When Berkeley’s only foster care and adoption agency learned that its office was seismically unsafe, it faced an uncomfortable choice: find money for repairs by May 2006 or face city fines. 

Now, if the City Council approves, A Better Way will receive the final $99,000 it needs for the $185,000 project through the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. 

“We didn’t have any other funding source,” said Shahnaz Mazandarani, executive director of A Better Way, which owns its Adeline Street office. “Our grants are for the services we provide so when something happens to the building, God only knows where we get the money.” 

Next year the money might be harder to find for Berkeley nonprofits. 

In his 2005-06 budget, President George Bush proposed eliminating the $4.7 billion CDBG program altogether. If Congress agrees, Berkeley would lose approximately $4.2 million a year in federal dollars.  

“The funding is extremely important for us,” said city Housing Director Steve Barton. 

Established in 1974, CDBG is the leading federal program to fund public works projects in low income neighborhoods in eligible cities and counties. In Berkeley, however, most of the funds go to nonprofits, mainly for housing rehabilitation programs and job placement services. Twelve of the 27 programs in Berkeley recommended for funding next year are housing related. 

Under the president’s plan, funding for CDBG and 17 other programs would be cut in half and transferred from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to the Commerce Department to support economic development programs. 

Barton said the plan would disqualify many of the programs Berkeley chooses to fund with CDBG money. However, he remains optimistic that the Republican-controlled Congress will vote against the president on CDBG. 

Last year, the Bush administration proposed a $1.6 billion cut to the federal Section 8 housing program, only to see Congress restore funding. It didn’t propose cuts to Section 8 this year. 

But even if Congress keeps CDBG intact and fully funded, Berkeley funding could still be drastically cut under four new funding formulas HUD has submitted to Congress. 

The current funding formula, in place since 1978, has a bias favoring both cities with an older housing stock and university towns, said HUD spokesperson Brian Sullivan. Under the current system, most college students, even those supported by their families, count as low-income residents, making university towns appear far poorer than other evidence would suggest. 

A recent HUD report showed that College Station, Penn., home to Penn State University, had a poverty rate of 48 percent, due mostly to its large student population. Berkeley receives more than twice as much CDBG money as Richmond, a city with an equivalent population, but far greater poverty. 

“We determined that the program was not effectively targeting need, so we have offered Congress four alternatives to correct some of the inequities,” Sullivan said. Congress will consider the proposals along with the future of CDBG before approving a budget by the end of June. 

To close the university loophole, HUD has proposed counting only low-income “persons living in family households or elderly-headed households living in poverty.” 

That leaves out poor single people, who comprise most of Berkeley’s homeless population. 

“HUD is using too broad a brush,” Barton said. Of the four alternatives floated by HUD, Barton estimated that three would cut city CDBG funding in half and the other would cut it by 38 percent. 

Congress could choose to keep the current funding formula, and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) worries about any changes. 

“I'm concerned that changes in the funding formula would jeopardize the ability of countless communities to create jobs and affordable housing opportunities for those who need it most,” she said. 

Berkeley nonprofits dependent CDBG funds are bracing for the worst. 

“We’re going to have pull some other funding together,” said Gerald Baptiste, assistant director of the Center For Independent Living. The organization has received annual CDBG grants of $142,675—its only source of funding for that program—to build ramps and chairlifts at the homes of disabled residents. 

“Without that money a number of people would have to go into institutions without a doubt,” he said. 

Last year, the city spent $4.2 million in CDBG money on six anti-poverty organizations, eight affordable housing providers, 19 service providers to the homeless, seven agencies committed to further fair and accessible housing, 32 social service agencies and eight child care providers. 

The greatest single recipient of CDBG funding is the city of Berkeley itself. Approximately $850,000—roughly 20 percent of the federal funds—pays for city staff. Berkeley’s staff allocation is a higher percentage than Oakland’s, which uses 15 percent of its $9 million CDBG allocation on staff, said CDBG Administrator Danny Wong. 

If CDBG is cut or eliminated, Barton said one of the immediate consequences would be a contraction of Berkeley’s housing department.

Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) members and planning commissioners both wrestled with the same subject last week, the incentives that let builders create larger structures in Berkeley than would otherwise be allowed. 

Neither group came to any firm conclusions, beyond one: Something has to be done to make sense of what now amounts to legislative chaos. 

ZAB members confronted a controversial incentive that allows apartment and condominium builders to add extra height to make up for losses caused by building “inclusionary” units priced to make them affordable for lower-income tenants. 

The issue they faced Thursday was the proposed condo complex at 1698 University Ave., the site of the old Tune-Up Masters franchise. 

Having once approved the project, it was back in ZAB’s lap after the City Council refused to supply its endorsement and handed it back to ZAB because of an appeal of the project over the inclusionary bonus. 

The day before ZAB met, the Planning Commission pondered the creation of a new incentive that would clear the way for construction of the David Brower Center complex, a pair of eco-friendly buildings proposed for Fulton Street between Allston Way and Kittredge Street. 

Both those structures are taller than allowed under the city’s Downtown Plan, even with existing incentives added. The commission mulled the notion of creating yet another incentive that would grant additional extra height in exchange for building “green.” 

Thus, buildings that included environmentally friendly building materials and technology that reduced consumption of gas and electricity would be allowed to add height above plan standards. 

In the Tune-Up Masters case, city planning staff originally awarded the project a 25 percent size increase bonus for including condominium units to be sold at a price affordable to people making at or below 125 percent of the Oakland Metropolitan average median income. 

That ruling was shot down four months ago after planning staff agreed with former Planning Commissioner Gene Poschman that the correct interpretation allowed only 10 percent. 

However, city staff Thursday pointed to another section of state law that mandates that builders who add state-mandated inclusionary units must be allowed a margin of profitability that would be equivalent to what the project would have made without the mandatory inclusionary units. 

The city staff calculated that for the 1698 University project to be made whole for the inclusionary units, the only solution was a building the same size as previously rejected, namely 25 percent larger. 

Poschman was on hand to argue against the bonus, while Principal Planner Deborah Sanderson and David Baar, an attorney on the city housing staff, upheld the numbers as meeting the legal requirements of state inclusionary law. 

All sides agreed that the state legislation was murky and ill-organized. 

“It’s definitely a problem,” said ZAB Chair Andy Katz. 

“An analytical solution is not possible with what the law gives us,” said Rick Judd, a land use attorney and the board’s newest member. “We were given a deck with 37 cards, and two or three of some of them seem to be alike. I’m not comfortable that we’re forced to give a developer what he’d have if there was no inclusionary bonus at all.” 

ZAB member David Blake said, “There’s a long history of changes in the way we look at density bonuses. When we had Seagate, staff told us they would be entitled to two-and-a-half times the bonus they sought.” 

In the case of the recently approved Seagate condominium project at 2941-67 Center St. in downtown Berkeley, Housing Director Tim Stroshane calculated that the developer was entitled to a 14-story building to make good for the inclusionary units, in spite of a city plan and codes that allow for half that figure—a maximum of five floors and two additional floors as bonus space. 

Stroshane’s calculations were based on plans that called for minimal returns and massive construction costs based in large part on a unique and highly expensive seismic reinforcement system well above that required by city and state codes—a level of construction that developer representative Darrel de Tienne later conceded might not even be implemented. 

In the case of the University Avenue project, Judd noted that “this project wasn’t very realistic economically based on the price of the land with or without the density bonus.” 

Blake repeatedly questioned city staff with his concerns, at one point remarking, “It stretches credibility that the staff analysis of this project gives us a number that exactly matches state law.” 

“I don’t agree with the staff interpretation,” said member Chris Tiedeman. “The state law is a complicated and messy statute.” 

“Until the City Council has reached a decision about how this law should be applied, we’re going to be seeing it again and again,” said member Dean Metzger. 

“ZAB is very much at fault,” said Poschman. “Two of the five votes that originally approved this project were made under protest by members who said they felt obliged to vote that way.” 

Eric Cress appeared for Pacific Bay Investments, the firm behind the University Avenue project, to answer questions about the project. 

Cress noted that because of neighbor objections, the project’s height had been reduced from 38 units to 25 and the height had been cut by 14 feet to the current 50 feet. 

“When we changed the project from apartments to condos at the request of the neighbors, we didn’t know it would reduce the density bonuses,” he said. “I can’t help but feel it backfired on us in some respects.” 

State law mandates a maximum of 25 percent for inclusionary apartments but only 10 percent for condos. 

“We’re in a terrible, terrible bind,” said Blake. 

In the end, ZAB postponed a decision until April 14, to give staff sufficient time to analyze the proposal along with the state and city inclusionary law and policy.

One day before the cutoff of local registration for Golden Gate Elementary Charter School in North Oakland, only 60 percent of students’ families had signed their children up to attend the new school. 

Some parents say they are skeptical about the new charter program and have registered their children only because they felt they had no other good options.  

State-appointed Oakland School Administrator Randolph Ward announced earlier this year that he was closing the San Pablo Avenue school as an Oakland Unified School District-run facility because of lagging attendance rates and a drop in the school’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) scores. 

The school, which is 90 percent African-American, sits between 62nd and 63rd streets near the Berkeley border. Gold en Gate has been turned over to a charter school run jointly by UC Berkeley and the Oakland-based Aspire Public Schools nonprofit organization. Entrance to the new school is by application, with UC Berkeley announcing in a press release earlier this year that first priority for acceptance would go to students currently attending Golden Gate. 

Golden Gate parents were given until today (Tuesday) to exercise that option. 

On Monday, outgoing Golden Gate principal Katherine Hunter-Hendon said that of the 140 students not graduating from the elementary school this year, only 85 had registered to attend the charter school. She said she had no idea how many of the remaining students would attend Santa Fe Elementary on Market and 54th streets—the nearest OUSD school—and how many might simply leave the district to attend schools in other areas. 

Two Golden Gate parent volunteers said they were not satisfied with any of the choices, and feel that the district should have done more to save Golden Gate as a distr ict-run public school. 

“Golden Gate has been a good school,” said School Site Councilmember Laura Tallie. “The teachers were good. The principals were good. They served my children well.” 

A 30-year neighbor of the school, Tallie has already put two children through Golden Gate, including a daughter who is now 29. Her third child—a foster son currently in the second grade—has been reluctantly signed up for the charter school. She said her main reason was “so he can eventually walk to school by himself.” 

“I’m not totally for the charter school, but I’m accepting it,” Tallie said. “It’s better than having no school here at all. If they just padlocked the doors, then it would probably be vandalized.” 

Tallie said that she had attended two of the meetings h eld by Aspire to describe its new program and though “it sounded good, you never know what it’s going to be like until the program is in place and the staff is there. It will take some time to see exactly how it will work out.” 

Joyce Blackwell, a grandmo ther who volunteers at Golden Gate, was more blunt. 

“First of all, I think [closing the public school] is ridiculous; it’s awful,” she said. “I’m sick about it. I’m heartbroken. I don’t understand why it’s taking place. I’m just not pleased at all.” 

Bla ckwell, who put her daughter through Golden Gate and now has a fourth-grade granddaughter at the school, also said the only reason she signed her grandchild up at the charter was the proximity. 

“It’s a nice little walk over to Santa Fe,” she said. “You’d have to go up Alcatraz to Sacramento, and then over to Market Street, and across Stanford and Adeline, I think. I’m not comfortable with her traveling all the way over there. I don’t have a car, and I can’t walk it. I registered because I felt I had no o ther choice. We’re close enough to Berkeley to send her to school there, but you have to get a permit to transfer to Berkeley, and it’s tough as nails to get one.” 

Blackwell also expressed concern that there would have been no real security in sending he r granddaughter to Santa Fe. 

“Suppose Mr. Ward decided to close Santa Fe next year, just like he closed Golden Gate this year?” she asked. “Where would I send her, then?” 

Picking her words carefully, second year principal Hunter-Hendon said, “I need som e clarification” why Golden Gate was closed by Oakland state administrator Ward despite only a one-year drop in its AYP score. 

“Our scores were up 80 and 50 points for the year before,” she said. 

Golden Gate is not part of the 13 Oakland schools schedul ed to be reorganized by Ward under the federal No Child Left Behind act after four years on the federal “identifying program improvement” list. 

“I would have felt better about the closure if we had been on that list,” she said. 

And Hunter-Hendon said th e 35 student school enrollment drop from last year to this was partly the fault of the district’s not doing more to encourage students to transfer to Golden Gate. 

Last year, when the district closed the nearby elementary schools of Marcus Foster and Long fellow, Hunter-Hendon said that Golden Gate was not put on the district’s “redirect list” steering students to that school, even though the district knew at the time that Golden Gate was experiencing declining enrollment. 

“If many of the Foster and Longf ellow students had been redirected here, we would not be having the enrollment problem,” Hunter-Hendon said. 

She also said that Golden Gate was inexplicably not initially placed on last year’s district list of available schools during the district’s open enrollment period. “We got that corrected and we were put on the list,” she said, “but it was too late to do much good. A few students transferred over, not enough to make a difference.” 

Hunter-Hendon blamed the declining school enrollment on a change i n the community’s demographics as well as competition from a district-sponsored charter school. 

“A lot of people are moving into the neighborhood who don’t have school-age children,” she said. In addition, she said, a charter school on nearby Alcatraz Av enue opened by the East Bay Conservation Corp “took away some of the students that we had.” 

She added that the Golden Gate closure as a public school is having a disruptive affect upon her staff as well. The nine teachers at the school were “originally t old they would be placed first by seniority into other Oakland schools,” she said. But with the pending conversion of 13 other Oakland schools into charter, “there could be some bumping of our teachers down the list.” She called it “a possibility” that some of the present Golden Gate teachers could lose their jobs. Hunter-Hendon herself will have to apply for a new position if she wishes to remain with the district.  

Berkeley Unified School District has been put on a list of 150 California school districts needing “program improvement.” 

The district’s public information officer said that the listing is part of bureaucratic wrangling between state and federal agencies and is not indicative of the quality of education in the district. 

“It really doesn’t mean anything different as far as the district is concerned,” said Mark Coplan, district spokesperson. 

Schools and districts are subject to severe penalties under the federal No Child Left Behind Act if they stay on the so-called Program Improvement “watch list” for several years. 

Coplan said that entire districts can be put on the “watch list” if the district is considered a low-income Title I district and the district’s students fall below state-monitored Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for two consecutive years. 

In Berkeley’s case, however, the district was one of several state districts put on the list because a certain number of schools have been placed on the Program Improvement list. 

“The state superintendent and members of the state school board went up to Washington recently to lobby against that provision,” Coplan said, “but the federal government has insisted that districts under that category—like Berkeley Unified—are placed on the watch list.” 

Eight Berkeley public schools are on the Program Improvement list: Berkeley Alternative High, King, Willard, and Longfellow Middle, and Oxford Elementary are in their first year on the list; Cragmont Elementary is in its second year; Washington Elementary in its third year; and Rosa Parks Elementary is in its fourth year. Schools face escalating mandated corrective action the more years they remain on the list, with restructuring of the school beginning in the fourth year. 

“All of our corrective efforts and money are already being put into the individual sites,” Coplan said, including the “dedication of 10 percent of the district’s allocation to high quality professional development” as required by the federal government for Program Improvement schools. 

He also said that several Berkeley schools are on the watch list not because of poor academic performance, but because they did not meet the No Child Left Behind requirement of 95 percent participation in state-mandated tests. 

“A lot of Berkeley parents choose to have their children opt out of state tests for political reasons,” Coplan said. “We can inform the students about the tests, but state law requires that we not make them take the tests. To show you how absurd the situation is, if Berkeley High were a Title I school and came under the PI program, the school would be put on the Program Improvement list because it didn’t meet the testing percentage requirement. And last year, Berkeley was named one of the top one hundred high schools in the country.” 

After negotiations with the U.S. Department of Education, the California School Board passed new criteria at its March 9 meeting for school district inclusion on the PI list. Coplan said that new criteria should have taken Berkeley Unified off the watch list “and we’re still looking into why it did not.”Ã

The Berkeley Waterfront Commission rejected landing rights to Spaceship Earth in their bailiwick last week, leaving the 350,000-square-foot blue sphere still in search of a home. 

The panel’s action Wednesday marks the second time the sculpture has been denied a proposed location. The first rejection came in San Francisco, where that city’s Visual Arts Committee rejected the work at any site in the city. 

Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates is a big fan of the orb, and the Civic Arts Commission (CAC) has the task of finding an appropriate site. 

A CAC site subcommittee with representatives from the Waterfront and the Parks and Recreation committees proposed the waterfront as their first choice. 

Brad Smith, the waterfront representative on the CAC panel, made no secret of his disdain for the creation of Finno-American sculptor Eino’s creation, referring to it as “the Brower object.” 

Smith was out with the flu Wednesday, but it didn’t matter when the sculpture came up for a vote. Only commission chair Paul Kamen voted to accept it, while the others offered enthusiastic thumbs down. 

“There wasn’t a lot of enthusiasm for the Brower object,” said David Snippen, the CAC chair. 

The panel had pinned their hopes on the waterfront, but with that option off the table, the remaining sites fall within the purview of the Parks and Recreation Commission. 

Those sites are Cedar Rose Park and the westernmost end of Ohlone Park. 

Plans for a site at the Lawrence Hall of Science were rejected by UC Berkeley, as was another proposed location at Tilden Park. 

Snippen says he hopes to schedule another site selection panel meeting before the whole commission meets again on March 23. 

“The parks commissioners said that if we go for a site recommendation in the parks, they’ll want to hold a public hearing to get community input,” Snippen said. 

The CAC chair says he’s also considering taking his short list recommendations to the City Council “with the qualification that public hearings will be held.”

If you drive west on Center Street into the Shattuck Avenue intersection, you encountered two permanent signs reading “No Left Turn—Except Buses and Bicycles.” But because of Vista College construction on the next block of Center Street, you also encountered a temporary sign ahead saying “Road Closed Ahead.” 

Having blundered into this trap, there was absolutely nothing you could legally do. You couldn’t turn left or go straight. You couldn’t turn right, because that’s the wrong-way (southbound) branch of Shattuck Square. You couldn’t back up, because that would be nuts. And you certainly couldn’t stay put. 

Fortunately, the flagman at the “Road Closed Ahead” sign was helping motorists intelligently disobey one or both of the posted signs. But why did the city set this insane trap? 

—Michael Katzz

Berkeley Design Review Committee will get its final look Thursday at plans for a four-story mixed-use condominium and retail project at 2700 San Pablo Ave. 

Developer Patrick Kennedy originally planned to build on the site but sold the land and permit approvals to Curtis + Partners, LLC, of San Francisco, headed by Charmaine Curtis. 

The project will include 30 residential-only units, four mixed-use units and a retail space at the northeast corner of San Pablo Avenue and Carleton Street. 

The committee will also give preliminary review to an addition of 7,724 square feet of office space to a building at 2107 Dwight Way and exterior renovations, including window bays, to an office building at 1625 Shattuck Ave. 

The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in Workshop B of the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave.  

—Richard Brenneman›

Fans and foes of East Bay casino proposals have had reasons both to celebrate and to fret in recent days. 

Two Richmond casino projects took significant steps forward while another in San Pablo was dealt a major setback. 

Plans for the Sugar Bowl Casino advanced Friday when the Sacramento office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) sent federal, state, local and tribal officials a 12-page notice about the Scotts Valley Band of Pomos’ plans for building a major casino in unincorporated North Richmond. 

While the notice isn’t an approval, the information it generates can help the BIA negotiate the terms of an accord on the project, according to Kevin Bearquiver of the BIA’s Sacramento office. 

The final decision rests with Secretary of Interior Gale Norton, and the BIA request is designed to gauge the impact of removal of the project site from local tax rolls.  

Berkeley developer James D. Levine’s plans for a massive luxury casino resort at Point Molate also took another step forward when the BIA announced a date for a Richmond scoping session on the project’s environmental impacts. 

That session, open to the public, will occur on March 31 in the Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza. 

The scoping session on the Sugar Bowl was held last Aug. 4, which would place the Scotts Valley Pomos about seven months ahead of the Guidiville Rancheria Pomos in the race to build the first Richmond casino. 

Meanwhile, the Lytton Band of Pomos’ plans to transform a San Pablo cardroom, a struggling casino just off Interstate 80 at San Pablo Boulevard, into a Las Vegas-sized casino were dealt a major setback Friday. Rep. George Miller, the House Democrat who inserted a clause granting the tribe rights to buy Casino San Pablo, notified two state legislators about his second thoughts on the project. 

The San Pablo casino project soared into the headlines last year when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a pact that would allow the tribe to build a 5,000-slot-machine operation at the site. 

When legislators in the state Senate and Assembly—who must give their approval to gambling compacts—rebelled, the tribe and governor came back with another proposal that halved the number of slots. 

Miller expressed his reservations in a two-page letter to California Senate President pro tem Don Perata and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez. 

“[S]omewhere between when Congress approved the land transfer and today, the project that was originally brought to me and to the Congress by the city and the tribe changed dramatically,” Miler wrote, “What was then described as a modest casino with 1,000 slot machines, to be developed within the context of the existing card room facility, instead was turned into a (5,000-slot machine) proposal. . .that would make Casino San Pablo one of the three largest casinos in the nation.” 

Miller said the process “has been grossly distorted by those who have sought to use the casino to achieve their own particular goals rather than the local goals of the community,” and blamed Schwarzenegger in particular for attempting to use casinos to solve the state budget crisis. 

Expressing reservation about the later 2,500-slot proposal, Miller noted that while federal law requires the state to negotiate in good faith with the tribe, it “does not guarantee the tribe a casino of any size nor does it obligate the governor to approve a casino of any size.” 

Miller’s letter drew an immediate rebuttal from Lytton Tribal Chair Margie Mejia, who praised the project’s ability to create 6,600 jobs and alleviate the fiscal crises of the city and Contra Costa County. 

San Pablo city officials said approval of the compact is a prerequisite to the poverty-ridden city’s continuing survival as a legal entity. Absent casino revenues, they say, their city would be forced to disincorporate. 

Schwarzenegger’s 2,500-slot proposal remains alive in the state legislature, where senators and assemblymembers have been busily writing up counter-proposals. 

East Bay Assemblymember Loni Hancock, who has been at the forefront of urban casino opposition, hailed Miller’s letter.›

A vocal opponent of a plan to decrease the number of car lanes on Marin Avenue has filed suit against Berkeley and Albany to stop the project. 

But before he takes on both cities, he needs a lawyer to take the case and some co-plaintiffs to help pay the bills. 

Raymond Chamberlin, who like many Berkeley hills residents relies on Marin Avenue as his quickest route to the flatlands and freeway, filed suit in superior court last month. He argues that the cities needed to perform a more extensive environmental review before reducing car lanes on the street. 

Should Chamberlin obtain a lawyer, he might seek an injunction to stop the project currently scheduled to begin this summer. 

“My main reason for doing this is that the proposal is so devious,” he said. “It doesn’t solve the problem of pedestrian safety. It’s just a bicycle boondoggle.” 

In an effort to slow traffic on Marin Avenue and improve pedestrian and bicycle safety, Berkeley and Albany approved a joint project to re-stripe the street from four lanes of traffic, to two lanes of traffic with a center turning land and two bicycle lanes. The avenue runs through both cities. 

Chamberlin contends the cities relied on inadequate traffic surveys and made findings inconsistent with the surveys. 

The Marin Avenue reconfiguration was wildly popular in Albany, but faced fierce resistance from many Berkeley residents who feared the project would divert traffic to their side-streets or slow their commute times. 

Chamberlin said he believes he can sign up other opponents of the plan to the lawsuit, but not until he finds an attorney willing to take the case. 

Without an attorney, Chamberlin said he might drop the case rather than bear the complete costs of the legal effort. Also, he added, as a Berkeley hills resident who doesn’t live in the immediate vicinity of the section of Marin Avenue affected by the plan, he doesn’t have as strong legal standing as residents who live on side-streets that could face traffic impacts. 

?

After weeks of briefings on the city’s looming $7.5 million shortfall, Berkeley’s City Council today (Tuesday) will get its first look at next year’s proposed budget. 

As part of Mayor Tom Bates’ strategy for giving extra attention to budgetary issues, the budget presentation is the only item on the council’s agenda slated for debate. 

The budget plan was not available at press time Monday. 

City Manager Phil Kamlarz’s recommendations, as listed on the meeting agenda, include implementing a two-year approach to eliminate the structural budget deficit, minimize layoffs, maintain a general fund reserve at a minimum of 6 percent of revenues, and use unexpected revenue for capital improvements like street repairs. 

Kamlarz has previously proposed that the council spend $3.5 million from higher than expected property tax revenues on a new police dispatch system, the city’s lawsuit against the UC Board of Regents over the UC Berkeley’s Long Range Development Plan, street repairs and a match for a solar bond fund. 

Councilmember Kriss Worthington is asking that the council also set aside $100,000 to develop an implementation plan to take over the purchasing of electrical power from PG&E. He believes if the council acts quickly to show they have a plan in place, Berkeley would face lower exit fees from the utility company if it opted to negotiate its own power contracts. 

The combination of rising employee benefit costs and a sluggish economy have resulted in a structural deficit that forecasts shortfalls through at least fiscal year 2009. Kamlarz has ordered city department heads to cut budgets 10 percent for fiscal year 2006, which begins in July, and 6 percent for 2007. Additionally the council has given Kamlarz authority to consider closing non-essential city services once a month starting in July to save approximately $2.1 million in salaries. 

The council must adopt a balanced budget by the end of June.

San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board members will hear the latest developments at Richmond’s Campus Bay waterfront Wednesday morning in downtown Oakland. 

Curtis Scott, who has been supervising the site, will give his report when the board meets at 9 a.m. in the first floor auditorium of the Elihu M. Harris Building at 1515 Clay St. in Oakland. 

Excavations of toxics-laden muck from the shoreline marsh ended March 1 and are scheduled to resume in September. Removal of already excavated muck continues. 

The March stoppage deadline—originally set for Feb. 1—was imposed to protect the endangered clapper rail shorebird which nests on the site. 

Meanwhile, the state Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), which assumed jurisdiction over the upland portion of the site in December, is still seeking applicants to serve on its Community Advisory Group, which is charged with serving as a conduit between the public and the state agency. 

In a review of site-cleanup activities released Monday, the DTSC reports that most of the site has been surrounded by a fence labeling the property as a hazardous waste site. 

The report also notes that 11,000 tons of excavated marsh sediment were trucked off the site last week to the Altamont and Keller Canyon landfills, while 4,000 cubic yards of highly contaminated muck remained stockpiled at the site.  

DTSC also reports that concentrations of dangerous volatile organic compounds exceeding state action levels by 2.2 times were recorded briefly on March 8 during the loading and transport of excavated sediments.

This week will mark the 36th anniversary of the My Lai massacre in which more than 560 men, women and children, all Vietnamese civilians, were murdered by soldiers of Company C of the U.S. Army 20th Division.  

The slaughter was a watershed in the history of modern American combat, and a turning point in the public perception of the Vietnam War.  

But this was not the first time American soldiers ran amok. Some 60 years before America entered Vietnam, a far larger but now forgotten bloodbath took place on the remote Philippine island of Samar. And, by eerie coincidence, the military unit involved was also Company C—but this time they were the first victims.  

Facing directly into the Pacific and unprotected by coral reefs, Samar suffers the worse weather in the 7,000-island archipelago. Lashing rains and typhoons regularly sweep in from the sea. The poorest and probably least developed island in the Philippines, Samar is a place where people come from rather than go to.  

Its tragic story begins in August 1901, at the end of the Spanish-American War, which began a world away in sunny Havana. The United States had quickly defeated Spain’s force in the Philippine capital of Manila, then proceeded to claim the Philippines, betraying its ally, the anti-Spanish Filipino independence movement. Filipino resistance continued throughout the far-flung islands for almost four years. Thousands of Americans and Filipinos were killed in the bloody jungle fighting of what became know to Filipinos as the Philippine-American war, and to Americans as the “Filipino Insurrection.”  

But by mid-1901, the Americans believed they had finally crushed Filipino resistance. In fact, thousands of peasants vowed to fight on.  

On Aug. 11, 1901, 74 soldiers of the Ninth U.S. Infantry Division, Company C, landed at a remote village in southern Samar, called Balangiga. Aside from a crumbling old Spanish plaza, a church, a convent and town hall, Balangiga was a mere collection of 200 thatched-roof huts standing on a rain-swept shore, accessible only by boat.  

Balangiga’s Spanish mayor had specifically petitioned the U.S. government in Manila to send American troops to protect the town from what he called “bandits and pirates.”  

As their transport ship lifted anchor and sailed back to Manila, Company C was billeted in the town plaza. They were exceedingly well armed. But to encourage trust among the locals, the company commander ordered that only sentries carry weapons.  

Eight weeks after arriving, the troops settled in into local life feeling safe.  

Then, on the evening of Oct. 6, a score of battle-hardened Filipino resistance fighters—dressed as old women to attend a child’s funeral—quietly slipped into Balangiga at dusk. At dawn the following day, a Sunday, amid the ringing of church bells, the disguised rebels and several hundred townspeople rose up against the U.S. troops. Only three of the 74 soldiers were carrying arms as they ate their breakfasts.  

The Filipinos used native razor-sharp machetes called bolos. The Americans wielded shovels, knives or whatever was at hand. In the ensuing massacre, only 26 of Company C’s original contingent survived long enough to reach the beach, most of them suffering ghastly wounds. The bloodied Americans staggered onto native boats and headed north for reinforcements.  

One surviving soldier was overheard quoting the Bible: “They have sown the wind and they shall reap the whirlwind.”  

The massacre surprised and appalled the U.S. colonial government in Manila. The first U.S. governor of the Philippines, Howard Taft (later to become president) wrote his wife: “It comes like a clap of thunder on a clear day.”  

Despite his shock, Taft insisted that a civilian government must still rule in the Philippines.  

For its part, the U.S. Army was determined to crush further resistance in Samar by sending a veteran of the savage Plains Wars against the American Indians, General “Roaring Jake” Smith.  

Arriving on Samar, Smith, 66, tells his men: “I want no prisoners. I want you to kill and burn. The more you kill and burn, the more it will please me.”  

Asked the age limit, the general replies: “Ten years and older. The interior of Samar must be made a howling wilderness.”  

In the ensuring months, hundreds of villages are burned, all crops and livestock destroyed. Thousands of Filipinos are shot as suspected rebels. Other civilians are rounded up and put in “concentration camps”—so called because they are “concentrated” into a small area making it easier to guard.  

Word of Smith’s murderous methods later hits Washington like a bombshell. The disgraced general is dismissed from the army amid great controversy regarding the U.S. presence in the Philippines—strikingly similar to later arguments about American involvement in Indochina.  

The U.S. campaign in the Philippines was vicious on both sides; neither Americans nor Filipinos gave, or expected, mercy. But in the end, as in most wars, it was the non-combatants who paid the highest price. Exact figures of how many Filipinos were killed in Samar were never made public. But it is estimated that 10,000 were killed or starved to death over a two-year period following the massacre, the majority women and children.  

And even today, more than a century after the fighting ended in the summer of 1902, Samar is still a forlorn place. The wild, uninhabited interior never recovered from the whirlwind of war; it remains, as Smith wanted, a howling wilderness.  

Steven Knipp is the Washington, D.C., correspondent for the South China Morning Post. He visited Samar in 2003.

TEN COMMANDMENTS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I have no quarrel with the Ten Commandments being displayed in public areas, as long as Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism etc., are also represented along side them. 

Carol Beth 

• 

DANGEROUS INTERSECTION 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

At the intersection where Adeline and Shattuck split, the pedestrian sign says “GO” at the same time that oncoming traffic has a green light. Eventually someone is going to killed or maimed. I’ve written and called about it to various city officials and never got a response. Perhaps the Planet would go to the intersection and experience this risky matter for itself. And then a life saving editorial might be in order.  

Robert Blau 

• 

DECRIMINALIZE DRUGS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Don Link’s comments (“Column Misrepresented North Oakland Shooting,” Daily Planet, March 11) on North Oakland crime, emphasizes that “being able to work with police to eliminate street level crime without fear of retaliation” is the “most basic fact” in solving this ongoing violence. 

We go on ignoring that the actual basic fact is the elimination of a profit motif in these drug crimes. If these drugs are not federally decriminalized, it is a fantasy to go on seeking other solutions to the nightmare—spending billions on more policing and more incarceration—rather than on treatment, jobs, and education! 

Gerta Farber 

• 

AC TRANSIT BUSES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

So AC Transit’s Van Hool busses have “low-floor entry” and other “passenger-oriented features.”  

Big whoo. Once past that entry, you are faced with a honking big step up to the seats. At least with the old high-entry buses, you could do your climbing while the bus was stationary. And when you want to signal for a stop, you may have to negotiate that step again in order to find one of the poorly located buttons. The old pull-cord system may have been low-tech, but it worked from every seat in the bus.  

Letters like AC Transit Director of Marketing and Communications Jaimie Levin’s (Daily Planet, March 8-10) make me want to require by statute that AC Transit wonks actually ride a bus on a daily basis. Go visit the trenches and hear the constant complaints from both riders and drivers. Had this been the case to begin with, there would have been no need to survey 500 passengers on these elements—you would have recognized the flaws on your own.  

By the way, I have ridden in Van Hool busses in London (a city that understands mass transit), and yes, they do have a low-floor entry similar to AC busses; however, with the exception of the legendary and traditional double-deckers, they do not require an additional step to reach seats near the doors. No pull-cords, however. Even London fell for those dumb buttons.  

Nina J. Hodgson  

• 

TAX BASE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Matthew Artz’s article about Volvo rolling on (“City Looks to Boost Tax Base as Auto Dealer Announces Departure,” Daily Planet, March 11-14) tells us that City Manager Phil Kamlarz states clearly and bluntly what has been too long ignored: Increasing revenue from business taxes is pivotal to preserve city services. And this flash of rationality is endorsed by Mayor Bates’ wish to create commercial zones along major traffic corridors. The most obvious candidate may be the foot of Gilman, where everything west of Seventh Street is a wasteland of shanties and scrapyards. This freeway access could be a bustling hub of car dealerships and big-box retail. 

Artz then states another obvious truth: “Increasing commercial development in West Berkeley is sure to meet opposition from artists and industrialists who fear that encroaching retail shops will drive up rent and force them out of Berkeley.” Well—maybe they don’t belong in Berkeley. The corollary of that statement is that all business owners and homeowners in Berkeley, through exorbitant taxation, are subsidizing the low rents of those artists and industrialists. Maybe art studios and little industrial job shops belong in Hercules? Mendocino? Somewhere affordable? 

Jerry Landis 

• 

PESTICIDES IN OAKLAND 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The parks are Oakland’s crown jewel. This time of year they are lush with vegetation which includes banks covered with ivy and ferns cascading down to the roaring creeks fresh with the seasonal runoff. The smell of springtime takes your breath away, the promise of yet another spring filled with wildflowers, song birds, butterflies and all the wildlife that inhabits this majestic garden. 

City dwellers will flock to the park on weekends for family outings, weddings, company picnics and other recreational socializing. Along Joaquin Miller Park the kids will play in the newly formed playground and soon the familiar goats will be back gorging on weeds. 

Please help keep the parks free of pesticides. Don’t let politicians mess the delicate ecology that took decades to develop in spite of all the foot traffic. Don’t let them tell you that because EBMUD, et al, does it that it is safe and harmless for us to use herbicides. Don’t let them turn this into another city fiasco. 

Tori Thompson 

Oakland 

• 

TURTLES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Thanks to Joe Eaton for his informative article on the plight of turtles, both locally and internationally (“Climate Change Creates Survival Crisis for Turtles,” Daily Planet, March 8-10). As Mr. Eaton noted, the western pond turtle is California’s only native freshwater turtle species, and continues to lose ground for a number reasons.  

A major problem are the many live animal food markets in Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and elsewhere, where live turtles and frogs by the thousands are sold for human consumption, and kept in horrendous conditions. None are native to California, and when bought and released into local waters (a frequent but illegal occurrence), they displace and prey upon our native wildlife. (I have a photo of an American bullfrog eating a baby western pond turtle.) Ten years ago an Oakland importer testified before the State Fish and Game Commission that she imports four tons of these frogs every week, all commercially raised in Taiwain. That’s about a million frogs annually And a Fish and Game warden told me that probably 15,000 turtles are passing through the Bay Area markets every week, though no one is really keeping count. And for what? Soup and superstition: Many of those who eat the turtles believe they’re gaining the animals’ wisdom and longevity. Others believe turtle meat to be an aphrodisiac. 

The non-natives also introduce foreign diseases and parasites when released into the California environment. In 1995 the San Francisco SPCA had 15-19 necropsies performed on the market frogs and turtles, and routinely found E. coli, salmonella, pasturella (all potentially fatal in humans), plus giardia, blood parasites, even one case of malaria. State health codes require that any diseased or parasitized animals sold for human consumption must either be destroyed or returned to point of origin, yet the sales continue unabated. Safeway would not be allowed to sell these sick and diseased animals, yet the markets get a free ride. How come? 

Worse, all of the market turtles are taken from the wild in other states, depleting local populations. Adding insult to injury, many of the market animals are routinely butchered while fully conscious. Anyone doubting this should tour the markets, then demand that changes be made to protect the animals, the environment and the public health. 

Eric Mills 

Coordinator, Action for Animals 

Oakland 

• 

MARIN AVENUE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Recent articles and letters have expressed concerns that the Berkeley City Council was somehow in error when it agreed to the upcoming reconfiguration of traffic on Marin Avenue. The council, it is claimed, did not take into consideration the traffic jams, the increased difficulty for pedestrians trying to get across the avenue, the added pollution, or the wasted extra 30 seconds to get to San Pablo Avenue, etc., etc. 

What seems to get lost in this concern is the fact that it was the Albany City Council that made this decision, not Berkeley. 

The Albany reconfiguration of one lane rather than two in each direction from San Pablo Avenue eastwards is 17 blocks long, ending at Tulare Avenue. This was not another Berkeley idea to remake the world. The problem that the Berkeley City Council had to decide was what to do about the five blocks that go through Berkeley to The Alameda. If Berkeley voted to leave things as they are, west-bound traffic would have to suddenly go from two lanes to one lane. People who have experienced this nightmare on the freeways did not think it to be the best option on Marin. The council reluctantly voted to continue the Albany pattern though our short stretch to maintain a unified pattern for motorists. 

So those who are critical of the whole idea should better aim their arrows toward the powers-that-be in Albany. Methinks our Berkeley councilmembers should be spared these particular arrows (and slings) of local outrage. 

Victor Herbert  

• 

CLASS SIZE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Recent letters and comments from Superintendent Michele Lawrence and School Board directors would have us believe that they want nothing more than to compensate Berkeley’s teachers competitively and maintain low class sizes for students. They just need more money from Sacramento, and they will immediately devote those revenues to the community’s consistently expressed priorities of competitive compensation for teachers and low class sizes. But what in their recent behavior should lead us to have confidence in that “promise”? 

This past year the School Board asked Berkeley voters to tax themselves additionally with Measure B in order to (among other things) lower class size. Now that the community has selflessly answered that request, the School Board refuses to guarantee class size maximums and is, instead, trying to sell us class size “averages.” Basic mathematics tells one that those are two very different things. For example, a class size “average” of 26 for fourth grade could give us four different classrooms with enrollments of 24, 24, 24, and a last class of 32. I don’t think that is what Berkeley voters want for their money. That is why the BFT is insisting that the board make good on their promise to teachers, students, and the community with guaranteed class size maximums. 

Five years ago, when the BFT negotiated its last contract, the district had quite a bit of increased revenue available from the state. At that time, however, the School Board still did not choose to make competitive teacher compensation a priority for those funds without strong and forceful “encouragement” from the community. The BFT had to resort to the same “work to rule” action we are currently in the midst of, and the wonderful Berkeley community had to come out in droves to demand fair treatment for their teachers. Only after those “demands” was the board willing to devote increased revenues to teacher salaries. 

When Michele Lawrence first came to our district she often repeated, “We can have anything we want, but not everything we want.” No one who has managed even a small household budget can disagree with that common sense approach. Priorities must be set. Our School Board has set a priority of attracting and maintaining a highly qualified superintendent by paying a $185,000 yearly salary. This is about $50,000 more than superintendents in other districts with a comparable number of students. In addition to this, the district supports a housing subsidy for the superintendent. I, myself, have no problem with the idea of offering a highly competitive salary in order to attract and maintain the “best and brightest” personnel to work for our students. My question is why funding this philosophy is a priority at the administrative level, but not for the teachers and other personnel working most closely with and most directly delivering education and care to Berkeley’s children. The current Board proposal is to give teachers no raise, but ask them to shoulder increased medical insurance payments - essentially a pay cut.  

Indeed, we cannot have “everything we want,” but Berkeley teachers, students, parents, and community wonder which priorities (beyond the superintendent’s salary) could be more important than making good on Measure B’s promise of small class size and not insulting and demoralizing teachers by cutting their total compensation.  

Marguerite Talley-Hughes 

Berkeley teacher and resident 

Click here to view the latest work by Planet cartoonist Justin DeFreitas 

In Michelle Carter’s Writing in the Public Context class at San Francisco State we are to listen for and write down overheard dialogue that intrigues us, or that we find mysterious, impenetrable, or loaded with hidden meaning. 

This is an easy assignment for me because I find a lot of conversations in my own house to be curious and confusing. When I ask certain individuals who live with me where they went or what they were doing that kept them out until 4:30 in the morning, I am met with a blank stare and the reply, “That ain’t none of your business now, is it?” 

I get a similar response when I’m asked if I can make a loan of 10 dollars to someone who I have just paid three hours prior. 

“Well,” I say, “if you want a loan I think it’s only reasonable that I know what it’s for.” The standard reply is a repeat of the line, “Ain’t none of your business,” accompanied with the following explanation: “You can loan me the money, I’ll let you do that for me, but you can’t tell me what to do with it, cuz once you give it up to me, it’s mine to do with what I want, you dig?” 

When the loan is finally negotiated, I am sometimes told about its future. “This is my ‘ain’t goin’ nowhere money” the loan-ee will inform me. 

“What’s that?” I ask. “It’s money that ain’t goin’ nowhere but my pocket.” A few hours later another request for a cash infusion makes it obvious that the ‘ain’t goin nowhere money’ went, in fact, into someone else’s pocket.  

On my weekly walks with Willie to Doug’s Barbecue, we engage in a wide range of topics, that include tidbits on Willie’s life before he came to live with my husband and me, factoids about myself, and information about the people we encounter. Willie tells me that he’s got a doctor’s appointment next month at Highland Hospital. “What for?” I ask. “I got a hernia,” he replies, “and they gotta see if it’s cancer, but don’t trip now, cuz I ain’t trippin’.” But I literally do trip, over a crack in the sidewalk, and this prompts Willie to ask, “No offense now Suzy, but was you uncoordinated when you was a child?”  

At Fair Deal Meat Company we make our regular stop for sliced cheese and pressed ham. “You try that head cheese I gave you last week?” asks one of the men behind the counter. I crinkle up my nose in response. “It’s an acquired taste,” he tells me. Then he whispers, “I don’t like it all that much myself.” 

Willie and I stroll around the corner and I leave him at Doug’s doorway. “You gonna be alright walkin’ home by yourself?” asks Willie. “Of course,” I reply, turning to go. “Don’t trip, now,” he warns and I wonder if he has intended a double meaning.  

Walking past Acucare Spa at the corner of Market and 39th streets a man pushing a shopping cart asks me if I’m going in for a massage. “Not today,” I say. “Why not?” he asks. “It’s a stress reliever, and you look like you could use it.” 

I turn the corner, and run into the same woman I see every week when I walk with Willie. She is striding down the block with purpose. “How’s by you?” she asks. “Pretty good,” I answer as she passes. “Be sweet now,” she says in return.  

Yesterday morning at Temescal Pool I follow a part of a conversation between two naked women in the shower. I can barely contain my excitement at the discussion and spend much longer soaping up than intended. “I did my dissertation on the ecology of the vagina,” explains one of the women. “How interesting,” says the listener. “I suppose it’s a real forest down there, full of all kinds of things.” “Yes,” says the woman with the dissertation, “and when I lecture my students I always start by saying that fifty percent of the world’s population needs to know about this stuff because they have a vagina, and the other half should know about this because they want one.” 

I get out of the shower, dress, and run from the locker room to my car where I keep a notebook under the front seat. Maybe the same two women will be at the pool tomorrow. I can hardly wait.›

Big boss man, 

Can’t you hear me when I call? 

You ain’t so big, 

You’re just boss, that’s all. 

For 18 years, America has had its own version of the “Big Boss Man” that bluesman Jimmy Reed famously decried. First appointed chairman of the Federal Reserve Board in 1987, Alan Greenspan has served four presidents and, in the process, become a celebrity, the most famous American economist in history.  

Despite a tendency to cloak his pronouncements in convoluted prose, Greenspan’s public statements typically have had a huge impact: When he speaks markets hold their breath and grown men tremble. Now, nearing the end of his career, the Fed chairman has a unique opportunity to use his clout to do something that would greatly benefit the United States and cement his place in history. 

Greenspan can seize this critical moment and tell the truth about our financial situation. Big Boss Al is the one person that all of us—Republican, Democrat, or Independent—would take seriously if he leveled with Americans about, first, stopping our reckless decline into debt, and second, adopting an austerity diet in order to eventually return to fiscal sanity. 

Throughout the world, there are two aspects of American culture that are continuing sources of amazement. One is our seeming endless love of violence of all sorts: our appetite for unfettered aggression in movies, TV shows, and video games; our advocacy of gun ownership; our espousal of capital punishment and blood retribution; and our militarism. The other aspect that bemuses friend and foe alike is our societal delight in living beyond our means. Americans, as individuals, carry the highest debt load in the world. Moreover, many of our largest companies are deeply in debt, the result of either baroque financial arrangements, such as leveraged buyouts and the associated use of “junk” bonds, or simply terrible management. And, of course, our biggest debtor is the federal government, which continually spends more than it takes in.  

So extreme has this malaise become that the Bush administration recently submitted a fiscal “budget,” which will take the United States deeper into debt, and intentionally excluded the $100 billion cost of the ongoing war in Iraq. (This outrage provoked hardly a murmur of protest from the press.) 

Most American economists see our financial course as disastrously unsustainable. Princeton economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman warns that the Bush administration’s cavalier attitude about our national debt risks plunging us into a depression. 

Because, of course, our national profligacy depends upon the largesse of others: China and Saudi Arabia, for example, buy huge amounts of our Treasury bills and bonds; for political reasons they are satisfied with the relatively low interest rates we pay, compared to equivalent international offerings, such as Euro bonds. If these lender countries decided to quit being such easy marks, then America would have to pay prevailing interest rates. Forcing the Federal government to actually be competitive in its borrowings would have a domino effect, causing all interest rates to spike upward. This would have a devastating affect on the economy.  

As if playing Russian roulette with the national debt weren’t bad enough, the Bush administration continues to feed American’s addiction to petroleum. This is also an unsustainable policy, one that makes our economy even more vulnerable to geopolitical perturbations, such as a terrorist attack on the oilfields in Saudi Arabia. 

The big question is: who will step forward and warn Americans about our precarious situation? Who will tell citizens the truth that we have to alter our lifestyles dramatically and begin living within our means?  

For obvious reasons, the Bush administration isn’t going to do this. Their entire 2004 campaign was based on the leitmotif that America is the best country in the world, where everything is dandy, and will stay that way as long as George is president. And, of course, Bush and his close advisers are oil people; they aren’t going to warn the country about its addiction to fossil fuel, because they are raking in big bucks from their roles as “pushers.” 

Furthermore, reversing their predilection for deficit spending would violate two cardinal rules of the administration: It would mean admitting to a mistake, confessing that continually running in the red is bad for the country, and it would shortcut the Neo-Conservative dream of shrinking the Federal government by making things so awful that Congress has no choice but to eliminate entitlement programs. As a final reason, we should remember that while George W. Bush is our first MBA president and was a CEO before entering the world of politics, the businesses he was responsible for typically were unsuccessful, suffering from severe financial problems. 

Bush, it seems, was not paying attention at Harvard Business School and, therefore, never learned the importance of balancing a budget. 

That’s where Alan Greenspan comes in. Big Boss Al is 79 and nearing the end of his remarkable tenure as Fed chair. It seems reasonable to ask that he use his supposedly non-partisan position to tell the nation the truth it desperately needs to hear. He had an opportunity on March 3 when he testified before the House of Representatives Budget Committee. 

In fact, he did warn that Federal budget deficits are “unsustainable,” and action must be taken immediately. Greenspan observed that the longer the current pattern of annual budget shortfalls continues, the more difficult it will be to make the necessary changes. He layered this warning with the observation that demographic trends, particularly the aging of baby boomers, will likely drive up costs of Social Security and Medicare. In other words, he spelt out the basic elements of America’s sorry condition—except for our petroleum addiction. 

The problem was that he stopped short; he identified the problem but not the solution. Apparently, Big Al values his role as America’s own version of the Delphi Oracle and understands that soothsayers are supposed to cloak their pronouncements in ambiguity. Thus, when pressed on how to remedy our national fiscal crisis, Greenspan took the easy way out, pontificating that America could either choose to raise taxes or to cut programmatic expenses.  

Duh! 

Big Boss Al squandered his opportunity to speak clearly and instead offered a series of Byzantine options: For example, he opined that the United States might levy a consumption tax, a proposal that immediately gained the support of economic conservatives, such as Steve Forbes, and few others. 

Rather than be a real leader and tell Congress and Americans that the Bush Administration must tell America the truth about the Federal budget and our long-term deficit, rather than signal that as a first step to fiscal sanity, tax cuts for the rich should be rescinded, Greenspan chose to play it safe. He chose to call attention to the problem but not to stick his celebrity neck out and propose a workable solution. 

The Fed Chairman’s performance displayed a leadership style that many observers have complained about for years: When the going gets tough, he’s not around. In other words, “You ain’t so big. You’re just boss, that’s all.” 

Bob Burnett is a Berkeley writer and activist. He can be reached at bobburnett@comcast.net. 

›

Hot Time on Adeline 

Berkeley firefighters rushed to an apartment building at 3252 Adeline St. at 11:13 a.m. Monday morning to battle a burning sofa on a burning balcony. 

Deputy Fire Chief David Orth said he suspects the sofa fire resulted from the effects of wind on a smoldering cigarette butt. 

The interior sprinkler contained the flames when they started to spread to the interior of the building and firefighters quickly extinguished the balcony blaze. 

Two building residents were treated on the scene for the effects of smoke inhalation. 

Orth estimated the damage to the balcony and one apartment unit at $30,000. Besides the occupants of the affected unit, no other residents were rendered temporarily homeless by the blaze, Orth said. 

And Almost Another 

Ten minutes before the Adeline fire, another crew rushed to the corner of Kentucky and Maryland avenues in the Berkeley hills, where a construction crew accidentally ruptured a four-inch gas main. 

Because of the severe fire danger, a full crew was required to stand by for the 90 minutes it took to repair the breach. 

“Fortunately, we didn’t have another fire at the same time,” said Orth. 

Roof Repair Ignites Wall 

A roofer doing repair work on a sun porch at 116 Southampton Ave. last Tuesday apparently triggered a smoldering blaze inside one wall of the adjoining home, which residents only discovered at 11 p.m. that night when they began to smell smoke. 

Orth said firefighters had to open a sizable section of wall to extinguish the blaze. 

Chimney Catches Fire 

Residents of 1554 Acton St. discovered their chimney was ablaze at 8:49 a.m. Wednesday, and by the time firefighters left, they were facing a hefty charge for an inspection and the possibility of a bigger bill for repairs. 

“It’s amazing that people let creosote build up in their chimneys,” Orth said, “but fires like this aren’t that uncommon in Berkeley.” 

Crash Fatality 

Jie Wang, the 24-year-old UC Berkeley graduate student whose car was broadsided by a suspected drug dealer at the intersection of Ashby and San Pablo avenues Feb. 24, died Thursday at Highland Hospital. 

A native of Shanghai, China, Wang was crossing Ashby when his car was struck by a Honda Civic driven by Adam Jones, 29, who had fled Albany Police when they attempted to question him following a suspected drug buy. 

Police chased him onto Interstate 80, where the California Highway Patrol joined in. Both Albany Police and the CHP said the high speed chase had been abandoned by the time Jones took the Ashby exit into Berkeley. 

An Albany officer took the same exit. 

Wang sustained serve brain injuries in the accident. 

Reward Offered 

The C ity of Berkeley is offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect in the Feb. 8 beating death of Maria King, 39. 

A homeless woman, King was severely beaten and left unconscious near the corner of University Av enue and California Street. She died 12 days later in Highland Hospital without recovering consciousness. 

One suspect was arrested nearby at the time of the crime, but a second assailant, described only as a man dressed in dark clothing, remains at large. 

Berkeley Police spokesperson Officer Joe Okies asked anyone with information about the crime to call the Homicide Detail at 981-5741 or to e-mail police@ci.berkeley.ca.us. 

All tipsters will remain anonymous, Okies said. 

Stinky Surprise 

The burglar w ho smashed a window to loot at car parked near Russell and Kelsey streets early Thursday morning soon discovered that the bag he’d looted wasn’t a purse after all. 

When police arrived, they discovered the missing item, contents intact, not far from the s cene. 

Seems the thief had copped a diaper bag. 

Armed Robbers 

Two bandits, at least one of them packing a pistol, robbed a 25-year-old man of his cash near the corner of Francisco and Chestnut street shortly after 6 p.m. last Thursday, said Berkeley Pol ice spokesperson Officer Joe Okies. 

During the course of the robbery, one of the bandits smashed the victim in the face with his weapon, thereby elevating a robbery to an assault with a deadly weapon. 

The victim sustained only minor injuries. 

Beanie Mea nie 

A tall heavyset bandit wearing a beanie pulled a gun on a clerk in Video Maniacs and 1484 University Ave. at 6:07 p.m. Thursday and made off with the cash in the till. 

Unpleasant Discovery 

A 15-year-old woman walked along the 1900 block of Mc Gee Avenue called Berkeley Police late Friday afternoon after she spotted a masturbater parked in a green car. 

Rat Pack Robbers 

A gang of five juveniles robbed a 15-year-old West Berkeley man of his wallet during a ratpack attack in the 2100 block of Eighth Street shortly after 11:30 p.m. Friday. 

Armed Robbery Injury 

Berkeley and UC Police are seeking two men, aged 16 to 20, who shot a 29-year-old man during a robbery in the 2200 block of Derby Street shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday. 

The wound was not life-threatening, reports Officer Okies. 

The suspect and a 25-year-old friend were walking along the sidewalk when they were approach by two young men, both African Americans. 

During the encounter, one of the men fired a shot, inflicting a minor injury. The robbers and their victims promptly fled on foot in opposite directions, Okies said. 

The first suspect is described a 5’3” to 5’4” tall and of medium build. He was wearing a dark sweatshirt with lettering across the front and gray trim. 

The second suspec t was described as a thin man about 6’1” tall wearing a dark baseball cap and a dark jacket with white strips along the sleeves. 

Robbery Try Injury 

A 19-year-old man received a minor cut during an armed robbery attempt by three women in the 2400 block o f College Avenue at 1:11 a.m. Sunday, said Officer Okies. 

The victim declined medical attention. 

Balloonatics? 

Irate motorists were pelted by water balloons in the 1300 block of Piedmont Avenue at 5:21 p.m. Sunday. 

“They wanted to file a report to doc ument the incident,” said Officer Okies. 

The suspects were described as five to eight males standing on the rooftop of a building at the corner of Piedmont and Durant avenues.

The Berkeley Creeks Task Force has now met five times. According to Planning Director Dan Marks, the task force will meet, at most, only 20 more times. If Berkeley's citizens want input on the final creeks legislation they would be wise to address the task force at the March 21 meeting, held at the North Berkeley Senior Center. This is currently the only remaining scheduled meeting specifically designated to take citizen input. 

At the Feb. 28 meeting of the Berkeley Creeks Task Force, Chairperson Helen Burke asked the appointed members of the task force to consider whether the City of Berkeley needed a “Creeks Ordinance.” While numerous members of the task force were eager to articulate the reasons they believed Berkeley should have such an ordinance, not one member of the 15-member panel—a panel supposedly representative of all of the citizens of Berkeley—was willing or able to articulate a clear opposition to regulating creeks on a municipal basis. This certainly doesn’t represent the public sentiment stated during the November Berkeley City Council meeting held at Longfellow Middle School, where more than 600 angry Berkeley citizens attended. In the interest of providing a divergent perspective from the unanimous assent of the Berkeley Creeks Task Force, please allow me to offer the following answer to “Does Berkeley Need A Creek Ordinance?” 

Myth 1: If Berkeley doesn’t have a Creeks Ordinance bad things will happen 

Despite the erroneous statements by Creeks Ordinance advocates on the task force, every creek in Berkeley is currently protected by numerous laws, regulations and restrictions. Regional authorities, including the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the California State Department of Fish and Game, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, currently regulate all activity on all of Berkeley’s creeks. Any work in a creek bed or on a creek bank in Berkeley requires a permit from the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), called a Joint Aquatic Resource Permit Application (JARPA). This permit must be submitted to and requires the approval of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the California State Department of Fish and Game, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

I know this because I was required to give each of those agencies an application in order to repair a few feet of the ancient concrete riprap covered creek bank beside my son’s house, work that was required because a tree fell over and tore it out. I’ve had to fill out an ABAG JARPA for each of those agencies. Each of those agencies must approve, inspect, and sign off on any work done along side of, or in any Berkeley creek. 

These agencies aren’t just regulating new construction or development. I’ve been told by the Berkeley Building Department we’ll have to go through the whole regional permitting process again if we decide to seismically upgrade the foundation; if we want to repair any of the exterior or interior structure of our 60-year-old garage; if we want to replace the supports for our deck; if we want to expand our kitchen, repair our bathroom or add a bedroom upstairs. It doesn’t matter that the building has been there since 1942. It doesn’t matter that we’re not expanding the footprint of the building. It doesn’t matter that what we might want to do would have no additional impact on the creek. 

These are not the only regional authorities enforcing riparian friendly practices on Berkeley’s creeks, at the Feb. 28 task force meeting, Lorin Jensen, City of Berkeley public works supervising engineer, stated that the State of California has regulations coming into force this year and additional more restrictive regulations coming into force over the next few years that will restrict any work or development done creekside. 

Least there be a question regarding the scope of regulations safeguarding Berkeley’s creeks, the regional regulations currently in existence oversee all construction on or near creeks, regulate water quality in the creeks, regulate the aquatic viability of our creeks, and make illegal the dumping of toxics or polluting materials (including building materials or any other foreign objects) into our creeks. These regulations require property owners to restrain earth and other natural debris that may fall into the creeks as a result of acts of nature. 

The issue isn’t the lack of creek regulations, it’s the lack of enforcement of the existing regulations. Despite statements made by task force members and city staff regarding “troubling” construction on Berkeley’s creeks, including Planning Director Dan Marks’ statement that “someone” recently attempted to “just fill in a creek with a bulldozer,” all construction impinging on or degrading creeks is already highly regulated and uniformly illegal. Even the historic bugaboo sited in an earlier task force meeting regarding a woman on Strawberry Creek who wanted to enclose the creek on her property is irrelevant in today’s highly regulated creekside environment. 

Myth 2: A Berkeley Creeks Ordinance will solve Berkeley’s creeks problems 

Despite Berkeley’s idealistic (or imperialistic) desires, a Berkeley Creeks Ordinance will have little or no effect on creeks within UC Berkeley, or creeks bounded by Albany, Emeryville or Oakland, or creeks within or bounded by East Bay Municipal Utilities District lands, East Bay Parks District lands or within or bounded by unincorporated Alameda county. In each of these cases, only a super regional authority would have the necessary power to effect change. Typically creeks are not contained within a single municipality so a Berkeley Creeks Ordinance will have no relevance or import outside its boundaries. 

Additionally Berkeley is not in any shape financially to take responsibility for the substantial creek footage that is within the city’s possession or right of way. The city acknowledges that even the culverts it is responsible for are no longer safe, yet there is neither money, nor the political will to address this critical problem. 

City staff have acknowledged in these task force meetings that despite the fact that the citizens of Berkeley authorized a tax measure specifically for capital improvements to the city’s storm drain sewer system, a tax that produces $1,9 million in revenues per year, not one thin dime has been spent in the last two years on capital improvements to that system, and only a minor portion of the revenues garnered over the life of the tax have been spent on the very thing that tax was authorized for! It is clear that the City of Berkeley is not responsible enough to manage its own finances let alone what are reasonably regional issues. 

Lastly, when the City of Berkeley was recently asked to address a creek related construction situation at 2323 Glen Ave. in North Berkeley, according to statements made by city staff at the most recent task force meetings, the city’s response was to modify the existing law to exempt a single property owner from the constraints of the 1989 Creeks Ordinance. Despite that municipal laws must be equitably enforced, both historic and recent examples show that the city does not have the will to create or enforce laws equitably when responding to Berkeley’s creek problems! 

Myth 3: Berkeley has something unique to contribute to the body of creeks ordinances 

What does the City of Berkeley have to offer to the body of existing regional, state and national watershed regulation? What extra expert authority does Berkeley have when it comes to California’s and the Bay Area’s shared water resources? Berkeley can’t even accurately identify where many of these creeks are located. Berkeley can’t unimpeachably prove that these creeks are actually running in their historic locations. Berkeley can’t daylight its own creeks, nor can it maintain its culverted creeks. Berkeley can’t even manage the money it does get for infrastructure maintenance! Clearly creek regulations are not well suited to city specific solutions, especially this city. There is little of real value that the little City of Berkeley can add to these issues, but there is much harm that can come to Berkeley’s citizens from ill-advised, pie-in-the-sky ordinances. This task force would do the least harm and the most good by sending a recommendation back to 

Council that the entire Creeks Ordinance be rescinded, allowing the regional authorities to do the job they’re best suited for. This is exactly what a similarly charged creeks task force did in Santa Barbara. But that’s not going to happen because a fair and equitable Creeks Ordinance is not what the majority of task force members are looking for. 

Myth 4: Berkeley wishes to restore its creeks 

The elephant in the living room here is the word “restore.” As Public Works Engineer Lorin Jensen stated at the March 7 meeting, in an ideal world the city would not allow any development within 100 feet of the center of a creek. Even simple restoration is tremendously expensive and Berkeley simply doesn’t have the money. Nor is the City of Berkeley likely to have sufficient money to restore its creeks anytime in the foreseeable future. But more importantly, there is no agreement on what the word “restore” means. Some members of the task force use the word “restore” when they’re really talking about “daylighting.” Daylighting Berkeley’s creeks will be many, many times more expensive and intrusive in Berkeley’s urban core than simple creek restoration. Daylighting will mean the necessary removal of public and private property structures that too closely adjoin Berkeley’s numerous creeks. Daylighting Berkeley’s numerous creeks will turn Berkeley into a very different community, resembling more affluent Woodside than livable Oakland. Daylighting Berkeley’s creeks will create an idyllic, exclusive park-like community for those fortunate enough to not live too close to a creek and those wealthy enough to be able to buy whatever suits their fancy. It’s a pretty park fantasy but it’s not Berkeley. This all became painfully transparent at the March 7 task force meeting When member Diane Crowley (Wozniak) asked the task force to request that a portion of the city’s current $3.5 million transfer tax windfall be used to repair the city’s failing culverts. There was no love for the proposal and immediately task force member Joshua Brandt suggested that setting money aside for daylighting creeks would be as useful. Numerous task force members began nodding their heads and smiling. Only a fool would not have noticed this response. 

Fred Dodsworth lives near Schoolhouse Creek. 

In 1997 Oakland banned the use of pesticides on city-owned property. Since then, the city has made either two, a dozen, nine (according to an IPM document), or about half a dozen exemptions. It all depends on which day you hear Jean Quan or her policy analyst, Sue Piper, make their pesticide presentation. Bad news. Now there’s a push to employ herbicides in the hills, specifically Glyphosate (Roundup) and Triclopyr (Garlon). We urge people to speak up for alternatives to renewed dependence on toxics, the same old Monsanto snake oil. After pesticides have been applied, goat-herders wait a year plus another rainy season before they’ll let goats graze. Good move, as about 20 goats keeled over and died in the Spring of 1998, in the Carneros District of the Southern Sonoma Valley, immediately after drinking runoff from the neighbor wine grape grower’s vineyard. He is a user of Roundup, as well as other herbicides and other pesticides. Let’s not climb the toxic treadmill. Make weeding community service instead..  

Recently, Oakland City Councilember Jean Quan and the Wildfire Prevention Assessment District held a meeting at City Hall to discuss this latest roll-back. Presenters included Tom Klatt (UC Berkeley Office of Emergency Preparedness); Nancy Brownfield (IPM specialist, East Bay Regional Parks), representatives from East Bay MUD, and a former president of the California Native Plant Society. No organization identifying pesticides as poisons was allowed to make a presentation.  

I knew we were in for a ride when the Native Plant Society man asserted, “We need chemicals as one tool in our arsenal. …you cannot do it without it,” boasting he’s been using pesticides for five decades. He doesn’t know how privileged he is. At 77, he’s of the last generation grown in his mother’s womb, living his delicate years without toxic pesticides.  

East Bay Pesticide Alert gave panelists and attendees toxicological profiles full of authoritative references, many of them government studies. Unfortunately, panelists ignored these profiles. Instead, they parroted words originating with chemical companies: small quantity; least toxic; minimal risk; reasonable; proper; limited; judicious; careful. Now imagine a child in the ER, gasping for air due to pesticide drift; hikers tracking residues home to pets; wild animals dying brutal chemical deaths; native plants dying, inviting non-natives to take over—the bleak reality of pesticide use. 

Pesticide manufacturers want to focus the public’s attention on their products’ so-called “active” ingredients. But we also need to look at the so-called “inert” ingredients, and the break-down products of both, the metabolites. For instance, a surfactant added to Roundup, POEA, is routinely contaminated in manufacturing by the carcinogen dioxane. One of Roundup’s metabolites is formaldehyde, another carcinogen. Triclopyr breaks down into TCP. In lab tests, TCP exposures as small as 0.2 parts per million inhibited the growth of neurons. And TCP appears to accumulate in fetal brain tissue. Tumors in rats and mice, kidney problems in dogs, the list goes on and on (see links to profiles at www.eastbaypesticidealert.org). 

But you wouldn’t know this from listening to Nancy Brownfield, who just goes by the labels. No wonder every ranger I talk to is agitated by her forcing pesticide use in the Regional Parks. 

Proponents of herbicide use say we must poison the environment in order to save it. 

But soil health is key to getting rid of fire-welcoming non-natives. Mycorrhizal fungi colonize about the roots of native plants, funneling them nutrients, while starving non-natives of nutrition, tying off the tumor, so to speak. But herbicides inhibit this crucial work. Pesticides are not the answer. 

We’ve demanded an environmental impact report. Both the Friends of Sausal Creek and the Sierra Club had made the same request, back in November of 2003, as vegetation management had been done in such a way as to cause some problems due to lack of proper oversight by the city. Now the city is ready to unleash poisons, and still has produced no EIR. Are they trying to weasel out of a process intended to make sure damage is not done to the environment, people or animals, a process we would expect based on the California Environmental Quality Act? What about the fact that we are talking Prop 65 chemicals here? How about the endangered Pallid Manzanita and Alameda Whipsnake? How about pollinators whose work would be lost to the whole region? What about acclimated species which depend on eucalyptus, for instance? 

Where is their list of alternatives tried? Oh, yeah. That’s right: The Wildfire Prevention Assessment District body was just formalized in November of 2004, with monies from assessees being due in early January, 2005. The Oakland Tribune’s article of Jan. 14 was the first clue most anyone, including those who were assessed, got about the plan for pesticide use (and yes, Jean and Sue, we are glad you recently, finally, acknowledged that herbicides are a category of pesticides, as are fungicides, rodenticides, etc.). Interesting to hear from Ms. Quan that she and Friends of Sausal Creek had been working together for over half a year already on drafting the pesticides plan… the plan preceded even the formal existence of the WPAD body! They say timing is everything. So between November, 2004 and Jan. 14, 2005 were they out like busy beavers trying alternatives to toxics? One thing we do know is that we have never been told how they could have determined, before the existence of the WPAD body, that no alternatives to toxics were viable. People have been told that the city is doing this as a last resort. How, exactly, did they get from A-Z in one and one-half month’s time? Why, they didn’t even leave themselves a full winter, or any spring, to try out a hot foam system employing corn and coconut as its base, or a high-pressure hot water system which shows great promise? A simple flaming machine (backpack and wand system) used in many municipalities could be a great alternative for paths. What about good, old-fashioned discing, or using a weed wrench? Maybe controlled burns which native people’s used successfully without burning down their much more quickly-flammable homes? Corn starch could prove a good option, as could 10 percent vinegar. Mowing is an old fave, and cherry pickers to avoid creating erosion on sensitive hillsides could work in some settings.  

The $1.7 or $1.8 million available yearly (again, they’ve been loose with numbers…. as I told them, I could put that $100,000 discrepancy to good use here) would buy over 80,000 hours labor, based on $20/ per hour, representing $15 hourly wage, plus $5 hourly to make up for lack of benefits paid independent contractors…. to do hand pulling and other non-toxic methods. With reasonable wages you could retain the knowledge base season to season. Make the job financially-worthwhile enough that people plan their years based on working certain months for the WPAD. Maybe put $30,000 into a serious volunteers coordinator, whose job and therefore wage (but not benefits) would be scaled back after the first couple years of outreach. Keep the benefits intact, again, to retain the knowledge base. Sue Piper suggests over $124,000+ might be paid to someone to oversee the program. Who would that be? Who would decide on criteria used to judge someone’s appropriateness for such a job? Do assessees really want that kind of wage given? Is someone already sitting in the wings, chosen? How about attracting serious people who want to make sure no one uses pesticides, ever, in the hills? People paid reasonably, drawn by the issue, not the wage?  

Denmark has banned the use of Roundup, and Triclopyr has been contaminating watersheds all over the place. What the heck is this reckless behavior going to mean to our precious green spaces and our very lives in the long run? Are we ready to dump more toxic problems on our kids?  

This is a regional issue. What Oakland does will influence municipalities around the Bay Area. Information is available. No compromising around health! Stop toxic pesticide use. 

Maxina Ventura is a chronic effects researcher for East Bay Pesticide Alert. 

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Editors, Daily Planet: 

If you ever wondered why the Berkeley Public Schools are in such a state of chaos, you don’t need to look farther than the School Board’s pathetically inept handling of the East Campus/Derby Street Park issue at the March 9 meeting. The meeting opened with a series of student speakers, clearly and passionately articulating their need for adequate facilities and how the board needed to move forward on the Derby Street Park project to fill that need. The opposition: a series of speakers unaffiliated with the schools, who all professed their concern for the student’s plight, their personal or professional unwillingness to do anything about it that might effect their own personal interests, and their belief that the process could only be fair as long as it excluded any option other than the ones they could personally accept. So, who did the School Board choose to support? If you guessed the students and their needs, you haven’t been around Berkeley politics very long. While some (Doran and Rivera) stood firm on principle to the board’s historical commitment to the larger, multi-purpose, Derby-closed plan, the majority decided to duck and run. Why? Well, John Selawsky—always reliably more loyal to his wife’s Ecology Center friends than to the students he has sworn to serve—seemed to think that a baseball field would cost $3 million (actual cost estimate of closing Derby street on top of the current Derby-open plan: about $500,000). Of course, the motion John voted against was to come up with an actual cost estimate for the field, but why bother to learn the facts when you can use wild exaggeration so effectively. (By the way, if you are wondering how John and his wife can be “neighbors” of East Campus for purposes of arguing against the field, but not close enough a “neighbor” to be legally precluded from voting on the project as a conflict of interest, well, John answered that question last night: You aren’t officially a neighbor of a school district project unless you live within 300 feet of the project. Good news in a way: This view will reduce the number of people who can publicly oppose any project as a “neighbor” to a handful.) Shirley Issel mumbled something incomprehensible about trust—maybe someday she will be able to explain her feelings more articulately to the students who trusted her previous public commitment to the Derby-closed project. Nancy Riddle seemed to support the Derby-closed project, but think that the City Council needed to do something before the School Board did, then effectively took the whole issue off the table for everyone by voting against it. Go figure. It fell to Michele Lawrence to explain the real reason the district won’t address the needs of its students: The administration is so mired in other crises of mismanagement that they just don’t have time right now to do anything difficult or time-consuming for their core constituency, the students of Berkeley. 

The truest and most significant moment of this whole sorry affair was the third vote cast for moving forward on the Derby-closed plan, the articulate and powerful statement of the student director, Lili Dorman, who restated what had become obvious from the rest of the evening: At the Berkeley School Board, students (and their votes) just don’t count. 

Will Hirsch 

• 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Now that the shock is starting, barely, to subside, it’s obvious that what’s needed to eventually build a high school ball field is a single, joint public commitment from the schools superintendent, the mayor, the school board and the City Council to build the field. 

Without such a commitment, the issue will remain a political hot potato, officials can duck and mumble, and the city will remain divided. Such a commitment would ensure that the interim part one of the project, which will come before the board fairly soon, remains interim and does not create politically charged facts on the ground—for instance, a tot lot or other neighborhood oriented facilities that have a permanent feel to them. 

Such a commitment would not mean that a field would be built tomorrow. It would mean that the city and the school district could begin costing out the project, set timelines for decisions and keep the momentum going. 

James Day 

Phyllis Orrick 

• 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

On March 9 the School Board voted down a resolution to study the design of a regulation baseball field on the East Campus site, a plan that would require closing Derby Street between Milvia and Martin Luther King Jr. Way.  

For the last several months representatives of the East Campus Neighborhood Association (ECNA) and other Berkeley residents have participated in a community design process led by the school district and their architects to design new sports fields that fit within the boundaries of the existing block bound by Derby, MLK Way, Carleton and Milvia. This group is close to reaching consensus on a plan that features a much-needed practice field for football, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey varsity teams as well as provides a practice infield and batting cages for the baseball teams. To raise the issue of closing Derby Street at this late stage threatened community trust built up through this design process. We are encouraged that the School Board recognized the importance of remaining faithful to the process that they themselves set into motion six months ago. 

The members of ECNA were also impressed by the testimony of Berkeley High School baseball players regarding the lack of adequate facilities for their sport in Berkeley, and it is clear that all members of School Board place a high priority on finding better accommodations for the baseball team. As parents and residents, we support the school district and city efforts to improve athletic facilities for all of our students. 

It is critical that these decisions be grounded in the realities of Measure A funding. The worst outcome, in our view, is for the school district to pursue a plan for a regulation baseball facility that there is no funding for, let alone neighborhood support. To allow the East Campus site to continue to languish as it has for the last five years, unused and unusable, benefits no one. The current plans for new playing fields within the borders of the existing site are relatively affordable and could be built now. Our students, including the baseball players, need all the fields we can afford to build. 

ECNA supports an on-going discussion of these issues in a setting that favors an open, respectful exchange of ideas and issues rather than contentious debate. We would like the opportunity to explain in detail why we strongly favor keeping Derby Street open and to discuss city-wide alternatives. Likewise the baseball field advocates deserve an opportunity to explain their concerns and goals to the neighborhoods and community members. We think there is room for cooperation on this matter, and that cooperation will best serve the needs of our kids and of the community. 

Peter Waller, Susi Marzuola and members of the  

East Campus Neighborhood Association 

• 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

After attending the School Board meeting last Wednesday night, I was perplexed that neighbors of the Derby baseball field were opposed to a field in their backyard because of the threat of drugs and traffic to the area. Of course, drugs are an issue in any neighborhood and nobody likes traffic. But fear should not be used to turn neighbors against the issue. The farmers market posses similar issues. This land is suppose to be School Board property and used for the best interest of the students and the students needs aren’t being addressed. No one mentions that the students have been without a field for far too long and this is a necessity. Whose needs are being served here anyway?  

Dan Clark 

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Editors, Daily Planet: 

I’m really disappointed that the School Board is refusing to build a baseball field at Derby Street. Instead, the School Board is listening to neighbors who are not open to other peoples’ needs. Isn’t school money supposed to be used for the students? 

Years ago, lots of really great ball players came from this area: Frank Robinson, Joe Morgan, Rickey Henderson, Gary Pettis, Dave Stewart and the great Joe DiMaggio. 

We still have many talented players on the Berkeley High team, but we don’t have a good field to play on. Baseball is one of those sports that anyone of any build can play. You don’t have to be 6’5” tall and you don’t have to weigh 250 pounds. The one requirement of baseball is that a team have a field that will help them to be as good as they can be, and San Pablo doesn’t meet that requirement. 

It seems to me that many who are in a position to make decisions about Derby Street are in favor of the proposal put forward to build a baseball field for Berkeley High. Why can’t they get their act together and make it happen? 

Grant Long 

Berkeley High baseball player 

• 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I’m writing to you about the most important thing in my life: baseball. More specifically about how the Berkeley High Baseball program requested a new baseball field that is badly needed, at Derby Street. Our request to the Berkeley Unified School District Board was denied March 9. It was voted down 3-2. I was the only remaining player when this verdict was reached along with the head of the baseball program Tim Moellering and a few other coaches and parents. When I heard that it was voted down my heart sank. The night started off with about 60 players from all three teams, freshman, varsity and junior varsity, and around 20 parents and coaches. Four players spoke and made compelling arguments about why we need this baseball field. Many of the people who were opposed to the baseball field spoke as well, and in my mind, made invalid arguments or suggestions that were inadequate. 

At the board meeting all of the members of the board spoke. Two of the three members of the board who voted against the proposal of the Derby Street Field said that they were in favor of closing Derby and building a regulation size baseball field, but they said that they couldn’t vote for it because the change in the proposal was made at the last minute. If you are for it why not for vote for it. What kind of example does this set for the students of Berkeley? 

The Berkeley School Board was created to make decisions based on the needs of Berkeley schools, teachers, and students. Now don’t you think if Berkeley High baseball, made up of Berkeley High students, needs a baseball field then the School Board would support them if they asked for one? But in the meeting on March 9 the School Board supported the people opposing the field (the neighbors in the area) not the students. Yet the neighbors never provided a reason for why they opposed the baseball field. Why not have a well maintained baseball field with a bunch of nice kids rather then a bunch of falling down buildings? 

There are about 60 students who participate in Berkeley High baseball. Currently, we have one field, San Pablo Park, that is the only one useable for our three baseball teams. How are we expected to have sixty kids practice on one field? San Pablo Park doesn’t even belong to Berkeley High, it belongs to the city. We have no priority over the field. We get kicked off of it by people like Albany Little League. Most of the teams in our league that we have to compete against, have not only one field but multiple fields for their team’s. 

The decision on March 9 made it so that I won’t be able to play on the Derby Street field before I graduate. However, I will still fight for it for the future students of Berkeley High. I hope that the School Board comes to realize that after giving the basketball players a new gym, we need a new baseball field. And the next time that they make a decision on a new field they vote yes. 

Saul Sutcher 

• 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

On May 5, 2004 the BUSD Board passed a motion, 4-0-1, stating “their support for pursuing the development of a large multi-purpose athletic facility that would include a regulation sized baseball field.” On March 9, 2005, less than one year later the board voted down, 3-2, spending a relatively small sum ($10,000) to amend an ongoing planning process for East Campus to obtain the information required to make a decision about building this baseball field. What happened? 

After the May 5 vote a fair amount of effort by a number of people went into helping BUSD achieve its stated goal. Prior efforts to develop a baseball field at East Campus met stiff resistance from surrounding neighbors. In past years the neighbors enlisted the support of the Farmer’s Market who in previous plans was to be relocated off the site.  

After the vote, during the summer of 2004, talks were held about a land swap, Derby Street going to the school district while the school district would give up their western frontage along MLK. The Farmers’ Market would be moved off Derby and relocated along MLK. In the relocation the Farmers’ Market would have the same or greater square footage than they currently occupy; frontage along a very busy street; a shed roof with lights built to cover their farmers who were still selling during the wet months and; access to water, power and bathrooms from a restroom/equipment building adjacent to their site. Easily a superior facility to what they currently occupy.  

In the fall of 2004, new council people were elected. The issue of the baseball field was discussed and in the opinion of many people familiar with city hall, the votes were there to approve the closure of Derby and the potential land swap. But the council wasn’t going to take on this political hot potato without some serious commitment by the school board.  

What were needed next were a plan and an accepted financing package by the school board to build the field. The field was well on its way.  

Enter Michelle Lawrence, superintendent. Now there are many things going on at Berkeley High and building a baseball field, much less a controversial one, is just not something that is very high on her list of things to do. But feeling some pressure to do something with East Campus in late fall she had BUSD, with board approval, enter into a design contract for East Campus that specifically excluded dealing with the issue of closing Derby and building the regulation size baseball field the board said it wanted only a few months ago.  

In the board’s mind this plan would result in the demolition of some buildings on site that had become a neighborhood blight as well as the development of a “temporary” athletic field. But in the Berkeley way, this “temporary” field took on a life of its own and now includes such things as a practice infield, basketball courts, community garden and tot lot, etc. Lew Jones, who is overseeing the planning and development of East Campus for BUSD acknowledges it makes no sense to undertake this “temporary” development if BUSD intends to build a baseball field within a few years.  

By early February of 2005 it had become clear to the larger community that this was no temporary field that was being planned. Indeed this was THE field and the regulation baseball field the board said they wanted wasn’t even being looked at. Given that this was the permanent field, the consultant contract needed to be amended to include developing a plan for a baseball field along with the costs for closing Derby. Cost $10,000. Seemed like a relatively mild, good management idea. After all, who in the world would say they wanted to build a baseball field and then reject spending a small sum to find out what it would cost? The board of BUSD. 

Nancy Riddle and Shirley Issel, school board members who had previously voted to develop a baseball field only nine months ago, now voted against spending the money to add a baseball field to one of the East Campus options. Altering the 4-0-1 votes for to 3-2 against. As they voted against the change, their stated reason was that they didn’t want to disrupt the community process that had been put in place. However, according to them, they still supported the baseball field.  

Now you might wonder how these school board members can say they support putting in a baseball field but vote against spending a small amount of money to have plans and costs developed so they can make a good management decision as to whether the costs of building this field are in keeping with the perceived benefits.  

The answer lies in the power of Michelle Lawrence and the inability of these elected officials to take responsibility for controversial decisions. If Derby Street is an example of how BUSD functions, it’s Michelle Lawrence that sets priorities and determines what is going to happen in the schools, not the School Board. There is nothing wrong with this other than that many people in the community are under the impression that it worked the other way around. 

As for the two school board members when they agreed to the initial contract, according to Nancy Riddle, “Our linear thinking was that we would first develop a temporary field and then a permanent field later.” The process that emerged was one that specifically excluded the entire segment of the community that wanted a baseball field while including only those people who didn’t want a baseball field. What kind of public process looks at only one side of an issue? Not a very good one.  

But these two elected officials facing not only Michelle’s reluctance but the wrath of surrounding neighbors, could not bring themselves to agree with the obvious, that the community process that was set up by BUSD was fundamentally flawed. It didn’t serve a large segment of the community who had as much right to have their views presented and discussed, as did the neighbors. Somehow, those of us who are used to Berkeley politics have always thought that one of the benefits and nightmares of Berkeley was that public officials would always support a process where the views of all members of the community were heard and weighed before decisions were made. Not in this case.  

Go ask Nancy and Shirley why they felt it was important for BUSD to continue the one sided community process and only pay to develop a plan with no baseball field while it was not important for them to consider the needs of their students and the rest of the community and develop a plan for the baseball field they stated they wanted on May 5. Elected officials need to be able to see when the path chosen is headed in the wrong direction and have the backbone to push for corrections when required. This inability should concern all of us as it transcends the issue of the baseball field.  

Doug Fielding 

™

The San Francisco Flower and Garden Show takes place this week, replete with rare plants, elaborate and unusual display gardens with themes ranging from high concept to the horticultural equivalent of comfort food, and a myriad of garden-related products and services for sale. 

Full garden displays, thematic displays, and sales areas make up three major elements of the five-day show inside San Francisco’s Cow Palace.  

If you go, a sensible agenda is to start with the big garden displays, take a swing through the thematic exhibits, and finish up with the sales areas. Allow at least half a day—there are six acres of displays and sale booths. 

The main oval arena of the Cow Palace is geographically central to the show.  

The arena floor is subdivided into irregular garden plots. Each garden is planned and assembled by a different designer or design team. Curtains block off the surrounding galleries of seats, and the displays are brightly and artificially lighted from above.  

Look up above the arena floor and a bit of the effect is lost, but seen up close the displays do give a pretty convincing impression of outdoors. 

Most of the exhibitors are in professional practice as landscape architects or designers; a few are teams of students from landscape design programs (including that at UC Berkeley), and this year there’s even a display garden sponsored by the Mycological Society of San Francisco. 

These are opulent productions. Whole ponds, working fountains, and waterfalls often appear, along with woodland glades, room or cottage-sized garden structures, tons of soil, mulch, and decorative stone, lawns and patios, meandering paths, and full sized trees and shrubs in either ornamental planters or boxes concealed by hardscape and other plantings. 

The styles of the gardens are very eclectic, but if these displays could talk, most would probably say one of two things. “You can have me, but only if you have enough money.” “Never seen anything like THIS before, have you?”  

Some displays are just landscape eye-candy with little connection to reality. For example, plants that require a bit of room to spread their roots and leaves are sometimes shown packed impossibly close together for visual effect.  

In other displays in recent years, “outdoor rooms” complete with fine wooden or upholstered furniture looked enticing at first glance. In the real outdoors moisture, sun, and insects would quite quickly make them less attractive and useable, unless the owner is a Martha Stewart with endless money and staff to keep up appearances. 

Still, the displays are fun to walk through, and some can be quite simply beautiful for their specimen plants or overall design.  

This year some of the more intriguing display descriptions include “a contemporary San Francisco Garden,” “Waterfall Fantasy with Countryside Comforts,” “American Arts and Crafts Garden,” a garden inspired by a Petrarch love poem, and a Japanese tea garden layout planted with succulents, called “Succulent Origami.” 

At each display there should be someone on hand to answer questions if you want to know what that stunning flower is or who built the remarkable pergola, or why “enormous bales of aluminum scrap” are incorporated in one garden. 

Beyond the big exhibits, smaller thematic displays are scattered in the outer pavilions and even the hallways. The San Francisco Bonsai Society’s display is worth a lingering look, as is an annual display of newly introduced plants.  

A section of one pavilion is devoted to educational organizations, mainly government programs, and non-profits. Spend some time there if you want to bond with fellow iris, rhododendron, or native plant lovers or to learn about water conservation, bee-keeping, invasive plants, or mosquito abatement. 

More than 60 free seminars, demonstrations, and presentations will be offered by various gardening experts during the show, and several food service areas. Check the program for exact schedule. 

Next, the shopping. The show offers hundreds of vendors and dealers with booths. A sizable pavilion is devoted to orchid dealers and another contains mainly garden furniture and outdoor spas and cooking equipment. 

The “Plant Market” houses specialty nurseries and growers from big companies to backyard operations, most offering hard to find and good quality potted plants. Some of these dealers sell direct to the public only at shows like this. 

Besides plants, vendors offer bird feeders and bird houses, hot tubs, pole pruners, concrete pavers, ornamental stones and fountains, miracle fertilizers, amusing and weird garden sculpture, outdoor lighting, greenhouses, benches and barbecues, and almost any other garden product you can imagine.  

Some shopping tips. If you see a type of item you’re interested in, take a quick turn around the rest of the sales area to see whether anyone else has the same thing at a different price.  

Ask yourself whether that plant will really do well in your home and garden. Instant allure can easily turn into disappointment or regret. 

Scattered package check areas can temporarily relieve you of your purchases; just make sure you get back to pick up your items before the show closes each day. 

Finally, if you are interested in something that’s beyond your budget at full price, Sunday afternoon, the last day of the show, is the time to look for discounts. 

Dealers who have traveled long distances or don’t want the cost or bother of hauling merchandise back home, especially if it’s heavy, bulky, or perishable, can offer enticing discounts on all or part of their remaining stock. 

The show runs Wednesday, March 16, through Sunday, March 20, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., except Sunday, when the show closes at 6:30 p.m.  

Tickets are $20, free for children under four, $7 for children 4-11, $13 “half day” discounted ticket if you arrive after 3 p.m. 

Call 1-800-569-2832 for ticket information, or visit www.gardenshow.com. 

The Cow Palace is on Geneva Avenue in southeastern San Francisco, west of Highway 101. Pay parking is available in lots at the Cow Palace.  

F

When successful Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo refused to testify before the 1947 House Committee On UnAmerican Activities, he became the stuff of legend—one of the Hollywood Ten, imprisoned for 11 months in 1950, condemned to the blacklist—and selling scripts through third-party “fronts.”  

Years later, he would explore this period of duplicity and shame in his book, The Time of the Toad. 

But a more immediate legacy is in the letters he wrote—from prison, from exile both internal and foreign (for a time, the Trumbos lived in Mexico City)—letters to family, friends, and in response to those voices, public and private, he regarded as hypocritical. 

These letters form more than the hook, the pretext for Trumbo—Red, White and Blacklisted (now playing a very limited engagement at San Francisco’s Post Street Theatre). They are the texts of the monologues delivered brilliantly by Brian Dennehy, from Trumbo’s desk (or cell) to the world. 

There have been collections of Trumbo’s letters, but the present theatrical was conceived by Trumbo’s son, Christopher, and overcomes the objections and prejudices that usually come with solo performances. Even such a fine actor as Dennehy (who goes to London next week to repeat his celebrated portrayal of Willie Loman in the late Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman) would seem to be doing only a spirited reading of Trumbo’s letters; he never gets up from behind the desk he’s stationed at, nor does he take off his reading glasses. 

That pre-interpretation doesn’t come to terms with the professionalism and taste of all concerned with this production, from Christopher Trumbo to director Peter Askin, to Dennehy and his colleague William Zielinski, who plays Christopher—part-narrator, sometimes-straightman who sets up the circumstances in which the letters were written, and reacts to them—a character framing a one-character show. 

There’s no real interaction between the players (once, Dennehy touches Zielinski on the sleeve without looking at him)—but the value of the letters, both as document and as literature, translate through Dennehy’s careful presentation of Trumbo’s persona and spirited delivery of his pithy verbiage into that theatrical convention Eugene O’Neill (of whose plays Dennehy is one of the great living exponents) imported into American drama—the Strindbergian monologue, a monologue spoken to another character who doesn’t reply. 

Whether blasting a false friend in the industry as “a moral hermaphrodite,” or responding to calls to give in to the reality of the blacklist, or writing the mother of a young friend who fronted a script that sold (the friend had died, so Trumbo had to explain who he was and why he had a claim to the property under another man’s name), or sending his son at college the sex manual of Albert Ellis, M. D., Trumbo addresses his reader (and Dennehy the audience) with a dense, wryly humorous, sometimes outrageous diction that goes to the quick of whatever situation that attracted his beacon-like attention. 

He excoriates hypocrites (reminding everyone that the government could not enforce punishment beyond jail--only members of the industry with blacklisting and gossip), writes tenderly to his family from prison (with his prisoner’s number following a full signature) and discusses the hopes and the failures they’ve shared with the friends and colleagues of his generation. 

His fearless, contentious stance—especially regarding institutional oversight of the hazing of his daughter at school—gives more than a hint of the obloquy the unrepentant blacklistee (and his family and friends) had to suffer. 

Director-screenwriter Samuel Fuller (whose iconoclastic films earned him the simultaneous slurs of “Commie” and Fascist) recalled in his memoirs, A Third Face, how he found himself brandishing a bottle in the face of a conservative columnist who was trying to bait Trumbo into a fight at a Hollywood restaurant bar. Fuller later remarks that Trumbo was one of those whose company he came to prefer to the industry’s cocktail party camaraderie. 

Fuller’s widow, Christa Lang—who introduced Angela Davis to Jane Fonda at Trumbo’s house—remarks, “What Sam appreciated was that Trumbo was an idealist, yet at the same time open, humorous, with great lucidity about human nature—no pretentious intellectual. He was one of the real Hollywood Ten—not, as Billy Wilder said, one of those whose complaints were later fashionable, ‘when the Hollywood Ten became the Hollywood 360.’” 

Trumbo’s script for The Brave One, under the name of Robert Rich, won a 1956 Oscar. A producer picked up the award for the fictional Mr. Rich; Trumbo never got the statuette. In 1960 his name appeared on the scripts for Exodus and Spartacus. A speech given at the Screenwriters Guild has him commenting that everyone—left, right and center—was either hurt by the blacklist or collaborated with it—often under duress. 

In a final letter to a colleague and friend, Trumbo speculated on the lasting value of his novels (only accepting Johnny Got His Gun) and the business of screenwriting (stating his belief that the average Hollywood script was better than the average Broadway play), He recalled the accomplishments they’d hoped for when younger, that he’d be able to climb a hill a little higher than the ridge he believed he was standing on. 

After the show, Trumbo’s letters seem to be perhaps his best contribution, both to American literature and to the memory of his generation—their hopes for social justice, eulogized in these lines from “Pro Nobis” by poet George Oppen, another ‘50s exile in Mexico: “Tho’ I had hoped to arrive/At an actuality/In the mere number of us/And record now/That I did not.//Therefore pray for us/In the hour of our death indeed.” 

8 p.m. Tuesday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday through March 20.  

Post Street Theatre 

450 Post Street, San Francisco 

(415) 771-6900 or  

www.poststreettheatre.com?

Saxophonist Branford Marsalis said recently that jazz musicians are scared of playing John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme. 

Coltrane’s most sacred work, Supreme is deceptively simple sounding music, and, of course, therein lies its power. It has the power to move listeners (“dear listeners” as Coltrane begins the liner notes, the word “dear” clearly meant to be taken in its dual role as both a salutation and an endearment) to tears of acknowledgment, resolution, pursuance and praise (psalm). 

It also has power to move most musicians aspiring to play it scurrying to the woodshed for cover, daunted and haunted by the demands of this composition. What is demanded of listener and performer alike is an application of the heart. 

For musicians the dual threat of either sounding too corny or too abstract looms large over any attempt to re-create this unique masterpiece. Coltrane wanted any intellectual approach to Supreme to be gotten out of the way (hence “Acknowledgment,” the name of the first movement) so that all may begin absorbing Supreme through the core of every soul: the heart. 

Fine for the listener, for the heart’s ears are always more in tune than the mind’s ears. But for musicians, listening and learning with the heart requires a discipline that is foreign to their training. For the Branford Marsalis Quartet, including the leader on tenor sax, Joey Calderazzo ( piano), Eric Revis (bassist), and Jeff “Tain” Watts (drums), the challenge on opening night of the 2005 spring season of San Francisco Jazz’s concert series was to touch all the right keys, strings and skins in an even more organic way than they are used to, that they might convert a captured audience into an enraptured congregation. 

As evidenced by the constant standing ovations throughout followed by the beatific quiet of the exiting human flow, the Branford Marsalis Quartet ultimately touched hearts, sending the “dear listeners” away in silent contemplation of the remainder of San Francisco Jazz’s Coltrane tribute concert series. The band’s approach was successful because they achieved a perfect balance of rhythmic groove and compelling free jazz. The solos and accompaniments often settled into comforting gospel-like sways. Yet, also offered at subconsciously appropriate moments was the liberating abandonment of each musician’s Coltrane-inspired (but not Coltrane-imitated) speaking in tongues. 

In the early to mid-1960s the language of the “new thing,” supported by releases on Bernard Tollman’s appropriately named ESP label (short for esperanza), such as Albert Ayler’s Spiritual Unity, Ornette Coleman’s Free Jazz and the spiritually toned compositions of Charles Mingus (Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting) and Sun Ra (and Ra Arkestra saxman John Gilmore who initially inspired Coltrane’s forays into out playing) had begun to take on biblical proportions among black jazz artists. 

In this atmosphere, John Coltrane recorded jazz’s holiest of the holy. The careful griot-like passage of this music and its type through the hands of artists like Branford Marsalis continues in all its permutations, surfacing March 12 at the Masonic auditorium to attract and keep a multitude looking for a source of lasting warmth. 

The San Francisco Jazz Spring Festival opened March 12 and continues through June 26, comprising 42 concerts and more than 200 musicians. For schedule and ticket information, call (415) 788-7353 or see www.sfjazz.org.

TUESDAY, MARCH 15 

THEATER 

The Shotgun Players Theatre Lab, “Monster in the Dark” Mon. and Tues. at 8 p.m. through March 29, at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. at MLK. Tickets are $10. 841-6500. 

FILM 

International Asian American Film Festival “62 Years and 6500 Miles Between” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

John Kelly discusses “the Great Morality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Chamber Performances Baguette Quarette at 8 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. 525-5211. www.berkeleychamberperform.org 

Creole Belles with Andrew Carriere at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $9. 525-5054.  

Jeremy Cohen Duo at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

René Marie at 8 and 10 p.m. Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Also on Wed. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 

THEATER 

Berkeley Repertory Theater “For Better or Worse” opens at the Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St. and runs through April 24. Tickets are $20-$55. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

“Bright River” A hip-hop retelling of Dante’s Inferno, at 8 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Tickets are $12-$35 available from 415-256-8499. www.inhousetickets.com 

FILM 

Cine Contemporaneo “25 Watts” the story of three young people bored with life in Montevideo at 7 p.m. in the CLAS Conference Room, 2334 Bowditch St. 642-2088.  

International Asian American Film Festival “Cavite” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Azadeh Moaveni describes “Lipstick Jihad: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America and American in Iran” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

“‘The Road to Calvary’ by Peter Paul Rubens” a conversation with Alejandro Garcia-Rivera and David Stedman at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2625 Durant Ave. 642-1295.  

Berkeley Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik and Three Blind Mice, at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Music of Lent An organ concert at noon at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway. 444-3555. www.firstchurchoakland.org 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32-$54. 642-9988.  

“Lalo” and Jack West at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Red Archibald & The International Blues Band at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $9. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

La Verdad at 8 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

The Black Brothers at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Whiskey Brothers at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Rutro and the Logs at 9:30 p.m. at The Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $5. 444-6174.  

THURSDAY, MARCH 17 

EXHIBTITIONS 

“Drawn by the Brush: Oil Sketches of Peter Paul Rubens” guided tour at 5:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum, 2625 Durant Ave. 642-1295.  

FILM 

Film and Video Makers at Cal: “Radical Drifts” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

Conversations on “Art and Meaning” A screening and discussion of the short films of Dickson Schneider, at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Art Center. Free. 644-6893.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“The Pre-Columbian in Contemporary U.S. Latina Art” with Prof. Laura E. Perez at 4:30 p.m. at the Phoebe Hearst Museum, Bancroft at College. 643-7648. 

“Mark Manders: Matrix 214” Curator’s Talk with Heidi Zuckerman Jacobson at 12:15 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum, 2625 Durant Ave. 642-1295.  

Tom Reiss discovers “The Orientalist: Solving the Mystery of a Strange and Dangerous Life” at 7:30 p.m. at at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Word Beat Reading Series with featured readers Cathy Barber, Ben-David Seligman and Tom Odegaard at 7 p.m. at Mediterraneum Caffe, 2475 Telegraph Ave. 526-5985. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32-$54. 642-9988.  

Jake Amerding, folk and bluegrass, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $16.50-$17.50. 548-1761.  

St. Patrick’s Night with Blind Duck at 7:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $4. 843-2473.  

St. Patty’s Day Celebration with Irish music, step-dancing and bagpiper at 5 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082.  

Dave Bernstein Duo at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

David Benoit at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $15-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Selector with Drunken Monkey at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Lozen, Genghis Khan at 9:30 p.m. at The Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $5. 444-6174.  

FRIDAY, MARCH 18 

THEATER 

Berkeley Repertory Theater “For Better or Worse” at the Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St. through April 24. Tickets are $20-$55. 647-2949.  

Central Works, “Enemy Combatant” opens at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. Performances are Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. through March 26. Tickets are $9-$25. 558-1381. www.centralworks.org 

Impact Theatre, “Othello” at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean Theater, 1834 Euclid. Thurs.- Sat. through March 19. Tickets are $10-$15. 464-4468.  

“Frank Oliver’s Twisted Cabaret 2005,” Fri., Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts. Tickets are $12-$20. 925-798-1300. 

Shotgun Players “The Just” by Albert Camus. Thurs.- Sun. at 8 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. through April 10. Tickets are sliding scale $10-$30. 841-6500.  

Un-Scripted Theater Company “You Bet Your Improvisor!” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. through March 26 at Temescal Arts Center, 511 48th St. at Telegraph. Tickets are $7-$10. 415-869-5384. www.unscripted.com 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Spring” paintings by Michael Grady and Judy Poldi. Reception for the artists at 7 p.m. at Artbeat Gallery, 1887 Solano Ave. Exhibition runs to April 23. 527-3100. 

“Bucky Printers” A group printmaker show with works varying in styles from the traditional woodblock to experimental stitching and stencil. Opening reception at 7:30 p.m. at Boontling Gallery, 4224 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. boontlinggallery@hotmail.com 

FILM 

Edgar G. Ulmer: “The Black Cat” at 7 p.m. and “Strange Illusion” at 8:30 p.m. at Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

John Rowe featured poet at 7:30 p.m. at at the Fellowship Café, Cedar & Bonita Sts. Donation $5-$10. 841-4824. 

“Divine Madness - Women Poets” with Kathryn Waddell Takara, Opal Plamer Adisa, Karla Brundage and others at 7 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, 5604 Bay Street, Emeryville. 325-4055. 

Joel Olsen on “The Abolition of White Democracy” at 7 p.m. at AK Press Warehouse, 674-A 23rd St. 208-1700. www.akpress.org 

“Althea Thauberger/Matrix 215” Conversation with Matthew Higg and Shannon Jackson at 3:30 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum, 2625 Durant Ave. 642-1295. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble at 7 p.m. at the Florence Schwimely Little Theater, BHS.  

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32-$54. 642-9988.  

Oakland East Bay Symphony performs Verdi, Tchaikovsky Armienta and Chabrier at 8 p.m. at Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. Tickets are $15-$60. 625-8497.  

Celebrating Vernal Equinox Organ concert at 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway. Donation $10. 444-3555.  

WomenSing Concert “A Musical Odyssey” featuring Josef Rheinberger’s “Regina Coeli” and Benjamin Britten’s “Missa Brevis,” at 8:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $16-$20. 925-974-9169.  

Contra Costa Chorale at 8 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. Tickets are $12-$15, children under 16 free. 524-1861. www.ccchorale.org 

“Tomorrow is Today” dance and martial arts by Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company at 7:30 p.m. at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St. Tickets are $5-$20. 597-1619. www.destinyarts.org 

Steve Lucky & The Rhumba Bums with Ms. Carmen Getit at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Swing dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $13. 525-5054.  

Magic City Chamber of Commerce at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Darryl Henriques at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

7th Direction, Hobo Jungle, Saul Kaye Band at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082.  

Akira Tana & Jon Wiitala Trio at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Megan McLaughlin at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Diego’s Umbrella, funk, jam at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$7. 548-1159.  

Andrea Maxand’s Ban, Lisa Dewey, Clevergirl at 9:30 p.m. at The Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $5. 444-6174.  

Faye Carol, jazz vocalist, at 7 p.m. at Maxwell’s, 341 13th St., Oakland. 839-6169. 

Pipedown, Shadow Boxer, Romans Go Home, Desa 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. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 19 

CHILDREN  

East Bay Children’s Theater “Shoemaker and The Elves” at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Oakland Museum, 10th and Oak Sts. Tickets are $6. 655-7285. www.childrens-theatre.org 

The Shamrock Ceili, Celtic music at 11:30 a.m. at Habitot Children’s Museum, 2065 Kittredge St. Cost is $5-$6. 647-1111. www.habitot.org  

THEATER 

Magical Arts Ritual Theater, “Oracles from the Living Tarot” at 8 p.m. at Arts First Oakland, First Congregational Church, 2501 Harrison at 27th. Tickets are $15-$30 available from 523-7754. 

FILM 

International Asian American Film Festival “Evolution of a Filipino Family” at 12:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Kala Artist Gallery Conversation with David Hamill, Jonn Herschend and Sarah Smith at 3 p.m. at Kala Art Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 549-2977. www.kala.org 

Prose Open Mic featuring Jan Steckel, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Lakeview Branch Library, 550 El Embarcadero, Oakland. 238-7344. www.jansteckel.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at 2 and 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32-$54. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Four Seasons Concerts with Yin Cheng-Zong, pino, at 7:30 p.m. at Calvin Simmons Theater, Oakland. Tickets are $25-$35. 601-7919. 

Philharmonia Baroque “Mozart’s Quartet” at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church, Dana and Durant. Tickets are $28-$62. 415-392-4400.  

Magnificat Baroque “Passion and Ressurection” at 8 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Tickets are $12-$25. 415-979-4500.  

Solaris Quartet with Bryan Baker, piano, at 8 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church, One Lawson Road, Kensington. Donation $15-$50. 525-0302.  

New Millenium Strings with Joseph Gold, violin, and Kurt Rapf, organ, at 3 p.m. at Lake Park Methodist Church, 281 Santa Clara Ave., Oakland. Donation $10-$20. 528-4633.  

Bay Area Classical Harmonies performs Bach’s B Minor Mass at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 114 Montecito Ave., Oakland. 866-233-9892. www.berkeleybach.org  

“20 Going on 21” With the San Francisco Choral Artists at 8 p.m. at Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, 3534 Lakeshore Ave. Tickets are $17-$22. 415-979-5779. www.sfca.org 

Jewish Music Festival with members of East West Ensemble and the Omar Faruk Tekbilek Ensemble at 8 p.m. in Wheeler Auditorium, UC Campus. Tickets are $25-$60. www.brjcc.org  

“Tomorrow is Today” dance and martial arts by Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company at 7:30 p.m., and Sun. at 3 p.m. at the Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St. Tickets are $5-$20. 597-1619. www.destinyarts.org 

Mujeres/Women: Cava and Claudia Tenorio at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12-$14. 849-2568.  

The Vowel Movement, Beatbox showcase, at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $12. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Chris Skyhawk at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Melanie O’Reilly at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

The Look, World Wide Spies, Nation of Two, rock, nu wave, at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $7. 848-0886.  

Madeline Eastman “The Miles Davis Project” at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $18. 845-5373.  

The Fenians, Gerorge Pederson & the ReincarNatives at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $8. 841-2082.  

Pitch Black, Enemy You, Teenagebottlerocket, at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

David Benoit at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $15-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SUNDAY, MARCH 20 

CHILDREN 

Nigerian Brothers at 3 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Tickets are $4-$6. 525-5054. 

THEATER 

“Beowulf” The epic translated and performed by Philip Wharton at 7:30 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid. Tickets are $10-$15. 415-608-9683. 

“The Boy Who Lost His Laugh” performed by Stagebridge senior theater company at 3 p.m. at Arts First Oakland in the First Congregational Church, 2501 Harrison Ave., at 27th St. Tickets are $5-$10. 444-4755. www.stagebridge.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Drawn by the Brush: Oil Sketches of Peter Paul Rubens” guided tour at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum, 2625 Durant Ave. 642-1295.  

“Shtetl” A multi-media exhibition by Naomie Kremer. Reception from 2 to 4 p.m. at Judah L. Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St. Exhibition runs to July 31. www.magnes.org 

FILM 

Edgar G. Ulmer “People on Sunday”at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Poetry Flash with Julie Carr and Evelyn Reilly at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. Donation $2. 845-7852.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at 3 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32-$54. 642-9988.  

Miró Quartet at 3 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $38 available from 642-9988.  

Philharmonia Baroque “Mozart’s Quartet” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, Dana and Durant. Tickets are $28-$62. 415-392-4400. www.philharmonia.org 

Organ Music performed by Ether Criscuola at 4 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Donation $15. 658-3298. 

Berkeley Youth Arts Festival Performances by young musicians at 4 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Center. 644-6893.  

Gil Chun’s Bay Area Follies Tap, ballroom, hula, at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Roda Theatre, 2015 Addison St. Tickets are $10-$15. 526-8474. 

Tezkatlipoka Aztec Dance A Spring Equinox Celebration at 7 p.m. at Studio Rasa, 933 Parker St. Cost is $10. 843-2787.  

Darren Johnston’s United Brassworkers Front at 4:30 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$15. 845-5373.  

Pappa Gianni and the North Beach Band from 2 to 5 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198. 

Rahim AlHaj, Iraqi oud music, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Allegiance, Down to Nothing, Stand and Fight at 5 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

Hemlock at 9:30 p.m. at The Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $5. 444-6174.  

›

It’s not often that you see a bird that doesn’t match anything in the field guides—even in Sibley’s Bible of bird identification. But there it was, hanging out with a raft of overwintering common goldeneyes and Barrow’s goldeneyes at the Bayward end of Lake Merritt: a midsized duck with a dark head (showing a purple gloss when the sun hit it) and a backswept crest, a dark back, and pale sides with two vertical hash marks.  

I did find a similar bird illustrated in a treatise on North American waterfowl: a hybrid between the common goldeneye and hooded merganser. Local birders have speculated that one of the parents of the Lake Merritt duck was a Barrow’s goldeneye; Barrow’s has a purple gloss to the head, common a green gloss. But there’s more of a range overlap between the merganser and common goldeneye, and more records of that hybrid combination. In any case, one goldeneye or the other must have gotten together with a hooded merganser to produce the anomalous duck. 

Ducks are prone to that kind of thing. You’ve seen the genetic scrambles among flocks of domestic ducks: part Peking white, part Muscovy, part wild mallard. And hybridization happens with some frequency in the wild. Years ago at Coyote Hills, I saw the mallard-gadwall cross that Audubon had described as a distinct species, the “Brewer’s duck.” It not only looked odd, it sounded odd.  

“Mack?” it said. Hybrid ducks are often fertile; only mandarin ducks are incapable of producing fertile offspring with another species. Conservationists are concerned about mallards genetically swamping some of their closer relatives: black ducks on the east coast, mottled ducks in the South, koloas in Hawai’i.  

But ducks aren’t alone. A few years ago ornithologists in the South Bay spotted an “avostilt,” the apparent offspring of an American avocet and a black-necked stilt. Shorebirds like stilts and avocets rarely hybridize, but it happened at least once. Some eastern and western species pairs of birds have hybrid zones where their ranges overlap.  

A friend recently asked me if the Lake Merritt goldeneye-merganser cross (goldanser?) was a new species. No, although hybridization sometimes leads to the formation of a new species among plants. The phenomenon does raise questions about the way we define species, though.  

Back when Darwin was pondering how species originate, naturalists had a kind of Platonic notion of what a species was. There was some essence of, say, mallardness, and any variation from that deviated from the ideal type. And as Darwin found, there was a whole lot of variation. He was hard put to draw a distinction between species and varieties. 

Some 90 years after The Origin of Species was published, Ernst Mayr—who died this February at the age of 100, still cranking out books—came up with a better idea. Mayr defined “species” in population terms. According to his Biological Species Concept, species are groups of interbreeding natural populations that are reproductively isolated from other such groups. This made a lot of sense and was widely accepted by biologists, although it didn’t work for organisms like self-cloning sea anemones or parthenogenic whiptail lizards, and wasn’t the best fit for plants. Mayr was careful to point out that the concept applied to wild creatures with a free choice of mates. Cage a tiger and a lion together and you may get a hybrid “liger,” but this would be an improbable outcome even in the small area of India where lions and tigers coexist. 

Ducks don’t seem to fit, though. Duck species, which will hybridize at the drop of the hat, are clearly not reproductively isolated from each other. There seem to be limits to the process, because we haven’t wound up with just one generic type of duck; but the species boundaries do seem fuzzy. 

In the 1980s, a South African entomologist named Hugh Paterson proposed a rival definition, the Recognition Species Concept: a species is a population of biparental individuals with a shared mate recognition system. Fertility can be part of the system—at the level of egg recognizing sperm—but it’s not essential to the definition. It can also be a matter of the organism recognizing another individual as an appropriate mate, through simple visual cues or the elaborate song-and-dance routines that birds have evolved. 

The nice thing about the Recognition Species Concept is that it’s field-testable. Peter Grant has spent years working with the Darwin’s finches in the Galapagos Islands, as described in Jonathan Weiner’s fine book The Beak of the Finch. Most of the 14 finch species look much alike to the casual human observer. But Grant’s experiments showed that male finches could differentiate between stuffed models of their own species and those of a very similar neighbor species. It was harder to run the tests with live female and dummy male finches because the females’ mates kept attacking the dummies. 

With male ducks, the visual cues—the sharp dark-and-light patterns, the colors, the crests—are obvious. But mistakes do get made. 

Ducks of different species tend to have broadly similar courtship displays; maybe that confuses the issue.  

What interested me most about the goldanser was that it was not just a mosaic of goldeneye traits and merganser traits. Males of both the parent species have white head markings, but this duck’s head was all dark, and its crest was unlike either a merganser’s or a goldeneye’s. Goldeneyes have standard duck bills, while mergansers have narrow, saw-edged bills for snagging fish. The hybrid’s bill was intermediate in shape. I saw it eating mussels along with the goldeneyes, and it seemed to have no trouble handling them—and its equipment had been functional enough to allow it to survive to adulthood. 

When I last saw them, the goldeneyes were gearing up for the mating season with head-pumping displays. How a female goldeneye or female merganser would respond to the goldanser remains an open question. ?

TUESDAY, MARCH 15 

Berkeley Garden Club “Propagation for the Home Gardener” with Kathy Echols, Diablo Valley College Horticulture Dept. at 1 p.m. at Epworth Methodist Church, 1953 Hopkins St. 524-4374. 

Celebrity Waiter Luncheon & Silent Auction to benefit the Berkeley High Althletic Program at 11 a.m. at Hs Lordship’s Restaurant, Berkeley Marina. Tickets are $60 per person or $500 for a table of 10. 526-8885. www.berkeleyathleticfund.org 

“Eat in Season” for National Nutrition month with cooking demonstrations at 3:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Derby St. at MLK, Jr. Way. 548-3333. www.ecologycenter.org 

Information on the Draft, CO Status, Selective Service Registration and other issues for Berkeley High students and their parents at 7 p.m. in the BHS College and Career Councelling Center. 

“Integrating City, School, & Community Student Support Services” with Prof. Howard Adelman and Linda Taylor, UCLA, at 7 p.m. in the Berkeley High Library, corner of Addison and Milvia Streets in Berkeley. Jay_Nitschke@berkeley.k12.ca.us 

“Solar Power and Social Change in Rural Kenya” with Arne Jacobsen, Humbolt Univ. at 4 p.m. at 652 Barrows Hall, UC Campus. 642-8338. www.ias.berkeley.edu/africa 

Choices for Sustainable Living A 9-week discussion course meeting Tues. at 6:30 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. Free. 548-2220, ext. 233. 

“A Year on the Road: Cycling Through Siberia, Mongolia and China” with Lori Lewis and Ilya Pratt at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

“Crossing Borders: Trade Policy and Transnational Labor Education” with Prof. Harley Shaiken, at 4 p.m. in the CLAS Conference Room, 2334 Bowditch St. 642-2088. www.clas.berkeley.edu  

Magic with Magician Alex Gonzalez at 6:30 p.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. Tickets required. call 524-3043. 

Group Singing at 1:30 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 masonic. 524-9122. 

Berkeley Salon Discussion Group meets to discuss “Beliefs and Believers” from 7 to 9 p.m. at the BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Please bring snacks and soft drinks to share. No peanuts please. 601-6690.  

“Pool Exercise for Pain and Stiffness” a video at the Fibromyalgia Support Group at noon at Mafffley Auditorium, Herrick Campus of Alta Bates Hospital, 2001 Dwight Way. 644-3273. 

“The Challenges of Aging” with Alice Wilson-Fried, author of “Menopause, Sisterhood, and Tennis: A Miraculous Journey Through ‘The Change’” at 7 p.m. at El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave. 526-7512.  

WriterCoach Connection Volunteer Training Help students improve their writing and critical thinking skills. Training session from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. To register call 524-2319. www.writercoachconnection.org 

“Purim: A Meeting Point between Cyclical & Linear Time” with Avital Plan at 7:30 p.m. at the BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $5. 848-0237, ext. 110. 

Free Fitness Tests for people 50 and over from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. You will receive personalized scores and tips on how to maintain or improve your fitness. 981-5367. 

“On the Rediscovery of Buddhist Sanskrit Texts” with Michael Hahn, Visiting Prof. in Buddhist Studies, UC Berkeley, at 5 p.m. at 2223 Fulton St., 6th Floor. Sponsored by the Center for Buddhist Studies. 643-6492. 

“Personal Stories of Survival and Spirit” at 7:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, 2304 McKinley Ave., at Bancroft. 

American Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation at 6 p.m. at 6230 Claremont Ave. Advance sign-up needed, 594-5165.      

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

St. John’s Prime Timers at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Nick Brown will sing and play folk music at 11 a.m. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 

Great Decisions 2005: “Sudan’s Crisis in Darfur” with Prof. Martha Saavedra, Center for African Studies, UCB, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. Cost is $5, $40 for the series. For information and reservations call 526-2925. 

Outstanding Women of Berkeley honored at the Commission in the Status of Women at 7:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5347. 

Community Meeting with the Mayor Come meet District 2 Councilmember Darryl Moore and Mayor Tom Bates to discuss current issues and concerns, at 7 p.m. at Frances Albrier Center, San Pablo Park, 2800 Park St. 981-7100, 981-7120.  

Honoring Rosie the Riveter All Rosies Invited! The video, “Rosie the Riveter” will be shown at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Gray Panthers, 1403 Addison St. 548-9696. 

“Island Nations: Limited Space, Mounting Trash” with speakers from Japan, Puerto Rico and the UK at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-2220, ext. 233. 

“Moveon’s Spin on Global Warming and How Cyclists Can Help” with Joan Blades, founding member of Moveon.org, at 8:15 p.m., at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Sponsored by the Grizzly Peak Cyclists. 527-0450. 

Remembering Rachel Corrie An evening of words, song and activism with Peter Camejo, Julia Butterfly Hill, Pratap Chatterjee, Barbara Lubin and many others at 7 p.m. at King Middle School, 1781 Rose St. Donation $20, reception at 6 p.m. for a donation of $50. A Benefit for the International Solidarity Movement & The Rachel Corrie Foundation. 236-4250. www.norcalism.org 

“Judi Bari Discusses her FBI Case” videos at 7 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St,. midtown Oakland. Donation of $5 requested.  

East Bay Asian Local Development Coproration 30th Anniversary at 4 p.m. at Swan’s Marketplace, 901 Washington St., Oakland. Festivities include tours of the new facility and entertainment. 287-5353. 

“Faith and the Church” at 7:30 p.m. at All Souls Parish, 2220 Cedar St. Part of the Journey of Faith Lenten Series. 848-1755. 

“Cosmic Sacramentality” A New Age Invention or the Church’s Living Heritage? A discussion with Eddie Fernandez at 5 p.m. at the Jesuit School of Theology, 2401 Le Conte Ave. 549-5021. 

AARP Free Tax Assistance for taxpayers with middle and low incomes, with special attention to those 60 years and older. From 12:15 to 4:15 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. This service will continue through April. Appointments must be made in advance. 526-3720, ext. 5. 

Berkeley Communicators Toastmasters meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7:15 a.m. at Au Cocolait, 200 University Ave. at Milvia. 524-3765. 

Berkeley School Volunteers Training workshop for volunteers interested in helping in Berkeley Public schools at 4:30 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. 644-8833. 

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

THURSDAY, MARCH 17 

Bird Walk along the Martin Luther King Shoreline to see marsh birds at 3:30 p.m. for information call 525-2233. 

Biodiesel Film Festival with documentaries on this alternatives fuel, including “Fat of the Land” at 7 p.m. at La Peña, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10, benefits Berkeley Biodiesel Collective. 849-2589. 

LeConte Neighborhood Assoc. meets at 7:30 p.m. at the LeConte School. 843-2602.  

Oregon Street Community Meeting at 7 p.m. in the East Conference Room, 1720 Oregon St. Part of a series of BUSD site planning meetings. 

“The Ethno-Class Experience in the Age of Bush” with Michael Parenti at 7:30 p.m. at the Laney College Forum, Laney College, 900 Fallon St. Free. 464-3156. 

“A Green Planet Torah” with David Cohen at 7:30 p.m. at the BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $5-$8. 848-0237.  

Stagebridge presents a St. Patrick’s Day sing-a-long at 1:15 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center.  

“The Gifts Of Grief” screening of a film on the transformational possibilities that come through experiencing the loss of a loved one, at 7:30 p.m. in the State Building Auditorium, 1515 Clay St., Oakland. Cost is $10. 

Simplicity Forum “The Joys and Frustrations of Cutting Back Car Usage” with Dawn Raymond on her transition to Car Share and bikes, at 6:30 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, Claremont Branch, 2940 Benvenue Ave.  

FRIDAY, MARCH 18 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Greg Delory, Senior Fellow, Space Lab, on “Life in the Solar System.” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $13, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 526-2925.  

ACCI Seconds Sale Ceramics, jewelry, glass, metal, textiles and fine art, Fri.- Sun., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck Ave. 843-2527. www.accigallery.com 

Solo Sierrans Inspiration Point Hike A nice walk on a paved path with beautiful views. Meet at 4 p.m. in the large parking lot at Inspiration Point off Wild Cat Canyon Rd. Optional dinner in Orinda after the hike. 525-3933. 

“Three Beats for Nothing” a small group meeting weekly at 10 a.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center to sing for fun and practice, mostly 16th century harmony. No charge. 655-8863, 843-7610. dann@netwiz.net 

Berkeley Chess Club meets Fridays at 7:15 p.m. at the East Bay Chess Club, 1940 Virginia St. Players at all levels are welcome. 845-1041. 

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 

SATURDAY, MARCH 19 

Global Day of Action No to War & Occupation March begins at 11 a.m. in Dolores Park, SF with a rally at 1 p.m. at Civic Center. To volunteer call 415-821-6545. 

Compost Happens A workshop on how to create a compost pile and create fertilizer for your garden. From 9 to 11 a.m. at the Visitor Center, Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Cost is $30 members/$35 nonmembers. 845-4116. 

Compost Give-Away at 10 a.m. the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Center St. and MLK, Jr. Way. Bring your own container. 548-3333. 

“The Wood-Wide-Web and Others Stories of Life Underground” with Prof. Ellen Simms, UCB, on the influence of Microorganisms on the evolution of native and exotic plants at 12:30 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts., Oakland. 238-2220. www.museumca.org 

Berkeley Alliance of Neighborhood Associations meets at 9:15 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Sproul Conference Room, 1st Floor, 2727 College Ave. www.berkeleycna.com  

A Conversation with Danny Glover in a benefit for Vista College, at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Rep. Tickets are $50-$100. 981-2851. vistatix.com 

Annual Crab Festival at the South Berkeley Community Church, Fairview and Ellis, from 5 to 7 p.m. with crab dinner and music by the Stacey Wilson Trio. Tickets are $35, $17.50 for children. 652-1040. 

Paper Making Workshop Learn how to recycle used paper into re-usable paper. For ages 7 to 11 years, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $3, registration required. 525-2233. 

Berkeley Youth Arts Festival Block Printing with Karen Weil, for children age 7 to 13, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Berkeley Art Center. Cost is $5-$15 sliding scale. 644-6893. www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

Historical and Botanical Tour of Chapel of the Chimes, a Julia Morgan landmark, at 10 a.m. at 4499 Piedmont Ave. at Pleasant Valley. Reservations required 228-3207. www.chapelofthechimes.com 

“Expanding Your Horizons in Math and Science” a conference for middle school girls, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at Mills College. To register call 430-2226. http://eyh.mills.edu 

Car Seat Checks with the Berkeley Police Dept. Learn how to install your child’s car seat correctly, from 10 a.m. to noon at the UC Garage on Addison at Oxford. Free. 647-1111. 

“String Fling” Cazadero Performing Arts Camp Benefit Auction at 6 p.m. at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Tickets are $75. 527-7500, ext. 11. www.cazadero.org 

Youth Volunteer Day at the Oakland Zoo for youth ages 12-18 who are interested in helping animals and the zoo. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 632-9525, ext. 202. www.oaklandzoo.org 

Seed Saving for Gardeners Learn the basics of savings seeds from your own garden vegetables from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $10-$15, no one turned away. 548-2220, ext. 233.  

“Jesus & the Bible in Quaker Faith & Practice” with T. Canby Jones, at 9:30 a.m. at the Berkeley Friends Church, 1600 Sacramento St., at Cedar St. 524-4112. 

See & Feel the Aura Workshop with Cynthia Sue Larson from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at Change Makers, 6536 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Cost is $10-$20. 655-2405. 

SUNDAY, MARCH 20 

Memorial for Karl Linn With music, speakers and films. Pot- 

luck meal. From 3 to 5 p.m. at Berkeley Adult School, 1701 San Pablo Ave. 798-8148. www.karllinn.org/MemorialService 

Labyrinth Peace Walk at the Willard Community Peace Labyrinth, at Willard Middle School, Telegraph Ave. btwn Derby and Stuart, enter by the dirt road on Derby. Free and wheelchair accessible. 526-7377. 

Interfaith Observance of Peace with the Rev. William Sloane Coffin and others, at 3 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. 848-3696. 

Carpentry for Kids A Family Exploration Day from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts., Oakland. Free with museum admission. 238-2220. www.museumca.org 

Let There Be Light Celebrate the extra hours of daylight by learning how to make candles. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Berkeley Youth Arts Festival Word and Image with poet Tobey Kaplan, a creative writing workshop for all ages, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Center. Cost is $5-$15 sliding scale. 644-6893. www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

Lost Waterfall in Spring Learn the history of the waterfall that used to be on this easy 3.5 mile hike. Meet at 1 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Bring water and a snack and be prepared for muddy trails. 525-2233. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden in Tilden Park Sat. and Sun. at 2 p.m. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

Spring Equinox Gathering at 5:30 p.m. at the Interim Solar Calendar, Cesar Chavez Park, Berkeley Marina. 666-8663. www.solarcalendar.org 

“Sun-Earth Day: Ancient Observatories, Timeless Knowledge” Activities on equinoxes and solstices from noon to 5 p.m. at Chabot Space and Science Center, 10000 Skyline Blvd., Oakland. 336-7300. www.chabotspace.org 

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace Peace walk around the lake every Sun. Meet at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712. lmno4p.org 

Tibetan Buddhism with Lama Palzang and Pema Gellek on “Great Buddhist Masters: The Sixteen Arhats,” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

ONGOING 

United Way’s Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Program provides free tax assistance now through early April to families that earned less than $36,000 in 2004. To find a free tax site near you, call 1-800-358-8832 or visit www.EarnItKeepItSaveIt.org. 

“Half Pint Library” Book Drive Donate children’s books to benefit Children’s Hospital. Donations accepted at 1849 Solano Ave. through March 31. 

Spring Break Program for Children offered by the City’s Recreational Division, March 28-April 1, for children ages 5-12, at the Frances Albrier Community Center, 2800 Park St. For information call 981-6640. 

CITY MEETINGS 

City Council meets Tues., Mar. 15, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Berkeley Housing Authority meets Tues., Mar. 15, at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ 

commissions/housingauthority 

Citizens Humane Commission meets Wed., Mar. 16, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Katherine O’Connor, 981-6601. www.ci.berkeley.ca. us/commissions/humane 

Commission on Aging meets Wed. Mar. 16, at 1:30 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. William Rogers, 981-5344. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/aging 

Commission on Labor meets Wed., Mar. 16, at 6:45 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Delfina M. Geiken, 981-7550. www.ci.berkeley.ca. 

us/commissions/labor 

Human Welfare and Community Action Commission meets Wed. Mar. 16, at 7 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Kristen Lee, 981-5427. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/welfare 

Design Review Committee meets Thurs., Mar 17, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Anne Burns, 981-7415. www.ci.berkeley.ca. 

us/commissions/designreview  

Transportation Commission meets Thurs., Mar. 17, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Peter Hillier, 981-7000. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ 

commissions/transportation?

The Berkeley Unified School District Board of Directors voted 3-2 Wednesday to kill a proposal to consider a regulation high school baseball field for its Derby Street properties. 

Two members of the prevailing side said they cast their votes for procedural reasons only, suggesting that they might consider the baseball field option in the future. 

The board rejected pleas by members of Berkeley High’s three baseball teams to move forward with the construction of a new baseball field at Derby Street. 

Teams now practice and play on the city-owned baseball diamond at San Pablo Park in south Berkeley, about 20 blocks from Berkeley High. 

“San Pablo Park is a terrible place to play,” said Michael Durant, a senior who will be playing at Texas A&M University next year. “Before every game we have to get there early to put up a fence—that’s terrible. And last year, we could only practice there an hour a day because we got kicked off by an Albany Little League team.” 

Another player, Lucas Fogerty, criticized playing conditions at San Pablo Park, saying that “rocks in the infield make ground balls really superb. Going to away games at other schools is like playing on your dream field. It’s like heaven.” 

And D.J. Brooks, a sophomore, complained of the long walk from Berkeley High to San Pablo Park to get to practice. Brooks said that Berkeley High has “one of the best high school teams in the area, but we’ve got one of the worst fields in the area. The field should fit our team.” 

One East Campus neighbor told board members that while “we’d love to have [the baseball players] in the neighborhood,” he supported “the real compromise that’s out there that keeps Derby open and accommodates baseball on the East Campus site in some form.” 

Last April, the board of directors voted to tear down the abandoned East Campus buildings on the district-owned block surrounded by Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Derby, Milvia, and Carleton streets and putting the property to different use. 

A month later, on a resolution introduced by directors Terry Doran and Shirley Issel, the board voted to “declare their support for pursuing the development of a large multi-purpose athletic facility at East Campus that would include a regulation-sized baseball field.” 

Included in that resolution was an acknowledgment that the proposed ballfield “would eventually require the closure of Derby Street” between the two district properties of East Campus and the Berkeley Alternative High School. The 2004 resolution also acknowledged that the Derby Street closure could not take place without approval by the Berkeley City Council. The resolution passed 4-0, with then-Board president John Selawsky abstaining. 

Meanwhile, the district moved forward with its plans to develop the East Campus portion of the two properties, creating an East Campus Site Committee and hiring WLC Architects of Emeryville to develop a proposal. Part of WLC’s charge was that it not consider closure of Derby Street at this time. 

This week, a week after WLC held its final community meeting on the East Campus redevelopment plans, the BUSD board rejected Director Terry Doran’s resolution for WLC to add the Derby Street closure and the expanded baseball field to its considerations of site plans. (Issel, Riddle, and Selawsky, no; Doran, Rivera yes; Student Director Dorman-Colby yes in an advisory vote.) 

Both Director Issel and Board President Nancy Riddle said it was the last-minute addition of the ballfield proposal at the end of the process—and not the ballfield proposal itself—which caused them to vote against Doran’s resolution. 

“I lean toward closing Derby Street and building the baseball field,” Issel said, “but to ask the Site Committee to change its itinerary at this point seems to me to be lacking in integrity. Maybe it was a bad decision not to include the Derby Street closure in our original charge to the architects, but it was our decision. Changing that decision at this point would be unethical.” 

Speaking to Doran, Issel said, “If we’d included this discussion when we started this process, I think you would have had my vote.” 

Riddle said that she “did support the vote we took last year to urge the city to close Derby Street. I haven’t changed my decision on that.” 

Riddle agreed following the meeting that it is “possible” that the district could pursue the Derby Street closure/baseball field option while still moving forward with the East Campus property plans. 

“My objection was in combining the two issues together at this time,” she said. “The Derby closure involves an entirely different set of criteria and if we were to do that, it might mean bringing in a different group of stakeholders, and possibly hiring a different firm to run the process.” 

In explaining his vote, Selawsky said, “While I won’t say [Doran’s resolution] is a slap in the face, I think it’s a disservice to the community to turn this project around at the last minute.” 

That contention was disputed by Doran, who said that his resolution “does not get us a baseball field. I merely introduced it in response to the fact that our community has been having informal discussions over the closing of Derby and building a ballfield, and we need to make it a formal discussion.” 

Rivera said, “I have been consistent in my support for a baseball field and the closing of Derby Street.” 

Adding the baseball field option to WLC’s charge “would correct the wrong that took place when we left this out when we started the planning process,” he said. “We may find out that we don’t have enough money to build a baseball field. But we should find that out sooner than later.” 

The sharp divide within the board and in the larger community on the Derby closure/baseball field issue was mirrored in the district itself. 

“While we need the fields, no doubt about that, we need to do this in stages,” said Superintendent Michelle Lawrence. “Unless you bring on more staff, we can’t take on the project of a new baseball field. It would not be my recommendation to do this at this time.” 

BHS Athletic Director Kristin Glenchur, in an e-mail to board members released by the district, wrote, “Not having a BUSD controlled [baseball] field forces us to rely on the use of the one regulation size field in Berkeley, San Pablo Park. So I support the consideration of a plan for a regulation sized baseball field. In addition to being close to the high school and convenient for our students, it is the only BUSD owned property which will accommodate a regulation size field.” 

BUSD baseball coach Tim Moellering, who organized a rally of baseball team players and adult supporters outside of the Old City Hall building before the meeting, wore a t-shirt reading, “Derby Street Park. If You Build It We Can Play.” 

Moellering told board members that he’d heard several reasons why neighbors don’t want a ballfield on the Derby Street site, including, “It’s only for 40 rich white boys who live in the hills.” 

Gesturing back towards the crowd of racially diverse players, Moellering said, “I think about four of them are rich, but rich boys should be able to play baseball, too.”›

Amid news that Berkeley’s Volvo dealership, and the more than $100,000 in annual sales tax revenue it generates, is packing off to Emeryville, the City Council Tuesday debated how to attract new businesses. 

“Right now we don’t have anything to offer [companies] except it’s great to come to Berkeley,” said City Manager Phil Kamlarz. 

Increasing revenue from business taxes is pivotal to preserve city services, Kamlarz told the council. Skyrocketing employee benefits have contributed to a $10.9 million structural budget deficit over the next two years. And with residents rejecting new taxes, he said, city officials must find ways to raise revenues to avoid cuts that include losing a fire truck and school crossing guards this summer. 

Mayor Tom Bates insisted that the city manager return next month with strategies to build commercial zones along five traffic corridors: San Pablo Avenue, Shattuck Avenue south of Dwight Way, and Ashby Avenue, University Avenue, and Gilman Street, all west of San Pablo. 

“These are great opportunities for us,” the mayor said. “We have to look at land use rules there. If not, we’re just going to drift.” 

In other matters Tuesday, the council voted unanimously to hold a public hearing on the “structure of merit” designation granted to 2040 Fourth St., home of Celia’s Mexican Restaurant. The council also unanimously rejected an appeal of a use permit for a condo development at 2700 San Pablo Ave. and approved both a city auditor’s report on parking enforcement and contracts with environmental planners for developers looking to speed up the city’s permitting process. 

McKevitt Volvo’s departure announcement was a long time in the coming, company employees said. 

“We’ve wanted to move to a more prominent location for a long time,” said Warren Johnson, a salesman at McKevitt Volvo and Nissan. He added that Volvo also wanted the dealership in locale “where we would move more than 30 cars a month.” 

In 18 months, Johnson said his company is slated to relocate from 2700 Shattuck Avenue to just across from Ikea in Emeryville. 

“It’s the busiest traffic corridor in the area,” he said Wednesday. “I don’t know if Berkeley had a comparable site.”  

McKevitt’s move is not a total loss for Berkeley’s tax base. Johnson said the dealership, which rents its Berkeley showroom, expected to keep its Nissan operations in Berkeley and might use the Volvo lot to sell used cars. 

Including McKevitt, Berkeley is home to five car dealerships, which all rank among the city’s top sales tax generators, according to Finance Director Fran David. 

“To match the revenue of one car dealership, someone would have to generate $45 million in retail sales,” she said.  

Berkeley’s other dealerships, located mostly on South Shattuck are also at risk to flee the city, said David Fogerty of Berkeley’s Office of Economic Development. 

“They’re all under pressure from their parent companies to relocate close to the freeway,” he said. 

Complicating efforts for the city to keep the dealerships, Fogerty added, the South Berkeley Plan, completed in 1990, doesn’t allow new dealerships on South Shattuck. City zoning laws also prohibit dealerships on substantial portions of Berkeley’s main corridors by I-80: Gilman Street, Ashby Avenue and University Avenue. 

Many lots on those avenues are zoned for light industrial and artisan uses. Mayor Bates said he wants to see small revisions to the West Berkeley Plan so the city could build commercial zones on the streets near I-80.  

Increasing commercial development in West Berkeley is sure to meet opposition from artists and industrialists who fear that encroaching retail shops will drive up rents and force them out of Berkeley. 

Aware of the entrenched opposition, Bates said Tuesday, “I recognize there are people who don’t want any change, but things happen.” 

Despite the impending loss of McKevitt, Berkeley tax revenues are projected to jump $5 million to $115 million next fiscal year, due to better than expected returns on property taxes and property sales, according to Finance Director David. 

The sales tax, projected at $13.5 million and the business license tax, projected at $10.6 million have remained flat in recent years, due to a sluggish economy and increased competition from Emeryville and El Cerrito, Fogerty said. Property-based taxes remain the city’s top revenue generator, taking in nearly $28 million—about 23 percent of all revenue in the city’s general fund. 

To increase revenues, councilmembers suggested a few new taxes, all of which Kamlarz rejected because they were either illegal or would require voter approval. Councilmember Linda Maio inquired about a surcharge on video rentals and movie tickets, while Councilmember Laurie Capitelli asked if the city could tax Internet purchases made by residents. 

City staff hinted that they would consider going to voters with an increase to the business license tax, which didn’t sit well with business representatives at Tuesday’s meeting. 

“Be careful before you do that to business,” said Lisa Bullwinkel, executive director of the Solano Avenue Association. She also urged the city to staff the Office of Economic Development better. 

Celia’s designation hearing 

At the request of councilmember Darryl Moore, the City Council will hold a hearing April 26 on the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s designation of 2040 Fourth St. as a “structure of merit.” The building, which is home to Celia’s Mexican Restaurant, is proposed to be torn down to build a square block of condos at the University Gate to the city. 

The LPC must give approval to the final project, which Don Deibel of the developer Urban Housing Group said he feared would “make the development nearly impossible.” 

Asked about his request for a public hearing, Moore said: “Unfortunately landmarking procedure was used to stymie development on that site. I don’t think that that was appropriate.” 

f

The Berkeley public schools Board of Directors voted unanimously Wednesday night to expel a Berkeley High School student for one year for bringing a gun on campus in her backpack last month. 

The student was arrested by Berkeley police during the incident after telling school officials and police that she had brought the gun to school by accident. 

The vote, which was taken in closed session and announced in the board’s public session, upheld an expulsion committee’s recommendation, and identified the unnamed female student only as “Case Number 04051.” 

No further details on the vote or punishment were provided by Board Director Nancy Riddle. 

A recent article in the Berkeley High Jacket, the high school’s student-run newspaper, provided details about the Feb. 3 incident that have not been released by school or district officials. Some of the information reported in the student paper seemed to contradict the district’s version of events. 

The Feb. 18 article, written by BHS student Rina Breakstone, said that “the girl showed the gun to a few of her classmates” in Madalyn Theodore’s fourth period American Literature class. 

The article continued, “Although the girl and her father both say that she had brought the gun to school by accident, many people still are not assured of the validity of that statement. ‘She let one of the kids [in the classroom] touch the gun so I don’t think she forgot about having the gun,’ said [one] girl who reported the initial incident to Theodore.” 

The article quoted a sophomore in Theodore’s class that “from what I overheard, it sounded like she was possibly going to shoot a student that day,” but that account was not confirmed by any other students, or by BHS Vice Principal of Discipline and Safety Denise Brown, who interviewed the expelled student before she was arrested. 

The Jacket article also added that Theodore, in whose class the incident took place, “is somewhat doubtful” that the girl’s actions were accidental. 

“There were several kids who came up to me and said she was showing [the gun] to them at lunch,” Theodore was quoted in the paper as saying. “The police reports from me and from the other students contradict [the idea that it was accidental].” 

Berkeley High officials have said the unnamed student’s father confirmed he gave her the gun “for safekeeping from her siblings.” 

Assistant Alameda County District Attorney Walter Jackson of the department’s juvenile decision said the DA’s office has not yet made a decision as to whether to charge the student with a crime. Criminal charges could also be brought against the student’s father for providing her with the weapon.

A career Berkeley cop will become the city’s next police chief. 

Doug Hambleton, 51, currently the BPD patrol captain, has been selected to replace outgoing chief Roy Meisner. 

If the City Council approves the hire as expected on Monday, Hambleton, who began his career with the BPD 29 years ago, would become chief next Friday. 

“Doug knows the community, he has the respect of the officers and he has a good sense of the things we need to do now,” said City Manager Phil Kamlarz.  

Kamlarz picked Hambleton out of a field of six finalists that included two of Hambleton’s fellow BPD captains, Stephanie Fleming and Bobby Miller. 

Hambleton, who was born in Berkeley and raised in Pleasant Hill, has a bachelor’s degree in social welfare from UC Berkeley and a master’s in management from Cal State Pomona. 

Since joining Berkeley’s force in 1976, Hambleton has served in nearly every police division, and worked as project manager for construction of the Tsukamoto Public Safety Building and the department’s community-involved policing project. 

“I’m real buoyed that the city manager has the confidence in me and I’m anticipating the challenge of the job,” Hambleton said. He added that outgoing chief Roy Meisner had left the department in good shape for him. 

Meisner, who like Hambleton was a career Berkeley cop, announced his retirement after two and a half years as chief. His short tenure as chief bolstered his annual retirement pension, adding to the city’s already heavy pension burden. 

Hambleton said he gave Kamlarz a five-year oral commitment and insisted he had no plans to be a caretaker chief. “My feeling is if you take over a job like this, you need to stay long enough to get some things done,” he said. 

Asked about his top priorities, Hambleton said he wanted to continue working on the city’s community policing effort, improve the department’s crime analysis capabilities and upgrade its means of sharing information with the public. 

The BPD has a reputation for being tight-lipped about its work compared to neighboring forces. While Hambleton said the department is often prohibited from sharing information, he said the BPD was exploring ways to disseminate more information on its website and alert residents of nearby criminal activity.  

The department’s community policing effort has come under fire from members of the South Berkeley Crime Prevention Council, who have asked that the department consistently deploy the same officers to specific beats and improve communication between the department and community groups. 

Hambleton, who declined to delve into specifics, said he thought Berkeley community policing model was sound, but agreed there was room for improvement. 

Hambleton enters the top job during tough budget times when the department faces the loss of seven vacant positions. 

“There will probably be some things we won’t be able to do, but we can still do a good job with basic services,” Hambleton said. Budget constraints, Hambleton added, could make it difficult to hire a full-time crime analyst, a high department priority. Currently the BPD employs a retired officer part time to analyze crime trends. 

To improve the department’s ability to analyze crime and dispense data to residents better, Hambleton is banking on the city’s buying a new computerized dispatch system, estimated to cost more than $2.5 million. 

Hambleton’s ascension to the police department’s top job was largely cheered by local police watchers.  

“I think he’ll be excellent,” said David Ritchie of the Police Review Commission. “Doug has always been very willing to understand the concerns of all of Berkeley and is willing to work with everyone.” 

Trudy Washburn, a member of the Berkeley Safe Neighborhood Committee, complimented Hambleton as someone who communicates well with residents. “He has a very even manner,” said Washburn, who recalled Hambleton’s work during the KPFA strike in 1999. “He was out there very calmly keeping things under control.” 

Michael Diehl, a homeless activist, however, said he had some reservations about the appointment. “He seems to say the right things and then do something else,” said Diehl. He charged that Hambleton had backed out of agreements with homeless activists not to arrest people in homeless encampments. 

Hambleton’s appointment came as a surprise to some who thought Berkeley-native BPD Capt. Stephanie Fleming had the inside track to becoming the next chief. 

“Maybe Stephanie hasn’t been captain long enough,” mused Nikki Williams of Berkeley Youth Alternatives. “She’ll be a fabulous chief when it’s her time.” 

Hambleton takes over a relatively young department that saw many of its veteran officers retire several years ago when the city negotiated a more lucrative retirement package. 

Although Hambleton is now twice the age of some of Berkeley’s youngest officers, he can still keep up with them on his bicycle. Hambleton is a regular participant in the BPD’s annual Turkey Ride for charity. The ride take some of the BPD’s fittest officers on their bikes to the Sierras to raise money to feed the less fortunate on Thanksgiving. 

Hambleton said he planned to follow the lead of one of his predecessors, former chief Ronald Nelson, who didn’t miss a Turkey ride. 

“That’s not something I plan to give up,” he said. 

›

Bombs flew at Monday’s Landmarks Preservation Commission meeting, both literally and metaphorically. 

The literal bombs were of the nuclear and cluster sort, devices that figured in the histories of two buildings up for landmark consideration. The metaph orical devices were flung at each other by commissioners, by building owners, and by rival petitioners to landmark the same buildings. 

Commissioner Aran Kaufer, who will be replaced by a nominee of City Councilmember Darryl Moore, said he intended to use his last meeting to speak his mind, which he did. 

Austin Co. Building 

The first fracas of the evening pitted a West Berkeley artists’ collective against the Berkeley East Bay Humane Society. At issue were two rival landmarking applications for three structures owned by the society that house the gallery and work spaces of the Nexus Institute. 

One version, by preservationist John English, emphasized the role of the collective in the history of the buildings; the version authored by Michael Corbett for the Humane Society ignored it, on that grounds that the collective, as a 1964 arrival, was too new to merit consideration. 

Corbett has challenged local preservationists before, most notably in the cases of the landmarking of 1891 Ellen Blood House at 252 6 Durant Ave. in Berkeley, where he held that the house was a significantly altered version of a not-uncommon original. The LPC voted to landmark the property anyway. 

In his latest Berkeley appearance, Corbett argued in favor of landmarking the buildings, but rejecting any mention of Nexus. A majority of the commission disagreed, landmarking the Austin Co. brick prefabricated steel-framed Standard Tool & Die Building. 

The commission excluded from the designation two metal-sided buildings, one of which d uring World War II manufactured parachute-dropped fragmentation bombs, the precursor of the modern cluster bomb. 

Officers and supporters of the Humane Society rose to argue for Corbett’s designation, while Nexus supporters rose to argue for a more inclus ionary designation. The arguments elicited a modicum of scorn from Commissioner Patricia Dacey. 

“Unfortunately, everyone’s saying there’s no adversarial relationship when we’re getting sucked in to some kind of psychodrama,” she said, adding that she was fine with withholding the Nexus Institute name from the building so long as the group’s role was spelled out in the body of the resolution. 

Commissioner James Samuels said he wanted to skip any mention of the bomb factory. 

“I find it rather appalling t hat we are including in the discussion of (the building’s) merit one of the most unfortunate weapons developed in this country,” he said. 

“My suggestion is to include it precisely because it is so horrifying,” Commissioner Carrie Olson said. 

“I am disin clined to whitewash anything,” Dacey said. “It would be weirdly politically correct to be disappearing this part of the history.” 

“I don’t see how we can get around historical uses without mentioning the most significant, awful as it is,” Commissioner Fr an Packard said. 

Kaufer said that while he supported landmarking the Austin Co. building, he felt the other two structures didn’t even rise to the lesser designation of structure of merit, provoking more disagreement and arguments among the commissioners. 

The commissioners voted down landmarking all three buildings on a five-to-four vote, then rejected eight-to-one a counterproposal from Packard that called for rejection of all three. 

Finally, Olson offered a compromise that called for landmarking the Austin building, denied any designation to the other structures but landmarked their sites and the accompanying history, Nexus included. It sailed through, with Packard casting the lone dissenting vote. 

The fate of Nexus remains uncertain. Spokesperson R obert Brockl said the group is willing to make needed seismic upgrades to the buildings if the Humane Society extends their lease, which ends shortly. 

Berkeley Piano Club 

Then, after a lengthy discussion of proposed repairs at one of Berkeley’s more not able artistic landmarks, the Julia Morgan Center, representatives of another cultural institution stepped up to seek their own designation for the Berkeley Piano Club. 

Designed by William Lee Woollett, who later designed the Metropolitan Theater in Los A ngeles (later the Million Dollar Theater), the first of Sid Grauman’s lavish silent-era movie palaces, the 1912 Berkeley Piano Club is a modest wood and stucco structure. 

Under Berkeley’s landmark ordinance, the building’s performance venue and murals do n’t qualify for designation, but its history and surviving exterior features do, a fact which disturbed club architect Tom McMillan, who said, “We don’t want you to have any purview over the exterior,” having heard the long discussion about what repairs a t the Julia Morgan would entail. 

Assured of the commission’s kindly disposition, McMillan relented because the landmarking designation would help the club make much-needed repairs under the state historic buildings code rather than local codes, which would require alterations to the performance structure. 

Dating from 1893, the Berkeley Piano Club is one of the few musical clubs in the nation to own its own building. The club has played host to a wide range of performers and is internationally known. It’s also the venue for aspiring pianists in search of a venue to study and play. 

The 1913 home that sits at the front of the lot was also included, in part because it served as the final residence of noted Berkeley architect John Galen Howard, and in part because it housed the evening’s other bomb-maker, one of the crew of Berkeley Manhattan Project scientists who used an upstairs workshop to design a triggering mechanism for the first nuclear weapons. 

Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of landmarki ng both structures. 

Maybeck skirmishes 

The final bombs of the evening were entirely verbal, lobbed by owners of Bernard Maybeck homes on Buena Vista Road and by the departing Kaufer. 

Robert Pennell sought to landmark his home at 2750 Buena Vista Way, w hich is based on sketches by Maybeck and includes a fireplace he designed. 

Owners of two nearby Maybecks which have been proposed for landmarking over their wishes angrily challenged Pennell and voiced their strong opposition to landmarking their own homes. 

Neighbor Thad Kusmierski charged that Pennell had sought landmark status to prevent Kusmierski from creating an addition to his own home at 2730 Buena Vista. “It’s only because they want to stop our addition,” said his spouse, Anna. 

Because Pennell’s home deviated from the sketches, Kaufer raised the question of whether or not the building even qualified as a Maybeck, prompting an angry retort from Carrie Olson.  

“Please be quiet, because you have no pedigree” to talk about the designs of Bernard Maybeck, she snapped. 

“Since this is my last meeting, I’m going to say what I want to say,” Kaufer declared. “It’s being done for the wrong reason. A historical district is the only way to do it. Having two neighbors fighting is the worst thing about thi s commission.” 

“Simply because someone wants to use me as a club doesn’t mean I’ll let myself be used as a club,” responded Dacey. 

“I feel the same discomfort Aran does,” said Commissioner James Samuels, as Packard also agreed. 

Because midnight was min utes away, the LPC’s deadline for vacating the North Berkeley Senior Center, Kaufer’s argument carried the evening and sent commissioners back to the drawing board. 

Angry opponents, frustrated at having to wait through more than three hours of other hear ings, received a promise that the item would head the list for the commission’s next meeting in April. 

Kaufer saved his final shot for the last item on the agenda, a unanimously approved request to demolished a corrugated metal building at 2039 Fourth St. 

Directing his gaze to Leslie Emmington, who had passionately argued for preservation of the metal clad structures on the Humane Society property, and offered a departing barb: “But Leslie, it’s such a nice tin shack.”  

?

Library workers Wednesday railed against library trustees and a director who they said have ignored their concerns while cutting seven jobs. 

“In 34 years with the library, I’ve never seen morale so low or the staff so angry,” said library employee Anne-Marie Miller at the Library Board of Trustees meeting.  

Holding back tears, reference librarian Andrea Moss addressed Library Director Jackie Griffin: “We don’t know how to have a conversation with you and we need to.” 

In response to a $850,000 budget shortfall, Griffin proposed a restructuring plan for board approval aimed at maintaining service levels while cutting staff to balance its books. The board, as expected, held off voting on the budget plan until its April meeting. 

Griffin’s plan originally called for 12 layoffs out of a staff of 157, but due to five recent resignations at the library, Griffin said approximately seven staff members would lose their jobs. 

Trustee Terry Powell said the board was considering holding a public workshop on the budget before the next board meeting. Beginning next week the union will begin talks with city officials over the plan. Previously the talks only involved library officials. 

Library employees dominated the public comment session and lambasted both Griffin and the board for not addressing staff concerns or giving them a formal time during the meeting to present their arguments. 

“We have city councilmembers talking to us, but you are our City Council and we can’t talk to you,” Librarian Claudia Morrow told the board. “How else can you understand what it’s like to work at the library?” 

Employees argue that Griffin’s proposal disproportionately targets lower level workers for layoffs, while leaving management jobs largely untouched. 

With the goal of creating a more flexible workforce, Griffin has proposed cutting mostly lower level positions, while offering many of the remaining employees in lower classifications the opportunity for promotions to higher paying jobs with a wider range of duties.  

“There’s so much fear that people aren’t listening to the opportunities we’re offering them,” Griffin said. 

Much of the check-out work currently done by staff is anticipated to be eliminated this July when the library completes installing Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFIDs) on its materials.  

Griffin has not yet formally responded to union cost saving suggestions to avoid layoffs, including reducing work weeks from 40 hours to 37.5 hours, eliminating managerial positions and instituting voluntary and mandatory time off programs. 

After Wednesday’s meeting, Griffin said she was open to some of the union cost savings proposals. However, she remained concerned that mandatory time off would result in library closures and reduced work weeks could disqualify some part-time employees from receiving benefits. 

During its debate, the board never mentioned the union’s proposals. Instead, it listened to presentations from library managers who framed the discussion as a choice between Griffin’s restructuring plan or cutting jobs without any restructuring. 

Griffin attributed the library’s deficit to soaring pension contributions that this year are estimated to cost 21 percent of each employee’s salary. Last year, facing a $600,000 deficit, the library reduced its hours and closed its doors on Sundays. The current shortfall is estimated at $850,000, down from Griffin’s original estimate of $1 million. Griffin said the deficit figured had changed because of savings achieved by not immediately replacing departed senior managers. 

After the meeting, employees continued to fume over Griffin’s stewardship of the library. 

“Many of the staff have lost confidence in the overall ability of the director to lead the library,” said Librarian Tom Dufour. 

“She’s threatened everyone with layoffs. She thought she could push through this reorganization without any union input,” said Jane Scantlebury, a reference librarian.  

Griffin maintained that she meets monthly with the staff, keeps an open e-mail dialog, and has frequently discussed her budget plans. 

“We do everything we can think of to be open and honest with them,” she said.  



A formal demand by city officials that UC Berkeley adhere to its parking tax appears likely to send a second town-gown dispute to the courtroom. 

In a March 4 letter to UC Berkeley parking head Nad Permaul, the city gave the university 30 days to begin collecting the tax and held that it owed the city three years of back tax revenue. 

“If they don’t pay, we’re going to take them to court,” said Mayor Tom Bates. 

But UC Counsel Stephen Morrell said that the university system had no intention of paying local parking taxes. “Even if the tax is permissible there is no legal way to make the university collect the tax for the city,” he said. 

The city estimates the tax would generate $600,000 a year from taxes on the university’s approximately 7,000 parking spaces. 

The demand for parking revenue is part of a full-court press by the city to squeeze more money from the university to compensate for services the city provides. As a state institution UC Berkeley is exempt from direct city taxes and assessments. Yet, with the city projecting budget shortfalls for the next four years, it has recently taken a more aggressive posture with the university.  

In February, the city sued the university over its long range growth plan after negotiations broke down over university payments to the city. Later this month, city officials have said they will begin billing UC Berkeley for sewer service and will file suit if the university doesn’t pay. 

“We believe this is simply part of an ongoing political strategy by the mayor,” said Janet Gilmore, UC Berkeley spokesperson. In negotiations, Gilmore said, the university had offered to increase its annual payments to the city to $1.2 million. Berkeley is asking for between $1.4 and $2.1 million for sewers alone.  

Currently the city levies a ten percent tax on parking spaces that private parking operators collect and remit to the city.  

Berkeley officials argue that UC’s tax exemption doesn’t apply to the parking tax, because the tax is levied on parking lot users, not the university. “We believe it’s a proper approach to collecting taxes that all other parkers pay,” Chakos said. 

Any lawsuit would be pursued by city attorneys, she said. The statute of limitations prevents the city from demanding parking tax revenues from beyond three years. 

UC’s Morrell said that collecting the tax would place a costly burden on university operations. “We believe that although nominally it is a tax on users for parking, in reality it’s a tax on the university and the university is exempt from taxes,” he said. 

If Berkeley is successful other UC towns appear likely to follow the city’s lead. “If Berkeley can do it, we’ll do it in a second,” said Santa Cruz Mayor Mike Rotkin, whose city has also battled its campus over growth and money. 

Santa Cruz City Attorney John Barisone said that although his city hasn’t clashed with UC over parking taxes, he agreed with the city’s position. Several years ago, he added, UC rebuffed Santa Cruz’ demand that it collect a city tax on admissions to cultural events at the campus. 

“The general counsel at that time basically told us that he disagreed with my analysis and said we would have to sue them. At the time, the City Council didn’t want to litigate,” Barisone said.  

According to Chakos, although no UC campus pays city parking taxes, schools in other states do, including the University of Wisconsin, the University of South Dakota and the State University of New York. 

›

Planning Commissioners sang the praises of the proposed David Brower Center Wednesday night, but city planning staff wondered just how they could fit the complex into existing city zoning laws downtown. 

In another case, commissioners were forced to accept a condo project where the developer had figured out a way around the city’s inclusionary housing law for low-income tenants, while in a third instance, planners grumbled at being presented with yet another fait accompli by the university. 

The Brower Center building, named for the Berkeley-born environmentalist, features four floors of offices for environmental organizations over a ground floor of retail space and a 250-seat lecture hall/theater. 

The accompanying six-story building will house 96 units of affordable housing available exclusively to low-income tenants. 

Planners loved the project, but, as Project Planner Aaron Sage reminded them, approval will take some tweaking of the Downtown Plan. One possible solution floated by Sage was the creation of a “green” bonus, which would award density bonuses for construction of structures that meet recognized standards for energy efficiency. 

No decision was required of planners Wednesday because project developers had merely come to present a preview look at their plans. 

Low-income unit law 

Planners did have to confront an uncomfortable vote on another controversial project. 

Architect Timothy Rempel and spouse Elizabeth Miranda figured out a way around the city’s inclusionary housing law, which requires one or more low-income units in projects that include five or more dwelling units or five or more live/work units. 

Their project at 2209 and 2211 Fifth St. in West Berkeley features four apartments and two live/work units. Their application to build on the site was approved only after they fought back a challenge by neighbors and preservationists to landmark a Victorian cottage on the site. 

The fight to save the poorly maintained Amos Cottage, a modest 1878 Italianate built the year Berkeley became a city, was spearheaded by neighbor Stan Huncilman, a sculptor who lives in another Victorian at 2129 Fifth St. A divided Landmarks Preservation Commission rejected the application and the Zoning Adjustments Board approved the new project, which features four apartments and two live/work units. 

As explained by city Planning Manager Mark Rhoades, had Rempel and Miranda planned for six units of either type, the city’s inclusionary housing law would have required them to allot one for low-income tenants. But by splitting the types, they eased their project out of the requirement. 

“It was the intent when we passed the inclusionary requirement that he would have had to have offered one,” said Commissioner Rob Wrenn, who sat on the commission when the ordinance was adopted. 

“We’re all disturbed by this process. The developer of 2700 San Pablo has done the same thing by offering four live/work units in her building,” said Steve Wollmer of PlanBerkeley.org. 

John Gutierrez, attorney for the developers, reminded commissioners and staff that the law says what it says, and a reluctant commission was forced to concur, approving the tract map for the project. 

Rhoades promised to consult his staff and the city attorney’s office to find a way to change the city ordinance to conform with the original intent. 

Underhill Field Parking 

Commissioners were less than happy when Kerry O’Banion, associate director of Project and Environmental Planning for UC Berkeley’s office of Capital Projects, presented plans for Underhill Field, a four-level, 1,000-slot underground parking structure capped by an artificially surfaced playing field built between Haste Street and Channing Way for the two blocks extending west of College Avenue. 

The parking structure that once occupied the space was demolished in 1993, and cars have parked on the surface since then, O’Banion said. 

The announcement particularly annoyed Commissioner Wrenn, who noted the city’s current battle with the university to collect city parking fees the university claims it doesn’t have to collect from those who use its parking. 

“They’re shoving it down our throats, just like they did with the LRDP,” Wrenn said, referring to the UCB Long Range Development Plan, which is the target of another city lawsuit. 

“The city opposed the Underhill Master Plan in 1989, and when the city announced they were not supporting it when they went ahead with the Environmental Impact Report in 2000, the university went ahead anyway,” he said. 

“This is a huge parking structure,” Wrenn said. “They’re not just replacing the old structure; they’re expanding it.” 

Waterfront sports fields complex 

The commission also gave its blessings to creating a joint planning and review process to team their commission with other city commissions, other cities, the East Bay Regional Parks District and an assortment of sports and environmental organizations to develop a joint plan for the three-baseball-field, two-soccer-field complex to be built just south of where Gilman Street dead-ends into the waterfront. 

The parks district received $3 million in Proposition 40 Urban Parks Act funds for the projects, and the cities and other groups are also raising funds to create the playing fields in a section of the East Bay sadly lacking in public recreation facilities. 

Many meetings and more money will be needed before the project comes to fruition. 

City Councilmember Kriss Worthington appeared earlier in the meeting to plead for a full-scale hardball field at the site, but the plans include two softball fields and a high-school-scale hardball field. Both soccer fields are regulation-sized. 

During the discussion, Rhoades mentioned that the city’s Waterfront Plan could include a hotel sometime in the future on the portion of Golden Gate Fields within city limits. A hotel is one of the specific uses spelled out in the plan, Rhoades said. 

The site currently houses the track’s stables. 

Rhoades’ disclosure came three days after Mayor Tom Bates denied a report that he had told an Albany City Councilmember that a hotel was planned for the site. 

Commissioners and staff also gave short shrift to another Worthington proposal, to approve a business quota system along a small section of Euclid Avenue where restaurants, which can typically pay higher rents than merchants, are driving out other small businesses. 

“I beg you, I implore you to put this on your agenda,” said Worthington, noting that the council had twice voted unanimously to send the same request to the commission. 

But Rhoades said the council’s mandate to devote staff time to revisions of the creeks ordinance had forced the tabling of many other projects, Worthington’s included. 

Later in the meeting, Commissioner Helen Burke again raised the issue. 

“Let Kriss Worthington deal with it at his level,” said Commissioner David Tabb. 

“There aren’t that many more food services that can go in there,” added Commissioner Susan Wengraf. 

“Of all the issues we have to face, this is pretty insignificant,” said Chair Harry Pollack. 

Of more importance, most agreed, was developing a uniform policy to regulate all the various bonuses a developer can use to build structures larger than the regular codes allow.

HEALTH CARE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

In recent years, many Californians have been gouged by exorbitant hospital bills, especially those resulting from emergency room visits. Consequently, many of the uninsured avoid going to the hospital out of fear of the final price tag. In the effort to address such a serious issue, I am currently sponsoring Assembly Bill 774, which will place limits on the amount that hospitals can charge their uninsured patients. 

In order to better understand the scope of this problem, I am encouraging residents to share their stories. If you readers have been overcharged because of lack of insurance, and are facing over $10,000 in debt or even bankruptcy as a consequence, please have them contact my office at 286-1670, ext. 23. Their input will make a difference! 

Wilma Chan 

Assemblywoman, 16th District 

• 

LIBRARY MEETING 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

With regard to the Berkeley Public Library Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday, March 9, why was a meeting of such interest to the community held at the South Branch, a building with very limited space, instead of at the newly remodeled Berkeley Public Library Central building?  

The citizens of the City of Berkeley paid for this building. What could be a more appropriate use for its new meeting spaces than a meeting which directly concerns the library and the community that uses it? Choosing the South Branch location instead suggests a desire on someone’s part to limit participation and attendance at the meeting. Whose decision was this? 

Shirley Stuart 

• 

ANGEL 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

A message for Pat McCullough: Hurray for your continuing effort to aide our community. We need more heroes like you. Your heartfelt spirit, your time and energy hopefully will inspire others to follow in your footsteps. There are angels in all of us and you are the chosen one. 

Anna Marie 

• 

CLASS SIZE REDUCTION 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

As a parent of two children in the Berkeley public school system, I was confused when I read what Michelle Lawrence , superintendent wrote in regards to class size reduction, Measure B and the teachers action of work to rule (Daily Planet, March 1). For, according to the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, one of the issues of contention as laid forth in a flyer distributed to parents within the last few weeks, is also one of class size reduction. According to this flyer, “The board intends to: refuse to commit to reasonable class size limits, despite the BSEP/Measure B parcel taxes.” 

At first glance, I wondered what the problem could be. It seemed like both sides are in agreement, for Michele Lawrence, speaking for the district says, “ … the district is committed to the class size ratios we promised in Measure B. The class size averages will be 20:1 in grades K-3, 26:1 in grades 4-5, and 28:1 in grades 6-12.” 

Now, after reading between the lines, I have come to wonder if the sticking point on this issue might be that the district is speaking about averages (throughout the district), and that the teachers are speaking about fixed class size numbers for each and every class. For example, I am wondering if what the district is currently proposing would allow them to have a fifth grade of 30 students in one school, as long as there were less children in another fifth grade anywhere in the district, as long as it averaged out to 26 children. However, I am not in the know on this issue, and if my analysis is erroneous, I would appreciate the correct facts. 

But if my reading of this issue is correct, I have to say that as a parent who has watched my child suffer in classes of 30 children, that this idea of using averages across the district would be laughable if it were not so sad. What good does it do the child trapped in a class of 30, to know that across town, another fifth grader only has 25 other classmates? How can we reduce any child’s life to an average, a statistic? This makes absolutely no sense to me and as someone who voted for, and donated time working for the passage of Measure B, I am beginning to wonder if I have been duped. I understand that Measure B is up for renewal in two years; do you think the voters of Berkeley will approve it again, if this time, the district makes a mockery of its intent? 

I support the BFT in this issue and hope that they succeed in requiring that Berkeley Unified honor the intent of Measure B, that class size maximums should be written into the teachers’ contracts. What is a matter of working conditions for Berkeley’s teachers is, for Berkeley’s children, a matter of learning conditions. I urge other parents who have experienced large class sizes to voice their concern. 

Diana Rossi 

• 

PUBLIC LIBRARY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I am writing you from my grief about what is happening at the library. I had thought with the new building that the very best of all it had been would now be made real. Instead, I find that everything I love about the library is being taken away. This is a terrible way to learn the Dewey decimal system: the 300’s section has been stripped down which means the peoples’ histories, the folklore, unions, all that work that people did in the last century to build hope for a human oriented community. Much of that writing and public documentation has been casually discarded into a specially ordered dumpster. The new director of the last few years has suggested our library isn’t “balanced” enough. How dare she come into our town and strip our history out from under us before the next generations can see it! 

I had heard our library disagreed with the spying the federal government wants to do on our reading and us. I heard the library would avoid operating with scanning and reporting our reading interests. Now, I learn that this director, Jackie Griffin, has ordered and is installing the devices that scan chips she is placing in each book and that emit radioactive waves continually, possibly effecting workers health. I feel a secular sacred space in our community, source for our gathering democracy, a center where we celebrate our art and music and expression in words, grow our children’s minds and promote the best of our thinking, our library, has been raped by an interloper from the outside.  

I hear that she doesn’t believe in people working at the same place for more than three or four years. But, it’s the opposite with librarians: The longer they are there, the better they can be because they know the books best and have the most sense of the community’s history. But, she wants to fire librarians who meet the public, some who have been there for decades. She’s stripping the teens’ services that help youth find books, learn the library, and do homework. She’s installing machines to check out our books. She threatening to reduce the quilt displays that were so wonderful and remind us of the past and the incredible art done by women who are often seen as doing nothing but housework. They were historians and healers instead.  

She’s stealing our cultural heritage, and we’re paying her salary! Citizens should have had a vote about whether the chips (RFID’s) could be installed in the books and about dumping literary artifacts of our history. I say we should dump her and dump those chips and take the cost for extracting those chips out of her severance pay. And, keep the library workers; they keep the library being on a human scale. 

Nancy Delaney 

Save Our Library 

• 

THE PASSION 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Thanks very much for March 8 cartoon by Justin DeFreitas (“The Passion: Recut”). I am 75 and it brings back memories when I was in junior high school near Boston, when I was first called a Christ killer. Recently I saw a book review by Jimmy Breslin. His comment was, “It was Roman nails, Roman lumber and Roman soldiers.” 

Many thanks. 

Jack Melnick 

• 

ROSA PARKS COVERAGE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

As a parent of two (soon to be three) children at Rosa Parks Elementary School, I am often surprised at the positive attention paid to every other school in the district (except Berkeley High) while the coverage of our school remains negative. Our school went through serious changes last year, which I wasn’t supportive of. However, the changes I see this year are positive and I welcome the improvements. But I have not seen any positive coverage of Rosa Parks since last year. This creates the opinion that Rosa Parks is not a good school. Please, review our new science curriculum, as we are a science magnet, and our fabulous new teachers. We need positive coverage in order for families to feel good about Rosa Parks. We have many Spring activities planned and encourage your newspaper to cover any of them. While the news about teacher work-stoppages is important, so is the vitality of our schools. Please present a balanced portrayal of our school, there is much to love. 

Sally Torrez 

• 

FREE PRESS IN IRAQ 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The story of Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena, whose car was attacked by a U.S. tank, is relevant to the question of how committed the U.S. military leadership is to the process of democracy, including a free press, in Iraq.  

For an answer to that question we should remember the story of Army Major Charmaine Means, who was at one time assigned the task of public relations in the city of Mosul. One day in May of 2003, Major General Petraeus decided that the local TV station, controlled by Iraqis, had too much freedom. So he ordered Major Means to seize the TV station with U.S. troops. Means refused to follow that illegal order.  

For her commitment to democracy, Charmaine Means was relieved of her post. It is a classic story of the lack of any commitment from the leadership of the occupation forces to any real freedom for the Iraqi people. Charmaine Means is truly one of the real military heroes of this war, and we can find a list of such people at www.tomjoad.org.  

Jim Harris  

• 

LESS SMOG MORE SMUG 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Reading that Ms. Maio and Mr. Wozniak are proposing the city spend money on a study that considers the costs and benefits of allowing hybrid and other fuel efficient vehicles to park for free at metered spaces (“City Audit Slams Parking Enforcement Practices,” Daily Planet, March 8-10) leads me to believe they are in bed with Toyota of Berkeley. Why else would they hold the elitist ideology that such a proposal stems from? While it is essential that city policies promote cleaner air, the majority of city residents are in no position to spend upwards of $30,000.00 to receive the perk of free meter parking. Why can’t we all be special? 

L.J. Cranmer  

• 

SCHOOL LABOR DISPUTE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Regarding the labor dispute between BUSD and the teachers’ union: as a parent, I’m sympathetic to the teachers’ situation and respect how hard they work to educate my children. As a taxpayer, I appreciate Superintendent Michele Lawrence for straightening out the school district’s incredible financial mess and avoiding a state takeover of our school district.  

The person who so richly deserves criticism is our governor who has broken his promise to fully fund education and made it even more difficult for the cash-strapped BUSD to satisfactorily and speedily resolve the contract dispute. Write to the governor today and tell him how he’s hurting your children, teachers, and community. 

Brenda Buxton 

• 

AC TRANSIT BUSES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

AC Transit’s Jaimie Levin (Letters, Daily Planet, March 8-10) correctly pointed out what I failed to mention—the one, single advantage of the new Van Hool buses: Tthe passenger enters almost on curb level, instead of climbing up the two steps of the older buses. However, she neglected to add that, while the passenger climbs up those entry steps in the older bus, the bus is standing still. 

The new buses are MOVING while the passenger climbs up a steep step into a seat, climbs down from the seat, searches for a button to signal departure, searches for something to hang onto while getting to the exit, then searches there for the button that works the electric door opener. 

Dorothy Bryant 

• 

MORE ON BUSES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

In a March 8 letter, Jaimie Levin of AC Transit defends the Van Hool fleet of buses, without using comparative statistics. Ask riders which bus they’d rather ride in, and I suspect you’ll get different answers. The Van Hool’s have a teeth rattling ride, few seats with a good view, awkward ‘stop’ buttons, and third doors that rarely get used. This may be the latest European design, but when it comes to a bus, I prefer comfort over style. 

Bryce Nesbitt 

• 

BUSH’S DECISION-MAKING 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Thank you for publishing Bob Burnett’s article (Daily Planet, March 8-10) which analyzes and critiques Bush’s decision-making process. I am not convinced by the analysis in the article and, if I assume the analysis is correct, I disagree with the critique. 

The analysis (how he thinks the Bush administration operates) is too reductionist. I’ve little doubt that Burnett is probably right that the administration uses “blink”-style decision making in some situations. I question, deeply, the suggestion I see in Burnett’s analysis that “blink” is either unselfcritically applied by the administration or that it’s application is the result of a cult of loyalty rather than the result of a rational process. 

Nevertheless, if we assume that “blink” is one of the most important aspects of the administration, Burnett’s critique falls flat: 

First, Burnett should probably leave off trying to keep up with the technical and military game-playing questions that determine the wisdom of a NMD program. Bush does not operate in a vacuum and Burnett’s assumptions about the goals and technical status of the NMD program strike me as plainly naive for widely-known reasons that I will not rehearse here. He has heard that some geeks at MIT critique the program and that it is unlikely to protect the world from a cold-war-style global thermonuclear war —I agree with those facts—but Burnett then assumes that such absolute protection is the NMD goal and that the critiques from geeks condemn the program (in fact, they strengthen it). 

Second, Burnett conflates “blink” decision making with hubris. Making an analogy in the language of math, I think that “blink” and hubris are “orthogonal axes”: one can make blink decisions with or without hubris; one can display hubris with or without blink decision making. If Bush is guilty of hubris, his presumed use of “blink” decision making does not prove the charge. 

As a professional engineer (which might be accurately described as a career concerned with the craft of making practical decisions) I could write an essay defending this claim: refusal to rely on blink decisions when they are the best option, if such refusal is based on an arrogant and non-scientific philosophy, is hubris—in the mundane world of commercial engineering, there are countless examples of companies and projects that fail, hard, for that very reason. I don’t see any reason why global geopolitics should be very different from more mundane engineering, in that regard. 

Tom Lord 

• 

DOWNTOWN BART STATION 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

This is the time to think about replacing the “drum” at the main downtown BART entrance, since BART is considering redesigning the downtown station and the city is doing planning to redesign the BART plaza.  

This faceless steel and glass structure at downtown BART should be replaced with something that works as a symbol of Berkeley, since this station is a major gateway to Berkeley, and since its position at a curve in the street makes it a very prominent building that is visible for a long distance down Shattuck Avenue. 

Replacing the drum itself should not cost much. It is as big as a small house, but it is just a shell, with no interior walls, no wiring, no plumbing, and no cost of land, so replacing it would cost much less than building a small house. 

I suggest that the city should hold a design contest. Invite people to submit conceptual designs to replace the drum that are appropriate symbols of Berkeley. I expect that many local architects, architecture students, and community groups would be interested in creating a design for such a prominent location—arguably the most prominent location in Berkeley.  

I myself would like to see something in Maybeck style, with vine-covered trellises, using modern materials rather than wood to reduce the cost of maintenance. But, this being Berkeley, I am sure that there would be many other good ideas. 

If we replaced the sterile BART that we now have with something more attractive, it would be a catalyst for further revitalization of downtown.  

Charles Siegel 

• 

CREDIT 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

You max-out 16 credit cards and what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt. St. Peter, don’t you call me ‘cause I can’t go. I owe my soul to the credit card whores… (With apologies to the late Tennessee Ernie Ford). 

James K. Sayre 

Oakland 

• 

DERBY FIELD 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Sometimes things are not that complicated. 

Three members of the School Board decided Wednesday night to deny children in this city something they need—a baseball field—because a powerful and well-connected neighborhood wanted them to. 

The politics of this fight has always been about avoiding the third rail this neighborhood represents. The board did a favor for every politician in this town by again avoiding touching that rail. They did a favor for their superintendent by not asking her to take on this issue, and she in turn did them a favor by giving them cover arguments about staff time and money. And of course, these three did themselves a favor by not revisiting a process that was obviously confusing and flawed. 

They did a favor for everyone except the children. 

James Day 

• 

WORD FREEDOM 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Freeing words from ideas and thoughts frees them for mischief. We have heard unprovoked invasion called pre-emptive strike; a trust fund that may shrink to zero 30 years from now called a crisis; no child is left behind but the schools themselves are in front; the only patriots are those supporting the Patriot Act.  

Politicians, journalists, commentators, critics, writers and poets are word merchants: Their work produces words and only words. They are the specialists. They don’t have to be eloquent but they ought to be clear. They don’t have to be grammarians but guardians of the nexus between words and meaning. 

Today’s word merchants have become word mercenaries; they produce words for a price. Ignoring the nexus they spin words to suit and support any purpose whatsoever. The first turn is word change: “Gaming’ is better than “gambling”, in reference to security “homeland” is preferred to “national,” “personal” and “individual” are preferable to “private,” and on and on.  

Word mercenaries have mastered the lesson Humpty Dumpty taught Alice. “When I use a word it means just what I choose it to mean… neither more nor less.”  

To make words serve any purpose so that any word may mean the opposite of what it says obliterates any chance of distinguishing between fact and fiction, science and dogma, truth and falsehood, reason and faith.  

As Humpty Dumpty explained the question is who is to be master.  

Marvin Chachere 

San Pablo

Click here to view the latest work by Planet cartoonist Justin DeFreitasÿ

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina—Brazil is scrambling to appear in control of the eco-conflict raging in the Amazon rainforest. After the assassination of 73-year-old environmentalist Dorothy Stang (an American and a nun), Brazil’s president has sought to make up, in weeks, for years of inertia on the Amazon issue.  

But an overview of some of the leading newspaper commentators and environmental reporters in Brazil and Latin America reveals that green activists have little confidence that President Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva will be able to save even patches of rainforest without renewed dedication and serious reform.  

Most worrisome to environmentalists is the fact that the interests of agribusiness seem to be trumping any hope of a sustainable future in the Amazon.  

President Lula is doing too little too late to cover up for his ineffectiveness on the environment, writes Elio Gaspari, an influential columnist for Rio daily newspaper O Globo. Sister Dorothy, he writes “got six bullets from the same reality that killed Chico Mendes,” the internationally known rainforest crusader and rubber-tapper assassinated by ranchers in 1988, who became the first martyr for the Amazon cause.  

After the Feb. 12 assassination, Lula announced he would protect some 8 million hectares of rainforest from logging and signed a decree creating conservation areas covering over half that expanse, with more on the drawing board. He also deployed 2,000 troops to the area and created a new specialized forestry service to rein in illegal loggers.  

Those are nice gestures, writes Lucio Flavio Pinto, an environmental journalist from the Amazon. But plans like those announced by Lula often come to nothing once they face the realities of the jungle. “Once the meetings in urban and civilized settings are over ... it is incompetent and corrupt officials in the outback that are entrusted to implement the plans,” Pinto writes in the Feb. 28 edition of his newsletter, Jornal Pessoal.  

The challenges are multiplied in the most conflict-ridden areas of the Amazon, like the Terra do Meio (Portuguese for “Middle Lands”) the Texas-sized region in the southern Amazon’s Para state, where Stang was killed. The noose is tightening around the region bordered by the Amazon, Tapajos and Xingu rivers. Loggers, land speculators and ranchers are increasingly making incursions into what is still mostly pristine jungle and indigenous lands.  

In fact, the government is moving ahead with plans to pave BR-163, a highway that bisects the southern Amazon through Terra do Meio. BR-163 is still only a dirt track for most its length (and impassable in the rainy season). Brazilian media have already dubbed it the “Soybean Highway” because agribusiness is the main force pushing for it to be paved. The idea is to get soybeans (the current darling of Brazil’s export economy) quickly and cheaply loaded onto barges, down the Amazon to the Atlantic, through the Panama Canal, and on to hungry markets like China’s.  

But for environmentalists, the plan to pave BR-163 symbolizes everything that is wrong with Lula’s Amazon policy.  

The Amazon’s history shows the destruction of the rainforest is inextricably linked to road building. The military government’s construction of the Trans-Amazon in the 1960s and 1970s, meant to extend their authority to the jungle frontier, led to a chaotic mass migration of poor workers and resulted in the mind-numbing deforestation statistics of today.  

It’s no coincidence that Stang, who helped run a sustainable agriculture collective and denounced the violent tactics of land speculators and loggers, was killed near Anapu, which is on the Trans-Amazon. The highway radiates violence and predatory exploitation—satellite maps show how scars of deforestation emanate out into the greenness of the forest.  

The environmental movement is also disappointed that Lula, for the first time, has allowed the planting of genetically modified soybeans in Brazil, another surprising concession to big agribusiness.  

People like María Tereza Jorge Pádua, a well-known rainforest activist and founder of green organization Funatura, writes in on-line eco-journal O Eco that she felt especially betrayed that environmental minister Marina Silva, who fought alongside Chico Mendes in the 1980s, and who should know better, offered only “unconvincing” opposition to the “destructive” BR-163 plan.  

BR-163’s paving will fill the pockets of speculators who already are snapping up land along BR-163’s margins in Terra do Meio. The land rush has begun, and “grileiros,” a word coined in Brazilian Portuguese for those who usurp land by fraudulent or violent means, already are the law of the land.  

That’s why in a Feb. 25 letter to Brazil’s attorney general, Greenpeace and 17 other organizations pleaded for more aggressive crime-fighting. “Terra do Meio’s population ... lives in terror of a web of grileiros and ranchers.”  

In a community meeting convened by NGO Instituto Socioambiental to discuss BR-163’s paving, an indigenous man, Aka Panará, spoke of personal fears that may prove prophetic. “We are all very worried about the road’s paving,” he said. “Will it eat up all our earth and leave us hungry?”  

Marcelo Ballve writes about Latin America and was a reporter with the Associated Press in Brazil.›

Fake Bomber Bust 

Anthony Cassidy, the man suspected of using a fake pipe bomb to rob a Berkeley bank Jan. 27, was arrested in Castroville on Monday, said Berkeley Police spokesperson Officer Joe Okies. 

Investigators believe Anthony Cassidy was the man who entered the Mechanics Bank at 2301 Shattuck Ave. on a Friday afternoon and presented the clerks at the Thomas Cooke Currency Exchange with a package and a demand note promising he’d detonate a bomb if they didn’t fork over the cash. 

He fled with the cash, leaving the package behind. 

Berkeley Police evacuated the area and sealed of a stretch of Shattuck Avenue while they set out to neutralize what they soon discovered was a non-explosive fake. 

According to published accounts, the 54-year-old Cassidy was arrested by detectives from San Francisco and San Leandro, where he is suspected of other robberies. Additional cases come from Oakland. 

Non-Robber Cuffed 

A 50-year-old man was arrested at the Ashby BART station late Wednesday evening, March 2, after a botched robbery attempt at the nearby Black and White Liquors on Adeline Street. 

The suspect entered the store, using the old fake-gun-in-the-pocket routine, then fled when he recognized that his acting wasn’t stellar quality. Police quickly arrived, slapping on the cuffs within a few short minutes. 

Dealer Nabbed 

Responding to a call from a concerned citizen about drug dealing in the mini-park near the corner of Allston Way and Tenth Street, officers arrived in time to bust a 30-year-old man for possession of crack cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and probation violation. 

Armed Robber Sought 

Police are seeking a gunman who robbed two women outside the Ashby BART Station just after 7 a.m. Monday, said Officer Okies. He departed in an older-model white car of indeterminate make. 

Stabber Stopped 

Police arrested a 46-year-old woman on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon after she stabbed her 51-year-old victim with a pen-knife. Fortunately for both the victim and his assailant, the weapon had a short blade. The stabbed was treated at the scene by paramedics and the stabber was given an armed escort to the pokey. 

Trio Takes Wallet 

Three young gunmen relieved a 27-year-old man of his wallet and its contents as he strolled along Shattuck Avenue near the corner of Kittredge Street shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday, said Officer Okies. 

Uncertain Bandit 

A gunman, estimated to be in his 30s, walked into the Oceanview Market at 1458 Sixth St. around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, weapon in hand and apparently intent on robbing the place. 

Something spooked him, because he turned and fled, mounted atop his trusty mountain bike. 

Attempted robbery 

Two pedestrians were strolling along the 1600 block of Tenth Street just after 11:30 Wednesday night when three suspects walked up behind them and uttered something that sounded intimidating in a language their would-be victims didn’t understand. 

When two of the unintelligible trio proceeded to pull pistols, the pedestrians hot-footed it away and made a call to police. 

The mysterious three had also boogied by the time the cavalry arrived. 

?

“The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive. Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given th ee, thy beautiful flock?” Jeremiah 13:19-20 (King James Version) 

It seems almost fantastic, doesn’t it, looking at it from the perspective of today’s situation, but five years ago the Oakland public schools were in the middle of a renaissance, a golden p eriod in which confidence in our schools was growing, and hope was high. After years of patient work by many people, Oakland had finally pulled itself out of the doldrums and public school scandals of the ‘80s. 

A popular new mayor was in place who promis ed to put Oakland on the map. A popular new school superintendent had been hired—a prodigal son returned—with an involved and activist school board willing to carry out ambitious plans for accountability and reform. Almost 85 percent of Oakland voters pas sed Measure A in 2000, the $300 million school bond ballot measure that approved the city’s first real school expansion since the building of Skyline High School in the ‘60s. Later that year, when the district granted teachers nearly a 25 percent pay rais e, bringing them up—at long last—to the Bay Area average, Oakland had reached a high water mark, and had every reason to look forward to a promising future. 

Today the Oakland school district is in tatters, controlled by the State of California, disdainfu l of Oakland citizens, schools being sold off to the first bidders, rapidly being dismantled before our very eyes. No one can remember a lower point in the city’s school history, even following the 1973 assassination of School Superintendent Marcus Foster. How could that have come to be? What is it Oaklanders did so wrong, to be so cruelly struck by such a fate? 

With no public hearings or grand jury investigations (yet) called to provide us with an answer to such questions, and with no body of public off icials from the East Bay up to Sacramento willing to come forward to level with us, we are forced to try to come up with theories on our own, sifting through facts which may—at first—seem entirely unrelated. 

Let us sift. 

We find that in November of 2002, Oakland voters overwhelmingly passed another bond measure, this one by an 80-20 margin, the $198 million Measure DD, the so-called “water improvement bond.” Included in the bond measure’s projects are two which are relevant to our present inquiries: 1) redesign of 12th Street to create pedestrian and bicycle access from Lake Merritt to Kaiser Convention Center and Channel Park, and 2) the catchall “other Lake Merritt Channel and shoreline improvements.” 

The Lake Merritt Channel, for those who are w ondering, is the creek that connects the western portion of Lake Merritt to the estuary, running under the 12th Street/14th Street “highway” across from the Convention Center, opening up in parkways adjacent to Laney College and the Peralta College Distri ct administrative offices on East Eighth Street. 

In its October/November 2002 California Sustainer News Online newsletter prior to the bond vote, the California Clean Water Action & Clean Water Fund of San Francisco described how the Lake Merritt Channel portion of Measure DD was supposed to be: 

“In addition to the improvements that will be made to [Lake Merritt] and its infrastructure there will be moneys earmarked for acquisition of tidal wetlands and areas along the estuary. These areas will become p art of a waterfront park system that Oakland can be proud of. … [A] new park, Meadow Park, would be located on the east side of the mouth of Lake Merritt Channel. … Central to the plan would be the replacement of the 12th street culvert and the removal of the Tenth Street culvert. … Roadways on Lake Merritt’s south shore will be replaced by a system of roads and walkways that will provide for safe pedestrian access to the park as well as allowing for pedestrian and bicycle access to Channel Park and the K aiser convention center.” 

If you stood on the East 8th Street bridge over the channel in late 2002 and looked east towards the hills, you would have seen a long run of public-owned land all the way to the lake itself, from Peralta and Laney at its western end, past the back of the Second Street Oakland Unified School District headquarters on the right, and then the Convention Center on the left, and it would have been easy to imagine a gorgeous public park running all along that path, funded entirely by Oaklanders for the use of all Oaklanders, the first opening of a major Oakland waterway in living memory. 

Hard to hold onto that vision now, in the light of recent events. 

Thanks to a tentative agreement between outgoing Peralta Colleges trustees and Oakland developer Alan Dones’ Strategic Urban Development Alliance, instead of public parkland along on the Peralta and Laney portions at the channel’s western end, we may see private condominiums and other commercial development that blocks out the public’s access to the waterway. 

And this week, after state-appointed OUSD Administrator Randolph Ward had said for two years that he had no plans to sell the district’s 2nd Street Administration Building, an ominous paragraph began a story in the Oakland Tribune: “The Oakland school district is looking for a developer to remake its administration buildings and campuses near Lake Merritt in order to bring in more money for schools and generally improve the neighborhood. In what may be one of the first steps in a huge redevelopment of the Eastlake area, Oakland school State Administrator Randolph Ward formally requested development proposals last week for almost 10 acres of valuable district land between Tenth and 12th streets. Developing the property, including the historic but dilapidated Paul Robeson administration building, has ‘been talked about for so long and no one’s ever done anything,’ Ward said. ‘I really don’t know what folks will come up with, but I’m certainly excited about the prospects.’” 

Becaus e of the Oakland school takeover, approval for such an OUSD Lake Merritt Channel development project no longer has to go through the now-powerless Oakland School Board, or through Oakland citizens, to whom the property belongs. Stating what ought to be ob vious, the Tribune article reminded us that “any proposals ultimately would have to be approved in Sacramento by the state superintendent’s office.” 

And to demonstrate how rapidly these events are moving, two days after Ward’s announcement, the Tribune r an another story beginning: “Faced with a multimillion-dollar shortfall, [Oakland] is considering closing the [90 year old] Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center.”  

Standing on the East Eighth Street bridge over the Lake Merritt Channel in 2005 and looking e ast towards the hills, instead of seeing an opening of public parklands all the way to the lake, you now see the distinct possibility of publicly-financed development standing to make somebody—or somebodies—millions and millions and millions of dollars, a nd those somebodies ain’t going to be the majority of Oaklanders. 

This all could have been fate, or unlucky accident, or God’s punishment of Oakland for some past transgressions. It could be merely vultures swooping in smelling blood in the water, taking an advantage of a weakened and weakening Oakland democracy. But from Measure DD to the Oakland school takeover to the Paul Robeson Buildings and Laney/Peralta private development proposals, you have to wonder in a tiny corner of the back of your mind…was this all part of a more secular plan, all the way from the beginning, to make a windfall profit at the bottom of Lake Merritt? If that were actually true, who, then, would be responsible for destroying Oakland’s hard work and dreams, for fleecing this po or city, and for taking its flock? 

An interesting question, don’t you think? 



The March 4 Undercurrents column by J.Douglas Allen-Taylor (“When Objective Investigators Become Activists”) contains some serious mis-statements and factual errors that require correction.  

First and foremost, the incident that took place at Pat McCullough’s residence was not a “vigilante shooting” but an act of self-defense by a man rushed on his own property by five or six young men, one of whom attacked him, aided by others who were throwing objects at and cornering him between his car and his house, 20 feet up his driveway. The incident began when one of them said “there’s the snitch” when he was walking to his car to go shopping. 

Second, the incident had nothing to do with the Shattuck Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (misidentified as the “North Central Oakland NCPC,” a non-existent organization). Pat McCullough’s activities have been, as correctly characterized by Lt. Green, mostly solitary and focused on his end of 59th Street, so much so that he was not even involved in the nuisance lawsuit against two households at the other end of the block where Melvin McHenry lives, households that spawned much of the drug dealing and violence that plagues 59th Street and the surrounding area. Pat is a homebody devoted to his family and concerned about things going on outside his house that affect him and his family.  

Third, in the 10 years he has lived on 59th Street, Pat McCullough has never been accused of assault nor charged with any crime. He has, however, been attacked once before and threatened by drug dealers who do not appreciate his frequent calls to the police. The last attack by the late Wayne Camper a year and a half ago was almost identical to the recent one and led to the prosecution of Camper by the district attorney because of the egregious nature of the intimidation and physical attack on McCullough by Camper and two associates, again on McCullough’s property. That attack left McCullough with seven stitches and the fear that he might not survive while it was going on. The trial was not completed because Camper died on the street while it was in progress, a victim of the border war of that year. Mr. Allen-Taylor’s omission of this formative event suggests that either he did not do his homework or perhaps is himself biased in the way that he suggests the police are in their handling of this matter.  

And that brings up an important fourth matter, the police. It is important to note that Lt. Green, who has publicly defended McCullough, is not one of the responding officers who took statements and wrote up reports about the shooting. His opinions are not part of the official record. He is the commander of the Crime Reduction Team and the Problem Solving (community policing) Officers who work on the priorities and projects identified by the NCPCs. The responding officers wrote up the official reports and are responsible for their accuracy. Officers assigned to conduct the follow-up investigation are from the Criminal Investigations Division with a different commander again. Though people would like to believe that police departments are a united team, they are bureaucracies in most big cities, with one bureau working independently of the others. Criminal charges are drawn up by the district attorney, who relies on police reports in deciding whether to charge anyone with a crime. To date no charges have been brought, suggesting that this is not a slam-dunk case of vigilante aggression as Mr. Allen-Taylor incorrectly asserts. 

A fifth mischaracterization is the non-representative character of the NCPC, implying that community policing represents the interests of a small, exclusive group. The fact is that the entire population of the beat is invited to participate in the community policing process. For the annual meeting, when representatives are elected to work with the police in the monthly meetings, invitations go out to every address in the beat, normally about 3,000 for Beat 11. Like our political elections, not everyone responds by attending and voting, nor can they be forced to participate. Does this mean we do not have a democratic form of government? The ones who do choose to participate decide the policies and activities of community policing in the beat. Their charge is to develop policies and actions that benefit the entire population of the beat with the exception of the criminals who bring violence and drugs into the streets of our neighborhoods.  

The Shattuck NCPC has worked with Pat McCullough on the issues of crime on 59th Street and the traffic barrier at the Shattuck end, two issues that affected him and the block powerfully. It would not be correct to say that he is an active participant in daily and monthly NCPC activities. As stated before, the NCPC works for the interests of the entire beat and relies on group action and partnering with the police and other city agencies. It will protect and defend any citizen in the beat who is threatened or attacked by criminals as Pat McCullough was twice. The NCPC came forward both times, and will again. Intimidation and retaliation are the chilling threat and debilitating nightmare to citizens working to end street-level crime of the type that 59th Street experiences. The police and citizens alike recognize this fact and respond to retaliation with a zero tolerance policy, as they should and must if community policing is going to succeed in its perennial effort to improve the quality of life in the city’s 57 beats. Community policing is official city policy. Lt. Green’s actions are consistent with that policy and in no way jeopardize the legal process as Mr. Allen-Taylor asserts. 

The way that citizens from other areas of the city have rallied around Pat McCullough, without even knowing him, demonstrates the widespread understanding of the importance of citizens being able to work with the police to eliminate street level crime without the fear of retaliation. The incident on 59th St. is all about citizen action, criminal retaliation, and the right of a citizen to defend himself and his family from harm when attacked. Law-abiding citizens do not accuse a person of being a snitch and then attack him as a group and threaten to shoot him. The situation at its most basic starts from that simple fact.  

Don Link is the chair of the Shattuck Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council. h

Something important was missing from the recent exchange in the Daily Planet’s letters section about Office of Transportation Director Peter Hillier’s untimely departure from the Thousand Oaks Neighborhood Association’s Feb. 24 meeting on traffic and parking—namely, the “pointed questions,” as letter-writer Jerry Landis put it, that moved Mr. Hillier to declare that he had “been insulted” and to walk out.  

I was the one who posed those questions, as president of TONA and moderator of the meeting. They all dealt with the changes to Marin Avenue that the City Council approved on Jan. 25. In the name of improved safety, pedestrian islands and two through auto lanes on Marin are to be replaced by a center-lefthand turn lane and two bicycle lanes.  

Here’s what I asked:  

1. Why weren’t north Berkeley residents consulted when this project was being planned?  

The project had a public hearing at the Transportation Commission Oct. 21, the same night as TONA’s candidates forum. I called transportation staffer Heath Maddox to ask that the hearing be continued to the commission’s next meeting and followed up my call with an e-mail making the same request. To my knowledge, the e-mail was not forwarded to the commission, which on Oct. 21 unanimously approved the project.  

I’d also objected to Mr. Maddox about the lack of prior consultation with affected residents. He said that there’d been ample public input when the Berkeley Bicycle Plan had been formulated. I have since discovered that the Bicycle Plan itself says that “[w]hen planning for a specific bikeway begins, neighboring businesses and residents will be contacted to solicit their input. Public workshops will be held to gather input from the public at large.” No such workshops were held in connection with the Marin reconfiguration. Why not?  

2. Why does a project ostensibly devoted to pedestrian safety call for removing pedestrian islands?  

The Jan. 25 staff report to the City Council, signed by Mr. Hillier, asserts that “the overall benefits of the project outweigh the benefits of these islands at an intersection [Marin and Colusa] where pedestrian safety is already enhanced by the traffic signals themselves. Furthermore, the crossing distance across Marin Avenue at this intersection will remain shorter than normal because of the right-turn islands on the southeast and northwest corners.”  

I’m not persuaded that the remaining, right-turn islands shorten the distance across Marin at Colusa. To my eye, the edges of those islands are about even with the edges of the sidewalk curb. Moreover, in the hundreds if not thousands of times in the past fifteen years that I’ve crossed this intersection, I’ve often stepped up onto the median island because I couldn’t get across the street on a single green light. Without that raised concrete refuge, the trip will seem and, I believe, actually be, less safe.  

In a Jan. 4 letter to the City Council, pedestrian advocate Wendy Alfsen wrote: “The Marin modification would seem more helpful to pedestrians if one or two intersections were improved, possibly by the addition of sidewalk extensions and mid-crossing protected refuges.” Why wasn’t this alternative pursued?  

3. Why was the Albany police enforcement of “pedestrian violations” cited as evidence that law enforcement can’t reduce speeds on Marin?  

It’s generally agreed that people drive too fast on Marin. So why not try reducing speeds by ticketing speeders? According to city staff, that’s exactly what the Albany police attempted for the better part of a year, and it didn’t work. The Dec. 14 staff report to the council states: “A nine-month program of targeted enforcement on Marin Avenue in Albany yielded a .4 mph reduction in speeds, leading the Albany chief of police to recommend an engineering solution.”  

In December, I began to wonder exactly how many speeders the Albany police had ticketed. When I asked Mr. Maddox for this and other specifics, he referred me to Albany Transportation Planner Cherry Chaircharn. She didn’t have any details either. But she queried the Albany police and within a few days sent me an e-mail stating among other things that the motorists cited by the police were drivers who had failed to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.  

“Pedestrian violation enforcement,” as it’s called, is a good thing. But it’s different from ticketing speeders, and it shouldn’t have been cited by city staff to discredit speed violation enforcement on Marin. Why was it?  

4. What was the actual cause of the pedestrian fatality last summer?  

On June 2, 2004, on Marin at Modoc, a 73-year-old man was struck by a westbound vehicle in the median lane while crossing Marin southbound in the crosswalk on the east side of Modoc. He died in the hospital a week and a half later.  

Supporters of the Marin project repeatedly invoked this very sad event to demonstrate the street’s danger to pedestrians and to argue for eliminating two of its through auto lanes. On Jan. 25, Mr. Hillier told the council that “[the June 2 incident] happened to be a case where the two lanes of through movement were the primary cause of the fatality.”  

But in a memo to the Transportation Commission dated July 10, 2004, Mr. Hillier wrote: “The elderly man ran into the road….According to witnesses, [he] did not look to see the traffic approaching while crossing the street.” Mr. Hillier added: “The Berkeley Police Department did not charge the driver in this incident, noting that the pedestrian’s actions were the primary cause of the collision.”  

These two accounts appear to contradict each other. Which is accurate? If it’s the latter, why didn’t staff make that clear to the council?  

Until these and other questions about the Marin changes are answered, public doubts about the project and the officials who orchestrated and okayed it will persist.  

Zelda Bronstein is president of the Thousand Oaks Neighborhood Association. The views expressed here are her own.  

o

Jared Diamond, author of Pulitzer-Prize Winning book Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Society, states unequivocally that one of the greatest risks humanity faces is clinging to recipes of the past that worked well for decades, but can no longer work under changed circumstances of the present and future. Collapse, his latest work, hints at a critical failing in the planning/design process in Berkeley. 

This term also characterizes with near perfection the situation with the proposed David Brower Center (DBC), to be built on top of the current site of a banal asphalt surface parking lot in the heart of downtown Berkeley. 

The City of Berkeley and several distinguished environmental groups are teaming and hoping to build a small city of affordable housing units, small retail storefronts, and nonprofit office space at the Oxford site in downtown Berkeley. The structure itself is designed to meet rigorous standards of green and sustainable building practices, hopefully even qualifying for U.S. Green Building Council LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification.  

Unfortunately the entire project is based on a foundation that reflects the thinking of a bygone century. The entire structure of the deal is predicated on the basis that parking for private passenger automobiles, which worked pretty well in Berkeley in the 20th century, will be the foundation for this 21st century project. With the specter of oil depletion and runaway price increases for the remaining and rapidly declining global reserves of petroleum indisputably on the immediate horizon, the team of Berkeley city officials, a private affordable housing developer known as RCD (Resources for Community Development) and a coalition of wonderful environmental groups, are all lining up to support a project with a 20th century design, five years after we have crossed over the turn of the spigot, er, century. 

Although the building site is in an active earthquake zone, and putting parking underneath high rise structures such as the proposed DBC is the best-known way to compromise a building’s ability to sustain and survive an earthquake, the proposed DBC—which I have nicknamed the DBEC, for David Brower Epicenter—is becoming a lightning rod for controversies regarding Berkeley’s automobile dependency and related perceived shortage of parking stalls for that dependency. It is an unfortunate fact that few citizens of Berkeley, and even members of environmental groups, have come to understand that the very concept of the urban private passenger automobile, whether greenwashed or not, is obsolete in the 21st century. 

The determination Berkeley, and its distinguished citizens such as members of the Downtown Berkeley Association (DBA) are showing to lock this project into becoming an underground parking lot as well as a center for sustainability is an excellent demonstration of Jarod Diamond’s assertion that societies can and will destroy themselves with ideas of the past that worked well in the past but are doomed to failure in the future. 

I believe this project could go forward much faster and with a much better investment in our non-fossil fueled but earthquake prone future, by spending the $5 million the underground parking garage expense represents, on light rail connecting the DBC to the Berkeley Marina, via Allston or Kittredge streets. These streets flank the building site, (and lead almost directly west barely one mile to a beautiful new streetcar-sized walk and bike bridge over the bayfilled, gridlocked, and quake vulnerable highway 80). Those two Kittredge and Allston blocks of crumbling, petroleum based asphalt could easily become free downtown real estate to support the project, by eliminating their current use as one-block ending streets. This would also make possible a car-free-zone flanking north, west and south exposures of the David Brower Center. 

This could expedite restoration of ferry service to the Berkeley Marina, as well as avoid a host of issues that the DBC plan as proposed and unveiled Jan. 19, violates: building guidelines and requirements as expressed in the current but hopelessly auto oriented Berkeley municipal codes and Berkeley General Plan. To proceed with the current plan, variances will have to be sought and obtained to accept substandard sidewalks widths for pedestrians, construction near, or even directly atop protected Strawberry Creek, and a menu of many other thorny issues. 

No one wants to notice the fabulous openable windows the developer is so proud of allowing for this huge proposed development, will open out to intake the exhaust of hot SUV tailpipes which by this absurd design will regularly gridlock and surround this high density proposed development. This makes a mockery of the LEED standards which apply to the building only, but have no bearing on locating same building directly above an underground parking lot surrounded by already jammed streets of honking, smoking, oil, gas, and profanity leaking private internal combustion vehicles. 

Yet the environmental groups to be headquartered here have raised almost no objection to the inclusion of cars-as-usual in what is so obviously 20th century thinking of what the 21st century cannot become. Environmental groups also seem locked into thinking in 20th century terms for the future, and the debate around the almighty automobile has become not whether it can succeed in the future (it can’t) but just how green private cars can become. The following appears in the 1991 book Autogeddon, by Heathcote Williams: 

The pollution-free car is as green as pus: 

its heat creates drought, 

Killing even those  

who never aspire to a car. 

...A mother collecting her children from school 

In a car covered with worthy stickers 

Expressing ecological concern 

Innocently understudies Mother Kali 

With her rosary of skulls. 

I have to close with reference to some words of Walt Kelly, which David Ross Brower so often cited, and which seem to have become the motif for this entire absurdly auto-oriented project: “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” 

I am in favor of streetcar and ferry restoration, as well as state of the art bicycle parking and pedestrian and disabled facilities. My vision is a wonderful and wildly popular car-free zone flanking the David Brower Center on its north, west, and south sides. The cost of a mere one mile streetcar run to the Berkeley Marina from the DBC is about $10 million. The cost of not doing this is incalculable, but the cement underground gridlocked parking lot in the current proposal, is about $5 million, with costs of cement manufacturing and bulldozing the site unknown until after it’s done, sort of like the alleged new bay bridge. And the cost of keeping Strawberry Creek cemented under the tailpipes is the cost of recreating free running creek elsewhere. 

I humbly and modestly take off my hat, which is a bicycle helmet, and beg the City of Berkeley, and Resources for Community Development, to vision a sustainable future for the David Brower Center and redraw it along these expanded auto-free lines. Seek the extra $5 million needed for the streetcar run, from the Water Transit Authority, private donors, and a host of other sources. It can be done.  

I realize I am begging, hat in hand, for a refund on reality, and I fit right in with the homeless street beggars and their chances, too. 

James G. Doherty is CEO of APT Enterprises. 

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As a parent-member of the Academic Choice Design Team, I have an emphatic answer to School Boardmember Terry Doran’s question (Daily Planet, Feb. 18), “Does [Academic Choice] lead to a better Berkeley High School or a better Berkeley High School for some students?” Those of us associated with the program all believe that it will lead to a better Berkeley High for all students and are prepared to work to see that it does. A better Berkeley High, as Principal Jim Slemp has said repeatedly, is a Berkeley High that offers many excellent choices so that every student can find a program or school that meets their personal needs. Small schools are great places for some students and BHS is developing a variety of fine small schools. Do CAS and CP Academy make BHS a better school for all, or just for the 500 or so students in those two small schools combined? I’d say they make the whole school better, both because they offer a quality choice to students with specific interests and needs and because other, different programs can adapt and benefit from some of the things that those small schools do well, such as creating community to support students.  

Some students, like my child, are not ready in the ninth grade to focus their studies in one area and prefer the variety of options offered in a large school to the security and more personal atmosphere of a small school. Academic Choice is a program within the large school that aims to keep the academic bar high while serving the full diversity of students at BHS. It will provide its students with a rigorous course of study in English and history, leaving students free to choose math, science and electives from the wide range of offerings in the large school, at the same time encouraging them to complete the UC a-g subject requirements and take the most challenging classes appropriate to them. We believe that having such a program in the large school strengthens it and we hope to be able to expand the program over time (while maintaining diversity equal to that of the school as a whole) so that it is available to all students who want to participate. 

Over the last few months Academic Choice has changed from being a group of teachers with a similar educational philosophy to being an organized program working on building community, increasing diversity, and developing a structure that gives students, teachers and parents an opportunity to have input. We are also intent on creating a system of student support that will provide all students in the program with extra help as needed. The AP Project, a tutoring/mentoring program that works to increase the number of students from historically underrepresented groups to attend college, is assisting us in this area.  

We don’t claim that Academic Choice is the best option for every student; no option is. But we do believe that it is an excellent option for any student who plans to go to college. Students entering ninth and tenth grade next fall will not be applying to a single school or program. They will be ranking the available options in their order of preference, then, via lottery, assigned in a way that assures that all small schools and Academic Choice reflect the same diversity as BHS as a whole. Students may not be assigned to their first choice, so they need to think about their preferred alternatives. We hope parents and students will not dismiss Academic Choice based on old stereotypes and will instead find out what all the choices are and consider making Academic Choice a first or alternate preference.  

Marilyn Boucher is a member of the Academic Choice Design Team.3

Stained yellow teeth, wheezing fits, sudden cravings, bad breath, and eventual death. All symptoms of smoking. But look on the bright side, you won’t need any more cough drops. What a deal, for only as little as $165 per month, for an average smoker. The tobacco industry advertises in order to lure in its biggest target: youths between the ages of 10 and 20. Studies show that teenagers are heavily influenced by tobacco advertising. In 1998, surveys found that the tobacco industry was one of the top 10 advertisers in at least 18 countries. Eighty percent of the American advertising companies believe that tobacco advertising makes smoking more acceptable to youth. Every year the number of dollars the tobacco companies makes increases. Every year the tobacco company spends more trying to get youth to start smoking. The only warning given is the few lines of size five print: may be hazardous to your health. 

The tobacco firms are aware that today’s youth is educated about smoking, at least in America. They begin to advertise cigarettes that are filtered, or even ones that have less nicotine, the powerful addictant in cigarettes. They say, see it’s safe now. They also use role models, people who are cool, who of course, smoke, to show youth how cool you can be if you smoke. Characters such as the Marlboro Man, Jo Camel, and the Kool Penguin, are all aimed at youths. Through advertising, tobacco firms try to link smoking with athletic prowess, sexual attractiveness, success, sophistication, adventure, and even self-fulfillment. They try to proclaim that smoking will make you cool, that smoking is the cure to your social problems. 

Tobacco is the only legal drug that kills. More than 4,000 toxic and cancer-causing chemicals have been found in cigarettes. Even in the fine print, cigarette commercials don’t tell you the risk. Smokers who take drugs such as methadone, amphetamines and barbiturates rate tobacco as the most addictive drug. These people who take speed, crack, alcohol, heroin, opium, and morphine agree that cigarettes, a legal drug, are more addictive than these illegal drugs. Smoking causes and contributes to cancer of the lungs, voice box, throat, mouth, bladder, pancreas and kidneys. And there is no safe cigarette, for studies show that smoking filtered cigarettes has the same consequences as smoking those that are unfiltered. Besides this, smoking causes more deaths than alcohol, AIDS, illegal drugs, car crashes, murders and suicides combined. 

But some actions have been taken about the worldwide smoking situation. The World Health Organization (WHO), a branch of the United Nations, has been sponsoring many organizations that are researching ways to curb and reduce negative effects of smoking. The WHO has also put forward the Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (the FCTC), which will control the amount of tobacco processed and advertised. Only a few countries object to it, including one world power: the US. During the election cycle, Phillip Morris, the world’s largest tobacco company donated 3 million dollars to the Bush campaign and to the Republican party. So of course, the U.S. delegation is doing all that it can to “derail the negotiations.” Another negotiation meeting is planned this month. As this date draws nearer, more and more countries have begun to speak in favor of this Convention. 

Smoking kills one in five Americans. And every year five million people die worldwide. Every year a total of 200 billion dollars is lost caring for disease and deaths caused by smoking. Every year 1.1 million kids between the ages of 10 and 18 start smoking. On average, smoking removes 15 years from a smoker’s expected lifespan. So when someone offers you a cigarette, think about what you’re getting into. 

John Slama is a Berkeley High School student.  

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Berkeley High has produced a number of outstanding individuals over the years and Peter Wright is no exception. 

As Berkeley High’s number one-ranked tennis player for three years, Wright went on to attend UC Berkeley, first as a walk-on and then on a tennis scholarship. 

After graduation he took on the duties of head coach of Cal’s tennis team. Considered one of the best teachers and tacticians in men’s collegiate tennis, Wright has developed a reputation for getting more out of his players than perhaps any coach in the nation.  

Wright’s coaching talent hasn’t gone unnoticed. Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 2001 and in 1997, he received his first coaching award in 1994 when he was named Wilson/ITA Regional Coach of the Year for guiding the Bears back to postseason play after Cal had missed the Big Dance the previous two seasons. 

Wright and the Bears have been a fixture in the NCAA Tournament almost every year since.  

The ninth coach in the 111-year history of Cal tennis, Wright has compiled a 148-109 (.576) career record during his tenure in Berkeley. 

The 2004 Bears advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth consecutive year, making it to the second round NCAA Regionals and ending the year with a No. 30 national ranking. 

Wright’s 2003 team ended the season ranked fourth nationally, and boasted two All-Americans and three all-conference selections. Their 21-5 record in 2003 surpassed their 2002 mark of 19-7, which at the time was considered the school’s all-time best squad since joining the Pac-10. In that season the Bears finished in second-place, which is California’s best-ever showing in the competitive league. 

The 2002 season also marked the first time that Cal enjoyed a series sweep of UCLA since 1953 and the first time ever that the Bears beat Stanford, UCLA and USC in the same season.  

A four-year letterman during his collegiate career at Cal, Wright worked his way to the number one singles and doubles positions in the Bears’ lineup before joining the men’s professional tour in 1986. 

In his six years as a pro, Wright played in numerous tournaments around the world, including Wimbledon and the Australian Open. In addition to a doubles victory over Pete Sampras, Wright’s career highlights include playing Andre Agassi, Goran Ivanisevic, David Wheaton, Marc Rosset, Jonas Bjorkman and Tim Henman.  

Wright’s tour highlights include representing Ireland in the Davis Cup from 1988-95. His parents, Stanley and Elizabeth, were born and raised in Ireland, allowing Wright to compete as an Irish national. He has won numerous Irish national singles and doubles championships, and was instrumental in Ireland’s upset victories over Greece, Spain and Belgium when Ireland captured the 1992 European Cup.  

In addition to playing in the Davis Cup for Ireland, Wright served as the Irish Davis Cup Captain from 1995-2003. He also served as the head coach of the 1996 Irish Olympic tennis team in Atlanta.  

In addition to his coaching duties at Cal, Wright is currently the chairman of the NCAA men’s tennis committee and serves on the executive board of directors of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.  

His community involvement includes serving as vice president of Youth Tennis Advantage whose mission is to inspire inner-city kids to achieve their full potential through tennis and academic programs. 

In 2001, he established the BearTrax program at Cal, which brings children from Oakland to the Berkeley campus for academic tutoring with Cal students and tennis tutoring with the Cal men’s and women’s teams.  

A Berkeley native, Wright was born in San Francisco on Dec. 8, 1963, attended Berkeley High School and earned a B.A. in Social Science from Cal after returning to school in 1991. His wife of 12 years, Fionnuala, is a former Irish national tennis champion and a former member of the Irish national basketball team. The Wrights currently reside in Berkeley with their sons, Thomas and Michael, and daughter, Carly. 

“The older you get the more you find how unique the Berkeley High experience was,” Wright said. “You don’t have the prejudices or the biases because BHS was so racially diverse.” 



Octavio I. Romano, Ph.D., founder and senior editor of Tonatiuh-Quinto Sol Publications, and emeritus professor in the School of Public Health at UC Berkeley, passed away on Feb. 26 in Berkeley at the age of 82. 

Dr. Romano was born in Mexico City, Mexico, on Feb. 20, 1923 and raised in Tecate, Mexico and later in National City, Calif. The youngest child of Maria and Manuel Romano, he enlisted in the Army in 1943 and served two and a half years with service in Normandy, northern France. He was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, and World War II Victory Medal. 

Dr. Romano attended college on the G.I. Bill. He was a state championship tennis player during his community college years. 

He graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in Anthropology in 1952. He received his master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley and then worked for the Public Health Department in Santa Fe, N.M. He received his Ph.D. in anthropology at UC Berkeley in 1965. He taught in the School of Public Health at Berkeley until his retirement in 1989. 

Survived by his wife, Olga, sons Octaviano and Emiliano “Branko,” and brother, Ovidio, he will be missed by everyone who knew him. 

He enjoyed gardening, artistic pursuits and music. Octavio will be remembered for his sense of humor and his love of family, as well as his warmth, congeniality and deep love of literature. He was well loved and admired by many friends and colleagues for his wit and insights. 

In 1965 Dr. Romano founded Quinto Sol Publications, the pioneer publisher of Mexican-American authors. Dr. Romano was president and senior editor of Quinto Sol throughout its history. Quinto Sol published El Grito, the Journal of Mexican-American Thought, and numerous landmark novels and anthologies. Quinto Sol also awarded the annual Premio Quinto Sol, the first national awards for Chicano literature. 

From the 1980s onward Dr. Romano continued to work and write as senior editor under the company’s new name of Tonatiuh-Quinto Sol, a.k.a. TQS Publications. During the last 10 years of his life he published a successful newsletter of Mexican American Thought, with subscriptions worldwide. He was honored at the Breaking Barriers award ceremony sponsored by NHEA, the National Hispanic Employee Association, in San Jose. 

Memorial plans have not yet been announced. The family requests donations, in lieu of flowers, be made in Dr. Romano’s memory to La Clinica de la Raza, 1515 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland, 94601 (laclinica.org), or the charity of your choice. 



Thirty years ago an extended women’s music and arts performance program was a revolutionary idea; today it’s an expression of a community’s solidarity. 

Tying together artistic veterans and newcomers in a series of conversations and performances, La Peña Cultural Center celebrates its 30th year of community-building by putting the spotlight on mujeres (women).  

The five-month series opens Saturday evening with the mother of all folk music, Ronnie Gilbert, a founding member of the Weavers. In the mid-20th century the Weavers took folk music out of the hollows and hills of the American backwoods, put it on stage, in a political context, and eventually before U.S. Congress where the Weavers were accused of being anti-American. 

After they were blacklisted, the Weavers were no longer able to play in publicly owned auditoriums and their successful pop careers tanked, but the musicians (including former Weaver Pete Seeger) continue to perform and to promote socially responsible values.  

In conversation and performance with Ronnie Gilbert will be Holly Near, the feminist singer/songwriter whose career parallels Gilbert’s, but decades later.  

Sylvia Sherman, La Peña’s development director and co-organizer of the Mujeres series said she is as excited about the on-stage pre-performance conversations between the artists as she is about their artistic collaborations.  

“To hear Ronnie Gilbert talk about how, when she was a young girl in New York and her parents dragged her to one of those union meetings, she didn’t want to be there... Then she saw a tall black man stand up and sing in this beautiful voice. Paul Robeson. At that moment she realized the power of music to really hold people’s attention and inspire them. That was one of the reasons she became a singer,” Sherman said. 

Longtime friends and fellow musicians Lichi Fuentes and Donna Viscuso are co-curators of the Mujeres series at La Peña. They conceived the idea of a women’s series while driving to rehearsal together.  

“We’ve played together, off and on, for 10 years,” Viscuso recalled. “Lichi was talking about female composers and players even I hadn’t heard of and we realized how invisible we all are. We decided to do this because no one else was going to do it. This program is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many great women musicians here in the Bay Area.” 

Sherman believes the Mujeres program ideally exemplifies La Peña’s programming mission.  

“We wanted to feature generations of artists. Highlight the talent of a particular community of artists—in this case of female artists—pulled together from different generations, different communities, different social movements, different disciplines,” said Sherman. “We’re really excited because we’re dealing with people who were groundbreakers and we’re pairing them with young (artists) from today.  

“As we’re facing our 30th anniversary we’re really focused on ‘Passing it on. Passing it down.’ And ensuring that the work of this center, and its mission—which is to support community art and diverse communities and to bring together artists in social movements—that all of that continues for the next 30 years or more,” said Sherman. “I love it when I look in the audience and see younger women hearing their stories and hearing their music. That’s definitely the intention, to try and bring in younger audiences to hear some of the veterans, and to showcase them together.”  

The hands-on approach gets a big boost a month later when renowned female virtuoso Rebeca Mauleón offers a musical afternoon workshop for players of all levels on Saturday, April 2. Titled “Descarga 101: The Art of the Latin Jam Session,” the event promises to “unlock the secrets to collective grooving” Latin-style. Later the same evening Mauleón will perform her unique melange of salsa, jazz, flamenco, gospel and rhythm and blues with a local all-star group.  

The Mujeres series integrates both youthful organizations and youthful expression, such as hip-hop music and dance, into the mix. Oakland’s Destiny Arts Youth Performance Group with mash it up with Pilipino hip-hop sensations Diskarte Namin in May. 

Carolyn Brandy (formerly the drum instructor at Berkeley Arts Magnet School and now working with youth organizations in San Francisco’s Mission District) will perform with the young women of Las Locas de Loco Bloco, also in May. Susan Muscarella, founder and director of the Berkeley Jazzschool, will perform with one of her student ensembles in July. Also in July locally and nationally celebrated, hip-hop/spoken word artist Aya de Leon will collaborate with the Bay Area R&B legend Linda Tillery and jazz guitarist Nina Gerber.  

In total, 11 events are scheduled for the Mujeres series, running from March 12 through Aug. 6 at La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Specific event and ticket information is available at www.lapena.org/Mujeres/Mujeres or by phone at 849-2568. 

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FRIDAY, MARCH 11 

THEATER 

Bare Stage Productions “One Room” Fri. at 8 p.m., Sat. at 3 and 8 p.m. and Sun. at 3 p.m. at the Choral Rehearsal Room, Cesar Chavez Student Union, UC Campus. Tickets are $5-$7. http://tickets.berkeley.edu  

Central Works, “Enemy Combatant” at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. Performances are Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. through March 26. Tickets are $9-$25. 558-1381. www.centralworks.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theater, “Buried Child” on the disintigration of the American Dream, Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m., 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito. Tickets are $10. 524-9132. www.CCCT.org 

Cuentos: Voices for (Our) Stories: “You so Fake!” with Leilani Chan and “Rise” with Shyamala Moorty at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Tickets are $7-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Impact Theatre, “Othello” at 8 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean Theater, 1834 Euclid. Thurs.- Sat. through March 19. Tickets are $10-$15. 464-4468. www.impacttheatre.com 

Shotgun Players “The Just” by Albert Camus. Thurs.- Sun. at 8 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. through April 10. Tickets are sliding scale $10-$30. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

UC Theater, “Three Sisters” a contemporary staging of Chekhov’s drama, Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. to March 13, at Zellerbach Playhouse, UC Campus. Tickets are $8-$14. 642-9925. http://theater.berkeley.edu 

Un-Scripted Theater Company “You Bet Your Improvisor!” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. through March 26 at Temescal Arts Center, 511 48th St. at Telegraph. Tickets are $7-$10. 415-869-5384. www.unscripted.com 

Word for Word Performing Arts Company “Stories by Tobias Wolff” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts. Tickets are $25 at the door. www.juliamorgan.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Blind at the Museum” Conference, from 4 to 7 p.m. and Sat. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum, 2625 Durant Ave. 642-1295. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

FILM 

International Asian American Film Festival “Ethan Mao” at 7 p.m. and “Keka” at 9:15 p.m. at Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

By the Light of the Moon open mic and salon for women at 7:30 p.m. at Changemakers, 6536 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Cost is $3-$7. 655-2405.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32-$54. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

En Pointe Youth Dance Company Fifth Annual Spring Performance featuring five original pieces choreographed and danced by Berkeley youth at 8 p.m. at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. Tickets are $6-$8. www.enpointe.org 

Rachel Garlin Benefit concert for King Middle School student delegation to Washington D.C., at 7 p.m. in the King Middle School Auditorium, 1781 Rose St. Donation $10-$20. 843-0822 

Frank Martin Trio at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Mills College MFA Dance Thesis Concert at 8 p.m. at Lisser Hall, 5000 MacArthur Blvd. Tickets are $5-$7, free to Mills students. 430-2175. 

The Athena Trio at 8 p.m. at Giorgi Gallery, 2911 Claremont Ave. Cost is $12-$15. 848-1228.  

The Aggrolites, The Uptones, Monkey, presented by Bay Area Ska, at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. 

Mac Martin & The Dixie Travellers, bluegrass from central Appalachia, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Lua at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

Riot A-Go-Go, Chow Nasty, The Inversions at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $5-$7. 848-0886.  

Farma, Firecracker, The Unravellers at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $12. 841-2082.  

Brian Melvin 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.  

Otis Goodbight, Shotgun Wedding at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $7-$10. 548-1159.  

Rob Bayne, Ira Marlowe & Friends at 8:30 p.m. at Epic Arts, 1923 Ashby Ave. Cost is $5-$10. www.epicarts.org 

Babyland, Rajah, and local film shorts at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

High Violets, Astral, Foxtail Somersault at 9:30 p.m. at The Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $5. 444-6174.  

SATURDAY, MARCH 12 

CHILDREN  

East Bay Children’s Theater “Shoemaker and The Elves” at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Oakland Museum, 10th and Oak Sts. Tickets are $6. 655-7285. www.childrens-theatre.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“13 @ 13” “Berkeley Boys Coming of Age” Portraits by Phoebe Ackle. Reception at 7 p.m. at Fourth Street Studio, 1717D 4th St. 527-0600. www.fourthstreetstudio.com 

“Dulcis Domus” Utilitarian ceramics by Julia Galloway at Trax Gallery, 1812 Fifth St. through April 9. 540-8729. 

FILM 

International Asian American Film Festival “And Thereafter” at 5 p.m., “Oldboy” at 7 p.m. and “Cutie Honey” at 9:45 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Chun Yu talks about “Little Green: Growing Up During the Chinese Cultural Revolution” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at 2 and 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32-$54. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

En Pointe Youth Dance Company Fifth Annual Spring Performance featuring five original pieces choreographed and danced by Berkeley youth at 8 p.m. at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. Tickets are $6-$8. www.enpointe.org 

Mills College MFA Dance Thesis Concert at 2 p.m. at Lisser Hall, 5000 MacArthur Blvd. Tickets are $5-$7, free to Mills students. 430-2175. 

Baroque Etcetera “Italian Beauties” at 8 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 5201 Park Blvd., Oakland. Donation $10. 540-8222. www.baroquetc.org  

American Recorder Orchestra of the West “Music of the British Isles” at 7:30 p.m. at All Souls Church, 2220 Cedar St. Free, donations appreciated. 843-2425. www.schweter.com/arow 

Contra Costa Chorale at 2 p.m. at El Cerrito Methodist Church, 6830 Stockton Ave. Tickets are $12-$15. 514-1861. 

Berkeley Youth Arts Festival Flute Fest with students in grades K-5 at 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Center. 644-6893. 

Nigel North, lute solo, at 8 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Cost is $22-$25. 528-1725. www.sfems.org  

Nancy Schimmel and Friends, in celebration of Nancy’s 70th birthday, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. 

Mujeres/Women: Holly Near and Ronnie Gilbert at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $18-$20. 849-2568.  

Hal Stein at 9 p.m. at Cafe Van Kleef, l621 Telegraph, Oakland.  

“Collage des Cultures Africaines” with the Diamano Coura West African Dance Company at 8 p.m. at Calvin Simmons Theater, Oakland. Tickets are $10-$30. 733-1077. www.urbanevents.com 

The Wilders, The Earl Brothers at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082.  

Palenque, Cuban Son, at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

The People, The Debonaires, Soul Captives, ska, hip hop, reggae at 9:30 at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $8. 848-0886.  

Frank Sally at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

The David Jeffrey Jazz Fourtet at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473.  

Kellye Gray at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com  

Carl Sonny Leland Trio at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

R.A.M.B.O., Voestek, Born/ 

Dead, Ashtray at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

The Great Auk at 8:30 p.m. at Epic Arts, 1923 Ashby Ave. Cost is $5-$10. www.epicarts.org 

Floating Goat, Drink the Bleach, Secret Order of the Tusk at 9:30 p.m. at The Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $5. 444-6174.  

SUNDAY, MARCH 13 

THEATER 

“Beowulf” The epic translated and performed by Philip Wharton at 7:30 p.m. at La Val’s Subterranean, 1834 Euclid. Sun. nights through Mar. 20. Tickets are $10-$15. 415-608-9683. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Drawn by the Brush: Oil Sketches of Peter Paul Rubens” guided tour at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum, 2625 Durant Ave. 642-1295.  

FILM 

International Asian American Film Festival 3:45 to 8 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Poems Against War” with readings by Susan Snyder, Chana Bloch, Anne Barrows, Nezar Alsayyad, Charlotte Painter, Kaya Oakes, Robert Hass and others from 3 to 5 p.m. at Morrison Library, Doe Library, UC Campus. 

Poetry Flash with Sandra Gilbert and Chana Bloch at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. Donation $2. 845-7852.  

International Women’s Writing Guild hosts Katherine V. Forrest at 3 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Janet Stickmon reads from her biography “Crushing Soft Rubies” at 4 p.m. at Eastwind Books, 2066 University Ave. 548-2350. 

Peter Phillips and Webster Tarpley discuss what the media failed to report about 9/11 at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

The Sor Ensemble performs Bartok, Dvorak and Prokofiev at 4 p.m. at Crowden Music Center, 1475 Rose St. Tickets are $12, free for children. 559-6910.  

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at 3 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32-$54. 642-9988.  

Cantabile Choral Guild “Songs of Love and Liturgy” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Preview lecture 30 minutes before concert. Tickets are $6-$25. 650-424-1410. www.cantabile.org 

Sounds New A program of new American music at 7:30 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. Donations $10-$15. 524-2912. www.SoundsNewUS.org 

Soli Deo Gloria and Camerata Gloria “Across the Pond,” a concert of a cappella music by English composers at 3:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran, 5201 Park Blvd., Piedmont. Tickets are $15-$20. 415-982-7341. www.sdgloria.org 

Organ Recital by Rodney Gehrke at 6 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way. 845-0888.  

Baroque Etcetera “Italian Beauties” at 4 p.m. at The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, 1823 Hearst St. Donation $10. 540-8222. www.baroquetc.org 

International Women’s Day Celebration “In Song and Struggle” with Shelley Doty and Rachel Garlin at 7 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $10. 849-2568.  

Dave Lefevbre at 4:30 at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Earl Howard and David Wessel at 8 p.m. at CNMAT, 1750 Arch St. Tickets are $5-$10. www.cnmat.berkeley.edu/calendar 

Robin and Linda Williams, contemporary acoustic country, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Jacqui Naylor at 2 and 8 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $5-$14. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

MONDAY, MARCH 14 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Seen, Not Spoken” artwork by the Bentley High School students and artists with disabilities, at NIAD Art Center, 551 23rd St. Richmond, through April 15. 620-0290. www.niadart.org 

THEATER 

Woman’s Will 24-Hour Playfest Join us for the last 2 hours at 8 p.m. at the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts. Cost is $12-$25. 420-0813. www.womanswill.org 

The Shotgun Players Theatre Lab, “Monster in the Dark” Mon. and Tues. at 8 p.m. through March 29, at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. at MLK. Tickets are $10. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

FILM 

International Asian American Film Festival “The People of Angkor” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Stairway to Paradise” A lecture on “the flowering of the song-jewelers” 1920-1940, with William Bolcom, composer and Joan Morris, mezzo-soprano, at 8 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. http://music.berkeley.edu/bloch 

Chellis Glendinning describes “Chiva: A Village Takes on the Global Heroin Trade” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Robert Boynton and Eric Schlosser talk about “The New Journalism: Conversations with America’s Best Nonfiction Writers on Their Craft” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Poetry Express, featuring Bucky Sinister, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. berkeleypoetryexpress@yahoo.com  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Trovatore, traditional Italian songs, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Dervish, music from the west of Ireland at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage Coffee House. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.org 

TUESDAY, MARCH 15 

THEATER 

The Shotgun Players Theatre Lab, “Monster in the Dark” Mon. and Tues. at 8 p.m. through March 29, at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. at MLK. Tickets are $10. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

FILM 

International Asian American Film Festival “62 Years and 6500 Miles Between” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

John Kelly discusses “the Great Morality: An Intimate History of the Black Death, the Most Devastating Plague of All Time” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Chamber Performances Baguette Quarette at 8 p.m. at Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. 525-5211. www.berkeleychamberperform.org 

Creole Belles with Andrew Carriere at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $9. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Jeremy Cohen Duo at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

René Marie at 8 and 10 p.m. Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Also on Wed. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 

THEATER 

Berkeley Repertory Theater “For Better or Worse” opens at the Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St. and runs through April 24. Tickets are $20-$55. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

“Bright River” A hip-hop retelling of Dante’s Inferno, at 8 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Tickets are $12-$35 available from 415-256-8499. www.inhousetickets.com 

FILM 

Cine Contemporaneo “25 Watts” the story of three young people bored with life in Montevideo at 7 p.m. in the CLAS Conference Room, 2334 Bowditch St. 642-2088. www.clas.berkeley.edu 

International Asian American Film Festival “Cavite” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Azadeh Moaveni describes “Lipstick Jihad: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America and American in Iran” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

“‘The Road to Calvary’ by Peter Paul Rubens” a conversation with Alejandro Garcia-Rivera and David Stedman at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2625 Durant Ave. 642-1295. www.banpfa.berkeley.edu 

Berkeley Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik and Three Blind Mice, at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082 www.starryplough.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Music of Lent An organ concert at noon at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway. 444-3555. www.firstchurchoakland.org 

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $32-$54. 642-9988.  

“Lalo” and Jack West at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Red Archibald & The International Blues Band at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $9. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

La Verdad at 8 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

The Black Brothers at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Whiskey Brothers at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Rutro and the Logs, Leavenworth at 9:30 p.m. at The Stork Club, 2330 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $5. 444-6174. www.storkcluboakland.com 

Bittersweet, the new chocolate café on College Avenue, has a small sign but you can’t miss it. The smell of dark, rich chocolate emanates from its front door. 

“I think it is absolutely fabulous,” said Nancy Duff, a real estate broker from North Berkeley, who has trekked to the store three times since it opened in late January. “I want them to open one on Solano Avenue immediately. The chocolate chip cookies are great.” 

Duff and her companion drank two hot chocolates, “The American” and the “White Chocolate Dream.” The café makes five types of hot chocolate including a spiced version with “a kick of pasilla pepper and a hint of rose.” 

Bittersweet’s owner, Penelope Finnie, said she and her partners wanted to create a welcoming place where customers could learn about the flavors of chocolate in various forms. The cafe does not make its own chocolate but sells fine chocolate from a wide variety of purveyors and also uses such chocolate along with organic milk and other ingredients to make its beverages and baked goods. 

The café, decorated in bright orange, lime green, and chocolate brown, has a hip, upbeat feel. Five large rough wood tables are often shared by strangers and a paper mache mural by artist Sabrina Ward-Harrison decorates the walls. The atmosphere shares more with Europe’s bars than it does with its candy boutiques. 

“All the (chocolate) shops in France have a very clinical feel, with everyone in white coats. They even call the kitchen a laboratory,” said Finnie. “We wanted to create a less daunting space.” 

The only thing daunting about Bittersweet is the sheer volume of chocolate contained within its walls. Where to begin? Valrhona, Pralus, Dagoba, Lindt, Dolfin, Vosges, Callebaut, Michel Cluizel and E. Guittard are all represented among the many chocolate bars for sale. You’ll also find cocoa powder, chocolate sauce from Fran’s of Seattle and Berkeley’s own Scharffen Berger, and even chocolate cosmetics including a chocolate sugar body scrub and chocolate saffron body oil made by Mandy Aftel of Berkeley, perfumer to Madonna and other stars. 

“We’ve been waiting for this place to open,” said Melissa Sachs, a 19-year-old California College of Arts and Crafts student who lives in nearby dormitories. “I come every week. Even if I don’t have a lot of money, I can just get something here to eat. If you went to Starbucks it would cost just as much and not even be special.”  

Bittersweet offers a bread and cheese plate (helpful if you bump up against your chocolate limit and require something savory) as well as Irish steel-cut oatmeal. They also serve a variety of fine teas such as dragon pearl jasmine and Earl Gray, and coffee and espresso drinks made from a blend of organic coffee created by Blue Bottle roastery of Oakland just for Bittersweet. 

Finnie’s business partners, Seneca Klassen and sisters Bonnie and Beth Rostan, each contribute their gifts to the cafe. Bonnie Rostan bakes the pastries and chocolate treats, including excellent, crisp croissant and pain au chocolate. She also makes chocolate and vanilla macaron, French almond macaroons with creamy fillings. 

“All the French people in the neighborhood are coming to us,” said Finnie, as a smile of pride broke open on her face. Finnie and partner Beth Rostan used to work together at Askjeeves.com. 

“We were in the Internet business,” said Finnie. “We couldn’t see the customers. Here we get to interact with the customers and see their reactions.” 

Finnie said that one of her goals is educating the public about methods of chocolate production and how they impact its flavor. Each month the café offers a tasting plate designed to highlight a particular aspect of chocolate. 

Partner Seneca Klassen is well versed in chocolate history and helps decide which confections to put in the café’s glass case. 

“The case is our seasonal, fun space where we can explore the different flavors of chocolate,” said Klassen. The work of up to three different chocolate makers is shown in the case at any one time. Right now the candies are from Garrison Confections, Chuao, and Chocolat Moderne. These confections, which cost $2 a piece, are infused with natural flavors from tea, nuts, fruit, coffee and caramel. 

In one of Bittersweet’s educational efforts, Klassen recently hosted a group of sophomores from Bentley School. 

“We tasted different chocolate and learned how chocolate is made,” said Klassen. “The kids were really interested.” 

Chocolate seems to enrapture children of all ages. On a recent Friday afternoon, a small herd of schoolboys burst through the café’s doors, followed a moment later by their mothers. The boys ran to the counter, their eyes scanning the pastry case wildly. 

Then one boy cried out: “Mom, I want hot chocolate with marshmallows and a piece of cake!” He’d come to the right place. 

›

FRIDAY, MARCH 11 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with I. Michael Heyman, Prof. Boalt Hall on “Life at the Smithsonian.” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $13, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 526-2925 or 665-9020.  

Native American Spiritual Celebration Weekend with Jerry Farlee, Lakota Spiritual Leader from the Cheyenne River Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota, Fri. eve. through Sun. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Road, Kensington. 525-0302. www.uucb.org  

“Beyond the Age of Innocence - A Worldly View of America” with Kishore Mahbubani, Dean, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, at noon at 2223 Fulton Street, 6th Floor. Sponsored by the Institute of East Asian Studies. 642-2809. http://ieas.berkeley.edu 

“Transforming Our Communities: An Inclusive Approach to Environmental Justice” A forum of open dialogue with scholars, policy makers, activists, community organizers and environmental lawyers, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Boalt Hall, UC Campus. http://els.boalt.org/ej2005/ 

“So How’d You Become an Activist?” with Roy Campanella II, new General Manager of KPFA Radio and Andrea Buffa, Global Exchange Peace Campaign Coordinator at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St., at Bonita. Donation $5. 528-5403. 

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 East Bay Chess Club, 1940 Virginia St. Players at all levels are welcome. 845-1041. 

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 12 

Kids Garden Club For children 7-12 years old to explore the world of gardening. We plant, harvest, build, make crafts, cook and get dirty! From 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $5-$7, registration required. 525-2233. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

School Gardens A one-day conference sharing successes and best practices. Cost is $10. For details on location call 643-4832. 

Green Building 101 Learn about healthier building materials and how to lower your utility bills and reduce home maintenance from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $10-$15, no one turned away. 548-2220, ext. 233. 

Seeds for Spring and Summer at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens Nursery, 729 Heinz Ave. 644-2351. www.magicgardens.com 

“Historic Hotels--Could They Be Built Today?” with Henrik Bull, FAIA, at 3 p.m. at the Claremont Hotel, Horizon Room, followed by hors d'oeuvres and a no-host bar at 4 pm. Cost is $15, $20 at the door. www.mitcnc.org/www/Events_Single.asp?eventID=1083 

Berkeley Youth Arts Festival Making Plays with Beth Templeton, for children in grades 3-5, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Center. Cost is $5-$15 sliding scale. 644-6893. www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

Berkeley Youth Arts Festival Monoprinting with Karen Weil from 1 to 4 p.m. at Artists at Play Studio, 1649 Hopkins Ave. Families welcome. Cost is $5-$15 sliding scale. 644-6893. www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

Berkeley Youth Arts Festival Dance of India with Purnima Jah from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Center. Cost is $5-$15 sliding scale. 644-6893.  

Poets’ Dinner with contest winners and poet James Keller at 11:30 a.m. at Spenger’s Restaurant. 1919 Fourth St. Cost is $23. For reservations call 235-0361. 

Burmese Human Rights Day with speakers, including former political prisoners, and Burmese food at 6 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship, 1924 Cedar at Bonita. Donation $10-$20, benefits Burmese American Democratic Alliance. 220-1323. 

“Democracy, Maoists and the Monarchy: Nepal at the Crossroads” Experts brainstorm on solutions to Nepal’s political crisis at Lipman Room, Barrows Hall, 8th floor, UC Campus, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 643-4487. http://igov.berkeley.edu  

Radio Camp Build an FM transmitter and learn the fundamentals of micropower broadcasting in this 4-day workshop in Oakland. Class runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Mar. 12-13, 19-20. Cost is $150-$200 sliding scale. For information and to register call 625-0314. www.freeradio.org 

Kol Hadash Family Brown Bag Shabbat/Purim Celebration at 10:45 a.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 8465 Masonic Ave. Come in costume and bring lunch for your family and finger food to share. Free, all ages welcome. 428-1492. 

SUNDAY, MARCH 13 

Prehistoric Life Today Join us for a hike back in time to discover ferns, liverworts and silverfish at 2 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Berkeley Youth Arts Festival Making Musical Instruments from Recycled Materials with Fran Holland, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Center. All ages and families welcome. Cost is $5-$15 sliding scale. 644-6893. www.berkeleyartcenter.org 

Green Sunday “Military Recruitment in our Schools & Citizen Counter-recruitment” with the film “Blood Makes the Grass Grow” at 5 p.m. at the Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave. at 65th in North Oakland. 

World Affairs Challenge Berkeley High students in the finals of this academic challenge from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at UCSF, Burk Hall, 1600 Halloway Ave. SF. www.projectspera.org/programs/wac.html 

Amnesty International Conference “A Turning Point for Human Rights” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Room 126, Barrows Hall, UC Campus. Free and open to the general public. RSVP to norcal@aiusa.org 

Book Release Party for “From Ike to Mao and Beyond - My Journey from Mainstream America to Revolutionary Communist” a memoir by Bob Avakian, at 6:30 p.m. at Revolution Books, 2425 Channing Way. 848-1196. 

CancerGuides, a workshop to train integrative cancer care counselors through March 19 at The Claremont. Sponsored by Center for Mind-Body Medicine. 202-966-7338, ext. 222. 

Berkeley Cybersalon “Information Wants To Be Free, But Programmers Want To Get Paid,” with Paulina Borsook, Jon Callas, and Phil Zimmermann at 6 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. 843-3733. 

“Prisoner of Paradise” Film about Kurt Gerron, German-Jewish actor in pre-war Berlin at 2 p.m. at the BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $5. 848-0237, ext. 110. 

Family Film Sunday Series ”The Wizard of Oz” at 11 a.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Cost is $5 at the door. 

Free Sailboat Rides between 1 and 4 p.m. at the Cal Sailing Club in the Berkeley Marina. Bring warm waterproof clothes. www.cal-sailing.org 

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace Peace walk around the lake every Sun. Meet at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712. lmno4p.org 

Tibetan Buddhism with Lama Palzang and Pema Gellek on “The Healing Mantras” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

MONDAY, MARCH 14 

Tea and Hike at Four Taste some of the finest teas from the Pacific Rim and South Asia and learn their natural and cultural history, followed by a short nature walk. At 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. Cost is $5-$7, registration required. 525-2233. www.ebparks.org 

Mercury in View The best evening views of the planet Mercury are during the next two weeks. Join us at Tilden’s Inspiration Point at 6:30 p.m. and we’ll walk down Nimitz Way. 525-2233. 

“US Military Operations and Militarized Prostitution” The resistance of the women of Olongapo, Philippines, at 7 p.m. at Mills College Student Union, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. Free. 430-2019. 

“Problems in Argentine Commercial Law” with Carlos Rosenkrantz, Prof. of Law, Univ. of Buenos Aires, at 4 p.m. in the Goldberg Room, Boalt Hall, UC Campus. 642-2088. www.clas.berkeley.edu 

“Brazil’s Global Leadership: The Role of Civil Society” with Luiz Dulci, Secretary General, Brazil, at 4 p.m. in the Morrison Room, Doe Library, UC Campus. 642-2088. www.clas.berkeley.edu 

World Affairs/Politics Discussion Group for people 60 years and over meets Mondays at 9:45 a.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave. J524-9122. 

Senior Health with Dr. McGillis on molds, mildews, and their relation to health at 10:30 a.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 

Introduction to Conscious Bookkeeping with Bari Tessler at 7 p.m. at Belladonna, 2436 Sacramento St. Cost is $15. 883-0600. www.belladonna.ws 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

TUESDAY, MARCH 15 

Berkeley Garden Club “Propagation for the Home Gardener” with Kathy Echols, Diablo Valley College Horticulture Dept. at 1 p.m. at Epworth Methodist Church, 1953 Hopkins St. 524-4374. 

Celebrity Waiter Luncheon & Silent Auction to benefit the Berkeley High Althletic Program at 11 a.m. at Hs Lordship’s Restaurant, Berkeley Marina. Tickets are $60 per person or $500 for a table of 10. 526-8885. www.berkeleyathleticfund.org 

“Eat in Season” for National Nutrition month with cooking demonstrations at 3:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Derby St. at MLK, Jr. Way. 548-3333. www.ecologycenter.org 

“Solar Power and Social Change in Rural Kenya” with Arne Jacobsen, Humbolt Univ. at 4 p.m. at 652 Barrows Hall, UC Campus. 642-8338. www.ias.berkeley.edu/africa 

Choices for Sustainable Living A 9-week discussion course meeting Tues. at 6:30 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. Free. 548-2220, ext. 233. 

“A Year on the Road: Cycling Through Siberia, Mongolia and China” with Lori Lewis and Ilya Pratt at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

“Crossing Borders: Trade Policy and Transnational Labor Education” with Prof. Harley Shaiken, at 4 p.m. in the CLAS Conference Room, 2334 Bowditch St. 642-2088. www.clas.berkeley.edu  

Magic with Magician Alex Gonzalez at 6:30 p.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave., Kensington. Tickets required. call 524-3043. 

Berkeley Salon Discussion Group meets to discuss “Beliefs and Believers” from 7 to 9 p.m. at the BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Please bring snacks and soft drinks to share. No peanuts please. 601-6690.  

“Pool Exercise for Pain and Stiffness” a video at the Fibromyalgia Support Group at noon at Mafffley Auditorium, Herrick Campus of Alta Bates Hospital, 2001 Dwight Way. 644-3273. 

“The Challenges of Aging” with Alice Wilson-Fried, author of “Menopause, Sisterhood, and Tennis: A Miraculous Journey Through ‘The Change’” at 7 p.m. at El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave. 526-7512.  

WriterCoach Connection Volunteer Training Help students improve their writing and critical thinking skills. Training session from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. To register call 524-2319. www.writercoachconnection.org 

“Purim: A Meeting Point between Cyclical & Linear Time” with Avital Plan at 7:30 p.m. at the BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $5. 848-0237, ext. 110. 

Free Fitness Tests for people 50 and over from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. You will receive personalized scores and tips on how to maintain or improve your fitness. 981-5367. 

“On the Rediscovery of Buddhist Sanskrit Texts” with Michael Hahn, Visiting Prof. in Buddhist Studies, UC Berkeley, at 5 p.m. at 2223 Fulton St., 6th Floor. Sponsored by the Center for Buddhist Studies. 643-6492. 

“Personal Stories of Survival and Spirit” at 7:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, 2304 McKinley Ave., at Bancroft. 

American Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation at 6 p.m. at 6230 Claremont Ave. Advance sign-up needed, 594-5165.      

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

St. John’s Prime Timers at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Nick Brown will sing and play folk music at 11 a.m. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 

Great Decisions 2005: “Sudan’s Crisis in Darfur” with Prof. Martha Saavedra, Center for African Studies, UCB, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. Cost is $5, $40 for the series. For information and reservations call 526-2925. 

Outstanding Women of Berkeley honored at the Commission in the Status of Women at 7:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5347. 

Community Meeting with the Mayor Come meet District 2 Councilmember Darryl Moore and Mayor Tom Bates to discuss current issues and concerns, at 7 p.m. at Frances Albrier Center, San Pablo Park, 2800 Park St. 981-7100, 981-7120.  

“Island Nations: Limited Space, Mounting Trash” with speakers from Japan, Puerto Rico and the UK at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-2220, ext. 233. 

“Moveon’s Spin on Global Warming and How Cyclists Can Help” with Joan Blades, founding member of Moveon.org, at 8:15 p.m., at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Sponsored by the Grizzly Peak Cyclists. 527-0450. 

Remembering Rachel Corrie An evening of words, song and activism with Peter Camejo, Julia Butterfly Hill, Pratap Chatterjee, Barbara Lubin and many others at 7 p.m. at King Middle School, 1781 Rose St. Donation $20, reception at 6 p.m. for a donation of $50. A Benefit for the International Solidarity Movement & The Rachel Corrie Foundation. 236-4250. www.norcalism.org 

“Judi Bari Discusses her FBI Case” videos at 7 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St,. midtown Oakland. Donation of $5 requested.  

East Bay Asian Local Development Coproration 30th Anniversary at 4 p.m. at Swan’s Marketplace, 901 Washington St., Oakland. Festivities include tours of the new facility and entertainment. 287-5353. 

“Faith and the Church” at 7:30 p.m. at All Souls Parish, 2220 Cedar St. Part of the Journey of Faith Lenten Series. 848-1755. 

“Cosmic Sacramentality” A New Age Invention or the Church’s Living Heritage? A discussion with Eddie Fernandez at 5 p.m. at the Jesuit School of Theology, 2401 Le Conte Ave. 549-5021. 

AARP Free Tax Assistance for taxpayers with middle and low incomes, with special attention to those 60 years and older. From 12:15 to 4:15 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. This service will continue through April. Appointments must be made in advance. 526-3720, ext. 5. 

Berkeley Communicators Toastmasters meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7:15 a.m. at Au Cocolait, 200 University Ave. at Milvia. 524-3765. 

Berkeley School Volunteers Training workshop for volunteers interested in helping in Berkeley Public schools at 4:30 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. 644-8833. 

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

ONGOING 

Domestic Violence Training for people interested in volunteering at Oakland’s battered women’s shelter, Sat. March 12 - April 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 986-8600, ext. 316. 

“Half Pint Library” Book Drive Donate children’s books to benefit Children’s Hospital. Donations accepted at 1849 Solano Ave. through March 31. 

Spring Break Program for Children offered by the City’s Recreational Division, March 28-April 1, for children ages 5-12, at the Frances Albrier Community Center, 2800 Park St. For information call 981-6640. 

CITY MEETINGS 

Creeks Task Force meets every Monday at 7 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center through April 4. Erin Dando, 981-7410. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/creeks 

Council Agenda Committee meets Mon., Mar. 14, at 2:30 p.m., at 2180 Milvia St. 981-6900. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ 

citycouncil/agenda-committee 

City Council meets Tues., Mar. 15, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Berkeley Housing Authority meets Tues., Mar. 15, at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ 

commissions/housingauthority 

Citizens Humane Commission meets Wed., Mar. 16, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Katherine O’Connor, 981-6601. www.ci.berkeley.ca. us/commissions/humane 

Commission on Aging meets Wed. Mar. 16, at 1:30 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. William Rogers, 981-5344. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/aging 

Commission on Labor meets Wed., Mar. 16, at 6:45 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Delfina M. Geiken, 981-7550. www.ci.berkeley.ca. 

us/commissions/labor 

Human Welfare and Community Action Commission meets Wed. Mar. 16, at 7 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Kristen Lee, 981-5427. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/welfare 

Design Review Committee meets Thurs., Mar 17, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Anne Burns, 981-7415. www.ci.berkeley.ca. 

us/commissions/designreview  

Transportation Commission meets Thurs., Mar. 17, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Peter Hillier, 981-7000. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ 

commissions/transportation

There was no editor’s column in this space last Friday because I was in Concord on Thursday, serving as a judge in the California Newspaper Publishers’ Association’s annual awards contest. Every paper that enters the competition is required to submit a judge for the regional entries, so I went. My assignment, with one colleague, was to review two categories: investigative/enterprise stories and environmental/“ag” reporting, both for less-than-daily papers above 25,000 circulation, the next group above the Daily Planet’s 2004 figures. Next year, we might be in this group, since our circulation is increasing.  

What’s going on in the rest of northern California? Well, it’s surprising how much that’s going on elsewhere is like what’s going on right here in the East Bay. A previously unknown group of Native Americans wants to build a casino, and they’ve asked their congressman to float a special bill to give them early recognition. A school district has gotten way in over its head with costly building projects and has no money to pay for them or staff them. Agribusiness is pushing for genetically modified food, and environmentalists are pushing back. Developers are trying to convince locals that what pays off for their own bottom line is also good for the public interest, and anyone who demurs is called a NIMBY. As the French would say, plus ça change, plus la même chose—the more things change, the more they remain the same. 

I’ve been threatening for years to write a journalism textbook which would consist of outlines for perennial stories which could be endlessly revisited. I thought it was a joke, but when I mentioned it to a j-school professor it was received with genuine enthusiasm. The classic evergreen piece is scandals at nursing homes, on the front page of the Chronicle this very week. Another old standby is “Pollution, Pollution!” Any town, almost any time, can provide a pollution story. In the immortal words of Tom Lehrer: 

They got smog and sewage and mud 

Turn on your tap 

And get hot and cold running crud.  

One sexy story which popped up in the group was extra-marital carryings-on among public officials. That’s still big news in small towns, evidently. I haven’t heard much on the topic around here for a while, though it was big in times gone by. Either it’s stopped, or no one cares enough to report on it any more.  

My colleague and I must have read 40 stories in five or six hours, though I didn’t keep an exact count. From these, we were supposed to choose four in each of the two categories to be forwarded to the state level for the final round of judging. This was not an easy task. Some could be rejected out of hand, but for each final four we chose, there were at least four credible candidates we had to leave behind. As the afternoon wore on, my eyes started to cross and my critical faculties got a bit blunted by fatigue, so I hope I did justice to all comers.  

Despite all odds, reporters for some of these little papers are doing a lot of good work. Many of the publications I saw did seem more like weekly magazines than like newspapers. Many consisted of a big entertainment calendar plus one or two pieces which seemed to be at least 2,000 words long, as contrasted with the Planet’s philosophy of doing a larger number of shorter news stories in each issue. There must be a reason for this trend, and it’s probably financial. 

Reporting is expensive. The very interesting facts in many of these magazine-type stories were often padded with long discursive introductions, extensive descriptions and colorful character profiles. But a number of the reporters also did the harder and more tedious work of public records searches, aided in some cases by local sunshine ordinances which went beyond the state of California’s provisions for disclosure. They insisted on attending meetings where they were not exactly welcomed by officialdom. They took full advantage of the new opportunities the Internet offers for getting a broader perspective, both geographic and historical.  

What I didn’t see was many small newspapers like ours. Presumably a few towns still have local dailies, which wouldn’t show up in our stack. But the old-style community weekly or semi-weekly which reported on all local news seems to be disappearing in many northern California towns, probably because the competition from regional and even national papers has affected their advertising base. That’s too bad, because, as we’ve said many times in this space, democracy depends on people knowing what’s going on. A lot of coverage of entertainment, even when supplemented by the occasional big story about a major scandal, can’t provide citizens with everything they need to know to do their job of watching out for the common good. 

—Becky O’Malley›

The controversial proposal to develop Laney College and Peralta Community College District lands surfaced briefly and then resubmerged this week, when an item appeared on the Peralta Board of Trustees closed agenda to discuss “real estate negotiations” between Chancellor Elihu Harris and developer Alan Dones, but no report on the negotiations was given to the public in open session. 

According to the First Amendment Project of Oakland, public bodies are only required to report on votes or actions taken in closed session. 

The item appeared on the Peralta Board’s March 8 closed agenda under the one-line listing “Real Estate Negotiation (54956.8), Laney College and District Office, Negotiators Harris and Doans.” Dones’ name was misspelled in the agenda item. 

Last November, the outgoing Peralta board authorized Harris to negotiate a one-year contract giving Dones and his Oakland-based Strategic Urban Development Alliance (SUDA) the right to produce a plan to develop unspecified Laney College properties and the adjacent district office on East 8th Street. 

Harris later announced that he had suspended contract talks with Dones because of controversies, including suggestions of conflicts of interest, surrounding the proposal. 

Trustee Cy Gulassa said following the meeting that while he could not discuss anything that occurred during the closed session, it was his understanding that “there has been some pressure on Elihu” to draw up and execute a contract with Dones. 

Since the November authorization, Dones has been attempting to shore up support for his development plan, but one such effort has apparently backfired. 

Last month, following complaints that he had not met with Laney College representatives, Dones held an open meeting on the Laney campus to discuss his plans. Reporting on that meeting, the Laney Tower , the student-run newspaper, wrote that the genesis of the Laney development plan actually came from a Laney College President. Dones said “he was first invited to look into the land use possibilities by former Laney President Dr. Deborah Blue back in 2000.” The paper reported Dones saying he had several meetings with Blue and others on the subject. 

Blue calls that assertion “patently false.” 

In an opinion article published in the Tower in late February, Blue wrote that she did meet with Dones “sometime between 2000 and 2001,” but the meetings concerned the interest of Dones and former Peralta Chancellor Dr. Ronald Temple in “Laney College development curriculum in the area of alternative energy sources. Their curriculum interest was the sole content of our discussion.” 

Blue went on to write, “I would like Mr. Dones to know that he cannot use me as a scapegoat for his failure to communicate with college representatives in his current areas of interest with Laney College.” 

Blue currently works for the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the accrediting agency for such colleges as Laney. Neither she nor Dones returned calls in connection with this article.›

The BUSD board Wednesday accepted a Second Interim Financial Report on the district’s 2004-05 budget that continued BUSD’s “qualified” budget status and discussed the district teachers’ work-to-rule slowdown over a contract dispute. 

District financial staff members said that the figures in the financial report were little changed from the revised First Interim Report delivered to the Board in mid-February. 

A “qualified” status means that the district “may not be able to meet its financial obligations for the remainder of the current fiscal year or the subsequent fiscal year” without cutting expenses or finding additional revenue. 

The Second Interim Report projects a $265,000 unrestricted general fund deficit for this year, but Deputy Superintendent Glenston Thompson said that that figure could be lowered if the district receives added state Average Daily Attendance money from higher-than-budgeted student attendance. The deficit figure also does not include a budget hit in excess of $400,000 which the district’s auditors ordered because of uncollectable receivables on the district’s books. 

Superintendent Michele Lawrence cautioned that in part because of uncertainties in state funding, this was “a very tenuous budget; you don’t know from what side of the ledger the changes will come.” 

At the meeting, board directors also listened to an emotional speech from Student Board Director Lily Dorman-Colby, who criticized members of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers for their ongoing “work-to-rule” action. 

Breaking into tears at several points, Dorman-Colby said that there were “other ways for the teachers to get their message to the board without using the students.” 

Since late last month, members of the BFT across the district have been refusing to work beyond their contracted seven hour day—including lunch hours and after school—to protest the lack of a current contract with BUSD. BFT-BUSD negotiations are currently being handled through a state-appointed mediator. 

A mediation session is set for next week, and Board President Nancy Riddle announced that board members would hold a closed-session meeting on Sunday to prepare. 

›