Faced with a court order blocking them from approving a lucrative Point Molate casino pact with a Berkeley developer, the Richmond City Council did the second-best thing Tuesday night: They voted unanimously to show their intent to sign the deal once legal clouds clear. 

ChevronTexaco, owners of the Bay Area’s largest refinery as well as all the land surrounding the site, had won a temporary restraining order Monday morning in Contra Costa County Superior Court blocking the sale pending a Sept. 20 hearing. 

The council session lasted over six hours, and featured Power Point presentations from a city-hired attorney, Berkeley developer James Levine and Gary W. Loveman, a former Harvard Business School professor turned president and CEO of Harrah’s Entertainment, the nation’s dominant gambling operator and designated Point Molate casino operator. 

The first word went to Assistant City Manager Richard McCoy, the city’s point man during negotiations on the casino deal.  

McCoy said the city’s goals included: 

• Preservation of open space 

• Ensuring the project’s long-term economic viability 

• Maintaining public access and use of the shore and undeveloped areas of the site 

• Creating a regional attraction 

• Preservation of the historic structures on the site 

• Job creation 

• Minimizing environmental impacts 

• Provision of mixed uses, and 

• Generation of money for the city 

The Berkeley Developer 

Next up was James D. Levine, a Berkeley developer who founded Upstream Point Molate LLC to develop the waterfront project. Before venturing into the gambling world, he headed LFR Levine-Fricke, one of the country’s leading environmental cleanup firms. 

A skillful organizer with deep experience in negotiating with governments, Levine began by assuring councilmembers that he’d launched the casino proposal “to do something remarkable for the City of Richmond and its people.” 

To a city afflicted with monumental debt, serious crime and drug problems, and high unemployment rates in its African American community, he offered hope, thousands of jobs and a world class resort generating an endlessly flowing fountain of dollars for empty city coffers. 

Levine also announced that Richard Cohen, a former Republican governor of Maine and Secretary of Defense in the Clinton Administration before becoming a highly paid international consultant, has become a full partner in Upstream. 

Cohen’s roles include handling negotiations with the Navy, which is still cleaning up the site, and the Interior Department bureaucracy, which has final say on whether or not the Guidiville Rancheria band of Pomo tribespeople will be granted a reservation at Point Molate—the key step before a casino can open. 

When Levine said his discussions with the tribe “were not really about money but what we can do for the community,” a chorus of groans erupted from incredulous casino foes. 

The Gambling Baron 

Next up was Loveman, whose 15-state, 47,000-employee empire is about to gain another 50,000 workers and 28 casinos across the globe as it swallows Caesars Entertainment, the once-premiere gambling combine that began as a hot dog stand in Florida. 

Harrah’s revenues topped $5 billion last year, and Loveman predicted they’d double with the Caesars takeover. The firm is also the nation’s largest tribal casino manager, with operations in Arizona, North Carolina, Kansas and San Diego.  

Across the country, 28 million adults belong to the firm’s customer loyalty program, essentially a frequent gambler program, and Loveman said 2.6 million of them live within 150 miles of Point Molate, providing a solid customer base even before the doors open.  

In addition to a casino with 2,500 to 3,000 slot machines and 125 to 160 table games, Harrah’s would run its own 350-400 room hotel at Point Molate. Another hotelier and Upstream partner, Lowe’s Entertainment, will operate the remainder of the site’s 1,100 rooms. 

Many in the audience applauded when he finished his pitch, and Richmond Vice Mayor Richard L. Griffin offered special praise for Loveman’s accessibility during negotiations. “In my 25 years (of public service), we’re never before been able to meet with a CEO and discuss the plans in detail.” 

Next up were Guidiville Tribal Chair Merleen Sanchez and Michael Derry, CEO of Black Oak Development, the tribe’s corporate arm. 

After a brief introduction by Sanchez, Derry described the tribe’s history and the illegal termination of its reservation near Ukiah by the Department of the Interior four decades ago. Though its status was restored in 1991, the tribe remains landless. 

If the casino deal survives the legal and political processes, the once-landless tribe will become Richmond’s largest employer, Derry said.  

Red, Gold and Diamond 

Derry was followed by former Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, who appeared in a red mini-skirt and sporting Christian Dior pumps (the designer label prominent in rather large brass plates), and heavy gold jewelry—including a pricey necklace, a ring dominated by a three-carat or so canary yellow diamond and a gaudy Chanel pin with gold tassels. 

Jones—who ran a car dealership before her entry into politics—became the subject of no less than eight ethics hearings (none sustained) during her reign as Sin City’s chief executive. A prominent Democrat and friend of former President Bill Clinton, her political career ended with a failed gubernatorial run, paving the way for the current mayor, former mob lawyer Oscar Goodman. 

Today she’s a senior vice president of Harrah’s in charge of communications and travels the country helping Harrah’s sell its gaming proposals to legislatures and city councils, as well as campaigning against increased gambling. 

The Well-Connected Lawyer 

Last to speak before the meeting was thrown open to the 67 people who’d signed up for the public comment period was John Knox, a partner with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, a powerfully connected law firm that specializes in representing government agencies in bond issues and other complex financial negotiations. 

A Sept. 6, 2002 feature in New York Lawyer, headlined “Firm Cashes In On Relationships With Politicos,” detailed Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe’s substantial campaign contributions, and the substantial fees it earned—such as $147,000 from Pittsburg during the 2001-2000 California legislative session. 

The son of a legendary figure in California Democratic politics, former Assembly floor leader of the same name, Knox served as the Richmond’s hired gun during pact negotiations. His Power Point presentation was heavy on text and bullet points (unlike those of Levine and Loveman, who alternated flashier graphics with their own bullet points.) 

Knox carefully pointed out that while the accord says the tribe must submit their designs to the city for review, they alone have the final say on whether they heed whatever the city proposes. The city also has to pay for site maintenance, which currently runs about $500,000 a year, half of Upstream’s million-dollar-a-year option fee. 

Then it was time for the public. 

The Boosters 

While the strongest support came from organized labor and Richmond’s job-starved African American community, many speakers favored the casino as a much-needed jolt to jump-start the city into prosperity. 

While Rev. Andre Shumake of the North Richmond Missionary Baptist Church acknowledged that he didn’t like gambling, he said that in a neighborhood where community centers had closed and people are “still reeling from the shooting death of (athlete) Terrence Kelly and the fact that a 15-year-old resident is accused of the crime. . .we can’t afford the luxury of principle when our young men and women are dying on the street.” 

Marshall Walk III turned in signatures he’d collected in support of the casino from 500 youths he had approached on Cutting Boulevard. 

Labor proponents included officers of the AFL-CIO of Contra Costa County, the Richmond Police Management Association, the building trades unions, and Jim Russey, the well connected political powerhouse from Firefighters Local 188. 

Bonnie Daily, a 28-year resident, seemed to endorse the project partly as an act of protest again ChevronTexaco. Daily blasted the project’s courtroom opponent and the city’s largest source of jobs as “a bully in this town for a long time. The concerns they have expressed have been fabricated.” 

City Council candidate Kathy “Storm” Scharff waxed rhapsodic, praising Levine’s plan as “a gift from heaven” to a debt-plagued city that “could make us the Monte Carlo by the Bay.” 

“We cannot lose with it,” she declared. 

African American council candidate Tony Thurman called the proposal “a critical opportunity for the City of Richmond”—most notably, jobs for his would-be constituents. 

But Thurman added a word of caution, calling for the creation of an official commission, “a community accountability group to make sure the agreement is properly implemented.” 

The Opposition  

A third council candidate, Gayle McLaughlin of the Richmond Progressive Alliance, made her position clear the moment she walked up to the microphone. 

“Gambling has a history of destroying societies,” she said. “Gambling does not create wealth, it merely redistributes it—mostly from the have-nots to the haves. You’re gambling with the future of our community and you have no right to do that.” 

McLaughlin also scorned ChevronTexaco’s offer of $34 million as “a disingenuous act from an arm of the war machine.” 

Opposition largely derived from a combination of moral and environmental concerns, as well as McLaughlin’s cynicism about the notion of corporate benevolence. 

Charles Smith called Tuesday night’s gathering a “sham meeting” from a short-sighted opportunistic government.” 

Several faces were familiar from the oil firm’s carefully staged Aug. 13 outdoor press conference, where the counter-offer was first floated: Norman La Force appeared for the Sierra Club, Arthur Feinstein for the Golden Gate Audubon Society, Robert Cheasty of Citizens for the East Shore State Park and Save the Bay co-founder Sylvia McLaughlin. 

Richmond resident Soula Culver, daughter of a Native American father and an outspoken environmentalist, said “it’s a shame that the only way a Native American can make money is to hook up with ripoff artists” and blasted the casino agreement as “a deal city hall crafted behind closed doors with an out-of-town developer.” 

Dean O’Hair, spokesman for Richmond’s ChevronTexaco refinery, detailed the firm’s opposition, beginning the claim cited in their successful plea for the Temporary Restraining Order blocking the sale; namely that Richmond’s pact violated California law requiring that government-owned property must first be offered to other public agencies before it can be sold to private parties. 

O’Hair also charged that the pact doesn’t require Upstream to build anything, nor does it mandate that they hire and train a workforce from the local community—only that they expend “reasonable effort” to do so. 

The Non-Deal Deal 

When the last speaker left the podium at 11:46 p.m., the council voted to extend the meeting until 12:30, then retired behind closed doors to work on the legal wording of a resolution from Councilmember Nathaniel Bates. 

When they reassembled in Council Chambers a 12:16, Interim City Attorney Everett Jenkins read the final result, spelling out the council’s intent to sign the agreement whenever the court gives its approval. 

New language promised that the citizens of surrounding communities will “strongly benefit” from construction and ongoing jobs at the resort complex. 

The language also pave the way for the city to “conduct negotiations in conformity with the (state) Surplus Property Act” should the judge agree with ChevronTexaco. 

New language was inserted promising permanent public access to the 150 acres of open space and shoreline on the property. 

Insisting on being heard over the initial objections of Mayor Irma L. Anderson, Councilmember Tom Butt sought confirmation that the agreement would obligate the council to offer the land under the Surplus Property Act, and that the resolution didn’t vest any legal rights with the developer. 

On receiving reassurance from Jenkins, Butt joined his fellow councilmembers in a unanimous vote.?

Willard Middle School appears headed towards a distinction it could do without: the fourth school in Berkeley to run afoul of President Bush’s No Child Left Behind Law. 

District officials said Wednesday that after failing to meet federal achievement standards two years running, Willard will probably have to draft an improvement plan, offer students the chance to transfer, and provide extra funding for staff development. 

When a school enters program improvement status, it means that the district must evaluate the school’s teaching and administration practices and devise a program to raise student performance to avoid further penalties. If the school continues to fail for five consecutive years the district could face a state take-over of the school. 

“It doesn’t look too good [for Willard],” said District Curriculum Director Neil Smith, who wouldn’t confirm that the school would enter year one of federally-mandated “program improvement” until he received official word from state education authorities. 

Three elementary schools already penalized under the federal testing regime also received failing marks and face more severe consequences than Willard. Cragmont Elementary, now in year two of program improvement status, must continue working on its improvement plan and provide supplemental services to eligible students. Washington, now in year three, will likely need to revamp its curriculum, but could face a staff overhaul or outside takeover. Rosa Parks Elementary, now in year four, underwent a massive staff overhaul by the district last spring. 

News that nearly one-third of its schools might now be labeled failing underscored a disappointing performance by Berkeley students on the California Standards Test, released Tuesday by the California Board of Education.  

While Berkeley still bested the average district scores in the county and state, the gap is closing. On the state’s Academic Performance Index (API) which grades schools and districts on a scale of 1-to-1000, Berkeley Unified scored 731, the same as last year. Meanwhile, across the county, scores rose 11 points to 724 and statewide scores jumped 10 points to 693.  

However, the state’s academic indicators mean little under the more punitive system established by No Child Left Behind. While the state system measures progress based on improvement by all students from one year to the next, the federal law instead bases a school’s success on the percentage of students who meet proficiency standards in math and English. 

Under No Child Left Behind, schools that repeatedly fail to make “adequate yearly progress” (AYP) face increasingly strict reform. Subpar participation in testing or a failure by poor students, English learners or any statistically significant racial group to reach performance goals prevents a school from making AYP under the law. 

To actually face punishment, however, a school must receive federal Title 1 money doled out to schools with high percentages of poor children and fail in the same area two years in a row. All Berkeley elementary and middle schools receive some form of Title I assistance. 

Different measures of performance for state and federal testing systems can lead to mixed messages about Berkeley schools. Cragmont, for instance, saw its API increase from 743 to 787—the fifth highest score among district elementary schools. That wasn’t enough, however, to keep the school from advancing to year two in program improvement under No Child Left Behind. 

Cragmont—one of just two schools in the district to have five statistically significant ethnic and socioeconomic subgroups—failed to meet English standards for its English learners population. Only 13.2 percent (seven out of 53) scored proficient or above.  

Required proficiency thresholds for students in elementary and middle schools are 13.6 percent for English and 16 percent for math. The thresholds must increase gradually until 2014 when all students must test proficient. 

“We’re a little frustrated,” said Cragmont Principal Jason Lustig. “We figure if we keep improving we won’t have problems.” 

The other Berkeley schools penalized under federal law had less of a silver lining. Washington, which like Cragmont failed the test last year based only on its participation rate, backslid this year. Only nine percent of African Americans and 11.2 percent of socio-economically disadvantaged students at the school scored proficient in English. 

Rosa Parks improved 13 points to 666 on the state measure, but failed to reach proficiency levels for five subgroups of students. African American students, as a group, and socio-economically disadvantaged students, as a group, failed to meet the math requirement and Latino, English learners and socio-economically disadvantaged students failed, as groups, to meet set thresholds on the English test. 

All three middle schools improved their overall state scores, but for the second straight year they saw African American students, as a group, performed dismally in math.  

At Willard, eight percent of African American students (19 out of 235) scored proficient. At King 14.7 percent were proficient and at Longfellow 15.4 percent met federal standards. Both schools managed to avoid Willard’s apparent fate because the socio-economically disadvantaged students at those schools met set goals on the tests. Just 12.9 percent of socio-economically disadvantaged students at Willard scored proficient on math, the second consecutive year the subgroup failed the test.  

Scores at Berkeley High dropped 16 points to 709 on the state performance index. 

Other disappointments for the district included LeConte and Oxford elementary schools, both of which saw their state scores plummet by more than 30 points. Poor students at LeConte failed to reach proficiency in English, putting the school at risk of entering program improvement status if it suffers a repeat performance next year. 

Oxford, which last year boasted the highest overall score in the district, this year claimed the title of biggest achievement gap between African American and white students. Eighty-one percent of whites were proficient on English and 79 percent on math, compared to 15 percent and 20 percent for African Americans.  

Smith noted that over the past five years Berkeley’s API scores have risen steadily and played down the significance year-to-year fluctuations. “Especially in the smaller elementary schools 25 percent of students tested are different from the year before. That’s a significant chunk,” he said. 

On the brighter side, Thousand Oaks Elementary—Berkeley’s other school with five statistically significant subgroups—passed with flying colors and raised its state ranking 37 points to 769. Jefferson Elementary improved its state score 45 points to 845, the highest tally in the district. 

Berkeley also appears to have dodged the attendance bullet. After 12 of its 16 schools failed to meet the 95 percent participation threshold last year in all of their subgroups, this year only seven schools failed on participation and none appeared to have been thrust into program improvement status for a participation violation. 

?

Last October Berkeley swimmers—fresh from a six-month campaign of chlorine-infested fundraising—presented the City Council with a gift they couldn’t refuse: cold hard cash.  

Twenty-seven thousand dollars to be exact, enough to help prevent the scheduled winter closure of Willard Pool. 

In June the council paid them back as only a cash strapped city could. They announced the winter closure of both Willard and West Campus pools, leaving swimmers only the jam-packed King Pool from November through May. 

This year, the council’s passage of another pool-busting budget caused barely a ripple at city pools for months, but when the signs went up and the letters sent out about the impending closures, a tidal wave began to mount. 

Now, in a deal struck with the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation at a Tuesday meeting, swimmers have six weeks to raise $13,316 to save neighborhood access to the West Campus pool, located at Addison and Curtis streets.  

Berkeley swimmers were slower off the starting block this year and have already conceded Willard Pool, at Telegraph Avenue and Derby Street, which would have required a $70,000 cash infusion. Their struggle is emblematic of the challenge to maintain public recreation when time and money are in short supply. 

“I think this is the best we can get,” said Bill Hamilton, a Willard swimmer, who helped organize last year’s drive to save his local pool. “If they cut West Campus, it will be much harder to recover. The people in charge wouldn’t know what they were losing.” 

The reason West Campus remains financially salvageable is that the city—much to the swimmers’ frustration—planned to close the pool to the public but keep the pool heated and opened for private swim groups like the Berkeley Bears youth swim team which pays the city $22,000 a year in rent. Willard on the other hand is scheduled only to house a shower program for the homeless. 

“[West Campus] was a tough call”, said Parks and Recreation Director Marc Seleznow. “From my point of view we were just trying to save labor costs.”  

Pools in Berkeley have always been a financial black hole. For the current fiscal year, based on the presumed winter closures, Seleznow projected that the pools will cost the city $830,000 a year and bring in only $347,700. Although usage and fees are up, so is the cost of natural gas used to keep the pools heated, he said. 

Lap swimmers who use the public pools must buy a monthly pass for $68 or pay $4.50 for each visit. 

Compounding the problem is that the city’s most logical financial partner, and potentially the swimmer’s most influential political ally—the Berkeley Unified School District, owner of the city-managed pools—droped out of the swim instruction business last year. 

“There’s no money for it,” said district spokesperson Mark Coplan. 

An agreement signed in 1991 between the district and city pledged both sides to reimburse one another for use of each other’s facilities, but neither side has bothered to make payments. Under the 1991 agreement the district was supposed to fund a portion of the electricity, gas and water expenses, estimated to cost $80,000 a year, for school-sponsored water programs. 

With money in short supply, South Berkeley’s Willard Pool and West Berkeley’s West Campus Pool have become endangered species each of the past three springs. In 2002, swimmers, armed with goggles, filled the council’s chamber’s and in an election year, pressured the council to reverse its decision to close both pools. Last year, the council voted to close Willard, but swimmers banded together to raise enough money and increase programming to spare the pool. 

For swimmers in South and West Berkeley, their anger at this year’s proposed winter pool closings is fueled in part by the perennial choice to keep open North Berkeley’s King Pool. 

“King is always the sacred cow,” said longtime Willard swimmer Barbara Traylor. “Why should South Berkeley always have to suck it up?” 

Seleznow didn’t have the statistics, but he said King annually attracts the most money and houses the most programs. Willard, conversely, is mainly used for lap swim, while West Campus houses the Berkeley Adult Masters program, which brings upwards of 80 swimmers to the pool.  

“That’s why we need West Campus Pool,” said Masters coach Blythe Lucero. “We wouldn’t want to bump people from King.” 

Seleznow said he’d be open to alternating pool closures in future years so South and West Berkeley swimmers don’t face the brunt of the pool closures. 

Traditionally Berkeley only kept King open in the winter. In the early 1990s they opened the other two pools for winter swimming under pressure from swimmers demanding swimming access in South and West Berkeley. 

Winter pool closures aren’t unheard of elsewhere in California. Oakland, with nearly quadruple Berkeley’s population has seven public pools, but keeps only two available to the public from November to April. 

With the city earlier this year demanding that each department cut its budget by about 10 percent to close a $10 million deficit in its general fund, recreational programs have taken a hit. While athletic fields and basketball courts remain open, the department has had to cut structured activities that require paid supervision, Seleznow said. 

Berkeley’s ability to preserve access has rested primarily on the organization of the swimmers, which unraveled this year. Unlike in previous years, swimmers didn’t lobby the council or offer their services to keep pools open. 

“We got burned out,” Traylor said. “People have jobs and a life. We don’t get paid to go to these meetings.” 

Now with many of the veterans of past pool wars in permanent retirement, a new crop of swimming advocates is planning a final dash to save West Campus. 

They’ve scheduled a 24-hour Swim-A-Thon for early October, which they hope will raise enough get them to next winter. 

“We’re in this for the long term,” said Mark Pingree, who is helping organize the effort. “We know next year won’t be the end of our troubles.” 

One of the longest serving police officers in recent Berkeley history will go out as with one of the briefest reigns as police chief. 

Roy Meisner, 55, announced his retirement Wednesday, effective Dec. 31, after more than three decades in the Berkeley Police Department, the last two serving as Berkeley’s top cop.  

“I’ve been doing this 32 years and it’s time,” said Meisner. He said he had taken the job thinking he’d stay five years, but decided it was time to pass the job over to someone who would be in it for the long term. 

“It’s time to do strategic planning and when I looked five years out, I had to ask is that me leading the department or is that someone else?” he said. 

Meisner said he didn’t approach the job as a transitional leader, but came to feel like his “number one job was to prepare my successor.” 

Meisner becomes the latest to join the recent exodus of top administrators from city government. In the past few months City Clerk Sherry Kelly, Fire Chief Reginald Garcia and Human Resources Director Nikki Spillane have all announced their plans to retire. 

City Manager Phil Kamlarz attributed the slew of resignations to the city’s generous retirement benefits, which are especially lucrative for police officers like Meisner. “He’s working for free right now,” said Kamlarz, referring to Meisner’s city-funded pension.  

State law mandates that Meisner receive 90 percent of his annual salary, listed last January at $162,230, for an annual pension of at least $146,007. Additionally, through the city’s Supplemental Retirement Income Plan, which currently sets aside annual payments of $2,170 per employee in addition to salary, Meisner could get an additional six-figure payout. 

Berkeley will conduct a nationwide search for Meisner’s replacement and will consider in-house applications, Assistant City Manager Arrietta Chakos said. She expected the search to extend past Meisner’s final day on the job, she added, making the appointment of an interim chief likely. 

Speculation among police watchers is that Captain Stephanie Fleming, a Berkeley native and 26-year department veteran, would be the Berkeley officer most likely to win the promotion. Earlier this year, she was the point person on the department’s failed attempt to start a canine unit. If appointed chief, Fleming would be the first woman to lead the city’s police force. 

Kamlarz said whoever succeeds Meisner will have a tough act to follow. “Roy’s one of the people whose judgment I can trust on any given issue,” he said. 

Meisner started his career in 1972 as a patrol officer in a very different Berkeley.  

“The riot years had turned the community and officers against each other,” he said. “’Pigs off campus was the phrase.’ Now it’s just the opposite,” he said. 

Though Meisner doesn’t live in Berkeley and wouldn’t give his city of residence, he said 32 years of policing Berkeley had left an indelible mark. “There are many people who raised me in this community and shaped my thinking on the issues,” he said. As chief, Meisner said he “emphasized basic responsibility about enforcing the law and doing it courteously.” 

Meisner assumed the top job under tough circumstances: The era of city cutbacks was just underway and improved retirement benefits resulted in a much younger, less experienced force. 

“We really developed a team approach to handling the cuts,” said Meisner who praised his union for agreeing to a city-requested salary giveback. In the latest round of cuts, Meisner lost 13 police officer jobs that were already vacant. 

For the new officers, Meisner said he revisited departmental orders and changed them to further one of his chief tasks: restoring community policing in Berkeley. 

Councilmember Kriss Worthington credited Meisner with reviving the program, which he said had been ignored under former Chief Dash Butler.  

Like his predecessor, Meisner also caught flak for the department’s reputation of not divulging crime details to residents. Meisner oversaw the department putting its police log online, and said the department would become better at dispensing information to the community when it replaces its outdated crime analysis system. 

Asked about a specific memory, Meisner, like several veteran Berkeley officers immediately recalled the night of Sept. 27, 1990 when a lone gunman open fire and took 33 hostages at Henry’s Publick House, a Telegraph Avenue Bar. As operations commander, Meisner was never on the scene for the seven hour stand-off that ended when a SWAT team stormed the bar and killed the gunman, but that didn’t diminish what how he felt about the work of his fellow officers. “You celebrate the great people you work with,” he said. “I was never as proud of the department.” 

›

State environmental officials threw a major stumbling path on the road to a controversial massive high-rise residential complex near the Richmond shoreline this week, halting a crucial excavation and raising the specter that work might not recommence till spring. 

Cherokee-Simeon, the partnership of a Marin County developer and a Colorado-based firm specializing in development on restored brownfields (i.e., cleaned-up toxic waste sites), have only September and October to excavated contaminated soils from shoreline marshland. 

November marks the start of the nesting season for the Clapper Rail, an endangered shorebird regularly observed along the Richmond waterfront. After that, the dig could only take placed when the nestlings have taken wing in the spring. 

Barbara J. Cook, the Berkeley-based chief of Northern California coastal cleanup for the state Department of Toxic Substances Control, triggered the halt Monday with a four-page letter to the Regional Water Quality Control Board.  

Assembymember Loni Hancock followed up the next day with a letter of her own, asking the board to halt the project until Cook’s questions were resolved. 

IRG Environmental is handling the cleanup, following a plan produced by LFR Levine-Fricke, an Emeryville-based toxic cleanup specialty firm once headed by would-be Point Molate casino developer James D. Levine of Berkeley. 

The original cleanup plan was formulated when Simeon Properties targeted the site for an industrial park, and Cook said it failed to take into account the more recent plans for housing—which requires a higher set of standards because of round-the-clock occupancy and the presence of children. 

Cook also cited the plan’s failure to spell out what would happen to the water in the marsh mud excavated during the cleanup. 

While the cleanup plans called for processing the mud on site and burying it under the soil cap already encasing burned pyrite cinders on the site, Cook questioned whether that could be done without a hazardous waste permit from her agency’s Hazardous Waste Management Branch. 

Cook also wanted greater public access to air-monitoring results from sensors on the site, particularly for residents without computers and therefore unable to access the web site created for that purpose. 

The toxics expert also wants more information about the developer’s plan for control of contaminated dust during the cleaning, tighter standards for exposure levels permissible to site workers and the surrounding community and an explanation for the company’s selection of contaminants to be monitored in the air. 

Residents have protested the presence of a view-blocking high-rise on the waterfront and environmental activists have expressed concerns that the project and its tenants might drive out the endangered and threatened species that frequent the area. 



Rapid buses along regular streets versus dedicated high-speed bus lanes, finances, safety, driver accountability, air quality, and dwindling bus routes are expected to be some of the issues that will shape two contested AC Transit Board races this November. 

Two political newcomers are running against the incumbent in the at-large race, while the District 2 incumbent faces an expected tough challenge against the bus system’s drivers’ and mechanics’ union president. 

In addition, under Measure BB, area voters will be asked to increase the parcel tax by $2-a-parcel to support the transit agency, which operates a $250 million budget with 1,200 drivers operating 800 buses. 

In the at-large seat, seven-ear incumbent H.E. Christian Peeples is opposed by paralegal James K. Muhammad and Rebecca Rae Oliver, a student and technical editor. 

AC Transit at-large candidates run from the district as a whole, from Pinole at the northern tip to Fremont at the southern, at its midpoint going as far east as Pleasanton, but for the most part staying west of the foothills. 

Peeples, an antitrust and real estate and securities fraud attorney, is active in the AC Transit Bus Riders Union. “I think the main issue in the race is explaining to people what’s been going on with our finances,” Peeples said. “Why there have been cuts in bus service. Although people understand to a certain extent because of cuts in other areas of local government, I think people are quite concerned.” 

Peeples was also critical of the transit agency’s public information campaign concerning its new buses. “Quite frankly, we have done a terrible job in helping passengers adjust to the new buses. I’m trying hard with our staff to get them to do something about that. They’re good buses, but they take some getting used to.” He lists what he called equitable service distribution as another of his key continuing issues. 

“In the past,” he said, “we had distributed service largely on complaints. And it turns out—not too surprisingly—that people who are wealthier and better educated are better at writing complaints. And so we had a lot of pretty empty buses running through more affluent areas and in some of the poor areas of town, we had people literally not being able to get on a bus, particularly in the morning rush hours. So we’ve had to readjust and put bus service where people actually ride it.” 

Muhammad, who says he has worked for paralegal firms in the past but is currently working independently, said that the new busses are “not safe.” He also complained about the “changing of the destination of bus lines,” a problem often talked about by passengers waiting at area bus stops. 

Muhammad also said that “a lot of people who don’t even ride the bus” are part of AC Transit’s problem. “They create issues to try to divert the attention of the general public who do use the bus, and their primary interest is not to let the right person get in there [on the board].” 

Rebecca Rae Oliver could not be contacted in connection with this article. 

District 2 

Former Emeryville mayor Greg Harper is running for his second term on the AC Transit Board representing Ward 2 against Amalgamated Transit Union Local 192 president Christine Zook. 

Ward 2 encompasses Emeryville, Piedmont, and Oakland from the Berkeley border to a jagged southern border running from Park Boulevard in the hills down to 42nd Avenue in the lower flats, as well as the southeastern corner of Berkeley from Cedar Street to the Oakland border along Telegraph Avenue. 

Harper, an attorney, believes he is being targeted by the union both because he has been tough on enforcing driver behavior codes, but also because “the drivers’ union would like to take out a director; if they can beat one, it sends a message to the other directors.” 

Harper said that although most of the district’s drivers do their job well, he said there were “far too many rider complaints of incidents involving driver accountability” from what he called “a small number of drivers.” In his campaign statement on file at the Alameda County Registrars Office, Harper said that “AC Transit is now pressuring the few remaining drivers who pass up passengers, are rude to passengers, run lights, or abuse benefits to change or find other work. 

“You’ve got to be able to get drivers to understand that they can’t do these kinds of things, and that’s something for which [my opponent] has taken great umbrage [as union president]. She really wants to be able to protect drivers, but I say that a good, strong union does self-discipline. And this union isn’t doing that.” 

Harper lists the new Rapid Bus service—currently operating on San Pablo and “fully funded” for Telegraph, Broadway, and International Boulevard, and the pending arrival of gas-electric hybrid buses as two of the promises he has kept to voters to “put passengers first.” 

Zook, a 12-year transit union president and a 27-year AC Transit employee, says “equity in justice in transportation” is the key issue in the campaign. “Voters [in the East Bay] decided to fund transit through taxes so that people, not profits, would be the bottom line,” she writes in her candidate statement. “Yet the current board has voted repeatedly for massive service reductions, fare increases, and contracting out service despite the needs of riders and workers.” 

She also disputed the success of the Rapid Bus service. “It’s not finished yet,” she said, “notwithstanding what my opponent is saying about it being completed. Rapid Bus is supposed to be on San Pablo Avenue, but there’s not nearly the number of shelters, LED readouts for the time until the next bus is coming, the district isn’t cleaning up the shelters that are out there already. And the other facet of the Rapid Bus system that has yet to be implemented is the proof of payment system.” 

Proof of payment—a system used in several local light-rail systems such as that operated by VTA in the South Bay—allows passengers to purchase a transit ticket before they get on the bus, but does not require them to display that ticket when they get on the bus. Enforcement is done by periodic checks by transit police, who levy hefty fines for all passengers who cannot produce a ticket. Zook said implementation of such a system would speed up the Rapid Bus service considerably. 

“I’m real concerned that AC Transit and Harper in particular are going around saying that Rapid Bus on San Pablo is complete, when, in fact, it’s not,” Zook said. “They have not fulfilled their commitments to the cities along that corridor. I’m really interested in making sure that the district maintains those commitments.”Ó

It felt perfectly appropriate when Raul Cardenas bent down and kissed the stairs of San Jose’s Superior Court. Twice. State Drug Agent Michael Walker, the killer of his brother Rudy Cardenas, had just been indicted for voluntary manslaughter after a week-long open grand jury session.  

It was a triumph for the grass-roots movement to stop needless police shootings and may mark a turning point in police accountability in the San Francisco Bay Area. A new fraternity of families—Latino, black and Asian—who have lost loved ones to police shootings cheered the indictment.  

From the beginning, the Cardenas family knew the district attorney's office would be more accountable if the grand jury hearings were open. This was a lesson learned from the family of Cau Bich Tran, a 25-year-old Vietnamese woman who was shot by a police officer in her kitchen in San Jose in July 2003. The Tran family pushed for an open grand jury. Tran’s was only the second open hearings in San Jose history.  

Although Officer Chad Marshall wasn’t indicted for Tran’s death, the open hearings led to media coverage and touched off a public debate that went beyond the Vietnamese community. “The Tran family even wrote letters to the district attorney’s office about getting our grand jury case open,” says Regina Cardenas, Rudy’s 26-year-old daughter.  

Gary Woods, of the Coalition for Justice and Accountability, says the multiethnic group has effectively challenged the police. “The police have become very good at spin when they can target a specific community.” Woods recalls that after Tran's shooting San Jose police responded to the bad publicity “by placing ads on Vietnamese radio within 24 hours and sending reps to community centers to say how unfortunate the incident was.” He says that with a movement that extends to Latino, black and other Asian communities, “the police have more pressure on them to actually change things.”  

When the families marked the first anniversary of Tran’s death, the memorial service grew to include the family of Chila Amaya, a 35-year-old Latina from Union City; the family of Cammerin Boyd, a 29-year-old black man who was killed in May in San Francisco; and the family of Rudy Cardenas, who was shot in the back by Walker in downtown San Jose.  

The families testified to their common experiences—the needless shooting of a loved one, their inability to get answers, the vilification of the deceased in the media as drug users, mentally unstable or criminals, and court sessions that move painfully slow. The gathering was remarkably diverse. When Tran was killed, the memorial service was almost exclusively Vietnamese. Now, the families have a new collective identity.  

Lonny Amaya’s sister, Chila, 35, was shot by a policeman in 1998 in her house in Union City. When Lonny first heard about Tran’s death he went to her apartment in downtown San Jose. “I met her boyfriend, and we just stood outside arm in arm for hours. I knew exactly what he was going through.” He adds, “Color stops being an issue once the officer pulls the trigger.”  

Two months ago, the Union City Council gave Chila’s shooter, Officer Woodward, an “Officer of the Year” award. The Amayas, led by Chila’s mother, went to protest. “After my mother yelled at all the officers, the mayor asked her to go out to the lobby. As we were walking, Cammerin Boyd's mother came. I introduced them and they both cried and held each other,” Lonny says.  

Marylon Boyd finishes the story. “At the time, right after Cammerin’s death, I was so traumatized, I felt like my voice had been taken. Seeing Mrs. Amaya, this small woman getting in their faces, gave me my voice back. I told her, ‘I get strength from you.’ She said, ‘Don’t worry, later the words will come.’”  

Marolyn’s son, Cammerin, 29, was killed last May by undercover officers, as he was getting out of a car. Cammerin was a paraplegic from a prior accident, a fact Marylon is certain the police were aware of.  

Marylon knows the ties the families are making in the larger community. “When I go to the shops near my office that have Vietnamese owners, they tell me how happy they are to see me on TV talking also about Cau Tran. They felt there was not enough attention on her case, and my voice was helping getting their story out as well as Cammerin’s.” 

The Coalition recently met in the San Jose Vietnamese Community Center to discuss Walker’s grand jury indictment with Tran’s lawyer. They planned a meeting with the San Jose Independent Police Auditor about the unusually long delay in medical help to both Rudy Cardenas and Cau Tran. They had already pressured the city to invest in non-lethal weaponry to prevent more needless deaths. Turning to the mostly Vietnamese audience Marylon Boyd said, “The indictment is not just a victory for our family, but it's for all of our families.” 

Ray Jayadev is the director of Debug, a magazine for young people in California’s Silicon Valley, and a project of Pacific News Service. 

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Iran is the main motivational force behind the political ambitions of fiery Shi’ite cleric Muqtada Al Sadr, whose militants recently engaged U.S. and interim government forces in bloody battles in Najaf. Al Sadr, who lacks political stature, rebelled to ensure a place for himself in the new Iraq before the January elections. Indeed, through the fighting he escalated, his prestige rose, and the interim Iraqi government had to negotiate with him to end the fighting. Not bad for Iran’s main ally in Iraq.  

Unlike the first Iraqi Shiite uprising last April, sparked when the Americans tried to arrest Al Sadr, this time Al Sadr himself started the rebellion in Najaf. He cleverly led the Americans into armed face-offs by threatening to attack oil installations and declaring sovereignty in three major southern districts: Al Basrah, Al Amarah, and Al Naseriyah.  

In the first uprising the Americans underestimated the extent of Al Sadr’s support base. This time around the U.S. misread his inelegance. The Americans thought Al Sadr’s provocation was a good opportunity to get rid of him. They were wrong. Ayatollah Al Sistani, Iraq’s most respected religious leader, who sees Iran (via Al Sadr) as a threat to his religious authority, even willingly went on a three-week medical trip to London on the same day the Americans attacked Al Sadr’s Mahdi army. Analysts saw this trip as an implicit blessing on the U.S. move.  

Al Sadr, however, turned the attack to his advantage. At the peak of the fighting, he gave a speech in the Holy Shrine in Najaf, wearing the white clothes of martyrdom, his hand wrapped in white bandage for injuries he sustained the during American attacks. He vowed to fight “until the last drop of his blood.” Thus, Al Sadr gained tremendous support—he was widely seen as a freedom fighter willing to die with his men to free the country and the holy sites from foreign occupation.  

This explains why Al Sistani was extremely angry at the destruction in Najaf and intervened. He called on Iraqis to go to the holy city en mass to show that he was the one that still mattered most.  

Nonetheless, Al Sadr’s political stature was bolstered while the interim government’s was weakened. Al Sadr established himself as a leader who can’t be marginalized in a new Iraq, even by Al Sistani.  

This was a major objective of Iran, which is trying to make Al Sistani change his religious school of thought. Al Sistani, who had to coexist with Saddam Hussein, evolved the “Welih Al Jozeah” school of religious thought, wherein the ayatollah is only in charge of religious affairs. By contrast, in Iran the ayatollah is the supreme leader in both religious and state affairs—“Weliat Al Faqeh.” 

Iran’s aim to create another Hezbolah movement in Iraq depends on its ability to make Al Sistani accept Al Sadr as his military arm, thus re-creating the unique relationship that exists between the Grand Ayatollah of Lebanon and his charismatic young leader Nasrallh, who functions as his military leader.  

This end game is viewed as a threat by the U.S., which could face the same fate that Israel eventually faced in southern Lebanon. It is also seen as a threat by Arab regimes that have a long history of oppressing their Shiite populations. American success in preventing Iran from extending its influence in Iraq depends on the U.S.’ ability to muster the Arab regimes’ support for Iyad Allawi’s interim government.  

Al Sadr’s threat to declare sovereignty in Iraq’s Shiite region compelled some Arab media to warn against increased civil unrest not only in Iraq, but also in Arab countries with Shiite populations like Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon as well as other Muslim countries like Pakistan. The London-based newspaper Al Sharq Al Awsat called this the threat of the “Shiite Crescent.”  

The U.S. occupation of Iraq has already created increased tension between the Shiites and Sunnis, which in some cases has exploded into violence. In Yemen, where the Shiites are 30 percent of the population, an uprising led by the Shiite leader Hussein Al-Houthy, who has been fighting government forces since June, has claimed 900 lives and injured thousands of people.  

Saudi Arabia’s Shiites (15 percent of the population) have a history of fighting with the government. The most violent clash was in Nov. 1979, when the government killed dozens of Shiite civilians while crushing an uprising inspired by Ayatollah Seyed Al-Khamenei’s Islamic revolution in Iran. In the wake of Shiite empowerment in Iraq, the Saudi Shiites have submitted a statement called “Partners in Our Homeland” to Crown Prince Abdullah, with clear demands for their “legitimate rights.”  

The conservative Iran of today, which emerged after the elections last February, is different from the Iran of moderate President Mohammed Khatami, who called for Shiite empowerment through stronger bonds with the Sunni majorities in Islamic and Arab countries. But conservatives encouraging Shiites to rebel for their rights have weakened Khatami.  

This explains why Arab countries in general support Allawi, a secular Shiite. Arab regimes despise Tehran for encouraging Shiites to give up their national allegiances for a transnational Shiite loyalty to the Holy city of Kum—in Iran.  

Jalal Ghazi monitors and translates Arab media for New California Media (a project of Pacific News Service) and LinkTV.  

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Scores of University of California officials, alumni, and friends and admirers of Berkeley alumnus and pioneering African-American educator Ida Louise Jackson packed the sun-filled courtyard of a recently built university apartment building mid-day on Monday, Aug. 30, to celebrate its naming in honor of Jackson.  

“This will be the first building on campus dedicated to an African-American woman,” Professor Mary Ann Mason, dean of the Graduate Division, told the gathering. “She wanted women to climb high. Her name will be remembered here as long as this university goes on.”  

The dedication of the Ida Louise Jackson Graduate House continued a decades-old Berkeley campus tradition of naming student housing for members of the university family who worked to improve student life and whose own lives served as an inspiration to students.  

“We finally have at least the beginning of housing for (single) graduate students,” Mason said. The apartment building was completed a few years ago at the southeast corner of College Avenue and Durant Avenue. 

Dr. Barbara K. Phillips, a friend of Jackson and, like her, a past president of the national Alpha Kappa Alpha organization, called Jackson “a star in the fabric of existence” in her remarks at the ceremony.  

Phillip s said that Jackson, who died in 1996 at the age of 93, once told her, “I have few friends.” Phillips remonstrated, “You have many friends!” Many of them, along with admirers who did not personally know Jackson, were in the audience on Tuesday.  

“I’m sur e we’re all here to say, ‘Well done, Dr. Ida Louise Jackson,” Phillips concluded. “She was an erudite lady, precocious, different…she chose her own way.”  

Speaker Inez Dones, a trustee of the university’s Ida Louise Jackson Fellowship, recalled Jackson’s financial gift to the university in 1972 to establish a fund to help African-American women pursue graduate studies at Cal.  

The purpose of Jackson’s gift, Dones read, was “that educated and professional black people should take the initiative in helpin g less fortunates of the race.”  

Dones noted the support of Graduate Division officers and staff for the Fellowship program and added, “on behalf of Ida whose spirit is here today, I’m thanking you for all of these wonderful things…thank you for the wonderful tribute of naming this beautiful residence.” 

At the end of the ceremony alumnae of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority joined hands around the courtyard, surrounded by the other attendees, and movingly sang their sisterhood’s hymn in Jackson’s memory. 

“This is the best ceremony I’ve been to on this campus,” Mason told an attendee. 

The crowd briefly reassembled along College Avenue where Mason and Dones pulled a cloth from the façade of the building, revealing the new name in metal letters.  

Ida Louis e Jackson grew up financially impoverished in a large Mississippi family. Driven by her parents’ strong belief in education and her own resolve, Jackson completed her first years of college in New Orleans and settled on teaching as a career. 

Before her b irth her father, a carpenter, farmer, and preacher, had narrowly escaped Louisiana after winning a court case against a white man who had fraudulently tried to take his farm. A white neighbor warned the Jackson family that a lynch mob was assembling and t hey fled in the night across the Mississippi. 

In 1918 Jackson moved with her widowed mother to Oakland, following her brothers who told her, she later wrote, “here in California I could get a better education free.” She registered for classes at the Univ ersity of California. 

In a memoir published in the Irving Stone-edited anthology, There Was Light, she warmly recalled the financial gift of a women students service organization that helped her after graduation, and another “source of great joy and insp iration,” the friendship and support of Dean of Women Lucy Stebbins, and Assistant Dean Mary Davidson.  

(All three women—Stebbins, Davidson, and Jackson—would ultimately have student residences named in their honor.) 

Yet Jackson also remembered the experience of “entering classes day after day, sitting beside students who acted as if my seat was unoccupied, showing no sign of recognition, never giving a smile or a nod.”  

To help combat that isolation—she was one of only 17 African American students at Cal in 1920—she and four other African-American women students organized a sorority, the first chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha in the western United States.  

After a semester’s probation they were granted official status and “we began to feel we were a part of things,” she wrote. But “a bruise that did not quickly heal” was the exclusion of the sorority’s picture from the yearbook, paying the required assessment and sitting for the official photographer. 

In 1922 Jackson received her B.A. degree, after two years at Cal. She participated in the traditional Senior Pilgrimage through the campus. “I walked alone, unnoticed by my fellow classmates,” she wrote.  

Jackson then earned her master’s degree at Cal, encouraged by friendly faculty in the School of Educa tion. Her thesis examined the role of sociological and environmental factors in the performance of African-American children on standard intelligence tests.  

She first taught in a segregated school in El Centro, California. Within a year she came back to Oakland to teach as a substitute. She was Oakland’s first African-American public school teacher, and the first African-American woman certified to teach in California’s schools.  

On her first day, when her adult white colleagues protested her presence to the superintendent, two white children from her class appeared at her classroom door at lunch with armloads of geranium blossoms because, they said, “we like you.”  

Some years later Jackson began, with the support of her old sorority, a summer outrea ch program to train and provide school supplies for rural teachers in the Deep South. A health clinic followed, serving thousands. Her work attracted considerable support and publicity, including an invitation to the White House. 

Graduate study at Columb ia and a stint as dean of women at Tuskegee Institute prepared her, she felt, for an administrative position in Oakland’s public schools but she was told “the time is not ripe for a Negro principal.”  

She returned to the classroom, ultimately spending 27 years as an Oakland educator and finally retiring in 1955 from the position of principal of McClymonds High School. 

“I am more than ever convinced that education is the greatest factor in the upward climb of any person or people,” Jackson wrote in the m id-1960s. “My theme song has been: learn, study, read—continuously…to tear down is not to build, as something of value is lost in the individual who seeks to destroy.” 

“The University of California has done for thousands what it has done for me,” she added. “It has enabled me to realize the vast avenues of learning and culture to be explored, and strengthened a desire to try, and in the exploration to take others along on the journey.”?µ

NEW YORK—The streets on day two of the Republican National Convention belonged to the A-31 coalition of affinity groups. A-31, or Aug. 31, was organized to create “a day of nonviolent civil disobedience and direct action,” according to their website. 

The various groups were intent on causing disruption in the streets and at targeted Republican events around New York City. The New York City police were having none of it, though. They took a heavy-handed approach and arrested more than 1,000 demonstrators on this day. 

Many of those arrested were not engaged in civil disobedience and some were not even protesters. More than once police simply announced that “this is an illegal gathering” and began encircling groups of people with orange netting and placing them under arrest. Two hundred were ensnared and arrested en masse in one street action. 

They were attempting to march, without an official permit, from ground zero—site of the World Trade Center—to Madison Square Garden. Others were arrested participating in various civil disobedience-related activities including die-ins, blocking traffic, and unfurling large banners off buildings, including draping one of the famous lions in front of the NYC Public Library with an anti-Bush slogan. Perhaps some of the most chaotic, fun, and creative protesting occurred right outside of Fox News headquarters on Sixth Avenue and 48th Street. 

A “Bill O’Reilly Shut Up-athon” was slated to be held at 4 p.m. on the sidewalk outside of Fox and sponsored by the group Code Pink. The idea seemed simple enough: assemble outside of Bill O’Reilly’s office and chant, “shut up.” O’Reilly is the subject of a recent documentary, OutFoxed, by film-maker Robert Greenwald. His video was originally commissioned by MoveOn.org and first shown in thousands of house parties across America. It has received acclaim from several movie reviewers and now is appearing in movie theaters. But simple this one protest was not. 

The patience of the police as well as the tenacity of the almost 2,000 protesters who attended this one of many counter-convention events was severely tested. Then, Greenwald himself showed up at the Fox News building holding a sign-photo of O’Reilly which read, “Shut up Bill O’Reilly.” 

How this shut up-athon developed is reflective of many street actions. The spontaneity, energy, and sheer chutzpah of the demonstrators is what makes any single event a success. This was but one event called for on a day of multiple planned civil disobedience protests across the city. Of course it was nothing like the peaceful, non-confrontational march of hundreds of thousands through Manhattan on Sunday. People involved on this day of protests were generally young and daring. 

The particular gathering at Fox News included a smorgasbord of inventiveness. Many wore O’Reilly masks so there could be something real to yell “shut up” at. There were costumed Bush Administration look-alikes, a bus complete with a large video screen displaying O’Reilly and all the episodes of his show in which he said “shut up” to his guests, and a 15-member hip-hop band from Seattle, Infernal Noise, which lent an almost carnival-like atmosphere to the gathering.  

Around 4 p.m. about 30 people mingled and milled around. No police were yet in sight. While this was one of the more popular events on this day of direct action, the reasons protesters came seemed to be their palpable outrage at either O’Reilly or Fox News. 

“I’m saying ‘shut up’ to Fox News in general,” Tom Bregman, a Telecom Products Manager from Cornwall, N.Y., said. “Fox News is a propaganda machine for Bush just like Pravda was for Bresnev in the ‘70s.” 

Ann Salmirs, an unemployed consultant from Manhattan came for a slightly different reason. “I want to make a statement because Bush is exploiting 9/11.” 

Roger Anderson, an office worker from San Francisco, was very precise about why he came to make his voice heard. “We’re here to protest Fox News and protest the misperceptions which Fox puts out. We’re going to do a little civil disobedience shut up-athon against Bill O’Reilly,” he said. 

By 4:30 p.m. over a thousand had gathered along with 100 cops. Around this time two Code Pink activists, Medea Benjamin and Andrea Buffa, were arrested and hauled away in one of the ubiquitous police vans that occupy almost every corner of this city. While demonstrators chanted various slogans like, “Shut up, Bill O’Reilly, shut up,” “Fox hates freedom,” “ Interview us,” and “Shut up Fox,” a crescendo of street activity seemed to be reached at 4:40 p.m. At that time there were almost 2,000 protesters and 200 police. 

At 4:50 p.m. a pleased and smiling film director Greenwald appeared and held an impromptu news conference along 48th Street. “We invited him (O’Reilly) down, but like all bullies he didn’t come,” declared Greenwald to the roughly 10 journalists present. “The wonderful thing about O’Reilly is that when you ask him if he ever told his guests to shut up, he denies it. Then we show him the clips.” 

By 5:10 p.m. the police had created a large mobile “pen,” for the protesters. The pen took up one lane of Sixth Avenue and the cops were pushing protesters into it. “Get in the pen or get arrested,” one of them shouted. This behavior on the part of the police has been a recurrent strategy “since Guilliani,” according to the National Coordinator for United For Peace and Justice, Leslie Cagan.  

What happens is a large truck comes in and workers unload heavy metal five-foot sections of fencing material and then put them together rather quickly like the pieces to a child’s erector set. Pieces of this fencing can be seen all over this city, suggesting a former, or impending, war zone. Once “the pen” is built the police begin organized pushing and directing of protesters to get in. The cages appear odd to passers-by, but clearly demarcates us-them zones.  

By 5:15 p.m. the protesters began to evaporate into the Manhattan night and a little while later it was over. Many went to rest up for the coming night’s renewed confrontations with police. Others went to dinner and then home, too tired after a long day of pitched battles with Republican delegates, the news media, and New York police. 

Outfoxed, a recent documentary by filmmaker Robert Greenwald, is a scathing critique of how Fox News conducts its business. It includes many interviews with former Fox employees as well as a few prominent media analysts like Walter Cronkite. Greenwald paid a visit to what was billed as a “Bill O’Reilly Shut Up-athon” this past Tuesday outside of Fox News headquarters in New York City. The Daily Planet stuck a tape recorder in his Greenwald’s face and started asking questions. 

Daily Planet (DP): What has been Fox’s reaction to your movie? 

Robert Greenwald (RG): Fox was mad that we didn’t call them when we were making the movie, and of course, if we did they would have sued us and got us to stop. So, we finished the movie and then we called them to ask them for a comment and they said “No comment.” 

DP: Has there been any reaction at all? From O’Reilly? 

RG: Bill O’Reilly has called me a smear merchant, which I consider a proud honor and award. We haven’t seen any real change in Fox’s behavior, but we expect, over time, there might be. What we’re starting to do is affect the sponsors and we’re seeing an effect in that area. And that’s what makes the most concern to Fox News…it’s that sponsors know that liberals buy cars, they buy soap. And they [sponsors] don’t want to be identified by one political point of view. So, we are extremely hopeful over time and through AlterNet’s lawsuit (Don Hazen of AlterNet was standing nearby) that we will see change. 

DP: How is OutFoxed being distributed? 

RG: OutFoxed was first available on DVD and distributed through Moveon.org and the Center for American Progress. Through AlterNet, with Buzzflash, it is available for people who want to buy it and have house parties. But now it’s also in the theaters. It was number one on Amazon for over two weeks. 

DP: Do you have any reaction to how John McCain singled out one of your colleagues, filmmaker Michael Moore, in his speech the other night? (McCain referred to a certain “disingenuous filmmaker” without realizing Moore was sitting in the press area at Madison Square Garden.) 

RG: I am thrilled that the Republicans are focusing on the most serious issue of the day, which is Michael Moore, rather than on terrorism, lack of jobs, lack of education, and this horrible war that is going on. It just indicates where the priorities are. But on a serious level they are doing what they consistently do. They’re not dealing with the questions that Michael raised which are profound and important. They’re just trying to smear him. It’s what Fox News does. It’s what these guys, and women [Republicans] are doing over and over. Character assassination. 

DP: The film’s subtitle Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism. Why is that? 

RG: Fox News is owned by Rupert Murdoch who owns the News Corporation, which reaches some billion people around the world. And what Murdoch is doing with Fox News is not just being partisan and Republican. There is no news, it’s all opinion. He’s created an opinion station. And to that degree it affects and harms all news. There’s news that is objective facts, there are realities…and what Murdoch does, by design, is mix news and commentary, news and opinions. And you end up saying, ‘Well I can’t tell one from the other therefore it’s all equally valid.’ 

DP: Would you like to make a final comment about Fox? 

RG: I like watching wrestling on television, occasionally. Fox News is mud wrestling for people who have nothing else better to do during the day.›

Leslie Cagan is the National Coordinator for United For Peace and Justice, the group that organized Sunday’s massive anti-Bush rally in New York City. Cagan had been involved in negotiating with city officials to hold a rally in Central Park. She lost that battle, but was feeling exceedingly pleased at the outcome of Sunday’s large showing of protesters. The Daily Planet met Cagan at her cramped ninth floor office at UFPJ’s rabbit warren-like headquarters a few blocks from Madison Square Garden where the Republican National Convention is being held. Cagan was visibly exhausted, yet appeared almost giddy at the success the coalition’s organizing efforts have reaped. On the third day of the convention, activity was everywhere. Phones rang, banners were being made for other rallies, and protest paraphernalia of all kinds was being unpacked and repacked in boxes to be sent out to the next site. Cagan is a busy person and much in demand, even before Sunday. Her phone rang five times during our 20-minute interview. 

Daily Planet (DP): So, how are you feeling? 

Leslie Cagan (LC): Good, a little tired, but good. 

DP: How would you characterize the outcome of last Sunday’s march, (the largest march New York City has seen since 1982)? 

LC: Well, I think Sunday itself was a fabulous day. The numbers were there, like 500,000. It’s not an exact science, but we feel comfortable putting out that figure. It wasn’t just the numbers, the commitment, it was the range of issues that tie it all together under the rubric of the Bush agenda...and the spirit of the day. I think that hundreds of thousands of people came out of that day energized and hopeful. Even with the understanding that the world and the country have major, major serious problems and that things are awful out there in a lot of regards, people still feel hopeful that we could still be strong and get to be strong enough to actually make some change. I think that some of that energy has spilled over into the rest of this week. 

DP: How did United For Peace and Justice actually come together as an organization? 

LC: In October we will be two years old. We came together in the run-up to the Iraq War. We knew that by October of 2002 there was already a great deal of anti-war sentiment and emotion in the country and some of us who have known each other from previous movements got together and said, maybe if we could form a coalition we could make a difference. And sure enough we did. We took off in February of 2003 in New York. We generated hundreds of activities around the country on that day (Feb. 15). 

DP: What happened yesterday (Tuesday)? Why were so many people arrested (about 1,200 by some estimates)? 

LC: I was not actually on the streets yesterday. I was so exhausted from Sunday, so my commentary comes secondhand. It was planned for a long time now. Tuesday (of convention week) was planned for non-violent civil disobedience and a number of groups organized different activities in different parts of the city. The idea was that at a certain time people from different parts of the city were going to try move towards the (Madison Square) Garden and try to get as close as they could. I don’t think anyone got too close. And at different points people were stopped. One interesting tactic police used—they also used it Sunday evening after our demonstration was over on people who were in Times Square protesting the convention people—this new tactic is just sweeping people off the streets. I don’t know how many people were actually planning on doing civil disobedience. I think a lot more people ended up getting arrested than were planning on it. I know two people who were just swept up in this orange (plastic) netting kind of thing and they (police) literally surround people with it and then there you are, like fishing. Fishing for protesters. Some of them (protests) went quite smoothly. There were several die-ins, in which people lie down in the streets and they arrest them. It took a while. 

DP: UFPJ held a picket line this morning outside of the detention center at pier 57. What was that about? 

LC: It’s a detention center that’s an old garage where New York City processes people. 

DP: How are they treating people? 

LC: Well, they’re not beating people. New York City knew for months that demonstrations were being planned. They’ve been planning for months on how to deal with protests. Several months ago, maybe April, I remember the DA’s office went to the City Council and asked for more money because they wanted to be prepare for upwards to a thousand arrests a day. So I suppose the city was prepared for massive arrests. So this is what they prepared, an old garage? It doesn’t make any sense, there’s no cots or beds in there. People are not being processed quickly (over 1800 have been arrested in four days), there’s oil spills from old buses.  

DP: How long are people spending there? 

LC: I think the average is 12 to 18 hours, some longer. 

DP: How do you think Sunday’s march might affect swing voters? 

LC: I think our audience was massive and it was actually a global audience as well. I think what we were hoping to affect, if you were watching on C-SPAN which broadcast the march for four and a half hours, you would see people from all walks of life and maybe say, ‘Oh my God, I can imagine myself marching.’ It’s not necessarily that one demonstration transits directly into votes. I mean we’re hoping that this demonstration will feed an emotion that when you disagree with the government you can stand up and speak out and that’s a legitimate activity and a long tradition in this country of people doing that. There’s nothing wrong with that, nothing un-American about it. We knew months ago that this election might turn into a beauty contest and we wanted to keep issues front and center, especially the issue of Iraq. And we understand that a first step to changing foreign policy and domestic policy is to defeat the Bush agenda. 

DP: Are you a Democrat? 

LC: No. 

DP: Are you in touch with the Democrats at all? 

LC: No. We’re non-partisan. We try to be very careful because we have many groups within this coalition that have 501(C)3 (non-profit) tax exempt status. 

DP: Many Republicans have said that if any of these demonstrations get out of hand and there is violence it will be laid at the feet of John Kerry. 

LC: That’s just ridiculous. The Democratic Party had nothing to do with organizing these demonstrations. In fact, the Democratic Party stayed away from these demonstrations. Some NYC Democratic Party officials marched with us. Some City Council people and two members of Congress, Charles Rangel and Major Owens. Jesse Jackson marched too, but he doesn’t speak for the Kerry campaign. 

DP: So what’s next? What has the United For Peace and Justice coalition been doing since the march?  

LC: Well, we support as many of the activities as we can around town even though we didn’t organize all of them. We’re part of a process for the past six months now having meetings and discussions with all the people who are part of this coalition sharing information so an extension to that would be to try and be at each other’s events and so one of the things coming out of this office this week is just answering questions, ‘What’s coming next? What’s coming tomorrow kind of thing? But also organizing our own presence at some of these events too. 



Vietnam has risen again—not as a country but as a metaphor, a code word to symbolize, a bucket, overturned, its water running out into the various crevices of our national life. War. Courage and cowardice. Death and life. Service. The nature of our obligations—to our country, to our friends and family, to our beliefs, to ourselves. Its essence remains, but its original form has long-since been irretrievably lost, spilled along with the innocence of our youth. 

It has intruded upon the 2004 presidential campaign through the odd charges of the oddly named Swift Boat Veterans For Truth—never, ever trust a group which includes “truth” in its name, the old folks used to say—and the vetting of John Kerry’s war record on the rivers of Southeast Asia. Like looking endlessly at the Rodney King beating videotape, we have examined those flickering accounts of Mr. Kerry’s service so many times, over and over, that they have lost all meaning or practical value. 

Two stark truths remain, which the fog of war debate cannot obscure. John Kerry volunteered for Vietnam service, and served in combat. George W. Bush and Dick Cheney say they supported the American soldiers and the American war effort, but found ways to avoid service. In one course there was honor, in the other, there was not. Have we plummeted so far into the abyss that we need a national debate to determine which was which? 

Old memories hiss to the surface, like rising steam. 

The war wiped out my high school graduating class—Castlemont—1965. To this day, I have no idea how many died. I was away from California as the ‘60s waned and turned into the ‘70s, and in my calls back home, I finally had to ask my mother not to name any more. She often told the story of one of my classmates—a track star, who I had once written about in our high school newspaper, a young black cheetah or gazelle, skin glistening, muscles rolling, running the 200 on the curve like the wind itself—whose sister came into our family grocery store sometime before the Tet offensive, talking proudly of her brother's impending enlistment. My mother tried vainly—several times—to get the girl to talk to him and change his mind. He did not have to go. He shouldn’t go. One morning, the sister came into the store and collapsed on the counter in tears. The family had just received the news: her brother had died. “I wish I had listened to you, Mrs. Allen,” the girl sobbed. “I swear, I wish I had stood in the doorway and broke his leg and kept him from going.” 

A button worn by black protesters during the anti-war demonstration coming out of DeFremery Park in West Oakland: the Viet Cong Never Called Me A Nigger. 

Police stopping you and asking to see your draft card, ignoring your driver license, seeing the 1A in the corner and asking why you’re still out here on the street. 

Sometime after the horrific carnage of Tet, the government stopped listing the specific daily U.S. casualties as if—like the present administration’s banning of returning-coffin photos—the elimination of the symbol will eradicate the actual. Instead of numbers, the released reports ranged from “light casualties” and “light-to-moderate casualties” all the way over to “heavy casualties.” In that period there was a newspaper quote from a soldier, who said that he hoped he died on a day where there were at least “moderate-to-heavy” casualties. Why? he was asked. “ ‘Cause on a ‘light-to-moderate’ casualty day, nobody back home pays attention.” 

Remembering when “War” by the recently-deceased Edwin Starr was a powerful anti-war song played daily on the radio, and not a soundtrack to a zany kung fu comedy. 

A lone, long-haired peace worker—a hippie, to use the term of the day—keeping vigil down at the Oakland Induction Center, trying to convince the young men to refuse. 

The San Francisco federal courts so clogged with draft resistance cases that court actions on any type of case virtually ground to a halt. And later—unnoticed by all but the beneficiaries—when the U.S. forces were no longer involved in the Vietnam War hostilities—the Nixon Administration quietly dropping charges against most of the resistors, bringing them back in from the cold. 

A returning soldier—proud—hands over a photo that shows him driving, smiling behind the steering while of a jeep, a pale-faced Vietnamese seated on the hood, propped up, but seemingly asleep. It takes a moment to realize—with a jolt—that the paleness is unnatural, the sleep permanent. Looking up at the soldier, getting his picture back, his face full with the same proud grin. Is this barbarity inborn, or is it learned behavior? 

Two memorable political cartoons: 

Uncle Sam in a Vietnam foxhole, circa 1965, army issue rifle in hand, startled, eyes-widening, wheeling at an explosion in his rear: ala-BAM!-a. That year, civil rights demonstrators were beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge outside of Selma, on their way to the state capitol in Montgomery to protest voting restrictions. Later that year, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act. 

Another, during the fierce fighting in 1968 that swept into the heart of Saigon, President Lyndon Johnson turning from a telephone receiver and shouting to no-one in particular: “What the hell is Ho Chi Minh doing answering the phone at the U.S. Embassy?” 

Bobby Kennedy bringing his anti-war message to a park on 98th Avenue in East Oakland during the ‘68 Democratic primary. 

California Superior Court judges talking to defendants from the bench, giving them a choice: jail time, or volunteer for the war and have all charges dropped. 

1965, and Los Angeles Times columnist Bob Scheer—then a young, unknown journalist—returning from a fact-finding tour of Vietnam, standing on the steps at the old Merritt College on the old Grove Street in North Oakland, telling most of us for the first time that North Vietnam and South Vietnam had once been one, artificially divided by the French and then the Americans. I stood below in the small knot of student listeners and a light went on, one which has never been extinguished. 

All of us who lived through that era—came of age in that era—heard the stories of that era—have our own collection of memories. Strung together it is a long national memory—colorful—at times contradictory—and completely void of common conclusion or even common understanding. Time and again—in a sustained effort to “put the divisions of Vietnam behind us”—we have ducked a national dialogue on what happened in those days, and why. The true dodging of our time. 

And so Vietnam surfaces again—the metaphor about which we have no agreement as to meaning—muddying the waters of this year’s Presidential campaign while bombs and shells burst from Afghanistan to Iraq, ignored in our official deliberations. Our computers fly at warp speed, our ships sail across the solar system, and yet our national discussion remains stuck at one war behind, at least, and rapidly losing ground. 

Å

SO-CALLED DESTRUCTION 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I can’t find much sympathy for the current outpourings of emotion over the so-called “destruction” of the Willard School garden on Telegraph Avenue.  

When my own son was a Willard student a few years back, a dedicated group of parents contributed cash and much effort to landscape what was at that time hardpan and gravel on the Telegraph Avenue frontage. Our resulting plantings looked nice to my naive, unenlightened eye, and required little maintenance or water. It may have been a “commercial . . . sanitized” landscape, in the derisive words of one of your correspondents, but at least we parents had the satisfaction of knowing it was our very own commercial, sanitized landscape. 

Our grassroots effort was largely wasted, for within a couple a seasons our plantings had unashamedly been ripped out by those presuming a superior aesthetic that favored a biologically correct “natural” look. 

I would have shrugged the whole business off if it hadn’t been for the concurrent assassination of a beautiful old red-flowering tree on the corner of Telegraph and Stuart, an unusual species of eucalyptus that was highly praised just weeks ago in this newspaper. When Willard School was torn down and reconstructed in the early ‘70s, this splendid tree had been one of the few plants spared as a landmark, a reminder of the history of the site. I still grieve for this missing tree every spring when I pass this corner. 

If our earlier “commercial, sanitized” landscaping indeed required some revision, I think a little humility and respect for past efforts from the “natural look”-ers would have served the community better than their scorched earth policy that took down even a fine old tree. In my opinion, those who had so little respect for what went before are hardly entitled now to protest loudly when the school administration has to adjust the site to new conditions.  

Kim Cranney 

• 

PLEASED WITH THE CHANGE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I suppose people see what they want to see and ignore the reality as apparently your commentators do as they decry the removal of one of Telegraph Avenues greatest eyesores. My office is across the street and for these many years, I’ve watched this well intentioned experiment in jungle condoms not uncommon), often a well screened hiding place for homeless to encamp, and invariably, as a convenient and overgrown place to dump trash. Once every so often, there would be a serious but short lived cleanup, weeding, even new planting, then they all go home and leave it for those of us who see it and walk by it every day to witness the degradation anew. And the assertion that this was a “garden,” as in someway attractive and well cared for space to spend time in, is a joke.  

Thank you, Berkeley Unified School District, the change was long overdue. 

Michael Yovino-Young 

• 

DOWNTOWN 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Personally: I think there should be no more tall structures built downtown with the exception of the UC-related hotel (provided the creek is resurfaced and that street turned into a nice park). Otherwise, it will become too dark and windy downtown—precisely the opposite of what we want. Existing structures should just be “fossilized”—rebuilt in their current form, more or less (with artistic license), should they need replacing. There’s plenty of room down there for a vibrant economy. Just preserve the light and don’t make the wind any worse! Rather, some more structures along the size of the current monstrosities should fill in more of the remote areas of south Shattuck Avenue / Adeline. With all due respect, I wouldn’t miss at least one of the two current tall towers, downtown (and I doubt I’m alone in any of this). 

Also: We need trolleys. Can that be privatized somehow? (E.g., the city pays up front to lay down a backbone of tracks and operators, in exchange for a tax, can operate trains on their own schedule and subsidize (and vote on locations for) additional tracks?) 

Eh? Eh? Whaddaythink? 

Tom Lord 

• 

‘PECULIAR HEIST’ DETAILS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I am writing about the “Week’s Most Peculiar Heist” in the Aug. 3 Police Blotter because I was that “pedestrian” and you seemed to have left out some details, such as the fact that I was also attacked by one of the teens, and it happened at 10:15 p.m., not 9:15. Just thought I should let you know. 

Alexander Thorson 

• 

BART BOARD 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I am a candidate for the BART Board, District 3. In your article (“Well Qualified Trio Vies for BART Seat,” Daily Planet, Aug. 31-Sept. 2), it mentioned that BART extensions to San Jose, Livermore and Antioch are my goals. This is not my position. The headline “BART to Livermore and Antioch” was taken from my positions on my campaign website, www.BobforBART.com, and quoted as my goals, without mentioning what I had written underneath that headline: that there are more cost effective solutions than full-scale BART extensions. In the meantime, people can show their commitment to public transit by promoting ridership and building transit oriented development along transit corridors. BART extensions are glamorous, but not at the expense of local connecting services. 

Bob Franklin 

BART Board Candidate 

• 

MEASURE H 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Measure H—the Berkeley Fair Elections Act—was developed to strengthen political debate, increase competition for municipal office and enhance the responsiveness of local elected officials. If adopted, this proven Fair Elections system will put challengers on equal financial footing with incumbents and curb the ability of well-connected candidates to amass large campaign war chests to scare away challengers. Instead, elections will be based on candidates’ ideas, experience and community support, not their fundraising abilities.  

At the same time, Measure H will help enhance financial oversight over the city’s $280 million by creating the means for political newcomers to forcefully argue for changes in budget policies and priorities. At a cost of approximately .1 percent of Berkeley’s budget, Measure H will help ensure the remaining 99.9 percent is spent according to the wishes of the community.  

Jim Hultman’s suggestion that Measure H—the Berkeley Fair Elections Act—is Mayor Bates’ “baby” (see “LeConte Neighbors Fume Over Stolen Endorsements,” Daily Planet, Aug. 27-30) is completely misguided. Nothing is more threatening to an incumbent than an adequately funded challenger; the very essence of Measure H. Other LeConte members and Neighborhood leaders—like Nancy Carleton—understand the obvious benefits of public campaign financing of elections. If some neighborhood association members feel left out and inadequately represented, their best hope is to vote Yes on H. Then, they can run for office and ensure that issues of importance to long- and lifetime Berkeley residents—like myself—remain central in local elections.  

Increase the diversity of candidates! Help make elected officials more responsive! Level the playing field! Institute a proven, tested and sound reform! Help make history here in Berkeley and vote Yes on H. 

Sam Ferguson 

Co-Chair, Berkeley Fair Elections Coalition/Yes on H 

• 

MEDICAL CENTER WALKOUT 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Thanks for your front-page coverage of the Aug. 30 walkout at the Alameda County Medical Center (ACMC). However, a number of factual errors crept into the piece. First, Measure A, the half-cent sales tax to support county medical services, was approved by voters just this past March 2, not two years ago. Secondly, ACMC did not lay off 340 workers last April; they proposed those layoffs which are only now being pursued, so there is no second round of layoffs this year. 

The biggest error, however, is contained in a quote from Keith Carson, who may well have been misquoted. As he well knows, there is not a “present $60-plus million deficit;” in fact, the final 2004-05 budget passed by the trustees last month included a modest surplus. Carson is also reported to say that ACMC’s budget is solely within the discretion of the board of trustees. Your reporter might have checked out this statement, which is commonly expressed by various members of the Board of Supervisors. 

Unfortunately, as those of us who attend the many public meetings required to stay on top of this issue, the supes have had a major negative impact on ACMC’s budget. For example, they demanded an increase in ACMC’s rent payment from $1 per year to $1.7 million per year! The supes have consistently underfunded the state-mandated contract for medical services to the indigent with a cut of $3.5 million this year alone. And a few weeks ago they dropped a huge bomb on the trustees just after they had adopted their budget for this year—the supes demanded a $17 million “debt repayment” from ACMC, which creates an enormous hole in their already fragile finances.  

The supervisors created the hospital authority and the board of trustees several years ago, and they appoint the trustees. They have the legal authority to dissolve the authority and bring the medical center back under direct county control. Both SEIU and community advocacy organizations like the one I chair, Vote Health, have urged the supes to eliminate this legal fiction that allows them to foist responsibility onto a non-elected volunteer body to run ACMC and to call the county subsidy a debt which requires repayment. 

The voters of Alameda County overwhelmingly passed Measure A on March 2, agreeing to tax themselves to ensure medical services to our most vulnerable residents. It is a betrayal of the voters for ACMC and the Board of Supervisors to pursue cuts that will only further injure these same patients. 

I urge the Planet to cover this urgent local issue more closely in the future! 

Kay Eisenhower 

Chair, Vote Health 

• 

OAKS AND ACORNS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I read Ron Sullivan’s article (”Zealous Chainsaw Use Proves Lethal to Trees,” Daily Planet, Aug. 31-Sept. 2) and that prompted this query. Ron appears to be very knowledgeable in the art of pruning trees and I thought perhaps he would have some advise on my question. I have an Oak tree very close to the side of my house. It drops acorns like crazy. Is there anything I can do to prevent the acorns from dropping—better yet, to prevent the tree from producing the acorns in the first place? I hear them dropping on the roof of the house and they’re all over the yard. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

Olive Santero 

?

Berkeley Man Charged with Date Rape 

A 48-year-old Berkeley man was arrested on suspicion of rape last Saturday after his date reported that he’d forced her after she refused his advances. 

Another Bad Man Busted 

Berkeley Police busted a 19-year-old man at 3:13 a.m. Monday on charges of battery, making threats of violence and brandishing a knife at a South Berkeley woman. 

Strong-arm Purse Snatch  

A pair of older teenagers snatched a woman’s purse at 11 o’clock Monday evening. 

Domestic Call Yields Drug Cornucopia 

Responding to a report of possible domestic violence near Addison Street and San Pablo Avenue at 10:40 p.m. Monday, Berkeley officers discovered a pharmaceutical bonanza, including sale weight quantities of marijuana and cocaine, both powder and rock. In addition to the felony drug charges officers booked a Berkeley man for violating parole and probation terms from prior cases, said BPD spokesperson Officer Joe Okies. 

Face-Kicker Jailed 

A 26-year-old man was busted on charges of assault with a deadly weapon after he kicked another man in the face at Shattuck Avenue and Vine Street shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday. 

Would-Be Helmet Thief Airs Blade 

After a South Berkeley man confronted a stranger trying to rip off his motorcycle shortly before 1 a.m. Tuesday, the would-be bandit flashed a knife, then fled—leaving the headgear behind. 

Stubborn Motorist Takes Wrong Turn  

A 22-year-old motorist took a turn for the worse after he failed to stop for a Berkeley traffic officer who spotted him failing to yield the right of way shortly before 5 on Tuesday afternoon. 

When finally arrested after abandoning his car and fleeing onto a rooftop, the miscreant motorist was booked on charges of seizing the right-of-way, refusing to obey a lawful police order, fleeing a peace officer, driving without a valid license and interfering with a police officer. 

Claims Knife, Takes Purse  

A man claiming to have a knife confronted a woman with a purse near the corner of Blake Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way shortly before 10 p.m. Tuesday. The woman surrendered her purse and the knife never appeared. 

Car Crashes Fleeing Robbery Scene 

A 24-year-old man was arrested after a police chase and car crash following an armed robbery at San Pablo Avenue and Addison Street, reports Officer Okies. 

Responding to the robbery call at the U-Haul rental agency, officers spotted the suspected getaway car and gave chase. After the vehicle crashed at Tenth and Camellia streets, a search of the area found the suspect hiding in the REI store. He was placed into custody.  

Officers recovered the weapon and booked the suspect on suspicion of fleeing the scene of an accident. Other possible charges include armed robbery, burglary, kidnapping, failure to yield to a peace officer, and possession of a concealed weapon.?

Editors, Daily Planet: 

No word from the Berkeley Unified School District. At first, BUSD stated that they would stop the tractor and hold a meeting. The tractor stopped but there has been no word of a meeting.  

First issue: whose land is it? Is the sch ool district the property owner, entitled to do whatever it chooses? Or is the school district a trustee, holding the land for the real owners, us, the community, of which students are members? If the school district is a trustee, then it has a higher dut y, to always do what is best for the land and the public, which includes students and neighbors. 

The second issue is, how should decisions be made? Does the district make all decisions, or should parents and the broader school community be involved?  

D uring the past 20 years, the district, busy with its own failures, ignored the schools. In this climate of neglect, many school gardens sprouted through parent and community initiative. LeConte, Willard, King, Arts Magnet are examples. Parents and neigh bors, clearing weeds and garbage, planted the many beautiful school gardens throughout our town. 

Community involvement in decision making goes back even further. City commissions were formed soon after our city was formed. While city commissions are advi sory, our elected councilmembers give great weight and deference to the numerous commissions.  

In the school district, 16 years ago, we passed BSEP, our first school parcel tax. Yes, we taxed ourselves, but we also kept the power of how to spend that mon ey for elected committees of teachers, staff and parents at each school and at the district level. 

Now, we have a different school superintendent, one who was given the mandate by our school board to fight this “soft anarchy” and reassert district author ity. Unfortunately, the methods employed are little too Bush-like for my taste. A linear, hierarchical chain of command does not suit Berkeley well. This method promotes internal control and some forms of efficiency, but has closed the door to community participation. Research has shown that the best decisions are made by a truly diverse group. Small select groups cannot and do not make the best choices. The destruction of the Willard garden is a case in point. (The war in Iraq is another gross example.) 

Whereas in the past, school construction decisions were democratically decided by an elected and representative group, now, school administrators are the sole decision makers.  

It seems that the school district wants parents to do only two things, hand over our children and hand over our checkbooks. This is not a very satisfactory arrangement.  

There are now five people, including two incumbents seeking two seats on our school board. I challenge them to address this issue. For the incumbents, what is your response to the current linear, hierarchical chain of command at the district? To all candidates: in what form should participatory democracy occur within the Berkeley school system? I look forward to reading your responses. 

o

In an effort to “put people first”, Gov. Schwarzenegger recently convened the California Performance Review (CPR). The CPR undertook a “total review” of state government and issued a voluminous report recommending hundreds of cost cutting measures. While Schwarzenegger supports the CPR’s recommendations on the grounds that they will rid the state government of fraud and inefficiency, he does not mention that when it comes to defrauding ordinary Californians, the real harm often takes place beyond the corridors of state government and in the boardrooms of the private sector. And there is no better example of this defrauding, and of Schwarzenegger’s unwillingness to address it, than the $9 billion rip-off of Californians executed by Enron et al during California’s energy crisis. 

The electricity crisis erupted in the spring of 2000 when power supplies grew tight and California’s energy suppliers artificially manipulated the market in order to send prices through the roof. California had previously deregulated its power market, thereby making it much easier for these abuses to take place. It is estimated that Californians were overcharged $9 billion by energy suppliers, including the infamous Enron. Although there are still those who insist that the energy giants are not guilty of any criminal activity, they are slowly drowning in a sea of incriminating evidence. The evidence includes tapes which show energy traders figuring out ways to create artificial congestion on California electric transmission lines to drive prices up; which demonstrate that Enron manipulated the market in nine of 10 days during the crunch; and tapes in which Enron traders boasted of bilking “Grandma Millie.”  

Grandma Millie may be relieved to know that there are public officials and others in California who are fighting on her behalf. In March of 2003, a coalition of government agencies and the state’s two largest utilities submitted compelling evidence to federal regulators on behalf of California’s consumers. The state’s attorney general has sued both the energy companies and the federal government, and the state’s two U.S. senators have blasted the federal regulators for their handling of the charges against the energy companies. But there is one voice that is conspicuously missing from the chorus: the voice of “the people’s governor.”  

While Arnold boasts about terminating the waste and inefficiency in state government, he can only muster a whimper when it comes to making the energy companies pay back what they stole from California’s ratepayers. Schwarzenegger has refused to be interviewed on the subject and, unlike other state officials who have taken strong stands against the energy giants, Schwarzenegger has been remarkably conciliatory in correspondence with federal regulators. In a June letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which many argue has been soft on the energy companies, the governor refers to the reclaiming of the money stolen from Californians as “a difficult process” and mentions no specific numbers. As journalist Thomas Elias commented: “[The governor] is the only state official willing to accept without question FERC’s judgment about what’s fair.” 

Although Arnold appears content sticking Californians with the $9 billion overpayment, to his credit, the governor did take measures to address the energy crisis in 2001 when it was in full swing. At that time, he was working hard to protect ordinary Californians from the likes of Enron Corp by meeting privately with none other than the company’s CEO, Kenneth Lay. Though Arnold initially denied attending the meeting, records now demonstrate that he was there. This should not come as any surprise to those who have had to stomach Arnold’s references to Milton Friedman, the world’s leading advocate on regulation-free markets, as “the king,” or his demands for even greater deregulation of California’s energy markets in order to avert another energy crisis. 

What should come as a surprise, however, is that Californians are not standing up to Arnold’s attempt to frame state government as an enemy of the people, while obfuscating his alliances with corporate elites whose interests are in marked contrast to the public interest. This deception should be resisted at every level. Californians should demand that the governor go after the billions that are owed to them by the energy companies that clearly put profits first while putting people last. 

Michael Marchant is a City of Berkeley employee. 

›

Republicans are converging for their quadrennial convention in New York this week, but the closest most Bay Area voters will ever get to a prominent Republican is on their living room television set. 

GOP leaders from Sacramento to Washington, D.C. have made the political calculation that they can win elections without the help of the Bay Area. The trend among Republican candidates is to avoid campaigning in the Bay Area, with rare visits to the region coming only for fundraisers or to make obligatory courtesy calls on Silicon Valley executives. 

While many Democrats and liberal independents may say ‘good riddance’ to the loss of Republican campaign visits, being written-off by the political party that controls the Governor’s office, the White House and Congress could have a serious financial impact on the Bay Area.  

Our regional economy is heavily dependent upon state and federal government spending. While there are several prominent Democrats representing the Bay Area in Washington and Sacramento, the power of the government purse is largely dictated by Republicans. From a $38,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant to the Boys and Girls Clubs of San Francisco, to the billions being spent to retrofit the Bay Bridge, the Bay Area needs continuing government assistance. 

Despite the overwhelming statewide victory of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 2003 gubernatorial recall election, the Bay Area remains electorally hostile territory for Republicans. There are twice as many registered Democrats in the region than Republicans, with less than 25 percent of voters in the Bay Area registered as members of the GOP. In contrast, California as a whole has a 35 percent Republican voter registration rate.  

To put this Democratic dominance in context, of the 109 cities in the Bay Area, Republicans have a registration majority in only three cities, while Democrats have 50 percent or higher registration in 43 communities. 

The Republican presence in the Bay Area is shrinking rapidly. Analysis by the Bay Area Center for Voting Research shows that between 1999 and 2004, Republican registration in the Bay Area fell from 26.9 percent to 24.6 percent. This represents a net loss of 74,000 GOP voters – an equal number to the population of Livermore. 

This lack of support for the Republican Party explains why GOP candidates running statewide have largely abandoned the Bay Area in recent elections.  

In some cases Republican candidates are doing more than just ignoring the Bay Area and its 3.3 million voters, they have begun using the region as a campaign issue. This approach seeks to rally conservative voters in rural parts of California around the premise that the Bay Area’s voters are out of step with the rest of the state and that the region has a disproportionate influence on elections. 

If this electoral strategy continues, the Bay Area may find itself left on the sidelines during elections. This could have long-term implications for the Bay Area, as victorious Republicans heading to Sacramento and Washington may be less generous to the Bay Area with government spending than other parts of the state. 

Regardless of one’s party affiliation, there is no doubt that the Bay Area needs Republican support to thrive and grow. It seems increasingly clear, however, that Republicans aren’t convinced that they need us. 

Å

After chewing its title over for a while I’ve decided that Fluffy Bunnies in a Field of Daisies is about as good as you could get for Impact Theatre’s new production. The only question that remains for me is, now that I think that I’ve figured out what it has to do with the play, should I blow the secret? 

Naah…Anyway, this play is most certainly a piece of fluff. No one is going to mistake that. And, as is typical for Impact’s productions, it’s very well done.  

What is not typical, is that this particular piece of fluff seems limited to—perhaps exclusively of interest to—the exact group that Impact is designed to attract: 18 to 35-year-olds. And, of course, there’s nothing wrong with that. Though the company’s done well in obtaining that audience with previous productions, the plays themselves are usually also enjoyable by the rest of us who (ahem!) don’t quite qualify as being in the exact blush of youth. It’s not so true this time around. 

But if you do qualify, this production might strike you as a definite winner. What it’s about, of course, is the fine old matter of the mating game. This one differs from most in that it centers on the issue from the young male’s point of view. There is some effort to have the play become an argument about the old virgin/whore dichotomy but, in this humble opinion, it failed to come to full flower. (Maybe it does to the right age group). 

Most of the action takes place in a basement bar (somewhat reminiscent of La Val’s or Larry Blake’s) where three college age guys and the bar’s waitress, Jennifer (Emily Duarte Rosenthal) hang out on a regular basis, drinking beer and analyzing their mostly ineffective efforts to get their love lives working. Jennifer and the bearded Tommy (Steven Epperson, with a rather nice goatee) assume the roles of experienced advice givers to their less sophisticated buddies, who are lurching clumsily from one confused attempt at romance to another.  

The first, and rather startling (sexual, of course), scene involves the youngest guy, (Greg Ayers) who bears up surprisingly well under the nick-name “Baby Boy.” Ayers’ acting, as is true of most of the group, is absolutely first-rate. 

(Actually, a determined nitpicker might question whether Jennifer and Tommy really seem to have had the 30th birthdays they claim. Twenty-five, at the most, might be more like it. Even that seems a stretch when you consider Tommy’s obsessive Sherlockian efforts to prove that Jennifer couldn’t possibly still be a virgin. But they definitely come across as more mature than the others). 

Ryan Montgomery plays Nick, a somewhat—but not much—more mature bunny than is Baby Boy. However, he manages to get set up with women in equally confusing situations, and with equally bewildering results. Perhaps one of the most remarkable things about Montgomery is that he is also the play’s director. He’s done well by both roles. 

Naturally there have to be women characters other than the bar-maid. Four interesting actresses, Stefanie Goldstein (Tessa), Nicole Socia (Allison), Klahr Thorsen (Lindsey) and Jessica Viola (Yvonne), do the best that can be done with women’s roles that mostly resemble no women I’ve ever encountered in my life. But they are, after all, characters as seen by very youthful men. 

The playwright is new and shows real talent. It will be interesting to see what he does in five or 10 years. Meanwhile, he’s writing a follow-up to Fluffy Bunnies. 

(By the way, he should have done a wee bit more research about how diaphragms actually work). 

Û

For those who lived through those times, there is a point in the meandering hallways of the Oakland Museum’s “California And The Vietnam Era” exhibit that observation and objectivity give way to experience, and the roped and plyboard partitions morph into corridors of your own mind. 

That point, for me, came shortly after sitting in the listening room, where I heard the audiotape of the young woman explaining being called into the principal’s office in the middle of the school day. She wondered what trouble she’d gotten into. Instead, she was told that her brother had died in combat. 

From there the floor space broadened out into a broad promenade of exhibit cases of the events of 1968, one wall blaring out, on three screens, in rolling succession, television newsclips of that year. Over and over, the screen flickered past the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, police officers pointing to the spot where an assassin’s bullet took Martin Luther King’s life. Then to Bobby Kennedy speaking from the podium of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, moments later lying mortally wounded on the basement floor. The axis of the deaths of three men—the perfect metaphor for those times. Two deaths of leaders watched over and again by millions—the cause of street riots and monumental shifts in presidential politics—one of a soldier-brother noticed only by family, classmates, and friends. Each of them, in their own way, irretrievably altering and shaping our destinies. 

I stood in that axis for 15 minutes or more, oblivious to the other museum patrons flowing quietly around me, and for those 15 minutes I was 20 years old again, and the whole world was on fire. 

“What’s Going On? California And The Vietnam Era” is an ingeniously-devised, 7,000-square-foot walking tour of 50 years of the most tumultuous times in the nation’s largest state. It is generally accepted that in those days, California was both the birthplace and the center of many of the major national social movements of those times—both on the left and the right—and the fiery battleground upon which those movements had some of their most bitter clashes. Here, after all, began both Richard Nixon’s political career and the Reagan Revolution, as well as the Free Speech Movement, the Black Panther Party, and many of the major anti-Vietnam War actions. 

Interspersing artifact exhibits with audio and video clips, the Oakland Museum exhibit takes no position on these events, but allows us to live through them either again or for the first time, using both broad and subtle brush to paint across an era that began with the Cold War, anti-Communist mid-1950s, continuing through the Southeast Asian immigrant experiences of today. 

The museum’s brochure boasts that the exhibit “includes more than 500 historical artifacts, photographs, and documents interwoven with film clips, music, and oral histories, many contributed from veterans and former refugees.” It seems like much more. 

A placard at the “Baby Boomer” station, which begins the exhibit, announces that the generation that came of age during the years of the Vietnam War “grew up in a time of great affluence and innovation. They were the first generation to be raised with television and their toys reflect the ethics and fears of their times.” 

And so there are the modest, unsexual, anatomically incorrect dolls for the little girls alongside the traditional toy cowboy pistol and holster for the boys, sliding gradually into the guided missile model and the atomic space ray. Further on is a ‘50s era school desk—complete with an inkwell depression that was long obsolete by those times—a banner photo above depicting how—idiotically—we were taught to duck under those desks in the event of nuclear attack. 

At the Free Speech Movement station there is another huge photo, a familiar one of FSM leader Mario Savio marching through Sproul Gate followed by thousands. Beside it is a 1964 Oakland Tribune with a headline reading “Hundreds of UC Sit-Ins Jailed.” The headline is in red, as if the conservative Knowlands, then-owners of the Tribune, were making the less-than-subtle point that the “red” Communist menace was swarming into Berkeley.  

Further on, in a separate section, there is evidence of its entrenchment: an incongruous-looking red-covered pocket book of “Five Articles By Chairman Mao Tse-Tung,” and a veteran radical of those times does not even have to read the placard to know that this was the infamous “little red book” that members of the Black Panther Party sold to students on the UC Berkeley campus in order to help finance the revolution. 

But before that, an exhibit case looms with a Goldwater For President poster, and a program from an event I had forgotten—the 1964 Republican National Convention where Barry Goldwater declared that “extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice,” tolling what political observers announced at the time was the death knell of American conservatism. And yes, once more, we were that naive. 

But the heart of the exhibit, and easily its most poignant pieces, is the soldiers’ stories—physical evidence of the thousands upon thousands who passed through the doors of the Oakland Induction Center on their way to troop ships to take them to the war. Preserved are panels from the induction center’s walls, as well as white-canvas squares from the bunk berths of the ships themselves, where soldiers inked their messages: “Malibu Rules,” “Army Sucks,” “California—Land Of The Free—Home Of The Cool.” 

A notation from the 337th Signal Co. R/R, with checks behind destination points: Ft. Bragg, Oakland, Okinawa, Viet Nam. A reprisal of the World War II Kilroy cartoon, with the notation “Bob Was Here With Plenty To Do, Be Back From Nam In ‘72.” Was he? A 1967 letter from a soldier to Hells Angel founder Sonny Barger: “I wish you and the rest of the Hells Angels could come over here too because I would have a lot more confidence fighting with you, than I would if I had to fight along side a protester.” A cigarette lighter, professionally engraved: “Tay Ninh 67-68, If I Die In Vietnam, Bury Me On My Stomach, So The Army Can Kiss My Ass.” How many of these men now walk among us? How many of them never will again? 

Expected, of course, is the long section on anti-Vietnam War protests. The protest movement, after all, had its heart in California, and particularly in the East Bay. And so there are buttons and posters and flyers—even the actual peace-symbol highlighted guitar on which, presumably, Country Joe McDonald strummed his “I Feel Like I’m Fixing To Die Rag.” 

But a pleasant surprise is how the exhibit carries the Vietnam era on into the period of Southeast Asian immigration. Cloth money bags, hand-crafted spoons and metal combs, quaintly-colored homespun clothing, Vietnamese language newspapers, Cambodian and Laotian passports, boat people belongings blending into a 2002 political poster for Madison Nguyen for the McKinley School District Board of Education, the first Vietnamese-American elected to public office in Northern California. History unfolding before our eyes. 

At the end of the exhibit, the museum has placed note cards for comment, and many of them have already been hung as a continuing expansion of the exhibit itself. “Why Haven’t We Learned The Lessons From Vietnam?”, “I saw photos of my bro.-in-law in Viet Nam. Thanks.”, “Did we have to give all that space to Ronald Reagan?!”, “In memory of all our men that gave their lives. Cisco. Hells Angels Oakland M/C.” 

And, finally, a simple memorial notation: “Claiborne L. Shaw. My uncle. Shandle Shaw.” Stapled to the card, from the exhibit brochure itself, is a picture of Claiborne Shaw, a young African-American soldier, helmeted, drinking from a canteen. In the exhibit book, he sits under a sign that reads “Oakland, Calif., 11,000 mi.” and an arrow pointing east. 

We leave the exhibit ourselves, mindful that so many never left Vietnam, and walk out into an Oakland summer sun, carrying all the tapped memories with us. 

@

FRIDAY, SEPT. 3 

THEATER 

Alameda Civic Light Opera. “Pippin,” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. to Sept. 19. Kofman Auditorium, 2220 Central Ave. in Alameda. Tickets are $23-$25. 864-2256. www.aclo.com 

Aurora Theatre Company, “The Persians” opens at the Aurora Theatre and runs through Oct. 10. Tickets are $28-$45. 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org 

California Shakespeare Theater, “The Importance of Being Ernest” Tues.-Fri. at 7:30 p.m., Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 4 p.m. at the Bruns Memorial Amphitheater, through Sept. 3. Tickets are $13-$32. 548-9666. www.calshakes.org 

Impact Theatre, “Fluffy Bunnies in a Field of Daisies” at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean Theater, 1834 Euclid, and runs Thurs.-Sat. through Oct. 2. Tickets are $10-$15. 464-4468. www.impacttheatre.com 

Woodminster Summer Musicals “Flower Drum Song” at 8 p.m. at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, 3300 Joaquin Miller Rd. Fri.- Sun. to Sept. 12. Tickets are $19-$31. 531-9597. www.woodminster.com 

EXHIBITION OPENINGS 

“Community” works by Sonya Derian, John Kenyon, Ira Lapidus, Biliana Stremska and Vee Tuteur. Reception at 6 p.m. at ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Ave. 843-2527. www.accigallery.com 

7th International Juried Enamel Exhibition opens at the ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Ave. Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 843-2527.  

www.accigallery.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Artist’s Talk with “Time & Place” artists Elizabeth D'Agostino and Joan Truckenbrod will show slides and videos of recent work and discuss their Fellowship projects currently on view at 7 p.m. at Kala Art Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 549-2977. www.kala.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Kathleen Grace Trio at 8 p.m. at The Jazz House. Cost is $10-$15 sliding scale. www.thejazz-house.org 

Pharma, 77 El Dora at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082.  

www.starryploughpub.com 

Tropical Vibrations at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

The Ravines at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Brian Melvin Trio at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Dave Ellis at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Jose Rizo’s Jazz on the Latin Side at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $12-$24. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Naked Aggression, Toxic Narcotic, Midnight Creeps, New Earth Creeps at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

Kathleen Grace Trio at 8 p.m. at The Jazz House. Cost is $8. www.thejazzhouse.com 

Barbary Coast by Night Music and food from Algeria, at 7 p.m. at Cafe Raphael’s, 10064 San Pablo Ave. El Cerrito. 525-4227. 

Beckett’s Battle of the Bands with The Fated, The Skindivers, Thriving Ivory and Walty at 6 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 4 

CHILDREN  

“Wild About Books” Labor Day concert with folksinger Adam Miller at 10:30 a.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6223. 

EXHIBITION OPENINGS 

“The Voices of Civil Rights Bus Tour” will be on display at Art & Soul in the plaza of the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building, Clay St. between 12th and 14th Sts., though Sept. 6. 444-CITY. www.artandsouloakland.com 

“Eyes Opened Wider” Recent panoramic landscapes by photographer Robert Reiter opens at the Photolab Gallery, 2235 Fifth St. Exhibition runs to Oct. 16. 644-1400. 

THEATER 

“Surviving Cain” by the youth group of Chinese for Christ Church, at 8 p.m. at 2715 Prince St. Also Sun. at 2 p.m. www.cfcberkeley.org/english 

FILM 

Maurice Pialat “Turkish Chronicles” at 9:10 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Bay Area Poets Coalition holds an open reading, 3 to 5 p.m., on the front lawn at 1527 Virginia St. 527-9905. poetalk@aol.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Native Elements, reggae, at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13. 525-5054.  

www.ashkenaz.com 

Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com  

Kugelplex performs Klezmer at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Marca Cassity and Emma Luna at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Sylvia and the Silvertones at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Monkey Knife Fight at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

T.S.O.L, D.I., Wormwood, Blooddy Phoenix, Nightmare at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, SEPT. 5 

EXHIBITION OPENINGS 

“Times of India: The Woman and the Goddess” paintings by women artists from the Madhubani District in rural India, at the Addison Street Windows Gallery, 2018 Addison St. Exhibition runs to Oct. 12. 981-7546. 

FILM 

Labor Day with Chaplin: “Modern Times” at 4 and 6 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Poetry Flash with Linda Elkin, Larry Felson and Bill Mayer at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. Donation $2. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Wawa Sylvestre and the Oneness Kingdom, Haitian, Latin and Caribbean, at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Skit System, Desolation, Blown to Bits at 5 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

Americana Unplugged with Redwing Bluegrass Band at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

MONDAY, SEPT. 6 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Last Word Poetry Series with Jessica Loos and Neeli Cherkovski at 7 p.m. at Pegasus Books, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

MUSIC 

Larry Vuckovich & The Blue Balkan Ensemble at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

TUESDAY, SEPT. 7 

THEATER 

Shotgun Theatre Lab “The Faith Project” runs Tues. and Wed. at 8 p.m. to Sept. 15 at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby at MLK. Free with suggested donation. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

EXHIBITION OPENINGS 

Mark P. Fisher “Love for Sale” paintings, opens at Turn of the Century Fine Arts, 2510 San Pablo Ave. and runs to Oct. 20. 849-0950. www.turnofthecenturyfinearts.com 

FILM 

Alternative Visions: “The Films of Morgan Fisher” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Richard Clark discusses “Against All Enemies: Inside America’s War on Terrorism” at 6 p.m. at Zellerbach Auditorium, UC Campus. Sponsored by Cody’s Books. Tickets are $10. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com  

Mandy Aftel descrbes “Aroma: Recipes for Scented Food and Fragrance” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Edessa & Smyrna Time Machine at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $9. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Peter Barshy Duo at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Jazz House Jam at 8 p.m. at The Jazz House. Donation $5. www.thejazzhouse.com 

Ernestine Anderson at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Also on Wed. Cost is $10-$18. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Jazz School Tuesday with Misturada at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 8 

EXHIBITION OPENINGS 

Ninth Annual Yozo Hamaguchi Printmaking Scholarship Awards Exhibition Reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Isabelle Percy West Gallery, California College of the Arts, 5212 Broadway, Oakland. Exhibit runs to Sept. 19. www.cca.edu  

THEATER 

Berkeley Rep, “The Secret in the Wings” opens at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. until Oct. 17. Tickets are $10-$55. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

FILM 

Performance Anxiety: Linda Montano” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Café Poetry at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña. Donation $2. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Berkeley Poetry Slam at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082. 

www.starryplough.com 

Roya Hakakian describes “Journey From the Land of No: A Girlhood Caught in Revolutionary Iran” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Wednesday Noon Concert, Jessie Lee, piano, Garrett McLean, violin, Inning Chen, piano, at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Baguette Quartette at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Parisian musette dance lesson with Karen Tierney at 8 p.m. Cost is $9. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Kurt Ribak Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Jules Broussard, Ned Boynton and Bing Nathan at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Pat MacDonald, Liam Carey and Paul Panamerenko at 9 p.m. at the Ivy Room, 858 San Pablo Ave. at Solano. 524-9220. www.ivyroom.com 

Larry Ochs with Fred Firth, Miya Masaoka and Chris Brown at 8 p.m. at The Jazz House. Donations of $8-$15 suggested.  

www.thejazzhouse.org 

THURSDAY, SEPT. 9 

EXHIBITION OPENINGS 

“Vincent Avalos: Interactive Installations” reception at 6 p.m. at Oakland Box Gallery, 1928 Telegraph Ave. Exhibition runs until Oct. 1. 451-1932. www.oaklandbox.com 

Bill Dallas “Artmatism” reception at 5:30 p.m. at Joyce Gordon Gallery, 409 14th St. Oakland. 465-8928. 

7th International Juried Enamel Exhibition Docent tour at 2 p.m. at the ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Ave. 843-2527. www.accigallery.com 

FILM 

“Beautiful Secret: A Tribute to Katy Jurado” at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $8. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Maurice Pialat: “A nos amours” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Ursula Hegi talks about her new novel “Sacred Time” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Jennifer Leo, editor, introduces us to “Whose Panties are These? And Other Misadventures” at 7:30 p.m. at Easy Going Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave. 843-3533. 

Luisah Teish and Bayou Heat, stories and videos in the style of New Orleans at 7 p.m. at Belladonna, 2436 Sacramento St. Cost is $10. 883-0600. www.belladonna.ws 

Word Beat Reading Series at 7 p.m. with Jeremy Morris Siegel and David Gollub at Mediterraneum Caffe, 2475 Telegraph Ave., near Dwight Way. 526-5985.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Odessa Chen, Inca at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082. www.starryplough.com 

The Serna Band at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Jazz Mine at 6:30 p.m. at King Tsin Chinese Restaurant, 1699 Solano Ave. www.jazzmine.net 

Hot Buttered Rum String Band at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $15.50 in advance, $16.50 at the door. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Gini Wilson, solo piano, at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Larry Ochs of Rova, with Fred Firth, and Miya Masaoka at 8 p.m. at The Jazz House. Donation $8-$15. www.thejazzhouse.org 

Jane Monheit at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Also on Fri. Cost is $12-$24. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

FRIDAY, SEPT. 10 

THEATER 

Alameda Civic Light Opera, “Pippin,” Sept. 10, 11, 17, 18 at 8 p.m. Sept. 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. Kofman Auditorium, 2220 Central Ave., Alameda. Tickets are $23-$25. 864-2256. www.aclo.com 

Aurora Theatre Company, “The Persians” opens at 8 p.m. and runs through Oct. 10. Tickets are $28-$45. 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org 

Berkeley Rep, “The Secret in the Wings” at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. until Oct. 17. Tickets are $10-$55. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Impact Theatre, “Fluffy Bunnies in a Field of Daisies” a sexually-honest comedy, at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean Theater, 1834 Euclid, and runs Thurs.-Sat. through Oct. 2 Tickets are $10-$15. 464-4468. www.impacttheatre.com 

Woodminster Summer Musicals “Flower Drum Song,” at 8 p.m. at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, 3300 Joaquin Miller Rd. Fri.- Sun. to Sept. 12. Tickets are $19-$31. 531-9597. www.woodminster.com 

Unscripted Theater Company, “The Short and the Long of It,” an improv theater experience, Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Temescal Arts Center, 511 48th St. at Telegraph, through Oct. 2. Tickets are $7-$10. 415-869-5384. www.un-scripted.com 

EXHIBITION OPENINGS 

7th International Juried Enamel Exhibition at the ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Ave. Reception 6 to 8 p.m. Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 843-2527. www.accigallery.com 

“Blossoming” the floral works of three local women artists, Jane Magid, Chaya Spector and Karen Mills. Reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Women’s Cancer Resource Center, 5741 Telegraph Ave. www.wcrc.org 

“Times of India: The Woman and the Goddess” Reception at 7 p.m. at the Addison Street Windows Gallery, 2018 Addison St. 981-7546. 

Kei Mizuochi “Silkscreens” Reception for the artist and Japanese flute concert at 6 p.m. at Schurman Fine Art Gallery, 1659 San Pablo Ave. 524-0623. 

FILM 

Maurice Pialat: “The Mouth Agape” at 7:30 p.m. “Police” at 9:15 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

Old Oakland Outdoor Cinema on Washington St., between 9th and 10th Sts. Music at 5 p.m., and film, “Singin’ in the Rain” at 8 p.m. Bring your own chairs and blankets. 238-4734. www.filmoakland.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

International Literacy Day from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. Local authors and adult literacy students will read their poetry, short stories and other works. 981-6299. 

Colin Channer reads from his new collection of stories “Passing Through” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Gary Erickson, founder of Clif Bar, discusses “Raising the Bar: Integrity and Passion in Life and Business” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. www.codysbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Alfredo Muro, Peruvian guitar virtuoso, at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

The Hogan, Emerge perform jazz, latin funk and eclectic in a free concert at 5 p.m. at Baltic Square, behind 121 Park Place, Pt. Richmond. 236-1401. www.pointrichmond.com/music 

Hitomi Oba Quartet at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Hot Buttered Rum String Band at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $15.50 in advance, $16.50 at the door. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Vinyl, The People, funk, groove, at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$8. 548-1159. www.shattuckdownlow.com 

Larry Ochs with Fred Firth, Davon Hoff and Miya Masaoka at 8 p.m. at The Jazz House. Donations of $8-$15 suggested. www.thejazzhouse.org 

Grapefruit Ed and David Gans at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com  

Mimi Fox Quartet at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

DJ & Brook, jazz trio, at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Mingus Amungus at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Battle of the Bands at 6 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Toys That Kill, Rasputin, Bezerk, Rivithead, Stiletta at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926.

Celery seedlings can be difficult to find locally because it is considered hard to grow here. In fact, especially where the water table is high (and where in Berkeley is it not?), this marsh-loving member of the Umbelliferae family is one of the many vegetables that reward the home gardener.  

Search for six-packs in the fall, plant them six inches apart in lavishly-enriched soil, give each plant a collar of copper strips to protect from slugs and snails, and let the winter rains do the rest. I set them out closely because I like to dig up alternate plants when they are young, leaving plenty of space for the others to mature. 

In a more limited way than leafy greens, celery is a vegetable one can harvest gradually, cutting off outside branches as needed. And as with leafy greens, planting in early fall gives roots time to develop for a growth spurt in early spring. There is no need to blanch the stalks, since they have the same taste and crunch whether green or white.  

The celery season is short. Dig up the entire crop when rain has ceased, and replace with a heat-loving vegetable. In hot dry weather it deteriorates. I like to leave one plant to set seed—which has culinary value in the Indian cuisine—and sow a few of these when they are fully ripe and dry at summer’s end. The trick to their germination is to sprinkle the tiny seeds on to a six-pack or other small pot of fine potting soil and set it in a dish of water. The constant moisture seems to be what the seeds need and love. When true leaves appear, transplant to individual four-inch pots and keep them constantly moist. Set them in the ground no later than October. 

When preparing celery for eating, strip off the stringy fibers, as these can be indigestible. Home grown celery is crisper and more tender—more youthful, no doubt—than store-bought celery. It is best eaten raw, as part of an antipasto, with oily black olives, rosy radishes, thin slices of garlicky salami and a glass of cool Frascati.  

It also makes an excellent veloute, or velvety soup, the diced stalks simmered in lightly-salted water, blended when soft, thinned and reheated with milk and enriched with a touch of butter or cream. Taste for salt, and grind over it some black pepper. This is a delicate soup whose flavor is best revealed when not masked by seasonings and poultry stock. A sprinkling of chopped parsley is an ideal garnish. 

Parsley is in the same family, yet its seed is much more difficult to germinate. Parsley seed is said to go to the devil and back before it will sprout. One should never trust a woman who cannot grow parsley. Or is it one who can? Either way, parsley’s usefulness in the kitchen is legendary. Yet celery leaves make an excellent substitute where stronger flavoring is acceptable and green fingers and thumbs have failed. Try an intensification of the above soup with the incorporation of a young celery leaf or two, finely chopped. 

FRIDAY, SEPT. 3 

Radio Summer Camp Learn how to build and operate a community radio station. A four-day camp from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sponsored by Radio Free Berkeley. 625-0314. www.freeradio.org 

Berkeley Chess Club meets Fridays at 7:15 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. Players at all levels are welcome. 652-5324. 

Women in Black Vigil, from noon to 1 p.m. at UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph. wibberkeley@yahoo.com 548-6310, 845-1143. 

Meditation, Peace Vigil and Dialogue, gather at noon on the grass close to the West Entrance to UC Berkeley, on Oxford St. near University Ave. Sponsored by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. 655-6169. www.bpf.org 

Overeaters Anonymous meets every Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Northbrae Church at Solano and The Alameda. Parking is free and is handicapped accessible. For information call Katherine, 525-5231. 

Peace Ceremonies with Andree Morgana and the Hayehwatha Institute at 7 p.m. at Belladonna, 2436 Sacramento St. Cost is $10. 883-0600. www.belladonna.ws 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 4 

Basket Bonanza Learn about the weaving techniques of native people and the many uses of baskets. We will weave baskets of our own. For ages 8 and up. From 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. Cost is $3-$5, registration required. 525-2233. www.ebparks.org 

Kids Garden Club on the science of cooking. Investigate kitchen science by making soup and baking bread, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. For ages 7-12. Cost is $3-$5, registration required. 525-2233. 

Berkeley Fire Station Open House from 1 to 4 p.m. at Station 4, 1900 Marin Ave. Tour the station, see a safety presentation, and historical display and enjoy hot dogs and cake. Families and children especially welcome. 981-5506. 

World Food Festival Asian Cuisine from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Farmers’ Market, Center St. at MLK Jr Way. Cooking demonstration of Thai-California cuisine at 11 a.m. with Vanni Patchara. 548-3333. www.ecologycenter.org 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland “New Era/New Politics” highlights African-American leaders who have made their mark on Oakland. Meet at 10 a.m. at the African American Museum and Library at 659 14th St. 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

Art and Soul Festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Mon. at Frank Ogawa Plaza, City Center, Oakland. Over 40 bands on four stages, food, artisan marketplace, and Fun Zone for children. Cost is $5. www.artandsouloakland.com 

Sick Plant Clinic The first Sat. of every month, UC plant apthologist, Dr. Robert Raabe, UC entomologist Dr. Nick Mills, and their team of experts will diagnose what ails your plants. From 9 a.m. to noon at the UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Dr. Free. 643-2755. 

Yoga for Seniors at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St., from 10 to 11 a.m. Open to non-members of the club for $8 per class. 848-7800. 

SUNDAY, SEPT. 5 

“Propagating Natives with Cuttings” with Martin Grantham, Greenhouse Manager for San Francisco State University. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Visitors Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $40 members, $45 nonmembers. Attendance is limited, registration advised. Class fees benefit The Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden. 845-4116. www.nativeplants.org 

Reptile Roundup Come meet Tilden’s reptiles and learn how the world was formed on the shells of turtles and why snakes have natural spectacles. From 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. 525-2233. www.ebparks.org 

“That’s not a Weed, that’s an Herb!” Free lecture by herbalist and gardener Patricia Kazmierowski on common garden weeds and how you can use them for food, health, and beauty care, at 2 p.m. at Peralta Community Garden, 1400 Peralta St. 548-1417. 

Domingo de Rumba a family participatory event with Afro-Cuban folkloric drums and dances, at 3:30 p.m. at La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Les Contes pour Enfants An hour of nature stories in French for children at 10 a.m. at Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. 525-2233. www.ebparks.org 

“Growing Up and Growing Old: Life Stages of Enlightenment” with Walter Tuett Anderson, at 9:30 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302.  

MONDAY, SEPT. 6 

Rainbow Berkeley Brunch at 11 a.m. at Hs Lordships Restaurant, 199 Seawall Drive. With MC Darryl Moore and music by Out on a Clef and Irina Rivkin. $10-$20 suggested donation. 548-9235. 

Tilden Environmental Education Center Open House with a variety of drop-in programs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. 525-2233. www.ebparks.org 

World Affairs/Politics Discussion Group for people 60 years and over meets Mondays at 10:15 a.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave. Join at any time. 524-9122. 

Labor Day Flea Market with furniture, books, toys, clothes, electronics and more, also music, food and fun for children from 9 a.m. to dark at the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar at Bonita. 

Central Labor Council of Alameda County celebrates Labor Day at the Oakland A’s game at 4 p.m. at the East Side Club. Tickets are $12.50. For reservations call 632-4242. 

Color of Woman Story Writing Workshop with Shiloh McCloud at 6 p.m. at Belladonna, 2436 Sacramento St. Cost is $40, materials $20. 883-0600. www.belladonna.ws 

Community Healing Circle through chanting, singing and music, every first Mon. at 7 p.m. at Premalaya, 1713 University at McGee. alayabrk@earthlink.net  

Fitness for 55+ A total body workout including aerobics, stretching and strengthening at 1:15 p.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5170. 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. Join us to work on current issues around police misconduct. Volunteers needed. For information call 548-0425. 

TUESDAY, SEPT. 7 

An Evening with Richard Clarke, former counterterrorism czar and author of “Against All Enemies” at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Auditorium, UC Campus. Sponsored by the Goldman School of Public Policy. Tickets are $5-$10 available from 642-9998.  

“OUTFOXED” a documentary on media empires, led by Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News at 9:15 p.m., 1834 Park Blvd. near Lake Merritt in Oakland. This free event is sponsored by Not in Our Name. 601-8006.  

National Organization for Women Oakland/East Bay Chapter meets at 6 p.m. in the Boardroom of the Oakland YWCA, 1515 Webster St. The speaker will be Jean Damu who will discuss reparations for damages caused by slavery. 287-8948. 

WriterCoach Connection (formerly Writers’ Room) seeks volunteers for this coming academic year for Berkeley schools. From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and on Sept. 14. Other training times available. For information please contact Lynn Mueller at 524-2319 or writercoachconnect@yahoo.com www.writercoachconnection.org 

Family Story Time at the Kensington Branch Library, Tues. evenings at 7 p.m. 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

“Trekking the Himalaya and Beyond” Practical tips for exploring the world on foot with Arlene Blum at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Docent Training at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden every Tues. through Feb. 8 at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Cost is $125. To register please send a check to Dr. Glenn Keator, 1455 Catherine Drive, Berkeley, 94702. For more information call 527-9802. www.nativeplants.org 

Kairos Youth Choir Auditions for boys and girls age 7-15. For information call 414-1991, info@kairoschoir.org www.kairoschoir.org 

Acting and Storytelling Classes for Seniors offered by Stagebridge, at Arts First Oakland, 2501 Harrison St. Classes are held at 10 a.m. Tues.-Fri. For more information call 444-4755. www.stagebridge.org 

American Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at 6230 Claremont Ave., Oakland. Volunteers needed for Berkeley blood drives and/or Oakland Blood Center. Advance sign-up needed 594-5165.  

Creating Economic Opportunities for Women Free orientation meetings for training programs for immigrant and refugee women in English, finance and computer skills. Also on Sept. 9. 655 International Blvd., at 7th Ave., 2nd floor. To register call 879-2949. 

Organic Produce at low prices sold at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon Streets every Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. This is a project of Spiral Gardens. 843-1307. 

Phone Banking to ReDefeat Bush on Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at Cafe de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Bring your cell phones. Please RSVP if you can join us. 415-336 8736. dan@redefeatbush.com 

“Heal Your Back, Straighten Your Spine” at 1 p.m. at Pharmaca, 1744 Solano Ave.  

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Scuba diver Carl Arnoult will show underwater slides of coral reefs around the world at 11 a.m. 845-6830. 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 548-3991. www.berkeleycameraclub.org 

Tuesday Tilden Walkers We are a few slowpoke seniors who walk between a mile or two each Tuesday, meeting at 9:30 a.m. in the Little Farm parking lot. To join us, call 215-7672.  

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 8 

Wednesday Bird Walk Discover the first of the migrants and help us with the monitoring of the shoreline, at 8:30 a.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Shoreline. Turn into the park off Swan Way, follow the drive to the end and meet at the last parking lot by the observation deck. 525-2233. 

Workshop for Candidates and Treasurers offered by the Berkeley Fair Campaign Practices Commission at 7 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-6950. 

“Fed Up” a film at 7 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Admission is free. Part of the GMOs and Food series sponsored by GMO Free Alameda County. 527-9898. www.gmofreeac.org 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland uptown to the Lake to discover Art Deco landmarks. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of the Paramount Theater at 2025 Broadway. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. 

Prose Writers’ Workshop An ongoing group focused on issues of craft. Novices welcome. Community sponsored, no fee. Meets Wed. at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. 524-3034. georgeporter@earthlink.net 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday, rain or shine, at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen and a hat. 548-9840. 

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at the Berkeley BART Sta- 

tion, corner of Shattuck and Center. Vigil at 6:30 p.m., Peace Walk at 7 p.m. www.geocities. 

com/vigil4peace/vigil 

Auditions for the new Arlington Children’s Choir will be held between 4 and 6 p.m. at 52 Arlington Ave. in Kensington. Children, between the ages 8 and 14, who enjoy singing and performing, are invited to participate. For information and audition time call Shanti at 843-7745. 

Poetry Writing Workshop, led by Alison Seevak, every second Wed. at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, Edith Stone Room, 1247 Marin Ave. Registration required. 526-3700, ext. 20. 

Fun with Acting Class every Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Free, all are welcome, no experience necessary. 

Berkeley CopWatch open office hours 7 to 9 p.m. Drop in to file complaints, assistance available. For information call 548-0425. 

Rosh Hashanah “The Meeting Point Between Cosmic, Cyclical, Linear and Historical Time” A workshop presented by Avital Plan at 7:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $5. 848-0237, ext. 112. 

THURSDAY, SEPT. 9 

Berkeley Folk Dancers’ Beginners Class starts and runs for 8 weeks on Thursdays at 7:45 p.m. at Live Oak Park, Shattuck at Berryman. Cost is $30. 528-9168. 

East Bay Mac User Group meets the 2nd Thursday of every month, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Expression Center for New Media, 6601 Shellmound St. http://ebmug.org, www.expression.edu 

Berkeley Farmer’s Market with all organic produce at Shattuck at Rose, from 3 to 7 p.m. 548-3333. www.ecologycenter.org 

“Managing Weight, Mood and Menopause” at 5:30 p.m. at Pharmaca, 1744 Solano Ave.  

Grizzly Peak Flyfishers monthly meeting at 7 p.m at the Kensington Community Center, 59 Arlington Av. in Kensington, with Kirston Koths on “Fly Fishing in Scotland: In Search of Sea Trout, Brown Trout and the Historical Connection to Scotch Malt Whisky.” 547-8629. 

FRIDAY, SEPT. 10 

International Literacy Day celebrated from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Park. Listen to local authors and adult literacy students read their poetry and short stories. 981-6299. 

“So How’d You Become an Activist?” with Gloria La Riva, Cuba solidarity activist and union leader and Richard Becker, co-founder, ANSWER coalition, at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St., at Bonita. Suggested donation $5. 528-5403. 

“The Wild Buffalo of Yellowstone” a discussion with the Buffalo Field Campaign at 7 p.m. at The Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. near Dwight Way. 548-2220, ext. 233. www.ecologycenter.org 

Old Oakland Outdoor Cinema on Washington St., between 9th and 10th Sts. Music at 5 p.m., and film, “Singin’ in the Rain” at 8 p.m. Bring your own chairs and blankets. Sponsored by the City of Oakland and the Old Oakland Historic District. 238-4734. www.filmoakland.com 

Berkeley Critical Mass Bike Ride meets at the Berkeley BART the second Friday of every month at 5:30 p.m. 

Berkeley Chess Club meets Fridays at 7:15 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. Players at all levels are welcome. 652-5324. 

Mandala Circle of Bliss Workshops with Vicki Noble and Laura Amazzone Fri. p.m. and Sat.-Sun. at Belladonna, 2436 Sacramento. Cost is $175. To register call 883-0600. 

Women in Black Vigil, from noon to 1 p.m. at UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph. wibberkeley@yahoo.com 548-6310, 845-1143. 

Meditation, Peace Vigil and Dialogue, gather at noon on the grass close to the West Entrance to UC Berkeley, on Oxford St. near University Ave. People of all traditions are welcome to join us. Sponsored by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. 655-6169. www.bpf.org 

Overeaters Anonymous meets every Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Northbrae Church at Solano and The Alameda. Parking is free and is handicapped accessible. For information call Katherine, 525-5231. 

ONGOING 

Afterschool Center providing tutoring and support for Berkeley students age 5 to 14 at 1255 Allston Way. Cost is $20 per week. Sponsored by Berkeley Youth Alternatives. 845-9066. 

Twilite Basketball for young women age 11 to 18 Wed. and Fri. from 6 to 9 p.m. Sponsored by Berkeley Youth Alternatives. 845-9066. 

CITY MEETINGS 

Commission on Disability meets Wed., Sept. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Paul Church, 981-6342. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/disability 

Homeless Commission meets Wed., Sept. 8, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Jane Micallef, 981-5426. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/homeless 

Planning Commission meets Wed., Sept. 8, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Ruth Grimes, 981-7481. www.ci.berkeley. ca.us/commissions/planning 

Police Review Commission meets Wed. Sept. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, Barbara Attard, 981-4950. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/policereview 

Waterfront Commission meets Wed., Sept. 8, at 7 p.m., at 201 University Ave. Cliff Marchetti. 644-6376 ext. 224. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/waterfront 

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board meets Thurs. Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Pam Wyche 644-6128 ext. 113. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/rent 

Commission on Early Childhood Education meets Thurs., Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Marianne Graham, 981-5416. www.ci.berkeley. ca.us/commissions/earlychildhoodeducation 

Community Health Commission meets Thurs, Sept. 9, at 6:45 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. The Commission is interested in hearing from Berkeley residents about the health issues that are important to them, their families, and their neighborhoods. William Rogers, 981-5344. www.ci.berkeley. 

ca.us/commissions/health 

Transportation Commission meets Thurs., Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Peter Hillier, 981-7000. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/transportation 

West Berkeley Project Area Commission meets Thurs., Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., at the West Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7520. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/westberkeley  

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Thurs., Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. Mark Rhoades, 981-7410. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/zoning  ª

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. 

Judge David Flinn issued the 20-day TRO in his Martinez courtroom on Monday. While it is in force, the city may not sell the site to Berkeley developer James Levine’s Upstream Point Molate LLC. 

Levine’s plans call for development of the site, which would become a reservation of the Guidiville Rancheria band of Pomo tribespeople managed by Harrah’s Operating Company, an arm of the six-decade-old Nevada casino giant. 

The Richmond City Council was scheduled to vote this evening (Tuesday) on its proposed contract with Upstream to sell the property for a waterfront Las-Vegas style casino resort with four hotels and a major shopping center. The hearing will go forward, but no action will be taken, said a city spokesperson. 

Earlier in the day, councilmembers are scheduled for a 9 a.m. executive session to discuss the status of the suit, originally filed by ChevronTexaco and the Ione Band of Miwok tribespeople who are seeking to block the casino. 

The Native Americans backed out of the suit after their status was challenged by other Miwoks, leaving ChevronTexaco and the city as the sole contenders. 

The legal grounds for the challenge rest on the oil firm’s contention that the sale should be precluded by the California Surplus Property Act, which calls for other public agencies to get the first crack at lands sold by public agencies. 

Gabrielle Whelan, a lawyer from the Oakland law firm of McDonnough Holland & Allen retained by the city for the lawsuit, said that statue does not apply, and that the California Military Base Reuse Act applies instead. 

The legal argument could revolve on the Navy’s earlier sale of the site to the city, raising the issue of whether the military reuse statute would apply since the title is no longer held by the military. 

The oil firm argued that the land should remain undeveloped to serve as a security buffer for their massive refinery just across the ridge from the casino site. The company has offered $34 million for the site, which would be used as park land and wildlife habitat. 

The most controversial of the casino projects, one that has the potential for sinking all the others, fell into legislative limbo last week when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declined to introduce his plans for a San Pablo casino that would have bestowed a Bay Area monopoly on a tribe without historic roots in the region. 

One of five major compacts proposed by the governor, the Casino San Pablo proposals would have granted the Lytton Band of the Pomos an exclusive monopoly on slot machines within a 35-mile radius of San Pablo. 

Originally floated as a 5,500-slot monster that would have been larger than anything in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, the San Pablo sank into legislative quicksand when Democrats in both houses of the state legislature made in very clear they’d sink the deal—even after the governor and the Lyttons cut the number of slots in half. 

“When the governor’s administrative staff came to brief the Legislature, both houses had serious concerns, so they decided not to introduce the proposal and settled for the four other compacts,” said Hans Hemann, chief of staff for Assemblymember Loni Hancock. 

The proposal is on hold until January, “unless the tribe does something else, perhaps through the courts,” Hemann said. 

When the Legislature returns to Sacramento in January, Hancock will present a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would mandate a 60-day legislative review period for any future casino deals. Schwarzenegger’s proposal hit legislators with only a week to go before the session closed. 

Schwarzenegger’s deals called for the five casinos to pay the state a quarter of their net earnings, revenues his staff had estimated at combined total of $1 billion a year. 

The other four pacts—for casinos in Humboldt, Amador, San Diego and San Bernardino counties—sailed through both houses of the legislature and now await approval by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 

The Point Molate casino proposals call for a site purchase price paid to the City of Richmond of $50 million, plus an ongoing cash flow to compensate the city for lost sales and property taxes and for needed city services. 

Details are sparser for the second Richmond casino, which would be built in the economically distressed and unincorporated North Richmond on a site purchased by a Florida casino developer for the Scotts Valley Band of Pomos.?

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. 

Representatives of three locals of the Service Employees International Union—250, 535, and 616—picketed in front of the Highland Hospital Emergency Room and the Alameda County Administration Building in downtown Oakland. While in-patient and emergency room care remained in operation in Highland Hospital in Oakland and in-patient care continued at Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro, county-run clinics were closed in order to shift staff to the two hospital facilities. 

In addition to Highland and Fairmont, the facilities affected were the Juvenile Hall’s medical unit and the John George Psychiatric Pavilion in San Leandro. 

The job action was targeted toward a Monday evening meeting of the ACMC board of trustees, where a vote was scheduled to confirm a new ACMC budget that proposed a 10 percent reduction in the medical center’s work force. Last Friday, California Superior Court Judge James Richman denied—without comment—an ACMC request for an injunction to halt the one-day walkout. 

SEIU representatives issued a formal statement on the walkout, quoting one local hospital worker that “if the proposed ACMC budget is adopted, patient care will be at risk. To lay off staff means that we would not be able to provide quality care that we pride ourselves on at ACMC. We would be short-staffed, and the community would suffer.” 

Michael Brown, ACMC Public Affairs Officer, said there was “no excuse for a work stoppage. This is unfortunate from the standpoint of patient care.” 

Watched by Alameda County Sheriff’s deputies and private security guards as well as patients in hospital gowns taking outside smoking breaks, more than a hundred workers in purple and gold SEIU t-shirts marched in a circular picket line for much of the day in front of Highland shouting “no health care, no peace” and “health care cuts have got to go” and carrying signs that read “Measure A Was Not About Health Cuts In Alameda County,” and “Cut Cambio Not Public Health Care.” 

The “Cambio” referred to Cambio Health Solutions, the Tennessee-based company hired by the Medical Center’s board of trustees last February to analyze ACMC’s finances. Measure A referred to the medical sales tax overwhelmingly approved by Alameda County voters two years ago specifically to shore up publicly-funded hospital care in the county. 

Several cars passing by on East 31st and 14th streets honked horns in solidarity, but one middle-aged man leaning on a crutch at the bus stop across the street from the Emergency Room shouted, “Go take care of your patients!” and spoke against the work stoppage to anyone who came within hearing range. 

Picketers held an early morning rally in front of the Highland Hospital Emergency Room which union representatives estimated at around 400 persons. 

While it was clear from the size of the demonstrations that large numbers of hospital workers were not on the job, no official numbers of walkout participants were immediately available. In addition, union representatives appeared unclear as to the exact effect of the walkout. 

A union media advisory announcement said that workers had “shut down Oakland’s Highland Hospital” but at least some portion of the hospital was clearly in operation during the walkout, with the emergency waiting room appearing to be about a quarter full. A union media spokesperson also said that union workers had assisted the hospital last week in finding replacement workers to keep the Highland facility open. 

ACMC, which is charged with providing both emergency, in-patient, and clinic health care for the county’s uninsured citizens, has been in serious financial trouble for several years. Last July, the Alameda County Civil Grand Jury formally blasted both the County Board of Supervisors and ACMC board of trustees for an administration of the medical center the grand jury said was “in shambles.” 

Last year, ACMC’s budget deficit rose to between $60 and $70 million and in April of this year, the Center laid off 340 workers. 

The new round of worker layoffs was estimated between 200 and 300 workers. The 300 figure was listed in a preliminary budget passed last month by the ACMC board of trustees, but Brown called that figure a “moveable target” based upon the actual number of patients to be served by the center’s various facilities. 

“The staff/patient ratio has been getting out of whack for the last couple of years,” Brown said. “Our goal is to get to a staff to patient ratio of 5.79 to 1,” down from what he identified as the present staff to patient ratio of 6.16 to 1. 

In recent weeks, union and ACMC representatives have been holding formal “meet and confer” talks to discuss the proposed layoffs. Brown said he did not expect those sessions to be interrupted by the one-day action,  

A picketer identifying herself only as a specialist in clinic scheduling at ACMC said that management on Sunday evening may have inadvertently contributed to the success of the walkout. 

“They wouldn’t let you park in the lot after six,” she said. “You had to go all the way down to 20th and Broadway, and then catch a shuttle back to the hospital. Management made it so difficult to get to work that some workers who actually wanted to work said they might as well join us.” 

The picketer also took issue with management’s reasoning on the staff/patient ratio and quality care. “I don’t find any logic in laying off people if you’re saying you’re going to be increasing patient care,” she said. “Do you?” 

Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson (D-Berkeley) said that while the workers have the right to strike (“I support that”), he pointed out that the one-day work stoppage would cost the medical center $1.5 million, “which they can’t afford, considering the present $60-plus million deficit.” 

Carson said that the medical center’s budget is solely within the discretion of the board of trustees, and that by law, the Board of Supervisors could only intervene in the labor dispute if either the state or federal health and human services agencies made a formal finding that patient care was being compromised in Alameda County because of the budget problems. 

›

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. 

Despite pleas from neighbors and a member of the city Landmarks Preservation Commission, board members voted to approve a mitigated negative declaration on plans for a pair of duplexes in a recently landmarked West Berkeley historic district. 

The board also held the first of two public hearings on a planned nine-story Center Street housing, retail and theatrical building and took a first peek at plans for the Ed Roberts Campus (ERC), a center for training and assisting the disabled that would rise at the site of the Ashby BART Station. 

The ERC presentation wasn’t made as part of an action item, the pitch being given by campus staff to brief the board on a project that will appear before them when plans are finalized sometime in the near future. 

The skillfully staged presentation featured a delicate balsa building model, a Power Point presentation and a sizable audience contingent—many in wheelchairs—sporting “I Support ERC” badges. 

ZAB members may have wished they’d skipped the pitch altogether, as the meeting dragged into the wee hours, with Chair Andy Katz running a very loose ship—leaving it to member David Blake to interject with periodic motions to extend the various hearings as each invariably waxed on longer than the minutes allotted. 

Marin Avenue Views 

Members devoted considerable time to playing Solomon, though this time it wasn’t a baby to be divvied up but neighbors’ vistas of the Bay and beyond in the face of a new three-story house planned for 2615 Marin Ave. 

Project neighbors on Keeler Avenue were unhappy that the new home would cut into their views, none more so than Daphne Kalmar, who complained at length that David Richmond’s new home would destroy most of her vista from her own home on Marin. 

The city staff sided with her in their report, but Rena Rickles, attorney for the homebuilder, called “enough” earlier in the hearing, saying her client had participated in arbitration hearings and changed his design three times in the course of the dispute. 

Neighbors had been asked which sight they’d settle on losing: the Golden Gate, San Francisco, or Alcatraz. 

Richmond’s architect had thrice revised the plans, reducing the third story by a fourth to 750 square feet, which Kalmar said had done nothing to save her view. 

With member Blake and Carrie Sprague dissenting, the board voted to overrule the staff recommendations and approve the project, though moving the house back 12 feet on the lot—which Kalmar said wouldn’t help her at all. 

Jeremy’s Expansion in Elmwood 

Attorney Rickles was back up before the board for the next item, a request by clothier Jeremy Kidson to expand his business into a third storefront on College Avenue over the objections of other members of the thoroughfare’s voter-created Commercial District. 

Realtor George Oram Jr., the current occupant without a lease of Kidson’s storefront at 2963 College, wanted the board to give Kidson a use permit conditional on Oram’s being able to find new quarters on the street, a requirement which city staff said the board is explicitly barred from making. 

The board did authorize Oram to relocate to 2931 College, a site he said won’t be vacant until February. 

Kidson wanted Oram’s old space for an additional 700 square feet of retail sales floor and another 500 square feet of break room and office space, a move which would normally be precluded under district rules. 

“I am very much against the quota system,” Kidson said, describing it as a “government-sponsored cartel to use the quota system to control the expansion of businesses. 

“We do a very good business, and I think we bring a lot of business to the neighborhood,” Kidson said. 

Rickles then called a series of neighborhood women customers to testify to the wonderfulness of shopping at Jeremy’s and to attest to the crowded shopping conditions, which they were assured would ease once Kidson won permission to expand. 

Expansion opponent and Elmwood Business Improvement District member Connie Imodrie, owner of Your Basic Bird, pointed out that it was only because of an error by city staff that Kidson was allowed to violate the quota system and expand his store into the old bank building at the southeast corner of College and Ashby—a fact confirmed by City Planner Mark Rhoades. 

A city staff member erroneously issued a counter permit authorizing the expansion, Rhoades said, and he only caught the error when Kidson was about to hold his grand opening. Under the terms of the commercial district ordinance, an expansion into a space previously occupied by another business requires a hearing before ZAB. 

The board received protests of the newest expansion signed by 21 area merchants asking ZAB to delay acting until more members of the business community could voice their objections. 

Gregory Harper, attorney for George Oram, contended that the city staff issued a recommendation favoring Kidson’s move based on his client’s ability to move into new quarters. 

Rickles pointed out that Oram’s lease had expired on July 31. “He came to us and said he wouldn’t object (to the expansion) if we paid him $50,000 and let him stay another six months. 

Dean Metzger, the newest ZAB member, objected to the move, saying “I was involved in writing the quota system for the Elmwood and it is very dear to me. . .If we let Jeremy’s do this, we will wind up having a super store in our neighborhood.” 

Blake also objected, but to no avail. When the votes were tallied, they were the only dissenters. 

Sisterna Tract district 

The greatest organized opposition came to protest the proposed adoption of a mitigated negative declaration giving a preliminary go-ahead to the two duplex conversion at 2104 and 2108 Sixth St. in the Sisterna Tract historic district. 

But by the time ZAB members got around to the public hearing, the witching hour had come and most of the opponents had headed home. 

One of those who stayed was Lesley Emmington Jones, a member of the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) who appeared on behalf of that panel. 

“We are unanimously concerned and forwarded our recommendations to you, but I don’t see them shared in the staff report,” she said. “We were unanimous in reporting that in the Environmental Impact Statement under esthetics impacts. . .it should state that there will be substantial damage to the historical buildings within the context of the district” if plans are adopted as submitted. 

While Emmington Jones praised developer Mark Feiner for his efforts to adapt his plans to LPC recommendations, she also faulted city staff for failing to produce the statement in a timely manner, a fault planner Rhoades acknowledged, blaming the timing difficulties on the lack of sufficient staff. 

Rhoades said the LPC would have the final say on designs. 

The board finally adopted the plan, with only Dean Metzger and Carrie Sprague voting no. 

“See you in court!” declared several disappointed neighbors as they filed out of the meeting.  

›

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. 

Darrell de Tienne, project manager for the Seagate Building—the largest structure planned for downtown in recent years—had already received a warm welcome from one ZAB member earlier in the evening Thursday. 

In the break following City Attorney Manuela Albuquerque’s briefing on the city’s new and complex ex parte communications rule, it was time to ex parte down when ZAB member Deborah Matthews spotted de Tienne in the hallway outside the hearing room. 

Matthews rushed over and graced the developer with a warm hug and a peck on the cheek. 

When the hearing began the developer hadn’t even unpacked his elaborate scale model, which remained carefully nestled in boxes piled adjacent to where Berkeley City Planner Mark Rhoades sat with Greg Powell, the senior planning staff member assigned to the project. 

“The logic of the project is very simple,” said de Tienne. “It’s a residential building in downtown Berkeley with a quality above the student level”—a remark clearly intended to differentiate his edifice from those of controversial developer Patrick Kennedy, who targets the UC student market. 

Looking at the drawings de Tienne submitted, ZAB member Dean Metzger mused that “with 70 percent of the apartments under 700 square feet, are we just building another dorm here? Who’s going to live in 500 square feet if not a student?” 

De Tienne said that while the project was entitled to 149 units based on the housing set aside for lower- and lower-income residents, “there may be much less as building goes forward.” 

Because of the dramatic view he said the units would include, the San Rafael-based Seagate Properties, Inc., is looking both at building larger units and converting the project to condominiums, with the likelihood that contractor insurance issues will govern the final decision. 

“We can’t tell you right now what it will be,” he said. 

The builder is allowed four stories above the general downtown height limit, two of them for providing “inclusionary” housing for those earning lower-than-average incomes and two more for providing cultural arts space for non-profit groups—in this case, the Berkeley Repertory Theater. 

The cultural bonus was awarded on the basis of the 6-3 vote by the Civic Arts Commission on Feb. 25, based in part on the theatrical space and in part on Seagate’s agreement to pay a city-hired curator to present the works of local artists in 800 square feet of corridor display space. 

Arts Commission chair David Snippen, who voted for the project, and Jos Sances, an opponent who chairs the commission’s Public Art Committee, submitted a joint letter to ZAB protesting Seagate’s about-face on the exhibit space. 

Sances weathered that long meeting to testify at Friday’s early morning hearing, where he reported that Seagate now insists on hiring their own curator, a move opposed by the commissioners, who want stipulations inserted in any final use permit requiring that the curator be a Seagate-paid city employee and calling for the use of two streetfront windows for public viewing in addition to the corridor. 

“This is not acceptable to us,” Sances said of Seagate’s revised proposal. “This is not a great deal for the arts community. This change has made it very unacceptable to us.” 

While City Planner Mark Rhoades said the city didn’t want to be in the position of hiring a curator, Sances proposed using the same curator the city already employees for the Windows gallery. 

Planner Greg Powell said that a condition of city approval would require the curator to select works from a list selected by the arts commission, though he acknowledged the Seagate employee could chose other works from artists not on the list. 

ZAB member Metzger worried that unless ZAB “put some teeth” into the agreement governing the theatrical space, “it probably won’t happen.” 

Rhoades said that if the space remains unused for a specified period, it would be offered to the next candidate on the arts commission list at half the cost. 

The final controversy centered on the placement of the low-income units in the building. 

When ZAB member Laurie Capitelli questioned why none of the units were located on the top two floors of the building, Rhoades said that the city zoning ordinance precluded placing them in the extra floors which were granted as a result of including the units. 

“The inclusionary ordinance does not apply to the density bonus floors, and those are the top two floors of this project.” 

“That’s an absolute disgrace,” declared member David Blake. 

“This is consistent with all of the infill projects that we have approved in the last five years. None of them have inclusionary units in the top floor,” Rhoades said. 

Matthews said she had spoken to the city housing department, “and they still felt this was a very good situation.” 

Landmarks Preservation Commissioner Lesley Emmington Jones questioned the wisdom of building more infill development projects in the city at a time when apartments are going vacant, but Rhoades said the reason rents were dropping was because of the addition of new housing, which he called a blessing for the city. 

And so, just after the clock ticked off 1:20 a.m., ZAB Chair Andy Katz declared the meeting at an end. 

But it wasn’t the end of the Seagate proposal, which comes back to the board for a second hearing and final action on the 9th.w

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. 

In return for access to power and a guaranteed head-turner on her college applications, the 17-year-old senior will be asked to sacrifice alternate Wednesday nights to a school board known for shutting down after most local pubs. 

But those late hours might be a thing of the past, said Dorman-Colby, who has plenty of incentive to keep the board on schedule.  

Her wrestling tournaments are Thursdays. After years of passing through foster homes and vanquishing boys in her 120-pound weight class, the ninth-ranked female wrestler in the country last year isn’t afraid to twist the arm of any school board director that stands between her and a full night’s rest. 

“These meetings are ending at 10 p.m.,” she said, tongue partially in cheek. “If they have questions I’ll tell them, ‘Talk to me before the meeting, I’ve got a tournament tomorrow.’” 

The role of student director, although lacking a formal vote, is still vital to the board, said Director Shirley Issel. “It keeps us in touch with the kids,” she said. 

When the gavel falls, the school board can expect a different brand of student representation from Dorman-Colby, who hails from a more progressive student slate than Bradley Johnson, last year’s representative.  

Though Johnson has given Dorman-Colby some insight into board politics, the two disagree on the most divisive academic issues facing the school. 

For one, Dorman-Colby is a critic of Academic Choice—the high school’s semi-autonomous program that picks its own teachers, promises more rigorous coursework and traditionally attracts mainly white students. The problem with it, Dorman-Colby said, is that the program sucks up the best teachers and widens the achievement gap. 

“Students who can’t do the advanced stuff end up with a poorer teacher when they need a better one,” she said. 

Dorman-Colby also supports Identity and Ethnic Studies (IES), a mandatory class for freshmen, that critics, including Johnson, have labeled a dispensary of political correctness and academic fluff. Last year, the board, against Johnson’s urging to scrap the whole program, voted to rename the class and beef up the curriculum. 

When the subject moves outside the classroom, Dorman-Colby promised to unify students against unpopular board actions like last year’s decision to implement a new get-tough attendance policy. 

Nearly universally condemned by student leaders, the policy calls for truants to lose a letter grade for every five unexcused absences they record in a semester. Three tardies count for one absence.  

“Wealthy parents won’t let their kids lose a letter grade. It will only make the achievement gap worse,” said Dorman-Colby, who has lobbied the administration to broadcast the new policy during daily announcements so students have fair warning.  

Although Dorman-Colby’s vote on the board is only advisory, she plans to use the bully pulpit of her position to pressure directors to heed student concerns. 

“I embody student morale,” she said. “If I say a lot of good things parents will think the high school is doing well. If I say bad things they’ll say the high school has problems.” 

To ensure that she isn’t a voice in the wilderness—a place Johnson found himself last year debating the attendance policy—Dorman-Colby is organizing student council elections early this year and formulating a student e-tree so students can be mobilized to defend their interests before the board. 

Dorman-Colby got her start in student politics in seventh grade by protesting, of all things, pepperoni. As a vegetarian who qualified for free lunch, she started a petition drive to force the Longfellow Middle School to offer a pizza without the meat-based topping.  

At the same time she began to grasp her natural strength.  

She joined Longfellow’s football team, but excelled most in mercy, the schoolyard tradition of locking hands to see who can bend their opponents’ wrist backwards. 

“I beat everybody, the whole boys’ basketball team had to challenge me,” Dorman-Colby said. 

After taking a pounding against boys twice her size her freshman season on Berkeley High’s junior varsity football squad, she took her love of tackling to the wrestling mat. 

Dorman-Colby won just three matches her freshman year, but skyrocketed to sixth in the country among girls as a sophomore. Last year she placed ninth in nationals and first in North California and Oregon in her weight class. Against boys, the 5-foot, 2-inch Dorman-Colby finished second in her league, but wasn’t allowed to advance to a regional tournament which didn’t allow inter-gender matches. 

While Dorman-Colby shot up the wrestling ranks, her homelife took a tumble. When she was 12, the county removed her and her three brothers from their parents’ house and split them into different foster homes. 

“I moved five times in two years,” said Dorman-Colby, who now lives at a friend’s house and visits her parents periodically.  

Having never had parental discipline, Dorman-Colby adopted her own strict code of conduct, based on personal responsibility and healthy living. “I’ve never had anyone to rebel against, so I never had a reason to drink or smoke pot,” she said. 

Dorman-Colby said her experience both as one of the few white kids in her South Berkeley neighborhood and then as a foster child at the home of an African American family in East Oakland has shaped the beliefs she will take to the school board. 

“When you grow up poor you see how African Americans are treated and how no one stands up for their rights,” she said. “I live in a lot of different worlds; worlds that aren’t represented at the school board.” 

Dorman-Colby thinks her wrestling career will probably end after this year, but insists her public life is just getting underway. 

“I want to be a politician,” she said. “I want to change the world.”

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. 

Seeking re-election to a fourth four-year District 3 term is retired City Traffic Engineer Roy Nakadegawa. He is being challenged by seven-year BART administrative employee Bob Franklin and management consultant Kathy Neal, who has served on several state and local boards and was recently considering a run for Peralta Community College District Board of Trustees. 

On the same ballot, under Measure AA, Alameda County voters will be asked to approve authority for BART to issue up to $980 million in earthquake safety improvement bonds. 

BART—which employs 3,500 workers under a $460 million annual budget in a rapid transit district running through Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco counties—was recently named the top transit system in the country by the American Public Transportation Association. 

Nakadegawa, who says that this will be his last term on the BART board if he wins, lists seismic retrofit and emphasizing system efficiency over continued expansion as two of his key goals. 

“I brought up earthquake safety five years ago as the most important project we need to be undertaking,” he said. “We’ve now got new studies that say that the tube under the bay is the most vulnerable; we now believe that its foundation could liquefy in a major earthquake.” He credited his leadership with influencing the BART board to put Measure AA on this year’s ballot. 

Nakadegawa also said that he was “the only BART board member raising the issue of social equality,” insisting that BART is “spending megabucks for expansion to the more affluent suburban areas” while neglecting the needs of existing riders. 

Franklin agrees with Nakadegawa on the need for seismic retrofit, but disagrees in the area of expansion. His extensive campaign website lists extension to San Jose, Livermore, and Antioch as two of his goals. While he says a BART extension to San Jose “is a very expensive option,” he called a “better connection” between BART and San Jose “essential and inevitable.” 

He says that while BART is one of the “main [transportation] backbones for the Bay Area,” it needs to incorporate a more efficient system of “finishing shuttles” in order to correct a problem where “BART gets you near where you want to go, but far enough away from your final destination that most people opt to drive rather than to wait to transfer to a bus.” 

Franklin’s website lists several specific policy proposals for the system, including extending service past midnight, lowering pricing for all riders during non-commute hours and for “economically disadvantaged” riders during all hours, and making better labor relations a priority. 

He is currently on leave from his position as the Executive Staff Assistant to BART’s Controller-Treasurer. 

The politically-connected Neal, who operates her own Oakland-based consultant firm with several public agencies as her clients, says that BART needs to establish a better balance between quality service and expansion, adding that one problem with the system is that it “has historically thought of itself as a transportation agency only.”  

She said that BART could do a better job of managing its extensive land holdings, developing capital improvement projects as an alternative source of revenue. 

Neal’s name was publicly floated this spring and summer for the Peralta Community College District 6 board seat being vacated by trustee Susan Duncan. But Neal, who once served on the State Community College Board of Governors, said that she turned down requests from friends and associates to run for the board because of the “distraction” of sitting on a board that oversaw the activities of Peralta Chancellor Elihu Harris, who is Neal’s estranged husband. 

“Nobody wanted to talk about anything else but that,” Neal said. “Nobody wanted to know my issues or concerns about the district.” 

She said she decided to run for the BART board because she is interested in public service, and because Nakadegawa is “a nice gentleman who suffers from a lack of leadership. We’re woefully underrepresented. I have not talked with anyone who has a good working relationship with the incumbent.” 

Neal has also served on the California Integrated Waste Management Board and the Oakland Port Commission. She once worked on the staff of Oakland City Councilmember Desley Brooks.ô

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. 

Attendance is a high stakes game in California, which uses it to divvy up education dollars. And last year, at least, the district, which for several years has started school the week before Labor Day, was slow out of the gate. 

In 2003 when school started Aug. 27, just 8,013 of the district’s roughly 8,900 students showed up for class. With the state penalizing school districts $27.84 per child absence, the dismal first day showing cost the district in the neighborhood of $23,000. District attendance didn’t surpass 8,600 students until Tuesday, Sept. 2—the day after Labor Day—and didn’t reach 8,800 until Sept. 6. 

While Berkeley is in a crowded field of districts that start classes before Labor Day—Oakland is the only neighboring district that will open its doors after the holiday—it faces a unique struggle to get its students to the first few days of classes. 

Berkeley Unified spokesperson Mark Coplan chalked up the phenomenon to the Berkeley’s transient population. “So many people choose to summer elsewhere it’s a matter of when they decide to come back,” he said. 

In addition to mailing out the standard beginning of school packets which include a school calendar, the district has taken the extra step this year of posting messages on each school’s e-tree reminding families that students need to be back by Sept. 1, the first day of school.  

Coplan said the district, with the required consent of its unions, moved up the start of school several years ago when Labor Day arrived late and hasn’t reverted to its past tradition.  

Berkeley Federation of Teachers President Barry Fike said a recent survey of teachers showed they were split down the middle about whether or not to start classes before Labor Day. 

“We haven’t pushed strongly one way or the other,” he said. “If the district wanted to start after Labor Day we would have agreed.” 

Superintendent Michele Lawrence said the district had to factor numerous variables into formulating the calendar. In the future, she said, she would like to see the district adopt a year-round schedule. 

School Day Set To Change 

Berkeley Unified and its teachers’ union have agreed on a new school schedule that will reduce the school day by forty minutes on Wednesdays in return for adding 10 minutes to the other four days of the week 

The change is scheduled to begin at elementary and middle schools the week of Monday Oct. 4 and does not affect Berkeley High. 

Under the terms of the agreement, teachers will now get four hours a month, all on Wednesdays, to collaborate on lesson plans. 

“Teachers want more opportunities to work closely with our colleagues and learn from each other in order to improve our craft,” Fike said in a prepared statement. 

As an example of how the new policy will work, if a student was previously dismissed each day at 2:10, the student would now be dismissed at 2:20 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and at 1:30 on Wednesday. 

Schools will start at the same time as they had previously. 

The district has closed schools early on some Wednesdays in previous years, said Coplan, who added that school officials were still adjusting child care provisions for the new schedule. 

“We’ve got a month to gear it up and get arrangements made,” he said. 

ô

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). 

“In Vietnam I was just a marine doing my job, here I believe in the issues and I’m proud of creating a precedent that will last a long time,” said Bobbitt, a former police officer. 

Bobbitt has never defended a Berkeley cop, but thanks to a landmark decision he won in San Diego nearly every sustained allegation of police misconduct against Berkeley officers since 2002 has been overturned. 

In the 30-year war between the police union and Berkeley’s Police Review Commission (PRC) Bobbitt has handed officers a powerful weapon both to weaken the commission’s clout further and to tie it up in a procedural morass. 

Bobbitt’s legal triumph in 1999 granted California police officers the right to an administrative appeal of any allegation against them sustained by the state’s 15 civilian oversight boards. A second ruling in 2002 laid out the appeals process and placed the burden on the review boards to prove their case.  

Civilian commissions, like Berkeley’s PRC and San Diego’s San Diego County's Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB), are independent of a police department’s internal affairs office—the police department’s internal investigation and disciplinary unit—and their decisions never see their way into an officer’s personnel file.  

Their primary role is to give the public a vehicle to air concerns about the department and express their point of view directly to the officers in question. Police departments nearly universally ignore their rulings, Bobbitt said. Nevertheless, the Fourth District Court of Appeals found that since a sustained allegation could conceivably cost an officer a shot at a promotion or a job opportunity in a different force, the California Police Officer’s Bill of Rights required an appeal. 

The ruling, which the state supreme court declined to review, has had little impact throughout most of the state. Police in Oakland and Riverside haven’t initiated a single appeal. In San Diego County, where the lawsuit was initiated, sheriff deputies have only challenged five sustained allegations. 

In Berkeley, however, the police have appealed nearly every finding, from serious charges of improper procedure to simple discourtesy. And their appeals are nearly always successful. The most recent data collected by the Police Review Commission shows that out of 32 appeals to sustained allegations, 28 have been overturned. 

“Clearly they’re trying to bury the review process there,” said John Parker, executive director San Diego’s CLERB.  

Since the PRC’s rulings carry little weight, he and several PRC commissioners insist the motivation behind the police union’s “challenge everything” tactic is not to clear officer’s names, but to paralyze the PRC. 

With just four staff members, one investigator and a budget of $424,000 several Berkeley PRC commissioners said the commission must divert precious resources from investigating complaints to handling the appeals.  

“It hurts our budget, it hurts the whole process,” said former PRC Chairperson Bill White. 

Each appeal requires a written and an oral argument presented before a three-person appeals panel, handpicked by the city manager, which hears the case in private and doesn’t publicize its decisions.  

Currently, the panel is comprised of Office of Economic Development Director Tom Myers, Senior Human Resources Analyst Margarita Zamora and Hearing Officer Ann Miley. The composition of the review panel has raised concerns among PRC commissioners that the final arbiters might have a bias towards their fellow city employees. 

“They’re supposed to be objective, but they’re judging their own,” said PRC Commissioner Lucienne Sanchez-Resnik, who also argued that the panel’s reliance on the written transcript favored officers. 

“They’re missing a lot of the body language,” she said. “Reading the transcript and being there are two different things.” 

In contrast to the Berkeley system, designed by former City Manager Weldon Rucker, San Diego sends appeals to a civil service commission, where the panel members are selected by elected supervisors and can hear live testimony. 

Carol Denney, the publisher of Berkeley’s satirical newspaper, the Pepper Spray Times, wasn’t present when the Berkeley appeals panel overturned rulings that had been in her favor. She had filed a complaint against an officer who she claimed refused to arrest a man she said assaulted her. She charged that the officer inserted into the police record what she said were false mental health records. 

Denney said she received a cash settlement from the city for the incident, but the review board overturned the PRC’s findings anyway. 

“It’s disturbing that a panel can meet in secret and have the last word,” Denney said. 

Former Berkeley Police Associaton President Randolph Files, however, said there’s a simple explanation for the multitude of overturned rulings: “The PRC has a systemic bias against the police.” Files said he experienced the bias when he was brought before a PRC hearing panel. “There was nothing I could say that the PRC wanted to hear. I was wrong because of who I was.”  

The PRC sustains about one-third of the allegations brought before them—a higher percentage than most other civilian boards. In 2002, The PRC sustained 52 allegations out of 154. Comparatively, in 2003, the Riverside review board sustained 22 out of 107 complaints and San Diego sustained nine out of 99 complaints. 

Administrative review is just the latest in a series of legal battles in which the police have pared down the power of the PRC. 

Created by ballot initiative in 1973, the commission was originally designed to replace Internal Affairs, but a judge ruled that only a charter amendment, not a ballot initiative, could give the commission authority to discipline officers. 

Reduced to a role of advisor to the city manager—who reviews the commission’s findings and controls its funds—the commission wields little institutional power.  

Now, again thanks to Bobbit, the PRC risks losing even more relevance 

Last year, Bobbit won a case, again in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, that closed civilian board hearings in San Diego. Other jurisdictions have quickly fallen into line. Riverside and Richmond have placed hearings behind closed doors, and last month the Oakland Police Officers Association (OPOA) filed suit against the city both to close public hearings and to keep review board findings confidential. PRC commissioners fear that if the OPOA suit is successful, Berkeley Police will also seek legal recourse.  

In 2002 Berkeley police filed a suit to keep PRC findings under lock and key, but not to close hearings to the public. However, after settling other bones of contention with the city, they never pressed the issue. 

“If someone in Berkeley filed a writ in superior court, they could close the hearings,” Bobbitt said. “I’m guessing they’re mostly happy with the way it’s going and don’t want to deal with a public outcry.” 

Asked if the BPA planned to follow through on closing hearings, Files replied, “No comment.”

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.  

Dokhi Fassihian, executive director of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC), says she is getting up to five reports a day of Iranians complaining of harassment.  

Fassihian says Iranians have been singled out since 9/11 but that the current crackdown comes from tightening U.S. security measures as well as increased tension between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program and alleged ties with terrorist groups. “It appears that, after Afghanistan and Iraq, Iran is a likely target of the next U.S. invasion,” says Ali Golchin, an immigration lawyer in San Diego.  

Amrit Singh, a lawyer with the Immigrant Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union in New York City, says the government is definitely keeping an eye on immigrants from all over the world. But, he adds, there is added bias against Middle Easterners and Muslims, or those mistaken for them, based on fears that they are all agents of terrorism. Golchin says Iranians in the U.S. defy stereotypes, being “Muslims, Christians, Jews, Bahaiis and Zoroastrians."  

Government and private employers are not applying rules fairly but are profiling by race, charges Fassihian. Iranians complain they are getting harsh treatment even though there are no specific intelligence findings marking them as security threats.  

Neil Gordon, a director with the AIDS Research Alliance in Los Angeles, reported that a key researcher, an Iranian citizen with an H-1 visa, who returned this year to Iran for her father's funeral, was stranded in Switzerland for four and a half months. The State Department required her to get her visa stamped as a condition for returning, but the U.S. consulate denied her reentry pending review of her records.  

Gordon is upset that a person who has been doing valuable work in the U.S. for seven years would be so severely. “The frustration is that it is not that she is researching anthrax or in nuclear research, it’s that she is Iranian and has a biochemistry PhD,” he says.  

Fassihian says many Iranians have been denied security clearances for federal jobs or contracts. In West Virginia, Aliakbar Afshari and Shahla Azadi, an Iranian couple, were recently fired without explanation from their jobs at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). They were told there was no appeal.  

Afshari and Azadi have been permanent residents for 17 years and NIOSH employees in Morgantown for seven. In May they were told, to their surprise, that they failed a background check and were escorted from the premises. Each had passed a previous check. They were told documentation of the recent check was classified.  

Their attorney, Allan Karlin, resorted to the Freedom of Information Act, but the FBI said it had no related documents in Washington and are looking in other places. He says the government made no attempt to interview the couple’s co-employees and superiors. He learned that the Department of Homeland Security ordered the background check on individuals from “threat countries to the United States,” which includes Iran.  

Karlin obtained 20 letters from diverse sources testifying to the couple’s upstanding characters. “These are two of the finest people I have ever had the privilege of knowing and representing,” Karlin says.  

Fassihian also cites the case of an Iranian who has been in the United States since 1973, with a green card since 1983, and applied for citizenship in 1998. His application has been stalled without explanation for six years.  

After Sept. 11, the government required all males, 18-65 years old, from 25 Middle East countries, to report to INS offices. The process was called the National Security Entry Exit Registration System (NSEERS).  

In Southern California the INS handcuffed and detained some 1,000 Iranians for days without access to lawyers, family members or doctors when they voluntarily reported. Critics accused authorities of not recognizing that the detainees did not commit any crimes and, by reporting, were actually trying to comply with the law. Many were waiting for their permanent residency application to be approved, but by responding to NSEERS became subject to deportation proceedings.  

Fassihian says there is a new round of FBI interrogations, but people are too scared to step forward to tell their stories. Morad Ghorban, political director for the Iranian American Political Action Committee, thinks it is a continuation of NSEERS, during which the government made lists of Iranian nationals.  

Ghorban and Fassihian want balanced anti-terrorist measures that promote homeland security while respecting the rights of industrious and law-abiding persons. Golchin says most Iranians are successful in education, science, business and the professions and deserve the Temporary Protected Status accorded to nationals of many other nations.  

They say the treatment of Iranians is out of proportion. “Never, never has there been an instance of terrorism by someone from the Iranian community in America,” Fassihian says.  



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..

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.  

I made plane reservations for New York and looked into accommodations. After noodling around on the Internet, I found a motel for less than $100 per night. The proprietor told me that I couldn’t make an August reservation until June 1, so I waited. On June 1 I called the motel. “We’re booked,” said the proprietor. “How can you be booked?” I asked. “You wouldn’t let me make a reservation earlier.” “Sorry,” said the woman, and she hung up. “Thanks,” I said, but she didn’t hear me. 

I found a more expensive, but available B&B close to Taffy’s summer cabin. My friends Mac and Susie were also going to the wedding. We decided to share the room in order to save money.  

At the Highlands Inn, the owner handed us one key. “Can we have two?” I asked. “We might not be together the entire time.” “Don’t worry,” answered the proprietor. “I never lock the doors. Really, you don’t even need a key.” I put the key in my pocket and we drove off to the rehearsal dinner.  

The following day there was a group run and yoga, and then a hike up the mountain to the site of the wedding. Taffy stuffed her wedding dress in a backpack just as it started to rain. But the sky cleared at the top of the peak and a ceremony was performed by the groom’s best friend. Then we took the ski lift down to the lodge for a party. At 11 p.m. I was sitting in a hot tub in back of Taffy’s cabin, and by midnight I was walking to the B&B with the bride and her daughter. Taffy had on a bathrobe and slippers. Amelia had Taffy’s large green parrot, “Bird,” on her shoulder. The Hassidics were all in bed for the night. 

At the B&B we found the front door locked and all the lights out. We went to the back door. It was locked. We checked the ground floor windows and finally found one that was open. I stood on the bride’s shoulders. Bird squawked encouragement. I kicked with my legs to try to squirm in the window but I was cautious. I didn’t want to somersault into the darkened room. Taffy started to giggle. Bird parroted her laughter. I laughed too, and then a voice from inside said, “What the hell do you think your doing?” It was the proprietor. 

“I’m the bride,” said Taffy, as way of explanation. 

“I’m the bride,” mimicked Bird. 

“I’m the bride’s daughter,” said Amelia. 

“I’m the bride’s friend,” I said. “And I don’t have a key to my room.” 

“I gave you a key,” said the proprietor. 

“I know,” I said, “but my friends have it because they came in earlier than me. You said you never lock the front door.” 

“That’s why I gave you a key,” said the proprietor. 

“But you only gave us one key and they have it.” 

“That’s why I gave the key to you,” said the proprietor. 

“KEY!” shouted Bird. 

“Shut up,” said Amelia. The proprietor looked at her in alarm. “Bird,” she said. “I’m talking to Bird.” 

“It’s okay,” said the bride quickly, wanting to avoid a fight between the parrot, the proprietor, Amelia, and me. “Now you’re here and Suzy can get in, and I can go home and prepare for the next party.” 

I got down off the bride’s shoulders and went around to the front door where the grumpy innkeeper let me in. 

“Kiss the bride,” said Bird. 

I did.?

Gunman Opens Fire on Car 

A shooter unleashed a volley of shots at a car filled with four or five occupants near the corner of Russell and Sacramento streets about 9:20 p.m. Sunday, said Berkeley Police spokesperson Officer Joe Okies. 

No one was injured in the attack, and police have identified several suspects in the attack. 

Case Closed, Years Later 

A student shopping in a local used book store last week spotted several volumes bearing the stamp of the Pacific School of Religion. 

A check with the school determined that the volumes in question had been boosted several years before and later sold to the unwitting merchant, who volunteered to return the books without cost if a police report was filed. 

The necessary document was filed Sunday morning, and the books were on their way back to their old domain. 

Finger Bite Ends in Arrest 

Berkeley officers arrested two men at Civic Center Park Saturday night on charges of battery with serious bodily injury after a woman reported that they’d bitten her finger. Charges of interfering with a police officer were added after they took physical issue with the arresting officers. 

Golden Bear Inn Robbed 

A young man with a handgun walked into the Golden Bear Inn at 1620 San Pablo Ave. at 9:41 Friday evening and demanded cash. He fled moments later with the contents of the till. 

Knife-Armed Robber Gets Wallet 

A man with a knife approached a pedestrian at Ashby and San Pablo avenues at about 3 a.m. Saturday. The victim escaped without injury after he handed over his wallet, but it took him eight more hours before he was able to call police. 

Alleged Car Thief Faces More Charges 

Berkeley officers stopped a car near San Pablo Avenue and Haskell Street shortly after 9:30 Saturday night after the plates turned up on their hot sheet. 

They arrested the 41-year-old driver, and added public intoxication, parole violation and drug paraphernalia charges after they got a closer look at him and his hot wheels. 

Week’s Most Peculiar Heist  

Three young men in their late teens, one claiming to have a gun, approached a pedestrian at Tenth Street and Hearst Avenue about 9:15 p.m. Saturday and executed a strong-arm robbery. . .of his cigarette lighter. 

Rat Pack Juvenile Bandits 

A group of a dozen or more teenagers robbed three youngsters near the corner of Monterey and Posen Avenues at 9:30 Saturday evening, making off with their money. 

Gunman Takes Wallet 

A gunman, back up by two other young felons, confronted a pedestrian near Milvia and Blake street at 11:46 p.m. Sunday and took his wallet. 

Teens Snatch Purse 

A band of four teens snatched a woman’s purse near the corner of Fulton Street and Durant Avenue just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday. 

Trio Gets Cash 

Three young men relieved a pedestrian of his cash in a strongarm heist near the corner of San Pablo Avenue and Delaware Street at 2:39 a.m. Sunday.ô

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. 

Deputy Fire Chief David Orth said a fourth of the combined city and FEMA Fire Prevention and Public Safety Grant funds will go toward creating and launching a fire hazard education curriculum. 

Another 35 percent will go for an updated fire hazard evaluation program to assess fire dangers in the hills, prioritize areas of concern and collect data for academic studies of the hills. 

The grant earmarks another 30 percent for designing and implementing an effective program for reducing natural fuels along pathways in the hills so they can serve as effective evacuation routes in the event of major fires. 

The final 10 percent will be used for evaluating the programs in cooperation with UC Berkeley. 

—

WILLARD GARDEN 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I want to thank you so much for the wonderful, illustrated opinion page feature you did last issue on what can only be described as the BUSD assault on the Willard garden and Willard Greening Project. (Wendy Schlesinger’s letter was sheer poetry.) 

The Sunday edition of the San Francisco Chronicle had a major feature on the fine and closely related work Alice Waters is doing at King Middle School and now elsewhere in the District. We are so lucky to have her.  

Yolanda Huang too is a treasure—albeit one without a foundation she can tap to carry out her ideas (though she has written successful if smaller grants.) I hope people who have seen the Willard grounds and/or last week’s Daily Planet letters and photo will be outraged enough by the contrast in how Yolanda Huang, the Willard Greening Project, and the Willard PTA have been treated to call Superintendent Michelle Lawrence (644-6206) demanding a public apology and—even more important—that Yolanda and someone from the Willard PTA be immediately brought onto the Willard Site Committee and have major voices in what steps are taken there from now on. 

Donna Mickleson 

• 

SIXTIESLAND 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Regarding Albert Sukoff’s proposal (Daily Planet, Aug. 20-26) to transform the area from UC Berkeley’s Sproul Plaza down Telegraph Avenue into a “Sixtiesland” following the model of Williamsburg: I think it is a great idea for the sake of this unique community, better than transforming the same area into a deserted AC Transit bus terminal (which seems to be in the works). 

Berkeley councilmembers and local communities should act positively on community preservation along the lines of Mr. Sukoff’s proposal before the pending destruction of that same area becomes a reality. 

Takeshi Akiba 

• 

SHERRY KELLY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Oh, No ! 

It may be “common knowledge around city hall” (“Sherry Kelly to Retire as City Clerk,” Daily Planet, Aug. 27-30) but news of Kelly’s impending retirement comes as a great shock and disappointment to me, a mere voting citizen. Eh gad. 

The emphasis on the long hard-worked hours she obviously puts in is appropriate, but I’m here to underscore not only the quantity of her work, but the quality of her skills and standards! 

Helen Rippier Wheeler 

• 

IRRADIATED FOODS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

On Aug. 25, the California Legislature served up a big win to parents and students by passing a bill requiring school board approval, public disclosure and parental notification before irradiated foods can be purchased for school lunch programs. This bill provides a democratic decision-making process for a highly controversial issue that has concerned parents across the state.  

Irradiation is a technology used to kill the bacteria that causes food poisoning, but that’s not all it does. In the process, nutrients are destroyed and new toxic chemicals are formed, some of which may promote cancer development and cause genetic damage to human cells. No long-term studies have been conducted on how children’s health is affected by eating irradiated food. 

Given the scientific uncertainty over the safety of irradiated foods, it is important to involve parents in decisions regarding food their children will be served. In California, three million children participate in the National School Lunch Program, most of whom are from low-income families and may be undernourished at home.  

By passing this bill, lawmakers have ensured that California remains accountable to both parents and disadvantaged schoolchildren, who are among the most vulnerable of our state’s residents. 

Assemblymember Loni Hancock is largely to thank for authoring this legislation. Now we urge the governor to sign AB 1988 to preserve parents’ and students’ right to know what is served in school meals. 

Anna Blackshaw 

Director, Public Citizen’s  

California Office, 

Oakland 

• 

RIGHT OF WAY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Bravo Berkeley Police for recent stings enforcing pedestrian right of way (Police Blotter. Daily Planet, Aug. 20-26). It is all too accurate to call the ticketed drivers “hapless,” given how rarely this and other traffic laws are enforced, but a harsher word is deserved. Aggressive drivers make crossing many of our streets an ordeal calling for cold nerve and flawless timing. I’d like to learn which merchants were trying to save them from getting nailed, and why. Surely it’s better for business when pedestrians can get safely to your door. 

But will the stings continue until word gets around that shaving five minutes off a crosstown drive is a high stakes gamble, or are ticket recipients indeed victims, along with those three dead pedestrians last year, of erratic policing tactics that change nothing? I have to report that it was still business as usual on Aug. 23. Eight or 10 cars passed at 40 mph as I waited in the crosswalk at San Pablo Avenue and Parker Street. Two violations for the price of one; the second unavoidable since at that speed stopping for a pedestrian is unsafe.  

Would this change with consistent, continuing enforcement of speed limits and pedestrian right of way? Yes! Even drivers who didn’t read about the stings in the Planet or get cited themselves would often have to reduce speed behind more savvy motorists. It would prevent accidents and help reduce traffic and parking congestion by making walking and biking safer. 

Unrestrained traffic on our main streets takes the pleasure out of running errands and makes parents fearful of letting kids walk to the park or school. Keeping up the stings until drivers get the message, and following up with occasional—monthly?—reminders thereafter is probably the single easiest and least controversial (I hope) thing that could be done to improve the quality of life in our town. Let’s do it! 

Ann Sieck 

• 

STRAWBERRY CREEK LODGE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

At its monthly meeting the Strawberry Creek Lodge Tenants Association unanimously approved the following letter. 

The constant court actions by Housing Commissioner Marie Bowman opposing the building of a senior residence at 2517 Sacramento Ave. concerns us. Even though the courts have decided that the building should start, the end is not in sight. The court actions have already siphoned off over $750,000 from efforts to provide needy seniors safe, affordable housing in Berkeley. The wasted sum of money can mount to over a million dollars if these court cases continue. 

Strawberry Creek Lodge is a senior residence with over 150 separate apartments. We are privileged to live in a pleasant home, where help, concern and new ideas are available from staff and residents. It’s a beautiful feeling to know that interesting and interested persons are close at hand. 

In close vicinity are homes filled with families. We have no problem with our neighbors and they have no problem with us. Our community is an asset to our neighborhood and we believe that the proposed new 40 apartment senior residence will be an asset to that neighborhood.  

The courts have decided in favor of building the 40 unit building. Neighborhood persons have asserted their objections, but have been overruled. Clearly the new building would be an improvement over the existing unsightly and unsafe building. Other persons in the neighborhood, at a rally have urged that the housing should be built as proposed. 

Ms. Bowman has said over and over that she cares for seniors. She agrees that they are deserving of an affordable and caring place to live. She could affirm this care by not pursuing future court cases. 

We trust that Ms. Bowman will sincerely address the thoughts we expressed. Already too much of the funds needed for housing seniors has gone into a fruitless battle. Common sense must prevail. 

Sid Efross, 

President, Strawberry Creek Lodge Tenants Association 

• 

BUSH’S RECORD 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

While the Republican National Convention hails President Bush as a strong leader, let’s remember that the country has lost about seven million jobs on his watch and that the average American family’s income has decreased on his watch. The clincher is that President Bush has turned record surpluses into record deficits, threatening the Social Security system that working people rely on, so that the wealthiest one percent of Americans can enjoy huge tax cuts—all this while cutting combat pay to soldiers. If strong at all, Bush’s leadership is head-strong, and it’s leading us down the drain. 

Claudia Morrow 

• 

GET OUT THE VOTE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Bush lies continue. First he lied about his Vietnam military service, or lack of it. Then he lied about his drinking and drug problems. He lied to support his illegal invasion of Iraq. He lied about clean air and clean water. Now he lies about John Kerry’s honorable service in Vietnam. I know. I spent 19 months in Vietnam. 

By now, we all know what Kerry knew in 1970. That Vietnam was an illegal war. Just like Iraq is. A war contrived by the neo-fascist business-government partnership that President Eisenhower warned about. 

If one is to do anything meaningful this year, it is to vote. With less than 50 percent voting, the neo-conservatives will continue to pillage America’s wealth and international goodwill, unless everyone votes. 

Please register and vote. America’s future is on the line. 

William Dodge 

• 

INTERNATIONAL GOOD WILL 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Fantastic Olympics. I am sending money for my couch potato seat here in the Bay Area to help defray the high cost Greece took on to build such fine facilities and provide such flawless security. 

Greece revealed the beauty of the whole world acting in concert. The country that invented democracy and the Olympics renewed its heritage by hosting the best Olympics ever. The world was treated to incredible performances in every sport. All nations competed under commonly accepted rules. New peaks of human performance were achieved. 

At a time when our president has divided nations into “good” and “evil,” into a “coalition of the willing” and turncoats like France and Germany, we needed the Olympics to highlight international cooperation. Anger only flared in Athens when a representative of the Bush administration was to show up. Despite our fine athletes, the administration’s foreign policy has obviously gained the disrespect of the world. 

We Americans have qualms about starting a war unilaterally because of weapons of mass destruction that weren’t there. We were led into thinking that Saddam Hussein was somehow connected to 9/11, overlooking Saudis who actually were. We were reminded that Saddam was brutal to the Iraqis. Only reservists, troops and their families registered the loss of life and limb. The investment of our tax money was too huge to be understood. But as atrocities surfaced showing Americans sent to Iraq also brutal to caged Iraqis, we sensed shades of Vietnam. We still did not know the depth of international disrespect. 

In much of America the sources of news are limited; most of us know more about a murder trial in California than about world opinion. Yet we need the cooperation of the rest of the world more than ever to restore peace and save our environment. The torch of international cooperation was lit again in Greece. Let’s carry it further. 

Eva Bansner 

• 

EMBRACE THE FLAG 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

We went to see Uncovered: The Truth About the Iraq War at the California Theater on Kittridge Street Sunday and my daughter asked afterwards why all the “bad guys” (Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld) wore U.S.A. flag pins on their lapels and the “good guys” didn’t. Why have we let the current administration and their followers assume our flag for their own? Patriotic dissidents can wear the flag, also. Let’s do it. I’m sure we can find the pins for sale somewhere in Berkeley. 

George Paxton›

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. 

To put this in perspective it’s useful to recall the two faces of the 2000 Bush campaign. The positive side featured four policies designed to appeal to the Republican base: cutting taxes to help the economy, bolstering defense, making education accountable, and reducing Federal entitlements—the “faith-based” initiative. The negative face consisted of a relentless attack on the character of Al Gore, where a series of alleged Gore improprieties—for example, that he claimed to have invented the Internet—were contrasted with the Bush promise that he would restore dignity and responsibility to the White House.  

In 2004, Bush is running a similar two-faced campaign. Only this time his policy options are restricted, as he can’t emphasize tax cuts, education, or the faith-based initiative because these programs aren’t working. All that Bush has left to work with is the issue of defense, where he is making the dubious claim that Americans are safer because he is president. And once again the dark side of the Bush campaign features an assault on his opponent, a no-holds-barred attack on the character of John Kerry, an effort to sell voters on this simplistic theme: Bush is resolute, while Kerry waffles.  

Most Democrats scoff at the assertions that the Bush administration has strengthened America and that he is a strong leader. There seems to be abundant evidence that America has grown weaker under Bush: everyone in the world now seems to hate us, terrorists multiply like bunnies, North Korea continues to threaten nuclear war, etc. Moreover, political insiders characterize Bush as a figurehead president, a weak leader who is easily manipulated by Dick Cheney, Karl Rove, and a small group of neo-conservatives. And, over the past three and a half years, Bush has had his own share of flip-flops: opposing nation-building and then embracing it, opposing the 9/11 commission and then reluctantly endorsing it, to mention just two. 

But a slight majority of Americans continue to regard Bush as a strong leader because in managing the president’s image, Rove and the Republican spin masters have added a healthy dose of the political version of magical realism. In addition to their claims that the president is resolute and has strengthened America, they emphasize that he is a Christian and imply that he gets his instructions directly from God. In the minds of many this has created a vivid characterization of Bush as a devout warrior who is leading the nation on a crusade against evil. Undoubtedly this will be the primary theme of the Republican convention—“onward Christian soldier.” 

It is against this backdrop of a carefully manipulated Bush image that we should consider the recent skirmishes, which were responses to successful Kerry assaults on Bush’s character. Kerry left the Democratic convention having planted a seed of doubt in the mind of many voters about Bush’s leadership. Polls showed Kerry and Bush in a virtual tie on the issue of “strong leader” and “who is best able to lead the war on terrorism.”  

The Bush campaign saw this as a major setback for their candidate and responded with two thrusts. On Friday, Aug. 6, Bush challenged Kerry to say whether he would have supported going to war with Iraq if he had known “what we know now.” Bush then misquoted Kerry’s response and used it an example of Kerry’s alleged flip-flopping. 

But Kerry actually used Bush’s taunt as an occasion to attack the character of the president, albeit not effectively. Kerry began by correctly characterizing the resolution that he voted on in the fall of 2002; it wasn’t a vote on whether to invade Iraq but rather whether the president should be given the authority to invade if all other measures failed. Kerry explained that he voted to give Bush war power believing that the office of the president needed this in order to protect the nation. Kerry emphasized that the mistake was not that Congress granted Bush war power, but what Bush did with this power. Kerry asserted that the president made three critical errors of judgment: he failed to scrutinize the pre-war intelligence and invaded based upon wildly inaccurate information; he failed to build a real coalition and therefore the United States was left with the burden of the war and occupation; and he failed to provide an exit plan, a strategy to insure that the war in Iraq reached a quick and satisfactory conclusion. 

A few days later the Bush campaign counterattacked by launching the Swift Boat ad campaign, where Vietnam vets accused Kerry of lying about the incidents that led to his medals and demeaning veterans by his famous 1971 Senate testimony. The Kerry campaign responded that Bush was resorting to the same smear tactics he had used against first, John McCain, and then, Al Gore, four years ago; this time, they were able to link the ad campaign to Bush campaign insiders. Kerry, in effect, accused Bush of cowardice, of hiding behind his campaign staff while supporting the ads. 

Polls indicate that Kerry has been damaged by these two assaults, but the election remains very close. The big problem that the Bush campaign faces, over the next two months, is that it has only this one issue, and there are inherent problems running solely on character. Unlike 2000, when Al Gore was unable to defend himself from personal attacks, John Kerry appears to be able to do this. Four years ago, the press gave Bush a free ride; reporters accepted his claims that he was a person of strong moral character. Now the press is willing to question his character by, for example, examining Bush’s questionable military service and investigating his links to smear campaigns. 

And, of course, most voters want an exchange of ideas, not insults; they want to hear what each candidate proposes as a strategy for America’s future. Kerry has expressed such a plan but Bush has not. The Kerry campaign is beginning to make a damming comparison: Bush went into Iraq without a plan, and now he is campaigning for reelection without a plan. To exploit this weakness and win the battle over character, Kerry needs to make clear that he has a plan for America, and the strength of character to execute it. He must demonstrate that he provides Americans with a clear exit strategy from the Bush administration. 

Berkeley resident Bob Burnett is working on a book about the Christian Right.›

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? 

I believe these voters are largely honest and practical citizens. They are concerned about our involvement in Iraq and national security. They care about the environment and jobs. They expect that their children will receive a decent education and have a chance to compete and succeed. 

The Republican National Convention needs to speak to these good folk by keeping it simple, direct, and by making sense. Give them a choice of black or white, not Kerry’s 40 shades of gray. 

They have already heard that Germany, France, Russia, England and even John Kerry thought there were weapons of mass destructions in Iraq. Yes, repeat it one more time and tell them about the flaunting of U.N. sanctions, etc. Make the war more personal. Congratulate the Iraqi soccer team and all the Iraqi athletes who no longer have to compete with the fear of being locked up, beaten and even killed for a poor performance, as were the conditions when Saddam’s son Uday Hussein was the “athletic director.” Welcome these athletes and all Iraqi citizens to the free world. 

Speak to the good women of America about the horrific conditions under which most of their sisters in the Islamic world exist. Ask them to look at their daughters and imagine them covered in cloth from head to toe, denied an education and living their lives as little more than slaves in service to the men. Explain to them that raising the status of women brings benefit to all of society. Women’s education is key because as the literacy rates rise, the birth rates fall and the first steps out of ignorance and poverty are taken. Gender equality initiates change economically, politically, and finally culturally.  

Showcase the most progressive achievement of Iraq’s new constitution, a mandate that 25 percent of the legislature be women. This ascent of the status of women in an Islamic nation and the planting of the seed of democracy in Iraq is the beginning of the end for the tyrannical regimes of the Middle East. Make no mistake; we are in a culture war. George Bush and our brave men and women have taken the fight to the enemy and the fighting is fierce because the Muslim extremists know that if they lose the battle of Iraq, they lose the culture war and their dream of an Islamic world. 

Address their concerns about the environment and job creation. Explain how, if we signed on to the Kyoto Treaty, U.S. manufacturing would be greatly restricted while large green house gas producing countries like China, India, and Brazil would be completely exempt. This would do great damage to our economy without doing much good for the environment. There is great debate over the cause of, or the legitimacy of “climate change.” Over the past 3,000 years the Earth’s temperature has fluctuated, due to natural causes, over ranges much larger than that predicted to cause global warming. As has been the case in recent years, technologies will continue to develop which will clean up our environment without us having to go back to the horse and buggy. 

Please, allow protesters to be seen and heard. Interview the rank and file. They typically come across as very angry and in nearly every case are unable to coherently articulate their position. This does not play well in Peoria. 

Kerry must be exposed for what he is, a man who thinks of himself first and foremost, a man who during 20 years in Congress has not exhibited the leadership quality needed to guide even one piece of legislation with his name on it past the president’s desk. The public already sees him as a flip-flopper and this image should be reinforced. He is not talking about his voting record because he has the most liberal voting record in Congress. Kerry has chosen to run as a war hero and that choice may be his undoing. There is no need to mention the Purple Heart and medal mess, that has a life of its own, but if John McCain attempts to discredit the brave war heroes who oppose Kerry, it should become an issue at the convention. It will not hurt, when talking about health care, to link John Edwards and his band of brothers, personal injury lawyers, to the obscene rise in medical cost due to malpractice lawsuits which the Democrats refuse to place a cap on and is a major stumbling block on the road to affordable health care. These issues will play in Peoria. 

Michael Larrick is a Berkeley resident and a registered Republican.h

(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.  

At the end of this abridged translation the author Mu'an Fayyad says, “After all the Companions [of Muqtada as-Sadr] belong to the same culture as ours.” That is the key to what the rest of the world knows now—the old Ayatollah and the young firebrand have come to terms.  

But the real heroes are the many thousands of Najafis and their supporters. They forced both Muqtada as-Sadr and the Americans to realize that the power of people can move mountains. Or as Mu’an Fayyad writes: “The people took over responsibility. They and others learned how to cooperate with each other.” What Najaf is looking for now is a kalidar, or a gatekeeper, who will take custody of the keys to the city.)  

LONDON - The citizens of Najaf have long been preoccupied with keys that can open up the locked places in the Shrine of Imam Ali. Some still think the keys can lead to palaces or reveal treasures. Some talk about the “seven rooms” that will turn into one room. They call it the “difficult way.” According to popular belief, if a key opens up these doors, they will get blessings from God and good luck. Others who open a door will fulfill their dreams, mostly “meaning their troubles will go away.” All Najafis know their city has great heritage value for Arabs and Muslims.  

Even if the keys bestowed were only symbolic, like giving “keys to the city” to some honored person from afar, they have value. A look at the houses, markets, motels, schools and tombs show Najafi citizens have both material values and concern for their city. Before the recent fighting, Najafis kept their city very clean. They believed they were given keys that allowed them entry into the urban culture. And the Ayatollah appointed a gatekeeper whose religious responsibility was to preserve the keys to the culture.  

But Najafis now do not have a gatekeeper because, as a religious figure, they were subject to assassination. Last year pro-Western Iraqi Shi’ite leader Sayyed Abdul Majid al-Khoei was assassinated. He lost his life trying to defend the Kalidar, Persian for gatekeeper. Since then the Najafis have had no gatekeeper.  

But the people took over the responsibility. They and others learned how to cooperate with each other in handing out keys.  

Some of the new interim gatekeepers were Persian. In fact the Persian word for gatekeeper, kalidar is widely used in Najaf. In Iraqi Arabic the word is “keeper of the couches.” So Najafis cooperate with each other in handing out keys and couches. The Shrine has not only a religious function but also a social, economic and, especially, a political function. The keeper of the keys has to be honest, otherwise, the Shrine cannot function.  

The temporary gatekeepers are deeply concerned about the future of the Shrine and the Imam Ali culture. From London come voices of worry from exiles. Ordinary families demand that the tombs be protected. “We need a Kalidar to assume religious responsibility to protect our heritage,” they say,  

What we see in the media is appalling when it comes to preserving the keys of the culture. The Companions of Muqtada al-Sadr keep saying, “We don't know of any keys handed over to some else.” But they also say, “Most, but not all, of the keys are accounted for.”  

Nevertheless, some aide to the temporary kalidars could have given away keys to some Persians. We ordinary folk want nothing more than that all the keys are accounted by a real authority. We are worried about the treasures in the Shrine.  

We don’t understand why our keys should be turned over to outsiders. After all the Companions of Muqtada al-Sadr belong to the same culture as ours. Anyway, they have not yet renounced us. We and they are the same Najafis and we both adore going on a visit to the Imam Ali Shrine and sitting on the sacred couches.  

This commentary originally appeared in Asharq al-Awsat and has been translated by Franz Schurmann.ô

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.  

On Sunday, in what some are calling the largest convention protest ever held, almost a half-million protesters snaked through the canyons of Manhattan protesting the war in Iraq and Republican attempts to politicize New York’s 9/11 tragedy. The march ended peacefully with few arrests, considering the enormous crowd. 

While protest organizers, led by the group United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) had predicted only days earlier reaching the lofty goal of 250,000 demonstrators, no one imagined that the final number would be twice that. Their estimate was that more than 500,000 people braved near 90-degree heat and humidity to let the world know that the Republican Party is unwelcome in New York, and that it cannot continue to use the 9/11 theme—a past campaign success for President George W. Bush—to pump up his present campaign.  

Despite repeated police warnings, threats according to some protesters, large numbers of demonstrators still came to New York City. Warnings of impending disaster were also heard from Democratic insiders, offering credence to some Republican hopes that a violence-marred event would be laid at the feet of nominee John Kerry. But protesters heeded little of this advice.  

Ray Seidel, a politics professor at Sarah Lawrence College, was there because he thought that “it’s important that there are public protests, that people protest the Bush economic and civil rights record,” he said. “Our children will be paying off his $220 billion deficit.” 

Leslie Woo, a New York City educator, said, “It’s important to be out here in terms of the public coming together and choosing the next president, but I do see how an event like this can be spun to middle America.” 

Jessie Molina, a registered Democrat and fourth grade teacher from Northampton, Mass., said she had been quite moved the previous night when she attended an event with parents who had lost children in Iraq. She said simply, “I am shocked and appalled that he chose New York City.” 

Environmental organizer Ilyse Hogue from San Francisco had another reason why so many had taken to the streets: “This is democracy in action. There was no way for the broad spectrum of humanity to buy themselves seats in the convention,” she said. 

Bob McLane, from Tyler, Texas, a Vietnam marine veteran now selling bumperstickers, said he was worried, but he played down the potential of a conflagration between protesters and police. “If there’s any violence today it’s going to play right into the hands of Bush. No,” he said, “there is not going to be any violence today.” 

And he was right. 

They came from Orlando, Houston, Tallahassee, Madison, and yes, even Brooklyn. They came in wheelchairs, in strollers, and on bicycles. And it was not only the 20-somethings and 30-somethings, but sweat-suited 40-somethings, graying 50-somethings, and some cane-supported 70- and 80-somethings marched too. 

And of course, one of Berkeley’s favorites, was there too, the Raging Grannies. In the end, with fewer arrests and even fewer incidents of unruly behavior, the NYC police chief was complimenting the marchers’ comportment and the marchers were complimenting the restraint of the police. Don’t forget, this march uncorked nearly four years of pent-up frustration, anger and enmity toward an administration which those interviewed characterized, again and again, as warmongers and hypocrites who cared little for the poor and the elderly. 

Perhaps graphic artist Nicole Schulman said it best. “I’m here because I am a fourth-generation New Yorker who believes we have to get rid of George Bush who is trying to turn a left-wing Democratic city into a police state!” 

Bands of protester were organized by region and by issue, from 14th to 23rd streets between Fifth and Ninth avenues, in the Chelsea and Flatiron districts. They stepped off from 23rd Street, led by Jesse Jackson, Danny Glover and Michael Moore. The march moved down Seventh Avenue towards Madison Square Garden, the convention site, and returned to Union Square via Fifth Avenue. At one point during this intensely hot day some marchers were reaching the end point before others had even started. At 1:30, according to the New York Times, marchers spanned the entire route.  

Although the war was seen by most as the issue to protest, there were clearly other issues on the minds of the demonstrators as well: rescinding the Patriot Act, abortion rights, same-sex marriage, the huge national deficit being rung up by the Bush administration, and the loss of respect for America in the world community. 

A few blocks into the march the protesters ran into a counter-demonstration by an ad hoc group calling itself “protestwarrior.com.” About a hundred counter-demonstrators held large manufactured (not hand-made) signs aloft and chanted vociferously at the passing anti-Bush marchers. Slogans included “Take a shower, take a shower; we’re the real progressives; fry Mumia; and John eff-ing Kerry, no eff-ing way.”  

The counter-protesters were kept away from the marchers by a huge wall of barricades and police. Simon Teitelbaum, an engineer from Chicago now living in Boston, said he had heard about this counter-protest on the Internet, though he hadn’t previously met any of them. “The object is to mingle in with the crowd,” said Teitelbaum of the tactics of the counter-demonstrators. “They say they’re for peace, but it is guaranteed they’re going to try and silence us. Unfortunately, we have a police escort now!”  

And mingle in several eventually did. They were met with the animosity Teitelbaum predicted too. This reporter witnessed several incidents, as the day unfolded, of marchers grabbing signs from counter-marchers, ripping them apart and hurling them over the barricades to the sidewalk. Each time the police refused to get involved. 

In general, police in New York City were very different from their counterparts in Boston. In Beantown, questions to police were usually met with indifference or contempt, and often went unanswered. In New York, although no officers would be quoted on record about what they thought of the protest, they were uniformly friendly, well-mannered, and at times helpful to both demonstrators and the press. Of course the presence of so many demonstrators demanded that the police restrain themselves, while in Boston the police and the military most often outnumbered demonstrators.  

One footnote: at a Critical Mass rally on Friday night, police unleashed a torrent of force against unruly bicyclists, and arrested more than 250 of them. One, Edward Potter, told the Daily Planet that he went to seven different jail cells that night, one a pen in an old warehouse where they shone spotlights on the prisoners all night. He said he was held for 27 hours before he saw a lawyer. One cop, he said, told him, in a friendly way, “you guys were like guinea pigs” for all the new equipment and training the police force had received for the convention.  

Did the demonstrators succeed in upstaging the Republicans on the eve of their convention which was one of the organizers’ hoped for goals? It would seem so. The resultant large and relatively peaceful demonstration of almost a half million competed in the media with Republican pre-convention messages of how former New York Mayor Rudy Guilliani would exhort the Republican faithful on Monday evening and where George Bush would be campaigning leading up to his Thursday acceptance speech. There was no comparative Republican salvo during the Democratic convention in July. Clearly yesterday’s New York reception was not the one Republican strategists were looking forward to when they made New York their first choice for this year’s convention.

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. 

So that’s why thousands of us, though dead on our feet from a day of marching on New York’s unforgiving cement, were determined that the Great Meadow is where we would be, permit or not. The Great Meadow became our great green mother, beckoning us into her arms. And we came, and by late afternoon she was filled with our tired, sweaty bodies. We sprawled on her grass, our picket signs and banners laid down beside us, as the cooling shadows spread, and practiced a peaceful, pleasant politics, a politics without speeches, which is not really such a bad thing. Perhaps the judge did us a favor after all. 

It was one of those days where everything worked out. United for Peace and Justice did exactly what it intended to do—turned out the numbers to protest the Republican National Convention. All the trash talk about how tough the cops would be, all the scary stories of their fancy high-tech weapons, the sonic blaster that could break eardrums, all the on-again off-again uncertainty about a permit did not deter us. 

By 10:30 a.m., the designated feeder streets for the march in lower Manhattan are clogged with people and more are coming every minute. On 15th St., both sides of the entire block between Sixth and Seventh avenues are lined with cardboard coffins under construction, each draped with its own American flag. A few blocks further on, a Korean dance group, with drums and clashing cymbals, dances through the crowd. Metal police barricades lined both sides of Seventh Avenue, the designated march route, and the crowd fills every inch between them, and stretches in both directions as far as the eye could see. 

At noon the great mass of people begins to move up the avenue towards Madison Square Garden. As we get closer, the lines of police behind the barricades thicken. Every intersection is blocked by a sanitation truck, behind which is a street full of police vehicles of every sort and description. 

The closer we get to the Garden the more police line the barricades. By the time we reach the Garden itself, the cordon of cops is three or four rows deep, supplemented by clots of Secret Service, looking like refugees from a Men in Black sequel, except their sunglasses are a different brand, and their suits are charcoal gray, not black. They all sport that little cork screw wire dangling from their ear, a sure sign that they’re not quite human. 

Hanging from the Garden Arena is a many stories high banner of the Statue of Liberty with a background of stars and stripes. Just up the street, the equally huge billboard proclaimed Fox News the place where America goes to get its information. 

The block of Seventh Avenue directly in front of the Garden is as close as we will get to what more than one sign calls the “asses of evil.” The crowd roars, and yells epithets, and chants “RNC Go Home” more loudly and breaks out the sidewalk chalk to write greetings to the delegates. 

Just before we pass the Garden and make the turn towards Fifth Avenue, we catch a whiff of tear gas, and a woman on rollerblades says there’ve been arrests, but for the hundreds of thousands of us who are not watching it on the news, this march may be the largest and perhaps the least violent we’ll ever experience in our lifetime. 

If the Eskimos have 100 words for snow, this crowd has 10,000 ways of saying no to this administration, its wars, its dreams of four more years of power. They range from the obscene, “My Bush would make a better president,” and “My Dick would make a better vice president,” to the plain: “Moderate against Bush,” carried by the nice librarian from Boston, who sits down next to me, taking a breather on 21st Street and Fifth Avenue. Perhaps the least well represented way of saying “No to Bush,” is “Yes to Kerry/Edwards.” If most of the protesters are planning to vote for the two Johns, and I suspect they are, almost no one is advertising the fact. The real alternative is here in the street. 

No doubt the character of the protest will change over the next few days, and perhaps also, the response of the police. In the corner of the Great Meadow, behind the backstop of a clay baseball diamond, I come across a small group of people training for a day of civil disobedience scheduled for Tuesday. They are sitting in a circle, practicing how to go limp if arrested, and what to do if you’ve locked arms, and the police pull one of you away. Before I left Berkeley, the East Bay Express carried a Chris Thompson diatribe warning of the menace of black block anarchists, and other self-indulgent disturbers of the peace, sewing chaos, alienating middle America, and giving a big boost to Bush’s chance of reelection. Todd Gitlin, writing in the Nation made much the same point, though with a more fatherly tone. His message: If New York, 2004 = Chicago 1968, we risk getting Bush for our efforts, just like we got Nixon back then. 

Today all that grumpy worrying seems a little silly. Today was just what the doctor ordered, mass mobilization, a message written in large numbers, and if tomorrow or the next day a few or many brave souls lock arms to sit down in some intersection, it is, as they say, all good. If today we walked inside the barricades, and tomorrow some of us push them over, nothing will be lost and much will be gained. Let the spinmeisters spin as they will. 

At the end of the day, exhausted, I take a taxi to meet some friends in a restaurant. Hassan, the driver, a man in his 40s, says business is bad. Republicans are staying hunkered down, and not venturing out much into town. When I ask him what he thinks about the protests, he tells me how important it is that many of us are in the streets so that the world knows the people of the United States are not the government, and how we must care about the future, about the trees and the rivers, and our children who will depend on them, and how money and power corrupt, and about working 70 hours a week and not being able to pay the bills, but he says he’s lucky for there are many people without any work at all, unable to put food on the table. 

When he pulls to a stop at my corner, he refuses the large tip I offer him, pushes it back at me twice, and says what is important is that today he made a friend. And so, with these demonstrations, we make friends, and how that friendship will blossom is more important than all spinning of the spinmeisters. It’s been a good day, and it’s only the beginning.›

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.” 

As they looked out over the numerous groups of mostly young people scattered about the park, many having just come from the march, one of the women called the gathering “misguided youth” and said they were “the reason John Kerry will lose.” The two 60-something cultural voyeurs then ventured into several political conversations with some of those present only to come away disappointed that they could not convert anyone into a Bush supporter. 

Those who came to the Great Lawn on Sunday night saw it as a political act in the free speech vs. pristine grass debate. They came to defy Mayor Bloomberg’s no-rally-in-Central Park edict. Bloomberg’s views were backed by two court decisions coming in last week. The mayor had earlier said there would be no large gatherings on the Great Lawn a traditional political rallying point. Most present scoffed at the Mayor’s final reasoning, coming through the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, that a large group of 250,000 would ruin the recently re-seeded Great Lawn. Even the New York Times, in an editorial, declared that this was a bit much and came out in support of a Great Lawn rally as did 70 percent of New Yorkers when polled. 

In an interview with New York City Police Deputy Commissioner for Training James Fyfe, it seemed a fait accompli to him that marchers would in fact show up on Central Park’s Great Lawn. “I’m sure they will be in the Park, and it’s okay as long as they don’t bust up property.” 

Fyfe was cornered by this reporter as he scurried down west 31st Street, body guard in tow, after reviewing the police lines and barricades which separated marchers from the Hotel Pennsylvania. The hotel is directly across from Madison Square Garden and had become a de facto holding tank for many Republicans who could not brave Sunday’s five and a half hour march. 

“Things are good, the protest is going well,” Fyfe replied when asked about the march. When he realized the reporter worked for a Berkeley newspaper he responded further. “Berkeley,” a bemused look fell over his face as he recalled a long-ago time in his life. “How’s Berkeley these days? I used to have a girlfriend from Berkeley. What a place!” 

And go the protesters did to Central Park’s Great Lawn. It was part teach-in, part be-in, and part soap box. There were Berkeley-style drumming circles, yoga, and at one point a conga line snaked across the field. Woodstock? No, the Mayor would not allow amplified music, and there wasn’t. Bloomberg also said there were to be no gatherings of 20 or more without a permit and there were. The police chose not to enforce this law. 

The thousands occupying the Great Lawn were basking not only in the late-day warm sunshine but also in the glow of a rare protest victory. They collectively sensed that the day’s large protest was something historic, but most weren’t yet sure what it meant. The numbers had far exceeded anyone’s wildest expectations especially after a spate of negative headlines appearing in the Times and the tabloid, New York Daily News, in the days leading up to the event. Everywhere people asked, “How many? How many were we? 200,000? 400,000? 700,000?” 

Several estimates came in Monday: “More than 100,000 (amNew York newspaper, published by Russell Pergament), 120,000 (New York Daily News), over 400,000 (United for Peace and Justice, march organizer), and 500,000 (New York Times, “rivaling a 1982 anti-nuclear rally in Central Park”). Several local veteran marchers said it was the biggest march they had seen since the 1982 Central Park no-nukes rally. 

Graphic Designer Bruce Krueger from the Bronx said simply, “It was big.” He wasn’t as much a Kerry supporter, as many who gathered in the park that day were not, as he was an inspired and focused George W. Bush detractor. “Let’s have Kerry win and make him regret every day,” he said. Then, curiously, Krueger stated rather matter of factly, “You know, Bush is smashing imperialism all by himself.” 

Paula Ryan, a commercial litigation lawyer from Larchmont, New York, was also present along with her lawyer-husband who had performed legal work for Vietnam protesters. Both are enthusiastic Kerry supporters. She said, “Today went well. Peaceful. The sentiment was against Bush and the only time people seemed to become really angry was when they marched past Madison Square Garden (site of RNC 2004). Bill Anderson, a Green and a student from Delafield, Wisconsin is studying at UW Madison. “Today’s march sends a message…there were so many people.” He added, “I think it shows the power we have to affect change.” 

New York City artist Stefan Calabrese, a member of the Abbie Hoffman Brigade, “a group of Abbie’s friends and Abbie’s wife” that meet frequently for dinners and political discussions, was not so sure how many came out. “I’m not sure what it meant. I need a few days to process it and process the numbers,” he said. Travis Morales from Houston, Texas is in Advertising. He said the march ”was a massive repudiation of Bush and everything he stands for.” 

Tim Goodrich from San Diego came outfitted in his U.S. Air Force uniform. He is a veteran of the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan “Enduring Freedom.” Goodrich is also founder of the group, Iraq Veterans Against the War. He said he was not only surprised by how many people rallied earlier in the day, “but how many people there are in Central Park right now.” 

Scanning the Great Lawn crowd as dusk fell on the weary protest lot, Goodrich spoke in his lilting native Oaklahoman accent. “I am voting for Kerry ‘cause he’s the lesser of two evils, but when he gets elected we’re going to call on him to withdraw all troops from Iraq and remind him that he was the founder of Vietnam Veterans Against the War.” 

No one seemed eager to be back on the Great Lawn protesting during a Kerry presidency. 

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:. 

If the U.S.A. were competing in the Olympics in an event called the Protest March, we woulda won a Gold Metal today! One-fourth million people crossed the finish line! Even me. We marched from 14th Street to Madison Square Garden with only a few moments out to window shop and chit-chat with cops. Streams of people just kept pouring past these poor dazed Republicans as they sat in the windows of their high class restaurants. 

“Where did all these people come from?” they must have asked themselves. 

We were created by George Bush! 

Today was a very special day for American patriots. The U.S.A. took the gold. A gold metal in free speech. A gold metal in niceness too. And an all around good time was had. 

Ooops. They are closing the internet cafe on me. Do I have time for spll check? How could they deny a few extra minuts to a Gold Metal Winner!!!!

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31 

THEATER 

Shotgun Theatre Lab “The Faith Project” runs Tues. and Wed. at 8 p.m. to Sept. 15 at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby at MLK. Free with suggested donation. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

FILM 

Cajun Film Night at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. A benefit for Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Time’s Shadow: “Decasia” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“The Gastronomical Tourist” with author Arthur Bloomfield at 7:30 p.m. at Easy Going Travel Shop & Bookstore, 1385 Shattuck Ave. 843-3533. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Dick Conte Duo at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Jazz House Jam, hosted by Darrell Green and Geechy Taylor at 8 p.m. at The Jazz House. Donation $5.  

www.thejazz- house.com 

Concert for Amaly featuring John Santos and the Machete Ensemble at 8 and 10 p.m. Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Wed. Cost is $10-$15. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1 

EXHIBITION OPENINGS 

“Community” works by Sonya Derian, John Kenyon, Ira Lapidus, Biliana Stremska and Vee Tuteur opens at ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Ave. 843-2527. www.accigallery.com 

“Construction/Paintings and Mixed Media Collages” by Gerald Huth opens at the Berkeley YWCA, 2600 Bancroft Way. 848-6370. 

“Metal Art 2004” an exhibition of wearable, ornamental and artistic metal art opens at Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. 834-2296. 

FILM 

Performance Anxiety: “Vito Accondi” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Berkeley Poetry Slam with Nazelah Jamison and Karen Ladson at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Gerald Landry and the Lariats at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun/zydeco dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $9. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Improvised Composition Experiment open jam session at 8 p.m. at The Jazz House. Cost is $5. www.thejazzhouse.org 

Soroa, salsa music, at 8 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Brenden Millstein Quartet at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Whiskey Brothers at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Jules Broussard, Ned Boynton and Bing Nathan at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. www.downtownrestaurant.com 

Wes “Warmdaddy” Anderson at 8 and 10 p.m., Wed. and Thurs. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $12-$18. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, SEPT. 2 

EXHIBITION OPENINGS 

“Time and Place” Kala Fellowship Exhibition, Part II, featuring Paul Cantase, Elizabeth D’Agostino, Eunjung Hwang, and Joan Truckenbrod. Reception for the artists from 6 to 8 p.m., at Kala Art Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. Runs to Oct. 2. 549-2977. www.kala.org 

“Construction/Paintings and Mixed Media Collages” by Gerald Huth. Reception for the artist from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Berkeley YWCA, 2600 Bancroft Way. 848-6370. 

FILM 

Performance Anxiety: “Heidi” at 5:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Free screening. Chaplin: “Modern Times” at 7:30 p.m. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Lunch Poems Fall Kickoff at 12:10 p.m. in the Morrison Library in Doe Library, UC Campus, with campus luminaries reading and discussing their favorite poems. Admission is free. 642-0137.  

http://lunchpoems.berkeley.edu 

Janell Moon will read her poems at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, Edith Stone Room, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720. 

Word Beat Reading Series at 7 p.m. with featured readers Molotov Mouths followed by an open mic, at Mediterraneum Caffe, 2475 Telegraph Ave., near Dwight Way. For information call 526-5985.  

Eija-Liisa Ahtila: Matirx 212  

A dialogue with Kaja Silverman and Heidi Zuckerman Jacobson at 5:45 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

MUSIC AND DANCE  

George Pederson and The ReincarNatives at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082.  

www.starryploughpub.com 

Connie and Friends at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Gini Wilson, solo piano, at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Jazz Mine, string swing jazz quartet, at 6:30 p.m. at King Tsin Chinese Restaurant, 1699 Solano Ave. www.jazzmine.net 

FRIDAY, SEPT. 3 

THEATER 

Alameda Civic Light Opera. “Pippin,” Sept. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18 at 8 p.m. Sept. 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. Kofman Auditorium, 2220 Central Ave. in Alameda. Tickets are $23 in advance, $25 at the door. Child and senior discounts. 864-2256. www.aclo.com 

Aurora Theatre Company, “The Persians” opens at the Aurora Theatre and runs through Oct. 10. Tickets are $28-$45. 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org 

California Shakespeare Theater, “The Importance of Being Ernest” Tues.-Fri. at 7:30 p.m., Sat at 8 p.m., Sun. at 4 p.m. at the Bruns Memorial Amphitheater, through Sept. 3. Tickets are $13-$32. 548-9666. www.calshakes.org 

Impact Theatre, “Fluffy Bunnies in a Field of Daisies” a sexually-honest comedy, at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean Theater, 1834 Euclid, and runs Thurs. - Sat. through Oct. 2. Tickets are $10-$15. 464-4468. www.impacttheatre.com 

Woodminster Summer Musicals “Flower Drum Song,” David Henry Hwang adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein classic at 8 p.m. at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, 3300 Joaquin Miller Rd. Fri.- Sun. to Sept. 12. Tickets are $19-$31. 531-9597. www.woodminster.com 

EXHIBITION OPENINGS 

“Community” works by Sonya Derian, John Kenyon, Ira Lapidus, Biliana Stremska and Vee Tuteur. Reception for the artists at 6 p.m. at ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Ave. 843-2527. www.accigallery.com 

7th International Juried Enamel Exhibition opens at the ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Ave. Gallery hours are Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 843-2527.  

www.accigallery.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Artist’s Talk with “Time & Place” artists Elizabeth D'Agostino and Joan Truckenbrod. Elizabeth and Joan will be screening slides and videos of recent work plus discussing their Fellowship projects currently on view at 7 p.m. at Kala Art Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 549-2977. www.kala.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Kathleen Grace Trio at 8 p.m. at The Jazz House. Cost is $10-$15 sliding scale.  

www.thejazzhouse.org 

Pharma, 77 El Dora at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082.  

www.starryploughpub.com 

Tropical Vibrations play Calypso, Reggae and Soca at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13. 525-5054.  

www.ashkenaz.com 

The Ravines, folkadelic torch blues at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Brian Melvin Trio at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Dave Ellis at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Jose Rizo’s Jazz on the Latin Side at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $12-$24. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Naked Aggression, Toxic Narcotic, Midnight Creeps, New Earth Creeps at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

Kathleen Grace Trio at 8 p.m. at The Jazz House. Cost is $8. www.thejazzhouse.com 

Barbary Coast by Night Join maestro Omar for an evening of authentic music and food from Algeria, at 7 p.m. at Cafe Raphael’s, 10064 San Pablo Ave. El Cerrito. 525-4227. 

Beckett’s Battle of the Bands with The Fated, The Skindivers, Thriving Ivory and Walty at 6 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 4 

CHILDREN  

“Wild About Books” Labor Day concert with folksinger Adam Miller at 10:30 a.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6223. 

EXHIBITION OPENINGS 

“The Voices of Civil Rights Bus Tour” will be on display at Art & Soul in downtown Oakland in the plaza of the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building, Clay St. between 12th and 14th Sts., though Sept. 6. Admission to Art & Soul is $5 per day, children under 12 free. 444-CITY. www.artandsouloakland.com 

“Eyes Opened Wider” Recent panoramic landscapes by photographer Robert Reiter opens at the Photolab Gallery, 2235 Fifth St. Exhibition runs to Oct. 16. 644-1400. 

THEATER 

“Surviving Cain” by the youth group of Chinese for Christ Church, at 8 p.m. at 2715 Prince St. Also Sun. at 2 p.m. www.cfcberkeley.org/english 

FILM 

Maurice Pialat “Turkish Chronicles” at 9:10 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Bay Area Poets Coalition holds an open reading, 3 to 5 p.m., on the front lawn at 1527 Virginia St., cross street is Sacramento. 527-9905. poetalk@aol.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Native Elements, reggae, at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13. 525-5054.  

www.ashkenaz.com 

Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com  

Kugelplex performs Klezmer at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Marca Cassity and Emma Luna, singer songwriters, at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Sylvia and the Silvertones at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Monkey Knife Fight at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

T.S.O.L, D.I., Wormwood, Blooddy Phoenix, Nightmare at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, SEPT. 5 

EXHIBITION OPENINGS 

“Times of India: The Woman and the Goddess” a collection of paintings by women artists from the Madhubani District, in rural India, at the Addison Street Windows Gallery, 2018 Addison St. Exhibition runs to Oct. 12. 981-7546. 

FILM 

Labor Day with Chaplin: “Modern Times” at 4 and 6 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Poetry Flash with Linda Elkin, Larry Felson and Bill Mayer at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. Donation $2. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Wawa Sylvestre and the Oneness Kingdom, Haitian, Latin and Caribbean, at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Skit System, Desolation, Blown to Bits at 5 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

Americana Unplugged with Redwing Bluegrass Band at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

MONDAY, SEPT. 6 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Last Word Poetry Series with Jessica Loos and Neeli Cherkovski at 7 p.m. at Pegasus Books, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

MUSIC 

Larry Vuckovich & The Blue Balkan Ensemble at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

TUESDAY, SEPT. 7 

THEATER 

Shotgun Theatre Lab “The Faith Project” runs Tues. and Wed. at 8 p.m. to Sept. 15 at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby at MLK. Free with suggested donation. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

EXHIBITION OPENINGS 

Mark P. Fisher “Love for Sale” paintings, opens at Turn of the Century Fine Arts, 2510 San Pablo Ave. and runs to Oct. 20. 849-0950. www.turnofthecenturyfinearts.com 

FILM 

Alternative Visions: “The Films of Morgan Fisher” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Richard Clark discusses “Against All Enemies: Inside America’s War on Terrorism” at 6 p.m. at Zellerbach Auditorium, UC Campus. Sponsored by Cody’s Books. Tickets are $10 available at Codys. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com  

Mandy Aftel descrbes “Aroma: Recipes for Scented Food and Fragrance” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Edessa & Smyrna Time Machine at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Greek dance lesson with Lise Liepman at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $9. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Peter Barshy Duo at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Jazz House Jam hosted by Darrell Green and Geechy Taylor at 8 p.m. at The Jazz House. Donation $5.  

www.thejazzhouse.com 

Ernestine Anderson at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Also on Wed. Cost is $10-$18. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Jazz School Tuesday with Misturada at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 8 

EXHIBITION OPENINGS 

Ninth Annual Yozo Hamaguchi Printmaking Scholarship Awards Exhibition Reception from 6 tp 8 p.m. at the Isabelle Percy West Gallery, California College of the Arts, 5212 Broadway, Oakland. Exhibit runs to Sept. 19. www.cca.edu  

THEATER 

Berkeley Rep, “The Secret in the Wings” opens at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. until Oct. 17. Tickets are $10-$55. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

FILM 

Performance Anxiety: Linda Montano” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Café Poetry hosted by Kira Allen at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña. Donation $2. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Berkeley Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik, featuring Three Blind Mice, at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082. 

www.starryplough.com 

Roya Hakakian describes “Journey From the Land of No: A Girlhood Caught in Revolutionary Iran” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852.  

www.codysbooks.com  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Wednesday Noon Concert, Jessie Lee, piano, Garrett McLean, violin, Inning Chen, piano, at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Baguette Quartette at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Parisian musette dance lesson with Karen Tierney at 8 p.m. Cost is $9. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Kurt Ribak Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Jules Broussard, Ned Boynton and Bing Nathan at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Pat MacDonald, Liam Carey and Paul Panamerenko at 9 p.m. at the Ivy Room, 858 San Pablo Ave. at Solano. 524-9220. www.ivyroom.com 

Larry Ochs of Rova, with Fred Firth, Miya Masaoka and Chris Brown at 8 p.m. at The Jazz House. Donations of $8-$15 suggested.  

www.thejazzhouse.org

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. 

I’m interrupting the series of portraits of Berkeley’s street tree species because I have had the consequences of uncontrolled chainsaw ownership by incompetent blunderers thrust in my face. Stupid tree pruning is epidemic, unnecessary, and hanging over my back fence right now. I suspect the landlady next door actually paid for the hideous piece of vandalism that was inflicted on a formerly healthy purple-leaf plum that stands on our fenceline.  

The basics of decent pruning are not esoteric, and not hard to find out. Anyone who commits the sort of blunders that this poor tree displays—and, to add to the crime, charges for it—is a fraud and a bungler. You can do better yourself, starting now. 

Trees are not scaffolds, and they’re not animals either. They’re alive and growing; they have hormones and circulation; they wear their vital organs just under the skin.  

When you cut a branch, cut it at its base where it connects with a larger branch or the trunk, not at some arbitrary point in its middle. Do leave the branch collar. Under the slight swelling, like a turtleneck at the base of the branch, is specialized tissue that the tree can grow to compartmentalize the wound you make. Trees don’t heal like animals; they build internal cellular walls that resist infection. Don’t use tree paint or sealer; it just keeps moisture in and fosters rot.  

Learn to make a “jump cut.” First slice into the bottom of the branch collar, two or three inches deep. This prevents bark tearing. Then cut the branch at any convenient point; finally, slice down to the first incision to leave a clean wound—a lump, not a flush cut. If you can hang your hat on it, it’s a stub. Stubs look ugly and they act uglier. They rot back to the trunk faster than the tree can compartmentalize, and eventually can kill it.  

Those branches cut halfway through, looking amputated and unnatural? They look bad because they are bad. They make lots of sprouts, as the tree attempts to recover its food-making ability. You know how you pinch back the tips of a houseplant to make it bushier? That’s just the effect these cuts have on a tree. (It’s all done with hormones. Look up “auxins.”) 

The new sprouts will turn into branches that are weakly attached—they grow from the cut edges of the limb below them, not the heartwood center. Eventually they will get too heavy to support themselves on that weak attachment. They become a lawsuit waiting to happen. 

Too many branches were cut off this tree at once; next spring it will put out a flush of sprouts and twigs, draining its reserves and undoing whatever reduction was done last week. This makes all the other problems worse, and adds more weakness to the burden the tree has in recovering from the assault.  

The tree was pruned completely out of balance. The bunglers cut away most of one side, leaving most of the other side intact. The tree will weigh much more on “our” side of the fence, toward which the prevailing wind pushes it anyway—speaking of lawsuits waiting to happen. 

And the tree was topped. The central leaders were cut off, throwing the tree’s hormonal systems and its recuperating ability off balance. This is murder. Topping a tree kills it; it dies slowly, so the criminals can make a fast getaway and maybe not even manage to see what harm they’ve done.  

The wretches who vandalized this tree possibly charged less than a competent arborist would have—but they cost a lot more. What they did was criminal, and anyone who hires such goons is subsidizing crime. Hire an ISA certified arborist, OR call Merritt College, which has a great arborists’ club, or at the very least, never hire anyone who advertises that he tops trees. 

?

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31 

“Climbing Yosemite’s Big Walls: Fast & Light” a slide show with Speed Climbing World Champion Hans Florine, at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

“Inner and Outer Peace Through Meditation” with Marshall Zaslove at 7:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, 2352 Shattuck Ave. 644-0861. 

Creating Economic Opportunites for Women Free orientation meetings for training programs for immigrant and refugee women in English, finance and computer skills. Also on Sept. 2, 7 and 9. 655 International Blvd., at 7th Ave., 2nd floor. To register call 879-2949. 

Kurukula Self Defense Class for Girls at 6:15 p.m. in Albany. Drop in for $15. 847-2400. www.albanykarateforkids.com  

Argosy University Open House for those interested in learning about degree programs in the fields of psychology, education or business, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at 999-A Canal Blvd. in Point Richmond. Event is free. 215-0277. www.argosyu.edu 

Cantabile Chorale Auditions from 7 to 10 p.m. at All Souls Episcopal Church, 2220 Cedar St. To schedule at time call 650-424-1410. 

Organic Produce at low prices sold at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon Streets every Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. This is a project of Spiral Gardens. 843-1307. 

Phone Banking to ReDefeat Bush on Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at Cafe de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Bring your cell phones. Please RSVP if you can join us. 233-2144. dan@redefeatbush.com 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Share your slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 548-3991. www.berkeleycameraclub.org 

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. We offer ongoing classes in exercise and creative arts, and always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

Tuesday Tilden Walkers We are a few slowpoke seniors who walk between a mile or two each Tuesday, meeting at 9:30 a.m. in the Little Farm parking lot. To join us, call 215-7672 for information or check our web page, http://home.comcast.net/~teachme99/tildenwalkers.html or email teachme99@comcast.net 

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1 

WriterCoach Connection (formerly Writers’ Room) seeks volunteers for this coming academic year for Berkeley schools For information on training sessions please contact Lynn Mueller at 524-2319 or writercoachconnect@yahoo.com www.writercoachconnection.org 

Tilden Tots A nature adventure program for 3 and 4 year olds each accompanied by an adult. We’ll look for fall spiders. From 10 to 11:30 a.m. in Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 525-2233. www.ebparks.org 

“The Future of Food” a film at 7 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Admission is free. Part of the GMOs and Food series sponsored by GMO Free Alameda County. 527-9898. www.gmofreeac.org 

Auditions for the new Arlington Children’s Choir will be held between 4 and 6 p.m. at 52 Arlington Ave. in Kensington. Also on Sept. 8. Children, between the ages 8 and 14, who enjoy singing and performing, are invited to participate. For information and audition time call Shanti at 843-7745. 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday, rain or shine, at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen and a hat. 548-9840. 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland around Preservation Park to see Victorian architecture. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of Preservation Park at 13th St. and MLK, Jr. Way. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

Workin’ It Awards Ceremony for the Bay Area’s working women at 6 p.m. at YWCA, 1515 Webster St., at 15th, Oakland. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. www.workinit.org 

Berkeley Communicators Toastmasters meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7:15 a.m. at Mediterraneum Caffe, 2475 Telegraph Ave. For information call Robert Flammia 524-3765. 

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6:30 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. Sponsored by the Ecology Center’s Farm Fresh Choice. 848-1704. www.ecologycenter.org 

Fun with Acting Class every Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Free, all are welcome, no experience necessary.  

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at the Berkeley BART Station, corner of Shattuck and Center. Vigil at 6:30 p.m. followed by Peace Walk at 7 p.m. www.geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil 

THURSDAY, SEPT. 2 

Tilden Tots A nature adventure program for 3 and 4 year olds each accompanied by an adult. We’ll look for fall spiders. From 10 to 11:30 a.m. in Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 525-2233. www.ebparks.org 

Tilden Explorers A nature adventure program for 5-7 year olds who may be accompanied by an adult, no younger siblings, please. We’ll learn about spiders and their biology. From 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 525-2233. www.ebparks.org 

Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Environmental Restoration Program Community Update at 5:30 p.m. at the City of Berkeley Planning Dept., 2118 Milvia St., 1st flr. conference room. www.lbl.gov/community/ 

East Bay Mobile Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Alta Bates Herrick Campus, 2001 Dwight Way. 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.  

Berkeley Farmer’s Market Shattuck at Rose, from 3 to 7 p.m. 548-3333. www.ecologycenter.org 

Kairos Youth Choir Auditions for boys and girls age 7-15. For information call 414-1991, info@kairoschoir.org www.kairoschoir.org 

FRIDAY, SEPT. 3 

Radio Summer Camp Learn how to build and operate a community radio station. A four-day camp from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sponsored by Radio Free Berkeley. 625-0314. www.freeradio.org 

Berkeley Chess Club meets Fridays at 7:15 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. Players at all levels are welcome. 652-5324. 

Women in Black Vigil, from noon to 1 p.m. at UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph. wibberkeley@yahoo.com 548-6310, 845-1143. 

Meditation, Peace Vigil and Dialogue, gather at noon on the grass close to the West Entrance to UC Berkeley, on Oxford St. near University Ave. Sponsored by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. 655-6169. www.bpf.org 

Overeaters Anonymous meets every Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Northbrae Church at Solano and The Alameda. Parking is free and is handicapped accessible. For information call Katherine, 525-5231. 

Peace Ceremonies with Andree Morgana and the Hayehwatha Institute at 7 p.m. at Belladonna, 2436 Sacramento St. Cost is $10. 883-0600. www.belladonna.ws 

SATURDAY, SEPT. 4 

Basket Bonanza Learn about the weaving techniques of native people and the many uses of baskets. We will weave baskets of our own. For ages 8 and up. From 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. Cost is $3-$5, registration required. 525-2233. www.ebparks.org 

Kids Garden Club on the science of cooking. Investigate kitchen science by making soup and baking bread, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. For ages 7-12. Cost is $3-$5, registration required. 525-2233. 

Berkeley Fire Station Open House from 1 to 4 p.m. at Station 4, 1900 Marin Ave. Tour the station, see a safety presentation, and historical display and enjoy hot dogs and cake. Families and children especially welcome. 981-5506. 

World Food Festival Asian Cuisine from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Farmers’ Market, Center St. at MLK Jr Way. Cooking demonstration of Thai-California cuisine at 11 a.m. with Vanni Patchara. 548-3333. www.ecologycenter.org 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland “New Era/New Politics” highlights African-American leaders who have made their mark on Oakland. Meet at 10 a.m. at the African American Museum and Library at 659 14th St. 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

Art and Soul Festival from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Mon. at Frank Ogawa Plaza, City Center, Oakland. Over 40 bands on four stages, food, artisan marketplace, and Fun Zone for children. Cost is $5. www.artandsouloakland.com 

Sick Plant Clinic The first Sat. of every month, UC plant apthologist, Dr. Robert Raabe, UC entomologist Dr. Nick Mills, and their team of experts will diagnose what ails your plants. From 9 a.m. to noon at the UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Dr. Free. 643-2755. 

Yoga for Seniors at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St., on Saturdays from 10 to 11 a.m. Open to non-members of the club for $8 per class. For further information and to register, call Karen Ray at 848-7800. 

SUNDAY, SEPT. 5 

“Propagating Natives with Cuttings” with Martin Grantham, Greenhouse Manager for San Francisco State University. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Visitors Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $40 members, $45 nonmembers. Attendance is limited, advanced registration strongly advised. All class fees benefit The Friends of the Regional Parks Botanic Garden. 845-4116. www.nativeplants.org 

Reptile Roundup Come meet Tilden’s reptiles and learn how the world was formed on the shells of turtles and why snakes have natural spectacles. From 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. 525-2233. www.ebparks.org 

Domingo de Rumba a family participatory event with Afro-Cuban folkloric drums and dances, at 3:30 p.m. at La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Les Contes pour Enfants An hour of nature stories in French for children at 10 a.m. at Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. 525-2233. www.ebparks.org 

“Growing Up and Growing Old: Life Stages of Enlightenment” with Walter Tuett Anderson, at 9:30 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302.  

MONDAY, SEPT. 6 

Tilden Environmental Education Center Open House with a variety of drop-in programs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. 525-2233. www.ebparks.org 

World Affairs/Politics Discussion Group for people 60 years and over meets Mondays at 10:15 a.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave. Join at any time. 524-9122. 

Central Labor Council of Alameda County celebrates Labor Day at the Oakland A’s game at 4 p.m. at the East Side Club. Tickets are $12.50. For reservations call 632-4242. 

Color of Woman Story Writing Workshop with Shiloh McCloud at 6 p.m. at Belladonna, 2436 Sacramento St. Cost is $40, materials $20. 883-0600. www.belladonna.ws 

Fitness for 55+ A total body workout including aerobics, stretching and strengthening at 1:15 p.m. every Monday at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5170. 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. Join us to work on current issues around police misconduct. Volunteers needed. For information call 548-0425. 

TUESDAY, SEPT. 7 

An Evening with Richard Clarke, former counterterrorism czar and author of “Against All Enemies” at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Auditorium, UC Campus. Sponsored by the Goldman School of Public Policy. Tickets are $5-$10 available from 642-9998.  

“OUTFOXED” a documentary on media empires, led by Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News at 9:15 p.m., 1834 Park Blvd. near Lake Merritt in Oakland. This free event is sponsored by Not in Our Name. 601-8006.  

National Organization for Women Oakland/East Bay Chapter meets at 6 p.m. in the Boardroom of the Oakland YWCA, 1515 Webster St. The speaker will be Jean Damu who will discuss reparations for damages caused by slavery. 287-8948. 

WriterCoach Connection (formerly Writers’ Room) seeks volunteers for this coming academic year for Berkeley schools. From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and on Sept. 14. Other training times available. For information please contact Lynn Mueller at 524-2319 or writercoachconnect@yahoo.com www.writercoachconnection.org 

Family Story Time at the Kensington Branch Library, Tues. evenings at 7 p.m. 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

“Trekking the Himalaya and Beyond” Practical tips for exploring the world on foot with Arlene Blum at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Docent Training at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden every Tues. through Feb. 8 at the Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Cost is $125. To register please send a check to Dr. Glenn Keator, 1455 Catherine Drive, Berkeley, 94702. For more information call 527-9802. www.nativeplants.org 

Kairos Youth Choir Auditions for boys and girls age 7-15. For information call 414-1991, info@kairoschoir.org www.kairoschoir.org 

Acting and Storytelling Classes for Seniors offered by Stagebridge, at Arts First Oakland, 2501 Harrison St. Classes are held at 10 a.m. Tues.-Fri. For more information call 444-4755. www.stagebridge.org 

American Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at 6230 Claremont Ave., Oakland. Volunteers needed for Berkeley blood drives and/or Oakland Blood Center. Advance sign-up needed 594-5165.  

Creating Economic Opportunites for Women Free orientation meetings for training programs for immigrant and refugee women in English, finance and computer skills. Also on Sept. 9. 655 International Blvd., at 7th Ave., 2nd floor. To register call 879-2949. 

Organic Produce at low prices sold at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon Streets every Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. This is a project of Spiral Gardens. 843-1307. 

Phone Banking to ReDefeat Bush on Tuesdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at Cafe de la Paz, 1600 Shattuck Ave. Bring your cell phones. Please RSVP if you can join us. 415-336 8736. dan@redefeatbush.com 

“Heal Your Back, Straighten Your Spine” at 1 p.m. at Pharmaca, 1744 Solano Ave.  

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Scuba diver Carl Arnoult will show underwater slides of coral reefs around the world at 11 a.m. We offer ongoing classes in exercise and creative arts, and always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 548-3991. www.berkeleycameraclub.org 

Tuesday Tilden Walkers We are a few slowpoke seniors who walk between a mile or two each Tuesday, meeting at 9:30 a.m. in the Little Farm parking lot. To join us, call 215-7672.  

CITY MEETINGS 

Commission on the Status of Women meets Wed., Sept. 1, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Ruby Primus, 981-5106. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ 

commissions/women 

Fire Safety Commission meets Wed., Sept. 1, at 7:30 p.m. at the Public Safety Building, 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, 2nd floor. David Orth, 981-5502. www.ci.berkeley. 

ca.us/commissions/firesafety 

Community Environmental Advisory Commission meets Thurs., Sept. 2, at 7 p.m., at 2118 Milvia St. Nabil Al-Hadithy, 981-7461. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/environmentaladvisory 

Housing Advisory Commission meets Thurs., Sept. 2, at 7:30 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Oscar Sung, 981-5400. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/housing 

Public Works Commission meets Thurs., Sept. 2, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Jeff Egeberg, 981-6406. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/publicworks 

Commission on Disability meets Wed., Sept. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Paul Church, 981-6342. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/disability 

Homeless Commission meets Wed., Sept. 8, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Jane Micallef, 981-5426. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/homeless 

Planning Commission meets Wed., Sept. 8, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Ruth Grimes, 981-7481. www.ci.berkeley. ca.us/commissions/planning 

Police Review Commission meets Wed. Sept. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, Barbara Attard, 981-4950. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/policereview 

Waterfront Commission meets Wed., Sept. 8, at 7 p.m., at 201 University Ave. Cliff Marchetti. 644-6376 ext. 224. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/waterfront 

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board meets Thurs. Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Pam Wyche 644-6128 ext. 113. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/rent 

Commission on Early Childhood Education meets Thurs., Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Marianne Graham, 981-5416. www.ci.berkeley. ca.us/commissions/earlychildhoodeducation 

Community Health Commission meets Thurs, Sept. 9, at 6:45 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. William Rogers, 981-5344. www.ci.berkeley. 

ca.us/commissions/health 

Transportation Commission meets Thurs., Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Peter Hillier, 981-7000. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/transportation 

West Berkeley Project Area Commission meets Thurs., Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., at the West Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7520. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/westberkeley  

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Thurs., Sept. 9, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. Mark Rhoades, 981-7410. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/zoning  ª

Watching the Republican Convention on television is like picking at a scab. You know it’s a mistake, you know it will only make things worse, but it’s hard not to do it, albeit obsessively and secretly. It’s a metaphor-generating experience, because it’s almost impossible to describe the horror and disgust provoked in the person of ordinary sensibility using straightforward descriptive language.  

Look at poor David Gergen. Never expected to feel sorry for him. He’s always been a Republican, in fact was the MacNeil-Lehrer Newshour’s token Republican, paired with TradLibDem Mark Shields, who survives on the all-Lehrer version of the show. Someone asked Gergen what he thought of the anti-Kerry Swift Boat Veterans ads. His facial expression was roughly that of a person at a formal banquet looking at a platter on which a little Scottie dog, trussed and stuffed, is served up as the centerpiece of the meal. “Disgust” doesn’t begin to cover it. He did make two good observations about ex-Democrat Zell Miller’s speech: (1) Zell Miller got his start with Lester Maddox (the rabid segregationist Georgia governor) and he sounded just like Lester last night and (2) Republicans talk about Kerry’s flip-flops, but Georgians have been talking about “Zig-Zag-Zell” for years.  

And Miller himself! He is one of most frightening looking people ever seen in prime time, including in horror movies, with his hawk-bill nose looming over the frown lines which dominate his face. You could run a video of his speech with an audio version of Puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards’ hellfire sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” or Cotton Mather’s “The Devil in New England” and it would be plausible. A real American fundamentalist, in other words. 

The content of his speech, like the content of the one delivered by Iceberg Dick Cheney, also reminded the viewer of another tradition, a European one: the Big Lie, perfected by the Nazis. Republicans are telling big lies and small, consequential and gratuitous both. Someone on the Internet will surely have a catalog of lies told at the Republican National Convention, but it will come too late to make any difference in the opinions of the average viewer. The outright fabrications were too numerous for the talking heads to count on Wednesday night, even seasoned mudwatchers like Joe Klein and Joe Conason, who each got an occasional minute or two to try to comment.  

And there was very little intelligent opinion available on the two channels where some small amount might have been expected: PBS and CNN. The one commentator who was permitted occasional cogent observations was the token Spanish-speaker brought on by Larry King, Univision’s Jorge Ramos. Larry kept calling Ramos “Gore-hay,” and seemed uncharacteristically reluctant to interrupt, perhaps because he was desperately trying to remember how to pronounce the name each time. In the most elegant and discrete way, Ramos said that his Spanish-language viewers in the 13 Latin American democracies would be deeply shocked by what they saw of the convention, particularly the enshrinement of the religious right, when many countries like Mexico cherish their traditional separation of church and state.  

It was the consensus among the talking heads, both intelligent and brainless, that the Republicans have put on this show of viciousness to energize their base, rather than to convince the undecided. Pundit Central has decreed this year that the function of attack speeches and ads is really to scare the non-politicized undecideds into staying home, to convince them that politics equals evil. The pundits could be right.  

The Kerry camp’s strategy until now has been Mr. Nice Guy: don’t attack Bush, just deliver an upbeat, positive message and hope that it persuades. This is starting to make Kerry supporters very nervous. Polling and focus groups, which in the last few years have dominated candidates’ decision-making processes, don’t seem to be working, because results are within the margin of error of the methodology.  

The Shields/Klein/Conason contingent has started spreading rumors of a reprogramming effort underway at Kerry Central in Nantucket this weekend, which might produce a more forthright Kerry posture. The people in the streets in New York have been trying to deliver the strong criticism of the Bush regime which they think Kerry neglects, whether Kerry’s on board with them or not.  

Kerry’s personal style derives more from the New England of Calvin Coolidge than that of Cotton Mather. But in the past, in the days of Vietnam Veterans against the War, he showed himself to be capable of assertive leadership when it was required. Now he needs to shift gears, to connect better with the New England style of its Irish immigrants and their descendants, people like Tip O’Neill, skilled at forceful, issues-sparked political rhetoric. He needs, in fact, to borrow some moves from the Kennedys, to whom he is often compared. John Kennedy had the word for what Kerry’s campaign lacks: vigor (pronounced “vigah” in the local dialect). A little Vigah from Kerry right now might make all the difference. 

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. 

A new exhibit about how Californians reacted to the war in Vietnam has just opened at the Oakland Museum to rave reviews. The attempt to influence public opinion to end the war consumed most of the sixties for many here and elsewhere. I found Menand’s discussion of Converse’s seminal book particularly interesting in this context, because I best remember Phil and Jean Converse (his wife and intellectual colleague) from Ann Arbor, where we all lived in the ‘60s, as early, vigorous and stalwart opponents of the Vietnam war. I knew that Phil was some sort of a big cheese in the academic world of political science, but being more interested in politics than in political theory I knew little about his work. It’s fascinating now to think that even when his own research told him that voters, as Menand paraphrased it, “don’t really have meaningful political beliefs,” he and his wife still attempted, in their personal life, to influence those beliefs.  

We humans continue to believe that what we do will improve the course of history, despite a good bit of evidence to the contrary. That’s why some hundreds of thousands of good folks marched in New York on Sunday, including many Berkeleyans. Will it make any difference?  

“Hope springs eternal in the human breast; Man never Is, but always To be blest.”  

A good number of the marchers, the grannies and the greybeards, some of whose dispatches are in this issue, remember the darkest days of the struggle against the Vietnam war, and hope that their actions now can convince the country that the Iraq war is another big mistake. They hope that voters will be able to translate that belief into, if not exactly a vote for Kerry, at least a vote against Bush.  

Will the small number of remaining unconvinced voters make the connection between what’s happening in their own lives and the policies of the Bush administration? Do they understand that they and their children will be paying for decades to come for a pointless excursion into a distant place to find non-existent weapons of mass destruction? Are they aware that a small group of war profiteers is amassing dollars paid from the pockets of middle and working class taxpayers, and that the rich pay very little of the cost of war? Do they know that invading Iraq has not aided any realistic struggle against genuine terrorism, but has displaced one? Or will they believe the outright lies that they will be seeing from sources like the notorious Swift Boat Veterans, endlessly replayed on the duplicitous Fox network, and reject Kerry based on a vague perception of supposed “character” flaws? Pundits, essayists, academics and pollsters are busy trying to predict what these voters will do in November, but really, no one knows.