: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-08/13/... Comment:

This is from the WASHINGTON POST (Aug. 13).

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The District's late-starting year 2000 repair effort has fallen behind the tight schedule set to make sure city services do not fail on Jan. 1, a U.S. General Accounting Office official said yesterday.

The public works, personnel, employment services and procurement departments and the University of the District of Columbia have missed deadlines to make their computers Y2K-compliant, said Ronald L. Hess, assistant director of GAO's Governmentwide and Defense Information Systems Division. Several of these "priority one" departments and other D.C. agencies also are late in preparing manual backup plans that could be used if computer systems fail.

"Services are at risk," Hess said yesterday. . . .

D.C. Chief Technology Officer Suzanne J. Peck, who received a copy of Davis's letter yesterday, said that the GAO's analysis is largely accurate but that it does not make clear that behind-schedule computer repairs are only a small portion of Y2K preparations that are underway. She said she is confident that the District will finish its work on critical city services by year's end. . . .

As of yesterday, Peck said, five computer repair efforts that were supposed to be completed at public works, personnel, employment services and UDC were less than 85 percent done. But because these five projects are the only ones among "hundreds" that are lagging, "I am on schedule," she said. Repairs at the city procurement agency are on track, she said. . . .

Recognizing its late start on fixing Y2K problems, the District is also undertaking one of the largest contingency planning efforts of any major city. Peck said backup plans have been prepared for 81 of 96 service areas. The deadline for finishing these preliminary plans is tomorrow. . . .

Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-08/13/...

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), August 14, 1999

Answers

Here's 'da Link

As of yesterday, Peck said, five computer repair efforts that were supposed to be completed at public works, personnel, employment services and UDC were less than 85 percent done. But because these five projects are the only ones among "hundreds" that are lagging, "I am on schedule," she said. Repairs at the city procurement agency are on track, she said. . . .




HUH? Hundreds are lagging? That's not what she meant, right?

-- Greg (balzer@lanset.com), August 14, 1999.

I suspect she means "5 are lagging while hundreds are on track". Unfortunately, I suspect this maybe should be interpretted as "hundreds are telling us what we want to hear. 5 are not."

-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), August 14, 1999.

Now that IS some good news on y2k. The closer DC burns to the ground, the better I'm gonna love it!

-- doktorbob (downsouth@dixie.com), August 14, 1999.

Doc Bob:

Gotta agree with you on that one. Unfortunately, most of the governmental officials will be at home on New Year's. Too bad. We need them to be in DC in case the city was to go bye-bye (and hopefully them along with it). Sigh

-- darth (darthvader@slavery.com), August 14, 1999.

Washington tells us that everything is ok, more or less. And that problems will be fixed on failure. A bump in the road...and yet..and yet they are sending millions of dollars to DC. MILLIONS.It would seem that if these problems can be fixed on failure ( snowstorm )in three or 4 days, why send so much panic money (our money ) to DC? Perhaps the Feds could be just a little nervous about DC being so close to them? Are they getting scared? After all it can be fixed on failure .......or can it?....Hmmmmmmmmmmmm

-- citizen (lost@sea.com), August 14, 1999.

Maybe the Y2K fixes are behind but due to a recently implented Metro System upgrade,you can now use your credit card to purchase passes/tickets online and at the Metro stations.

-- MoVe Immediate (MVI@yepimhere.com), August 14, 1999.

Hi ho, MoVe...one of yours? If so, congratulations! Haven't seen your name around here in a goodly while...just back for a quick visit?

-- RUOK (RUOK@yesiam.com), August 14, 1999.