Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

News

Berkeley Manager To Leave Nov. 1st

By MATTHEW ARTZ

Friday September 05, 2003

Berkeley City Manager Weldon Rucker stunned city workers and councilmembers Thursday when he announced his retirement—saying he wanted more time to manage himself than his “24-hour, seven-day-a-week job” could offer. -more-

Berkeley This Week

Friday September 05, 2003

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 -more-

Well Done, Weldon: You Will Be Missed

Becky O’Malley

Friday September 05, 2003

News, as of the morning of press day, is that Berkeley’s City Manager ( Weldon Rucker, known to almost everyone as Weldon) plans to retire in the very near future. This is not unexpected, since he admits to being in his early sixties, and is known to have had a few health problems in the past. It is, however, sure to be distressing news to Berkeley citizens who care about the health of the body politic. -more-

Watershed Fest Unites Artists for Strawberry Creek

By SUSAN PARKER Special to the Planet

Friday September 05, 2003

Former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass brings his talents to the cause of liberating Berkeley’s Strawberry Creek—the city’s premier living stream—at the Eighth Annual Watershed Poetry Festival, to be held Saturday, Sept. 6 at Civic Center Park at Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Center Street. -more-

Arts Calendar

Friday September 05, 2003

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 -more-

Are Crows Smarter Than We Thought?

By JOE EATON Special to the Planet

Friday September 05, 2003

We used to be pretty smug about our species’ ability to use tools—the dividing line, some thought, that separated humanity from the rest of the animal kingdom. But naturalists’ observations have laid that notion to rest. -more-

Temblor Shakes Up Berkeley

Friday September 05, 2003

Berkeley residents sitting down for dinner Thursday had an unexpected and unnerving guest—a magnitude 3.9 earthquake centered just three miles southeast of town, eight miles directly below Cochrane Avenue in Rockridge. -more-

Letters to the Editor

Friday September 05, 2003

ADULT SCHOOL MOVE -more-

Recall Foes Hit Streets Saturday

By JAKOB SCHILLER

Friday September 05, 2003

Berkeley activists will take to the streets Saturday to mobilize support to defeat the recall of Governor Gray Davis following a 10 a.m. rally at Washington School, 2300 Martin Luther King Jr. Way (across from Berkeley High School). -more-

For Young People, This Recall is For Real

By HECTOR GONZALES Pacific News Service

Friday September 05, 2003

To many voting Californians, the gubernatorial recall election is being taken as a joke—an unexpected and entertaining twist to the usually boring political scene. But for me and my community, this recall is very important. -more-

Homeless Youth Pose Telegraph Dilemma

By MATTHEW ARTZ

Friday September 05, 2003

With her soft brown hair that falls neatly to the sides of her unblemished 19-year-old face, Monique Desindes looks so wholesomely apple pie that it’s hard to believe she is homeless. Yet there she was on Tuesday evening, squatting outside Cody’s Bookstore on Telegraph Avenue, half-eaten food and torn garbage bags strewn to her right. To her left sat Trek, an 18-year-old from Utah, wearing a spiked collar and sporting unkempt blond curls. -more-

Ultimately, Women Will Have to Save the World

By MARLENE NADLE Pacific News Service

Friday September 05, 2003

President Bush may not face much opposition in Congress to his plan for perpetual preemptive war, but he better watch out for the women. -more-

Symphony Banner Bid Raises Free Speech Issues

By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR

Friday September 05, 2003

The upcoming celebration planned for a local arts icon has Berkeley city officials scrambling to avoid a potentially embarrassing free speech controversy. -more-