UC Regents Address Compensation Issue By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR
The UC Board of Regents moved this week to try to stem the bleeding in public confidence over its secret employee compensation packages. -more-
The UC Board of Regents moved this week to try to stem the bleeding in public confidence over its secret employee compensation packages. -more-
The plans for a transit village development for the west parking lot of the Ashby BART station owe a lot to Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates. Bates could rightly be called the father of the transit village, thanks to legislation he authored that was passed in California eleven years ago. -more-
Vista College Construction On Schedule -more-
Maybelle Reid Allen, 85, passed away on Friday, Dec. 9, at her home of 66 years in Oakland, California. A native of Berkeley, California, Mrs. Allen was the descendant of African-American pioneers who migrated to California from the South before the Civil War, and was the 12th of 13 children of Thomas Reid Sr. and Virginia (Jennie) Parker Reid of Berkeley. -more-
For those who like to observe holidays by helping others, the East Bay has traditionally offered a variety of opportunities. Two of the old stand-bys are listed below, but the Planet would like to hear about others by noon on Thursday for a story in our weekend issue. Send details to news@berkeleydailyplanet.com, or call 841-5600, ext. 102. -more-
Scott Lofgren, a Berkeley off-duty emergency medical technician, was killed early Sunday morning in Albany after stopping to assist a driver involved in a solo-spinout on Interstate Highway 80, the California Highway Patrol reported. -more-
To view Justin DeFreitas’ latest editorial cartoon, please visit -more-
After only seven months, the ballyhooed “new partnership” between the City of Berkeley and the University of California appears to have hit the rocks. Last week Berkeley City Manager Phil Kamlarz sent UC Principal Planner Jennifer Lawrence a 19-page letter blasting the ethics and the legality of campus planners’ initial environmental reports on the massive development slated at and around Memorial Stadium. Prepared by Berkeley Planning Director Dan Marks, the letter says that the university’s descriptions of the proposed projects—the Student Athlete High Performance Center, the new Law and Business School academic commons, an 845-car garage and the stadium renovation and expansion—are so vague that the city cannot adequately comment on them. -more-
For the past 12 years we have patched together a room for my husband that has become our command center, our corporate headquarters, our personal Ground Zero. This is where Ralph eats, sleeps, works, and goes about his daily business. -more-
The big puzzle is why anyone is shocked that President Bush eavesdropped on Americans. The National Security Agency for decades has routinely monitored the phone calls and telegrams of thousands of Americans. The rationale has always been the same, and B ush said it again in defending his spying, that it was done to protect Americans from foreign threat or attack. -more-
A continent known for its subjugation of women welcomed its first elected female head of state when Liberians voted in Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in a Nov. 8 runoff. She will take office on Jan. 16. But despite her hard-won victory, African analysts say, the new president’s greatest challenges may lie ahead. -more-
Let’s all join together to welcome Berkeley newest citizen. Welcome Casey Sheehan’s mother. We honor your son, his sacrifice and the mother he made famous. -more-
In a recent to letter to the editor, Ted Vincent stakes out an interesting position about the South Berkeley liquor stores currently being pressured to change their way. I live less than a block from one of these stores and would like to take up the discussion he’s started. -more-
I haven’t read it yet, but I understand that the Patriot Act II has a provision that gives the FBI, and presumably other government domestic security organizations, easier access to patrons’ confidential library information. -more-
The day before Thanksgiving I was at an event where well meaning local dignitaries volunteered to help cook and serve dinner to homeless and poor people. As the sumptuous meal was coming to an end one of the dignitaries spoke to those eating and said, “I’m glad I could be here tonight and help out, I promise I’ll be back for Christmas too.” Someone yelled out, “Great, but what am I supposed to eat until then!” There was no laughter only silence. -more-
Richard Pryor’s Comedic Legacy Lives On -more-
Winter, I have to admit, is not my favorite time of year: The cold and the dark have no appeal for me. (I may have been an emperor penguin in a past life). I begin to get seasonally affected around Halloween and it doesn’t really let up until Groundhog Day. But there are compensations. The waterfowl are back in force, and the winter complement of songbirds are here. And along with them come the merlins. If winter has a single redeeming feature, it’s the opportunity to watch a merlin at work, dogging a flock of shorebirds at the edge of the bay. -more-
On Monday morning I made a mistake that I don’t often make. I listened to the radio broadcast of a press conference held by and for the current president of the United States. It was a profoundly depressing experience. Not only is the man a dolt, he’s a vicious, systematic dolt. -more-
Editorial: Keeping the Home Lights Burning By BECKY O'MALLEY 12-20-2005
Editorial: Privatizing the Commons With Condos By BECKY O'MALLEY 12-16-2005
UC Regents Address Compensation Issue By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR 12-20-2005
Bates Began Drive to Build Transit Villages By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 12-20-2005
Peralta Trustees Elect New Officers By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR 12-20-2005
Remembering Maybelle Reid Allen By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR 12-20-2005
Holiday Volunteer Opportunities By Diana Talbert 12-20-2005
Man Killed on I-80 From Bay City News 12-20-2005
Police Blotter By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 12-20-2005
Fire Department Log By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 12-20-2005
Editorial Cartoon By JUSTIN DEFREITAS 12-20-2005
Letters to the Editor 12-20-2005
Column: The Public Eye: The City and UC Berkeley: The Honeymoon is Over By Zelda Bronstein 12-20-2005
Column: Why We Won’t Be Serving Meatballs for Christmas By Susan Parker 12-20-2005
Bush’s Domestic Spying Is Old News By EARL OFARI HUTCHINSONPacific News Service 12-20-2005
Challenges Ahead for Africa’s First Elected Woman President By DONAL BROWN Pacific News Service 12-20-2005
Commentary: Welcome to Berkeley, Casey Sheehan’s Mother By Alan Christie Swain 12-20-2005
Commentary: What Liquor Stores Do For Neighborhoods By THOMAS LORD 12-20-2005
Commentary: Library Patrons Can Sleep More Comfortably By Peter Teichner 12-20-2005
Commentary: Somebody Turn Off The Faucet: Vote Every Day By WINSTON BURTON 12-20-2005
Arts: The Genius of Aaron McGruder’s ‘The Boondocks’ By CHARLES JONES Pacific New Service 12-20-2005
Arts Calendar 12-20-2005
Berkeley This Week 12-20-2005
Interrupted Lives, Louisiana Couple Starts Anew After 50 Years By SARAH CORE Special to the Planet 12-16-2005
City Council Approves Ashby BART Application By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 12-16-2005
City Planner Issues Scathing Reply to UC’s Development Documents By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 12-16-2005
Youth Commission Debates Giving Vote to 17-Year-Olds By YOLANDA HUANG Special to the Planet 12-16-2005
Berkeley School Board Report By YOLANDA HUANG Special to the Planet 12-16-2005
Planning Commissioners Tighten Yard Parking Ordinance By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 12-16-2005
Zoning Board Approves Jazz Club Plans By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 12-16-2005
Correction 12-16-2005
Police Blotter By RICHARD BRENNEMAN 12-16-2005
Editorial Cartoon By JUSTIN DEFREITAS 12-16-2005
Letters to the Editor 12-16-2005
Column: The Pubic Eye: The Terrorists Are Coming! The Terrorists Are Coming! By Bob Burnett 12-16-2005
Surprise—Europeans Approve of Immigrants, Study Says By PAOLO PONTONIERE Pacific News Service 12-16-2005
Commentary: 1610 Oregon St.: A Problem That Touches All of Us By SHIRLEY DEAN 12-16-2005
First Person: Vigil at San Quentin By OSHA NEUMANN 12-16-2005
Commentary: Underneath the Shady Tree By WINSTON BURTON 12-16-2005
Arts Calendar 12-16-2005
Berkeley Community Chorus Offers Free Sunday Show By KEN BULLOCK Special to the Planet 12-16-2005
Take a Stroll Through Historic Petaluma By MARTA YAMAMOTO Special to the Planet 12-16-2005
Berkeley This Week 12-16-2005
About the House: That 300-Year-Old House By MATT CANTOR Staff 12-16-2005
ASK MATT 12-16-2005
Garden Variety: Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Favorite Gardener By RON SULLIVAN 12-16-2005