i L i n d . n e t

A regular reader responded to yesterday’s special post regarding thefts in the Costco parking lot:

I got the the same email. There has been a problem at the Iwilei Costco for nearly two years.

There are a number of men on bikes who have purse snatched from old ladies and have tried the doors of parked cars to see if they are unlocked and then quickly rifle through them. One of the workers picking up carts told me about a year ago that there is no security and the thieves take advantage of the situation.

When my wife’s friend had her purse snatched in Dec. 2006, the responding officer said that even his own mother had her purse taken by the bike thieves. I still see the bikers around and you can tell that they are hanging around sizing up their victims.

Too bad Costco doesn’t hire more security, they know about it but haven’t done anything about it. I am waiting to catch one of the bikers in the act.

If its true that Costco knows of the situation but chooses not to do anything about it, does that create any liability on Costco’s part? Or can they hide behind the fine print in some “park here at your own risk” notice that no one sees?

There was a bit of a buzz yesterday morning when the State Democratic Party sent out “State Party E-Alert” listing the scheduled campaign appearances of Chelsea Clinton. It appeared to improperly put the party’s weight behind Clinton since Obama events weren’t given equal exposure.

The Newspaper Guild put out a press advisory regarding the weekend’s strike authorization vote involving the six unions at Gannett’s Honolulu Advertiser.

Meanwhile, the news continues to be grim in newspaper world. The New York Times announced this week that it will be cutting 100 newsroom jobs represented by the Newspaper Guild and continue to treat online workers as second-class corporate citizens, while the Tribune Company (Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Baltimore Sun, etc) is aiming to cut 400-500 jobs.

And a federal judge has ruled the Seattle Post-Intelligencer has to arbitrate the Newspaper Guild’s claim that online jobs are covered under its existing contract.

“If printed papers are dying, publisher David Black of Victoria acts like the happy guy at the funeral.” That’s the subhead on a story about Star-Bulletin owner David Black which appeared recently on Crosscut.com, a Seattle online news publication.

And just click here for a lot more data about the damaged Superferry  rudder(s) than you ever thought was readily available!