Schumer Says OnStar Invades Privacy

The OnStar automobile communication service used by 6 million Americans maintains its two-way connection with a customer even after the service is discontinued, while reserving the right to sell data from that connection.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York says that's a blatant invasion of privacy and is calling on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate. But OnStar says former customers can stop the two-way transmission, and no driving data of customers has been shared or sold.

"OnStar is attempting one of the most brazen invasions of privacy in recent memory," said Schumer, a Democrat. "I urge OnStar to abandon."

But the General Motors Corp. OnStar service says customers are thoroughly informed of the new practice. If a customer says he or she doesn't want to have data collected after service is ended, OnStar disconnects the tracking.

And although OnStar reserves the right to share or sell data on customers' speed, location, use of seat belts and other practices, a spokesman says it hasn't done so and doesn't plan to.

"We apologize for creating any confusion about our terms and conditions," said Joanne Finnor, vice president of subscriber services. "We want to make sure we are as clear with our customers as possible, but it's apparent that we have failed to do this. ... We will continue to be open to their suggestions and concerns."

A week ago, OnStar changed its policy and began continuing the connection for ex-customers unless they asked for it to be discontinued.

Finnor noted keeping the two-communication active for former customers could someday allow for emergency messages to be sent even to ex-customers about severe weather or evacuations. The open line could also allow OnStar to alert drivers about warranty information or recalls, she said.

Schumer said he isn't persuaded. He said customers shouldn't have to "opt out" of the tracking after they end service. He accuses OnStar of actively deceiving customers.

Schumer is announcing the effort Sunday by releasing a letter to the Federal Trade Commission seeking an investigation.

OnStar charges about $199 a year for basic service and $299 a year for service that includes navigation aid.

Beer Gift-Giver Apologizes to Firefighters

It was meant to be a token of thanks and appreciation. But now that a friendly case of beer has gotten some local firefighters in trouble, the D.C. man who gave the gift wishes he could take it back.

Clem Cypra took the case of beer to Engine 9 on U Street to thank the firefighters for putting out an air conditioner fire at his home. But that beer was found unopened in the firehouse fridge Thursday. Chief Kenneth Ellerbe shut down the station for hours and ordered firefighters undergo breathalyzer tests. All of them passed, but Ellerbe says it’s still against department policy to have alcohol on the premises.

Cypra says the firefighters had refused to take the beer, but he insisted, and now feels terrible.

“The last thing in the world I wanted to do was cause anybody problems,” says Cypra. “It was a gesture of thanks. And it turns out to cause them potentially any problem, that’s a little bit of a fiasco and an unintended consequence of doing the right thing.”

The station’s command staff is expected to face disciplinary action.

 

Police: Mom Apparently Shook Baby to Death

A South Side woman has been charged with murdering her 2-month-old daughter last week in the South Shore neighborhood, police said.

Starkenya Banks, 20, of the 7100 block of South Yates Boulevard, apparently shook her daughter to death, police said.   She's charged with first-degree murder, and is scheduled to appear in Central Bond Court Sunday morning.

Banks is accused of killing her 2-month-old daughter, Omaria Beckon, authorities said.

Omaria, was found unresponsive at home Sept. 22 and was pronounced dead that night at Jackson Park Hospital, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

A Sept. 23 autopsy performed by the medical examiner’s office was inconclusive, pending a police investigation. But police said early Sunday the infant appeared to have been shaken.

Calumet Area detectives investigated.

Grocery Workers Ratify Contract

Members of United Food and Commercial Workers ratified a three-year contract agreement that  covers 62,000 employees of Ralphs, Vons/Pavilions and Albertsons.

Details of the agreement reached early last week were not made public. Workers will pay about $7 per week for individual health insurance, and family insurance will require a payment of about $15 per week, according to reports.

A tentative deal was announced at mid-day Monday. Workers ratified the contract late Saturday.

It covers workers from Santa Maria south to the Mexico-U.S. border.

Gas Prices Getting Cheaper

You may have done a double-take last time you passed your local filling station, and noticed just how low prices have sunk since pushing past $4 this Spring.

AAA says a combination of factors has led to the second week of declining gas prices regionally and nationally.

Global recession fears pushed the price of crude oil down to $78.95 at the close of the week, a continued slide that translates to cheaper gas.

In addition, producers are switching over from the summer blend gasoline, more expensive to produce, to the cheaper autumn/winter blend.  AAA spokesperson John Townsend said wholesale gas prices have dropped 40-cents since the start of September.

In the D.C. suburbs, AAA says the average gallon cost $3.48 this week.  In the city, prices averaged at $3.63.

Prices in D.C. peaked in May at $4.28.

Second Avenue Subway Neighbors Await MTA Response on Damage Claims

Some Upper East Siders working and living near the Second Avenue subway project are demanding reimbursement from the MTA for the damage they say they've incurred on their property -- and in one case, on a pet dog -- as a result of the construction. 

Residents and business owners have filed 60 property-damage and lost-business claims since 2008, the New York Post reported Sunday. Of those claims, the MTA has paid out just nine of them, totaling $87,489.

One of them was for a dog named Buttons, who was poked in the eye by a piece of jutting metal when he was walking near the construction site at 96th Street and Second Avenue, the Post said. Owner Robin Hair got $1.669.48 for Button's medical bills.

Another woman, Dana Renert, told the Post the subway project caused shower tiles to fall off her bathroom wall and plaster to plummet from her daughter's bedroom ceiling, and cracked the crown molding in her living room. Renert said she was still waiting for the MTA to get back to her. 

And Delizia pizzeria owner Joe Pecora said his power was cut twice in 2008. He's seeking about $20,000.

An MTA spokesman told the Post, "We respond to claims and process them accordingly -- predicated on whether or not plaintiffs have provided all required information."

Police Search For Two Suspects in Brutal Sidewalk Beating

Police have released a fixed-camera video in an effort to find two suspects who they said brutally beat up a man in Santa Monica last week.

The attack happened on a sidewalk in the 3100 block of Santa Monica Boulevard Thursday at 2:20 a.m., said authorities.

“The victim was approached by two suspects who, without provocation, brutally beat the victim about the face and head for unknown means,” said Santa Monica police Sgt. Richard Lewis in a statement.

The suspects were in the area for several days before the assault, and both appear in the video, said police.

One is described as white, in the late 20’s, 6 feet to 6 feet 3 inches tall, weighing between 200 and 225 pounds. He was wearing a dark-colored Arizona Diamond Backs baseball cap, a white long sleeve shirt, dark-colored shorts and dark shoes.

The other suspect is also white and in his late 20’s. He’s 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, and weighs about 170 pounds with a muscular build.  He was wearing a dark-colored t-shirt, dark-colored pants and dark shoes.

The unidentified victim remains hospitalized in critical condition with major head injuries, said police officials.

Anyone with information about this assault should contact the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8495.