Fred Lupke, a fighter for Berkeley’s disabled population, remained in a coma Tuesday at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley where he was hospitalized after a car struck his motorized wheelchair Thursday evening. -more-
A few years ago I saw a terrific production of “The Wiz” at Berkeley High. One of the best characters in this update of “The Wizard of Oz” is the Wicked Witch of the West, Evillene. Her signature refrain is: “Don’t nobody bring me no bad news!” -more-
Ron Kaell, a lead actor in “The Old Neighborhood,” Aurora Theatre’s regional premier of one of David Mamet’s most recent plays, probably said it best, the play’s “about going home, but you can’t go home again.” -more-
Neighbors of the defunct Franklin Elementary School filed suit against the Berkeley Unified School District Monday, jeopardizing the BUSD’s plan to shift the Adult School to the Franklin campus. -more-
The Daily Californian and the student government board that holds its lease have set a last-ditch meeting Tuesday to decide if the independent paper will remain on campus. -more-
Californians appear condemned to repeat history because they refuse to learn from it. I shake my head as the Berkeley recall of 30 years ago repeats itself on a statewide level. -more-
The firing of a veteran Berkeley Bowl produce department worker and pro-union activist sparked a brief walkout Sunday, effectively shutting down the store for fifteen minutes. -more-
Sadly, both Council and school board missed a rare and unprecedented opportunity to work together to achieve a better community. I am referring to the recent school board decision to move the Adult School from University Avenue to the Franklin School site, and while one or two Councilmembers have signaled their disapproval, Council itself has been silent. At this week’s Joint City/School “2x2” meeting, City representatives indicated that since the School Board had made their decision, let’s talk about how to deal with the resultant traffic problems. This is not leadership. This is not expressing a vision for the future. Besides ignoring environmental impact report regulations concerning the Franklin decision, this position doesn’t even recognize the core issue of the need for good planning. Any action regarding the use of precious public school sites affects every resident, no matter what neighborhood we live in. -more-
The first small step towards election-day voter registration in California now rests on the desk of Gov. Gray Davis. -more-
Editors, Daily Planet: -more-
Last week I got a “same-day” appointment at Kaiser. -more-
Spanish music fans are in for a treat this Thursday when Julieta Venegas, the rising Mexican rock en español music star stops to perform at Berkeley’s La Peña cultural center as part of a nationwide tour. -more-
Zucchini can be considered the terrorist of the garden. -more-
After months of dry weather and as fall approaches, the temperature in the Bay Area rises, often accompanied by dry hot winds from the east. California is no stranger to the threat of huge fires; they have occurred from the coast to the high Sierra and in the north and south. -more-
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-
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-
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-
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a two-part series looking at UC Berkeley’s long range expansion plans. Part I of this special report (Daily Planet, Sept. 19-22) provided an introduction to UC Berkeley’s 2020 Long Range Development Plan process and focused on potential transportation impacts and how they could be avoided or mitigated. -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-
