Chronicle libels University of California workers with unsubstantiated "arson" rumors

Here is the link to the original story.

If (and this is just hypotheotical) people wanted to burn something in conjunction with UC as a protest or a statement or for whatever reason. why would they chose a neighbor of the President's car. UC has 8 campuses, many top level employeees, etc. etc.

Yes. This was interesting because it was a nonverbal statement, where no anonymous message was even released, and it also wasn't perfectly timed to a specific labor statement. The Sacramento budget decision and furlough plan happened a couple weeks, and I don't think people were focusing on Yudof specifically this week.

There was another case at the Berkeley campus where a drifter, passing through town, firebombed a police car sitting right outside the station at Sproul plaza. They found a man who appears guilty as sin, purchasing a cup or pepsi bottle full of gas late at night at a gas station a few blocks away - and he hadn't been seen among the treesitters, but he was imagined to be a sympathizer by ucpd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yID64D99QxQ

To: President Mark Yudof, University of California

From: Lakesha Harrison, President, AFSCME Local 3299

Date: August 18, 2009

Re: Summary Budget Reduction Plan Realignment

KEEPING UC ON MISSION TO BETTER SERVE CALIFORNIANS


In spite of favorable financial ratings, the UC Regents have declared a financial emergency allowing the University President to unilaterally impose extraordinary budgetary actions. AFSCME Local 3299 proposes alternative emergency budget measures that protect essential student and patient care services, while redirecting funds from areas that can most withstand temporary reductions. These reductions can provide a stop-gap until UC’s spending priorities are changed to permanently reflect UC’s intended mission as a public University.

Reduce the Top 2% of Earners $220 MILLION
Applying sensible reductions to the University’s top earners will free over $220 million to use for preserving essential services. The alternative—levying reductions on UC’s employees, including low-wage service workers whose families are one step from poverty—will ultimately cost more in public dollars.

Use Short-Term Borrowing as a Stop-Gap $200 MILLION
If UC can borrow $200 million to lend to the state for continued construction, it surely can borrow $200 million to maintain essential services at campuses and medical centers. Prioritizing core services is a smart budget move that saves money by averting the liability and costs of unsafe campus conditions. A recent survey reveals that 94% of service workers responding believe furloughs will worsen current health and safety risks caused by reductions at the campuses. UC can afford this extraordinary stop-gap measure during unprecedented times.

Utilize Medical Center Profits $100 MILLION
UC’s five medical centers made significant profit gains in 2009. According to UCSF CEO Mark Laret, in FY 2009 that single campus “exceeded [the] outstanding level goal… with a bottom line that may exceed $100 million this year.” Other campuses report similar gains, averaging a 5.2% operating margin for the first three quarters of FY 2009 (California hospitals have averaged less than 1% over the last five years reported). If UC borrowed medical center profits above a 3% operating margin, this would free roughly $100 million for UC’s general operations.

Restructure Debt $75 MILLION
We support the University’s efforts to restructure a portion of its bond debt service, and believe UC should continue with its plans to save $75 million through such means.

Utilize Unrestricted Investments $50 MILLION
The University holds a massive, $8.5 billion investment portfolio, most of which is highly liquid, unrestricted funds. Although UC earmarks these funds for programs, some fraction is discretionary and designated at the will of the Regents. In FY 1993, UC and the State of California tapped into the University’s investments to fund $43 million of a shortfall in UC’s operating budget. Borrowing less than 1% of UC’s unrestricted investments would free $50 million to deal with critical operational needs in this unprecedented state budget situation.

Cut Wasteful Spending $40 MILLION
UC must continue to cut non-essential spending—including, but not limited to, renovations of UC mansions, executive rentals of non-UC property, non-essential travel, and consultants’ contracts—before any consideration of cutting vital services. UC’s receipt of American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds necessitates an especially judicious approach to reigning in excessive non-core spending.

The proposals above represent a prioritization of UC’s core mission over profit-hoarding, executive pay and perks. UC must look to the areas most capable of absorbing a temporary redirection to balance the budget, and fulfill its mission as a university system serving the public.

Car fire near UC president's home not an arson, authorities say
By Kristin Bender
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 08/25/2009 http://www.insidebayarea.com/localnews/ci_13201481

OAKLAND — A car fire last Thursday near the home of University of California president Mark Yudof likely was started by an electrical malfunction, police said Tuesday.

The fire was not an arson, said Officer Jeff Thomason, Oakland Police Department spokesman. The cause is undetermined, but there are some indications that it was caused by an electrical problem, he said. There is no indication that an accelerant was used, he said.

No one was injured in the fire, which also burned part of a tree.

Federal agents and arson investigators from the Oakland police investigated the fire that broke out at 1:45 a.m. Aug. 20 on Woodmont Way in the Grizzly Peak Estates neighborhood of the Oakland hills.

Sgt. J.D. Nelson, Alameda County sheriff's spokesman, said the bomb squad responded because there was a report of the sound of explosions but quickly determined that no explosives were involved. UC police also responded because the fire was near Yudof's home.