When the newly-constructed Vista Community College campus opens in downtown Berkeley this summer, it will include a 21st century structure but a decidedly retro name. -more-
Alameda County Court Commissioner Jon Rantzman this week awarded $5,000 apiece to 14 South Berkeley residents who had sued neighbor Lenora Moore in Small Claims Court, arguing that she allowed family members to operate a drug house out of the premises. -more-
On the morning of Dec. 18, a home owner on Schoolhouse Creek had her entire house flooded within 15 minutes after the creek swelled up to six feet from the rain that day. -more-
A construction worker fell 45 feet from atop a scaffold where he or she was applying stucco to the new Vista College building in the 1800 block of Center Street just after 10 a.m. on Jan. 3. -more-
While city officials have called one public meeting to discuss plans for the proposed housing and commercial development at the Ashby BART station, concerned neighbors have called another of their own. -more-
Wednesday night’s Planning Commission workshop on finding sites for car dealers in industrial West Berkeley raised as many questions as it did answers. -more-
Berkeley and Oakland aren’t the only East Bay school districts beset by budget woes. -more-
The Berkeley School Board held its first meeting of the new year Wednesday and approved, without discussion, payment of $64,000 in legal fees; up to $74,000 to two different firms for inspection services during King Middle School’s dining commons construction; and payment to the Berkeley YMCA so that special needs students can use the Y’s shallow pool for swimming instead of the district’s warm pool. -more-
Have you ever wanted to attend a Berkeley High School event and really see how great of a dance program they have? Well, now is your chance. This Friday and Saturday, under the direction of Linda Carr, around 150 BHS students are putting on a show called “Dance Productions.” -more-
Deputy Fire Chief David Orth constantly reminds folks of the dangers of leaving candles lit when residents are out of the room. -more-
As pollution and environmental degradation in China worsen, the Communist government has been unable or unwilling to prescribe measures needed to address the problem. This inability carries grave consequences, threatening stability not only in China, but also the region. -more-
One of the singular events of 2005 was Congressman John Murtha’s announcement that he had changed his position on Iraq. Calling the occupation “a flawed policy wrapped in illusion,” decorated veteran Murtha said, “The United States and coalition troops have done all they can in Iraq ... Our military is suffering.” -more-
Oakland having been such a violent place for so long, the city ought to be one of the leading national experts on the causes of urban violence, and its possible cures. But if such expertise is present somewhere inside Oakland City Hall or at the Oakland Police Department headquarters further down Broadway, it’s not being shared with the rest of the citizens. -more-
To view Justin DeFreitas’ latest editorial cartoon, please visit -more-
Recently there has been a good deal of discussion about the “by-right” exemption to Berkeley’s general policy of discretionary review for conforming residential additions under 500 square feet. Since there seems to be quite a bit of misunderstanding about my position and about the limited scope of the proposals being considered by the City Council, I’d like to make clear my own view of the matter. -more-
Recent stories in the Daily Planet about the 300-unit “transit village” proposed for the west parking lot of the Ashby BART station have referred to upzoning of the surrounding area. It’s important that neighbors understand that these are two separate issues—a transit village could be built at Ashby BART without upzoning the area, or vice-versa. -more-
Last month, the Berkeley City Council voted to apply for a state grant that will pay for an extensive community process to plan a possible residential and commercial development on the west parking lot at the Ashby BART station. While this is quite preliminary, since the funding is by no means certain, the Council strongly endorsed the application as an extraordinary opportunity to right a wrong. -more-
Tempering the operatic and balletic flights of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht with a descent into a real inferno, The Crucible will be staging The Seven Deadly Sins as “A Fire Opera” through Saturday at The Crucible’s studio in West Oakland. -more-
Something significant has been happening in the last several years. While the political discourse of the mainstream media has skirted the scandalous actions of the Bush administration, regurgitating the administration’s rhetoric rather than attending to the dubious actions taken in the name of “the American people,” a vigorous political criticism has increasingly been voiced in the arts. -more-
Noted jazz and popular music critic Phil Elwood, a life-long Berkeley resident, died Tuesday of heart failure at age 79, just a month after the death of his wife, Audrey. -more-
Most of our older housing stock still peeks out on the world thought original wooden double-hung windows. Since we still live with so many of these, we should understand their advantages and disadvantages. -more-
While we’re on the topic of seeds, there are some you can start right now. Some of these are exotic to some of us, but comfort food from Grandma’s kitchen for others. And some of our grandmas’ kitchens have been through more changes than others. -more-
Patrons Petition For Additional Postal Workers -more-
Berkeley government agencies scored far above other government agencies in the area, according to a Berkeley Daily Planet review of online accessibility to local government meeting information. -more-
Anna de Leon, owner of Anna’s Jazz Island in the Gaia Building on Allston Way, filed a complaint with the Berkeley Zoning Adjustments Board Monday, charging the neighboring catering business with hosting illegal and dangerous events. -more-
Legal Action Begun by Environmentalists Ends With Amendment -more-
Last week California Superintendent of Schools Jack O’Connell said all high school seniors must pass the California exit exam in order to receive their diplomas in June. -more-
Berkeley City Councilmember Darryl Moore and other city officials will meet with West Berkeley residents tonight (Tuesday) to discuss flooding problems resulting from the recent storms. -more-
More than a year after his election, Berkeley City Councilmember Darryl Moore has named his appointment to the Planning Commission. -more-
Berkeley, along with other local governments such Oakland, Emeryville, San Francisco and Marin, wants to have local control over energy and how it affects our communities. -more-
To view Justin DeFreitas’ latest editorial cartoon, please visit -more-
I make a New Year’s resolution that I will be a kinder, gentler person. I will listen more and talk less. I will be sincere and philosophical. I will be deep. -more-
I’m in with the In Crowd -more-
He was out for some refreshment, an ice cream on a warm summer evening in Philadelphia, and on his way home. We didn’t start out looking for trouble. We were bored and had nothing to do. In some ways we were just like Fat Albert and the Cosby kids. We were all decent athletes and loved to play sports. We all wore weird hats and had different nicknames. We played football in the street, used milk crates for basketball, and broomsticks as baseball bats. Usually we were all about fun. But that night the school yard was locked, the playground was gang turf and the only fields of dreams in our neighborhood were a cemetery and a junkyard. The idle mind can be the playground for the devil! -more-
“Daddy-ooo! I know you didn’t disappear on me again ... How was that impression? You’re always movin’ and groovin’, slidin’ and glidin’ ...” -more-
Instead of trees this week, I’m going to talk about something bigger: mushrooms.They’re popping up all over since the major rains, and in bewildering variety. For pete’s sake, don’t be inspired to go on a mushroom-eating binge because they look so pastry-pretty. The old saw goes; “There are old mushroom hunters and there are bold mushroom hunters, but there are no old, bold mushroom hunters.” Think agonizing death in a pool of your own various wastes. Think liver transplant. Think never being able to have another beer if you do survive. Got that? -more-
The picture said it all. Jack Abramoff was photographed on his way to court wearing a black trenchcoat and a black fedora. To San Francisco opera-goers, the outfit meant that he was soon going to be facing the music. Abramoff, The Opera, was about to begin. -more-
One of the reasons our house is somewhat crowded is that we are reluctant to throw away perfectly good magazines which are just a bit old. The New Yorker in particular is a living reproach, because it comes every week and (since the departure of airhead editor Tina Brown) is again full of good stuff which we can’t necessarily consume on a timely basis. It’s instant history: a pity to waste it. -more-
