Friday, January 30, 2009

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News: SDGE threatening to sue 2007 Firestorm victims

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 05:43 PM PST

SDG&E threatens to sue homeowners from 2007 wildfires

By San Diego Suburban Newspapers
- La Jolla Light

San Diego Gas & Electric Co. is threatening to sue homeowners whose properties were burned in the 2007 wildfires because surrounding brush had not been cleared away, it was reported Thursday.

The utility has already filed several claims setting forth similar accusations against local governments and fire agencies, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Hundreds of burned-out residents, as well as some local governments and fire agencies, have sued SDG&E since state investigators issued a report stating that the utility's equipment sparked the Witch Creek, Guejito and Rice Canyon fires. Experts said the lawsuits could take years to resolve.

Utility spokeswoman Stephanie Donovan told the newspaper that a counter complaint raises valid issues about property maintenance and how it affected the spread of the fires.

Source: Lajollalight.com - Link

Breaking News: Two furlough days a month tentative final ruling

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 02:22 PM PST

Final ruling: Schwarzenegger can order two furlough days a month

By Andrew McIntosh
amcintosh@sacbee.com

Published: Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009

A Sacramento Superior Court Judge today ordered state Controller John Chiang to implement a Schwarzenegger administration plan to furlough state workers two days a month, resulting in a 10 percent pay cut.

Judge Patrick Marlette issued the ruling this morning, rejecting arguments by several state workers' unions that the governor's plan to save $1.3 billion with unpaid time off was illegal and unconstitutional.

Marlette issued a tentative ruling early Thursday and made it final after hearing additional oral arguments from lawyers for state workers in the case this morning.

Marlette's ruling said the state's current budget crisis and lack of funds represented an emergency and the governor's order was "reasonable and necessary under the circumstances."

Chiang said in a statement that he would move immediately to implement Marlette's order with state workers' paychecks next month.

"However painful, this pay cut for state employees alone will not solve the state's budget deficit, nor will it allow me to avoid delaying more than $3 billion in tax refunds, college assistance and payments to programs that protect our most vulnerable and needy citizens," Chiang said. "I urge the governor and Legislature to work quickly to solve the State's $42 billion budget deficit and provide sufficient cash to get the state through the next few months."

The ruling is a major setback for state worker unions, which went to court in December and January in a bid to stop the furloughs from being implemented.

Barring any last minute appeal, the furloughs could begin Feb. 6 and will take place every first and third Friday of each month.

Jim Zamora, a spokesmen for the Service Employees International Union, Local 1000, said this morning that his members were disappointed.

"We've been bargaining continuously with the state for the past week and we hope that we can mitigate this at the bargaining table," Zamora said. "We think we can help the governor achieve his cost savings goals but also cause minimum disruption to the lives of 95,000 state workers that we represent and continue to provide quality public services."

Chris Voight, a staff director for the California Association of Professional Scientists, said his member organization would almost certainly appeal.

"Judges make mistakes," Voight said. "This one just did."

Voight said any appeal would also seek compensation for any wages lost by his 3,200 scientists members.

Matt David, Schwarzenegger's communications director, said state employees must share the burden of fixing the state's budget problems.

"State employees throughout California are hardworking public servants who play a vital role in providing government services to Californians, but as businesses and families across the state are cutting back to make ends meet - so must government," David said in a statement.

Source: Sacbee.com - Link

Update: CALPERS Renegotiation of Public Employee Pension Contract Amendment.

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 02:36 PM PST

CALPERS - Public Employee retirement Ballot Measure 1350 Updated as of January 21, 2009
1350. (08-0018, Amdt. #1S) Renegotiation of Public Employee Pension Contracts. Initiative Constitutional Amendment. ADDED to Initiatives in Circulation.
1350. (08-0018, Amdt. #1S)

Renegotiation of Public Employee Pension Contracts. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Summary Date: 01/21/09 Circulation Deadline: 06/22/09
Signatures Required: 694,354

Proponent: Paul McCauley

Eliminates certain state constitutional restrictions on renegotiating public employee pension contracts. Allows vested pension benefits to be reduced for existing and prospective public-sector retirees. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Possible reduction in pension costs for state and local governments, depending on future actions by state and local governments and courts. Any such reduction likely would be largely or entirely offset by negotiated increases in other costs, such as employee salaries and wages. (08-0018, Amdt. #1S.

(Full Text)

Past Updates: 01/15/09 01/08/09 01/05/09 12/31/08 12/19/08 12/17/08

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Earthquake: 4.2 M - San Clemente Island

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 02:40 PM PST

Update: Aftershock Details - 43 miles South of Avalon, CA
Magnitude - 3.1
Date-Time - Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 19:20:01 UTC
* Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 11:20:01 AM at epicenter

Location 32.718°N, 118.225°W
Depth 0.2 km (~0.1 mile) (poorly constrained)
Region CHANNEL ISLANDS REGION, CALIFORNIA
Distances

* 50 km (31 miles) SE (134°) from San Clemente Is., CA (NW tip)
* 70 km (43 miles) S (172°) from Avalon, CA
* 92 km (57 miles) W (261°) from La Jolla, CA
* 100 km (62 miles) WSW (237°) from Oceanside, CA
* 101 km (63 miles) W (266°) from San Diego, CA
Event ID ci10374081

A light earthquake occurred at 12:41:59 AM (PST) on Thursday, January 29, 2009.
The magnitude 4.2 event occurred 49 km (31 miles) SE of San Clemente Is., CA (NW tip).
The hypocentral depth is 0.4 km (0.2 miles).

Earthquake map
12:41:59 AM (PST) on Thursday, January 29,

Magnitude	4.2 - local magnitude (ML)
Time	Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 12:41:59 AM (PST) Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 8:41:59 (UTC)
Distance from	San Clemente Is., CA (NW tip) - 49 km (31 miles) SE (133 degrees) Avalon, CA - 69 km (43 miles) S (172 degrees) La Jolla, CA - 91 km (57 miles) W (262 degrees) Oceanside, CA - 99 km (62 miles) WSW (238 degrees) San Diego, CA - 101 km (63 miles) W (267 degrees)
Coordinates	32 deg. 43.7 min. N (32.728N), 118 deg. 13.4 min. W (118.223W)
Depth	0.4 km (0.2 miles)
Location Quality	Fair
Location Quality Parameters	Nst=020, Nph=020, Dmin=32 km, Rmss=0.22 sec, Erho=1.2 km, Erzz=3 km, Gp=226.8 degrees
Event ID#	ci10374021

CAL FIRE LNU: Prescribed control burn- The Geysers- Sonoma County

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 07:41 AM PST

THE GEYSERS – Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit will be conducting a control burn in The Geysers area.
Where: Sections along John Kincaid Road in northern Sonoma County.
When: The prescribed control burn will be conducted between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Why: The return of cooler temperatures will enable Cal Fire to implement the wildland vegetation management tool of prescribed burning to bring the benefits of low intensity fire to specific wildland areas, Cal Fire reported.
Prescribed vegetation management burns are carefully planned and controlled burns that must meet strict criteria of ecological benefit, weather parameters, smoke management and fire safety guidelines.
When all conditions (prescriptions) are met, trained wildland firefighters burn while monitoring the set criteria, fire behavior and designated fire control lines.
The benefits of low intensity fire in the natural environment include:

Cleansing of the wild land debris. Excessive dead and down branches, brush and small trees are burned converting fuels that are hazards in the summer into rich soil nutrients for larger species of vegetation.
Providing habitat. Removal of decadent fuel encourages the growth of seasonal grasses and leafier plants which affords highly nutritional food and habitat to a wider range of animals.
Killing disease. Low intensity fire helps eliminate and control diseased plants and trees.
New growth. Controlled burning encourages the healthy growth of new plants, especially those fire dependent for renewal or seed dispersion.
Reduces opportunity for destructive fires. Prescribed controlled burns decrease the size and frequency of large uncontrolled destructive wildfires. Prescribed burns are safer for firefighters and area residents.