Developers of the 176-unit Library Gardens apartment complex on Kittredge Street, west of the Berkeley Public Library, are asking to be able to convert their units—along with the ground floor retail space—to condos, and will present their request to the Berkeley Planning Commission Wednesday night. The proposal is one of three condo issues on the agenda. Photograph by Suzanne La Barre.
Developers of the 176-unit Library Gardens apartment complex on Kittredge Street, west of the Berkeley Public Library, are asking to be able to convert their units—along with the ground floor retail space—to condos, and will present their request to the Berkeley Planning Commission Wednesday night. The proposal is one of three condo issues on the agenda. Photograph by Suzanne La Barre.

Page One

Condos Dominate Planning Agenda

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday June 27, 2006

Planning commissioners will be juggling political hot potatoes Wednesday night, ranging from condos to landmarks and Telegraph Avenue. -more-



Housing Authority Faces Friday Federal Deadline

By Suzanne La Barre
Tuesday June 27, 2006

The deadline for the embattled Berkeley Housing Authority (BHA) to correct a laundry list of managerial deficiencies is fast approaching. -more-



Trader Joe’s Project Moves to Design Review

By Suzanne La Barre
Tuesday June 27, 2006

A Trader Joe’s in downtown Berkeley is one step closer to reality, following a vote by the Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) Thursday. -more-



Landmark Commissioners Find Flaws in Mayor’s Plan

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday June 27, 2006

“I have heard again and again that the Landmarks Preservation Ordinance (LPO) is being used to stop development, though it was never meant to,” said Patti Dacey Thursday. “That’s not true.” -more-



Public Financing of Elections Clears Hurdle

By Judith Scherr
Tuesday June 27, 2006

Despite the city attorney’s reluctance, the Fair Campaign Practices Commission voted 7-1 Thursday to ask the Berkeley City Council to put a measure before the voters in November that would support public financing for council and mayoral elections. -more-



Features

‘Opt Out’ Military Recruitment Bill Heads to State Senate

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Tuesday June 27, 2006

A California bill designed to inform high school students and their parents of their right to withhold contact information from military recruiters won Republican support in the state legislature last week but not nearly enough to survive a possible gubernatorial veto. -more-


Council to Debate Budget, Gaia Building, Public Comment

By Judith Scherr
Tuesday June 27, 2006

While City Manager Phil Kamlarz has detailed a $220,000 six-month Telegraph Avenue area improvement plan as part of his $300 million mostly fixed-cost budget that goes before the Berkeley City Council tonight (Tuesday), Councilmember Kriss Worthington will ask his colleagues to approve the funds but hold off on the plan specifics. -more-


Seagate/Arpeggio High-Rise Condo Project Set to Rise

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday June 27, 2006

In Monday morning’s bright sunlight, a front-end loader busily growled through the dwindling piles of rubble that are the last remnants of three Center Street buildings. -more-


Supervisors Give $8 Million Bailout to Medical Center, Avert Layoffs

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Tuesday June 27, 2006

Representatives of the hospital workers union which successfully lobbied county supervisors to provide an $8 million budget bailout for the Alameda County Medical Center say they will continue to monitor the situation to make sure that the center incurs no new round of layoffs. -more-


Public Comment

Letters to the Editor

Tuesday June 27, 2006

HYPOCRITICAL -more-


Commentary: Defining Artisans Out of Existence

By John Curl
Tuesday June 27, 2006

The Berkeley City Council has just asked the Arts Commission to “review and update the definition of ‘arts and crafts’ as referred to in the West Berkeley zoning, which will enable an inventory of such space to go forward and ensure that the space is protected, as stipulated in the West Berkeley Plan and the zoning.” So far, great: protecting arts/crafts space is essential. But if you read on, another agenda appears: “The commission will no doubt struggle with what constitutes arts and crafts as their practice has been modified by the advent of computers and advanced technology.” -more-


Commentary: A No-Sweat Method To Make Berkeley Sweat-Free

By Igor Tregub
Tuesday June 27, 2006

The City of Berkeley spends $89,000 annually to purchase goods that facilitate an efficient infrastructure and continued service. Police uniforms, computers for city offices, and accounting supplies are generally ordered from private vendors, who contract companies from across the world to manufacture the starting materials. -more-


Commentary: John Galen Howard Was Right

By Helen Burke
Tuesday June 27, 2006

Regarding UCB’s draft enviornmental impact report (DEIR) for the Southeast Campus Integrated Projects (SCIP), which include retrofitting Memorial stadium, a new Student Athlete High Performance Center (SAHPC), new parking garage, and other improvements, John Galen Howard was right. -more-


Commentary: A Note of Thanks to Karen Grassle

By Maureen McAlorum
Tuesday June 27, 2006

As she prepares to take to the stage at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura for the world premiere of Open Secrets, I thought your readers may be interested to learn how Berkeley’s famous daughter Karen Grassle saved my life almost 30 years ago when she was at the height of her fame, playing Caroline Ingalls in “Little House on the Prairie.” -more-


Editorial

News of Doubletree Sale Worries Hotel Workers

By Judith Scherr
Tuesday June 27, 2006

The Doubletree Hotel at the Marina, in the process of being sold to Canadian buyers, has raised hotel workers’ concern. -more-


Columns

Column: The Public Eye: Campaign 2006: Top 10 Senate Races

By Bob Burnett
Tuesday June 27, 2006

Voters will determine 33 Senate seats in 2006. According to veteran D.C. prognosticator Charlie Cook, 16 incumbent senators are all but guaranteed reelection. In order to regain control of the Senate, Democrats will have to win at least six of the eight Republican seats that are in play and retain all nine of the contested Democratic seats. Here are the ten most interesting senatorial races: -more-


Douglas-Fir Builds and Graces Towns, Creates Splendid Forests

By Ron Sullivan, Special to the Planet
Tuesday June 27, 2006

Joe and I spent a couple of days up in Humboldt County among the really big trees last week. We stayed in a motel on the Avenue of the Giants among the old redwoods, where we could sit on the front porch in the evening and listen to the Mozartian aria of hermit thrush and the haunting, minimalist song of varied thrush, a bird has perfected wabi-sabi. -more-


Arts Listings

Arts Calendar

Tuesday June 27, 2006

‘Inspector General’ at the Berkeley City Club

By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet
Tuesday June 27, 2006

Books: Czeslaw Milosz: The Poet in His Times

By Phil McArdle, Special to the Planet
Tuesday June 27, 2006

Events Listings

Berkeley This Week

Tuesday June 27, 2006

Back Stories

Opinion

Editorials

News of Doubletree Sale Worries Hotel Workers 06-27-2006

Editorial: A Few Caveats and a Contest 06-23-2006

Public Comment

Letters to the Editor 06-27-2006

Commentary: Defining Artisans Out of Existence By John Curl 06-27-2006

Commentary: A No-Sweat Method To Make Berkeley Sweat-Free By Igor Tregub 06-27-2006

Commentary: John Galen Howard Was Right By Helen Burke 06-27-2006

Commentary: A Note of Thanks to Karen Grassle By Maureen McAlorum 06-27-2006

Letters to the Editor 06-23-2006

Commentary: Noise + Traffic = Flight: Saving Urban Neighborhoods By Joanne Kowalski 06-23-2006

Commentary: Is Berkeley the Neo-Con City? By Bonnie Hughes 06-23-2006

News

Condos Dominate Planning Agenda By Richard Brenneman 06-27-2006

Housing Authority Faces Friday Federal Deadline By Suzanne La Barre 06-27-2006

Trader Joe’s Project Moves to Design Review By Suzanne La Barre 06-27-2006

Landmark Commissioners Find Flaws in Mayor’s Plan By Richard Brenneman 06-27-2006

Public Financing of Elections Clears Hurdle By Judith Scherr 06-27-2006

‘Opt Out’ Military Recruitment Bill Heads to State Senate By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 06-27-2006

Council to Debate Budget, Gaia Building, Public Comment By Judith Scherr 06-27-2006

Seagate/Arpeggio High-Rise Condo Project Set to Rise By Richard Brenneman 06-27-2006

Supervisors Give $8 Million Bailout to Medical Center, Avert Layoffs By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 06-27-2006

Homophobic Speech Sours Community Graduation Event By Suzanne La Barre 06-23-2006

Council Decides Not to Decide On Landmark Law Revisions By Judith Scherr 06-23-2006

After Announcing Property Sale, OUSD Proposes Borrowing Funds By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 06-23-2006

La Fiesta Owners Celebrate Life Together on Telegraph By Riya Bhattacharjee 06-23-2006

Library Gardens Going Condo By Richard Brenneman 06-23-2006

Council Looks at Budget, Approves Garbage Hikes By Judith Scherr 06-23-2006

Wishing Well Supporters Urge Council to Save Local Free Box By Riya Bhattacharjee 06-23-2006

City Clerk Cox Quits Post To Take Position in Napa By Judith Scherr 06-23-2006

BUSD Teachers’ Union Demands Apology for Pay Dock Threat By Suzanne La Barre 06-23-2006

Berkeley Schools Hires New Assistant Superintendent By Suzanne La Barre 06-23-2006

Shattuck Cinemas Workers Get Union By Judith Scherr 06-23-2006

Protestors Rally at BART Station Against Deaths In Gaza By Judith Scherr 06-23-2006

Le Conte Neighbors Fume Over Storage Facility Construction By Riya Bhattacharjee 06-23-2006

Mayor Seeks Funds for Ashby BART Plan Study By Richard Brenneman 06-23-2006

Judge Awards Legal Fees to Opponents of Pt. Molate Casino By Richard Brenneman 06-23-2006

DAPAC Demands Access, Hears Downtown Hotel Plan By Richard Brenneman 06-23-2006

Police Blotter By Richard Brenneman 06-23-2006

Columns

Column: The Public Eye: Campaign 2006: Top 10 Senate Races By Bob Burnett 06-27-2006

Douglas-Fir Builds and Graces Towns, Creates Splendid Forests By Ron Sullivan, Special to the Planet 06-27-2006

Column: The Public Eye: Downtown Plan: One Good Afternoon, Lingering Suspicions By Michael Katz 06-23-2006

Column: Dispatches From the Edge: Gaza Shrapnel; Timor Haste; Turin Trouncing By Conn Hallinan 06-23-2006

Column: Undercurrents: Hopes Soar as the Dellums Era Begins in Oakland By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 06-23-2006

At Home in Northbrae By Marta Yamamoto, Special to the Planet 06-23-2006

East Bay Then and Now: An Enchanting Country House Echoes East Coast Follies By Daniella Thompson 06-23-2006

About the House: Paint Jobs: The Good, The Bad and The Best By Matt Cantor 06-23-2006

Garden Vartiety: Corporations Budding In On Local Garden Shops By Ron Sullivan 06-23-2006

Quake Tip of the Week By Larry Guillot 06-23-2006

Arts & Events

Arts Calendar 06-27-2006

‘Inspector General’ at the Berkeley City Club By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 06-27-2006

Books: Czeslaw Milosz: The Poet in His Times By Phil McArdle, Special to the Planet 06-27-2006

Douglas-Fir Builds and Graces Towns, Creates Splendid Forests By Ron Sullivan, Special to the Planet 06-27-2006

Berkeley This Week 06-27-2006

Arts Calendar 06-23-2006

Moving Pictures: Account of The Harrowing Road to Guantanamo By Justin DeFreitas 06-23-2006

Poets and Writers Organize Benefit for Katrina Victims By Ken Bullock Special to The Planet 06-23-2006

At Home in Northbrae By Marta Yamamoto, Special to the Planet 06-23-2006

East Bay Then and Now: An Enchanting Country House Echoes East Coast Follies By Daniella Thompson 06-23-2006

About the House: Paint Jobs: The Good, The Bad and The Best By Matt Cantor 06-23-2006

Garden Vartiety: Corporations Budding In On Local Garden Shops By Ron Sullivan 06-23-2006

Quake Tip of the Week By Larry Guillot 06-23-2006

Berkeley This Week 06-23-2006