Submitted by Sacramento City Unified School District.

For many Sacramento families summer is a time of fun as school-year schedules give way to more leisurely days. But for school officials on tight budgets, summer can be a time of high anxiety as worry sets in over the safety of vacant campuses.

Vandals, arsonists and thieves are of particular concern, especially those who cripple school air-conditioning and electrical systems by stealing copper and aluminum parts – crimes that cost taxpayers money and take away needed school resources.

To combat costly crimes, Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) is asking the community for help in keeping schools safe and secure over the summer. School will be back in session on Tuesday, September 6.

“Most of our schools are surrounded by homes and we need those neighbors to join us in protecting these valuable and sometimes vulnerable community centers,” said Sacramento Police Lt.

Starbucks announced last week their new Android phone app.  Not only can you find store locations, but if you enter your Starbucks Card number, your phone becomes your Starbucks Card. The device will display a barcode you can use as your Starbucks Card to make purchases.

It’s fast. It’s easy. It’s a revolution in mobile payment – but is it safe?

Some people say “yes”, as long as you password protect your phone so that if you happen to lose it, your data will be protected. It would be like using your ATM card. Thieves would need your PIN number in order to access your information, which some say makes it more secure than traditional credit cards.

This sounds logical, and already companies like Visa and American Express are preparing their mobile payment systems.