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7 58551 69301 0 MONDAY Feb. 20, 2006 50 cents tax included DAILY JOURNAL ukiahdailyjournal.com 16 pages, Volume 147 Number 317 email: [email protected]

ADAM SANDLER FOR PRESIDENT? Government has no plan for earthquakes The Daily Journal and MediaNews Washington Ukiah FEMA Bureau Under fire for its botched will stay open handling of Hurricane The Daily Journal Katrina, the U.S. Department The FEMA Disaster of Homeland Security said Recovery Center located Wednesday that there is no at the Ukiah Valley specific federal strategy for Conference center will responding to a catastrophic remain open until further earthquake in California. notice, said Christine In a letter released May, FEMA public Wednesday to Sen. Barbara affairs. Boxer, Homeland Security “We are not closing Secretary Michael Chertoff tomorrow,” May said. said acting FEMA Director “We will stay as long as David Paulison will assess the we are needed.” state’s plan in the next month The recovery center or so. The letter came in opened on Tuesday and response to post-Katrina criti- has seen a steady flow of cism from Boxer that FEMA locals seeking federal is unprepared for a California assistance to repair New disaster, despite having once Years flood damage. identified a San Francisco “There has been sig- quake as one of the three most nificant interest,” May likely catastrophes facing the said. country. (The other two So far 186 people have Amy Wellnitz/The Daily Journal included a hurricane in New registered for aid and Redwood Academy juniors hang out outside the school on Friday. Orleans and a terrorist attack only 79 have been in New York City.) processed through the “There is nothing in this center. FEMA has distrib- letter that gives Senator Boxer uted $2.2 million for any comfort that a catastroph- housing and $430,000 for ic earthquake in California other needs, across the 10 would be handled any better affected counties. than Katrina,” Boxer spokes- The center will be Teens discuss woman Natalie Ravitz said. open from 10 a.m. until 6 “We just hope and pray that p.m., weekdays, and from the earthquakes will wait until 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., DHS finishes all their bureau- Saturdays. cracy.” Rep. Brad Sherman, D- Anyone seeking feder- Sherman Oaks, whose district al aid must first register was hit by the 1994 with FEMA at 1-800- Northridge earthquake, 621-FEMA, or at highest office echoed that concern. www.fema.gov, before “Let’s pray to St. Andreas stopping by the confer- By K.C. MEADOWS that the state has no faults ence center. The Daily Journal between now and April,” he America’s politicians ought to take a page from said. created enough energy for People Magazine if they want to attract young voters. In the early 1990s, scien- large-scale tsunamis years At least that’s the impression from a group of 8th and tists discovered an active off- ago. 11th grade students at the Redwood Academy of shoot faultline from the infa- Ground-shaking intensity Ukiah Friday when asked who they’d like to see as mous San Andreas Fault can be several times higher at President of the United States. between Santa Rosa and sites underlain by valley beds Chuck Norris, Adam Sandler, Oprah, Hillary Duff, Laytonville criss-crossing rather than firm bedrock, so Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were all nominated, per- along Highway 101. Called the Maacama faultline corri- haps half in jest. The students admitted more serious- the Maacama Fault, it carries dor receives special attention. ly that celebrity seems to be taking over many areas a capability range from 6.1 to The coastal region between of our culture. 8.1 on the Richter scale. Gualala and Point Arena is For comparison, a 7.1 widely considered to combine When asked specifically about women candidates, earthquake along the coast besides Oprah and Duff, Hillary Clinton and See BIG ONE, Page 16 Condoleeza Rice made the list although Rice was voted down in some quarters since “her hair looks like a football.” On the more serious side, the students discussed Willits green lights what makes a good president. “He has to be honest, loyal and trustworthy,” said 8th grader Alec Regan. gay marriage plan “Able to talk to people, to be social,” added James Clarke, also in the 8th grade. By CLAUDIA REED Classmate Nicole Smith thought patience, kind- The Willits News ness and a respectful attitude were important qualities On February 15, by a 4-1 vote, the Willits City Council for America’s leader. passed a resolution supporting the right to marry for all citizens “The ability to easily manipulate America into gay or straight. supporting him,” suggested 11th grader Alex Willits is now one of at least 17 city and 11 county govern- Washburn, who also thought that presidents today ments in the state to take the same action. spend too much time worrying about foreign affairs “I see this as a civil rights issue,” said Councilwoman Holly and not enough about what’s happening at home. Madrigal, who brought the resolution to the council and may Down through history, the students named Teddy have contributed to the wording: Roosevelt, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson as Whereas, the city council has shown its commitment to fair and equitable treatment of all persons regardless of race, reli- among the greats although they weren’t completely gion, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation, and Whereas, both clear why, except that Jefferson was a “more average the United States Constitution and California Constitution state Joe.” that each person shall be guaranteed equal protection under the Lyndon B. Johnson was remembered by 11th grad- laws, Now be it resolved, that the City Council of the City of er Sarah Timm for developing “programs to help the Amy Wellnitz/The Daily Journal Redwood Academy eight graders joined their 11th Willits declares its support for equal marriage rights for same- disadvantaged” and a few named John F. Kennedy for grade counterparts for an informal conversation sex couples. starting the Peace Corps. about President’s Day. Pictured, top row, from left: Council members who supported the resolution acknowl- James Clarke, Nicole Hard and Alec Regan. Bottom edged the city has no jurisdiction to supersede court and state See TEENS, Page 16 row, from left: Deonna Fowler and Nicole Smith. See WILLITS, Page 16 Ukiah *Computerized Access* **FREE** Avoid Late Fees! Call Now *Surveillance Cameras* Move-In Truck Sign Up For Automatic For Details Storage *On-Site Manager* (with driver) Payments Today! 468-0800 2 – MONDAY, FEB. 20, 2006 DAILY DIGEST Editor: K.C. Meadows, 468-3526 The Ukiah Daily Journal [email protected]

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