http://cnn.com/US/9911/14/y2k.security/

It's only a matter of time before Chicago, Boston and NY do the same thing...

"California cops, National Guard prepare for millennium trouble" "From Correspondent Rusty Dornin"

November 14, 1999 Web posted at: 5:55 p.m. EST (2255 GMT)

"SAN FRANCISCO (CNN) -- California is gearing up for turn-of-the-century celebrations that go over the top. Some 1,700 National Guard troops will be on duty from December 30 to January 2, ready for action in San Francisco -- or other cities in the state in case revelers get out of hand."

"Right now, the National Guard is preparing for Y2K in the eventuality we would have to backup law enforcement because of lights going out or a civil disturbance," said Capt. Joseph Horton of the California National Guard."

"There is a history of citywide parties turning dangerous."

"Thousands of San Franciscans took to the streets for VJ Day, when the fighting with Japan formally ended in 1945. Eleven people were killed during the celebration and thousands were injured in the three-day party." "To make sure millennium parties -- or any civil disturbances resulting from possible Y2K problems -- don't measure up to those statistics, San Francisco police have been practicing riot control measures, backed by stiff warnings."

"If you intend to come to San Francisco and conduct yourself in an unpeaceful manner ... you will be taken into custody immediately," cautioned San Francisco Police Chief Fred Lau."

"The National Guard helped out Los Angeles police during the Rodney King riots."

"Troops also have provided statewide disaster relief during earthquakes and floods. Spokesmen say the Guard would be ready for just about anything the New Year might bring -- including massive power outages."

"For the Y2K phenomena, we're ready with fuel. For example, generator crews, we have 50 of them, we have trucks, C130s, Blackhawks and Chinooks (helicopters) and people and shelters and armories and so on," said California National Guard Col. Terry Knight."

"Crews at California's Office of Emergency Services will also be on duty round the clock through New Year's weekend."

"We are connected with all the counties by satellite with generators so even if there was a problem we would be able to communicate with one another to help protect public safety," said the agency's Tom Mullins."

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), November 15, 1999

Answers

But will they have bullets?

-- (normally@ease.notnow), November 15, 1999.

Link to thread about Nat. Guard in Baltimore and other cities.

Link to above CNN article

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), November 15, 1999.

I'd say they're getting ready.

Diane

2 New Year's Eve Events Canceled
Gate bridge fireworks display, Civic Center celebration called off
Glen Martin, Stacy Finz, Chronicle Staff Writers
Wednesday, November 10, 1999
)1999 San Francisco Chronicle

Mayor Willie Brown's office has dramatically scaled back its plans for a giant, citywide New Year's Eve bash, canceling the main fireworks display at the Golden Gate Bridge and a celebration at the Civic Center. ...

More...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/ article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1999/11/10/MN46647.DTL

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 15, 1999.

Deb M:

It is crucial that "...will be on duty..." be looked at in connection with the question of who will choose to show up.

Watch your assumptions...

-- eve (123@4567.com), November 15, 1999.

San Francisco scaling back its New Year's celebrations is a BIG Deal. I remember reading the city's y2k website awhile back where they were talking about all the great events and how massive the New Year's celebration would be, and in the next paragraph talking about porta potties for apartments, plastic cutlery for restaurants, and suggesting buckets with "dark colored" kitchen size trash bags for "aesthetic" latrine facilities -- for public/office use. Disconnect?

-- (normally@ease.notnow), November 15, 1999.

Hey Deb : )

I did watch a segment on local ABC news Sunday evening which reported this as well. I'm sure most people didn't even give it a second thought even though the possibility of terrorism and lights out and unrest were mentioned. Talking heads can do wonders and sell just about any spin with a smile and a calm voice.

Mike

=================================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), November 15, 1999.

Though I live 3 hours from San Francisco, there's no way in hell that I will be moving more than 5 feet away from my front door at roll over! My kids plan to be here at roll over, they are young and still like to party but even they can see the handwriting on the wall. Haven't seen any activity here at the local NG, same trucks and jeeps parked in the yard, but we're a very small community so I don't expect anything to go on here. And don't forget to pickup your phones at roll over!

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), November 15, 1999.

Mornin' All,

bardou,

What'd you think of PG&E's 'Storm Season Special Edition' insert in the latest bill? I thought it was interesting that the 17th & final item on their checklist was for people to have 'shovel, saw, buckets' - course there's no explanation as to why.

eve,

I think the idea of folks not showing up for duty is overplayed.

Michael,

Been thinking about your prior post for several days. My pal from 1st grade is a nurse down thar. I'd hate for any well thought out contingency plans that we are not privy to become jeopordized by gossip. I'd also hate for innocents to become targets. We need to be very cautious where we tread

-- flora (***@__._), November 15, 1999.

Very interesting. Keep the articles coming. Will be quite a show to watch the .mil preps incrementally "come out." Shopping yesterday, saw basketfuls of XMas stuff, not one person loading up prep items.

The most curious of times ...

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), November 15, 1999.

According to my rough math calculations, 1700 guardsmen in SF equates to about 1 guardsman per 1000 citizens. I would guess that ratio holds for most of the rest of the state (probably lower in LA).

The weekend warriors are seriously outnumbered. They'll be able to protect the critical infrastructure and nothing more. Don't rely on them too heavily.

-- rob minor (rbminor@hotmail.com), November 15, 1999.