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-

Gov. Gray Davis Thursday named Berkeley attorney John Marshall True III to the Alameda County Superior Court. A graduate of UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall, True is a partner with Leonard Carder LLP, an Oakland law firm. -more-