Features

ALBANY ZONING 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

For over five months now I have been part of a community group that respects the need for commercial development along San Pablo Avenue, but would like the City of Albany to respect our wishes to leave the neighboring streets residential. In less than five months, we have drafted a well-thought out and detailed Alternative to the Planning and Zoning Commission’s commercial expansion proposed along San Pablo Avenue and we have attracted over 400 supporters from all over the city (not just the so-called “NIMBYs”). By contrast, it took some members of the commission more than seven years to come up with a radical expansion proposal that only he and one other member can support with a straight face. Unfortunately, these two have married themselves to a proposal that would ruin the spirit of Albany for no other reason than to preserve their fragile egos. 

Four-story buildings built up to the property line of single family homes would destroy the neighborhood—plain and simple. A radical increase in large commercial buildings would increase crime, traffic and pollution; such changes would have a negative impact not only on the neighboring streets but anyone living in Albany and anyone attempting to drive through Albany, especially via San Pablo Avenue. This is not a case of “NIMBYism.” Keep in mind that San Pablo Avenue runs through the majority of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. You could be the next homeowner with a Wal-Mart opening in your backyard. I am amazed and appalled that the powers that be have let the voices of a few drown out the voices of hundreds. We just want to be heard! 

We have started a petition and urge potential supporters of reasonable, respectful development to contact us before the next Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Tuesday, March 9. We have a hotline at 527-0923, and our website is http://stopsanpabloexpansion.com. 

Kamala Appel 

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WHAT NEXT? 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Schwarzenegger’s office gravely warns the public that gay marriages being performed at San Francisco’s City Hall will cause mayhem, that it will “lead to anarchy.” Other foes of gay marriage warn of a “fierce backlash.” 

What now: Will Washington policymakers initiate preemptive military strikes against San Francisco—as they did in Kabul, Khandahar and Baghdad? 

Will Gov. Schwarzenegger or President Bush call in the U.S. military to drop cluster bombs on civilian wedding parties—as in Afghanistan? 

I suppose we should take the warnings seriously. After all, there’s no knowing from one minute to the next what this administration will drop on our heads, or—God forbid—on the heads of others. 

Sheila Newbery 

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AN ELECTION TALE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

We just voted in the March 2 California Primary, believing that this fundamental exercise of our democracy is more important than ever. Unfortunately, we have no proof that we voted, or that our vote will be counted. We are deeply alarmed to find that even here in Alameda County, a stronghold of responsible political thinking, balloting procedures and technology have become sloppy and mysterious. 

This is our experience: 1) No proof of identification was requested. 2) At the point where the plastic voting card was issued, there was no reliable verification that we had signed in, and anyone could have stepped in line to have simply requested a voting card. 3) The touch screen voting system did not allow for any paper trail. 4) When we asked for a receipt showing that we had voted, we were told that no receipts exist and the voting officials tried to convince us that the “I voted” sticker (available in a dish) could serve as proof of voting. 

In this historical moment when we are trying to reclaim our country and democracy from the theft of a presidential election, this is more than outrageous. 

Joanna Macy and  

Michael Leaver 

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ART PROGRAMS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I can’t agree more with Bonnie Hughes’ commentary in your last issue regarding the Seagate Plan and how the current process continues to hinder arts programs in Berkeley. 

Everyone has a responsibility to recognize the importance of the arts, especially in a city who has developed much of it’s history and reputation on 

liberal arts and the freedom of expression. In the very same edition of the Berkeley Planet in which Ms. Hughes expressed her concerns, there was a front page story of another tangled web between city government, corporate development, and Berkeley’s art community centered around the Gaia Building project. 

It’s time we fully utilize the systems that have been put into place such as the Civic Arts Commission and the Cultural Trust. These groups exist for a reason. To develop the arts in Berkeley. To speak on behalf of the people of Berkeley. To speak on behalf of the artists of Berkeley. 

Rob Woodworth 

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ELP GETS THE AXE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The corporate University Extension decided to lop one of its finest appendages. The English Language Program has taught English as a second language for over three decades with sensitivity both to the different cultural backgrounds of scholars and to local academic culture. ELP training allowed scholars to participate fluently and gracefully in the life of the University.  

ELP teachers have included some of the most engaging people we have ever known, versed in the humanities and attuned to individual differences. We have met students over the years at social events held for them by their teachers. For the students we met (many more than were interviewed in 

deciding to cut the Program), ELP provided a supportive beginning for their academic pursuits here. It was an enclave of comity that students were willing to pay more for than other English language instruction. 

Now more than ever we need to retain humane settings for international education. 

The English Language Program is Berkeley quality, is Berkeley appropriate, as long as Berkeley has any soul left. 

Horst and Eva Bansner 

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GAIA CONTROVERSY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Many thanks to Richard Brenneman for his lucid and revealing article on the Gaia Building controversy (”Gaia Building Criticized For Lack of Arts Tenants,” Daily Planet, March 5-8). It is interesting that he is able to include a quote from Patrick Kennedy, the developer, to the effect that he plans to complete the work necessary “in a few weeks” for Anna De Leon to be able to move her new club “Blackbird” into the building in a matter of maybe a few months from now. I for one will keep my eye on this.  

Rick Kalman  

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UC LANGUAGE PROGRAM 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I very much appreciate your coverage of a decision with great impact on both Cal and the city of Berkeley in your article, “Fate of English Language Program Debated” (Daily Planet, March 5-8). I work on campus and was at the rally. The one error that I wish could be corrected is that many of the people attending that rally were members of CUE, the clericals’ union, whose efforts on campus you have covered so well and so thoroughly in the past. We protest any situation where we see UC staff being laid off as a result of what we consider questionable reasons, and you couldn’t ask for a better example than the closing of this program. 

Jude Bell 

Dept. of Art Practice 

UC Berkeley 

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MINOR CORRECTIONS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I have one minor correction to make to Lesley Emmington’s wonderful article about the Blood house and the continuing destruction of Berkeley’s historic resources (“Blood House Catalogs Southside History,” Daily Planet, Feb. 24-26). While the Southside, and indeed much of the city, did support and benefit from the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance, it was in fact authored by Martha Nicoloff along with the Oceanview Committee in response to the wholesale bulldozing of houses in the West Berkeley Redevelopment Project Area. Committee members threw themselves prostrate in front of bulldozers and then unsuccessfully sued to force the Redevelopment Agency (which at the time was a separate board headed by the city manager) to comply with the newly adopted NPO and to stop the razing of some of the oldest houses in the city. It was then that the City Council became one of the first in California to declare itself to be the Redevelopment Agency and they created a plan to restore the Oceanview neighborhood. A fragment of the original committee continues to exist as the Oceanview Tenant and Neighborhood Association and we’re still waiting for the city to fulfill the promises that it made so long ago.  

Rhiannon