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Read about this Sacramento, CA State Board of Equalization mold-infested building that has sickened hundreds of employees, while over 2,300 still work in it. News stories have come out about this building for much of this year - and still, no help for all those in harm's way? Must someone become extremely ill to finally be protected, when it is possibly too late? This is the result of no laws that protect building occupants from dampness, molds and chemicals - all known exposures that harm. (SMH)
Friday, September 26, 2008
Overwhelmed by mold
Costs top $19M, more Board of Equalization workers being moved
Sacramento Business Journal - by Kathy Robertson Staff writer
http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/09/29/story4.html
Noel Neuburger | Sacramento Business Journal
State employee Wendy Schroeder, now homebound, keeps a plastic film over her eyes to keep out debris.
Wendy Schroeder began working at the California State Board of Equalization headquarters on April 1, 1996 — April Fool’s Day. It was no laughing matter.
She’s been on disability leave since March. Now, recovering from sinus and tear-duct surgery, she says toxic mold and other hazardous substances in the building made her sick. Even working on files that have been stored in the building makes her break out in a rash.
Although state officials took steps last month to relocate dozens more workers to new offices, more than 2,300 people still work at BOE headquarters at 450 N St. in downtown Sacramento, despite overcrowded conditions and ongoing problems with water damage and mold. The problems raise questions about whether staying in the building over the long term is viable as costs climb.
“(That’s) my question daily,” said Bill Leonard, a Republican who served in the state Legislature for 24 years before he was first elected to the board in 2002. “If we weren’t in a budget crisis, I’d be looking for a legislative sponsor to buy us a new campus.”
(the rest of the article is reserved for subscribers to the print version of the Sacramento Business Journal)
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Reader Comments
(1) Comments
Susan Brinchman wrote: September 27, 2008 1:57AM
These workers should remain out of the building if it made so many ill. It is likely it will need to be demolished in the end, as it is very hard to remediate a sick building and if done right, with extensive mold problems, this can run into the many tens of millions. There is no guarantee. I am sick from a similar damp, moldy building and have been disabled for five years from it, suffering many ailments daily that I never imagined would happen to me. I might add that the medical help one receives for toxic mold injuries is practically nonexistent and unavailable except through a handful of physicians scattered throughout the country. One must be well enough to travel and have enough money to do so. It is a shame that our government buildings are built and maintained so poorly. The school I taught in that destroyed my health was ultimately torn down after sickening approx. 2/3 of the staff and countless thousands of the children, no doubt. My heart goes out to these state employees. I hope they will visit the website for The Center for School Mold Help, www.schoolmoldhelp.org and visit our Information - Sick Building Symptoms and Research pages, as well as our Resources and Getting Help pages. Our government has turned its back on those who become disabled in their sick, moldy buildings. For shame, state of CA, for allowing this and not legislating requirements to ensure healthy buildings.
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