Nancy Pelosi’s home invaded, husband brutally attacked. Intruder called “Where’s Nancy?” – National & International News – FRI 28Oct2022

Nancy Pelosi’s home invaded, husband attacked. Invader called “Where’s Nancy?”. Miami: Residents near collapsed condo told to evacuate unsafe high-rise. Haitians resist international intervention, but have few other options.

NATIONAL NEWS

Nancy Pelosi’s home invaded, husband attacked. Invader called “Where’s Nancy?”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul, 82, is in the hospital for bruising, swelling, and other injuries after a man invaded the Pelosi’s San Francisco home and attacked him with a hammer. The intruder David Depape, 42, has been charged with attempted homicide. Depape apparently assaulted Paul with the hammer when officers arrived on the scene. Police quickly tackled and disarmed Depape and he’s now in custody. Physicians expect Paul Pelosi will make a full recovery.

Speaker Pelosi was on the other side of the country in Washington when the invasion occurred. Anonymous sources revealed that Depape repeatedly shouted “Where is Nancy?” apparently looking for the Speaker. It’s a disturbing echo of the cries of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. In addition to calls to “Hang Mike Pence”, the Capitol attackers repeatedly called out “Where’s Nancy?” and made threats to the Speaker.

The invasion at the Pelosi home may raise alarms of renewed threats to members of Congress less than two weeks ahead of the midterm elections. Throughout 2021, Capitol Police investigated 9600 threats of violence to members of Congress.

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Miami: Residents near collapsed condo told to evacuate unsafe high-rise

Condo residents on the same street where another Miami Beach condo collapsed killing nearly 100 last year were given short notice to evacuate yesterday. Around 4pm yesterday, city officials announced they would post an unsafe structure notice and order a mandatory evacuation. The condo board of the 14-story Port Royale building issued a mandatory evacuation notice at 5pm, instructing residents to evacuate by 7pm.

The 164-unit structure at 6969 Collins Avenue was undergoing its 50-year safety recertification. As part of this process, a structural engineer inspected the building and produced a report. The report cited concerning damage to a structural beam in the parking garage, which prompted the evacuation. The engineer has recommended shoring for the beam to make the building safe. Residents will have to stay elsewhere for at least 10 days. However, the shoring will not solve the all building’s problems as the engineer’s report noted several other serious structural defects.

More evacuations likely in future

This is at least the third Miami Beach building to be evacuated since the deadly Surfside Condo collapse in June, 2021. In the case of the Surfside condo, structural engineers had repeatedly warned the building was unsound. Unfortunately, both the condo board and the city failed to act in time to head off tragedy.

Many of Miami Beach’s large structures are vulnerable, and these vulnerabilities will increase significantly in the coming years. All of Miami Beach is built on an unstable sandbar that was heavily developed in the 70s and 80s. At that time, building codes were more lax and unscrupulous developers frequently cut corners. Most of the high-rises are built on a concrete raft to offer more structural stability. Over the years, sea levels have risen and severe storms have become more frequent. This has increased saltwater incursions that compromise both the concrete rafts and the iron re-bar and load-bearing support beams.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Haitians resist international intervention, but have few other options

Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse last year and a devastating earthquake which followed, a political vacuum in Haiti has allowed gangs to seize control of much of the country. For the past year, gangs have set up blockades on major roads, burned towns and settlements and inflicted terror on the population. The gang has been blockading a major fuel depot in Port Au Prince for nearly two months, making an already severe fuel shortage even worse.

Haiti’s interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry has called for an armed international intervention to help restore order. Specifically, Henry wants troops to bolster Haiti’s inadequate police force and bring in much needed supplies. Haiti needs a major humanitarian intervention as well as hunger is rising and cholera has arisen. However, Haitians themselves are actively protesting talk of an international intervention. When UN troops were last in the country following the 2005 earthquake, abuse and rape were rampant. An outbreak of cholera was also traced to the UN force. Historically, international interventions have only served to make life worse for the average Haitian.

Moreover, Haitians would see international intervention now as legitimizing and reinforcing the power of Henry, who they believe has failed them utterly. Questions also remain as to whether Henry might have had a hand in Moïse’s death.

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