SFist: Sports Facility Plans Put On Hold, Trustifarians Feel Like They've Accomplished Something

bibbles

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 15:19:26 -0800

So, yeah, the University does have a problem, and they'll have to have seismologists fight it out. Furthermore, this fight by seismologists you allude to has already taken place, and if you actually read the ruling issued on Wednesday that particular component of the case was decided entirely in the University's favor. What remains for the university to do to comply with the Alquist-Priolo law is demonstrate that some limited alterations to the stadium - a beam, a staircase renovation, and some holes for wiring - will cost less than 50% of the stadium's value.

wsanders

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:24:36 -0800

The Act doesn't say you can't build in a Zone, it just says you can't build over the trace, and studies are needed if you build in the zone. I doubt the University has neglected to do their homework, so all these on-again off-again court orders are just jurisdiction-shopping for judges friendly to Frodo Turdhurler and Co's fancy lawyer friends.

withak

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:40:01 -0800

That quarter-mile average is mostly a function of how well the fault in question has been studied. The trace of the Hayward Fault through Berkeley has been studied in great detail and I think all but the craziest (or most desperate for cash) of seismologists/geologists will agree that the site is well outside of the exclusion zone. The opponents of the project will definitely be able to find at least one person with letters after their name willing to say otherwise though.

ihartsf

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:51:09 -0800

Watching last night's newscast, I kept waiting (hoping?) for Ms. Muffin to fall out of the tree. With apologies to Mr. Burns, "Smithers, release the falcons."

theo

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:50:30 -0800

Measure off 50 feet in one direction. Great idea. This would work amazingly well if active faults were infinitely thin. From the page you linked to on the the Alquist-Priolo Act: Earthquake Fault Zones are regulatory zones around active faults...the zones vary in width, but average about one-quarter mile wide. So, yeah, the University does have a problem, and they'll have to have seismologists fight it out.

jimH

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:55:07 -0800

Steps 6 and 7 don't work unless you collect underpants first. Sadly, the URL http://www.dumpstermuffin.com/ has already been registered.

DaveRocks

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:09:16 -0800

It seems a judge halted the plans until "the university can prove the project would not violate state earthquake-safety laws," a judge ruled Wednesday. This is pretty easy to prove in my opinion. According to the Alquist-Priolo Act of 1972, ff an active fault is found, a structure for human occupancy cannot be placed over the trace of the fault and must be set back from the fault (generally 50 feet). 1.) Get a tape measure. 2.) Go inside Memorial Stadium and stand at a goal post. 3.) Measure off 50 feet in one direction. 4.) Observe you are still ON THE FIELD. 5.) Pull out chainsaws, cut down trees and start building! I suppose you can't forget these critical steps as well... 6.) ??? 7.) Profit!

katerose26

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:47:53 -0800

OMG, I want to change my screen name to Dumpster Muffin IMMEDIATELY.

brittney

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:30:35 -0800

*I'd be shocked if Terri Compost were not involved in this recent fight over the trees.* Indeed, she is there.

Akit

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:21:08 -0800

Didn't the court ruling mention that Cal won like nearly all the decisions except for one? Something like 14 out of the 15 rulings.

manys

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:04:03 -0800

Stay up to date on these results: * Create an email alert for dumpster muffin * Add a custom section for dumpster muffin to Google News * Add a news gadget for dumpster muffin to your Google homepage * Subscribe to a news feed for dumpster muffin in Google Reader New!

paulhogarth

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:57:33 -0800

If you think Dumpster Muffin is a funny name, I'd be shocked if Terri Compost were not involved in this recent fight over the trees. When I lived in Berkeley not too long ago, Terri Compost was super-involved in a lot of these types of campaigns.