DOCSLIB.ORG

RECEIVED City Ofsouth Gate

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
RECEIVED City Ofsouth Gate RECEIVED city ofSouth Gate CITY COUNCIL Item No. 4 JAN A BELL OFFICE FH%0cUXpJ&GE For the Regular Meeting of: Jan uarp 9, 2018 ?ePcM Works Department Head: Arturo ervantes Michael Flad SUBJECT: PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE SCOPE OF WORK AND BUDGET ON THE CITY HALL INTERIOR REMODEL, CITY PROJECT NO. 567-ARC, TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SAFETY PURPOSE: The City Hall Interior Remodel Project is under construction. The Public Works Department is recommending increasing the scope of work and budget on the project to address deferred maintenance issues, and to optimize operational efficiency, customer service and safety at the City Hall. RECOMMENDED ACTIONS: a. Approve Amendment No. 2 to Contract No. 3319 with FMI Office Space Development, LLC., to fund additional improvements proposed for the City Hall Interior Remodel, City Project No. 567-ARC, in an amount not-to-exceed $ 228,982; b. Transfer $272,000 in General Funds from the Building and Infrastructure Maintenance Fund to the City Hall Interior Remodel, City Project No. 567-ARC (Account No. 311-790-49-9906), as necessary to fully fund the project; and c. Authorize the Mayor to execute Amendment No. 2 in a form acceptable to the City Attorney. AL IMPACT: The project has a budget of $600,000 that is funded with General Funds. Staff is recommending transferring $272,000 in General Funds to the Project which funds are currently allocated in the Building and Infrastructure Maintenance Fund. The following table summarizes the proposed budget and expenditures: Description Budget gIncrease Total Professional Services Contract $472,000 $472,000 Contract Amendment No. 1 $47,866 $47,866 Contract Amendment No. 2 $228,982 $228,982 Other Improvements $9,982 $43,018 $53,000 Project Management, Staff time, Misc., etc. $20,000 $20,000 Contingency $50,152 $50,152 Budget $600,000 $272,000 $872,000 ALIGNMENT WITH COUNCIL GOALS: These actions meet the City Council’s goal for “Continuing Infrastructure Improvements.” The goal identified in the Fiscal Year 2017/18 Work Program is to substantially complete construction of the City Hall Interior Remodel Project. 1 ANALYSIS: Staff is proposing to increase the scope of work on the City Hall Interior Remodel Project. The initial project scope was limited to renovating office work stations which achieves the original project objectives (e.g. ergonomics and efficiency). However, staff is recommending that new improvements be implemented as a part of the project. The reason is that it would be less disruptive and more cost-effective to perform the new improvements as a part of the project, when the office spaces are emptied temporarily. This includes changing existing floor plans to optimize operational efficiencies; modif’ing the counters in the Administrative Services Department and City Clerk’s Office to improve customer service; adding a conference room in the Administrative Services Department; adding security features to enhance safety; and replacing the carpet and paint throughout the City Hall. BACKGROUND: On April 25, 2017, FMI Office Space Development, LLC., was awarded Contract No. 3319 for the construction of the City Hall Interior Remodel Project. The scope of work on the contract includes, (a) project coordination services, (b) planning/space assessments, (c) office space design, and (d) renovating office work stations (replacing existing furniture). During the planning phase, staff identified issues and office areas needing improvements that were not a part of the original scope of work of the project. For example, the existing floor plans and customer service counters are inefficient and do not meet today’s demands. These issues are recommended to be resolved as a part of the project as it would be more cost-effective and less disruptive. As such, staff is recommending increasing the scope of work and budget to include the additional improvements. The additional improvements are covered under two contract amendments, as summarized below. This approach was necessary to keep the project on schedule, since the first construction phase was to be completed over the December holidays, when the City Hall was closed. It is noted that Amendment No. 1 was fully funded within the original budget. It is also noted that $9,982 of the cost of the “Other Improvements” were partially funded from the original budget. • Amendment No. I ($47,866.17) — This amendment was administratively approved in accordance with Section 1.54.610 of the South Gate Municipal Code. Work included the following: 1) procurement and installation of carpet ($38,116.17), 2) reconstruction of the customer service counter and opening of one doorway in the Administrative Services Department, and demolition of one wall in the Administration Department ($9,750). • Amendment No. 2 ($228,982.07) — The proposed work includes the following: (1) carpet installation ($48,392.07), (2) construction of walls and doorways in several departments, and counter modifications in the City Clerk’s Office ($70,590), (3) Painting interior of City Hall ($80,000) and (4) additional office furnishings ($30,000). • Other Improvements ($53,000) — Other project related expenditures include the following: (1) security system upgrades ($30,000), (2) new wood doors ($15,000), (3) partition modifications ($4,000), (4) shredding contract ($2,000), (5) IT improvements ($1,500), and (6) moving supplies ($500). Construction of the project began on December 22, 2017 and is anticipated to be completed by May of 2018. ATTACHMENTS: A. Amendment No. 2 B. Amendment No. 1 C. Contract No. 3319 GD:lc 2 AMENDMENT NO.2 Contract No. 3319 AMENDMENT NO.2 TO AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH A FMI OFFICE SPACE DEVELOPMENT, LLC THIS AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO AGREEMENT NO. 3319 FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH FMI OFFICE SPACE DEVELOPMENT, LLC (“AMENDMENT NO. 1”), effective as of the date specified in Section 5 hereof, is made and entered into by and between the CITY OF SOUTH GATE (“CITY”), and FMI OFFICE SPACE DEVELOPMENT, LLC (“CONSULTANT”). RECITALS: WHEREAS, CITY and CONSULTANT have previously executed that certain Contract No. 3319 Agreement for Professional Se,vices (‘AGREEMENT’) effective May 5, 2017 in the amount of $472,000 to perform certain technical and professional interior renovation services for the project identified as City Hal Interior Remodel, City Project No. 567-ARC, and WHEREAS, CITY and CONSULTANT have previously executed Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 3319 Agreement for Professional Sei’vices effective December 12, 2017 in the amount of $47,866.17 to perform certain technical and professional interior renovation services for the project identified as City Hal Interior Remodel, City Project No. 567-ARC. WHEREAS, CITY desires to expand the scope of work as shown on the CONSULTANT’s December 19, 2017 proposal for additional professional services, attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A; and WHEREAS, CITY and CONSULTANT desire to execute AMENDMENT NO. 2 covering said additional professional service and providing additional compensation to CONSULTANT therefore in an amount of $ 228,982.07 under the terms and conditions of this AMENDMENT NO. 2; WHEREAS, no other provisions of the Agreement are modified, except as specifically modified by this Amendment, all terms and provisions of the Original Agreement and Amendment No. 1 shall remain in full force and effect. NOW, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS: 1. MODIFICATION OF SCOPE OF SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED BY CONSULTANT. The Scope of Services to be performed by CONSULTANT as set forth in the AGREEMENT shall be modified as follows: 1 3 AMENDMENT NO. 2 Contract No. 3319 a. CONSULTANT shall expand its scope of work, fees and services to the City as set forth on Exhibit “A” hereto. 2. EXTENSION OF TIME FOR COMPLETION OF WORK AND SERVICES. The AGREEMENT is hereby modified to specify that the deadline date for Consultant’s completion of all work and services to be performed under the AGREEMENT is extended to 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2018, unless further extended by written agreement of the CITY AND CONSULTANT or unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 9 and/or 10 of the AGREEMENT. Except for the extension of that deadline date, this AMENDMENT NO. 2 in no way affects, nor should it be construed to affect, the timing of any aspect of the work and services to be performed under the AGREEMENT, including any other deadlines contained therein. 3. MODIFICATION OF CONSULTANT’S COMPENSATION. The compensation to be paid by CITY to CONSULTANT for the modified work and services identified in this AMENDMENT NO. 2 shall be as follows: a. The additional compensation payable by CITY to CONSULTANT for the additional work and services identified in Exhibit A here to shall be Two Hundred Twenty Eight Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty-Two Dollars and Seven Cents ($228,982.07) b. As a result, the total compensation payable by CITY to CONSULTANT under the AGREEMENT and Amendment 1 as modified hereby shall not exceed Seven Hundred Forty Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred Forty-Eight Dollars And Twenty-Four Cents ($748,848.24). 4. EFFECT OF AMENDMENT. Except as expressly amended herein, all other terms and conditions of the AGREEMENT and all attachments, and recitals therein and thereto, shall remain in full force. All of the recitals to this AMENDMENT NO. 2 are incorporated into the AGREEMENT as modified by this AMENDMENT NO. 2. The CITY reserves the right to augment or reduce the scope of work as the CITY deems necessary. [Remainder of page left blank intentionally] 2 4 _____________________________________________________________________ AMENDMENT NO. 2 Contract No. 3319 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. Unless otherwise specified herein, this AMENDMENT NO. 2 shall become effective as of January 9, 2018. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the CITY and the CONSULTANT have caused this Amendment No. 2 to be executed and attested by their respective officers hereunto duly authorized as of the date first set forth below.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Limitless Surveillance at the Fda: Pro- Tecting the Rights of Federal Whistle- Blowers
    LIMITLESS SURVEILLANCE AT THE FDA: PRO- TECTING THE RIGHTS OF FEDERAL WHISTLE- BLOWERS HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION FEBRUARY 26, 2014 Serial No. 113–88 Printed for the use of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.fdsys.gov http://www.house.gov/reform U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 87–176 PDF WASHINGTON : 2014 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate Aug 31 2005 11:40 Mar 31, 2014 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 C:\DOCS\87176.TXT APRIL COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM DARRELL E. ISSA, California, Chairman JOHN L. MICA, Florida ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, Maryland, Ranking MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio Minority Member JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR., Tennessee CAROLYN B. MALONEY, New York PATRICK T. MCHENRY, North Carolina ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, District of JIM JORDAN, Ohio Columbia JASON CHAFFETZ, Utah JOHN F. TIERNEY, Massachusetts TIM WALBERG, Michigan WM. LACY CLAY, Missouri JAMES LANKFORD, Oklahoma STEPHEN F. LYNCH, Massachusetts JUSTIN AMASH, Michigan JIM COOPER, Tennessee PAUL A. GOSAR, Arizona GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia PATRICK MEEHAN, Pennsylvania JACKIE SPEIER, California SCOTT DESJARLAIS, Tennessee MATTHEW A. CARTWRIGHT, Pennsylvania TREY GOWDY, South Carolina TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois BLAKE FARENTHOLD, Texas ROBIN L. KELLY, Illinois DOC HASTINGS, Washington DANNY K. DAVIS, Illinois CYNTHIA M. LUMMIS, Wyoming PETER WELCH, Vermont ROB WOODALL, Georgia TONY CARDENAS, California THOMAS MASSIE, Kentucky STEVEN A.
    [Show full text]
  • February 26, 2020 Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
    LA SIESTA CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION Monthly Board Meeting 909 Beach Road, Sarasota, FL 34242 Wednesday, February 26, 2020 3:00PM La Siesta Condo Clubhouse I. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Steven Moore at 3:02 pm II. Confirmation of Proper Notice of Meeting: The Meeting of the Board of Directors was Posted on 2-12-2020 and 24 hours prior. The meeting was held on the date, time and at the place set forth in the notice of meeting on the Bulletin Board inside and electronically sent to all Board Members. III. Determination of Quorum: Present in Person: Barbara Bishop, Marci Alexander, Bill Whitman, Janet Emanuel, Kim Colgate, Steven Moore (President), Diane Delia on the conference line, Robin Reeves and Bridget Spence present representing the management team. IV. Approval of Minutes: Bill Whitman motioned to accept the minutes from January 15, 2020 Board Meeting, Barbara Bishop second the motion, all in favor. The motion passed unanimously. V. Treasurer’s Report: A summary of December 2019 Financials was provided by Treasurer, Barbara Bishop. See attachment. VI. Manager’s Report: Robin Reeves discussed the following items. Replacing the small linen storage bin next to the linen shed with a 10 X 12 shed. More information is needed regarding a floor and assembly, this subject has been tabled for future discussion. A proposal from Tropical Gardens Landscape and 2 Separate proposals from Loyalty Lawn/Landscape for Re-mulching the beds on property were reviewed. Steve Moore motioned to approve the Bid from Loyalty Lawn and Landscape in the amount of $2475.00 (to freshen the Mulch beds) Bill Whitman Second the motion.
    [Show full text]
  • December 10, 2009 CEPC Comments on Initial Determination DOL 5
    December 10, 2009 U.S. Department of Labor Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking Bureau of International Labor Affairs 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20210 Re: Docket No. DOL-2009-0002: Initial Determination Updating the List of Products Requiring Federal Contractor Certification Pursuant to Executive Order 13126, 74 Fed. Reg. 46794 (September 11, 2009) Attn: Honorable Deputy Undersecretary Sandra Polaski Dear Ms. Polaski: The Carpet Export Promotion Council of India (CEPC or Council) hereby responds to the September 11, 2009, Federal Register notice by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announcing an Initial Determination that DOL “preliminarily believes” carpets produced in India “might have been mined, produced, or manufactured by forced or indentured child labor.” The Initial Determination is unjustified and the Council strongly urges DOL, and the Departments of Homeland Security and State, to exclude Indian carpets from any final determination. Given its extensive record of collaboration with the DOL and the Council’s ready availability as an information resource, as well as a successful review conducted by the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Subcommittee in 2008 of child labor in the carpet industry, including bonded labor (See 73 Fed. Reg. 38253 (July 3, 2008)1), in which both the DOL and State Department participated, the sudden announcement that the Indian carpet 1 The Office of the USTR stated at that time: "Concurrent with the 2007 Annual Review, the Administration completed a review of the steps taken by GSP countries to eliminate the worst forms of child labor, including bonded labor, in the production of seven categories of handmade carpet imported under the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Matthew 3:13-17 Gail L. Miller the Baptism of Our Lord January 19, 2020 a New Name
    Matthew 3:13-17 Gail L. Miller The Baptism of our Lord January 19, 2020 A New Name Matthew 3:13-17 - The Baptism of Jesus Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” So we’ve moved beyond the baby in the manger – and even the child in the house visited by the 3 Magi bearing their gifts. But while the season of parties and gifts is long gone, our journey with Jesus continues. And today it fast forwards 30 years to his baptism. There are not a lot of stories that appear in all four of the Gospels – the books which tell the story and stories of Jesus’ life – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Since they’re each telling the story from different perspectives and times, they have different stories in them. So, when a piece of the story appears in all four, we know that it was important to them at the time and important for them to share with us.
    [Show full text]
  • A Soft Murmur Honest Slogans the Oatmeal 7 “Offbeat Holidays”
    July 2017 - Volume XV, Issue 7 Cool Blogs, Sites 7 “Offbeat Holidays” You Can Celebrate in July & Online th The 4 of July – Independence Day – is a blast to celebrate! But Resources to did you know there are some offbeat ones too? Here are 7 you may want to consider having fun celebrating as well. Check Out! 1. July 2 – World UFO Day. According to the World UFO Day website, celebration of unidentified flying objects officially began in nd 2001. July 2 commemorates the supposed UFO crash in the 1947 Roswell, New Mexico UFO incident. The stated goal of the July 2 celebration is to raise awareness of the “undoubted existence of Three remarkable UFOs” and to encourage governments to declassify their files in UFO sightings. (How will you celebrate? ☺) websites to check out: 2. July 6 – International Kissing Day! Get ready to pucker up! A Soft Murmur This holiday, originally known as National Kissing Day in the United This website is absolutely amazing if Kingdom, is now an international holiday that helps us remember you have enough disturbance around the simple pleasure a kiss can bring. you. Just plug in your headphones and select the kind of ambient 3. July 10 – Teddy Bear Picnic Day. In the early 20th century, a sounds you would prefer. Select the intensity too after selecting the sound guy named John Walter Bratton composed a song titled The Teddy Bears’ Picnic. In the 1980s the day became a holiday and remains among Rain, Wind, Thunder, Birds and much more. popular throughout Europe, Australia, and among many stuffed www.asoftmurmur.com bear circles around the world.
    [Show full text]
  • The Importance of Final Moment in Our Life
    The Importance of ‘Final Moments of Life’ B Mahadevan1 As people approach retirement, they start thinking about the inevitable possibility of stopping the routine of attending the office every day. As the D‐day approaches, this thought slowly overtakes them and they begin to contemplate on what must be their parting message to the colleagues. They also think in terms of what next? For all we know, many of us going through this stage of life eventually end up taking up some assignment either as gainful employment or as service to the society in some ways. In that sense, it is not a “black hole” and a clueless future. Despite this, imagine how much of thinking goes behind this. If this is the case, what about our retirement from this “life”? Retirement from “this life” After a child is born, the parents and the relatives closely observe the child and often comment, “the child has grown since I saw her last”. If we pause for a moment and objectively look at the situation we may realise that we have a faulty understanding of the reality. Anyone born in this world can only shrink and not grow! This statement needs some clarification as it sounds counter‐intuitive. Think of somebody who lived for 100 years. This would mean that on the day the person was born, he/she was left with 36,525 days of life. On the next day he/she had only 36,524 days to live and so on. Viewed in this manner, the proverbial growing is indeed shrinking only.
    [Show full text]
  • Napavine Man Who Risked Life Trying to Save Driver from Burning Vehicle Gets Prestigious Honor / Main 14
    Toledo Schools Hoping to Approve Deal With Ron Reynolds / Main 3 $1 Midweek Edition Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012 Reaching 110,000 Readers in Print and Online — www.chronline.com A ‘Mystery’ No More Napavine Man Who Risked Life Trying to Save Driver From Burning Vehicle Gets Prestigious Honor / Main 14 Twin Cities Survives Pool Play at World Series / Sports 1 Judge to Determine if Murder Suspect Will Stand Trial / Main 6 New Church Moving Into Old Centralia Temple / Main 4 Pete Caster / [email protected] United States Navy Chief Hull Maintenance Technician Aaron Lyons, 33, Napavine, holds his Navy Marine Corps Medal he received after he attempted to save a man from his burning semi-truck last last year. Weather Final Resting Place Deaths Green, Lynnette Maydene, 69, Centralia TONIGHT: Low 50 Coroner’s Office Buries Tryon, Jerry E., 83, Vader Tenino Police TOMORROW: High 70 Unclaimed Remains / Main 16 Boone, Richard A., 80, Toledo Partly Cloudy Spencer, Jean, 78, Winlock see details on page Main 2 Chief Hopes to Weather picture by Dillon The Chronicle, Serving The Greater Stabilize His Coleman, fifth grade, Lewis County Area Since 1889 Onalaska Elementary Department / School Main 5 CH475848cz.cg Main 2 The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, Wash., Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012 COMMUNITY CALENDAR / WEATHER Community Calendar Editor’s Best Bet Lunch, noon, $3 suggested donation Today Pinochle tournament, 1 p.m. Morton Senior Center, 496-3230 Pacific County Tai Chi exercise, 8:30-9 a.m. Open recreation, pool, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Fair Continues Pinochle, 10 a.m. Through Saturday Crafters 10 a.m.-2:20 p.m.
    [Show full text]
  • Talking to Strangers: the Use of a Cameraman in the Office and What
    Running Head: TALKING TO STRANGERS 1 Talking to Strangers The Use of a Cameraman in The Office and What It Reveals about Communication Sarah Stockslager A Senior Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation in the Honors Program Liberty University Fall 2010 TALKING TO STRANGERS 2 Acceptance of Senior Honors Thesis This Senior Honors Thesis is accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation from the Honors Program of Liberty University. ______________________________ Lynnda S. Beavers, Ph.D. Thesis Chair ______________________________ Robert Lyster, Ph.D. Committee Member ______________________________ James A. Borland, Th.D. Committee Member ______________________________ Brenda Ayres, Ph.D. Honors Director ______________________________ Date TALKING TO STRANGERS 3 Abstract In the television mock-documentary The Office, co-workers Jim and Pam tell the cameraman they are dating before they tell their fellow co-workers in the office. The cameraman sees them getting engaged before anyone in the office has a clue. Even the news of their pregnancy is witnessed first by the camera crew. Jim and Pam’s boss, Michael, and other employees, such as Dwight, Angela and others, also share this trend of self-disclosure to the cameraman. They reveal secrets and embarrassing stories to the cameraman, showing a private side of themselves that most of their co-workers never see. First the term “mock-documentary” is explained before specifically discussing the The Office. Next the terms and theories from scholarly sources that relate the topic of self-disclosure to strangers are reviewed. Consequential strangers, weak ties, the stranger- on-a-train phenomenon, and para-social interaction are studied in relation to the development of a new listening stranger theory.
    [Show full text]
  • The Carpet Primer
    THE CARPET PRIMER THE CARPET AND RUG INSTITUTE ISBN 0-89275-084-7 Copyright(c) 2003 update by the Carpet and Rug Institute. All rights reserved. Copyright(c) 2001 update by the Carpet and Rug Institute. All rights reserved. Copyright(c) 1997 update by the Carpet and Rug Institute. All rights reserved. Copyright(c) 1995 by the Carpet and Rug Institute. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America. The Carpet and Rug Institute 310 Holiday Avenue P. O. Box 2048 Dalton, GA 30722-2048 Telephone: 800-882-8846 www.carpet-rug.com TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION SECTION 1: CARPET CONSTRUCTION Figure 1.1 Typical Cut Pile Carpet Profile ......................................................................................1-1 Figure 1.2 Typical Loop Pile Carpet with Attached Cushion............................................... 1-1 Pile Fibers and Yarns....................................................................................................................................................... 1-2 Fiber/Yarn Types and Characteristics........................................................................................................ 1-2 Natural Fibers................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Ski Trip Boasts Biggest Attendance in History
    The Walrus The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things: Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings. - Lewis Carroll Vol LXIII, No. 4 St. Sebastian’s School February 2010 Ski Trip Boasts Biggest Attendance In History BY JOE ALBANESE ‘10 up at the relatively comfortable and Tom ventured into what looked hour of 8 AM, with a full day of ski- like a glade trail (a classic mistake Skiing. Snowboarding. The great ing already out of their system, the which the class of 2010 had already winter pastimes. We have all listened rest of the student body was not so committed on last year’s ski trip). enviously about the many feet of lucky, resolving to get to school to You see, at Stowe and many other fresh powder which is constantly leave by 6:30; yes, 6:30 in the morn- mountains, there are glades which present in the West. We have all ing. I know. But the large convoy are not technically marked as trails, seen the notorious Johnny Tsunami soldiering on at such an early hour but can be identified by the ski and learn to shred up the mountain like a demonstrated the dedication of the snowboard marks. Naturally one surfboard. Dave Barry once said that students to the great sport of the makes the assumption that this trail skiing combines outdoor fun with mountain. Can’t say I blame them, will have an exit somewhere- after knocking down trees with your face. because skiing rocks. Sunday, Mon- all, somebody must have evidently On the St.
    [Show full text]
  • KNOW YOUR RIGHTS As a Renter in Pennsylvania
    KNOW YOUR RIGHTS as a Renter in Pennsylvania Fair Housing… It’s Your Right! The Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit organization leading the effort to eliminate housing discrimination in Pennsylvania through education, advocacy and enforcement of fair housing laws. We provide education on fair housing rights to consumers and organizations serving members of the protected classes and offer training and technical assistance to private and nonprofit housing providers and local governments. The Housing Equality Center provides fair housing counseling and testing investigation services for victims of housing discrimination in the City of Philadelphia and in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Northampton Counties in Pennsylvania. If you have found this manual helpful and would like to support efforts to assist residents of Pennsylvania regarding their fair housing rights, please consider making a contribution to the Housing Equality Center by visiting equalhousing.org and clicking on Donate Now. [email protected] equalhousing.org This manual is not intended as a substitute for proper legal advice. The Housing Equality Center cannot be held responsible for errors, omissions, or changes to the law. Published November, 2018 Many thanks to Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership, Citizens Bank, the Patricia Kind Family Foundation, TD Charitable Foundation, The Philadelphia Foundation, the PNC Foundation, and the Health, Education and Legal Assistance Project of Widener University School of Law for their support
    [Show full text]
  • Toxic Gaslighting: on the Ins and Outs of Pollution
    Engaging Science, Technology, and Society 6 (2020), 486-513 DOI:10.17351/ests2020.431 Toxic Gaslighting: On the Ins and Outs of Pollution LIZA GRANDIA1 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS Abstract Outdoor images predominate in cultural conceptions of “air pollution,” whilst indoor air quality (IAQ) is typically tenfold more contaminated. Recent nonprofit research revealed that “green label” carpet contains up to 44 hazardous substances. How and why do school administrators not know this? When people speak colloquially about “toxic” schools, they typically refer to social environments whose power dynamics are manipulated by difficult people (bullies, narcissists, gaslighters, etc.). In this article, I borrow the cultural concept of gaslighting to query how and why the literal off-gassing of banal objects like carpet have escaped scientific inquiry. In dialogue with recent innovative air studies in California that blur the boundaries of in/outdoor pollution, this auto-ethnographic paper chronicles a carpet controversy at “Beacon” Elementary, a bilingual school in the Central Valley. Even as outdoor smoke from California wildfires in 2017 pushed PM2.5 levels past red into unprecedented magenta alerts, children were sickened inside school classrooms after new carpets were laid in 2017. By “outing” internal school board communication through repeated public records requests, Beacon mothers discovered how a chemical risk manager on the board manipulated confusion about patterns of pollution to dismiss the mothers’ citizen science of the chemical abuse of their children. When pollution occurs out- of-sight (in locked classrooms) or affects groups rarely studied in exposure (minors), institutions can easily deploy gaslighting techniques of doubt, denial, and disavowal of the chemical abuse of children.
    [Show full text]