UPDATE: Death toll from Oakland warehouse fire at 24, expected to rise

It was the lead story on NBC Nightly News last night. They had two reporters on the scene and devoted the opening five-six minutes to the story.

 

The Clinton emails didn't get enough coverage, either.

 

I guess my standard was, "Are people fighting about it on the Internet?"

 

Fair enough.

 

+1

 

And they worked just as hard.

 

I've always wondered if being artsy led to wild sex.

 

Episodes 3, 7, 12, 19, 24, 25, 30-33 and 50 0f "Red Shoe Diaries" taught me that it does.

 

Again with the "worst fears."

Oakland fire aftermath: Evictions as artists' worst fears coming true

Also, death total now stands at 36 and that might be final.

 

It's a terrible headline, but...

While @Dick Whitman and @RickStain were encouraged that I came out in favor of fire codes, regulations -- including zoning regulations -- do cause some of the problems that lead to a situation like this.

There's a big demand, not just for cheap housing, but for work/live space, and most cities don't make it easy to find/build desirable live/work spaces.

When you factor in that artists especially are willing to live in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, and abandoned industrial/commercial/warehouse areas, and often contribute to revitalizing these areas, you would think local governments would look to encourage safe and responsible conversions.

I've lived in buildings that were illegal to live in, but only because they weren't zoned residential, not because they weren't up to code. For me to work from home, I need a freight elevator and a loading dock. In each case my neighbors were artists of varying nature.

If you want to have a vibrant community, and attract artists and other creative types, make it possible for them to find live/work space.

 

Judge rejects plea deal for two men charged with 36 counts of manslaughter | Daily Mail Online