【《We Chinese in America》Media Editor Tang Zhao, November4, 2022】Saturday’s crush disaster in Seoul, which killed 154 people including two Japanese, has surely left many people in Japan wondering: just how safe are crowds in Japan? (Policemen stand guard on Sunday at the scene where a crush during Halloween festivities killed and injured many people in Seoul’s popular Itaewon district. Photo Credit: YONHAP / VIA REUTERS)
The police and government significantly stepped up crowd control measures in the wake of a pedestrian crush after a fireworks show in 2001 in Akashi, Hyogo Prefecture, which left 11 people dead and 247 injured, experts say. That disaster — considered by police to be a “disgrace” — led to the creation of a variety of police manuals on congestion control, and has made it standard practice for organizers of major events such as fireworks festivals and sports games to prepare detailed security plans and consult with local police beforehand.
But spontaneous large-scale gatherings for which there are no clear organizers responsible for crowd safety — such as with Saturday’s Halloween celebrations in the South Korean capital’s Itaewon district — are harder to control, and Japan isn’t immune from the risk of deadly crushes, experts say.
Katsuhiro Nishinari, a professor at the University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology and a crowd management expert, said most measures should be in place before an event actually takes place. He added that, based on media reports, the crush in Itaewon was likely exacerbated by an insufficient police presence at the site.
I read in media reports that the narrow road was packed and there was no escape path on either side,” Nishinari said. “There’s a limit to how many people can cram into such a space.
“I think the accident may have been avoided had police officers controlled people’s movement at both ends of the alley, nudging people to move along and alerting them to how crowded the area was.”
Nishinari, who has studied 500 crowd disasters worldwide from over the past century, said Saturday’s Halloween crush resembles an incident in March 2010 that took place in Tokyo’s Harajuku district when a rumor of celebrity sightings set off a crowd surge on the similarly narrow Takeshita Street, causing some people to fall on top of each other. No one was killed in that incident, but four teenage girls were taken to the hospital after being stepped on by others or starting to hyperventilate, according to news reports from the time.
Mob psychology also comes into play. In 2002, a year after the deadly crush in Akashi, Hyogo Prefectural Police released a 120-page manual on crowd policing. It defines a crowd as a cluster of individuals whose age, gender and ideological backgrounds vary and who are not united by a single organization or a shared goal.
Such groups can be easily influenced by a groundless rumor or joke, and they also easily become excited and emotional, the manual says. In addition, individuals are more likely to resort to violent behavior when they become worried about a possible accident, it says.
The manual urges event organizers to calculate the expected crowd density beforehand, factoring in differences in clothing depending on the season.
Nishinari, who was involved in crowd management planning for the Tokyo Olympics, says congestion starts when there are more than two people in a 1 square-meter space.
A packed train — a common sight in Tokyo — has about six people in that space, but it rarely causes panic because people hardly move inside, he said.
“But if the number gets close to 10, an accident could happen at any time (even in a still crowd),” he said. Crowd density at Saturday’s scene was likely higher than that, he said.
So what should each of us do to avoid injury if we end up in an extremely congested space?
Nishinari said that if there’s no side route offering an escape, there’s not much people can do except to lift themselves up from the crowd by hanging onto a pole or climbing a wall, as suffocation is a major cause of death in such situations.
“You need to make sure you have an escape route at all times,” he said.
【《We Chinese in America》Media Editor Tang Zhao, November 3, 2022】Per he San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) is working in close collaboration with officials at San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) and Sweetwater Union School District (SUHSD) to notify people who were possibly exposed to tuberculosis (TB) under separate circumstances at two different area high schools.(Photo credit: County of San Diego Communications Office)
SDUSD, SUHSD, and HHSA have notified individuals who have a higher risk of exposure to TB, and are arranging no-cost TB screening for those who are at increased risk of infection. While students and staff with increased risk for exposure have been identified, other students and staff may also have been exposed. The period of potential exposures are as follows:
- April 2, 2022 to Sept. 16, 2022 at Montgomery High School
- June 17, 2022 to July 10, 2022 at Mission Bay High School
Tuberculosis is an airborne disease that is transmitted from person to person through inhalation of the bacteria from the air. Chances of infection are higher for people with frequent and prolonged indoor exposure to a person who is sick with TB.
“Symptoms of active tuberculosis most commonly include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss,” said County Public Health Officer Dr. Wilma J. Wooten, M.D., M.P.H. “Most people who become infected after exposure to tuberculosis do not get sick right away. Some who become infected with TB will become ill at some point in the future, sometimes even years later. Blood tests and skin tests are effective to determine whether someone has been infected.”
Treatments are available that are effective in preventing people infected with tuberculosis from getting sick and in curing people who are sick. It is especially important for individuals with symptoms of TB and those who are immune-compromised to see their medical provider to rule-out an active case and to discuss treatment.
Individuals who would like more information on this potential exposure should call the San Diego County TB Control Program at (619) 692-8621.
The number of annual tuberculosis cases in San Diego County has decreased since the early 1990s and has stabilized in recent years. There were 201 cases reported in 2021. Through September, 126 cases have been reported to date in 2022.
(Source: County of San Diego Communications Office)
(Photo credit: County of San Diego Communications Office)
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【《We Chinese in America》Media Editor Tang Zhao, November 1, 2022】Per County airport staff, working with Carlsbad police and firefighters, are scheduled to hold a major disaster exercise Thursday morning at McClellan Palomar Airport in Carlsbad.(Photo credit: County of San Diego Communications Office)
County officials said people living in the surrounding areas should not be startled by the activities, which will run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 3, and could include sirens and fire engines.
The airport is required to hold a disaster exercise every three years. The drill is designed to ensure that airport rescue crews can respond immediately in emergencies with backup from the city of Carlsbad’s fire and police departments, and that the airport fully complies with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) standards.
McClellan-Palomar airport does not currently have commercial airline service, but has in the past and is required to meet FAA safety requirements.
Thursday’s exercise will simulate a scenario—complete with people made up to look like injured survivors—of a 30-passenger jet aircraft running off the left side of the runway.
Emergency responders will drill to put out fires, rescue, triage and treat survivors, and transport them for hospitalization.
McClellan-Palomar Airport is one of eight airports operated by the San Diego County Department of Public Works.
(Source: County of San Diego Communications Office)
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【《We Chinese in America》Media Editor Tang Zhao, November 2, 2022】As a continuous effort to enhance our valuable service to We Chinese in America website readers, We Chinese in America website posts US Army recruitment information directly received from the US Army Recruiting Command headquarter office at Fort Knox, Kentucky. We are pleased to take on this important role partnering with US Army Recruiting Command (USREC) and be a part of the USREC’s Partnership Outreach Program to better inform the public.
College Loan Repayment Program updates for FY2023
By Capt. Memory Strickland USAREC Public Affairs
Future Soldiers with qualifying student loans may be eligible to receive up to $65,000 of student loan debt repayment as part of their U.S. Army enlistment contract. The Loan Repayment Program is available for new applicants in select military occupational specialties.
Applicants must have the LRP guaranteed in their initial contract to receive the benefits and are required to complete at least five years of service.
Qualified Soldiers will receive up to $65,000, paid in installments, beginning after they have completed one year of service, provided all initial entry training has been completed. The payments are made directly to the lender with an annual cap of 33.3% or the total outstanding principal or $1,500, whichever is greater.
Soldiers qualify for the LRP based on the MOS they choose when signing their contract, and the Soldier must remain in that MOS to continue receiving the payments toward their loan.
A few of the occupations as of 1 OCT 2022 that will include LRP eligibility are:
-Psychological operations specialist (37F): specialize in creating information used to directly influence and engage audiences.
-Culinary specialist (92G): responsible for preparing and servicing meals both in the field and at home stations, as well as ordering and inspecting food supplies, and keeping the kitchen safe and sanitary.
-Parachute Rigger (92R): responsible to inspect, test and pack parachutes, their extraction and release systems, and all the associated components of the parachute system.
Soldiers participating in the program should be advised the Army will only pay on the remaining original unpaid principal of the loan. LRP does not include any taxes or interest incurred on the loan. The Soldier must also be in good standing with the loan. Soldiers using the LRP must decline enrollment in the Montgomery GI Bill.
For more information about career opportunities and benefits in the U.S. Army, visit www.goarmy.com.
(Source: USAREC Public Affairs)
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【《We Chinese in America》Media Editor Tang Zhao, October 31, 2022】The Internal Revenue Service announced the tax year 2023 annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions, including the tax rate schedules and other tax changes. (Photo credit: tfhawaii.org)
New for 2023
The Inflation Reduction Act extended certain energy related tax breaks and indexed for inflation the energy efficient commercial buildings deduction beginning with tax year 2023. For tax year 2023, the applicable dollar value used to determine the maximum allowance of the deduction is $0.54 increased (but not above $1.07) by $0.02 for each percentage point by which the total annual energy and power costs for the building are certified to be reduced by a percentage greater than 25 percent. The applicable dollar value used to determine the increased deduction amount for certain property is $2.68 increased (but not above $5.36) by $0.11 for each percentage point by which the total annual energy and power costs for the building are certified to be reduced by a percentage greater than 25 percent.
Highlights of changes in Revenue Procedure 2022-38
The tax year 2023 adjustments described below generally apply to tax returns filed in 2024.
The tax items for tax year 2023 of greatest interest to most taxpayers include the following dollar amounts:
- The standard deduction for married couples filing jointly for tax year 2023 rises to $27,700 up $1,800 from the prior year. For single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately, the standard deduction rises to $13,850 for 2023, up $900, and for heads of households, the standard deduction will be $20,800 for tax year 2023, up $1,400 from the amount for tax year 2022.
- Marginal Rates: For tax year 2023, the top tax rate remains 37% for individual single taxpayers with incomes greater than $578,125 ($693,750 for married couples filing jointly).
The other rates are:
- 35% for incomes over $231,250 ($462,500 for married couples filing jointly);
- 32% for incomes over $182,100 ($364,200 for married couples filing jointly);
- 24% for incomes over $95,375 ($190,750 for married couples filing jointly);
- 22% for incomes over $44,725 ($89,450 for married couples filing jointly);
- 12% for incomes over $11,000 ($22,000 for married couples filing jointly).
The lowest rate is 10% for incomes of single individuals with incomes of $11,000 or less ($22,000 for married couples filing jointly).
- The Alternative Minimum Tax exemption amount for tax year 2023 is $81,300 and begins to phase out at $578,150 ($126,500 for married couples filing jointly for whom the exemption begins to phase out at $1,156,300). The 2022 exemption amount was $75,900 and began to phase out at $539,900 ($118,100 for married couples filing jointly for whom the exemption began to phase out at $1,079,800).
- The tax year 2023 maximum Earned Income Tax Credit amount is $7,430 for qualifying taxpayers who have three or more qualifying children, up from $6,935 for tax year 2022. The revenue procedure contains a table providing maximum EITC amount for other categories, income thresholds and phase-outs.
- For tax year 2023, the monthly limitation for the qualified transportation fringe benefit and the monthly limitation for qualified parking increases to $300, up $20 from the limit for 2022.
- For the taxable years beginning in 2023, the dollar limitation for employee salary reductions for contributions to health flexible spending arrangements increases to $3,050. For cafeteria plans that permit the carryover of unused amounts, the maximum carryover amount is $610, an increase of $40 from taxable years beginning in 2022.
- For tax year 2023, participants who have self-only coverage in a Medical Savings Account, the plan must have an annual deductible that is not less than $2,650, up $200 from tax year 2022; but not more than $3,950, an increase of $250 from tax year 2022. For self-only coverage, the maximum out-of-pocket expense amount is $5,300, up $350 from 2022. For tax year 2023, for family coverage, the annual deductible is not less than $5,300, up from $4,950 for 2022; however, the deductible cannot be more than $7,900, up $500 from the limit for tax year 2022. For family coverage, the out-of-pocket expense limit is $9,650 for tax year 2023, an increase of $600 from tax year 2022.
- For tax year 2023, the foreign earned income exclusion is $120,000 up from $112,000 for tax year 2022.
- Estates of decedents who die during 2023 have a basic exclusion amount of $12,920,000, up from a total of $12,060,000 for estates of decedents who died in 2022.
- The annual exclusion for gifts increases to $17,000 for calendar year 2023, up from $16,000 for calendar year 2022.
- The maximum credit allowed for adoptions for tax year 2023 is the amount of qualified adoption expenses up to $15,950, up from $14,890 for 2022
Items unaffected by indexing
By statute, certain items that were indexed for inflation in the past are currently not adjusted.
- The personal exemption for tax year 2023 remains at 0, as it was for 2022, this elimination of the personal exemption was a provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
- For 2023, as in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018, there is no limitation on itemized deductions, as that limitation was eliminated by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
- The modified adjusted gross income amount used by joint filers to determine the reduction in the Lifetime Learning Credit provided in § 25A(d)(2) is not adjusted for inflation for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020. The Lifetime Learning Credit is phased out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income in excess of $80,000 ($160,000 for joint returns).
- (source: INS website)
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