Jakob Schiller: 
              Latice Barns waits for a San Francisco-bound train at the Coliseum BART station with Daniel  and Jimmy Rodgers, ages 7 and 8. Voters in November will elect a new member for BART’s District 3 seat and decide the fate of a $980 million seismic upgrade bond issue for the system. See Story, Page Five.t
Jakob Schiller: Latice Barns waits for a San Francisco-bound train at the Coliseum BART station with Daniel and Jimmy Rodgers, ages 7 and 8. Voters in November will elect a new member for BART’s District 3 seat and decide the fate of a $980 million seismic upgrade bond issue for the system. See Story, Page Five.t

Page One

Judge Orders Halt To Pt. Molate Pact: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN

Tuesday August 31, 2004

A Contra Costa County Superior Court judge dealt a setback to the Richmond City Council’s plans to sign a lucrative deal for a casino resort at Point Molate, handing ChevronTexaco a temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the sale prior to another hearing on Sept. 20. -more-



Day-Long Walkout Strikes Med Center: By J.DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR

Tuesday August 31, 2004

Workers staged a spirited one-day walkout from the four facilities of the troubled Alameda County Medical Center (ACMC) on Monday, in protest against recently-proposed staff cutbacks. -more-



ZAB Reviews Controversial Plans In Late-Night Marathon Session: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN

Tuesday August 31, 2004

Berkeley’s Zoning Adjustments board took its first look at three controversial projects Thursday night, and gave tentative blessings to one in a grueling seven-hour marathon session. -more-



Seagate Project Changes Lead to Sparks at ZAB: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN

Tuesday August 31, 2004

The clock had ticked into the early morning minutes Friday when what may become one of the most controversial buildings in downtown Berkeley made it into the limelight at the Zoning Adjustments Board. -more-



New Student Rep Aims to Make Her Presence Felt: By MATTHEW ARTZ

Tuesday August 31, 2004

Anyone who has seen Berkeley’s Board of Education in action has to feel a little bit sorry for this year’s student representative Lily Dorman-Colby. -more-



Features

Well Qualified Trio Vies For BART Seat: By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR

Tuesday August 31, 2004

Three veterans of widely-different areas of public life are competing in the Nov. 2 election to represent a BART district that stretches from Kensington in the north to San Lorenzo in the south and encompasses the eastern portions of both Berkeley and Oakland. -more-


Fund-Starved BUSD Urges Students to Start on Day 1: By MATTHEW ARTZ

Tuesday August 31, 2004

After racking up nearly $30,000 in lost attendance revenue the first week of school last year, Berkeley Unified is hoping students will be in class when school starts on Wednesday and not hiking in the Sierra, visiting family back east or touring Europe. -more-


Court Ruling Hamstrings Police Review Commission: By MATTHEW ARTZ

Tuesday August 31, 2004

Everett Bobbitt says his San Diego law office is adorned with 11 medals, 10 he won in Vietnam and the eleventh—the one he cherishes the most—bestowed upon him by the Berkeley Police Association (BPA). -more-


Iranians Face Increased Harassment in U.S. : By DONAL BROWN

Pacific News Service
Tuesday August 31, 2004

WASHINGTON D.C.—Iranians in the U.S. are seeing a surge in firings and FBI interrogations and security clearance denials as anti-terrorist efforts mount and Washington’s criticism of the Iranian government sharpens. -more-


Claremont Hotel Picketed Through the Night: By JAKOB SCHILLER

Tuesday August 31, 2004

Marcos Escobar, an organizer with the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE) local 2850 marches outside the Claremont late Friday night as part of a 27-hour picket to celebrate the three-year anniversary of the union and worker’s boycott of the hotel. According to Claire Darby, another HERE organizer, around 150 workers participated in the picket and over 300 people marched in total. At the end of the picket, Oakland mayor Jerry Brown showed up to speak at a pro-union rally, which was the first time Brown had come out to publicly support the workers at the picket.. -more-


Making a Big Impression At a Catskills Resort: From SUSAN PARKER

Tuesday August 31, 2004

My friend Taffy was getting married for the third time and planning a three-day wedding extravaganza. It was taking place in a tiny village located in the middle of New York state’s Catskills Mountains. Besides being near a popular ski resort, Fleischmanns is the summer destination of choice for many of New York City’s Hassidic Jews. Walking around Fleischmanns is a lot like walking around Jerusalem, only it’s greener and safer. Bearded, black-shrouded, forelocked Hassidics share the narrow country roads with skinny lycra-clad outdoor enthusiasts. -more-


Police Blotter: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN

Tuesday August 31, 2004

Gunman Opens Fire on Car -more-


Fire Department Log: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN

Tuesday August 31, 2004

The Federal Emergency Management Agency gave Berkeley a $413,000 grant last week—to be supplemented by $177,000 in matching city funds—for a four-pronged program to reduce fire danger in the hills. -more-


Letters to the Editor

Tuesday August 31, 2004

WILLARD GARDEN -more-


Campaign 2004: The Battle Over Character: By BOB BURNETT

Commentary
Tuesday August 31, 2004

The month of August has seen an escalation in the battle over the character of the presidential nominees. First, Bush and Kerry sparred over the October 2002 vote giving the president power to go to war in Iraq, each questioning the other’s judgment. Next, Republicans unleashed the scurrilous Swift Boat ads that questioned Kerry’s integrity. While these two skirmishes will soon be forgotten, the issue of character will remain paramount until Nov. 2. -more-


Republicans Need A Clear, Simple Message To Appeal to Undecided Voters: By MICHAEL LARRICK

Commentary
Tuesday August 31, 2004

The presidential election is to be decided by those voters who have yet to make up their minds. Who are they, and how do you get them to vote for George Bush? -more-


Najaf Needs Gatekeeper for Keys to the Holy City: By MU’AN FAYYAD

Commentary, Pacific News Service
Tuesday August 31, 2004

(Translator’s comment: Grand Ayatollah Sistani has brokered a peace in the embattled Iraqi city of Najaf where the followers of Muqtada al-Sadr have been fighting American and Iraqi forces. This column written by a close advisor to the Ayatollah appeared in the influential London-based Arab daily Asharq-al-Awsat and was probably approved by Ayatollah Sistani himself to go out no later than August 22. The reason was that in Iraq the main contending parties had already reached the accord that was announced after August 22. -more-


A Half-Million Protesters Cry Out ‘Bush Must Go!’: By CHRISTOPHER KROHN

Special to the Planet
Tuesday August 31, 2004

NEW YORK—They came from across New York and across the country with a protest focus and ferocity that left little to the political imagination. “Bush must go!” was the chant of choice, and water the beverage of all on this hot August day. -more-


Election Section

Ten Thousand Words for ‘No’: By OSHA NEUMANN

Special to the Planet
Tuesday August 31, 2004

NEW YORK—We couldn’t have a rally in the Great Meadow of Central Park because 250,000 people would ruin the grass, and because we didn’t come to court early enough to say “pretty please can we have our rights”—that’s what the judge ruled when United for Peace and Justice, the organizer of today’s mammoth demonstration, asked him to rule that the city must give us a permit. -more-


Thousands Won’t Keep Off the Grass: By CHRISTOPHER KROHN

Special to the Planet
Tuesday August 31, 2004

NEW YORK—Two self-described Republican women “from the South” had wandered over to Central Park’s Great Lawn on Sunday. On the lawn already were several thousand people sharing stories from an exuberant day after a huge sweat-soaked march. Refusing to offer their names to a reporter, the two southerners pronounced the Great Lawn event “another Woodstock.” -more-


Sunday’s Marchers Deserve Olympic Gold in Niceness, Freedom of Speech: By JANE STILLWATER

Special to the Planet
Tuesday August 31, 2004

The Internet cafe on 96th and Broadway—around the corner from our flea-bag hotel in New York—closes in just six minutes so here is my very-improvised report on the Republican National Convention:. -more-


Arts Calendar

Tuesday August 31, 2004

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31 -more-


Zealous Chainsaw Use Proves Lethal to Trees: By RON SULLIVAN

Special to the Planet
Tuesday August 31, 2004

It’s an unfortunate fact of life in 21st century America: Anyone can buy a chainsaw over the counter, without a prescription, without a license, without a background check or a waiting period or any input at all from the Department of Homeland Security. Most unfortunately, also without any proof of competence. Apparently, fools are buying and using them. -more-


Berkeley This Week

Tuesday August 31, 2004

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31 -more-


Editorial

The Undecided Decide: By BECKY O'MALLEY

Editorial
Tuesday August 31, 2004

Louis Menand has a critical essay in the latest New Yorker which vamps off a thesis in a 1964 book by Philip Converse, The Nature of Belief Systems in Mass Publics: Only about 10 percent of the public has what might be called a political belief system. Menand reports Converse’s interpretation of surveys of the 1956 electorate as showing that voters are perfectly capable of holding conflicting opinions simultaneously, for example wanting both lower taxes and more government programs. Such studies of voter behavior are increasingly rehashed as contemporary polls seem to show the country poised on a knife edge between presidential candidates. Very few voters are still undecided, so how this few will make up their minds is consuming a lot of ink these days. One of our correspondents has suggested that people who haven’t made up their minds yet should be disqualified, presumably as too dumb to vote, and that’s an appealing idea, but it won’t happen. Pundits continue to speculate on what will change the hearts and minds of the remaining voters. -more-


Back Stories

Opinion

Editorials

The Undecided Decide: By BECKY O'MALLEY 08-31-2004

Berkeley’s Building Boomers Move In: By BECKY O'MALLEY 08-27-2004

News

Judge Orders Halt To Pt. Molate Pact: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 08-31-2004

Day-Long Walkout Strikes Med Center: By J.DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR 08-31-2004

ZAB Reviews Controversial Plans In Late-Night Marathon Session: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 08-31-2004

Seagate Project Changes Lead to Sparks at ZAB: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 08-31-2004

New Student Rep Aims to Make Her Presence Felt: By MATTHEW ARTZ 08-31-2004

Well Qualified Trio Vies For BART Seat: By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR 08-31-2004

Fund-Starved BUSD Urges Students to Start on Day 1: By MATTHEW ARTZ 08-31-2004

Court Ruling Hamstrings Police Review Commission: By MATTHEW ARTZ 08-31-2004

Iranians Face Increased Harassment in U.S. : By DONAL BROWN Pacific News Service 08-31-2004

Claremont Hotel Picketed Through the Night: By JAKOB SCHILLER 08-31-2004

Making a Big Impression At a Catskills Resort: From SUSAN PARKER 08-31-2004

Police Blotter: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 08-31-2004

Fire Department Log: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 08-31-2004

Letters to the Editor 08-31-2004

Campaign 2004: The Battle Over Character: By BOB BURNETT Commentary 08-31-2004

Republicans Need A Clear, Simple Message To Appeal to Undecided Voters: By MICHAEL LARRICK Commentary 08-31-2004

Najaf Needs Gatekeeper for Keys to the Holy City: By MU’AN FAYYAD Commentary, Pacific News Service 08-31-2004

A Half-Million Protesters Cry Out ‘Bush Must Go!’: By CHRISTOPHER KROHN Special to the Planet 08-31-2004

Ten Thousand Words for ‘No’: By OSHA NEUMANN Special to the Planet 08-31-2004

Thousands Won’t Keep Off the Grass: By CHRISTOPHER KROHN Special to the Planet 08-31-2004

Sunday’s Marchers Deserve Olympic Gold in Niceness, Freedom of Speech: By JANE STILLWATER Special to the Planet 08-31-2004

Arts Calendar 08-31-2004

Zealous Chainsaw Use Proves Lethal to Trees: By RON SULLIVAN Special to the Planet 08-31-2004

Berkeley This Week 08-31-2004

New Hurdles Ahead For East Bay Casino Deals: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 08-27-2004

Albany Chamber Fears Impact of Mall At Golden Gate Fields: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 08-27-2004

Sherry Kelly to Retire as City Clerk: By MATHEW ARTZ 08-27-2004

School District’s New Teachers Learn the Ropes: By MATTHEW ARTZ 08-27-2004

Protesters Stream into Manhattan for GOP Convention: By CHRISTOPHER KROHN Special to the Planet 08-27-2004

Voter Packet Goes to Press After Judge Rejects Challenge: By MATTHEW ARTZ Staff 08-27-2004

LeConte Neighbors Fume Over Stolen Endorsements: By MATTHEW ARTZ 08-27-2004

Shirek Seeks Union Support For Possible Write-In Bid: By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR 08-27-2004

Bay Area Coalition Finds Hope, Fear in Haiti: By JUDITH SCHERR Special to the Planet 08-27-2004

City Staff Urges Approval Of 9-Floor Seagate Project: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 08-27-2004

Police Blotter: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 08-27-2004

New Home for North Berkeley Farmers Market: By LIZ FOX 08-27-2004

Sunday Memorial Honors Reginald Zelnik,UC Historian and Key FSM Supporter: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 08-27-2004

Deep Budget Cuts Scar New UC Academic Year: By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR 08-27-2004

A Citizen’s Guide to Absentee Ballots: By JUDY BERTELSEN Special to the Planet 08-27-2004

Getting Involved Before November 2: By BOB BURNETT Special to the Planet 08-27-2004

Touchscreen Voting Allowed by Shelley 08-27-2004

Berkeleyan Moves to New Mexico to Work for Kerry: By ZELDA BRONSTEIN Special to the Planet 08-27-2004

Documents Spell Out Plans |For Two East Bay Casinos: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 08-27-2004

Cell Phone Police Column Gets ‘Interesting’ Reactions: J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR UnderCurrents 08-27-2004

Letters to the Editor 08-27-2004

Parents and Friends Decry Willard Garden Changes Commentary 08-27-2004

Many Treats Await Live Theater Lovers: By BETSY M. HUNTON Special to the Planet 08-27-2004

Lakeshore Shakespeare Festival Presents Superb ‘Twelfth Night’ Free in Oakland: By BECKY O’MALLEY 08-27-2004

Great Performers Reanimate Regional Jazz Scene: By IRA STEINGROOT Special to the Planet 08-27-2004

Arts Calendar 08-27-2004

Campus Architecture Embodies Living History: By SUSAN D. CERNY Special to the Planet 08-27-2004

Berkeley’s Cafe Culture Thrives in Many Venues: By ALTA GERREY Special to the Planet 08-27-2004

Columns

Claremont Hotel Picket Planned for Weekend: By JAKOB SCHILLER 08-27-2004

Pygmy Nuthatches Find Homes in Dead Snags: By JOE EATON Special to the Planet 08-27-2004

Berkeley This Week 08-27-2004