Tough Sell

Not quite like new!

The cars that were submerged during the great flood on campus were towed to a lot for their owners to see.

It appears from the video (from the Patch online newspapers*) below that they won't be worth much now.

Meanwhile, apparently DWP didn't think much of its water main before it broke.  See:
http://www.dailynews.com/article/20140805/NEWS/140809731

"The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power gave a “D” letter grade to one of the two major water pipelines before it burst and flooded UCLA, a top utility official said in an interview Tuesday..."

Sample below:

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*http://patch.com/california/santa-monica/video-what-cars-submerged-sunset-boulevard-flood-waters-now-look

Online Ed Information Please at CSU

There is a bill in the state legislature which appears to be a consequence of a MOOC that failed at a CSU campus.  As blog readers will know, there is a push to expand online higher ed in California.  The governor is a proponent.

The bill in question - AB 46 which is exclusive to CSU - would require the CSU administration to share with the Academic Senate there the details of any online courses.  Such info would involve completion rates, grade distributions, etc.

It is possible that UC is not included out of deference to the constitutional autonomy of the Regents.  However, the legislature will often require something of CSU but only suggest it for UC.  UC may also be excluded simply because no one at UC asked to be included.  Should someone?

You can find the bill at:
http://www.legtrack.com/bill.html?bill=201320140AB46

An article about the bill is at http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/04/6605333/online-education-push-continues.html

Gut and Amend for $100 million

From the Sacramento Bee: California’s public universities could get a $100 million infusion through legislation announced on Monday.

A surge of revenue has solidified California’s once-precarious financial position. Budget negotiations this summer produced a compromise that, if local property tax revenue exceeded projections, some of the surplus could be redirected from the state’s general fund towards higher education. Student activists and university officials have long decried a lack of funding, pointing to overcrowded classes and graduation delays.

As of July there was not enough extra property tax revenue to trigger the college outlay. But now lawmakers are saying that there is still enough money available to allocate the extra college money...

In an interview with The Bee before the legislative session resumed on Monday, (Assembly Speaker) Atkins touched on the common “gut-and-amend” practice of inserting new language in existing bills late in the legislative session, circumventing some stages of the committee process. She pointed to ensuring more higher education funding as a worthy use of the tactic...

Officials from the Department of Finance or the office of Gov. Jerry Brown were not immediately available for comment.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/04/6604784/california-universities-could.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/04/6604784/california-universities-could.html#storylink=cpy

Full article at http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/04/6604784/california-universities-could.html

We just need someone who can gut:

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/04/6604784/california-universities-could.html#storylink=cpy

An Open and Shut Case on Sunset

News items this morning present an ambiguous situation on Sunset.  Is is open or shut?  Is it just partially open?  (Or is it that the water main is again functional even if the road isn't?)  If Sunset is shut or partially open, when will it reopen completely?  It's hard to tell.  But it seems like a road to avoid at the moment.  There is also word that Sunset will definitely be shut Friday and Saturday nights.

http://labusinessjournal.com/news/2014/aug/04/sunset-boulevard-reopens/

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-ucla-cleanup-20140804-story.html

http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20140803/repairs-completed-on-sunset-boulevard-water-main

UPDATE: I have a report from Anderson (which fronts the circle drive {Young Drive} on north campus) that Sunset is open - don't know whether that means all lanes - as is the circle drive.

Sunset

Back in the day, things moved slowly on Sunset Blvd.  Although headlines in articles appearing last night suggested that the water main was almost fixed, a careful reading suggests it might be quite awhile before the street around UCLA reopens and there is at least slow traffic.

Articles:
http://www.losangelesregister.com/articles/damaged-602904-water-crews.html
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/02/6600109/burst-pipe-repairs-near-completion.html

That means that traffic on Wilshire will be heavier than ever.  However, because of the current Middle East situation, there are periodic demonstrations around the Federal Building on that street:
http://dailybruin.com/2014/08/02/arrests-made-at-pro-palestine-protest-in-westwood/

In any event, it doesn't appear that Sunset Boulevard* is quite ready for its close up:

 

*http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043014/

Come and Get It!

The DWP is inviting those whose cars or other property were damaged by the water main break to submit claims, as indicated the the LA Daily News article to which we provide a link below.  

There is a little proviso:

All claimed losses, whether involving property and/or personal injury will be reviewed, however, the submission of a claim itself is not a guarantee of payment.

You can find the full article at http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20140801/dwp-offers-tips-for-submitting-claims-for-sunset-boulevard-ucla-flood-damage

The horror, the horror

Apparently, Sunset Blvd. around UCLA will continue to be closed this weekend due to te water main break. 
http://patch.com/california/westwood-century-city/sunset-boulevard-remain-closed-weekend

There will also be closures or lane reductions on Sepulveda due to who-knows-what.

Those with cars that were damaged can file claims with DWP.  See:
https://www.irm.ucla.edu/news-and-events/vehicle-flood-information

There continues to be uncertainty over who will pay for the damages to campus and to private property.  A Daily Bruin article says the university self insured and explains that means that the university has insurance policies.  However, self insurance in the normal understanding of that term means it doesn't have insurance policies although it may have designated some reserves.  Meanwhile, DWP is taking claims, including from the university.  But taking claims and paying are not quite the same thing.

The Bruin article is at http://dailybruin.com/2014/07/31/ladwp-may-claim-financial-responsibility-for-flood-damage/

It's difficult; it's difficult: