Dunrobin explosion: Northern Calif. version

Ahh fireworks. Don't you just love them especially when in the hands of people who dont know of Darwin's Law. This story reminds us very much of the Dunrobin street explosion in March 2006. The differences are that the explosion was smaller in Sunnyvale and caused less damage to surrounding structures (due to less explosive material) and the suspect in Sunnyville was injured more severely than in the Lakewood explosion.

Police say fireworks caused fire in Sunnyvale's downtown

By Cody Kraatz
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10907024?nclick_check=1
Sunnyvale Sun
Article Launched: 11/05/2008

Sunnyvale's Department of Public Safety is investigating alleged criminal possession of explosives and/or fireworks after an explosion burned two men in a downtown Sunnvyale apartment, said DPS Capt. Doug Moretto.

Fire crews responded to the explosion in a lower-level apartment at 415 S. Sunnyvale Ave. on Oct. 26 at 7:25 a.m. The fire was quickly contained and extinguished.

Two men who were in the apartment were burned. Both were treated at the scene and taken to Valley Medical Center in San Jose.

David Weist, 48, is suspected of possessing and tampering with an illegal explosive, probably a large firework. Moretto said last week that he had not been arrested.

Weist's roommate, Dan Downen, had just finished wiping and hosing burns, blood and bits of finger off the walls last Thursday.

He said that Weist, whom he had not seen since the incident, had been in an induced coma and the previous day had emerged from a surgery that left him with only a pinky finger on one hand. The other man, who did not live there, had been treated for burns on his back, said Downen, who was home at the time of the explosion.

"I swear to God, it looked like my wall swelled like 2 feet. I went over there an opened the door, and there was nothing but smoke. [Weist's clothing] was on fire. I grabbed him, threw him down, ripped off the flames and patted him out," he said, adding that Weist had a history of "playing with fireworks." Moretto said.
DPS investigators, along with Santa Clara County bomb and fire investigators and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, were trying to determine what kind of explosive device Weist had.


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

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Lakewood City Council nomination period closes December 5, 2008

The nomination period for candidates for City Council opens on November 10th and closes on December 5th 2008. We have not seen this information posted anywhere else on the internet other than our site. Nothing at the city website or in emails from the city "news fodder" email machine. Nothing in the Press Telegram. This is no doubt intentional as all the incumbents want challengers to have no time advantage. They are hoping that challengers miss the very small time window for the nomination period above.

There is no filing fee to run for City Council. The only cost paid to the City would be from candidates wishing to include a Candidate’s Statement in the sample ballot. Potential candidates must go into see the city clerk to obtain a “candidate’s packet” which is a compilation of material from various sources.

The process of issuing nomination papers is not one that can be completed remotely, the potential candidate (or designee) must appear in person at the clerk's office or they may designate (in writing) someone to collect the information for them.

We will be providing more information on this process as we move forward but we felt it was important to get this information out to potential candidates as soon as possible in order to start vetting the candidates and to insure that they have as good as chance at winning as the three incumbents up for re-election (Steve Croft, Todd Rogers and Diane DuBois)


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

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Lakewood Measure "L" (utility users tax) results

It looks like this tax and a host of others will be increasing during the recession. No idea what Lakewood will tax next under Measure L as it is written to broaden the scope of what "utilities" and services are taxable. And don't expect any accountability from this city, who's motto should be city of obfuscation, the opposite of transparency. You never get a straight answer and to get it you have to pry it out of them. So dont go looking for where this money is really going. Its theirs now and they will do with it what they want. You had the chance to make the city accountable and once again the voters failed.

As of Date: 11/05/2008 Time: 03:24

LAKEWOOD MEASURE L - COMMUNICATION USERS' TAX -
(MAJORITY OF VOTES CAST) -

Yes	21,848	78.74%
No	5,898	21.46%

TOTAL PRECINCTS 52 PRECINCTS REPORTING 52

REGISTRATION 42,237

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

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Change is here...in many ways

Well we had to laugh at this news tidbit which was over looked by most in all the excitement tonight. We were wondering if this was a silent nod to LAAG's anti fireworks position, a snub to China's fireworks exporters or an acknowledgement of Al Gore's position on global climate change. (humor intended here) In any event we find it refreshing that Obama felt that he did not need to cover a million people in the waiting crowd with smoke and ash to make a point. Words were patriotic/historic enough. We have said it before and we will say it again. Patriotism has nothing to do with fireworks. Its standing for principles.

Obama Canceled Fireworks for This Evening

November 05, 2008 1:05 AM

Given all the pomp and pageantry of past events for President-elect Obama, why was tonight's celebration speech so subdued?

That was intentional.

In fact. fireworks were originally planned for this evening, but President-elect Obama canceled them.

"Given the sobriety of the times, he didn't feel they were appropriate," senior adviser David Axelrod tells ABC News.


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

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Circuit City hanging on in Lakewood

Circuit City Stores Inc. said Monday it is closing about 20 percent of its U.S. stores -- cutting thousands of jobs -- in an effort to return to profitability as it finds consumers reluctant to spend and its vendors less eager to give it credit.

The nation's No. 2 consumer electronics retailer said it will shut 155 of its more than 700 stores and leave at least a dozen markets entirely. It will lay off about 17 percent of its domestic work force, which could affect up to 7,300 people.

Stores in Southern California that will be closed include those in City of Industry, Compton, Escondido, Fontana, Foothill Ranch, Mira Loma, Moreno Valley, Murrietta, Pomona, Riverside, Thousand Oaks, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria and Vista. The list of store closures can be found here. The Lakewood Center Circuit City store will remain open as will one store in Long Beach, as well as stores in Signal Hill, Norwalk and Seal Beach (in this area). That is good news for Lakewood Center which has already been decimated by the recession. Mervyn's filed for bankruptcy in September and the Macy's / May Co. / Robinsons consolidation racked the retailing world a few years back, drastically effecting Lakewood Center's major anchor tenants. The Costco store required the demolition of a brand new Macy's store which was only open for a few years before closing.

I suspect the recession will put Circuit City into bankruptcy after the dismal Christmas season this year which will likely be a bloodbath. The only bright spot might be flat screen digital TV sales in advance of the looming February 2009 analog TV signal transmission cut off (for those using over the air antennas). But I doubt there are a lot of sales left as most people have cable or satellite and most in Lakewood likely already have digital TV's.

The Costco store opening in Lakewood Center has been delayed by a number of "utility" issues. (It was supposed to open in November 2008) Apparently there is a groundwater problem of some sort. This has not been reported on from what we have seen. It is not slated to open until spring (when the recession is in full swing) and after missing the key holiday purchasing season which will be a big hit on Lakewood.

Lakewood behind cities such as Downey, Carson and Cerritos in sales tax, as only 6 percent of the city is zoned for commercial or industrial uses. The rest of Lakewood comprises homes, schools, parks and other entities.

Given that the city has a lot of work to do as they are wasting the 6% they do have. Look at the South and Bellflower location which lost Vons in the late 1990's and recently lost Bakers Square restaurant. We reported on this intersection over a year ago. Both anchor tenants likely never to be replaced without serious action by the city. That is a prime location being squandered. The city is not stepping up doing what it can to attract businesses. It focuses all its attention on the mall while the rest of the city goes downhill. Soon the loss of these businesses ans well as the home values plummeting will mean more blight and more crime as less desirable residents are attracted, such as renters and those who fail to keep their houses and surrounding property neat and tidy. And this is how the death spiral begins in a city. It takes years for the decay to spread but it does spread.

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email