May 3rd 2014

One of the more fun redundant morning meetings, but there is a fatal flaw in the building's design that no one seems to address. 

On May 3, 2014 we did a little field trip around the grounds of the building where we learned the evacuation routes for H.H. and the staff building. There are fire exits for H.H. but only one for the staff building? I should probably rephrase and say that there’s at least one fire exit that they allow my manager access to. There is an exit up on the 5^th floor that leads down to the street via a fire escape, so that H.H. staff can get out of the building. According to my manager maintenance staff have to come outside and UNLOCK the gate between the fire escape and the street.

 The gate is locked to keep homeless people from sleeping back there. Keeping in mind there is no communication I hope no one burns up while they wait for maintenance to get the message. You know what the real kicker is? The fire exit for H.H. does not even go down past the 2nd floor because the counter weight is locked up with rust. If, God forbid, there ever is a fire at Hackerman House everyone on the fifth floor are in trouble. 

I know for a fact that has to be some kind of extreme fire hazard. As usual this was one of my manager's chances to look busy although it only took about ten minutes and she clamored through everything in a hurry. She even waved her arms around a lot so people setting up for the flower mart, across the street, could see she was keeping busy. After the torture was over she let us walk around outside to get fresh air before 9:45. It was almost like taking “time in the yard”.

H.H. has been since closed after this discovery came into question, but staff still work on the 5th floor. Thank God it's now closed to the public. It is a constant mystery between myself and my co-workers what my manager actually does on a daily basis. Between giving us information we already know and information that's out-of-date I'm very grateful that no one has been hurt.