WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.639 --> 00:00:04.280 We have an active shooter. We have an acter shoots go ahead of the 2 00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:11.720 quaire. That's a mass casualty. Welcome to Active Shooter, a podcast that 3 00:00:11.800 --> 00:00:16.920 covers the wys, the hows, and the aftermath of active shooter and mass 4 00:00:16.960 --> 00:00:26.039 casualty events. I have an active shooter in the building. A checking call 5 00:00:26.199 --> 00:00:33.240 says they are big attack. What we got chus Fliers four fifteen as Bridge 6 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:49.920 ninety one. So I'm like, oh, I'm at a fire, active 7 00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:54.039 shooter. Orts of an active shooter, Active shooter, active shooter in mash 8 00:00:54.079 --> 00:01:02.600 casualty incidents. Thank you for listening. You are listening to Active Shooter, 9 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:07.560 a podcast that may contain adult themes, explicit language, and graphic depictions of 10 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:12.000 violence. Portions of this show may be traumatic for those under eighteen. Listener 11 00:01:12.040 --> 00:01:19.159 discretion is advised. Breaking news. It's a tough day. Seven people confirmed 12 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:22.920 dead after shootings in Halfmoon Bay as suspect and custody. As we've been reporting, 13 00:01:23.319 --> 00:01:26.879 we are expecting an update from the sheriff Department in moments. There is 14 00:01:26.920 --> 00:01:30.560 a heavy police presence right now at two different mushroom farms. Our crew was 15 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:34.120 there as a man was taken into custody. You see there who is believed 16 00:01:34.120 --> 00:01:38.319 to be the suspect, and we are told he reportedly drove himself to the 17 00:01:38.359 --> 00:01:46.920 sheriff's substation. This episode was written by a special guest writer, so the 18 00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:52.480 format and flow may differ from our usual storytelling style. We want to send 19 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:56.799 out a special thank you to them for assisting us while our writer was spending 20 00:01:56.840 --> 00:02:00.680 time with her family during a difficult time. The Active Team would like to 21 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:07.439 thank you our listeners for your patients, understanding and loyalty these past four years. 22 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:14.759 We are now back on our bi monthly schedule. Now on with the 23 00:02:14.800 --> 00:02:27.560 show. Workplace shootings are tragic and terrifying events that continue to haunt the modern 24 00:02:27.560 --> 00:02:34.479 workforce. These incidents shake the foundations of trust and security that employees rely on 25 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:39.400 in their daily lives. In this episode, we will delve into the complex 26 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:46.319 web of factors that lead to workplace shootings, exploring motives, prevention strategies, 27 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:53.360 and how to spot the warning signs. The first step in stopping workplace violence 28 00:02:53.400 --> 00:02:58.719 is understanding the motivations. Workplace shootings are often the culmination of multiple factors, 29 00:02:59.199 --> 00:03:05.159 and the motivations behind them are diverse. Some of the key motivations included disgruntlement, 30 00:03:05.319 --> 00:03:10.199 personal crisis, ideological beliefs, and workplace stress. For the disgruntled shooter, 31 00:03:10.719 --> 00:03:16.280 a common trigger is workplace exploitation. Employees who feel wronged, mistreated, 32 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:23.240 or overlooked may resort to violence as a way to settle a score. Ideological 33 00:03:23.280 --> 00:03:28.479 belief. Shooters are often facing a personal crisis, such as financial difficulties, 34 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:32.280 marital problems, or mental health issues. For these types of shooters, they 35 00:03:32.280 --> 00:03:38.960 may see their workplace as a convenient outlet for their anger and frustration. For 36 00:03:38.120 --> 00:03:44.280 the work related stress shooter, employees often face heavy workloads, long hours, 37 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:49.840 unrealistic expectations, and a lack of control over their tasks. Over time, 38 00:03:49.960 --> 00:03:53.520 this pressure can lead to the frustration, anxiety, and in extreme cases, 39 00:03:53.599 --> 00:04:00.800 can turn into violent outbursts. Today's shooter was an immigrant California farm worker from 40 00:04:00.919 --> 00:04:04.879 China. We're going to get into that in a minute. But this shooter, 41 00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:11.560 whom we will call CZ, was both a disgruntled shooter seeking revenge and 42 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:17.040 a work related stress shooter. Revenge is a powerful motivator for disgruntled workers. 43 00:04:17.639 --> 00:04:23.279 They may feel that violence is the only way to make their coworkers or superiors 44 00:04:23.399 --> 00:04:30.199 understand the pain they have endured. The desire for retaliation can manifest as a 45 00:04:30.199 --> 00:04:35.000 desire to harm others and cause suffering. They often have a specific list of 46 00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:42.279 individuals they want to target. It's this disgruntled revenge type shooter who will often 47 00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:46.639 resort to violence to regain a sense of power and control that they believe they 48 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:53.240 have lost. They may perceive violence as a way to establish dominance over those 49 00:04:53.319 --> 00:05:11.879 they believe have wronged them. On Monday, January twenty third, twenty twenty 50 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:15.399 three, SiZ, who was a sixty six year old Chinese immigrant farm worker, 51 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:21.000 was on a deadly mission of revenge. His target was two mushroom farms 52 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:26.279 located in Half Moon Bay, an affluent area with a mixture of farms, 53 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:31.079 suburbs, and beach homes about forty five minutes from San Francisco. While this 54 00:05:31.160 --> 00:05:38.240 shooting was classified as workplace violence, that doesn't tell the whole story. In 55 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:44.279 fact, this was both workplace violence and a spree killing that spanned over two 56 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:48.879 properties. The first farm targeted was Mountain Mushroom Farm, which was also known 57 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:57.000 as California Tara Garden. The second shooting scene was Concord Farms. At the 58 00:05:57.040 --> 00:06:00.240 time of the shooting, size was an immigrant farm worker who had entered California 59 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:04.319 from his home in China on a work visa. It's often these types of 60 00:06:04.360 --> 00:06:13.759 workers who are exploited and preyed upon by unscrupulous agricultural employers. One of the 61 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:20.199 most egregious forms of exploitation is the payment of subminimum wages. Some unscrupulous farm 62 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:27.240 owners pay their workers well below the state's minimum wage, often in violation of 63 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:31.079 state law and off the books, making it difficult for employees to track their 64 00:06:31.079 --> 00:06:38.279 earnings or seek legal remedies. Another issue is substandard housing, which is often 65 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:45.160 faced by many immigrant farm workers. Some employers provide inadequate and overcrowded living conditions, 66 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:49.920 such as making them live in cargo containers or other substandard accommodations. These 67 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:58.439 living conditions can be unsanitary, unsafe, and lacking in basic amenities. Workers 68 00:06:58.519 --> 00:07:03.600 often have little choice but to accept these conditions because of their limited options and 69 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:12.360 financial constraints. The language barrier can make these even more difficult to overcome. 70 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:19.199 On that cold January afternoon, Ciz was wearing a baseball hat, a red 71 00:07:19.240 --> 00:07:24.480 shirt with a black fleece vest, and dark blue jeans as he arrived at 72 00:07:24.600 --> 00:07:30.120 California Terra Garden in his maroon colored suv. He was brandishing a Ruger semi 73 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:34.720 automatic pistol when he approached the farm that grew mushrooms, basil, and other 74 00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:40.800 herbs. At two twenty two pm. Several nine to one to one calls 75 00:07:40.839 --> 00:07:46.240 were placed to Dispatch reporting a mass shooting. When first responders arrived, they 76 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:53.040 discovered four deceased victims with fatal gunshot wounds. A fifth victim who survived, 77 00:07:53.399 --> 00:07:59.120 was airlifted by helicopter to Stanford University Medical Center near Palo Alto with life threatening 78 00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:05.639 injuries. As police and emergency crews were arriving at the scene, the gunman 79 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:11.360 fled in his suv and drove to Concord Farms, two miles away. The 80 00:08:11.360 --> 00:08:18.839 shooter had previously worked for Concord. Concord Farms was family owned and operated for 81 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:24.639 almost forty years. According to its website, Concord is quote one of the 82 00:08:24.680 --> 00:08:30.040 largest growers and importers of gourmet mushrooms, supporting the growing popularity of mushrooms and 83 00:08:30.160 --> 00:08:37.879 various specialty vegetables in restaurants and on dinner tables across the country. Once c 84 00:08:37.120 --> 00:08:41.200 Z arrived at Concord, he knew the police would be looking for him, 85 00:08:41.559 --> 00:08:50.080 and tried to quickly and efficiently kill those on his targeted list. At Concord, 86 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:54.200 he killed three more victims, who were all deceased by the time police 87 00:08:54.240 --> 00:09:03.519 and first responders arrived. Eggaikam inside to the greens house and he said, 88 00:09:03.559 --> 00:09:07.039 oh, you're almost ready done. And then we guys said, yes, 89 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:11.240 we are almost ready. And then he go in and then go outside again. 90 00:09:13.159 --> 00:09:16.919 And then when he came again, he showed us person and the head, 91 00:09:16.320 --> 00:09:22.600 and then those guys come to the ground, he'd do again and the 92 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:28.679 head. As police realized they had a spree shooter on their hands, Caz 93 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:33.519 drove himself to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office substation at approximately four forty in 94 00:09:33.559 --> 00:09:39.600 the afternoon. He was immediately taken into custody without incident, and his weapon 95 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:45.519 was found inside of his car. An onlooker described his demeanor as quiet, 96 00:09:46.080 --> 00:10:05.960 calm and resigned to his fate. Is it thought solo all. His cell 97 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:09.840 phone was later found on the side of the highway, which seems to indicate 98 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:18.000 he had briefly contemplated fleeing before deciding to turn himself into authorities. Reports from 99 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:22.279 survivors stated that Caz was very intentional with whom he shot. Some of the 100 00:10:22.360 --> 00:10:28.399 victims were his coworkers or supervisors. There were several children present at the shooting 101 00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:33.000 scene, but all were left unharmed. It appeared that his first two victims 102 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:37.679 were his former supervisors. Once they were dead, he went looking for specific 103 00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:43.039 co workers with whom he had issues with in the past. One witness at 104 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:46.919 Concord Farm said he had been working with one of the victims in a greenhouse 105 00:10:46.279 --> 00:10:50.799 when Caz entered. As he entered, one of the victims looked at the 106 00:10:50.840 --> 00:10:56.039 witness and said that Caz used to work here. The shooter took three steps 107 00:10:56.080 --> 00:11:03.200 towards the victim and shot him point blank until he was sure his intended target 108 00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:07.399 was dead. The terrified witness stated that the shooter looked directly at him and 109 00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:13.320 quoted, he just made that gesture to me, as in, don't worry 110 00:11:13.320 --> 00:11:20.440 with his hands. As Caz left the greenhouse, the witness ran outside and 111 00:11:20.519 --> 00:11:24.480 hid for what felt like fifteen to twenty minutes. After he saw the shooter 112 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:28.440 drive away, he ran to each of the three victims to try and render 113 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:33.759 aid, but it was too late. Each one of them were dead. 114 00:11:35.279 --> 00:11:39.039 Once Caz was arrested. He cooperated immediately, and, using a Mandarin translator, 115 00:11:39.080 --> 00:11:43.399 began confessing. He told officers that when he first arrived at the police 116 00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:48.360 substation, he walked in and didn't see anyone in the front lobby, so 117 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:52.519 he returned to his SUV for two hours and waited until an officer spotted him. 118 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:58.200 He had been both a resident and employee of the first shooting location, 119 00:11:58.519 --> 00:12:03.519 California Terra Garden Farm. He spoke at length with investigators without an attorney present. 120 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:09.799 He declined an attorney when he was read his rights. Seesi was born 121 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:13.879 on December thirtieth, nineteen fifty six, in China. He had been living 122 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:18.559 in the United States for the past eleven years and had obtained a green card. 123 00:12:18.320 --> 00:12:22.159 He has a forty year old daughter who still lives in China, and 124 00:12:22.200 --> 00:12:26.279 he would send money back to her each month. He lived and worked on 125 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:30.639 the farm with his wife, who was also from China and didn't speak English. 126 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:35.240 Investigators discovered that he had legally purchased his handgun in twenty twenty one, 127 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:39.399 and there were no red flags associated with his gun purchase. He told investigators 128 00:12:39.399 --> 00:12:45.159 he complied with the waiting period and had no issues whatsoever obtaining his firearm. 129 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:48.279 He had worked at California Taro Garden for six years as a forklift driver. 130 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:54.799 It appears the cause of his workplace violence was a series of little slights that 131 00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:58.440 had built up over time. The most recent issue was a dispute over a 132 00:12:58.440 --> 00:13:03.320 repair build for a piece of machinery. The repair was going to cost one 133 00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:07.480 hundred dollars, and his supervisor insisted that the cost of the repair would need 134 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:11.360 to come out of his paycheck. He was livid over this, as he 135 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:15.519 didn't think the cost of repairs or the cause of the breakdown were his responsibility. 136 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:22.120 It was this repair bill that was his final straw. He told investigators 137 00:13:22.120 --> 00:13:26.639 that the forklift became damaged in a crash with a bulldozer. He tried to 138 00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:30.240 explain to his boss that the crash wasn't his fault and he wasn't going to 139 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:33.759 pay for it. His boss got angry back and told him if he didn't 140 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:41.759 pay for the repair, he would be fired. Caz told investigators that his 141 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:45.399 treatment had caused him to suffer some kind of a mental illness and he wasn't 142 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:48.879 in his right mind at the time of the shooting. He also explained that 143 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:52.639 he and his wife and other farm workers were forced to live in deplorable conditions. 144 00:13:52.440 --> 00:13:56.039 He alleged that he was living and sleeping in a shipping container and working 145 00:13:56.120 --> 00:14:01.759 for just nine dollars per hour. At the time time California's minimum wage was 146 00:14:01.799 --> 00:14:05.600 fifteen fifty per hour. He worked full time, often overtime, but was 147 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:11.879 offered no healthcare or any other kinds of support against Californian labor laws. Investigators 148 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:16.039 learned that in twenty thirteen, the shooter was previously accused of trying to kill 149 00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:20.320 his roommate because the roommate didn't have any checks to pay him for a job 150 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:26.919 he had done for the roommate. The roommate alleged that Cazi had snuck into 151 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:31.279 his sleeping quarters and tried to suffocate him with a pillow. The roommate had 152 00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:33.320 to fight him off to get him to remove the pillow from his face. 153 00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:37.840 After the incident, the former roommate filed a restraining order against the shooter. 154 00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:43.960 It appears that both the roommate and the shooter had worked at a restaurant job, 155 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:48.519 where the shooter had been fired several days after attempting to suffocate his roommate 156 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:50.360 with a pillow. He threatened to kill him with a knife if he didn't 157 00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:56.399 help him get his restaurant job back. Cazi told the roommate that next time, 158 00:14:56.559 --> 00:15:00.559 he would use a kitchen knife to split his head open when he was 159 00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:05.000 sleeping so he wouldn't be able to fight back. The roommate told investigators that 160 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:09.559 Sizi would often become frustrated with the language barrier at the former workplace. Most 161 00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:13.960 workers spoke Spanish and could communicate, which left him feeling left out since he 162 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:22.519 only spoke Mandarin. Now let's discuss the victims. Ye tau Bin was just 163 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:28.639 forty three years old born on April second, nineteen seventy nine. Bing came 164 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:33.799 from China, where he was married to Xiaoxi Meng. He immigrated from China 165 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:37.039 to the US in twenty sixteen. He first worked in New Jersey as a 166 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:41.600 technician at a mushroom farm, but he later moved to California in twenty twenty 167 00:15:41.600 --> 00:15:46.679 two to work at Tara Garden. He was planning a trip back to China 168 00:15:46.679 --> 00:15:50.519 in February, which would be the very first time he had been with his 169 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:54.360 family since before the pandemic. He had a four year old daughter and a 170 00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:58.720 son who had just been accepted into a university. He was an only son 171 00:15:58.759 --> 00:16:03.879 to parents, but had two older sisters who all resided in China. He 172 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:07.759 was the sole financial support for his parents and especially his father, who had 173 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:12.559 been diagnosed with cancer two years prior to the shooting. He was described by 174 00:16:12.559 --> 00:16:18.080 co workers as a hard worker who loved his job. He was the first 175 00:16:18.120 --> 00:16:22.320 person at the farm each morning and usually the last one to leave every day. 176 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:27.240 The next two victims are Qui jiang Chang sixty six years old and Xi 177 00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:33.200 Xen Liu, seventy three years old. There isn't much information available on both 178 00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:37.399 of them. The next victim was Jing Shilu, who was sixty four years 179 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:42.000 old and married. The employee who died in the greenhouse at Concord Farms was 180 00:16:42.039 --> 00:16:47.440 Marciano Martinez Yemenez. He was fifty years old at the time of his death 181 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:51.519 and had lived in Half Moon Bay for twenty five years, working in the 182 00:16:51.559 --> 00:16:56.600 agricultural industry. He was a proud member of the Oahakan community and considered a 183 00:16:56.600 --> 00:17:02.840 beloved father figure to manyvolunteered for the Rodecare Clinic in Half Moon Bay for many 184 00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:07.799 years to help his community Rodacare is a clinic that provides free medical care to 185 00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:11.799 those in need in the agricultural community, knowing that many are undocumented and without 186 00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:18.119 medical insurance. A go Fundme was set up for Marciano to raise funds to 187 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:22.880 send his remains to his home town of Oajaca, Mexico for a traditional burial. 188 00:17:23.519 --> 00:17:27.079 He was described as an honorable and hard working man among his friends and 189 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:32.240 co workers. According to the go fundme, he was a son, brother, 190 00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:37.039 uncle, and dear friend to many. He loved to dance, and 191 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:41.039 his favorite was a traditional Oahacan dance called the Denza de la Pluma. He 192 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:48.000 was also a musician and talented accordion player. The next victim was Jose Romero 193 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:53.279 Perez, who had just moved to Half Bay eighteen months earlier. His younger 194 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:59.039 brother, Pedro Romero Perez, was just twenty three years old and had also 195 00:17:59.079 --> 00:18:03.759 been shot, but survived. Jose left behind his parents, wife, and 196 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:07.759 four children in Oajaca, Mexico. He had come to a half Moon Bay 197 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:11.400 in search of work to send back to support his family. A GoFundMe was 198 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:15.400 also set up in his name to help defray the cost of sending his body 199 00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:22.359 home to Mexico. The next victim was aijiang Xiang, who was seventy four 200 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:26.599 years old. He was married to Jing Xilu and worked at the farm in 201 00:18:26.640 --> 00:18:45.440 the cafeteria. The shooter was arraigned in San Mateo County Superior Court in Redwood 202 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:51.000 City on seven counts of murder and one count of attempted murder, plus enhancements 203 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:59.359 for firearm use. This case included special circumstances since it involved multiple murders, 204 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:03.519 which makes it el eligible for capital murder. Although there is currently a moratorium 205 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:07.119 on all death row sentences, regardless, the shooter is still eligible to be 206 00:19:07.160 --> 00:19:12.960 sentenced to death or life without parole. The shooter was appointed to attorneys who 207 00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:18.559 are both death penalty cases qualified. Because of the nature of his case, 208 00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:22.400 he was held without bond. He was back in court a few weeks later, 209 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:26.559 on February sixteenth, twenty twenty three. This time he wore an orange 210 00:19:26.599 --> 00:19:32.759 jail jumpsuit and kept his head bowed while he pleaded not guilty. He showed 211 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:37.960 no emotion and spoke through his court appointed Mandarin translator. Through his attorneys, 212 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:41.680 he waived his right to a preliminary hearing, and once again the judge denied 213 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:47.680 his request for a bond. He currently has a preliminary hearing scheduled for December 214 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:51.400 fourth, twenty twenty three, which is expected to last for five days. 215 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:56.960 An investigation into the labor and workforce practices at both locations where the shootings took 216 00:19:56.000 --> 00:20:02.440 place were later opened. In a press briefing, the White House Press Secretary 217 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:07.480 Karine Jean Pierre expressed that the White House had directed federal law enforcement to help 218 00:20:07.519 --> 00:20:12.079 local authorities during their investigation. The Governor of California was informed of the shootings 219 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:17.839 while he was visiting victims of another shooting just forty eight hours earlier in Monterey 220 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:25.839 Park. He described the two events as tragedy upon tragedy. The living conditions 221 00:20:25.880 --> 00:20:30.519 of the workers at the California Terra Garden drew attention following reports that many of 222 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:36.079 the employees lived in shipping or storage containers and the site did not follow all 223 00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:41.480 permit and code requirements. It was discovered that many of the workers were being 224 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:48.559 paid below California's minimum wage requirements. The company later said it would improve the 225 00:20:48.599 --> 00:20:53.599 housing for workers and families and pay all minimum wage requirements going forward. California 226 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:57.640 Terra Garden was charged with twenty two violations in order to pay one hundred and 227 00:20:57.680 --> 00:21:03.359 thirteen thousand, a eight hundred dollars in fines. One of the violations was 228 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:08.279 that they failed to quote immediately notify employees of an active shooter threat and instruct 229 00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:14.880 them to seek shelter. The other violations included failure to investigate in employees back 230 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:19.759 injury and failing to provide sanitary hand washing stations at the toilet facilities. There 231 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:26.960 were several other violations in the report, which can be found online. The 232 00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:32.200 Concord Farm was sited with nineteen workplace violations in order to pay fifty one thousand, 233 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:37.319 seven hundred and seventy dollars in fines. Their violations included failure to address 234 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:41.880 previous incidents of workplace violence and develop procedures to correct and prevent this hazard again. 235 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:48.200 They were also cited for insects and rodents found in the workplace, water 236 00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:52.519 leakage in farm worker housing, and failing to have proper precautions around heat exhaustion 237 00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:57.920 for employees. The employees were found to be living in terrible work conditions, 238 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:03.960 which included shack and trailers with inadequate heating or plumbing. Many of them had 239 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:10.799 no running water or electricity. The plight of the immigrant Chinese and Hispanic farm 240 00:22:10.799 --> 00:22:15.720 workers in California is often marked by harsh and exploitative conditions, as they face 241 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:22.839 numerous challenges due to their limited language skills, lack of resources, and vulnerability 242 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:29.559 to exploitation by employers. These workers are typically drawn to the California agriculture industry 243 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:33.920 in search of employment opportunities, seeking to provide a better life for themselves and 244 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:41.400 their families, but they often find themselves in difficult circumstances. The State of 245 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:47.519 California recognizes the challenges faced by immigrant farm workers and has taken several steps to 246 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:52.000 help protect their rights and well being moving forward. The state has implemented labor 247 00:22:52.079 --> 00:22:57.880 laws and regulations designed to ensure fair wages, safe working conditions, and access 248 00:22:57.960 --> 00:23:06.319 to basic amenities for all agricultural workers, regardless of their immigration status. California's 249 00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:11.000 labour agencies and organizations also provide resources to help educate immigrant workers about their rights 250 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:18.720 and provide avenues for reporting abuse and exploitation. Hopefully, these changes will reduce 251 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:25.720 the instances of workplace violence. Community organizations and non governmental entities such as labor 252 00:23:25.839 --> 00:23:32.559 unions and worker advocacy groups also play a crucial role in supporting immigrant farm workers. 253 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:37.799 They provide legal assistance, education, and advocacy, helping workers understand their 254 00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:42.640 rights and seek justice when they are mistreated. In recent years, California has 255 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:48.640 increased its efforts to combat the exploitation of immigrant farm workers through enhanced labor inspections, 256 00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:55.480 outreach programs, and legal protections. This includes measures to address wage theft, 257 00:23:55.960 --> 00:24:03.359 unsafe working conditions, and inadequate housing for agricultural workers. California, like 258 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:07.480 many other states, has taken various measures to address and reduce workplace violence and 259 00:24:07.559 --> 00:24:14.000 prevent mass shootings. Some of the key actions and initiatives are aimed at achieving 260 00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:19.640 this goal by implementing the workplace violence prevention programs Through California's Division of Occupational Safety 261 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:26.640 and Health Services, also known as cal OSHA, OSHA has established regulations that 262 00:24:26.680 --> 00:24:33.240 require employers to develop and implement workplace violence prevention programs. These programs are particularly 263 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:37.440 important in industries where the risk of violence is elevated, such as agriculture, 264 00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:44.319 health care, and social services. Employers are encouraged to assess the potential for 265 00:24:44.400 --> 00:24:48.759 violence, develop procedures for responding to threats or acts of violence and provide training 266 00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:55.119 to employees on how to respond during a mass shooter event. Many employers in 267 00:24:55.160 --> 00:25:00.480 California offer active shooter training to their employees, which includes education, lockdown procedures, 268 00:25:00.839 --> 00:25:07.519 evacuation plans, and how to communicate with law enforcement. California also encourages 269 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:14.400 employees to report concerns about workplace violence to their employers, and laws protect whistleblowers 270 00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:21.160 who report unsafe working conditions. Reporting mechanisms are crucial for identifying potential threats and 271 00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:26.599 addressing them before they escalate. California has also invested in mental health services programs 272 00:25:26.720 --> 00:25:30.640 to provide support to individuals who may be at risk of engaging in violent behavior. 273 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:37.319 Access to mental health resources can help identify and assist individuals in crisis before 274 00:25:37.359 --> 00:25:42.480 they resort to violence. While these measures have been put in place to reduce 275 00:25:42.480 --> 00:25:48.599 workplace violence and prevent mass shootings, it's important to note that workplace safety is 276 00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:56.519 an ongoing challenge. Employers, employees, law enforcement, and government agencies continue 277 00:25:56.559 --> 00:26:02.799 to collaborate and adapt their strategies to address this issue and create safer work environments 278 00:26:03.119 --> 00:26:08.160 in the state. We all have the unique ability to help prevent such a 279 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:12.519 catastrophic event. From happening. If we keep our eyes and ears open and 280 00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:18.759 never hesitate to report when something or someone just doesn't seem right. With a 281 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:22.799 delicate balance of mental health reform, education, active shooter training, and common 282 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:27.000 sense gun laws, we may one day realize the dream, the dream that 283 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:33.400 there will be no more active shootings. We pray that love will prevail over 284 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:38.119 hate. In the meantime, we urge our listeners to stay aware of your 285 00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:42.799 surroundings and keep in touch with your loved ones. If you see something, 286 00:26:44.480 --> 00:26:56.000 say something, you never know how many lives you'll be saving. Thank you 287 00:26:56.079 --> 00:27:00.599 for listening to today's episode of Active Shooter the Podcast. Remember if you see 288 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:07.000 something, say something, there's no telling how many lives you may be saving. 289 00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:11.400 A big thank you to Darren Curtis, who composed some of the songs 290 00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:17.880 on our show. You can find him online at www dot Darren Curtis music 291 00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:22.720 dot com. Make sure to check us out on social media. You can 292 00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:29.279 find us on Facebook at Active Shooter the Podcast and on Twitter at podcast Active. 293 00:27:30.200 --> 00:27:33.839 Thank you and be safe.