JPL/NASA Taaxpayer abuse

San Gabriel Valley Tribune | 3/11/06 | Taenha goodrich

[goldenspirit]

Public Notices - PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT Notice of Availability of Draft Final Environmental Assessment Construction of a Flight Projects Center Building at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California NASA Proposes to construct a new building that will allow the demolition of eight outdated buildings, remove six temporary office trailers, and house up to 620 JPL employees. The proposed building would support project development activities essential to flight projects and would be referred to as the Flight Projects Center. NASA proposes to build the Flight Projects Center building on government - owned property located at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, California. The building would consist of a one -story Project Review Center attached to a multi-story office tower of approximately 17,000 square meters (180,000 square feet). The building would be constructed on the existing site of three buildings, which would be demolished. Construction and operation of this building would meet the need to streamline communications among multiple project support functions by locating flight project staff in a single building on the 176-acre site. NASA has prepared a Draft Final Environmental Assessment Report (EA) for the proposed Flight Projects Center building at JPL pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). As the lead agency under NEPA for the proposed action, and in accordance with applicable NEPA regulations and guidance, NASA is presenting this Draft Final EA to the public for review and comment. Comments from the Public Members of the public are invited to submit written comments to NASA regarding this Draft Final Environmental Assessment. The Draft Final EA is available for the public's review at the locations noted below. Comments from the public are welcomed. All comments must be submitted to NASA no later than 30 days from the date of this announcement thus must be postmarked or emailed no later than April 7, 2006. Please submit all comments regarding the Draft Final EA of the proposed project to: Mr. Peter Robles NASA Management Office Jet Propulsion Laboratory 4800 Oak Grove Drive, 180-801 Pasadena, CA 91109 Email comments may be submitted to: JPLNASA.Environmental@ JPL.NASA.Gov Draft Final EA Availability The Draft Final EA is available for public and agency review at: Pasadena Central Library 285 E. Walnut Street Pasadena, CA 91101 Altadena Public Library 600 E. Mariposa Street Altadena, CA 91001 La Canada - Flintridge Public Library 4545 W. Oakwood Ave. La Canada - Flintridge NASA Headquarters Library 300 E. St., SW, Suite 1J20 Washington, DC 20546 For personnel on the JPL site only: JPL Main Library Publish: March 8, 2006 San Gabriel Valley Tribune Ad No. 35480

Location: CA Date: 3/11/2006 Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune Category: AnnouncementsLegals

[goldenspirit]

Hello Everyone

This first time posting to Free republic, so please don’t flame me if I don’t get it perfect.

I have been reading the board a years, but until now have not posted. My reasons for doing this now will be clear if you read the link and my message.

Taxpayer abuse and environmental rape for pure ego is outrageous waste of both money and spirituality.

the Public Notice: (note how sanitized it is, also note the e-mail given is invalid, I have provided an e-mail to someone who will take action.

Here are the facts:

Dear Taxpayers:

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena California is planning to spend 78 Million dollars of your tax dollars to erect the Space Flight Projects Building.

They believe that the 78 million dollars is sufficient for 180,000 square feet of commercial space. The accepted price per square foot of commercial space is $110.00 per square foot.

If JPL hold true to form, they will start this mess, and then claim they found some unexpected problem (dinosaur bones under the building? Bigfoot?) then they will ask NASA and the taxpayers for more of your money.

Adding to the horror is the fact that JPL plans on cutting down 17 mature trees, including one oak tree and many 100 foot tall pines and a number of liquid amber trees.

The section of land is home to many nesting birds, including raptors. It is home to numerous other animals, toads, lizards, deer and many others.

Only you, the taxpayers, can stop this monstrosity. Only your e-mails to this e-mail can make a difference:

Peter.Robles-1@Nasa.Gov

Also, call or e-mail the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Bill Thomas. This appropriation must go through Ways and Means AND THEY HAVE THE POWER TO STOP IT IN ITS TRACKS.

E-mail your Senators and Congressmen.

JPL has 174 acres of land, but claims this is the only place this Building can be built, which is nonsense. The hillside where the trees live would have to be gutted and the rape of this land is intolerable.

Please take the time to e-mail your concerns/comments ASAP.

I cannot leave my name here, or I will be fired for my concern. I have Voiced my opinion over this mess for years and JPL/Caltech has harassed me for years.

Please do not let them take your money for a building they do not need.

Please be articulate, professional and focus on the taxpayer abuse.

JPL Long Time Employee

For those who can help me PING to other groups within free republic (taxes, environmental, animals, pork etc.) Please do so, I am a newbe at this. (Please accept my apology)

This is too important to not step up to the plate. This is your money! Please, we need at least 10,000 e-mails to stop this fiasco.

(Can someone tell me how to post poictures?) I have some great ones of the area)

[goldenspirit]

sorry, I see the typos, but you get the picture...

[Commander8]

More reasons to privatize NASA and free up space for private explorations.

[dead]

I strongly support space exploration, but NASA does know how to waste money.

Unfortunately, so does congress and our current president.

[RightWhale]

Moon, Mars and Beyond is law of the land. JPL is central to the early phases of robotic Mars exploration. The contracts can go someplace else, but they will cost more and have a lower rate of success, based on history.

[neodad]

Adding to the horror is the fact that JPL plans on cutting down 17 mature trees, including one oak tree and many 100 foot tall pines and a number of liquid amber trees.

The section of land is home to many nesting birds, including raptors. It is home to numerous other animals, toads, lizards, deer and many others

LOL! Hey Kevin, whaddya think of this?

[gondramB]

I would need more information.

I can't believe the "temporary" trailers are still in use - they were there in 1987 when I last visited.

I'm skeptical that cutting down 17 trees for an $80 million project constitutes "horror" or "raping the land."

I've seen the JPL campus - it's pretty damn environmentally senstive by government standards.

it would als be interesting to see the operating cost comparisons for the buildings being replaced.

[goldenspirit]

as I said IU am new here, are you mocking me, or is there a point? Who is kevin.?

[goldenspirit]

Dear gondramB

Sounds like you know the place. It has changed a lot in the last 8 years.

The buildings they plan to tear down are not trailers. And they are mess. But there is a better section of land (5, 1955 buildings) that could be torn down, and the project building build there. They are a real mess, costing 4 million a year in repairs and house about 125 people.

This section they want to build on is the last nice healthy stand of trees, every year I watch the hawks nest and raise their young, it is incredible (I still have not figured out how to post the pictures).

I have worked at JPL for over 20 years and seen many changed, mostly for the worse.

I am not a tree huger, PETA idiot. I believe in the space program, but the waste is unbelievable.

For example, JPL spent 2 million last year for outdoor TEAK furniture! At the Cafeterias, no less.

I have seen a lot of changes in 20 years and most are not for the better. They have fired 800 people so far (budget cuts, loss of projects), with more to come.

[bboop]

I'm all for JPL. It is one of the big employers in this county/ state. They do good research there, they work closely with Caltech on other research, it is a quality group. If they need to build this building, I will support them totally. If they need to cut down a few trees in the wash, I am ok with that too.

Are you from DU or something? I am going to fight FOR this project. Thanks for the notification.

[Calvin Locke]

During WWII, Allied RADAR development was moved to Building 17, a temporary construct at MIT.

The war-era "temporary" building lasted until something like 1998.

I think it became infamous for eventually housing the office of Noam Chomsky.

[delacoert]

as I said IU am new here, are you mocking me, or is there a point? Who is kevin.?

It is better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Abraham Lincoln

[goldenspirit]

These trees are not in the wash, but on the property. It is a small area. All I am asking is for all to ask the questions. It is 78 million dollars of you money, and they do not need it!

[r9etb]

sniff.... sniff.... do you smell something?

[Hexenhammer]

Won't somebody please think of the trees! /helenjovejoy

Yawn.

Yeah NASA is a cash hog, but it's no worse than virtually every other department in government. And on occasion NASA gets something right, unlike most of the government.

[jonascord]

The section of land is home to many nesting birds, including raptors. It is home to numerous other animals, toads, lizards, deer and many others.

I am deeply concerned about this, since to my knowledge, raptors, toads and lizards do not taste good, and there is no indication as to whether the new building will have a fireplace to dispose of the trees. Goldenspirit is, however, more than welcome to collect all these evicted birdies and beasties and move them into his mother's basement, where he care share the space with them. I would suggest he rent "Grizzly Man" for hints on how to do this...

you twitterpated dipwad...

[goldenspirit]

I am not a Democrat, I am a republican and conservative, but maybe not as much as some on FR. Do they need this building on this small area? Why not build it on a spot both cheaper and better!

[goldenspirit]

you are very abusive, you need not agree with me, but this is just childish

[jonascord]

Incoming...

[goldenspirit]

I am a conservative
I am a NRA member
I fight for conservative issues
Do I have to be against all lifeforms on this planet to earn a bit a respect?