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#PGE #Wildfire #Wildfires #CampFire #ZoggFire #Utilities #California #News #Journalism

https://youtu.be/YTRX_SWw-9c

"This resolution... it does not make me happy," Bridgett says.

She wanted to take PG&E to trial, but it wasn't possible in her judgement.

Bridgett says PG&E would have been found guilty if the case was allowed to go before a jury. She says Judge Flynn's plan to toss the case out is the reason that won't happen.

DA Bridgett says she talked to the families, to direct some of this money toward causes that honor the memories of the 4 people killed.

Some $ will go to scholarships, an animal evac center, the Igo-Ono school... which will make a new play structure in memory of 8-year-old Feyla.

There's also "Feyla's fund" to assist families recovering from disasters.

The deal has PG&E paying $50M, also enforcement/oversight provisions, Bridgett says.

Added weather stations, undergrounding, removal of abandoned lines are all part of the agreement, DA Bridgett says.

Also changes to tree inspection practices, requiring more process/sign-offs to de-list trees (not cut) that are marked as known hazards.

DA Bridgett is up. "PG&E's failure to remove a hazard tree that they had marked for removal... fell and caused the devastating #ZoggFire."

She names the 4 people killed.

"PG&E needs to change its practices to save lives... it was my desire to criminally convict PG&E to accomplish this goal."

We are awaiting a news conference with Shasta County DA Stephanie Bridgett regarding the settlement deal and dropping of #ZoggFire criminal charges against PG&E.

Family members of people killed in the fire are here.

Will provide video later today, meantime I'll post updates here.

"It's just almost like rubber stamping now," #ZoggFire survivor Kyle Drake tells me at a protest outside of court.

"Eventually the last straw will come around. I don't know what town's gonna get destroyed that's finally the last straw. Maybe somewhere on the coast. Los Gatos. Maybe then someone would pay attention."

BREAKING: Judge Daniel Flynn dismisses the manslaughter case against PG&E for the 2020 #ZoggFire, pending a civil settlement between the DA and PG&E.

Judge Flynn is getting testy with the property owners' attorney, who just made a filing. The judge is reviewing it now.

The attorney, Tyler Lalaguna, has said his clients have not been given property treatment by the DA under the victims bill of rights.

BREAKING: DA Stephanie Bridgett is asking Judge Flynn to take the dismissal of the #ZoggFire case, without prejudice-- pending a CIVIL agreement between the prosecution and PG&E.

This is similar to what happened in the #KincadeFire and #DixieFire last year, when 6 DAs settled their criminal investigations.

A lawyer representing property owners is objecting, arguing the deal affects potential restitution payments to his clients.

8-year-old Feyla McLeod died alongside her mom Alaina trying to escape the #ZoggFire in 2020. Neighbors Karin King and Ken Vossen were also killed.

A federal judge found PG&E in violation, as did CAL FIRE’s arson investigations and the CPUC safety investigation. #california #pge #wildfires #crime #FirePowerMoney

Catch up on the story here: https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/family-pleads-judge-not-to-dismiss-pges-manslaughter-charges/103-582e9c63-1034-4632-9bef-c3696674c2df

All of this coincides with a stunning development in the criminal case over the #ZoggFire.

In a reversal of his own position, #Shasta County judge Daniel Flynn announced plans to dismiss all felony charges against #PGE, including 4 counts of involuntary manslaughter.

Family members of the dead are pleading with him not to do it.

STORY: https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/family-pleads-judge-not-to-dismiss-pges-manslaughter-charges/103-582e9c63-1034-4632-9bef-c3696674c2df

The settlement also calls for PG&E to spend $140 million on so-called “shareholder-funded initiatives," which has been presented in past #CPUC news releases as a "penalty" for #PGE.

Most of the $$ is aimed at improving PG&E's tree work, which critics argue PG&E should have been doing better all along.

BUT... there's also... I am not making this up... $3M in there for PG&E to buy the #CPUC a consultant to “review and update” the *very same rules* PG&E was accused of breaking:

The #ZoggFire killed four people.

The settlement was reached behind closed doors between #PGE and #CPUC staff.

Instead of the proposed $155M fine, PG&E will pay $10M. (That works out to 4 hours of PG&E's revenue.)

This is up for vote in tomorrow's #CPUC voting meeting at 11am.

It's on the consent agenda (a package of business commissioners plan to pass as a batch without debate.)

The meeting is open to public comment, but CPUC only allows you to speak for one minute.

Here's a link to the meeting with details on how to call in: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/events-and-meetings/cpuc-voting-meeting-2023-05-18