Mary Cummins Investigative Reporter Los Angeles, California

Friday, February 26, 2016

Who is Robert Roy Farmer convicted of killing, torturing cats in San Jose, California? Birthday, criminal history and more

Robert Roy Farmer, cat killer, torture, convicted, criminal, san jose, santa clara, march 19 1991, birthday, born, jack farmer, nancy cole, nancy farmer, san jose, police department, retired, captain, mental illness, methamphetamine, torture, animal cruelty, rape, sexual assault, robert ray farmer, retired, captain

This is an active story. Check back for updates.

Who is Robert Roy Farmer who was just convicted of killing 21 cats in San Jose, Santa Clara, California? Robert Roy (sometimes misspelled Ray in court documents) was born March 19, 1991 in Santa Clara County, California. His father is retired captain of the San Jose police force Jack L Farmer. His mother is Nancy J Cole. His father stated that for years they tried to get their son help with counseling, doctors, camps, rehab ... all to no avail. They finally kicked him out of the house because of his behavior.

"A San Jose man was sentenced to 16 years in jail today for killing 21 cats and sexually abusing a dead one, a bittersweet outcome for those whose pets began disappearing almost two years ago.

Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Sharon A. Chatman credited Robert Roy Farmer, 26, for twice the 646 days he already has served since his arrest for crimes that shocked the Cambrian Park community where most of the cats were abducted."

Below from his court records.

More from his criminal records. For some reason his older records misspell his middle name as "Ray" when he is "Roy." Maybe someone in records felt sorry for the dad that the son was major trouble so they changed it?

FARMER
ROBERT
RAY
FARMER
ROBERT
ROY
C1104871
4/13/2011
1138199103
FARMER
ROBERT
ROY
C1239393
8/21/2012
1138199103
FARMER
ROBERT
ROY
C1522028
10/13/2015
1138199103
C1522028
10/13/2015
1138199103
FARMER
ROBERT
RAY
C1522028
10/13/2015
1138199103
FARMER
ROBERT
ROY
C1522028
10/13/2015
1138199103

First Name ROBERT PFN EAG427
Last Name FARMER CEN 15042242
Middle Name Housing Facility ELMWOOD M-4
Sex M Bail Amount 225000.00
Date Of Birth xx/xx/xxxx Release Date 04/07/2022
Booking Date 10/08/2015
Court Appearances
SNOCOURT CODECOURT DEPTDATETIME
1431003907/14/201709:00 AM

Accused Cambrian Park Cat Molester Pleads Not Guilty
Robert Roy Farmer, 24, entered the not guilty plea for alleged crimes against 10 cats last fall in San Jose's Cambrian Park neighborhood.

"SAN JOSE - A man pleaded not guilty Thursday to either killing or abusing cats in San Jose’s Cambrian Park neighborhood last year, prosecutors said.

Robert Roy Farmer, 24, entered the not guilty plea at the Hall of Justice for the alleged crimes against 10 cats from mid-September until his arrest in October, Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Alexandra Ellis said.

Farmer is facing 10 felony counts related to animal cruelty, she said. He has also been charged with misdemeanor counts of battery and using or being under the influence of a controlled substance, which were not related to the animal cruelty counts, Ellis said.

The 24-year-old is scheduled to return to court on May 6 to set a preliminary hearing."

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, real estate, appraiser, appraisal, instructor, teacher, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood, Bel Air, California, licensed, permitted, single family, condo, pud, hud, fannie mae, freddie mac, uspap, certified, residential, certified resident, apartment building, multi-family, commercial, industrial, expert witness, civil, criminal, orea, dre, insurance, bonded, experienced, bilingual, spanish, english, form, 1004, 2055, land, raw, acreage, vacant, insurance, cost, income approach, market analysis, comparative, theory, appraisal theory, cost approach, sales, matched pairs, plot, plat, map, diagram, photo, photographs, photography, rear, front, street, subject, comparable, sold, listed, active, pending, expired, cancelled, listing, mls, multiple listing service, claw, themls,

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Justice Antonin Scalia death a suicide, not murder according to his physician - Justice Scalia, Antonin Scalia

Justice Scalia, Justice Antonin Scalia, Antonin Scalia, President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama

As reported in the media the contents of a letter from Justice Scalia's doctor to the Arizona sheriff have been released. Justice Antonin Scalia had "coronary artery disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, degenerative joint disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and high blood pressure." Justice Scalia also drank, smoked and didn't exercise. The letter is from Rear Adm. Brian P. Monahan, the attending physician for members of Congress and the Supreme Court.

Dr. David Zich, a physician of internal and emergency medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital stated pulmonary embolism and stroke could "kill somebody very suddenly." Scalia's death, he said, was unexpected, "but it sounds like it wasn't suspicious." The justice's many ailments, taken together, were "quite dangerous."

Justice Scalia knew of his many serious heath issues. He did not take action to overcome these illnesses. He should have stopped smoking, lost weight and exercised. All those conditions are related to lack of proper diet and exercise. He basically killed himself. Physicians call this "slow suicide." Others state it is "death by fork."

When the patient realizes his behavior is causing serious health issues and he takes no action, the patient obviously doesn't want to recover. Going to the doctor to get medication is not recovery. I'm sure his doctor told him many times he needs to change his behavior or he'll die soon. Deep down inside Justice Scalia did not want to survive. Scalia knowingly allowed himself to die.

Justice Scalia was a supposed devout Catholic. Yes, he supported the death penalty which is a major sin. He also supported discrimination which the bible says is wrong. Suicide is also a major sin. The bible also mentions the "Seven Deadly Sins." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins Scalia is guilty of "gluttony, proud look, lying tongue, and he who soweth discord among bretheren."

Ex President Bill Clinton was told by his doctor that he had coronary heart disease. In response to that diagnosis Bill Clinton lost weight, ate a vegan diet and started exercising. Clinton wanted to live. Scalia sadly did not.

If you or a loved one has any of these diseases, talk to your doctor about proper diet and exercise. Here is a great website on curing these diseases with proper diet. There are many great vegan foods, recipes in that website. Please, take action today to save your life or the life of a loved one.

*I realize that not all health problems can be solved with proper diet and exercise. Proper diet, exercise and stopping bad habits would still improve someone's health if they're able.

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, real estate, appraiser, appraisal, instructor, teacher, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood, Bel Air, California, licensed, permitted, single family, condo, pud, hud, fannie mae, freddie mac, uspap, certified, residential, certified resident, apartment building, multi-family, commercial, industrial, expert witness, civil, criminal, orea, dre, insurance, bonded, experienced, bilingual, spanish, english, form, 1004, 2055, land, raw, acreage, vacant, insurance, cost, income approach, market analysis, comparative, theory, appraisal theory, cost approach, sales, matched pairs, plot, plat, map, diagram, photo, photographs, photography, rear, front, street, subject, comparable, sold, listed, active, pending, expired, cancelled, listing, mls, multiple listing service, claw, themls,

Monday, February 1, 2016

Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser Volunteer Activity - Los Angeles, California

I found an old list of my volunteer activities up to 1982. I decided to update it to the present and post it.

Good Shepherd Church in Beverly Hills

1977-1980 Volunteered with the Shepherdaires to serve food to the elderly
1977-1978 Christmas boutique sale. Collected articles to sell, sorted, displayed and sold.
1977-1980 Bake sales. I helped serve the Sunday coffee hour in the Parish Hall
1978 Bike-a-thon to raise money for the church
1977-1980 Corporal Works of Mercy. Under Father Priebe I helped the sick, elderly by visiting them, cleaning, making food and changing linen.
Good Shepherd Catholic School in Beverly Hills

1973-1978 School raffle sales to raise money for school
1973-1978 Rummage sale. Picked up articles to sell, cleaned, sorted, displayed and sold.
1977-1978 International Dinner. Helped set it up in the Parish Hall, decorated, cleaned.
McKinley Home for Boys

1972-1980 Volunteered to serve food for banquets
Handicapables of Greater West Los Angeles, California Handicapables

1979-1981 Helped set up the annual luncheon in the Parish Hall, served, cleaned.
Culver City Swim Team, Roadrunners

1977 Raffle ticket sales to raise money.
1975-1978 Host team, ran scores, helped time events, sold refreshments.
1975-1978 Swim-a-thon. Collected funds per lap to raise money.
1976 Host Olympians. Helped serve the Olympians when they used our pool for workouts.
Beverly Hills YMCA

1974-1975 Cartwheel-a-thon to raise money.
1974-1975 Sold toffee covered peanuts. Half went to Y, rest went to YMCA camp
1971-1977 Swim-a-thon to raise money.
1976 Volunteer of the year dinner hostess
1976 Gymnastics Fantastics show to raise money, sold programs, refreshments
1976 Half-time show for Lakers game to raise awareness and funds.
Beverly Hills El Rodeo School

1977-1978 Helped during lunch time to make the sets for the drama department. Designed the Spring Fling main backdrop of an angel on a cloud.
Century City Hospital

1981 Volunteered to serve food to patients, ran errands, filed medical records.
Brotman Medical Center

1981 Worked in the ER as an EMT. Took vital signs, assisted doctors in trauma room, updated medical files.
University of Southern California

1982-1984 Worked on the suicide hotline
1982 Volunteer VP of my dorm the International Hall
1983-1984 Volunteer at the Spastic Children's Foundation as assistant to the aquatic therapist
1983 Tutored mentally challenged children as a volunteer
Westside Children Center

1990-1991 Volunteered with abused children newborn to age five.
Animal Match Rescue Team

2000-2002 Took photos of shelter animals and posted them on the Internet
Los Angeles Animal Services

2006-2007 Designed and built a new website for the Department, added the "Pet of the Day" feature.
2000-2006 Volunteered in the shelter
2003 Spay/Neuter Committee
2003 Volunteer Task Force
2003 Wildlife Committee
2003 Spanish language committee
2003 Wildlife presentations
2003 Free nuisance wildlife control
2004 Adopt-a-thon Committee. Ran adopt-a-thon for WLA shelter.
2004 Was Mrs. Santa for Christmas photos with pets at PetSmart
City of Los Angeles

1981 Skate-a-thon to raise money for leukemia.
2006 Coyote Task Force
2006 Proposition F Animal Facilities Bond Committee
Cummins Real Estate Services

1984-present. Pro bono real estate consulting, appraisals and brokerage.
Animal Advocates non-profit

2002-present. All volunteer non-profit which rescues ill, injured and orphaned wildlife for release back to the wild; wildlife education to children, elderly and community groups; humane nuisance wildlife control; pro-animal legislation.

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, real estate, appraiser, appraisal, instructor, teacher, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood, Bel Air, California, licensed, permitted, single family, condo, pud, hud, fannie mae, freddie mac, uspap, certified, residential, certified resident, apartment building, multi-family, commercial, industrial, expert witness, civil, criminal, orea, dre, insurance, bonded, experienced, bilingual, spanish, english, form, 1004, 2055, land, raw, acreage, vacant, insurance, cost, income approach, market analysis, comparative, theory, appraisal theory, cost approach, sales, matched pairs, plot, plat, map, diagram, photo, photographs, photography, rear, front, street, subject, comparable, sold, listed, active, pending, expired, cancelled, listing, mls, multiple listing service, claw, themls,

Friday, January 22, 2016

Larry Flynt makes an offer on the Playboy Mansion subject to an appraisal. I ran some comps for quick valuation

Larry Flynt has reportedly made an offer on the Playboy Mansion for $40,000,000. He then reportedly doubled that offer to $80,000,000 on the condition Hugh Hefner leaves the property. Based on both of their strong personalities I don't see that deal going through. If Larry Flynt really wants the property he'll have to use a straw man so Hef doesn't know he's buying it. A development company or LLC might be the best idea.

Larry's offer is contingent upon the property appraising. I decided to run some comps.

MLS CMA comparable sales. Living area 10,000 to 50,000, lot size 2 to 8 acres, sold within the last three years within a four mile radius. The best comp is 384 Delfern for $59,000,000 which is superior based on home, lot size. 100 N Carolwood also a good comp but inferior location on Sunset with all walls facing the street sold for $18,000,000 when the market was slower. Another good comp is property directly next door 2.5 acres for $32,000,000 10281 CHARING CROSS RD
LOS ANGELES CA 90024. It also has a large home on the property.
http://marycummins.com/playboymansioncomparables.pdf

All sales including MLS and private sales. Not all sales are real sales.
http://marycummins.com/playboymansioncompspublicrecords.pdf

Based on all these sales and knowledge of the area if this property weren't the Playboy Mansion I think Larry Flynt's first offer of $40,000,000 would have been fair but low. Because it is the Playboy Mansion, is located away from Sunset, abuts the golf course, I think $80,000,000 was more than fair.

The real issue here is the huge loans on the property. There is a loan for $110,000,000 done in 2014. I think Playboy Inc may have taken the loan on the property to pay for bills. This is also why Hef wants to sell the property. If that $100M loan is real, not cross collateralized, they'd have to do a short to sell,

A year or so ago when Hef was engaged to his wife there was a prenup agreement. That agreement included his fiance getting a house in Hollywood Hills. The purpose of that house was for Hef and/or her to live there "when" they sell the mansion. Hef has obviously seen this coming for years. Playboy is not doing as well as it once did because there is so much free and cheap hardcore porn on the Internet. I think Larry did a better job transitioning toward the Internet now that print media is doing so poorly.

Here is my last article on the mansion.

http://marycumminsrealestatemarycummins.blogspot.com/2016/01/playboy-mansion-at-10236-charing-cross.html

I will update these articles if there is indeed a sale.

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, real estate, appraiser, appraisal, instructor, teacher, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood, Bel Air, California, licensed, permitted, single family, condo, pud, hud, fannie mae, freddie mac, uspap, certified, residential, certified resident, apartment building, multi-family, commercial, industrial, expert witness, civil, criminal, orea, dre, insurance, bonded, experienced, bilingual, spanish, english, form, 1004, 2055, land, raw, acreage, vacant, insurance, cost, income approach, market analysis, comparative, theory, appraisal theory, cost approach, sales, matched pairs, plot, plat, map, diagram, photo, photographs, photography, rear, front, street, subject, comparable, sold, listed, active, pending, expired, cancelled, listing, mls, multiple listing service, claw, themls,

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

How to get Black, Mexican, Asian ... actors, directors, movies nominated and win Oscars from Academy of Motion Pictures

How black people can be nominated for and win academy award Oscars, voting, nominated, black, white, male, female, actor, producer, director, los angeles, california

UPDATE January 22, 2016 - Academy states it is taking action to make the awards more diverse. It seems one of the problems was that there is a lot of older white men who aren't really active who are voting. The Academy is trying to get younger active members. I will say one of my neighbors was 80 and a little bit out of it. He voted. I would drive him to the Directors guild for movie nights then we'd have dinner down the street.

http://www.oscars.org/news/academy-takes-historic-action-increase-diversity

I see a lot of Black, Mexican, Asian actors, producers, directors complaining that they aren't winning Oscars. Some said they will boycott the award show. I highly doubt that will help any of them get nominated or win an Oscar. I have a much better idea how they can get nominated and win Oscars. It's just a matter of knowing the rules of the game and playing to win.

Here is how the Academy nominates, votes for movies, actors ...for Oscars. You must be a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures to vote. You must join, be sponsored by two members, meet strict requirements, pay dues, be active in movie industry... Here is how to join. http://www.oscars.org/about/become-new-member

Last I looked you had to have lines in a movie and be in the credits to join as an actor. This means producers, directors should give lines to actors they want in the academy to vote. You also have to be sponsored by two members. Black members, any member, sponsor new black or like minded members to get more votes. The deadline to vote next year is March 2016. Hurry up and get new members.

All members vote for best picture, actor, actress, supporting... Sub-committees made up of producers, directors, writers, animators nominate and vote for specialized categories like animation, documentary... Be sure to get new members into these sub-committees so they can vote for these categories. This means hire black directors, producers, costumers...

94% of all Academy voters are white. 76% are male. US population is 77% white, 50/50 male/female. The academy obviously doesn't reflect the US population. If Black, Mexican, Asian... actors, producers want Oscars, they need to get as many like minded people to join the academy so they can vote for those people and movies. My sis who stared in horror films voted, so did my ex-husband who was a bit actor. These groups should start recruiting people to join the academy so they have a better chance of winning next year.

Most importantly, black people should make more films with black actors, makeup, directors... Even more importantly make really great movies with great actors and crew. After a few years the voters and voting should be more balanced. Start today as the new membership acceptance deadline is March 2016. Check their website for the exact date.

A last note. You must campaign for the movie. Social media is free and powerful. Get black, like minded celebs to help promote it. Studios have huge budgets to campaign for the film. While the members get to view the movies for free, they don't see all of them. My sis and ex never had the time to see them all. Neither did I. People will only see the most promoted with best teasers, trailers.

*I didn't see any of the nominated films or any films this past year so I don't know who deserves what award. I'm just speaking in general terms.

Good article on the makeup of Academy
http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/oscars/feature/a621921/who-votes-for-the-oscars-the-ins-and-outs-of-academy-voting-explained/

Rules and regulations for nominating and voting for actors, movies...straight from the Academy
http://www.oscars.org/oscars/rules-eligibility

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, real estate, appraiser, appraisal, instructor, teacher, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood, Bel Air, California, licensed, permitted, single family, condo, pud, hud, fannie mae, freddie mac, uspap, certified, residential, certified resident, apartment building, multi-family, commercial, industrial, expert witness, civil, criminal, orea, dre, insurance, bonded, experienced, bilingual, spanish, english, form, 1004, 2055, land, raw, acreage, vacant, insurance, cost, income approach, market analysis, comparative, theory, appraisal theory, cost approach, sales, matched pairs, plot, plat, map, diagram, photo, photographs, photography, rear, front, street, subject, comparable, sold, listed, active, pending, expired, cancelled, listing, mls, multiple listing service, claw, themls,

Monday, January 18, 2016

Mike Gatto's AB 139 passes, real estate may be transferred w/o trust or probate with a one page form - Mary Cummins real estate appraiser

Revocable transfer on death deed, pdf, doc, form, probate 5642, trust, deed, transfer, real estate, form ab 139, mike gatto, california, los angeles,

California Assemblyman Mike Gatto is behind the bill AB 139. The bill makes it possible to transfer real estate w/o expensive trust or probably. This one page form can be filled out and filed easily with the county recorder's office.

"The new form, which already is popping up on county websites, is one page. You write down the parcel number and the name of the owner (grantor) and the people who inherit the property and their relationship to the owner. It must be signed by a notary. The law includes provisions to deal with the potential for coercion. For instance, it provides a means to challenge a questionable transfer. The deed can be revoked at any time. Twenty-five other states have similar laws, with few obvious problems arising from them.

The new law “will be of particular benefit to senior citizens whose estate consists primarily – or even exclusively – of the family home,” wrote the Conference of California Bar Associations, in a letter of support last year. “There are thousands of elderly people throughout the state who are barely getting by, but whose home, purchased long ago and paid off, may be worth several hundreds of thousands of dollars. … Existing law offers these individuals no good options.”

Now, they can save thousands of dollars and make it easy on their loved ones. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the defenders of Proposition 13, championed this as one of the most important bills for property owners after that 1978 tax limitation measure.

“I think, rightfully so, most members of the public view Sacramento as a place that just passes into law new restrictions, new bureaucracy, new red tape,” Gatto said, in an interview. “We rarely take steps to make people’s lives easier. So I made it my mission, when I got elected, that I was going to focus on the opposite, which is helping make people’s lives easier.”

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/jan/18/estate-planning-modest-approach-governing-helpful/

Fillable Revocable Transfer on Death Deed
http://www.lavote.net/documents/Revocable_Transfer_on_Death_Deed.pdf

Common questions
http://www.lavote.net/documents/Revocable_Transfer_on_Death_Deed_FAQ.pdf

Mary Cummins of Animal Advocates is a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the California Department of Fish and Game. Mary Cummins is also a licensed real estate appraiser in Los Angeles, California.

Mary Cummins, Mary K. Cummins, Mary Katherine Cummins, Mary Cummins-Cobb, Mary, Cummins, Cobb, real estate, appraiser, appraisal, instructor, teacher, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Brentwood, Bel Air, California, licensed, permitted, single family, condo, pud, hud, fannie mae, freddie mac, uspap, certified, residential, certified resident, apartment building, multi-family, commercial, industrial, expert witness, civil, criminal, orea, dre, insurance, bonded, experienced, bilingual, spanish, english, form, 1004, 2055, land, raw, acreage, vacant, insurance, cost, income approach, market analysis, comparative, theory, appraisal theory, cost approach, sales, matched pairs, plot, plat, map, diagram, photo, photographs, photography, rear, front, street, subject, comparable, sold, listed, active, pending, expired, cancelled, listing, mls, multiple listing service, claw, themls,

Sunday, January 17, 2016

22nd Anniversary of the 6.7 Northridge earthquake - Mary Cummins, real estate appraiser Los Angeles, California

22nd anniversary of the 6.7 Northridge earthquake January 17, 1994

January 13, 2014 at 11:29am

5 to 14 freeway collapse
The Northridge quake struck at 4:31 a.m. January 17, 1994. It instantly knocked out power and phone service across most of Los Angeles plunging the area into total darkness. The sun would not rise for another two and a half hours as people tried to access the damage. Only when the sun came up did people finally realize the massive destruction.

I grew up in Los Angeles and lived through the 6.6 magnitude 1971 San Fernando/Sylmar and the 6.9 1989 Loma Prieta earthquakes. I was six when the '71 quake hit and remember toys falling off shelves. I actually thought that quake was fun. My Nana who raised me did not. She grabbed her makeup and wig case, ran to her Lincoln Continental and refused to come back into the house until the next day.

When the '89 quake hit I was living in a house in the flats of West Hollywood near the Pacific Design Center. The epicenter of that quake was San Francisco. Even though it was far away it was still a violent quake in LA. The pool had huge tsunamis which tossed 1/3 of the water out of the pool and into my neighbor's driveway. The illegal unpermitted addition cracked off the main house and I could see the sky. Some ugly glass knick knacks I'd received as gifts from family members fell and broke on the floor. Oh well.

Then the '94 quake hit Los Angeles. I lived in a condo at 906 N Doheny Dr in West Hollywood just south of Sunset Blvd at the time. I was dead asleep in bed with my two cats when there was an instant jolt then everything started shaking from side to side. While it was only a 6.7 magnitude it was the "fastest" quake on record and very shallow making it feel stronger and causing more damage.

Eskimos have many different words for types of snow. Californians have many different words for types of earthquakes. This quake wasn't a slow deep easy rolling quake like most. It was a violent shallow boom then hard side to side shaking. Instantly pictures flew off walls, glasses walked off the shelves in the bar, cabinet doors flung open, book cases toppled over. I knew the building I was in survived the two previous big quakes so I wasn't worried. I got up mid quake to close the bedroom door so the cats wouldn't run into the living room and step on all the broken glass.

West Hollywood is made up of many people from other parts of the country who are drawn to the area for its gay lifestyle. Yes, many gay men who'd never experienced a quake before were screaming like little girls and hugging each other in the hallways and courtyard. As a native who grew up with earthquakes it is amusing to see non-natives scream during moderate quakes. My terrified neighbors ended up camping in the center courtyard for three days refusing to go back into their condos.

I had appraisals planned for the next day but the phones were out so I couldn't confirm. I didn't know how bad the quake was as I had no radio, TV, internet or cell phone. I got dressed and drove to my first appointment. Driving through Beverly Hills walls were knocked down, chimneys toppled, front facades of commercial buildings fell onto Sunset Blvd and power was still out as were all the street and traffic lights.

I arrived at my first appointment in the hills of Bel Air. That house would later be red tagged. The pool cracked dumping its contents on the neighbor below. The main bearing and exterior walls had major cracks and had shifted. I told the owner that his home was totaled. I wouldn't do the appraisal and would not charge him. He decided to have an impromptu "my home was just destroyed by an earthquake" party with neighbors who broke out the bar at 8:30 a.m. I went to my next appointment.

My next appointment was another totaled home. After five minutes I told them I wouldn't appraise the property or charge them. I told them they should probably start gathering their pets, important personal property to put in their car away from their home in case it collapses. It later collapsed. I hope they listened to my advice.

There were many, many aftershocks. Every time the building started shaking the neighbors would scream hysterically and hug each other in the courtyard. I would just roll my eyes and laugh under my breath in amusement as we weren't in any danger.

My neighbors camped in sleeping bags in the courtyard. Power was also out for three days. We were instructed not to drink the water without boiling it but we had no way to boil it. If you were outside when an aftershock hit, a huge cloud of dust would rise from the ground. Fortunately I gave earthquake kits to all my clients the previous year and still had a few left in my closet which I gave to neighbors and used myself.

I drove my car out of our subterranean parking structure and parked it on the street, just in case. Then I listened to my car radio to try to find out what happened. I read, did yoga, played with the cats, ate the food in my frig. Later I ate the thawed food from my freezer. Fortunately I always have enough cat food and litter to last through any emergency because I'm anal about emergency preparedness.

Not much to do with no power or phone. I decided to go to the gym even though I couldn't call them on the phone to see if they were open. I drove to the Sports Club Los Angeles and the parking gate arm was up. I drove in and there weren't many cars there just some trucks. I went to the door and it was open. Seems the center stairway collapsed and the gym was closed. It was actually closed for three months for repairs. They gave us free passes to go to other gyms in the area.

Finally day three there is limited cell phone service. My friends call to see if I'm still alive and I laugh. It was only a 6.7 and the epicenter was in the valley. It wasn't the "big one." Power is back and I can finally turn on the TV and see the massive destruction. Holy crap! While the freeway collapse was visually epic there was other damage which was not as obvious.

Medical building accordioned

A medical building on Olympic accordioned. I think the third or fourth floor just collapsed yet the building still stood. No one was ever allowed back to retrieve anything not even medical records. They demolished it with all contents intact. That is how dangerous it was. Trained people were later allowed to sift through the demolished remains to look for documents.

Hospital collapse

A hotel on Ventura Blvd also sandwiched and lost an entire floor besides part of the front facade falling into the street. Many apartment buildings in the valley just collapsed especially the older ones with open parking under the units. They were poorly designed and built directly on top of an unknown fault line.

Apartments collapsed on cars

There was major damage to the Los Angeles freeway system which would take months to repair. The 5 to the 14 interchange collapsed in what is the most dramatic evidence of quake damage (see top photo). A motorcycle cop responding to the quake drove off the freeway not realizing it had collapsed because it was dark. He of course died on impact. His dead body is covered by a blue sheet in the top photo. His motorcycle is to the right.

The overpass of the 10 freeway at La Cienega/Venice collapsed. The 118 at Balboa partially collapsed. The 91 to the 405 interchange had damage. In total six bridges collapsed, four others needed to be replaced and there was damage to many other freeways. Most of the damaged bridges were built pre-1971 before they had to be earthquake proof.

After the quake I quake-proofed my picture frames, strapped furniture, altered open shelves and better secured cabinets. The quake seemed to have slightly tipped our condo building down the hill. Doors and windows swung open on the north side but couldn't open on the south side. I had to re-level two doors that wouldn't open, adjust three windows that wouldn't close and putty a lot of cosmetic cracks in the walls. Fortunately I didn't suffer any serious damage though others did not fare as well.

Earthquake maps and building codes would be changed once again as they do after every quake. More retrofitting of older buildings. More regulations for new construction. Liquefaction zones would be better mapped. Earthquake insurance would change forever becoming almost impossible for anyone to find or afford. I would be doing earthquake inspections on every property which was in escrow when the quake hit.

I did a lot of education about earthquake preparedness after this quake. I was shocked that so many people were just not prepared to go a few days without food or water. Below is more information about this quake and some preparedness tips. We will continue to have earthquakes in California. Based on research we are due for the "big one" during the next 100 years. Everyone here in California needs to be quake aware and ready for the next earthquake. It's just a matter of time.

More on the 1994 earthquake
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Northridge_earthquake

Some earthquake preparedness tips
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/preparedness.php