Our "friends" at the "Y2K debunking board" don't think we want anyone to see this article from the Washington Post, because it "proves" that the reason Washington DC has admitted failure is so that they can get more money to work on it. I'll let the readers of this board decide whether that is a believable explanation.

-- Steve Heller (stheller@koyote.com), June 29, 1999

Answers

Yo! Senator! MY poor county needs help big time, too!

Works for me.

-- Faith Weaver (suzsolutions@yahoo.com), June 29, 1999.

I've been debating with CPR all day and I cannot see him for anything else other than a Nazi. He says that people shouldn't do as they please because it's not in CPR's best interest.

Boy, what an ego.

-- (just@regular.surfer), June 29, 1999.

Y2K CANNOT BE FIXED!

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.net), June 29, 1999.

Thanks, Steve.

D.C. Seeks Funds To Finish Y2K Fix
City Asks for $75 Million Federal Grant

By Eric Lipton
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 29, 1999; Page B01

http://search.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/ 1999-06/29/153l-062999-idx.html

[Fair Use: For Educational/Research Purposes Only]

The District government intends to ask federal authorities this week for an additional $75 million in emergency funds to complete its year 2000 computer repairs, an allocation that would more than double the federal commitment to the city's late-starting effort.

Chief Technology Officer Suzanne J. Peck told the D.C. Council yesterday that the money is needed to ensure the city can stick to its tight schedule to finish critical computer repairs by year's end.

The additional federal funds also would help finance what Peck called the nation's most extensive big-city Y2K contingency planning effort, designed to ensure that District services such as fire, police and public works are not interrupted Jan. 1 even if unexpected computer failures occur or the city is unable to complete all the repairs on time.

"We are working night and day, 350 professionals, under known time constraints and with meticulous plans to assure . . . that the District will work" on Jan. 1, 2000, Peck said.

The year 2000 computer glitch, popularly known as Y2K, stems from the use in many computer systems of two-digit date fields, leading many machines to interpret "00" as 1900, not 2000. This could cause systems to transmit bad data, malfunction or crash.

The additional federal funds sought would supplement a $61.8 million emergency grant given earlier this year, after a top federal computer expert called the city's Y2K status "bleak."

Peck told the council the city is keeping up with its goal set a year ago when the Y2K fix began in earnest. The plan is to have the District's 336 large computer systems, 13,000 personal computers and 62,000 pieces of computer-related equipment in working order, tested and returned to service by the end of November.

That is much later than deadlines set by Virginia and Maryland state governments as well as most of the region's other large local governments. Because of the limited time still available, Peck said in an interview yesterday, she does not expect every city agency to be finished with its Y2K work by New Year's Eve. If necessary, she said, she would defer less important repairs to ensure work is completed at the 18 city agencies that provide critical services.

Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief Donald Edwards and Emergency Management Agency Director Sam Jordan also briefed the D.C. Council yesterday on the status of their year 2000 repair efforts and their contingency plans.

The police department, for example, intends to station officers at more than 120 locations across the city as of 10 p.m. New Year's Eve to ensure that even if electricity, telephone service or other communications equipment fails, residents can report emergencies in person. The Water and Sewer Authority, meanwhile, is installing massive generators at city pumping stations to guarantee that drinking water flows. Prior to Jan. 1, the city will open 21 "warming centers" across the District to provide residents with a place to go if utilities or city services are disrupted.

Peck, Ramsey and Edwards emphasized that even though several emergency plans will be implemented automatically, before any sign of a potential problem surfaces, it does not mean they anticipate having to rely on the plans.

"In the very worst cases, unless it is coming like a tsunami from someplace outside of the District, [the impact of year 2000 problem] will be very modest, and that is where the contingency plans come in," Peck said.

As of last week, 63 percent of the critical systems citywide were repaired, while 41 percent of all of 336 computer systems had been fixed, Peck said. The District's technology office ranking said that, on average, 20 of the city's 73 agencies were not halfway done with their overall repairs, testing and contingency planning. But Peck told the council yesterday she thinks those numbers understate the extent of the progress to date, since agencies are not given credit for work underway until it is complete.

The federal Office of Management and Budget still has $496 million in emergency Y2K funds available to give out this year for non-defense- related projects. OMB spokeswoman Linda Ricci said the city's $75 million request had not yet arrived, "but we will evaluate the District's request once we receive it."

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), June 29, 1999.

I do not think the "federal authorities" would hand over 75 million dollars if it were not needed. I think also that other big cities would being crying that they are noncompliant also to get money if that were the case.

-- mom@home (who knows@dot.com), June 29, 1999.

"ADDING MORE PEOPLE TO A LATE SOFTWARE PROJECT MAKES IT LATER"

Brooke's Law.

$75 million won't be nearly enough if they are as far behind as they claim. Maybe it's for contingency planning...like in moderate sized, not consecutively numbered bills, and a plane ticket to somewhere warm, without extradition!

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), June 30, 1999.

As I said below, typical DC scam to get money. They have no tax base, so scam Congress for 'emergency funds' constantly.

-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), June 30, 1999.

They obviously NEED those new emergency funds in a desparate way. The outgoing administration of Mayor Marion Barry must have took all the Y2K funds for their own personal preparations (What Carribean island did he disappear to?) and the new administration of Mayor Williams urgently wants to get their houses (and retreats?) in order.

Maybe if Cory and the Barron do come up with a Plan D for moving to the western slope of the Appalachians or such, the DC government can get a good deal on Dragon Ranch for their bugout spot.

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), June 30, 1999.

Paul Davis, you have, from time to time, demonstrated knowledge on some topics and none on other topics that you chime in and offer your opinion on, but any vestigage of credibilty went out the door with this statement...

"As I said below, typical DC scam to get money. They have no tax base, so scam Congress for 'emergency funds' constantly."

You are as disconnected as they get. Hang it up Paul. What is coming out of your mouth is no longer of value to anyone, yourself included. Since y2k is not a problem for you, go and enjoy life and leave us alone to work this out for ourselves.

-- OR (orwelliator@biosys.net), July 01, 1999.