Lee Amosslee: Sunday’s Storm Surge
              Sunday’s storm produced a water geyser about six-feet high at Aquatic Park. The high water runoff from the late morning downpour combined with a six-foot-high tide at 12:42 p.m. to create the geyser from the creek culvert on the Bay Street approach to I-80. The storm also caused numerous power outages across the region, according to a PG&E spokesperson..
Lee Amosslee: Sunday’s Storm Surge Sunday’s storm produced a water geyser about six-feet high at Aquatic Park. The high water runoff from the late morning downpour combined with a six-foot-high tide at 12:42 p.m. to create the geyser from the creek culvert on the Bay Street approach to I-80. The storm also caused numerous power outages across the region, according to a PG&E spokesperson..

Page One

UC Regents Address Compensation Issue By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR

Tuesday December 20, 2005

The UC Board of Regents moved this week to try to stem the bleeding in public confidence over its secret employee compensation packages. -more-



Bates Began Drive to Build Transit Villages By RICHARD BRENNEMAN

Tuesday December 20, 2005

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-



Peralta Trustees Elect New Officers By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR

Tuesday December 20, 2005

Vista College Construction On Schedule -more-



Remembering Maybelle Reid Allen By J. DOUGLAS ALLEN-TAYLOR

Tuesday December 20, 2005

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-



Holiday Volunteer Opportunities By Diana Talbert

Tuesday December 20, 2005

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-



Features

Man Killed on I-80 From Bay City News

Tuesday December 20, 2005

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-


Police Blotter By RICHARD BRENNEMAN

Tuesday December 20, 2005

Bears in the buff -more-



Editorial Cartoon By JUSTIN DEFREITAS

Tuesday December 20, 2005

To view Justin DeFreitas’ latest editorial cartoon, please visit -more-


Letters to the Editor

Tuesday December 20, 2005

UC GREED -more-


Column: The Public Eye: The City and UC Berkeley: The Honeymoon is Over By Zelda Bronstein

Tuesday December 20, 2005

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-


Column: Why We Won’t Be Serving Meatballs for Christmas By Susan Parker

Tuesday December 20, 2005

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-


Bush’s Domestic Spying Is Old News By EARL OFARI HUTCHINSONPacific News Service

Tuesday December 20, 2005

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-


Challenges Ahead for Africa’s First Elected Woman President By DONAL BROWN Pacific News Service

Tuesday December 20, 2005

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-


Commentary: Welcome to Berkeley, Casey Sheehan’s Mother By Alan Christie Swain

Tuesday December 20, 2005

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-


Commentary: What Liquor Stores Do For Neighborhoods By THOMAS LORD

Tuesday December 20, 2005

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-


Commentary: Library Patrons Can Sleep More Comfortably By Peter Teichner

Tuesday December 20, 2005

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-


Commentary: Somebody Turn Off The Faucet: Vote Every Day By WINSTON BURTON

Tuesday December 20, 2005

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-


Election Section

Arts: The Genius of Aaron McGruder’s ‘The Boondocks’ By CHARLES JONES Pacific New Service

Tuesday December 20, 2005

Richard Pryor’s Comedic Legacy Lives On -more-


Arts Calendar

Tuesday December 20, 2005

TUESDAY, DEC. 20 -more-


Cold of Winter Leavened By The Joy of Watching Graceful Merlins in Flight By JOE EATON Special to the Planet

Tuesday December 20, 2005

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-


Berkeley This Week

Tuesday December 20, 2005

TUESDAY, DEC. 20 -more-


Editorial

Editorial: Keeping the Home Lights Burning By BECKY O'MALLEY

Tuesday December 20, 2005

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-


Back Stories

Opinion

Editorials

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

News

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

Cold of Winter Leavened By The Joy of Watching Graceful Merlins in Flight By JOE EATON Special to the Planet 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