GUILTY CA - Massive fire at Oakland warehouse party, 36 dead, 2 Dec 2016 #3

[al66pine]

Thank you for letting us know, Gitana. Such bittersweet news. I'm happy that Jennifer was posthumously rewarded for her hard work for the sake of those who supported her dreams. But how sad that she was robbed of her future in her field. I hope your brother is managing...and you too. It still hurts. Hugs. :heartbeat:

Lilibet
Thank you for saying this far more eloquently than I could have.

(((((gitana1)))))
Rarely would I say a post speaks for all of us, but Lilibet's does.

 

[MsMarple]

Just a quick update, an editorial from late March includes this information:

Emails obtained by this newspaper establish for the first time that the owner of the Ghost Ship warehouse and the master tenant who ran the artists collective inside knew of the dangerous electrical wiring that likely eventually caused the inferno that left 36 dead.
...
It’s not surprising that they were aware of the danger. That their discussions were memorialized in emails eliminates the possibility that any of them could plead ignorance.
...
Almena wrote that the electricity flowed through “ancient and violated lines of distribution” that were “in dire need of a total and immediate upgrade.” Yet he continued renting living space in the dangerously cluttered building and using the space as a concert venue, knowing that it lacked fire escapes.
...
The question, it seems, is not whether they should be criminally charged. It’s whether they should face manslaughter or second-degree murder.

In other words, were they negligent (manslaughter) or did they know about the risk and choose not to act (second-degree murder). The new documents — disclosed by reporters Aaron Davis, Matthias Gafni, Thomas Peele and David DeBolt — suggest the latter.

http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/03...ow-ghost-ship-fire-due-to-greed-indifference/

More at the link. It may be slow in coming but I believe charges will eventually be filed against Ng and Derick Almena, though I don't think Micah Allison will be charged. This comes from emails the East Bay Times obtained. The paper won a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the Ghostship fire. And yes, the reporting has been thorough. The emails are damning and provide a paper trail documenting that both the Ng and Almena were well aware of the faulty electrical system and the possibility it would cause a fire, yet neither did anything about it; Ng continued collecting rents as did Almena.

You can read more about the emails here:

http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/...ngerous-electrical-system-before-deadly-fire/

The doo doo is hitting the fan in many Oakland offices but I'm mostly concerned that Ng and Almena are held responsible for their actions (or rather inactions) that led to the fire. It won't bring any of the victims back but hopefully it will create changes in the way city government deals with housing problems.

Gitana, thank you for sharing the news about Dr. Jennifer Mendiola's posthumous doctorate degree. I hope it brings a tiny bit of light to you and the rest of Jennifer's family. :grouphug:

 

[borndem]

My sister in law is now Dr. Jennifer Mendiola. My brother called me tonight crying, with the news. She was awarded her doctorate posthumously, after working harder than anyone I've known.

What a fine accomplishment, and what a thoughtful thing that the university personnel should think to award her the thing that she had worked for, for so many hours, weeks and years. It was hers, so they honored her, her family and her own heritage. Your poor, sweet brother, and you. You both are loved by many, you know. I will certainly never forget that she was one of those who were taken so early and so wrongfully.

:justice:

 

[MsMarple]

And the hits keep on coming: Exclusive: Ghost Ship lease specified illegal use

Documents obtained by the Bay Area News Group show that the lease Derick Almena and a partner signed for the Ghost Ship warehouse planned an illegal use from the very start — an artist collective that was not allowed under zoning laws — and that the building owner had approved the use.

And two months after that document was signed, landlord Eva Ng was told that Almena was secretly making alterations to the building that went beyond the terms of the lease, but Ng made no apparent move to stop him.

“As I explained before, I can no longer work with Derick. He has altered the property without your consent,” Nicholas Bouchard, Almena’s partner, wrote landlord Ng on Jan. 20, 2014. “I think you should exercise whatever remedies you have to immediately take possession of the property to prevent further damage.”

Rather than appreciate the warning, Ng instead threatened Bouchard, a self-described experimental artist, with severe financial penalties if he withdrew from the lease he shared with Almena.

http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/04/24/exclusive-what-did-the-ghost-ship-lease-say/

More at the link.

 

[CARIIS]

I am just so confused as to why it is taking so long??

 

[KaaBoom]

I am just so confused as to why it is taking so long??

Foot dragging. As in like when they don't intend to bring any charges, but want to wait until most people have forgotten about it, before making the announcement.

 

[borndem]

I assume that the district attorney/prosecutors know the same facts that Grande Dame MsMarple, et al. have uncovered in the press reports. I would be chomping at the bit to get that swindling, lying, not-care-a-lick-about-anybody-but-himself-not-even-his-mate-or-children-or-tenants Almena and his uncaring accomplice, NG, into court. Yes, their facts and accusations need to be solid and undeniable -- but let's get on with it. The families and the victims cry out for it, as do the People of the State of California.

 

[MsMarple]

I assume that the district attorney/prosecutors know the same facts that Grande Dame MsMarple, et al. have uncovered in the press reports. I would be chomping at the bit to get that swindling, lying, not-care-a-lick-about-anybody-but-himself-not-even-his-mate-or-children-or-tenants Almena and his uncaring accomplice, NG, into court. Yes, their facts and accusations need to be solid and undeniable -- but let's get on with it. The families and the victims cry out for it, as do the People of the State of California.

Couldn't have said it better myself borndem! :blowkiss:

 

[borndem]

Couldn't have said it better myself borndem! :blowkiss:

:heartluv:

 

[borndem]

Here's another article -- it contains some of the same news some other articles do, but it does show part of the Lease Agreement -- interesting....

[h=1]Exclusive: What was in original Ghost Ship lease?
[/h]By Matthias Gafni | [email protected], Aaron Davis | [email protected], Thomas Peele | [email protected] and David DeBolt | [email protected] | Bay Area News Group

PUBLISHED: April 24, 2017 at 6:00 am | UPDATED: April 25, 2017 at 1:02 pm


OAKLAND — Documents obtained by the Bay Area News Group show that the lease Derick Almena and a partner signed for the Ghost Ship warehouse planned an illegal use from the very start — an artist collective that was not allowed under zoning laws — and that the building owner had approved the use.
...
[h=3]Lease[/h] The seven-page, five-year lease was signed Nov. 10, 2013 with named tenants Almena, Bouchard and Satya Yuga LLC, the original limited liability company name attached to the Ghost Ship, which is not listed in California’s LLC database. The document specified that the monthly rent of $4,500 was to be sent to Ng at a Pleasanton post office box, or by direct deposit into her bank account. The tenants were responsible for paying all utilities.
...

 

[borndem]

Recent articles:

Families of Oakland Warehouse Fire Victims Sue Building's Owner and Manager
By Bay City News


(Published Tuesday, May 16, 2017)

A new lawsuit that was filed today on behalf of the families of half of the 36 people who were killed in a warehouse fire in Oakland in December adds the utility PG&E to a lengthy list of defendants that also includes the building's owner and master tenant.

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/...arehouse-fire-11150539.php?ipid=articlerecirc

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

California utility sued by warehouse fire victim relatives


PAUL ELIAS
Associated Press
May 16, 2017

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Relatives of 18 of the 36 people who died in Oakland's "Ghost Ship" warehouse fire added California's Pacific Gas & Electric utility on Tuesday as a defendant in their wrongful death lawsuits. They claimed the company should have known the warehouse's electrical hookups were hazardous and illegally installed.
...
The lawsuits consolidated in Alameda County Superior Court also claimed that the building's owner, Chor Nar Siu Ng, and the building's leaseholder, Derick Almena were responsible for the fire and deaths.
​

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/california-utility-sued-warehouse-fire-221225835.html
​

​

 

[Bird of Paradise]

Exclusive video: Body-cam footage shows Ghost Ship operator lying to police

"Two years before 36 people died inside the Ghost Ship warehouse, master tenant Derick Almena told an Oakland police officer investigating an arson that he was hosting a “benefit” there the next day, which would have been illegal, and lied about living inside the artist collective, according to police body camera footage exclusively obtained by this news organization."

http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/05...enant-derick-almena-speaking-to-oakland-cops/

 

[Jinkasaurus]

6/5/17

OAKLAND — Authorities have arrested Ghost Ship master tenant Derick Almena and warehouse tenant Max Harris on suspicion of 36 counts of manslaughter in conjunction with the deadly Dec. 2 Ghost Ship fire that killed three dozen people, law enforcement sources told this newspaper.

http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/06/05/ghost-ship-fire-criminal-charges-filed-da-says/

 

[Bird of Paradise]

Wow.
Also from your link.

Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley announced she will hold a 1 p.m. press conference to announce charges, according to the office.

6/5/17

OAKLAND — Authorities have arrested Ghost Ship master tenant Derick Almena and warehouse tenant Max Harris on suspicion of 36 counts of manslaughter in conjunction with the deadly Dec. 2 Ghost Ship fire that killed three dozen people, law enforcement sources told this newspaper.

http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/06/05/ghost-ship-fire-criminal-charges-filed-da-says/

 

[human]

I wonder if anyone else will be charged?

 

[gitana1]

Shaking from the news.

 

[Jax49]

Shaking from the news.

Deep breaths G. Never thought we'd see the day!

 

[gitana1]

Deep breaths G. Never thought we'd see the day!

It's kind of empty though. Frankly, we haven't thought of Ion much since the beginning. Too focused on being sad. My brother is destroyed. He has done a lot of work to survive grief but he wakes up every morning in hell.

No arrests can fix that.

 

[gitana1]

Can someone link to the presser when it's done? I'm not at the office.

 

[skibaboo]

Can someone link to the presser when it's done? I'm not at the office.

https://www.facebook.com/KQEDnews/videos/1481774768563582/
https://www.facebook.com/KRON4/vide..._t=live_video_share&notif_id=1496693186094966

Thinking about you gitana, your brother and the other victims families. :hug:

Cant believe this is finally happening.