When the main attraction at last Tuesday evening’s UC Berkeley Proposition 54 debate didn’t show—University of California Regent Ward Connerly—it was still business as usual at the packed session in Booth Auditorium at Boalt Hall. -more-

FRIDAY, SEPT. 19 -more-

PALESTINE PROPAGANDA -more-

FRIDAY, SEPT. 19 -more-

Opponents of the move of Berkeley’s Adult School to the vacant Franklin School site will file a legal challenge to the Berkeley Unified School District today, said Tim Arai, lead plaintiff for the group. -more-

I’m responding to Sally Reyes’ commentary “Many Failings in BUSD Report Card,” Daily Planet, Sept. 12-15), regarding the Fiscal Crisis Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) report issued in July 2003 to the Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD). Of course, the Planet’s headline for the commentary was inaccurate to begin with. However, I believe it will do more good to offer information regarding the FCMAT report, rather than to argue over Ms. Reyes’ opinions in her commentary or the Planet’s biases. There has been a general misunderstanding and misreading, as well as a misuse, of the FCMAT report since it was released to BUSD in July. The report chronicles about 500 legal, professional, and educational standards for the BUSD as part of FCMAT’s advisory role with Berkeley. One section of the FCMAT report deals with Facilities Management, and this is the section that Sally Reyes’ commentary refers to. In this one section there are 111 standards addressed, with recommendations in several areas for improvement and progress. -more-

The East Bay Community Law Center will be celebrating its 15th anniversary Saturday, honoring the people who have helped the center become one of the most important resources for low-income residents battling to stay alive and in need of legal help. -more-

Editors, Daily Planet: -more-

Fred Lupke, 58, a popular Berkeley activist for the disabled community, was seriously injured Thursday evening when his wheelchair was struck by a car as he was crossing Ashby Avenue. -more-

The Berkeley City Council split the baby on three contentious issues this week, passing a new housing inspection fee over the objections of landlords, putting off for a week a decision on the Sprint Wireless roof antennae on Shattuck Avenue, and dropping for good its plans to discuss a second resolution concerning American deaths in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. -more-

The University of California may be getting a different type of diversity next year—part of a drive to find new revenue sources. -more-

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The saga of one of Berkeley’s most derelict and contested properties, in legal limbo after a series of controversies and misadventures—one of which found the elderly owner abandoned and stranded in a Paris bathroom two years ago—ended with a whimper Thursday. -more-

The Berkeley High School Girls Crew Team will continue to paddle the waters of Lake Merritt for at least two more years, thanks to an agreement brokered by Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown. -more-

Deana Lopez graduated from Berkeley High School last year with her future very much in doubt. Although she is starting her second year at Vista College, as an undocumented immigrant she has no hope for financial aid to transfer to a four-year school and couldn’t work legally even if she graduated. -more-

Hoping to raise the $60,000 needed to keep Berkeley public swimming pools open this winter, the United Pool Council, a Berkeley community group, is sponsoring a swim-a-thon fund raiser this Saturday at the King pool, 1700 Hopkins St. -more-

Students returned to Franklin Preschool Wednesday, four days after a suspected arsonist destroyed two classrooms in the school’s north wing. -more-

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of a two-part series on UC Berkeley’s expansion plans. Part two will look at other impacts related to the Long Range Development Plan and UC expansion, including fiscal impacts and impacts related to housing, construction and permit parking -more-

The public will get a critical opportunity to comment on future growth plans for the UC Berkeley campus when the University of California conducts a scoping meeting for the 2020 Long Range Development Plan and the Tien Center Environmental Impact Report Monday from 5 p.m to 9 p.m. at the Clark Kerr Campus Krutch Theater, 2601 Warring St. The session will provide an opportunity for public comment on the proposed scope of the environmental analysis. -more-

Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante made a campaign stop in Oakland the other day to answer questions by members of the Black Elected Officials of the East Bay organization and the progressive Socially Responsible Network. The Bustamante appearance was marked by the question that wasn’t asked, and the question that wasn’t answered. -more-

It has hosted concerts and commencements, demonstrations and divas, mass meetings and memorials. The home fires of university spirit have burned bright on its sandy floor, and many of the great names and performing groups of the past century have trod its stage. -more-

I saw a Hummer last month. More than that, I touched it. I rode in it. I even sat in the driver’s seat and pretended to run an armored car off the road. For a Berkeley kid like me, getting intimate with a Hummer is the ultimate taboo. It’s like a Bostonian rooting for the Yankees or a Kennedy marrying a Republican weight lifter. -more-