be rodent burrows located along the second floor baseboards were observed inside Layer 1 – Houses 1-9 and 11-13; Layer 2 – Houses 7 and 11; Layer 3 – Houses 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6; Layer 4 – House 3.

• Dark liquid which appeared to be manure was observed seeping through the concrete foundation to the outside of the laying houses at the following locations: Layer 1 – Houses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, and 14; and Layer 3 – Houses 1, 8, 13, and 17.

• Standing water approximately 3 inches deep was observed at the southeast corner of the manure pit located inside Layer 1 – House 13.

• Un-caged birds (chickens having escaped) were observed in the egg laying operations in contact with the egg laying birds at Layer 3 – Houses 9 and 16. The un-caged birds were using the manure, which was approximately 8 feet high, to access the egg laying area.

• Layer 3 – House 11, the house entrance door to access both House 11 and 12 was blocked with excessive amounts of manure in the manure pits.

• There were between 2 to 5 live mice observed inside the egg laying Houses 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, and 14.

• Live and dead flies too numerous to count were observed at the following locations inside the egg laying houses: Layer 1 – Houses 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 12; Layer 2 – Houses 7 and 11; Layer 3 – Houses 3, 4, 4, 5, 7, 8, 15, 16, 17, and 18. The live flies were on and around egg belts, feed, shell eggs and walkways in the different sections of each egg laying area. In addition, live and dead maggots too numerous to count were observed on the manure pit floor located in Layer 2 – House 7.

Coast Guard answers mayday from 4 boaters near Horseshoe Cove, Sausalito

The Coast Guard Sector San Francisco escorted four boaters to safety early Monday morning near Horseshoe Cove near Sausalito after responding to a mayday call at 9:12 p.m. Sunday evening.

The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine information broadcast and directed an MH-65 helicopter from Air Station San Francisco and a 47-foot motor lifeboat from Station Golden Gate in response to the distress call from the crew of the 42-foot boat Carina.

Carina’s four crewmembers reported multiple injuries and notified the Coast Guard of a possible electronic problem on the boat. When the crew lost communications with the Coast Guard, they activated their onboard electronic position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB). This enabled the Coast Guard to immediately locate the Carina and administer assistance to the injured crew.

Shortly after the helicopter arrived, it suffered a mishap when its hoist cable snagged equipment on the rescue boat while a rescue swimmer was being lowered. Fortunately, the flight mechanic was able to cut the cable with no injuries to the swimmer who safely dove into the water.

The rescue boat plucked the swimmer from the water and followed through with the mayday response. While on the way to Horseshoe Cove, the EMT-certified swimmer helped administer first aid to the crewmembers. They all arrived at approximately 1:45 a.m. where an awaiting ambulance transported the injured crewmembers to Marin General Medical Center.

The Coast Guard recommends that all mariners undertaking an ocean voyage stock their vessel with safety gear including life jackets, survival suits, a marine VHF radio, GPS, and an emergency beacon. Also plan for changing weather and sea conditions. Though conditions may be ideal where you launch your boat, the conditions could be hazardous in another area.

The National Weather Service displays marine weather forecasts regularly on its web site. Click here for the San Francisco Bay Area marine weather conditions.

You may also listen to broadcasts throughout the day on VHF channel WX2. The Coast Guard broadcasts weather conditions on VHF channel 22A at 9:30 a.m., 12 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Congratulations Master Chief Steven Hearn, USCG -- 10th Silver Mariner of the Coast Guard

Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert J. Papp Jr., the 13th Gold Ancient Mariner of the Coast Guard congratulates Chief Petty Officer Steven Hearn, the new Silver Ancient Mariner at a change of watch ceremony. Coast Guard photo by PA3 David Weydert.

How long does it take to become an "old salt" in the Coast Guard? How about a decade? Ten years of guarding the coast, saving lives and dealing with the fury of the sea seems like a long time. Is that long enough?

How about 22 years, 2 months and 15 days of sea time; that is what it would take to be considered the “saltiest,” an honor which goes to the 10th, and newest, Silver Ancient Mariner of the Coast Guard, Master Chief Petty Officer Steven B. Hearn.

“It’s truly an honor and privilege to preside over the Silver Ancient Mariner Change of Watch,” said Adm. Bob Papp, commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, who as the 13th Gold Ancient Mariner presided over the ceremony. “The Ancient Mariner is one of our most cherished traditions. It celebrates our identity and heritage as a unique seagoing service and is a sign of respect to experience, seamanship and seniority.”

The Gold and Silver Ancient Mariner awards, established in 1978, honor the officer and enlisted member who personifies the dedication and professionalism associated with long service at sea and has the distinction of being called a “Cutterman” longer than any other active duty member.

Being a Cutterman runs through Master Chief Hearn’s blood; his father, retired Capt. John R. Hearn Jr., was the Coast Guard’s Gold Ancient Mariner from 1985 to 1987 and commanded seven cutters. The Hearns have made history, as they are the first father and son to have held the Ancient Mariner title.

“To me it feels like I have been in the Coast Guard my whole life,” said Hearn reflecting on both his and his father’s service time. “My dad did about 37 years in the Coast Guard, going from enlisted to warrant and then retiring as Captain.”

Master Chief Hearn, a Master Cutterman with over 22 years of sea time, addresses attendees during his Silver Ancient Mariner change of watch ceremony. Coast Guard photo by PA2 Nathan Henise.

From a young age, Hearn would go on day trips aboard ships his dad commanded where he says the crew treated him like one of their own. From there his desire to serve at sea only grew stronger and led him on the journey to Silver Ancient Mariner.

Through his years at sea, you can guarantee he has some fantastic sea stories! His sea stories go back to before he even joined the Coast Guard, as a young boy, when he was visiting a small boat station his father commanded.

“When the SAR alarm went off, I would jump into the small boats before the crew even got there, ready to go out on the water,” said Hearn. “When the crew got there, they would tell me to get out of the way and I would unfortunately have to get off the boat.”

Hearn also recalls how he seemed almost destined to become an Ancient. At one point in his career he was the officer in charge of CGC Cimarron, a unit where two other Ancients – Donald Urquhart (4th Silver Ancient Mariner) and Michael Gibbs (6th Silver Ancient Mariner) were previously officers in charge. He also happened to live on the same street in the same city of Murray, Ky. as both of them.

Validating his love for sea service, Hearn is also one of very few Coast Guardsmen who have earned a Master Cutterman certificate, which recognizes over 20 years of cumulative sea time. Hearn, currently serving as officer in charge of CGC Kankakee, has served aboard eight Coast Guard Cutters, commanding five.

“Sea time is the backbone of the Coast Guard,” said Hearn. “It prepares you for any and all future challenges you will encounter throughout your career.”

As the 10th Silver Ancient Mariner with 7,995 days at sea, Master Chief Hearn does not have to prove himself to anyone, expect maybe to one more person – his father.

“We are always debating about who is the better ship handler,” chuckles Hearn.

The original story and photos of this post were first published in Coast Guard Compass, the official USCG blog.

Also see: Adm Papp names 10th Silver Mariner

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Thieves are taking copper from underground PG&E vaults in SF and causing outages

In the past 3 weeks, there have been 12 individual thefts of bare copper wire from the interior of electric underground sidewalk manholes in various locations throughout San Francisco. The targeted copper wire is the neutral leg, which connect the underground transformers feeding high voltage electricity to our customers. The thefts have resulted in some outages and have caused considerable damage to residents and businesses.

There is no geographic pattern to the thefts, but we believe that the thieves park a vehicle at the curb adjacent to a grated sidewalk vault in the early morning hours (2 am-6 am), remove the manhole cover, and descend into the vault. The copper wire (which is 1 1/4 inch thick) is then cut with ratcheted bolt cutters (in earlier cases a hack saw was used) and removed. Thieves have also uncoiled copper grounding wire from the transformers.

The target areas appear to be areas which have no overhead wires and are usually located in light industrial areas. Areas targeted in the past include 4500 & 4900 blocks of Mission St, 12th & 14th Sts of Mission, Folsom & Hawthorne, Drumm & Battery, 400 block of Jackson, Gough & O’Farrell , Sacramento & Webster , Turk & Masonic , Mission & Harrington and 8th St & Minna.

Anyone observing any suspicious behavior in the area of underground vaults is encouraged to call the SFPD immediately (911), or PG&E's security control center (staffed 24/7) at 1 800 691- 0410. Citizens should not attempt to enter the vault as the possibility of electrocution is very high.

For more information contact the San Francisco Police Department

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Criminal laser strikes are grounding Coast Guard rescue helicopters

From Coast Guard News

For the second time in less than a week, a Coast Guard MH-65C Dolphin helicopter was forced to make an precautionary landing at their hangar after someone illuminated the crew with a laser.

While conducting flight operations over Cabrillo Beach by San Pedro, California, at about 9 p.m. Thursday, the aircrew was flashed with a laser that affected their vision. Coast Guard flight rules dictate that if any aircrew member’s vision is compromised, the aircraft must land immediately at the closest airport.

Additionally, aircrew members are taken off flight duty for a minimum of 24 hours and must have their eyes dilated and to be cleared by a doctor before flying again. This temporary loss of flight crews has the potential to significantly affect the unit’s abilities to conduct search, rescue, and homeland security missions.

People convicted of willfully and maliciously discharging a laser at any aircraft can be punished under California Penal Code with a misdemeanor and prison time up to one year with a $1000 fine, or a felony and prison time up to 16 months and a $2000 fine. In addition, federal charges can be brought against the convicted person and can carry a sentence up to 20 years in prison and fines.

Members of the public who witness someone committing this crime are strongly encouraged to immediately call 911 to report the incident.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Chinese police shoot and kill peaceful Tibetan protesters

On August 17th, Chinese police opened fire on a group of Tibetans protesting the expansion of a Chinese-owned gold mining operation on their land. Sources have reported that four Tibetans were shot dead and thirty more injured in the violent attack.

The group had been picketing the county government office in Palyul County, Kardze Prefecture in eastern Tibet (Ch: Baiyu Country, Ganzi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province) to protest the mine, which is destroying traditional farmland and completely devastating the local environment. (photos of area)

Chinese police reportedly used 'incapacitating gas' to try and disburse the Tibetans, but when the group resisted, police opened fire.

Students for a Free Tibet asked me to sign a letter in protest to Sichuan Party Secretary Liu Qiabao and the Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Prefecture Government. I eagerly signed the letter and I would like to encourage you to sign the letter too.

Here is the letter:

Liu Qiabao

Sichuan Party Secretary

and

Government of Ganzi Prefecture at Kardze

I am outraged to hear that Chinese police opened fire on an unarmed group of Tibetans, reportedly killing four, injuring dozens, and detaining many more in Palyul County, Kardze Prefecture in eastern Tibet (Ch: Baiyu County, Ganzi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province). The group was petitioning the local government to stop the Chinese-owned Kartin Company from expanding its destructive gold mining operations on their land.

I join people worldwide in condemning the killing of innocent Tibetans who were simply trying to preserve Tibet's fragile environment. In the eyes of the international community, this brutal crime is yet another example of the atrocities the Chinese government routinely commits against the Tibetan people. Until Tibetans can freely determine the use of their own land and resources, they will continue to suffer systematic violations of their basic human rights at the hands of the Chinese authorities.

I call on your government to immediately condemn this attack and bring those responsible to justice. Until the legitimate concerns of local Tibetans have been addressed, Kartin Company must immediately cease mining operations in the area. I further call on you to release all Tibetans detained in this incident and to ensure that they receive immediate medical attention if needed. I will continue to closely monitor the situation in Palyul County.

- - -

Go here to sign the letter.

Coast Guard and Maersk Line cargo ship rescue fisherman off Pillar Point

From U.S. Coast Guard D11, San Francisco Bay

Lt.j.g. Laura Williams -- Phone: or

The Coast Guard rescued a fisherman from a liferaft with the help of a cargo ship transiting toward Oakland Wednesday night.

At approximately 9:25 p.m. Wednesday, the Coast Guard received a mayday broadcast from the 27-foot fishing vessel Ana that took on water, approximately 29 nautical miles west of Pillar Point Harbor. The master of the fishing vessel abandoned ship and boarded a liferaft.

The Coast Guard launched the Coast Guard Cutter Sockeye, a 47-foot Motor Life Boat from Station Golden Gate, and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station San Francisco. The Coast Guard also coordinated with a transiting cargo ship to help with the response.

The Sea-Land Intrepid, a 958-foot Maersk Line cargo ship, found both the fishing boat and liferaft. It stayed on scene for 15 minutes until the Coast Guard's small boat arrived and rescued the fisherman from the liferaft.

The quick response of the Coast Guard was aided by the fisherman’s distress call, which identified the vessel, its position and type of distress, and the Rescue 21 program. The Rescue 21 program uses direction finding equipment to find the location of a distress call when it is made over VHF radio.

You may also be interested in: USCGC Sockeye's Master Chief Paul Andrieu retires, then dies in same week

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Report from The White House: Hurricane Katrina 5 Years Later

Posted by Chris Lu on The White House Blog on August 25, 2010

This weekend marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and provides an opportunity to remember what was lost, celebrate what has been regained, and restate our commitment to the Gulf region and to all those still working to rebuild lives and communities.

. . .Resource links below . . .

The Obama Administration remains deeply committed to serving the needs of Gulf Coast residents. Since taking office, President Obama has made it clear that he will stand with the people in Gulf through this restoration process and on Sunday, the President and several members of the Cabinet will travel to New Orleans as a continued demonstration of that support (you can watch the event live on Sunday).

The storm and its tragic aftermath took more than a thousand lives, displaced more than a million residents, inflicted major damage to nearly 300,000 homes, and wiped out hundreds of square miles of coastal land. Since the hurricanes hit, the people of the Gulf Coast have never stopped working to rebuild their communities, but their resilience and determination were sometimes challenged by unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles. Since taking office, the Administration has eliminated bureaucratic red tape that has delayed assistance, including obligating nearly $2.42 billion in Public Assistance funds for recovery in Louisiana and Mississippi that had been stalled for years, and supported the Federal agencies and state and local partners who continue to provide assistance to the region. President Obama has also worked to improve disaster preparedness, response, and recovery nationwide, so that the Gulf Coast and all other regions of the country will be more resilient and better prepared in the face of future disasters.

By continuing to support local restoration efforts, provide assistance to businesses, schools and residents, and prepare for future events, the Administration’s efforts have been improving the functioning of government so that it works for all people. Government agencies have worked together in a collaborative manner to strengthen Federal emergency programs; enhance emergency communications; improve disaster housing; and work with state and local governments, community stakeholders, and individuals, to improve preparedness and capacity for long-term recovery from disasters.

In the five years since the storm, families have returned to area, houses have gone up, schools have reopened, and businesses have been rebuilt. But there is more work to do – and this Administration is committed to working with the people of the Gulf region to get the job done. This week, we will be featuring a series of blog posts on WhiteHouse.gov from government agencies that have been working with local communities to restore the region.

For more information about what is being done:

Read more on gulf coast hurricane recovery and nationwide disaster preparedness and response efforts
Visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) site on rebuilding lives and revitalizing communities

Other White House posts about Hurricane Katrina: 5 Years Later:

On the Road from Recovery to Revitalization by Secretary Shaun Donovan
Five Years After Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, USDA Continues to Assist Gulf Residents by Dallas Tonsager
Cutting Red Tape and Helping Communities Rebuild by Administrator Craig Fugate
SBA Disaster Assistance: Then and Now by Administrator Karen Mills

Chris Lu is Assistant to President Obama

Theresa Sparks wins endorsements from both SF Police Officers and SF Firefighters for District 6 Supervisor

I am very proud to be a San Franciscan when I think of Theresa Sparks, a leader of our community who happens to be transgender, just as I happen to be gay and you happen to be whatever.

My family first set foot in San Francisco in 1849 and we have been here ever since. I am very proud of this City that we have so openly and warmly embraced Theresa as past President of the San Francisco Police Commission and currently as the Executive Director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission.

Theresa is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

(UPDATE NOTE. I have updated this post. I first accused Theresa of being in the Army. I was wrong. I was the dummy who ended up in the Army. Theresa was much smarter and got into the Navy. She served during the Vietnam War stationed at the Fleet Intelligence Center, Pearl Harbor.)

It is my distinct honor to fully and completely endorse the candidacy of Theresa Sparks for San Francisco Supervisor from District 6

Theresa and the Sparks for 6 Campaign today announced the endorsement of San Francisco Firefighters Local 798 and the San Francisco Police Officers Association (POA) in her District 6 Supervisor race. The endorsements show momentum continuing to build for the Sparks for 6 campaign entering the final ten weeks of the race.

"I am honored to receive the endorsement of both the San Francisco Firefighters and the San Francisco Police Officers Association and it clearly shows we have the momentum going into November," said Sparks. "As Supervisor, I will work hard every day to support these brave men and women in public safety who put their lives on the line every day for the people of San Francisco.

The endorsement of the San Francisco Firefighters Local 798 and the San Francisco POA adds a new, important element to a unique political coalition coming together around the Sparks Campaign - one that has rarely been seen in San Francisco. Indeed, many believe the coalescing of labor, business and community leaders around Sparks is clear signal that voters are demanding common sense, fiscal discipline and better policy - not political bickering - coming from City Hall.

Sparks, for her part, recognizes her nearly twenty years of experience in San Francisco in business, with labor, government leader and as a community activist set her apart from other candidates in the District 6 Supervisor race. She specifically cited her work in the private sector as a CEO and entrepreneur with several companies along with her public service work as President of the Police Commission and, now, as San Francisco's Human Rights Director, as just a few examples of her work in the city.

"This is a time when on the job training is something that city can't afford right now - we need experienced leadership," Sparks said. "My successful track record in business, as a city agency director, working with labor unions and as a community leader is unique in this race and will help me hit the ground running as District 6 Supervisor."

The Sparks Campaign has continued to lead the field in name recognition by a wide margin and has shown incredible strength in the fundraising arena. With a fast-moving field campaign and a growing list of endorsements lead by State Senator Mark Leno, Supervisor Bevan Dufty and SEIU-UHW, it's clear Theresa Sparks is at the front of the pack in the District 6 race.

Resources:

Contact the Theresa Sparks Campaign website: www.sparksfor6.com

Theresa's personal website: www.theresasparks.com

Iraq and Afghanistan vets sign letter to support Muslim Community Center at 911 site

Sometimes being an American citizen means we have to rise to our feet and stand ready to defend our home against all threats, including those that arise from within. I received the following letter from Jon Soltz from VoteVets.org and the subject of this letter is so important to this country that I am sharing it with you here.

The mission of VoteVets.org Political Action Committee is to elect Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to public office; hold public officials accountable for their words and actions that impact America’s 21st century servicemembers; and fully support our men and women in uniform. However, this letter is not about electing vets. It is about defending the rights of all Americans, including Muslim Americans.

In the following letter I was asked to go online and sign a message standing behind the Constitution and standing in support of Muslim Americans and their Constitutional rights. I once swore an oath to defend the Constitution and I consider the oath to still be in full force. I went online and I did sign the message.

Here is the letter I received:

Dear Tom,

Since the debate erupted, we've kept out of the argument over the planned Community Center for Muslims in Lower Manhattan (falsely called the "Ground Zero Mosque"). Initially, we believed this was a local issue for New Yorkers to discuss. But, we can no longer stay silent. We need your help.

We're asking for you to join Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who already signed an open letter to the developer of the site, Sharif El-Gamal, supporting his right to develop the site, and expressing the view that allowing his community center to move forward will be a powerful tool in defeating the same terrorists we fought against in war.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN OUR OPEN LETTER ON THE COMMUNITY CENTER FOR MUSLIMS

There are two very important reasons we Iraq and Afghanistan veterans feel we must speak out. First and foremost, when we signed up for service, we swore to uphold the Constitution. For all the talk these days from some quarters about the importance of protecting the Constitution and allowing the free market to work unfettered, those same people are fighting against a person's right to buy property and worship freely. Our duty to protect the Constitution doesn't end when our service does. It's up to us to stand up for the right for all Americans to enjoy the Constitutional freedoms that so many around the world don't have.

Secondly, allowing the Community Center to move forward will deal a blow to the propaganda of al Qaeda and Islamist extremists, who recruit on the talking point that the United States is in a war against Islam. Of course, we're not. But, if those forces of intolerance win, it will certainly appear that we are in a war against one religion - Islam.

As Matthew Alexander, a former interrogator in Iraq, and VoteVets.org member wrote at the Huffington Post, "Imagine an al Qaeda recruiter attempting to sway a potential charge by citing an imaginary American war against Muslims but having to face the counterargument that Americans built a Muslim community center near the site of the former Twin Towers. The Cordoba House would be a powerful symbol of U.S. tolerance and freedom that will stand in direct contradiction to al Qaeda's narrative that Americans hate Muslims."

That's the point. Defeating al Qaeda will take the use of force. But it will also take destroying their ability to recruit, and that means winning hearts and minds. As veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan know, having the people on your side is of utmost importance.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN US IN PROTECTING THE CONSTITUTION AND AMERICA

Please take a moment to click the link above to join Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in this open letter, supporting the right of Muslims to build a community center on property they lawfully bought. This is too important an issue for us to stay silent on any longer.

Sincerely,

Jon Soltz
(Follow me on Twitter - @)
Iraq War Veteran
Chairman, VoteVets.org

Thank you, New Leaf Services for Our Community, and goodbye

New Leaf was a tremendous asset to the LGBT community. Thank you New Leaf. Thank you to the directors, the staff and the volunteers. You are all so very necessary to our community. This is a very sad story from the Bay Area Reporter:

An LGBT nonprofit that provides mental health, substance abuse, and senior services announced this week that it has run out of money and will close its doors by the middle of October.

The board of directors of New Leaf: Services for Our Community voted unanimously August 15 at an emergency meeting to begin the process to dissolve the agency, which turned 35 this year. The closure is due to the fact that the agency is no longer fiscally sustainable, Thom Lynch, interim executive director of New Leaf, and Barbara Garcia, deputy director of health at the San Francisco Department of Public Health, told the Bay Area Reporter Monday.

"There were a lot of tears around the table. Some of the board members were former clients at New Leaf; one was a long-term client. This hits people personally," said Lynch, who stepped into the troubled organization 10 months ago in an attempt to fix it. "It's very, very sad, but I'm also really proud of the organization for taking a really hard look at itself and making a tough decision."

The deadly mix: a dearth of necessary financial resources combined with rising operational costs on top of high operational expenses. Some former employees also pointed to poor management. All of that was compounded by the economic crisis.

One of the contributors was the agency's lease, which Lynch said was "expensive" at nearly $33,000 per month, and has three and a half years left. City budget cuts were also a factor, he said.

"We've explored every possible way that we could to have the organization continue," said Lynch, no longer hopeful that an "angel" philanthropist who could afford $300,000 or more a year to support the agency will appear. "But it's not only about the organization continuing. It's about providing good services. There comes a point where the quality of the services is so damaged that we just can't continue to do that fairly to the clients or the community."

Read the rest of the story at the BAR

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Official Crash Report: Coast Guard HC-130 and Marine AH-1W Cobra collision off San Diego coast

Joint News Release:

- U.S. Coast Guard

- U.S. Marine Corps

- U.S. Navy

Issued at Coast Guard Island, Alameda, San Francisco Bay: The U.S. Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy today released the results of their command investigations into the October 2009 collision of a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft and a Marine AH-1W Cobra helicopter off the coast of Southern California. All seven Coast Guard aircrew members and both Marine Corps aviators were killed in the crash.

All the investigations concluded that no single factor, person or unit caused the mishap, but that it was a tragic confluence of events. The three command investigations also concluded there was no misconduct on the part of any Coast Guard, Marine Corps or Navy personnel, and all three made recommendations for improving procedures, training and aviation safety.

“We are using what we found in these investigations to improve aviation safety,” said Rear Adm. Joseph Castillo, Commander of the 11^th Coast Guard District. “We are committed to preventing a recurrence of this terrible tragedy. We owe nothing less to the memories of the dedicated men and woman lost in the crash, their families, their shipmates, and the public,” he said.

Military officials did not wait for the investigations to be completed to begin safety improvements. Immediately after the accident the services began reviewing policies and procedures and have already implemented many of the recommendations in the reports.

Castillo noted that aviators and technical experts from all three branches of the naval aviation community brought their own unique expertise, experience, and perspectives to the investigations. “The range of opinions and recommendations strengthens our common effort of improving aviation safety,” he said. “The services have worked closely throughout the investigations and will continue to do so as we implement changes.”

The Coast Guard plane, based in Sacramento, Calif., was conducting a search and rescue mission and the Marine helicopter, based at Camp Pendleton, was involved in training when the two aircraft collided. Both aircraft were operating in a training area monitored by a Navy air traffic control center in San Diego.

U.S. Coast Guard
11^th District: Lt. Cmdr. Rick Foster
or

U.S. Marine Corps
3^rd Marine Air Wing: Maj. Manuel Delarosa

U.S. Navy
Commander, Naval Air Forces: Cmdr. Pauline Storum

Resources:

Coast Guard Report: The Coast Guard report is available online

Navy Report: The Navy report is available online

Marine Corps Report: (Marines like doing things the tough way and they don't want to make things too easy, so to obtain a copy of the Marine Corps investigation) Submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) form to the Joint Law Center at Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar. A copy of the FOIA form is available on the web at:

http://www.miramar.usmc.mil/jlc/AAWebsite/Civil%20Law%20Website/Links/FOIA%20Request%20Form.doc

Other Resources:

View this document online

USCG District 11

US Coast Guard Northern California News

USCG CG-1705 Memorial for lost crew from AIRSTA Sacramento

IRS going after crooked tax preparers and tax-fraud schemes -- here's what you need to do to protect yourself!

The Department of Justice, Tax Division, working together with the Internal Revenue Service, has intensified its efforts to shut down fraudulent tax return preparers and promoters of tax-fraud schemes, using both civil and criminal enforcement. Under the Tax Division’s civil injunction program, the Division files a lawsuit seeking a court order that prohibits a person from engaging in certain activities (for example, to stop promoting tax-fraud schemes or preparing tax returns), or requires a person to take certain affirmative actions (for example, to notify customers of the injunction order).

With each additional court order, the Division comes closer to being able to assure honest taxpayers that those who would cheat are not getting away with it. The Tax Division will continue to use its successful injunction program to bring more cases until the problem is solved.

If you believe your tax preparer may be under such a court order and is in violation, you may contact the Department of Justice Tax Division with details at

There are many reasons why you may have trouble with the IRS. It may not be your tax preparer's fault. Tax law in this country is extremely complicated, so if you are having any kind of problems with the IRS or any state tax authority, then get some professional help and get it now.

What to do if you need help with the IRS:

Remember the food chain:

If you have a leaky faucet you don't call an electrician, you call a plumber. It's the same concept when you have tax problems.

Seasonal tax prep outfits at the bottom

At the bottom of the food chain are the seasonal tax preparation firms. Among these are H&R Block and Jackson-Hewitt. The do-it-yourself software programs, like TurboTax, also fall at this first rung of the ladder.

Enrolled Agents -- second rung of the ladder

Next up the ladder are Enrolled Agents. According to the IRS, "An enrolled agent is a person who has earned the privilege of practicing, that is, representing taxpayers, before the Internal Revenue Service. Enrolled agents, like attorneys and certified public accountants (CPAs), are unrestricted as to which taxpayers they can represent, what types of tax matters they can handle, and which IRS offices they can practice before."

The basic problem with Enrolled Agents is that they are not required to have any specialized training or education beyond the IRS study program. You may be represented by someone with nothing more than a high-school diploma and no professional specialized training at all. Hiring an Enrolled Agent can be a gamble. If you are not savvy enough to know the difference, you better keep on climbing the ladder.

Certified Public Accountants -- another step up the ladder

Continuing up the ladder we encounter the first truly professional level, that of the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) which is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA. In California a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university is required.

Attorneys at Law -- at the top of the ladder

On the top of the ladder you will find attorneys at law who are tax specialists. Many tax law firms employ CPA's and oftentimes Enrolled Agents, but they work under the supervision of a licensed attorney at law. Attorneys at law are true professionals who have a four-year university education behind them plus another 4 years of law school on top of that. Working as a lawyer involves the practical application of abstract legal theories and knowledge to solve specific individualized problems, or to advance the interests of those who retain (i.e., hire) lawyers to perform legal services. The practice of law is substantially more intricate and demanding than any other the lower rungs of the ladder. Attorneys earn a Bachelors degree in addition to a Doctorate degree in law, the degree of Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Don't get burned or under-served:

If you have tax problems or other serious financial challenges, do yourself a favor and make sure you get the highest quality advice and help available -- and that will come to you only from an attorney at law. Don't be fooled by non-attorney businesses that try to help.

The cost is usually about the same to hire an attorney as it is to hire someone with lesser credentials. The fees charged by most tax attorneys are about the same or close to those of CPA firms or Enrolled Agents.

Most attorneys will grant a free consultation during which time you can meet and talk to an attorney free of any charge. The attorney will answer your questions, provide the legal advice you need, let you know what your options are, and suggest a strategy to you.

The State Bar of California

Created by the state legislature in 1927, the State Bar is a public corporation within the judicial branch of government, serving as an arm of the California Supreme Court. All State Bar members are officers of the court.

Membership in the State Bar of California affords attorneys the right and privilege of practicing law in this state. The bar's integrated network of functions and services — many of them mandated by law — protects the public and assists attorneys in meeting their professional obligations.

Make sure you speak only to an attorney at law who is in good standing with the State Bar. They have a search box on the web site. Enter the attorney's name in the search box provided under "Attorney Search"

Finding a tax attorney in San Francisco

The Bar Association of San Francisco offers an extensive lawyer referral service.

Tax Fraud hotline and tax scam resources:

If you have information about suspected tax fraud, report it to the IRS at 1-.

More information on tax scams is available athttp://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=98269,00.html.

For more information about tax return preparer fraud, see http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=153948,00.html.

Details about criminal tax prosecutions are available on the Tax Division’s website,http://www.justice.gov/tax/,

and on the IRS Criminal Investigation Division’s website,http://www.ustreas.gov/irs/ci/.

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