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Berkeley resident Joyce Hawkins, a Section 8 tenant for 21 years, joined public housing advocates at Old City Hall Tuesday to show support for the Berkeley Housing Authority. Photograph by Suzanne La Barre.
Berkeley resident Joyce Hawkins, a Section 8 tenant for 21 years, joined public housing advocates at Old City Hall Tuesday to show support for the Berkeley Housing Authority. Photograph by Suzanne La Barre.
 

News

Citizens Rally for Ailing City Housing Authority

By Suzanne La Barre
Friday July 14, 2006

A rally to save Berkeley’s troubled Housing Authority drew about two-dozen supporters Tuesday. 

Public housing tenants and advocates gathered at the steps of Old City Hall to call for the preservation of the Berkeley Housing Authority (BHA), the city agency under pressure to mend a number of administrative and managerial problems which have put it at risk of dissolution or restructuring. 

“Hey, hey, what do you say? We’ve got to save BHA,” chanted the protesters, many whom held signs, some of which read “Save your own housing,” and “Heart is where the home is. Keep BHA at home.” 

The Housing Authority owns 75 units of affordable housing in Berkeley and locally administers multiple public housing programs, including about 1,800 Section 8 vouchers. 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued the authority a June 30 deadline to correct a list of deficiencies, among them: miscalculated rents, incomplete inspections and re-evaluations, and problems with housing quality standards. 

HUD, which gives about $27.4 million a year to the Berkeley agency, is expected to evaluate results by fall. 

“There are management problems that need to be fixed,” said City Councilmember Kriss Worthington to the crowd Tuesday. “We need to put pressure on those officials to make sure it’s an effective agency.” 

A handful of speakers, determined to save the authority, detailed their success stories in public housing. 

Nasira S. Abdul-Aleem said Section 8 allowed her to get through graduate school without the fear that she might not be able to pay her rent. Joyce Hawkins, a Section 8 tenant who is disabled, said because of subsidized housing, she was able to stay home to raise her children.  

“It’s possible, by having the Housing Authority, [that] we’re able to access all the services Berkeley has available to us disabled people,” she said, adding, “Poor people can’t afford to take the bus to Hayward.”  

If the Berkeley Housing Authority fails to meet HUD’s standards, the agency could fold into another authority, like that of Oakland or Alameda County, which is located in Hayward. 

The Housing Authority of the County of Alameda is listed as a high-performing agency, though it has faced many of the same setbacks as Berkeley: declining funding, management turnover and the whims of federal administrators. 

According to county Executive Director Chris Gouig the formula for a functional agency is labor-intensive, but was doable. She said, “It’s a lot of record-keeping, doing it correctly and doing it on time.” 

Gouig said she has not been contacted by the city of Berkeley about a possible consolidation. 

Contrary to the fears of many Section 8 recipients, county control would not spell the end of assisted housing for current tenants, said City Manager Phil Kamlarz. However, voucher payment standards vary between authorities, and Berkeley’s are among the highest. 

In Berkeley, landlords receive as much as $1,150 in Section 8 money for a one-bedroom apartment; a comparable unit in Oakland would bring up to $1,090. 

One fear in losing the authority, says Stephen Barton, the city’s Housing Department director, is that Berkeley landlords may not accept lower payments from Section 8 tenants.  

HUD could also opt to send the authority into receivership, shut it down altogether or mandate new governance.  

Barton has attributed the authority’s pervasive problems to inconsistent management (city staff is currently looking for the agency’s fourth manager in four years), staff shortages, and shaky federal support. 

HUD is slashing funds to local housing authorities across the country; in Berkeley, this has resulted in an estimated $285,000 shortage over the last two years. Federal support for administrative costs is expected to decrease by an additional 8 percent this year, Barton said. 

Several speakers Tuesday faulted President Bush for the demise of the Housing Authority.  

“We’re losing our housing because that is the Bush administration’s agenda,” Frances Hailman called out to cheering protesters. “The word(s) ‘affordable housing’ (have) been redefined. (They) now mean housing we can’t afford.”  

A representative from the San Francisco HUD Regional Director’s Office did not return a call to comment. 

Some tenants and landlords have recently expressed less support for the Berkeley Housing Authority. Surendra Barot, who owns an apartment complex on Russell Street, told the Daily Planet in June that he was opting out of Section 8 because the bureaucracy’s inefficiency is interminable. A resident of his building also complained bitterly about the agency’s lack of responsiveness to tenant needs. 

Following Tuesday’s rally, public housing advocates crowded into Council Chambers, where they competed for the council’s ear with warm pool users, clean money proponents, landmarks preservationists and others peddling their respective causes. The Housing Authority was not on the agenda--July 25 is the next meeting of the 11-member Berkeley Housing Authority Board--but protesters were intent on voicing their concerns. 

“If I lose Section 8, I will be on the street,” said Berkeley resident Ann Maux. “The Berkeley Housing Authority—taking it out of Berkeley makes no sense at all. It’s the Berkeley Housing Authority and it should stay in Berkeley.” 

 

 

 


Council Approves Mayor’s New LPO

By Richard Brenneman
Friday July 14, 2006

By a 6-3 vote, the Berkeley City Council passed the mayor’s controversial new Landmarks Preservation Ordinance (LPO) Tuesday, setting the stage for a November confrontation at the ballot box. 

Spurring the push for passage was City Attorney Manuela Albuquerque, who said she needed the council to pass the ordinance so that she could write a ballot analysis comparing the new ordinance with the rival measure voters will face in November. 

Passage came after the 5-3-1 defeat of a proposed compromise by Councilmember Kriss Worthington that would have eliminated the new law’s most controversial provision, the Request for Determination (RFD). 

“It’s not a good idea,” said Mayor Tom Bates of the Worthington amendment, and the council majority agreed. 

Voting for the amendment and against the ordinance in its latest draft were Worthington, Dona Spring and Betty Olds. Max Anderson abstained on the amendment vote but joined the majority in passing the ordinance. 

The council vote marks the end of what may be the penultimate battle in a political war that has been raging for more than six years. 

That struggle has pitted architectural and neighborhood preservationists against developers and, increasingly, city staff and the council. The law passed by the council Tuesday night contains one sop to preservationists, retaining the structure of merit designation for certain kinds of historic resources, but it gives developers their desideratum—the RFD and the two-year ban on designation it bestows. 

 

The pitch 

Three current members of the Landmarks Preservation Commission—the city panel charged with designating and preserving the city’s architectural legacy—appeared to testify for the law, flanked by city Planning and Development Director Dan Marks and Deputy City Attorney Zac Cowan. 

Marks traced the history of the latest version of the ordinance, drafted at the direction of the mayor and Councilmember Laurie Capitelli, and outlined its key features. 

Among its features, the new ordinance: 

• Creates two parallel review processes, landmarking and the RFD, with rules for applying each both when a development project is planned and when no project is planned; 

• Gives the LPC a new power, to deny demolitions, although its decision can be overturned by the city council. 

• Increases the age of non-residential buildings which must be automatically submitted to the LPC for demolition review from 40 years to 50. 

• Preserves the structure of merit designation under certain circumstances. 

• Requires the commission to apply a standard of architectural integrity for historic resources which is the same as that mandated by the state Office of Historic Preservation. 

The vote was preceded by comments from city staff, LPC commissioners, and members of the public, including some former commissioners.  

“The RFD track is a property owner-driven process,” said LPC member Steven Winkel, comparing the process to an environmental impact review, which developers hire consultants from an approved list to perform. 

Under the new RFD process, a property owner will hire a historical consultant from a list to be approved by the LPC in a process yet to be determined. The hired consultant will then conduct a review of the property’s architecture and history. After getting the consultant’s report, the LPC will have two meetings, or 60 days, to move to designate the structure. If the LPC fails to act, members of the public will have an additional 21 days to collect signatures and file a petition for designation. 

If no action is taken by the commission or the public, designation is thenceforth banned during a two-year “safe harbor.” 

The developer can file for a building permit the day after the deadline passes, so project opponents cannot use a landmark application to delay or prevent demolition and construction. 

“This is going to be a very good ordinance for the city and our commission,” said LPC member Carrie Olson, who abandoned her earlier opposition to the RFD because she said she had “come to recognize there was a will in the city and our commission for the RFD process.” 

 

History 

On Sept. 13, 1999, the LPC set up a subcommittee to “examine the Permit Streamlining Act (PSA) and its effect on how projects and applications are deemed complete.” That law sets limits on the time local government can take to process development applications. 

Former Mayor Shirley Dean, under whose tenure the two-commission LPO review was initiated, said during the public hearing that what the council had wanted then “was a clarification,” not a revision. She spoke against the new version as unnecessary. 

On July 27, 2000 the City Council directed the LPC and Planning Commission to revise the landmarks ordinance to ensure compliance with the PSA, and the LPC completed its first draft of a revised ordinance in mid-2002. 

It was the Planning Commission, regarded by preservationists as more developer-friendly, who added the proposal for the RFD, previously rejected by the LPC when it was proposed by the city attorney, to a draft sent to the city council on May 25, 2005. Their version also eliminated the structure of merit category, considered by developers as little more than a last-ditch means to obstruct their projects. 

 

Public response 

First up during the public testimony phase of the hearing was Roger Marquis, the preservationist co-sponsor of the ballot measure that has already qualified for the November election. 

Created in response to the mayor’s ordinance, that initiative basically preserves the existing ordinance while making the small changes supporters say will meet all PSA requirements. 

Volunteers who gathered signatures of the initiative “encountered almost no opposition,” Marquis said, and found strong support “for the ordinance that makes Berkeley one of the nicest places to live in our state.” 

“The RFD won’t fly,” said initiative co-sponsor Laurie Bright, president of the Council of Neighborhood Associations and a former LPC member.  

“People believe our mayor is obsessively preoccupied with development,” said Martha Nicoloff, who said the resulting projects “are not architecture but giant cash registers—ka-ching, ka-ching.” 

Berkeley Architectural Heritage board member (and Planet calendar editor) Anne Wagley read from a letter written at BAHA’s request by environmental attorney Susan Brandt-Hawley. 

Brandt-Hawley said “the proposed new LPO needlessly focuses on PSA issues in a manner that overshadows and defeats the very goals of its landmarks program.” 

She noted that it made changes substantial enough to require an environmental impact report because of its significant adverse effects on Berkeley’s historic resources. The initiative version would meet all PSA requirements, she wrote. 

“You are being WMD’d by your staff,” said former LPC Commissioner (and Planet Executive Editor) Becky O’Malley. She agreed with Brandt-Hawley that “there is no conflict between the PSA and the current Landmarks Preservation ordinance,” and said that the council was “being asked to invade” the LPO to “find non-existent” threats, an implicit comparison to the use of weapons of mass destruction as an excuse for invading Iraq. 

Another former LPC member, the recently-ousted Patti Dacey, described the RFD as the “Neighborhood Condo Pop-up Act,” and said it would “grease the skids for inappropriate development and take away one of the last tools to protect our neighborhoods.” 

Olson spoke again, this time reading a supporting letter from former commissioner Susan Cerny. Their commission colleague Lesley Emmington disagreed: “The mayor’s ordinance destroys something essential,” she said, “that is, that we respect each other in all the different neighborhoods” of the city. 

Rena Rickles, an Oakland attorney who often represents developers, said “too much was given away” in the latest version of the ordinance—especially the resurrected Structure of Merit. Rickles has contested LPC structure of merit designations initiated by neighbors after developers filed for building permits, though each was subsequently overturned by the City Council. 

Alan Tobey, a member of the board of Livable Berkeley, an infill development advocacy group, called the ordinance “a benefit for preservation and not an enemy of it.” 

 

Council decision 

The council battle lines were clear from the outset and didn’t change during a brief discussion despite the audience’s vocal opposition and applause for the three councilmembers who supported their opinion. 

Olds said she had great respect for Brandt-Hawley as an attorney and wanted more time to consider the arguments raised. She was concerned about the 21-day limit on citizen landmarking efforts if the LPC failed to act on a Request for Determination referral. 

“I could live with six weeks,” she said. 

Marks said the public actually had 81 days, since they could begin initiation at any time during the 60-day LPC review period. 

Though an ordinance supporter, Capitelli said he wondered if that wasn’t asking neighbors “to jump the gun by anticipating the LPC won’t initiate.” 

They have 21 days to get 25 signatures, Marks said. 

When Worthington said he agreed with Olds that the council needed more time to consider the measure, which it had just received, City Attorney Manuela Albuquerque made a new argument for immediate passage. 

“We need you to act,” she said, so her office could analyze the new law and compare it with the ballot initiative in order to prepare a statement for the November election voter’s guide. 

Worthington asked how she could do that when the law requires such a comparison to be made with the law that is in effect when the analysis is written. Council ordinances ordinarily don’t take effect until 30 days after passage, and the analysis has to be sent to the Registrar of Voters by July 25, well before the new law would take effect under the usual rules if the new ordinance is voted for final adoption at the council’s next meeting on the July 18. 

When Worthington suggested that she draft a comparison that included all three ordinances—the old, the new and the initiative—Albuquerque said that wasn’t possible.  

He then raised another possibility, that opponents would referend the ordinance—a process in which petitioners collect enough signatures to put the council’s ordinance on the ballot to give voters a chance to defeat it.  

If enough signatures are gathered and filed before an ordinance takes effect, it is then suspended until the next election. Because it’s too late for a referendum on the new LPO to qualify for the November ballot, that would mean in this case that the council would have to hold a special election next year or wait until the 2008 elections. 

Until then, the essential elements of the old law would remain in force unless it was replaced by voter approval of the November initiative. Worthington asked that the RFD provision be deleted in order to forestall a referendum, but his motion lost, and the council majority passed the new ordinance. 


OUSD Could Make Less Than Planned in Land Sale

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Friday July 14, 2006

The Oakland Unified School District held the first of three public hearings Wednesday night on the proposed sale of 8.25 acres of OUSD Lake Merritt-area properties, but a key component of the proposal was only available to those who later followed a trustee’s suggestion to look up the actual development proposal on the district website. 

As a component of the OUSD development, New York-based TerraMark’s original proposal indicates that a least as soon as a year ago, it was receiving “positive feedback from City of Oakland officials” about a proposal for a long-term lease of the Kaiser Convention Center, located close to the OUSD properties. 

That information was not revealed at the public hearing, and the proposal was only revealed after Trustee Gary Yee directed audience members to OUSD’s website so that they could see the full proposal for themselves. 

TerraMark officials were not available following the meeting, and it is not clear if negotiations with the city for the Convention Center are still going on. 

Meanwhile, an OUSD facilities staff analysis showed that if the entire parcel is sold to TerraMark developers of New York, the district could net as little as $25 million on the deal, even if the full $60 million pricetag is reached. The TerraMark deal is based on several contingencies that could significantly lower the price it would eventually pay to the district. 

On Wednesday night, TerraMark officials told OUSD State Administrator Randolph Ward, OUSD Trustee Advisory Board members, and a packed auditorium of skeptical citizens that it is proposing five high-rise luxury towers for the OUSD properties in a mixed residential-commercial development. 

This was the first of three proposed public hearings to be held by mid September when State Superintendent Jack O’Connell—who operates the Oakland schools under a 2003 state takeover—must decide whether to accept the TerraMark proposal. 

Wednesday’s hearing was also the only hearing which will be attended by current state-appointed OUSD administrator Randolph Ward. Ward is scheduled to take his new job in mid-August as superintendent of the San Diego County Office of Education, and said that either an interim or a full-time successor appointed by O’Connell will advise the State Superintendent on the proposed sale. 

On Wednesday, TerraMark Chief Executive Officer Paul Bucha told OUSD officials, “We wanted to develop something in Oakland that would make people walk by and say ‘Oh, wow.’” 

But as Bucha showed a PowerPoint presentation that swirled around enormous 27 to 37 floor high-rise towers that would dominate the Lake Merritt and Oakland Estuary skylines, several people sitting in the OUSD audience could be heard saying “Oh, Christ!” 

Bucha got a similar reaction when he told of TerraMark’s plans to put an “80 foot by 50 foot waterfall cascading over the parking garage” planned for the five-tower facility. 

“We believe people will come from all over to walk by this waterfall, just to see it,” Bucha said. 

Several public speakers referred disparagingly to the proposed waterfall portion of the project, with one student—a recent graduate of the MetWest High School which may be displaced by the TerraMark development—breaking down in tears as she asked how the district could consider replacing her school with a waterfall. 

As part of the deal to purchase the OUSD Administration Building and five adjacent school sites, the website-posted full proposal reveals that New York-based TerraMark developers once negotiated with the City of Oakland for the long-term lease of the Kaiser Convention Center. Proposed for the Convention Center are a hotel “that could inaugurate a West Coast branch of the Heisman Trophy Museum and newly branded Heisman Steak House.”  

In its 2005 proposal, TerraMark said it had “received positive feedback from City of Oakland officials” concerning the Convention Center lease. The proposal said that “a copy of that written reply” from Oakland City officials would be included in the proposal index, but no such letter was included with the proposal posted on the OUSD website. 

TerraMark calls the proposed joint Kaiser Convention Center and OUSD properties development “the Trophy.” 

Inspired by the OUSD property’s proximity to the Laney College Athletic Field where the Oakland Raiders first played in 1960, TerraMark says it wants to “dedicate the residential project to those Oakland Raiders who had won Heisman awards.”  

At Wednesday night’s OUSD hearing, reaction to the TerraMark proposal was similar to what Oaklanders now think of the original Raiders deal. 

OUSD Trustee Board President David Kakishiba charged that while trustees originally agreed in early 2005 to put out an RFP for the possible sale or lease of the Lake Merritt-area properties, “the conditions of the RFP were changed [by State Superintendent Jack O’Connell’s office] in Sacramento” without the knowledge or consent of OUSD Trustees. Kakishiba said that the “intent of the [original] RFP was to look at rebuilding” La Escuelita Elementary “and to reduce the debt.” 

Kakishiba did not give details on how he believed the original RFP was changed by O’Connell’s office. 

The trustee president added that he was “stunned” by the information provided by OUSD staff at the hearing that relocating the five schools from the property site could cost the district as much as $35 million out of the deal’s proceeds. “That would take away 50 percent of those revenues,” Kakishiba said. “That’s stunning. We would lose the largest acreage in this area to build a school. At this point, it doesn’t look like a good business deal.” 

Trustee Noel Gallo said that the proposal “hasn’t been properly explained to us. What are we doing, and why do we have to do it?” Gallo said that the TerraMark proposal “doesn’t make good business sense and it doesn’t follow good education practice.” 

And trustee Greg Hodge added that “if Jack O’Connell wants to sell this building, he should come through the people of Oakland to do it. He should be invited to attend the next hearing.” 

And repeating her earlier-stated position that even if the deal is approved by O’Connell “it still has to go through the city approval process,” Oakland City Councilmember Pat Kerningham, who represents the district where the OUSD property is located, said in public comment session that “I’m not in favor of selling all the” OUSD property, “particularly the part of the property on which the schools sit.” 

Assistant Superintendent for Facilities Tim White told trustees that a requested independent appraisal of the proposed sale properties, as well as an enrollment projection report to tell how many classrooms will be needed in the East Lake/Chinatown area in the coming years, will not be available until the last public hearing in September, shortly before the Board and the new state administrator will make their recommendations to O’Connell about the sale of the properties. 


Post Office Might Close In Elmwood District

By Richard Brenneman
Friday July 14, 2006

While Berkeley’s Elmwood district gained one landmark last week, it may be about to lose another community mainstay—it’s post office at 2705 Webster St. at College Avenue. 

While facts may be few, the rumors are rampant as a September lease renewal draws nearer without an agreement to renew the lease. 

“As far as I know, we are still in negotiations,” said Mercer Jones, a consumer representative for the main post office in Berkeley. 

“We don’t want to move, and that’s the only alternative,” he said. “I’m sure the owners don’t want the building vacant either.” 

Negotiations are being handled out the post office’s South San Francisco service center, Jones said, and the officer who is handling the matter is unavailable this week.  

For Tad Laird, owner of the just-landmarked Bolfing’s Elmwood Hardware building at 2947-93 College Ave., that’s not necessarily a bad thing. 

“If they go, I will be a tiny, tiny bit sad,” said Laird. “It’s a nice service to have in the neighborhood.” 

But for Laird, who lives just a few doors up from the post office on Webster, the facility is a mixed blessing. 

As a neighbor he’s bothered by the 40 or so postal service vehicles he says regularly double-park or occupy neighborhood red zones, as well as the cars of carriers and other employees that take up parking spaces on the street that could be used by customers for Elmwood businesses. 

“When people hear ‘post office,’ they think, ‘What’s the problem?’” Laird said. “But think ‘freight forwarding facility’ instead.” 

“I’d hate to see it go,” said John Moriarty, president of the Elmwood Merchants Association and the proprietor of 14 Karats Jewelry at 2910 College Ave. 

One problem might be the high cost of leasing in the Elmwood, where retail rents top $3 a square foot. “I’m sure that’s part of the problem,” Moriarty said. 

Moriarty agreed with Jones that the current location is the only available site that would meet the agency’s needs. “It’s either that building, or they have to leave the area.”  

But Moriarty also acknowledged the vehicle problem, and shared Laird’s concern that postal employees who work in the main post office downtown leave their cars in the Elmwood. 

City Councilmember Gordon Wozniak, who represents the Elmwood district, said that the last update he had on the issue was that the property owners—the White Family Trust—were still negotiating with the post office with the lease due to expire in September. 

An email sent to Earl J. March, the Stockton man who represents the trust, was not returned by deadline Thursday. 

While Wozniak said the original intent was to have a new lease in place in April or May, “the last we heard they were still in negotiations.” 

He said one concern of residents and the postal service is the need for repairs and renovation, with the need to new paint and the repair of graffiti on the front of the building and facade restoration needed in the rear. 

“We’ve heard that they’re not amenable to making the repairs until the lease is renewed,” Wozniak said. 


Warm Pool Measure Wins Approval, Then Postponed

By Judith Scherr
Friday July 14, 2006

Warm-water pool users cheered as the Berkeley City Council, its chambers packed wheelchair to walker, voted 6-3 to place a referendum before the voters asking for approval of a $4.5 million bond to complete funding for a new warm pool.  

The elation, however, was short lived.  

The pool, located at Berkeley High, is used especially by disabled and elderly people. 

Although he had voted in favor of the measure, Mayor Tom Bates, responding to the city manager’s insistence that his staff would be unable to prepare the referendum before the council recess at the end of the month, called for revisiting the issue at next week’s meeting.  

“It’s grasping defeat from the jaws of victory,” quipped Councilmember Kriss Worthington, during a break in the meeting. 

Opposing the placement of the measure on the November ballot were Councilmembers Linda Maio, Laurie Capitelli, and Gordon Wozniak. 

The aging pool is to be demolished within the next two years, according to the school district plan to rebuild the sports facility where the pool is located. 

As part of the South Campus Plan, the district has offered to allow the city to construct a new warm pool east of Milvia Street. 

The offer, however, will not be finalized until the district completes an environmental impact report that will include a number of projects in the vicinity of the warm pool, according to Lew Jones, Berkeley Unified School District facilities director. 

In 2000, before the decision to demolish the pool, voters approved a $3.2 million bond measure to rehab the pool and the building that houses it. 

Plans to demolish the pool have stalled the project, to which the City Council has added $1 million. New funding of $4.5 million is needed to build a new facility. 

Kept at 92 degrees with access facilitated by a chair lift, the pool is a lifeline, pool users told the council. 

“I stand before you tonight as a result of the warm pool,” said Ann Marx, who credited use of the warm pool for her recovery from a recent injury. 

“One day, anyone in this room may need to come to the warm pool,” she said. 

Rolling up to the microphone in his electric wheelchair, pool-user Daniel Rudman told the council that disabled people from toddlers to 88-year-olds use the pool. “It gives them back their lives,” he said. 

“Imagine you couldn’t do any exercise until you got into the warm water,” said Councilmember Dona Spring, urging the council to approve placing the bond before the voters. 

Fearing the bond measure would not be ready for the ballot in time, the councilmembers took three other votes: to fund the pool with certificates of participation (COP), to hold a special election for the bond measure and to bring the issue back next week. 

COPs are a funding mechanism that cities can use to borrow funds for capital projects. The loan is paid back out of the general fund; no citizen approval is mandated. Use of COPs to fund the pool went down to defeat 4-4-1. 

“It’s a question of priorities,” said City Manager Phil Kamlarz, who estimated that the cost to the city for COPs would be around $300,000 annually. “Something else gets knocked out.”  

Bates and Councilmembers Darryl Moore, Max Anderson and Betty Olds voted to oppose the use of COPs; Wozniak abstained. 

Kamlarz suggested a third option: the city would hold a special election on the use of bond money for the pool. In an 8-0-1 vote, the council asked staff to look at that possibility and come back with an analysis. Spring abstained on the resolution. 

Then the council voted 6-3 on Bates’ proposal to revisit the just approved bond measure next week, with Spring, Olds and Worthington in opposition. 

 

 

The warm-pool users group will meet at the pool at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.


Vandals Strike Warm Water Pool

By Judith Scherr
Friday July 14, 2006

Warm-pool users, already reeling from the fear that their only source of exercise will be demolished without a replacement—the school district plans to remove the pool and the city may not come up with funds to build a new one—discovered Wednesday the pool had been vandalized. 

“I saw wheelchairs dumped to the bottom of the pool,” said Susie Bluestone, who arrived for her regular swim on Wednesday afternoon and found the pool closed, with clean-up underway. Bluestone told the Daily Planet she saw a whiskey bottle floating in the water and a calculator nearby; there was broken glass on the deck.  

“Who in the world would do that?” she asked, underscoring the importance of the pool in the lives of people with permanent disabilities and temporary injuries.  

“They made a mess of the place,” said Berkeley Police Spokesperson Ed Galvan, who said the vandals came in through an open window. None of the damage is permanent or costly, Galvan said. 

Pool staff declined comment saying they were not allowed to speak to the press. A sign at the pool said it will open today (Friday).


Sea Scouts Appeal Berkeley Case to Supreme Court

By Judith Scherr
Friday July 14, 2006

The Pacific Legal Foundation filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court this week aimed at reversing the California Supreme Court’s unanimous March decision that upheld Berkeley’s refusal to subsidize the Sea Scout’s fees at the Berkeley Marina because of the group’s affiliation with the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), which denies membership to gays and atheists. 

The children are “victims of ideological grandstanding at City Hall,” said PLF attorney Harold Johnson, in a phone interview Wednesday. “Kids are the ones who are suffering.”  

Because the scouts lost the free berth, poor children whom the scouts once subsidized have had to leave scouting, he said. 

“The human angle gets missed,” Johnson said. 

Councilmember Kriss Worthington responded, “The issue is that local government shall not be forced to subsidize groups that have policies that discriminate.” 

The city attorney was not available for comment.  

At issue is Berkeley’s policy of providing marina berths at no cost to nonprofit organizations. The Sea Scouts used marina space without charge for almost seven decades. 

But in 1998, according to council minutes quoted in court documents, the City Council voted to disqualify the scouts, “due to [BSA’s] discriminatory policies against gays and atheists.” 

Like the appeal it lost to the California Supreme Court, the PLF appeal to the Supreme Court is based on the First and Fourteenth Amendments, which guarantee free speech and equal protection. 

In its appeal to the Supreme Court, PLF argues that the California courts disregarded a Supreme Court ruling that the First Amendment “right to freedom of association is a necessary correlate to the constitutionally protected freedom of speech.” 

The appeal also argues that Berkeley’s denial of subsidies was “intended to punish the Sea Scouts … solely because of their association with the BSA.” 

Worthington said he expects, if the case goes to the Supreme Court, the court will uphold the California Supreme Court ruling which said: “We agree with Berkeley and the Court of Appeal that a government entity may constitutionally require a recipient of funding or subsidy to provide written, unambiguous assurances of compliance with a generally applicable nondiscrimination policy.” 

Johnson said he believes the Supreme Court will hear the case because courts in other jurisdictions have come to different conclusions on similar issues. The court will likely decide mid-fall if it will hear the case, he said.


City Council Kills ‘Clean Money’ Ballot Proposal

By Judith Scherr
Friday July 14, 2006

Claiming there was no time, no local need and insufficient public interest, the City Council killed a proposal Tuesday to put public financing of city elections on the November ballot. 

“I simply cannot do it,” said City Attorney Manuela Albuquerque, who would have had the job of preparing the Berkeley measure for a final council vote by July 25, the council’s last session before its summer recess. 

A similar state-wide measure to finance elections with public money, however, has qualified for the November ballot. 

Casting his vote to oppose the measure, Mayor Tom Bates, who had consistently voted in favor of public financing for the mayor’s race—and had helped write Measure H, the 2004 ballot measure in favor of publicly-financed elections—agreed it would be “physically impossible” for the city attorney to get the job done. 

Also voting in opposition were Councilmembers Laurie Capitelli, Betty Olds and Gordon Wozniak. Councilmemnber Linda Maio abstained. 

In a phone interview Thursday, Fair Campaign Practices Commissioner Stephen Bedrick called Bates’ vote “bizarre.” The commission had endorsed putting the referendum on the ballot by a 7-1 margin. 

“Tom Bates has been a major supporter [of publicly financed elections] over the years,” he said, arguing that the city attorney could get the measure written in a timely way—she would simply need to rewrite parts of the measure placed on the ballot two years earlier.  

“I don’t think the public is going to buy the mayor’s explanation,” he said, noting Albuquerque had already argued that she hadn’t time to do the work, when Bates voted in support of the measure, which had come to the council two weeks before. [It was voted down at the time, but brought back to council Tuesday by Councilmembers Kriss Worthington and Darryl Moore.} 

“The public needs an explanation from the mayor,” Bedrick said. 

Reached by phone on Thursday, Bates said there was more to his “no” vote than simply believing there wasn’t enough time to prepare the referendum.  

“I felt the ingredients for a campaign to come together were not there,” he said. 

With the state vote planned on the question, “we have an opportunity to see how well Berkeley does,” he said. 

If it looks like there is support, Bates said he would campaign for the measure to go on the 2008 ballot. 

Professing her support for the concept, Maio abstained, saying, in a brief interview after the council meeting, that she thought placing the measure on the Berkeley ballot would cause voters to be confused between the local and state measures and, in the end, hurt the state public financing initiative. 

Capitelli said his concern was the expense the measure would incur. Public funding for the mayor’s race alone would cost the city about $300,000 annually. 

Calling the suggestion that there’s influence peddling in Berkeley “a lot of hooey,” Councilmember Betty Olds, said “crooks” are found on the state and national levels, but not in Berkeley.  

“If you can be bought for $250, you’re a cheapy,” she said, referring to the city’s $250 campaign contribution limit. 

But Moore argued that “there’s a perception in the city that some people are influenced by contributions of $250. {The measure] would help clean up that perception.” 

Speaking before the council in favor of the measure, Bedrick argued that publicity for the state “clean money” measure would, in fact, help the passage of Berkeley’s referendum. 

 

Delayed business  

With lengthy discussion on the Landmarks Preservation Ordinance and warm water pool (see related articles), the council delayed some of its scheduled business: 

• A public hearing on transportation fees—fees that developers would have to pay when they develop new housing and businesses to mitigate new traffic—was technically opened, although the public did not speak to the issue during the regular council meeting. The public hearing and council vote are scheduled for July 18. 

• The question of support for union organizing at the West Berkeley Bowl was put off until July 25. 

 

Alcohol policy reform 

A presentation by the Berkeley Alcohol Policy Advocacy Coalition, a group that targets negative behavior that results from drinking and alcohol sales, pointed to a number of problems in Berkeley. 

The group tied criminal behavior to the location of alcohol retailers, especially where there is a concentration of these outlets. 

They also detailed problems among those under 21-years of age: alcohol sales without checking IDs, binge-drinking, serious personal problems when drinking (sexual assault, thoughts of suicide) and more. 

In the fall, the council will address the coalition’s proposals to regulate alcohol beverage delivery. 

These proposals include training alcoholic beverage servers to perform their jobs responsibly; making the party host responsible where underage drinking is permitted; making it more difficult to obtain permits for alcohol retail establishments and instituting an annual fee for staff to do the outreach, education, monitoring and enforcement required.


Berkeley Schools’ Achievement Gap Is Widest in County

By Suzanne La Barre
Friday July 14, 2006

Berkeley’s African-American students earned the second lowest standardized test scores in the county, whereas Berkeley’s white students laid claim to some of the highest, according to United In Action, a local minority student advocacy group. 

Data from the 2005 Academic Performance Index (API), a statewide indicator of student achievement, confirmed that African-American students in Berkeley performed worse than African-American students in all other Alameda County school districts except Oakland. 

By comparison, Berkeley’s white students performed better than white students in other school districts, save Albany and Piedmont. That gives Berkeley the widest black-white achievement gap of any district in Alameda County with statistically significant minority student populations. 

“It’s something we should be ashamed of in Berkeley,” said Karen Hemphill, a member of United In Action, and candidate for the upcoming school board election. 

API scores, on a scale of 200 to 1,000, are based on students’ standardized test scores. Schools strive to achieve 800. Last year, white students in the Berkeley Unified School District surpassed the 800-mark by 84 points; their African-American counterparts missed that level by 290 points on average. 

The district has seen a 19-point deepening of the separation since 2002. While both white and African-American students have improved over the years, white students have improved more, a trend mirrored in districts throughout the county, state and nation. 

BUSD also has the second largest achievement gap in the county when comparing whites to Latinos, United In Action says. 

Superintendent Michele Lawrence says the gamut of the district’s initiatives—school site plans, addressing social and emotional issues, staff development, breaking up the high school into smaller schools, the school lunch initiative and others—attempt to narrow disparities. 

“Almost the entire work we do is to try to address equity and achievement,” she said. “There isn’t a single answer to this. You cannot put in a program and expect the achievement gap to disappear overnight.” 

Hemphill said the educational system in Berkeley, with emphases on independence and personal choice, doesn’t bode well for some students of color.  

“There are things about Berkeley schools—they’re not necessarily bad things—but there are consequences that play out (differently) for certain groups,” she said. 

Berkeley teachers may be more inclined to simultaneously assume “friend” and “authority” roles, for example, sending mixed messages to some black students, who come from families with traditional modes of authority, she said. 

BUSD needs more teachers of color, she said. About 70 percent of Berkeley’s teachers are white, according to the Education Data Partnership.  

Annie Johnston, a teacher at Community Partnerships Academy (CPA), a small school within Berkeley High School, attributes BUSD’s achievement gap to the difficulty of educating a diverse student body. About a third of the population is African-American, 28 percent is white, 16 percent is Latino and 7 percent is Asian.  

“Being as diverse as we are, you have kids whose parents are determined to get them into ivy leagues and kids whose parents are determined to get them into a school that won’t fail them,” she said. “I don’t think it’s because Berkeley does a worse job (than other school districts). I just think it’s because Berkeley hangs on to that diverse spectrum of students.” 

The push for small schools within the larger high school was, in part, an effort to shrink the achievement gap. An analysis of 103 research documents, conducted by The Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, shows poor and minority students perform as well in small schools as in large schools, if not better. 

At CPA, which just completed its second year as a small school—though it was a program at Berkeley High for 15 years—and where about 60 percent of the students are African-American, efforts are underway to narrow the gap, said Johnston. The school stresses a strong student support system, focused on marshalling parents, teachers and peers behind each student’s education, and tamps down inequities by standardizing curricula, she said. 

Data on whether those initiatives—and others at Berkeley’s small schools—are working are inconclusive, however.  

Washington Elementary School is also taking steps toward reducing inequities. The school has hired consultants to train classroom teachers in diversity and equity, and has set up cultural parent organizations, Hemphill said, whose daughter attended Washington. 

Individual pockets notwithstanding, the district is failing to address the problem as a whole, said Antonio Cebiel, a United In Action member and Berkeley resident.  

“You could call it ironic, because Berkeley considers itself a progressive city and was the first to desegregate schools,” he said. “You have all the kids in there together, but with this huge gap.” 

Cebiel, a former deputy superintendent for the Boston public schools, is now principal at Emery Secondary School in Emeryville. 

“Clearly there’s an issue of will,” he continued. “In Berkeley, it doesn’t rise to the top of the priority list. People pay lip service to all students achieving, but there is not a real strategy for doing that.” 

Other districts have implemented “Education 101 type things that Berkeley has not gotten on the ball (about),” Cebiel said, such as benchmark testing that supplements state-mandated exams, teacher training programs and aligning curricula. 

 

 

 


Local Agencies, Cities Make Preparations for Coming Bird Flu

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday July 14, 2006

The recent strategy laid out by the Bush Administration to prepare for a possible bird flu pandemic in the United States is one which the administration hopes it will never need.  

In case of an outbreak, it has been predicted that two million Americans will die, 50 million will be infected, and 40 percent of American workers will be off their jobs. 

Development of a new vaccine specific to a human flu strain, stockpiling vaccines, quarantining infected individuals, minimizing human contact, liberal leave policies, and even bringing in the National Guard are some of the 300 recommendations included in the May 2006 “National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza” implementation plan that both government and non-government agencies are being asked to consider by the Bush Administration.  

The latest flu plan outlined by the U.S. government however makes it clear that there will be a limited federal role. The White House stressed the fact that although federal aid will be available in the form of 75 million doses of stockpiled antiviral drugs and 20 million doses of vaccine, local governments will have to take on maximum responsibility in fighting the flu pandemic when it does hit the United States. 

Julie Sinai, senior aid to Mayor Tom Bates, City of Berkeley, said that it was important not to work in isolation when it came to pandemic preparedness. 

“Although we are lucky to have our own public health office, we need to involve the county and the state at the planning level,” she said. 

Sinai also added that the mayor holds frequent breakfast meetings at which emergency preparedness methods for the pandemic flu are discussed. 

“The mayor has agreed to have a meeting similar to the one on earthquake preparedness with officials from the state and county level to discuss the pandemic,” she said. “Citizens need to know that in case of an outbreak they need to stay home.” 

But as some officials emphasize the need to coordinate a response the threat, others suspect that a major outbreak of the flu will turn each community into its own island. 

“We can no longer be in denial that we will be on our own,” said Dr. Wendell Bruner, Contra Costa County Public Health Officer. 

“We have to plan for the worst and hope for the best,” he said. “According to the federal plan, localities will be on their own.” 

Highlighting the fact that counties will need to fall back on their own resources, Bruner painted a grim picture in the case of a possible pandemic in Contra Costa County. 

“5,000 or more will die, tens of thousands will be infected, 20,000 or more will need hospital beds,” he said. “There are presently 1,500 hospital beds in the county which are mostly already filled up ... There will be no mass vaccinations as there is no vaccine available. We are not even in the capacity to produce this vaccine at the moment.” 

And Bruner said the danger might have already arrived. 

“Bird flu will be in the Bay Area this year, but by that we mean that it will come to the birds,” he said. “It does not necessarily mean that the H5N1 flu strain that will infect birds will infect humans as well.” 

Bruner said that some have said it is unlikely that the bird flu pandemic will move on to humans. “But there will definitely be a flu pandemic sometime and when it does occur it will prove fatal,” he said. 

Of the three influenza pandemics that have occurred in the last century, the 1918 pandemic—sometimes referred to as the “Spanish Flu”—wiped out 500,000 Americans and more than 20 million people worldwide. It infected one-third of the U.S. population and average life expectancy was reduced by 13 years. 

The 1957 and 1968 pandemics killed tens of thousands of Americans and millions across the world. According to the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, scientists believe that viruses from birds played a role in each of these outbreaks. 

Bruner also said that surveillance played an important role in combating the pandemic and that World Health Organization always remains on the lookout to try and stamp out any new flu strains before it gets started.  

Contra Costa County recently carried out the strategic national stockpile drill at Moffett Field as part of a mock Northern California drug receiving and distributing exercise. 

Dr. Tony Iton, Alameda County public health officer, told The Planet that the county’s plan to combat pandemic flu outbreak was recently revised. 

“Our plan to combat the pandemic has four different phases,” Iton said. “These are surveillance, disease control, communication and resource coordination.” 

Surveillance would include monitoring whether the virus has already entered Alameda County in which case quarantining people would be of no use, he said. 

“We would also look out for reported cases of influenza, test cases in labs, and work along with the county hospitals in order to spot unusual trends,” Iton said. “People who have traveled to any country with the H5N1 strain would also be closely monitored. The state veterinary and agricultural organizations will be on the lookout for H1N5 cases in immigratory and wild birds and their deaths.” 

Disease control would include isolating and quarantining people on a voluntary basis and to cancel schools and public gatherings.  

“Hospitals would be very quickly filled up and all health care professionals will have to be on board at all times,” Iton said. 

Iton added that communication and planning was just as important. 

“We are working with BART and BUSD to discuss preparedness plans,” he said. “Thirty-five to 40 percent of workforces will be effected. The death rate is going to be under 2 percent and 35 percent of the population will be made ill.” 

Young adults will be the most effected in the pandemic. 

Dr. Tomas Aragon, director of The Center for Infectious Disease Preparedness in Berkeley, said that if waterfowl in California were to be tested for influenza at this very moment, test results would likely be positive. 

“Bird flu will spread the way regular flu does but there will be more cases of pneumonia and more deaths,” he said. 

Aragon also added that there had been a summer program in Berkeley last year to train public health professionals for a pandemic outbreak but this year the focus would be on earthquake preparedness. 

Linda Rudolph, Berkeley public health officer, said that the city public health office was preparing the same way every other health department was.  

“The two key messages we want to send out to the people of Berkeley is that the pandemic influenza threat is real and everyone needs to work with the public health office and the city to combat it,” she said. 

Rudolph also added that in the first phase of the pandemic there won’t be any vaccines or anti-virals available and that the current anti-virals available are not that effective.  

“We are working with the county health department to develop a system and to get medical volunteers,” she said. “Hospitals and health care providers will be inundated. Businesses and government offices will need to figure out a plan on how to keep functioning because a lot of people will be falling sick.” 

 


Details of Proposed Land Deal Differ From Initial Proposal

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylo
Friday July 14, 2006

In May of 2005, TerraMark proposed a development on the OUSD Lake Merritt properties which it called “The Trophy.” 

Details of the original proposal differ in some ways from the final Letter of Intent signed between TerraMark, State Superintendent Jack O’Connell, and State Administrator Randolph Ward in June of 2006. 

Terramark proposed a “mixed-use community that would include residential towers, retail space, visually unobtrusive parking” and open landscaped areas. 

The development would consist of four towers with approximately 1,000 total dwelling units (in the final Letter of Intent, the development was changed to consist of five high-rise towers with a minimum of 1,000 units and a maximum of 1,388 units). 

Of the original four towers, two were planned to reach a height of 37 floors, the third would have 28 floors, and the fourth would have 27. 

The retail component would include 75,000 square feet of retail/commercial space. 

“Of that,” TerraMark wrote in its proposal, “25,000 square feet is designated as a health club or cultural/entertainment venue and the other 50,000 square feet for appropriate service-oriented retail establishments. 

Physically, the retail establishments are to be located on the lobby floors of the residential towers and in a separate low rise dome-shaped structure. … Anticipated retailers include restaurants and cafes such as Starbucks, drugstores, cleaners and other service oriented businesses.” In addition, “a significant amount of above and below ground space has been allotted for a structured parking deck.” 

In its presentation to the OUSD Board of Trustees this week, TerraMark officials said that the parking garage would include a waterfall cascading down one side of the building as a tourist attraction. 

As an aide to OUSD’s students, TerraMark’s original proposal included a contribution of “15 state-of-the-art computers to the OUSD for every condominium unit sold” TerraMark estimated the cash market value of this “contribution” at $10 million. 

Mention of the computer contribution does not appear in the final Letter of Intent. 

TerraMark is also proposing that “the regulation-sized swimming pool in the health club” of the complex “could be made available for OUSD students for scheduled competitions.” 

In its original proposal, TerraMark offered a flat sum of $25 million for the 8.25 acre OUSD parcels “and an additional sum of $10 million which the OUSD can use to procure a new off-site academic campus, bringing the total offer to $35 million.” 

In addition, TerraMark proposed “in order to assure the OUSD to receive an income stream in perpetuity, the developer will guarantee the District an annual sum of $500,000, with revenue being derived from a permanent annual assessment on the condominium homeowners’ association as well as on the owner of the retail condominium unit.” 

An ongoing revenue stream from the property was one of the requests made by the OUSD Board of Trustees in its original Request For Proposals. 

In the final Letter of Intent, the perpetual revenue stream was eliminated, and TerraMark promised a “tentative” base price of $60 million for the property. 

That $60 million base price could be lowered significantly if certain conditions outlined in the Letter of Intent are not met, so that the final actual price offered by TerraMark for the property is not yet known.


Police Blotter

By Richard Brenneman
Friday July 14, 2006

Short blotter 

If the Police Blotter has been on the skimpy side of late, blame Community Crime View, the new online software that Berkeley Police are counting on to provide information to the community and themselves. 

As of Thursday afternoon, the site hadn’t been updated since July 2, and police spokesperson Office Ed Galvan said the department’s techies are working on the problem. 

 

Car hits cyclist 

Galvan said a Berkeley man sustained severe jaw injuries as well as lacerations when he was struck by a car as he biked along Euclid Avenue Tuesday night. 

Galvan said the man, who in his late 20s, was struck by a car that struck him as the driver turned onto Euclid from Hilgard Avenue. 

The injured man was rushed to an emergency room for treatment. 

“At this point it looks like the driver of the car was at fault,” said Galvan, adding that the incident is still under investigation. 

The officer said the car was driven by a Berkeley woman in her 50s. 

The cyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Galvan said. His bicycle was equipped with the required lights that were functioning at the time of the accident. 

 

Campus assault 

A 33-year-old man sustained a broken tooth when an unknown assailant punched him with a fist or an elbow as he walked through the ASUC breezeway at Sproul Plaza on the UC Berkeley campus at 10:02 p.m. Tuesday. 

According to a crime bulletin released by UC Berkeley Police Chief Victoria L. Harrison, the attacker came running down the steps connecting the plaza’s upper and lower levels, landed his blow, then fled westbound on Grinnell pathway. 

He was gone by the time officers arrived on the scene.


Lopez Obrador Wins California Cities in Symbolic Vote

By Stan Oklobdzija, New American Media
Friday July 14, 2006

Mexican presidential candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador might have had a better showing if the polls in the Mexican cities of Saltillo and Durango were moved to the California cities of Stockton, Sacramento, and Fresno. 

A symbolic vote held in California’s Northern Central Valley on July 2 saw López Obrador beat out his conservative competitor Felipe Calderón of the Partido Accion Nacional (PAN). 

Organized in part by Stockton farmworker activist Luis Magaña, the vote was meant to give those feeling left out of the July 2 Mexican elections a chance to voice their opinion, Magaña said. 

An overly complex registration system for Mexicans living abroad coupled with a cultural aversion to voting by mail was responsible for the low voter turnout among Mexicans in the United States, according to Magaña. About 730 people turned out to several polling stations located outside Catholic churches, soccer fields, cultural centers and private homes in the area.  

López Obrador was the strong favorite with 349 votes, according to the group’s data. Coming in second was Calderón with 240, followed by PRI candidate Roberto Madrazo with 114. The rest of the votes were split among lesser-known candidates such as Patricia Mercado Castro and Roberto Campa Cifrián. 

“This is the beginning of the struggle for 2012,” said Magaña, referring to the year of the next Mexican presidential elections. “There should be ballot boxes for voters here.” 

Alex Garza, who helped with the symbolic vote, said he felt the same way.  

“I feel really disappointed,” he said. “I couldn’t vote, just like hundred of thousands of Mexicans here.” 

The vote’s organizers said they tried to present the ballots to the Mexican consulate in Sacramento, but they were refused.  

Consulate spokesperson Iván Sierra said this was due to a constitutional separation between the Mexican government and the country’s Federal Electoral Institute (IFE). 

“In Mexico, we have a constitutional separation of the electoral authorities,” Sierra said. “Our constitution specifically forbids us to take part in any elections.” 

However, because 2006 was the first time Mexicans abroad could vote, Sierra said that special considerations were made to allow consulates and embassies to offer voter registration assistance to Mexicans overseas. This included making announcements in the Spanish-language media as well as briefing consulate staff to answer any questions citizens abroad might have, he said.  

As for turning consulates into polling centers for the 2012 election, Sierra said it was anyone’s guess.  

“Maybe in the future, the new congress will analyze further options,” he said.  

Across the United States, fewer than 57,000 Mexicans requested absentee ballots, election officials said. Many of the estimated 4 million registered Mexican voters living in this country were upset about having to return to Mexico in order to obtain a ballot. Because many are undocumented, they risked a dangerous crossing and smuggler fees of up to $2,000 in order to get back over the border.  

It’s estimated that the Mexican government spent about $26 million on the absentee ballot program.  

Magaña said an aversion to voting by mail also played a part in the low turnout.  

“The people have a culture of putting their vote directly in the ballot box,” Magaña said. “(The absentee ballots) were something Mexico experimented with on those outside the country—with the least informed people having to go through a very complicated process.” 

With this election the closest in Mexican history, Magaña said votes from abroad would have been decisive.  

“Right now, with this tie, it could have been the difference,” he said. 

In voting organized by Leonel Flores and the Union of Ex Braceros and Immigrants (UNEI), López Obrador captured the majority of the votes, but not by much. 

After ballots from Fresno, Delano, Madera and Sanger were tallied, López Obrador had 221 votes to 221 for Calderón. In Mendota, 105 votes went for the PAN candidate, while López Obrador got only four votes. 

Six years ago, Vicente Fox captured an overwhelming majority of the symbolic vote in the Fresno area, far outdistancing the PRI candidate, 1,194 votes to 553. 

“We had more voting booths six years ago,” said Flores, explaining the decrease in area votes. 

 

 

Stan Oklobdzija is a reporter for Vida en el Valle, a member of New American Media. 


Democracy a Buzzword After Failed Taiwan Recall of Chen

By Eugenia Chien, New American Media
Friday July 14, 2006

Politicians and observers in Taiwan and the Chinese community are using the unsuccessful recall motion to unseat Taiwan President Chen Shui Bian as an opportunity to discuss democracy, according to the Chinese-language press.  

The first-ever parliamentary vote to unseat a president in Taiwan did not receive the 148 votes needed to pass, leaving Chen to finish the remaining two years of his second term. A total of 119 lawmakers voted to recall Chen, 14 cast null ballots, and the 86 lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party boycotted the vote.  

Some 3,000 people from the opposition Chinese Nationalist Party, which brought forward the recall motion, gathered outside the legislature on the morning of the vote. The Democratic Progressive Party, which tends to favor independence from China, reported that 100,000 of their supporters gathered on the street to support Chen. Chen’s aides and the first family had been investigated for scandals such as insider trading, but Chen himself had not been charged of any crime.  

In a report in the Chinese-language World Journal on June 27, a People’s First Party representative, Pong Zhong- Ming said that the process of the recall motion, rather than the result, is more important because it illustrates the democratic process in Taiwan. Pong said that the recall motion represents the democratic right of every citizen to know what Chen has accomplished in his six years of office. Pong said that the recall motion also signals a need to investigate for corruption in government.  

The People’s First Party is a part of a coalition that, along with the Chinese Nationalist (KMT) party, wanted to oust Chen. Both the People’s First Party and the KMT party favor eventual reunification with China.  

In a World Journal report by Nancy Kao, a board member of the Monte Jade Science and Technology Association in San Jose, who wished to withhold his name, reminded the reporter that former California Gov. Gray Davis was recalled from his office and that whether Chen has done any wrong doing, the people has the right to decide whether he should step down. “We should give the power of right and wrong to the 23 million people of Taiwan,” he said. 

The failed recall motion was expected by political watchers. Analysts Hsu Yung-Ming at the Academia Sinica told the Taipei Times that the recall campaign would be unlikely to succeed. Hsu also said however that Chen would benefit from reorganizing his inner circle to improve his image and credibility. 

The recall motion “should serve as a lesson and reminder for President Chen Shui-Bian of the need to improve his administration in the last two years of his presidency,” according to an editorial in the Taipei Times on June 28. Chen’s popularity has dropped in recent years, and infighting within the party has worsened.  

Auditors are investigating Chen’s presidential office at the request of the KMT party, which has alleged that receipts produced by the office to prove no wrong doing were fake. The People First Party is seeking to dissolve the cabinet or launch another recall motion. 

However, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Michel Lu said that as long as the recall vote and the demonstrations ended peacefully, it would prove Taiwan’s democracy was still strong. 

 

 

Eugenia Chien is a reporter for the Sing Tao Daily, a member of New American Media.


News Analysis: The Mexico Election: Obrador is No Gore

By Ted Vincent, Special to the Planet
Friday July 14, 2006

The July 2 elections in Mexico saw the Partido Revolucionario Democratico (PRD) poll 35.31 percent of the announced presidential votes, a rise for this moderately left “BCA del Sur” from 17 percent in the 2000 contest. 

PRD candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador believed his party came out on top in the five way race, but Felipe Calderon Hinojosa of the ruling Partido Accion National (PAN) took 35.89 percent, or so the tallies said. 

The media has called Calderon the winner. If so, it is a victory for a Harvard educated adherent to the International Monetary Fund and the North American Free Trade Agreement. 

Confident supporters of AMLO, as Obrador is known for his initials, flocked on election night to the Zocalo square in the capital for a victory celebration, which turned into a rally at which their candidate demanded that all votes be recounted, not by computer, nor by tally sheets of the precincts, but by hand. 

In the dim midnight light AMLO called for a mass Saturday rally in the Zocalo to protest the announced results. 

An hour before the Saturday event the Zocalo was packed and “rivers of people” still trudged toward the square. The METRO (BART) announced, on the streaming internet of El Universal, that the Zocalo station platform was dangerously packed with people exiting and riders were urged to exit at earlier stations.  

By the time Lopez Obrador spoke, most streets in the historic central district were jammed. An estimated 250,000 people had gathered, according to Mexico City sources, although the San Francisco Chronicle said 100,000. 

Lopez Obrador was barely heard by many in the noisy audience. 

He declared Wednesday would see a protest march on the capital from cities across the nation to demand a recount and to bring the evidence of “fraud,” such as AMLO ballots found in garbage cans, precincts in strongly PAN districts with more voters than people on the rolls, and purchasing of votes and ballot stuffing—incidents of the latter two actions being caught on tape by AMLO supporters. 

A suspicious vote count trend was noted by PRD computer techs. Calderon had an early 7 point lead (as in elections everywhere the upper class precincts are early). 

Obrador cut it to 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, then less than a point, at which he stopped gaining. AMLO flatlined with a third of the votes still out—many being in his capital city barrios. His supporters spoke of the 1988 election. 

A computer crash in that presidential contest occurred just as PRD candidate Cuauhtemoc Cardenas appeared to have won, but when the computers came back online ten days later Cardenas was second. 

Conservative pundants argue that 2006 can’t repeat 1988 because elections have been cleansed, and they point to the PAN presidential victory in 2000. But that election lacked left vs. right tension. 

It featured an all out effort by a wide swath of the Mexican people to end the 71-year rule of the corrupt Partido Revolucionario Institutional. Until 2000, PAN was a joke. It was “the car party” of the minority that owned cars. Its rallies were parades of cars rather than people. But a rally for PAN witnessed in Cuernavaca in 2000 featured a parade of cars alongside of which marched thousands of people—such was the desire to get rid of PRI. 

From first hand observations of the 1994 and 2000 presidential elections and a number of state contests over the past decade, it can be said that when elections are stolen in Mexico the method is much the same as it is in Florida and Ohio. Many tricks are involved. Which explains why Lopez Obrador insisted upon a “vote by vote” recount that involved the precinct tally sheet. 

While observing the closing of a precinct in a Veracruz governor’s race, I heard a man announce five votes for a small splinter party; and the official with the tally sheet marked “05.” The PRI won this precinct with 132, noted as “132.” Another small party had 7 votes, noted as “07.” Then came the PRD count. It received 92. The official wrote “02,” and put a tiny tail on the 0. I spoke up and asked if the “9” didn’t deserve a longer tail. The official put a tiny bit more tail on his 0, then motioned to two nasty looking hombres who glared at me, and I decided to go for coffee. 

Critics call the mass rallies orchestrated by Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador rabble rousing. His defenders say they are needed when the media is against you, and small gatherings of the party are hard to hold peacefully. 

“How dare you be against our government!” shouted thugs slugging people at a PRD rally a few years ago in Acapulco.  

Across Mexico over 400 activists of the party of Lopez Obrador have been assassinated, or died mysterious deaths since the late 1980s. Two poll workers for the Party were added to the victims list this past July 2. 

The intimidation factor facing the PRD was apparent in my drive through 17 Mexican states prior to the 1994 presidential election. PRI propaganda was common on roadside homes and businesses, and a few upscale neighborhoods had PAN signs, but PRD was virtually invisible outside of the capital. 

One exception was the PRD-plastered town of Cuajinicuilapa in Guerrero. Locals explained that they broke with the old ruling party after discovery that PRI officials had stolen for their own homes a large allotment of government cement, intended for public works. The town elected a PRD legislator in 1999, and a PRD congressperson on July 2. 

The 52-year-old Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has been building his party with rallies since his years of activism in his home state of Tabasco, which was solidly PRD on July 2. Mexico City demonstrations are credited with helping him become city mayor. Between 2000 and 2006 the PRD upped its number of federal deputies from 68 to 158 (preliminary count). 

The Partido Revolucionaro Democratico is now the second biggest party in congress, behind PAN (209) and ahead of the declining PRI (112). The Senate is similarily proportioned. 

A worry for Mexico is that both PRD and PAN are narrowly based geographically. The PRD stronghold is the Districto Federal and 6 southern states, where deputies (excluding seats by proportional representation) are: PRD 81, PAN 20, PRI 9. But across 15 northern states the count is PRD 3, PAN 88, PRI 23. 

AMLO’s national protest march is a reaching out to the north, which includes the six states bordering the United States. 

The PRD didn’t win a singe deputy post in this area where enforcers against labor organizers in the factories quash left politics as well. 

It may appear that Mexico mirrors the United States in having regions of Red and Blue states but the parties attached to the colors in Mexico represent much greater political differences. 

 


First Person: The Trick of Knowing How to Keep the ‘Stupids’ at Bay

By Marta Yamamoto, Special to the Planet
Friday July 14, 2006

Stupid is not a nice word. When applied to others it’s neither kind nor p.c., even when deserved. When applied to oneself, stupid is often the only term that fits. Sadly, I use this term in personal reference more often than I’d like, sometimes several times a week. In fact, after a stellar stupid, I might greet the day with “Okay, what stupid thing are you going to do today?” 

How many times have I roamed the house looking for the glasses I had with me five minutes ago? I walk from room to room, searching. Recently, after several circuits, I remembered putting towels in the bathroom cabinet. Sure enough, that’s where I had set them down. Now I talk to myself as I go, “You’re putting your glasses on the table.”  

One repeat offense is forgetting to check pants’ pockets (inevitably mine) for tissue before adding them to the wash. Being greeted by bits of fluff clinging to every family garment, on a regular basis, causes the question what happened to my fine analytical mind. 

Luckily I have back up. On a shopping trip to Trader Joe’s I loaded bags into the trunk, threw my purse in for good measure and slammed down the lid, instantly realizing that my keys were in my purse, along with my cell phone. A few months later I did the exact same thing, again at Trader Joe’s. I was smart enough to save this trick for times that my husband was at home and was gracious enough to come down and rescue me. 

My only consolation is that I’m not alone in my affliction. “Something stupid,” answers Maxie McNabb to “What did you do,” in Sue Henry’s latest mystery, The Tooth of Time. Her dog’s been kidnapped and she kicks a door in anger, almost breaking her toe. Later in the story, Maxie knocks her iced tea glass over. Realizing the tea was poisoned; as she’s passing into unconsciousness, Maxie laments, “How could I have been so stupid?”  

“I can’t believe I did that! How could I be so stupid?” I had to chuckle overhearing a seatmate mutter these words at Gate 6 of the Bob Hope Airport. She’d left her boarding pass in the bathroom. As we spoke she also admitted taking thirty-six shots of her grandson without putting film in her camera. When I assured her it could happen to anyone, she admitted it was the second time she’d performed this sad act. 

The Bob Hope Airport hadn’t figured too well in my fetes of brainpower either. Somehow the act of picking up a rental car threw me off—twice. Upon arrival I, with the help of the attendant, spent several minutes looking for my glasses, in the shuttle, the rental car, the ground. Finally he mentioned, “You’re not looking for the glasses you’re wearing, are you?” I’d had them on all the time. Before boarding my return flight to Oakland, I treated myself to two round trips on the airport shuttle, having dropped my jacket in the car rental office. 

Travel seems ripe for bringing on a case of the “stupids,” even more so when exploring new territory. This summer I have planned a trip to France, where I will attempt to make my way using extremely limited language skills. Even though I will join a group I have to get there on my own. My mission impossible includes finding my way from Charles De Gaulle Airport to the village of Les Eyzies utilizing the Reseau Express Regional, the Metro, one train to Agen and a second to Les Eyzies. After two air flights and approximately thirty hours of travel, my chances of arriving stupid-less are slim. 

A serious game plan seems to be my only chance for survival. I considered preparing Destination Flashcards like the ones I used in school, one for each step of the journey. Card 1: arrive at San Francisco Airport by 6 a.m. Card 2: locate the check-in for US Airways. By Card 10 I should be in France: Ou se trouve le Gard du Nord? Card 13: Est-ce que ce train s’arrete a les Eyzies? Hopefully I’ll reach the ultimate card: get on the hotel shuttle in Les Eyzies. 

I shudder remembering the travel times I’ve been convinced that my passport, boarding pass or luggage claim ticket has disappeared, finding the missing document only after frantically going through pockets, pouches and compartments. This time I traveled light—not only luggage-wise but also in my travel pack. All necessary papers in just one location. Right. 

Even though I will be on my own I will still be talking—to myself. This will help me focus and stay grounded. Thanks to advances in cell phone technology I won’t even stand out much. 

Regardless of the success, or lack thereof, of my trip, the “stupids” will likely follow me home. Since I’m realizing that this is fairly widespread, the answer seems to lie in devising a multi-step plan for keeping them at bay. 

Step 1 has to be to acknowledge the problem. Sooner or later, something stupid will be done. Step 2 is to have in place personal aids in counteracting my slips. Talking helps, post-its might work, as would back-up keys, glasses, etc. Step 3 should be sharing my affliction with loved ones. Coming out, so to say. Face it, family, I’m going to do some stupid things and I need your support. Step 4 is to keep my faculties as sharp as possible. I’ll keep busy with reading, crosswords, and solving everyday problems like “Where did I put my glasses?”


Spring Defends Need For Warm Water Pool

By Judith Scherr
Tuesday July 11, 2006

When Councilmember Dona Spring proposed that the Berkeley City Council ask voters to complete bond financing for a new warm pool two weeks ago, the issue died for lack of a second. 

But that doesn’t mean the councilmember has given up on the pool, used especially by people with disabilities, the elderly and others who need to exercise in very warm water. 

Spring will bring the question of the pool back to the council at tonight’s (Tuesday) meeting, at which the council will also hold a public hearing on the Landmarks Ordinance revision and address public financing of elections. Also, a group has organized a rally to support the Berkeley Housing Authority. 

“Many people’s well-being depends on this pool for regular exercise,” Spring said, noting that often people with short-term disabilities are directed to the 92-degree pool by physical therapists. 

In 2000, voters approved bond financing for the $3.2 million rehabilitation of the warm pool at Berkeley High. But the work was never done (and the funds were not collected) because the school district decided not to remodel the old warm pool but to employ the warm-pool space for other uses. 

The school board, however, has said the city can build a new warm pool on the east side of Milvia Street where there once were tennis courts. 

Spring said that it is critical to put the measure on the ballot now because the school district is planning to demolish the old warm pool some time next year. 

“If we wait ’til 2008, it will be destroyed,” she said. “The school board has given us half the tennis court area. If the future of the warm water pool is thrown into uncertainty, somebody will find another use [for the land].” 

The longer the city waits, the higher construction costs become, she added. 

Councilmember Gordon Wozniak, however, says because there’s already a $20 million school bond measure on the November ballot, it is hard to ask homeowners to pay for the warm pool bond measure. 

“Gas prices are high; people are struggling,” he said, proposing other solutions, such as use of one of the warmer pools at the YMCA or getting other local jurisdictions to help fund a new pool, since people outside the city use it, as well as residents. 

The cost to taxpayers for the $8 million project—$3.2 million from the previous bond measure and $4.5 million from the proposed measure, with the city’s general fund making up the difference—would be $5 to $8 per $100,000 assessed value, according to Deputy Director of Finance Bob Hicks, quoting estimates by the city’s financial advisor, Craig Hill, of Northcroft, Hill and Ach. 

 

Union organizing at West Berkeley bowl 

On the labor front, the council will address the question of support for “a fair process regarding union representation” for workers at the West Berkeley Bowl.”  

Several councilmembers said they had hoped to tie their support for the West Berkeley Bowl zoning changes to support for unionizing the West Berkeley Bowl workforce, but the city attorney said that was not legal.  

So Councilmembers Laurie Capitelli, Max Anderson, Darryl Moore and Kriss Worthington are asking the council to support an “open process and rights of employees to organize,” according to the resolution. 

Moore said he hoped the resolution would spur both sides to “accomplish this expeditiously, without rancor and without cost.” 

 

Creeks ordinance flows slowly 

City staff wants to come back to the council at the end of November rather than September with a revised Creeks Ordinance. That’s because, staff says in a report, that ordinance language needs to be written, and the Zoning Ordinance needs to be revised to include rebuilding after a disaster “by right,” which means with an administrative permit. 

The draft ordinance must be reviewed by the Creeks Task Force, the Planning Commission and the Public Works Commission before it goes back to the City Council for adoption. 

The council will also hear a presentation by the Berkeley Alcohol Policy Advisory Coalition on the city’s alcohol outlet policy and make policy recommendations regarding the overconcentration of liquor stores. 

 

Workshop: Developer fees 

When a developer creates a business, new traffic is generated. 

The city is proposing that developers pay a fee to offset the traffic they create, however the business community is concerned that the fees will be a deterrent to those who want to bring new business to Berkeley. 

The city will discuss this at a 5 p.m. workshop and hold a public hearing on the fees later during the meeting. 

At the same workshop, the council will look at whether to change its inclusionary housing fee rules so that condominium developers pay fees into the Housing Trust Fund that will be used for affordable housing instead of setting aside 20 percent of new condominium units as “affordable.” 

 

Gaia postponed 

Councilmembers won’t be taking up the proposed settlement of the Gaia Building’s cultural bonus space Tuesday night as the Planet reported Friday it would. The matter has been postponed until the fall.


Citizens Press to Save Control of Housing Authority

By Suzanne La Barre
Tuesday July 11, 2006

Hoping to maintain affordable housing for the city’s most vulnerable citizens, local activists are rallying to save the beleaguered Berkeley Housing Authority. 

The agency, long beset by administrative deficiencies, is at risk of dissolution or other restructuring if it fails to earn passing marks on a self-evaluation due to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at summer’s close. Results are expected in the fall.  

Public housing advocates plan to gather today (Tuesday) for a press conference on the steps of Old City Hall, where they will pressure city councilmembers to flex their power to keep the agency in Berkeley. 

“The crisis with the Berkeley Housing Authority (BHA) is that all of us who are seniors, disabled, low-income people are threatened,” said Eleanor Walden, a Section 8 recipient for 10 years and member of the Rent Stabilization Board. She is co-organizing Tuesday’s event. 

“What we’re trying to do is make clear that we have to protect the housing authority from HUD,” she said. 

The Berkeley Housing Authority manages the city’s public housing programs, including the federal Section 8 program, which offers rental assistance to about 1,800 low-income residents, of whom about half are seniors or disabled, according to Housing Director Stephen Barton. The agency also owns 75 units of public housing. It is funded through HUD, with an annual budget of approximately $27.4 million.  

Myriad flaws plague the authority’s administration of the Section 8 program: miscalculated rents, a housing inspection backlog, problems with housing quality standards and others. 

The Housing Authority is under pressure to correct those deficiencies or face dire consequences, such as absorption into another agency, receivership or total disbandment. In what is billed as the best-case scenario, the authority would secure a new manager and continue to operate as is.  

Housing Authority sympathizers hope for the latter. 

“We don’t want HUD to take control and we don’t want another agency to take control because we would lose the guaranteed funding,” said Linda Carson, a Section 8 recipient.  

According to Barton, if the Berkeley Housing Authority is folded into another authority, there would be no assurance that 1,800 vouchers, whose payments standards range between $952 for a studio to $1,847 for a three-bedroom, stay in Berkeley. However, the city’s existing Section 8 recipients would not lose their vouchers. 

Problems clamping down on the agency stem from funding and staff shortages, Barton has said. 

The Berkeley Housing Authority is on its third manager in four years; the current manager, Beverli Marshall, is on loan from the Berkeley Public Library. 

Financial support from the federal government for administering the Section 8 program has declined. Two years ago, HUD reduced administrative fees by 13 percent, and is expected to slash the budget an additional 8 percent this year, Barton said. To offset funding shortages, the authority cut back the staff roster, from 19 to 13 employees over several years. 

Proponents say the authority is worth saving, imperfections withstanding. 

“I personally believe, as an activist, that housing is a right, and that as people, we have to fight for that right,” said Walden. “I think it’s an obscenity to have to walk over people in the street, and that we don’t have a viable policy for housing those people.” 

Fliers for Tuesday’s press conference went out to the city’s senior housing complexes, the Gray Panthers, tenant rights attorneys and others. Walden expects about two dozen people to attend.  

The 11-member Berkeley Housing Authority Board, composed of city councilmembers and two residents-at-large, agreed at its last meeting to grant City Manager Phil Kamlarz the power to negotiate with HUD over possibly restructuring the agency. And, in a last ditch effort to strengthen internal operations, board members earmarked $150,000 in general fund money for additional administrative staff.  

But some city councilmembers have cast doubt on whether the authority can pull itself out of the mud. 

At the meeting, City Councilmember Laurie Capitelli was quoted saying, “Frankly, I don’t care if we pass (the HUD report). I think we need to get a housing authority that’s functional.” 

Margot Smith, of the Berkeley Gray Panthers, disagrees.  

“Berkeley has invested a lot of money and effort to have really good public housing,” she said, pointing out, as an example, that the city effectively deconcentrated low-income housing. “I know there are management problems, but we shouldn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.”


Peet’s Makes Pitch to Open on Telegraph

By Suzanne La Barre
Tuesday July 11, 2006

A proposal to perk up Telegraph Avenue with a new Peet’s Coffee and Tea is in the works. 

But developers must first convince Zoning Adjustments Board members to approve the project—though planning staff has recommended they reject it—on Thursday. 

The coffee shop, slated for development in the Mrs. Edmund P. King Building, a Berkeley landmark on Telegraph at Dwight Way, would require variances for defying city code, which limits the size and number of quick-serve restaurants in the district. 

John Gordon of Gordon Commercial Real Estate owns the property. He could not be reached by press time as he was out of town.  

More than 40 quick-serve restaurants pepper the business district, though Berkeley Municipal Code stipulates a cap of 30. Code also requires restaurants to be 1,500 square-feet or smaller; the proposed coffee shop is 1,710 square-feet. 

City planning staff have recommended that the board deny the project because no special circumstances exist to warrant further extention of the restaurant quota. Moreover, the building could accommodate other commercial uses that are not subject to size limitations, they say. 

City project planner Charity Wagner did not return a call for comment.  

Project proponents are also seeking administrative use permit exemptions from parking and sidewalk seating requirements. 

The property is a two-story Colonial Revival structure, built in 1901 and designated a city of Berkeley landmark in 2004. Krishna Copy formerly occupied the commercial space. (It has since moved down the street.) 

Project developers plan to renovate the building, which was in poor condition when purchased, Gordon wrote in a memo. Crome Architecture, a firm based in Fairfax that has restored several historic structures, is signed on to do the refurbishments. 

Peet’s Coffee and Tea was established in 1966. Since Alfred Peet founded the first shop at Vine and Walnut streets, Peet’s has expanded to 120 stores in metropolitan areas across the country, and attracts a steady following of “Peetniks,” faithful imbibers of the company product. 

Some say the arrival of Peet’s could spell revival for Telegraph Avenue, where business has been on the decline. The street lays claim to an 11 percent store vacancy rate; the closure of Cody’s flagship store Monday is the most recent and emblematic casualty. 

Peet’s wouldn’t necessarily generate much sales tax revenue, said city Community Development Coordinator Dave Fogarty, but it offers other benefits. “I think it would attract a lot of people who don’t ordinarily come to Telegraph,” he said. “It also upgrades the whole image of the area. Peet’s is a very prestigious company.” 

Resident Mallory Johnson considers Peet’s a good bet for the empty storefront. 

“I am a homeowner … and have been concerned about conditions on Telegraph,” she said in a July 5 letter to planning staff. “The pending closure of Cody’s is a big loss to the neighborhood and businesses such as Peet’s can really help to revitalize the area. Without interest from such businesses, I fear that the stretch of Telegraph will go downhill further.” 

Though city councilmembers cannot comment on specific projects, District 7 Councilmember Kriss Worthington lamented the manner in which the city’s zoning process exacts an undue burden on burgeoning businesses. 

“There are many problems with the city’s permit system, which makes it hard or impossible for a business to get in, even when there’s overwhelming support,” he said.  


Council Takes Another Look at ‘Clean Money’

By Judith Scherr
Tuesday July 11, 2006

“Clean money” supporters failed to get the Berkeley City Council to place public financing on the November ballot two weeks ago, so they are calling out the troops to convince the body to approve the referendum at tonight’s (Tuesday) meeting. 

Public financing proponents didn’t know the importance of showing up at the meeting two weeks ago when a Fair Campaign Practices Commission oral report on “clean money” was on the council agenda, according to Clean Elections Coalition spokesperson Sam Ferguson: the Berkeley Progressive Alliance and the local League of Women Voters are calling on their supporters to come to tonight’s meeting. 

Ferguson said he wants councilmembers to clarify their positions. 

“Last time there were so many abstentions—really only six people voted on this important issue,” he said, referring to the June 27 4-2 vote, with three abstentions on a resolution to place a measure on the November ballot to finance the mayor’s race with public dollars. 

Councilmembers Gordon Wozniak, Linda Maio and Max Anderson abstained, while Councilmembers Kriss Worthington, Dona Spring, Darryl Moore and Mayor Tom Bates voted for the measure. (A second vote on financing the council race failed as well, with three councilmembers and the mayor abstaining.) 

“Abstaining is a real copout, Ferguson said. “People shouldn’t abstain to kill the issue. People of Berkeley need to know how the council feels about it.” 

In a letter to the Daily Planet, past League of Women Voters President Sherry Smith noted the urgency: “Because of time deadlines, the council must pass it tonight or it is dead for at least two more years. This provides a chance for the abstaining officials … to commit one way or another on the questions, rather than declining to reveal their point of view by abstaining.” 

Wozniak, who abstained on the vote to put the measure on the November ballot to publicly finance the mayoral race and opposed a second proposal to place a measure on the ballot to publicly finance only the council race, said he favors public financing on the state and local levels. “I think this is a solution in search of a problem,” Wozniak said, underscoring that corruption on a local level is not an issue. 

In a phone interview, Smith countered Wozniak’s argument, saying that corruption can be “insidious,” and that it is important “to try to insure that there are fewer temptations.”  

Wozniak further argued the measure could attract people from outside Berkeley to the mayor’s race who want to collect the $140,000 in financing. 

He added that the proposed limits are so low—$140,000 for mayor and $20,000 for council—that challengers would suffer. He said he would prefer a system where the candidate receives matching funds—thus costing the city less—and allows higher expenditures to challengers, who would generally have lower name recognition. 

The ballot measure proposes that candidates participate in public financing voluntarily. If they do, $140,000 would go to each mayoral candidate who gets 600 $5 contributions and $20,000 to council hopefuls who get 150 $5 contributions. 

Funding for the mayor-council race would come from the general fund and equal $4 per resident or about $500,000 citywide. Funding for the mayor’s race would cost the city about $300,000. 

 

 

 

 

 

 


LPC Blasts UC Stadium-Area EIR, Adds Two Landmarks

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday July 11, 2006

Berkeley gained a pair of new landmarks Thursday during a meeting of the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) dominated by projects planned on the UC Berkeley campus. 

But the only move to landmark a building on university land—the Bevatron building at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory—deadlocked when neither proponents nor opponents of the move could muster the five votes needed for a decision. 

The LPC rejected a proposal to amend one key provision of the new Landmarks Preservation Ordinance that will come before the City Council tonight (Tuesday), while recommending other changes. 

Commissioners also learned that a Southern California developer plans a seven-residence luxury development on the grounds of the landmarked Spring Estate at 1960 San Antonio Road. The mansion would be refurbished, but another landmarked structure would be demolished. 

 

Landmark ordinance 

Proposed by Mayor Tom Bates and Councilmember Laurie Capitelli, the revised ordinance limits some of the commission’s current powers and adds a new procedure that would impose a two-year ban on landmarking if commissioners and the public fail to act during a 90-day window. 

The revised ordinance is the first item on the council’s action agenda and should draw a large public turnout, pitting a large number of preservationists against developers and infill development proponents.  

Commissioner Carrie Olson tried to remove language from the section describing the Request for Determination (RFD) process.  

In that process, the owner hires a professional architectural consultant from a list approved by the LPC. The expert prepares an opinion on the landmark worthiness of the property, which then goes to the LPC. 

If the LPC doesn’t start the landmarking process in 60 days, the public has 90 days to petition for the commission to review the property to determine landmark status. If no action is taken within that time frame, the property then enters a two-year “safe harbor,” exempt from landmarking.  

What concerns preservationists is that the RFD can be sought where there are no announced plans for development, and the owner can then turn around and file an application the moment the 90-day period lapses. 

A week earlier, foes of the Bates ordinance had argued that neighbors often  

didn’t become aware of the importance of structures until they learned that someone wanted to tear them down. 

But it was efforts to preserve buildings on sites where developments had been proposed that had led to the RFD provision. The City Council has repeatedly overturned LPC landmarking decisions for project sites, and developers have complained repeatedly of the costs inflicted by landmarking-caused delays. 

Olson wanted to change language whereby the LPC review of an RFD is called a determination of the “merit” of the property. 

She wanted the word “merit” struck because she said it implied a more thorough review than the LPC would be able to give. 

While Olson’s change failed, a solid majority voted to support language changes drafted by retired planner John English to correct ambiguities, errors and inconsistencies in the city staff’s ordinance draft. 

 

University projects 

While only four commissioners voted to landmark the Bevatron building, which houses the particle accelerator that led to research that garnered physicists four Nobel Prizes, one—architect Gary Parsons—had been converted from a foe to a fan. 

He was joined in his vote by Jill Korte, Carrie Olson and Lesley Emmington. 

A fifth commissioner, Chair Robert Johnson, abstained, a change of heart from an earlier position of opposition. 

Realtor/developer Miriam Ng, one of the LPC’s two newest members, voted no, joined by Fran Packard and architect Steven Winkel. The other new member, architect Burton Edwards, left early due to illness. 

An even larger issue than the massive Bevatron building is the university’s plans for the landmarked Memorial Stadium and its surroundings, where UC Berkeley plans a quarter-billion-dollar expansion program that will include three large new structures and a major stadium renovation. 

Commissioners offered their comments on the draft environmental impact report the university has offered on the project—a document that both LPC members and city staff have criticized as severely deficient. 

“The university has not been very consistent with their own reports,” said LPC Chair Robert Johnson, one of three commissioners who went over the draft in a meeting with city Planning Manager Mark Rhoades. 

“We raised a lot of questions about (impacts on) historic structures,” Johnson said, and the group also agreed that no development should take place above the stadium’s historic rim. 

The stadium sits directly atop the Hayward Fault, ranked by federal geologists as the Bay Area seismic hot zone most likely to rupture in the next quarter century. 

Another structure, the 158,800-square-foot Student Athlete High Performance Center, will be built against the stadium’s west wall, and a 911-space parking lot, mostly underground, is to be built next to the fault to the northwest of the stadium.  

The final structure in the project is a 186,000-square-foot building that will unite office and conference areas for Boalt Hall Law School and the Haas School of Business. It will be built across Piedmont Avenue/Gayley Road from the stadium. 

Olson said the draft EIR simply failed to address the project’s impacts on Piedmont Avenue, a landmarked streetscape, the stadium and surrounding landscape and three landmark houses on Piedmont west of the stadium. 

“What they’re doing is just demolishing all historic resources in that corner of the campus or at the least creating significant impacts,” said Olson. 

Commissioner Steven Winkel faulted the document for failing to offer real alternatives to the projects and presenting instead “straw dog alternatives they know are infeasible.” 

“The graphics we saw and the documents presented are full of sins of omission,” said Parsons, noting that renderings of the stadium shown the commission failed to include the above-the-rim press and luxury sky boxes that will add 50 percent to the western wall. 

“A year ago much more detailed plans were shown to fund-raisers,” Johnson said. 

The commission voted 7-0-1 to submit Olson’s dense, singled-spaced, small-type critique. Ng abstained. 

 

New, old landmarks 

Commissioners voted to create two new landmarks. One was the Bolfing’s Elmwood Hardware store building 2947-93 College Ave., built in 1923 and in continuous service as a neighborhood hardware store the last eight decades. 

Owner Tad Laird told commissioners he plans to restore the original exterior and add three living units in a new upper floor. 

The second addition to the landmarks roster is the Hoffman Building at 2988-92 Adeline St., a 1905 commercial structure that was designated a structure of merit. 

Commissioners also heard a report from Glen Jarvis, the architect who has designed an upscale subdivision for the Spring Estate, a 3.32-acre parcel in the North Berkeley Hills dominated by a 12,000-square-foot reconstruction of the palace of an Austrian empress. 

Designed by noted Berkeley architect John Hudson Thomas, the mansion also housed a school for several decades. 

Landmarked in 2000 along with two other buildings on the property at The Arlington and San Antonio Road, the site is now owned by Monument Properties 5, a limited liability corporation controlled by Monterey Park developer John Park.  

In addition to restoring the mansion, the developer plans to add seven new homes averaging 7,600 square feet. 

Bruce Clymer, a San Antonio Avenue Road resident, who lives next to the property, said he and other neighbors were unhappy with plans that he said would “diminish Berkeley.” 

LPC voted to form a subcommittee to monitor the project, including Olson, Packard, Johnson and Parsons.


Drive to Return Oakland Schools to Local Control Gains Steam

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Tuesday July 11, 2006

Outgoing state administrator Randolph Ward is moving forward this week with the first of three public hearings to discuss the sale of the downtown Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) properties as education and political leaders and activists are escalating their challenge to both the proposed property sale and the continued state management of the district. 

The property sale hearing will be held on Wednesday, July 12, 6:00 p.m., at the district Administration Building at 1025 Second Ave., Oakland. 

Included on the agenda are a presentation by the proposed developer of the OUSD properties, and presentations by district staff on the net financial return from the proposed sale, potential options of relocation of the five schools located on the properties, and enrollment projections that might have an impact on the need for more schools in the downtown and east lake area where the property is located. 

Under a Letter of Intent signed on June 13, Ward and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell have until mid-September to reach a final agreement with developers Terramark and Urban America for the purchase of 8.25 acres of Lake Merritt-area OUSD properties, including the OUSD administration building, La Escuelita Elementary School, two high schools, and two child development centers. 

OUSD trustees originally called for the proposed sale in February of last year, but after O’Connell and Ward engaged in a year of secret negotiations with developers leading up to the signing of the Letter of Intent last month, several trustees have expressed reservations over the announced terms of the proposed sale, as well as the fact that Ward will be leaving the district for a new job in San Diego in the middle of the final stage of sale negotiations. 

Since the state takeover of the Oakland public schools in 2003, trustees continue to be elected by Oakland voters but hold no power over district policy or administration. 

Last Thursday, a coalition of district education and political leaders met at OUSD headquarters to plot strategies to try to delay the sale, as well as for a return to local control of the Oakland schools. Movement leaders have also said that if O’Connell decides to hire another state administrator to replace Ward, they want a hand in the selection process. 

The coalition meeting was chaired by OUSD trustee Greg Hodge and included trustees Dan Siegel and Alice Spearman. Representatives of the Oakland Education Association and American Federation of Teachers were also in attendance, as well as District 16 Assembly Democratic nominee Sandre Swanson and several individuals closely identified with the recent campaign of incoming Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums. 

Leaders of the local control movement have said they are going to attempt to enlist the support of both Dellums and Swanson in their efforts. 

OUSD Trustee Board Chair David Kakishiba also announced that he is holding a meeting with O’Connell this week to discuss a resolution passed by trustees calling for a timetable leading to complete return to local control of the Oakland public schools by the summer of next year. 

The resolution was passed in early June before trustees learned of Ward’s pending departure, but trustees met immediately following Ward’s departure announcement and reaffirmed their commitment to requesting the local control timetable.


Group Takes Pacific Steel To Court Over Emissions

By Suzanne La Barre
Tuesday July 11, 2006

Pacific Steel Casting, the subject of noxious odor complaints in West Berkeley for more than two decades, is headed to court. 

Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), an Oakland-based environmental health and justice non-profit organization, filed a federal lawsuit against the steel foundry July 6. According to a notice of intent to sue released in May, the suit alleges that Pacific Steel is violating the Clean Air Act for exceeding emissions limits and failing to adequately report emissions. 

A staff attorney from the Environmental Law and Justice Clinic of the Golden Gate University School of Law, the firm representing CBE, confirmed the lawsuit Monday, though she did not offer further comment. 

Pacific Steel spokesperson Elisabeth Jewel, of Aroner, Jewel and Ellis Partners, said her client was not aware the suit was officially filed. “Pacific Steel has not seen the lawsuit and is refraining from comment,” she said. 

If found to have breached terms of the Clean Air Act, the federal law that sets limits on air pollution densities, Pacific Steel may owe as much as $37,500 per violation. At the time, it was unclear how many violations Pacific Steel would be responsible for. The senior attorney for CBE did not return a call for comment by press time.  

Residents of West Berkeley have complained about foul odors—which many liken to the stench of a “burning pot handle”—emanating from the plant for years.  

In December, the environmental regulatory agency, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), reached a settlement agreement with Pacific Steel, requiring the plant to install a $2 million odor reduction system in addition to other odor-reducing measures. But some residents said it failed to address the gamut of Pacific Steel’s pollution problems.  

“The lawsuit is a necessity and it is the first step in daylighting the health impacts of Pacific Steel,” said L A Wood, who says his community watchdog group, Berkeley Citizen, is a plaintiff in the case. The West Berkeley Alliance for Clean Air and Safe Jobs, he says, is also represented.  

Wood is among several residents who believe the foundry emits toxins that are hazardous to human health. 

Pacific Steel was scheduled to complete a health risk assessment in June but has not yet done so, said Jack Colbourn, BAAQMD director of outreach and incentive. This is cause for great concern, he said.  

The air district is taking action against the steel foundry for failing to meet other terms of the settlement agreement. In the last three months, BAAQMD has issued three notices of violation: one for odor complaints, another for permit violations and a third for operating, installing or constructing equipment without the authority to do so, according to Susan Adams, an attorney for BAAQMD. 

Pacific Steel, comprised of three plants on Second Street in West Berkeley, is the third largest foundry of its kind in the country.


B-Tech Awarded $50,000 State Grant to Raise Scores

By Suzanne La Barre
Tuesday July 11, 2006

B-Tech Academy (formerly Berkeley Alternative High School) has secured a major grant from State Superintendent Jack O’Connell to help raise student achievement. 

The California Department of Education awarded B-Tech $50,000 through the High Priority Schools Grant Program (HPSGP) June 30. Funds must go toward implementing plans to improve student learning and academic performance. B-Tech was one of 494 schools in 207 districts statewide and the only Berkeley school to receive the grant. A total of $24 million was earmarked in HPSGP funds this year.  

The program targets low-performing schools that have scored low on the Academic Performance Index (API). B-Tech was selected from a pool of 689 eligible schools. The grant runs through June 30, 2007, though B-Tech may qualify for additional funds—$400 per student—over the course of three to four years, according to Fred Balcom, HPSGP administrator for the state Department of Education.  

The program mandates that B-Tech improve 10 points over three years on the API, measured on a scale of 200 to 1,000. B-Tech last earned a 370, the lowest score in the Berkeley Unified School District. 

If the school fails to grow its academic performance, corrective action may be taken. This would involve intervention assistance from the state, Balcom said.  

B-Tech is in the process of transforming from an alternative school to a continuation model, where students, some of whom may attend involuntarily, will select from three paths to earn their high school diplomas—a college track, a vocational program or independent study. The district is spending about $139,000 on additional school staff through various funds. 

B-Tech Principal Victor Diaz could not be reached for comment by press time.


Fire Department Log

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday July 11, 2006

Woman Dies in House Blaze 

 

A 98-year-old Berkeley woman died Thursday in a blaze that confronted firefighters with a swarm of bees and a house crowded with the hoardings of a lifetime. 

An 11:36 a.m. call brought firefighters to Jessie Chico’s West Berkeley home at 3036 Dohr St. 

Inside the house, firefighters found their path blocked by piles of belongings, including many books, forcing rescue workers to thread their way through narrow paths. 

“It was one of the worst cases I’ve seen,” said Deputy Fire Chief David Orth. “There were some areas that were almost impassable.” 

Chico’s body was discovered in the bedroom. 

Orth said preliminary indications are that she died of smoke inhalation, though a final determination of cause of death won’t be issued until routine toxicology tests have been completed. 

One additional complication was the swarm of angry bees that confronted emergency workers at the scene. 

“There was a beehive in the house, probably under the eaves, and they were quite upset,” Orth. “It took a while for the smoke to do its job and calm them down.” 

In the meantime, several firefighters were stung, but none seriously enough to interfere with their duties, he said. 

The fire originated in a gas floor heater, though Orth said investigators may never be able to ascertain the precise cause. 

Because the fire led to a death, said Berkeley Police Sgt. Mary Kusmiss, the Alameda County Arson Task Force conducted an investigation Saturday which included investigators from the District Attorney’s office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. 

Orth said the blaze caused $100,000 in damage to the 87-year-old home and $30,000 in damage to its contents.


Police Blotter

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday July 11, 2006

Drive-by shooting 

A pedestrian was shot in the arm minutes before midnight on June 28 by a gunman who fired from the window of a white Honda as the victim was walking near the corner of Prince and Stanton streets. 

Berkeley police spokesperson Officer Ed Galvan said police were alerted to the shooting by an emergency room worker at Summit Alta Bates Medical Center, where the wounded man had driven himself after the attack. 

After the victim, an 18-year-old Oakland man, described the shooting, officers searched the scene, turning up a spent shell casing. 

 

Roxie again 

The often-robbed Roxie Food Center at 2250 Dwight Way was the scene of yet another crime on June 28. Police were called at 10 p.m. after the discovery that a burglar had managed to make off with 10 cartons of cigarettes, said Officer Galvan. 

 

Repels robbers 

A 40-year-old Oakland man fought off a pair of robbers who knocked him off his bicycle and tried to make off with his backpack just after 3 p.m. on the 28th. 

Officer Galvan said the two attacked the man near the corner of corner of Carleton Street and McGee Avenue, but fled on foot after they realized their would-be prey wasn’t about to yield without more of a struggle than the not-so-dynamic duo wanted to offer. 

 

Liquor store heist 

Two robbers, one of them armed with a small black pistol, robbed Statewide Liquor at 1491 San Pablo Ave. just before closing time on June 30. 

Officer Galvan said the pair confronted a store clerk near the cash register just before 1:40 a.m. and demanded the contents of the till. 

After the clerk complied, the bandits fled out the back door. 

Knifed 

A resident of the Ninth Street and Hearst Avenue area called police at one minute after midnight on June 30 to report that he’d just been stabbed. 

Reluctant to give any information at first, the injured man finally said his attacker was a woman he knew and named the suspect. 

Officer Galvan said the man had been stabbed in the stomach, and shortly after officers arrived the injured man—who had also been drinking—began to lose consciousness. 

The case is still under investigation. 

 

Paintballed 

A belated report adds yet one more victim to the list of Berkeley residents shot by an unknown assailant armed with a paintball gun. 

While four victims were paintballed between June 13 and 16, the latest victim was struck on June 21 as she walked near the corner of San Pablo Avenue and Cedar Street. The woman didn’t report the crime until June 30. 

 

Another knifing 

Alerted by a call reporting a stabbing near Sacramento and Harmon streets at 8:16 p.m. on June 30, Berkeley officers and paramedics arrived to find a 45-year-old Berkeley man suffering from multiple stab wounds. None of wounds was life-threatening, said Officer Galvan. 

Before he was taken to an emergency room for treatment, the man told investigators he had been stabbed by a woman. 

 

Beating 

UC Berkeley Police were called to Tang Medical Center at 1:30 a.m. Friday, where an injured man told them he had just been beaten by a gang of three as he walked southbound on Dana Street near the campus. 

The 19-year-old student said one of the three walked up to him, fired off an insult, then punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground where two others joined the assault. 

“The victim suffered significant injuries to his head, face and hands,” reported UCPD Chief Victoria L. Harrison in a press release.


Opinion

Editorials

Editorial: Getting WMD’d in Berkeley

By Becky O’Malley
Friday July 14, 2006

In the go-go era in Silicon Valley in the 1980s, we used to have a saying: “If you look around the table and don’t know who the sucker is, it’s you.” This has never been more apparent than in the outcome of the protracted discussions over the development industry’s long struggle to de-fang Berkeley’s hallowed Landmarks Preservation Ordinance, which appears, temporarily at least, to be successful.  

You have to admire Mayor Tom Bates’ Sacramento-honed skill at the old shell game. Spectators at Tuesday’s City Council meeting got a preview of it when he managed to sequentially vote first to put funding for a new warm pool on the November ballot and then to take it off again before pool users knew what had hit them. And the way he ended up with a new LPO draft which does exactly what his developer cronies have demanded for six years was quite impressive. 

He (and his minions Cisco de Vries and Calvin Fong, personal political staff paid out of the city budget) used the tried and true maxim of the Roman Empire, divide et impera, divide and conquer, further perfected by the British Raj. A few self-identified preservationists were invited to go mano-a-mano in the mayor’s office for a series of “I feel your pain” sessions. Notably excluded was Landmarks Preservation Commissioner Patti Dacey, whose legal training makes her too clever by half to believe the spin which routinely emanates from city staff. (And just to make it more emphatic, the mayor’s buddy Max Anderson, his partner in the sleazy Ashby BART condo proposal, dumped Dacey from the commission.)  

Flattery will, of course, get you everywhere. The selectees soon succumbed to the Stockholm Syndrome, swallowing the city attorney’s thoroughly bogus legal premise that there’s some kind of unbridgeable conflict between Berkeley’s existing LPO, the Permit Streamlining Act, and the California Environmental Quality Act.  

This theory is the Weapons of Mass Destruction of the LPO controversy: a phony excuse for turning the whole law upside down and starting over again, even though it’s been shown time and again not to be true. The two lawyers on the LPC in recent memory, Dacey and myself, have been saying for years that it’s a fake, and it’s now been demolished once and for all by a thorough discussion in a new (2006) Continuing Education of the Bar handbook on land use, cited by famed environmental attorney Susan Brandt Hawley in a letter read at Tuesday’s council meeting. And the poor preservationists who were suckered into making their deal with Bates are playing Congress’ role vis a vis the WMD story: “We didn’t knew it wasn’t true when we supported the invasion.”  

From day one of this long process, the developers have only wanted one thing: a “safe harbor” for their demolition desires. They’ve gotten it in this new draft: There’s a two-year period after a building has been evaluated when it can be demolished on demand—slam, bam, thank-you-ma’am—even if new evidence about its historic significance comes to light. There are a lot of other bad features of the new law, but this is the worst. It’s the pea under the shells, and the negotiators missed it as Bates’ et al did their sleight-of-hand.  

The self-designated preservationists who allowed their good names to be used supporting the Bates ordinance perhaps will defend themselves saying that they did not understand the proposal. But it’s not a coincidence that in the hardy band of 30 or 40 jeering opponents in the back of the council chamber as the deal went down on Tuesday were at least six who had passed either the New York or the California Bar. They at least understood full well that the new law is a dirty deal. Shakespeare’s villains famously said “First, let’s kill all the lawyers”—if you’re up to no good lawyers have a nasty habit of getting in the way.  

One of them offered this analogy: First, you propose a law saying, for example, let’s kill all the vegetarians. Then after, a protracted period of negotiation when all the liberals are listened to sympathetically, you agree simply to put vegetarians in jail for life. It’s “a compromise” for sure. But is it a victory for vegetarians? Not exactly.  

The principal harm which this new law will do is in Berkeley’s flatlands neighborhoods. No one is yet proposing to demolish old houses in upscale hill neighborhoods to build Condo Pop-ups, but if you live in the flats, one may be coming soon to a property near you—ask the people on Otis Street or the neighbors of the infamous South Berkeley Flying Cottage. People in the flats don’t have many architect-designed landmarks in their neighborhoods, but they love their funky little Victorian “structures of merit” anyhow.  

That’s why Dacey (an old tenants’ rights veteran, Maudelle Shirek appointee and now co-owner of a flatlands Victorian) objected so strongly to the new law when she was on the Landmarks Preservation Commission. But now the LPC has been packed with pro-developer appointees, and right on cue it voted last week to support the new draft. 

Jill Korte, Dona Spring’s appointee and the only flatlands dweller on the commission, voted no. But Max Anderson replaced Dacey, just in time for the vote, with patrician architect Burton Edwards, who owns an elegant John Galen Howard home in the Claremont Park district. Three more of the eight current LPC commissioners live within blocks of Edwards in upscale parts of District 8. Their homes are not threatened in any way by the Big Ugly Building boom. Four of the eight current commissioners make their living in the building industry: three architects and realtor-developer Miriam Ng, recently appointed by Councilmember Darryl Moore although she doesn’t live in his flatlands district.  

What can be done now? Well, an initiative re-enacting the old pro-neighborhood LPO is on the ballot for November. For belt-and-suspenders protection, it would also be possible to put a referendum repealing the new law on a later ballot if enough signatures can be collected soon. But in both cases there’s no legal limit on developer campaign contributions, so a lot of guaranteed Dirty Money is sure to be involved. 


Editorial: Nurses Hold the Health Care System Together

By Becky O’Malley
Tuesday July 11, 2006

In my voicemail this Monday morning: a message from one of my many red-diaper-baby chums, born again to political activism after a brief mid-life flirtation with Republicanism. “Schwarzenegger is trying to bust the nurses’ union! Come to a rally on Tuesday! If you don’t we’ll soon see 100 patients to every nurse!” Well, she might exaggerate a bit, but she’s oh, so right in principle. Things are bad in hospitals now, and if the medical industry has its way they’ll be getting worse. 

How do I know this? Well, a week ago last Thursday my father, in his nineties and suffering from osteoporosis, took a fall in his back yard. He complained of back pain, but since it was the Fourth of July weekend, and following his primary care doctor’s telephone advice, my mother decided to wait until Monday to have him checked, having too many times suffered though multi-hour waits in the emergency room at Alta Bates. But he was worse by Monday morning, couldn’t stand or walk any more, so at 9 a.m. she called 911 and the splendid team of Berkeley firefighters who responded took him in to the emergency room. 

Those of you who have been lucky enough not to get very sick yet, or who belong to Kaiser, might not realize that the emergency room is now the main locus for urgent care for almost all patients who aren’t part of Kaiser, whether well-insured or homeless. My parents have the very best insurance coverage (my father is a retired UC administrator) but when they have any medical problem of any complexity outside of business hours, it’s the ER or nothing.  

It turns out that waiting until Monday didn’t help. The two of them, both over 90, arrived at 9:30 a.m., and stayed there until 10:30 at night, when my father finally made it into an upstairs hospital bed.  

The diagnosis was predictable: a compression fracture of a vertebra, confirmed by imaging, not life-threatening but very painful, too much for my mother to deal with at home. One might question why 13 hours in the emergency room were needed to arrive at this conclusion, and one would be given an answer based on prioritization of life-threatening cases, but that’s not the whole story. The story is also about profits, and capacity, and yes, nurses, very few of them in the ER that day, doing the labors of Hercules.  

The nurse who checked in on my parents from time to time was from Nigeria, and said that she’d had to send her children back there to be taken care of by their grandmother because having them live here and paying for child care was too expensive on her wages. I’d just heard an NPR story about African nurses who need to work abroad for convertible currencies because of their countries’ debts to the international banking system. Many of the nurses at Alta Bates seemed to have been recruited from other countries for similar reasons.  

My mother made sure that she told the doctors the patient had previously suffered from adverse reactions to drugs in the narcotic/opiate category and that he should not be given such drugs, which was duly noted in the record. However, the first night my father was in the hospital the on-call neurosurgeon wrote a prescription for a morphine patch anyhow, possibly because he’d neglected to read the history. A nurse caught the mistake before the patch was used.  

Those of us who are lucky enough to be seldom ill might imagine that if we go to the hospital “our own doctor” will be monitoring our care. No such luck. These days there’s a specialty called “hospitalist,” doctors who do nothing but care for patients in the hospital under the hospital’s management. Other specialists, for example the errant neurosurgeon, are also selected by the hospital, not by “your own doctor” (though my parents’ particular very experienced outside primary care physician is not shy about putting in his own opinion if he’s asked and thinks he should). Even Kaiser has now adopted the hospitalist model. 

But it’s the nurses who are the glue that’s holding the whole shaky system together at this point. They’re vastly, dramatically overworked, but by and large they still seem to care about doing a good job. They do read the patient’s charts, almost all the time. Most nurses are efficient, intelligent and kind, though many other kinds of medical personnel these days seem to have only one or two of these three traits. 

And it’s the nurses’ union that has consistently fought for decent working conditions and staffing models that make it possible for them to do their best against all odds. The health care industry, which includes the insurance industry, is sucking profit out of the medical economy instead of spending it on patient care. Health care statistics in the United States are not improving—they’re getting worse, as compared with all sorts of other countries, for example Canada. It doesn’t matter what kind of insurance you have, either. Even people like my father who have the very best insurance spend hours on gurneys being cared for in hospitals by nurses who have too many patients and are paid too little. 

Nurses are currently worried that a pending National Labor Relations Board decision could end up denying many nurses their right to organize because they’re “supervisors.” It’s true that increasingly key decisions about patient care are being made by nurses because they’re the last functional part of the damaged health care system, but they still need their union to back them up when they insist on a rational workplace.  

All of us need to work as hard as we can to remind voters of this incident, as reported by the Guardian last year: “‘Pay no attention to those voices over there,’ Schwarzenegger told a conference as it was disrupted by a group of nurses protesting against him. ‘They are the special interests. Special interests don’t like me in Sacramento [California’s capital] because I kick their butt.’” 

Almost all of us are indeed part of a special interest group: “Future Patients of America.” Sooner or later, most of us will eventually need help from nurses, and it’s in everyone’s best interest to make sure that they’re supported in their efforts to be able to do their best on the job. In this fall’s election, Governor Schwarzenegger needs to be frequently and forcefully reminded that we the voters, as Future Patients, won’t let him kick nurses around anymore. 


Public Comment

Letters to the Editor

Friday July 14, 2006

ARTISTS’ RETREAT 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Thanks to John Parman for his July 11 reply to my July 7 letter on West Berkeley artists/artisans. But I’m just a gadfly, not an organizer. I can, however, offer a possible suggestion for anyone who might have state connections (Loni Hancock?) and an interest in the issue. In my hikes around Angel Island I have often thought that the clusters of residential housing that appear to be kept in good repair could be refurbished and made quake-safe as retreats for artists or writers who need low-cost seclusion. If someone can make this happen, I’ll add my $500 to the pot.  

Jerry Landis 

 

• 

CODY’S 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Upper Telegraph belongs to the students. Is it possible Cody’s closed because the students are not interested? Can’t Cody’s “bemoaners” now go to Fourth Street? Maybe that’s the rub! Are the old guard Cody folks less bothered by street people than by looking at themselves reflected in the windows of affluence? 

Jim Hite 

Point Richmond 

 

• 

OTHER LANDMARKS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Landmarks, community landmarks, about which I have heard decades of well-reasoned and supportive comment, are not all visual. 

Some are activities, like the friendly, vivid, social mixtures around food markets, children trudging or scampering to school, the endlessly renewed display of expert basketball at Live Oak Park, or—this is Berkeley—the topical exchanges in coffeeshops on divorce or Sanskrit. 

Some are sounds. The noon whistle, the campanile bells, and preeminently, the sonorous, melancholy, beautifully modulated “whistle” of the passing train. All over the world this same, dynamic, resonant emergence, presence, dwindling away, fitting metaphor for a journey—anywhere. Unchanging, literally, for centuries. And incidentally, the safest, cheapest, least destructive instrument of collective transit yet devised. 

A quarter near the railroad yards became a fashionable neighborhood in London.  

Living on a car-choked street or busy highway is next to intolerable. 

Viva trains! Viva the wondrous landmark of the train: its whistle! 

Ariel Parkinson 

 

• 

SECOND-HAND SMOKE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I notice that members of the Health Care staff as well as visitors and delivery people light up right outside the Rehab Center in Berkeley. All of us know that second hand smoke is bad for our vital organs, especially for those of us who are ailing and elderly. The ailing are at the Rehab Center to heal. It is surprising to me that various workers and visitors at the facility forget to be generous to the ailing people. I would like to know how the spirit of caring for others can reach those who are addicted to cigarette smoking.  

Romila Khanna 

Albany 

 

• 

UNIONS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Poor Dave Blake (Commentary, June 13)! 

He wants us to face up to the dreadful fact that our beloved Berkeley Bowl is not a pro-union business. He seems to assume that to be a Bowl lover somehow makes one a union lover!? Many people in Berkeley who both eat, drink, and shop at the Bowl couldn’t care less about unions or even loathe them and would never consider joining or supporting one! More later on my brief membership in the railroad workers union.  

Both Whole Foods and McDonald’s and I think lots of other folks in the food business in Berkeley are quite opposed to union and have fought them off. Seems to me that the Bowl should be allowed to relate to unions free of local city interference. Let the unions battle Wal-Mart and Whole Foods, etc. and leave single excellent stores the hell alone—especially those that pay better than union wages.  

This somehow reminds me of my student days in Berkeley when the Sandal Shop on Telegraph Avenue was picketed and it had two employees. At this time I was working part-time for the Santa Fe Railroad in Richmond which was a very benevolent employer with a huge work force it didn’t need and was also Jim Crow all the way. I was fired because I used the black guys’ restroom and ate lunch with them twice. I wonder if Dave Blake was picketing the sandal shop? The year was 1961, I think.  

Over to you, Dave! 

Phil Wood 

 

• 

ALLSTON HOUSE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I’d like to add some perspective to Suzanne La Barre’s article about Allston House. While the author did provide a few balancing quotes, she unfairly depicted Affordable Housing Associates as the source of the problems at the apartment building, rather than an organization working towards solutions. No one who has spent any substantial amount of time with AHA staff members can doubt that they are caring, competent, and dedicated to improving the lives of their tenants. During my graduate fellowship with AHA, I heard several conversations about Allston House—staff members knew they faced an uphill battle in renovating a building that had suffered from years of neglect under previous ownership, but they were committed to making things better. AHA further showed its commitment to tenant safety and satisfaction by commissioning me to do an objective resident survey and learn what was working and what could be improved. I surveyed more than 80 households and personally interviewed 16 families living in AHA-managed properties (including Shattuck Senior Homes, mentioned in the article). Of course there were concerns about maintenance and safety—I can’t imagine that any urban apartment building is completely free of such issues. But for the most part, tenant complaints were focused on problems largely out of the property manager’s control and were outweighed by their overall satisfaction. The great majority of residents who gave me feedback were pleased with their apartments and AHA’s management. 

Allston House tenants’ legitimate concerns should of course be heard and addressed by AHA and the city. But to focus on AHA’s management as the primary problem does a disservice to all of the organizations that, with limited resources and staff, work to alleviate the affordable housing crisis in the Bay Area. One reason that affordable housing is so difficult to build in Berkeley is because NIMBY neighbors believe it will be poorly managed or will drive down property values. In most cases, this is simply a stereotype—one only has to pass by AHA’s renovated properties along Ashby Avenue or its new buildings in central Berkeley and Oakland to see how affordable housing enhances the neighborhood. I was disappointed that La Barre used her story to make AHA’s job harder, rather than making the important point that non-profit developers need more support, and that broader efforts in community improvement and crime reduction must go hand-in-hand with housing development.  

Gloria Bruce 

Oakland 

 

• 

ALLSTON HOUSE  

MAINTENANCE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

As the maintenance staff of Allston House, I need to respond to the article “Allston House Tenants Object To Foul Living Conditions.” The article suggests that new paint and carpet as mentioned in the article published in the San Francisco Chronicle last October was not present in the units inhabited by the families displaced by the hurricanes. It goes on, calling into question the whether the building is being maintained properly, citing instances of typical maintenance issues that would occur in a forty year old building, incidences of crime, and general upkeep. Left to the imagination of the reader, one might believe that the residents at Allston House Apartments are living in a rat and sewage infested tenement with drug dealers at every corner. 

Being responsible for the maintenance at Allston House, it is my integrity that is being called into question here, so let me set the record straight. Upon taking over the maintenance of Allston House in February of 2005, there have been substantial changes to the upkeep of the property. I have installed security lighting around the entire perimeter, secured and re-keyed the entry gates twice over the past year. The property has been cited and posted as private property making it easier to enforce trespassing. In conjunction with security cameras, the criminal activity at Allston House has declined in comparison to the past several years. As an editor I trust you would call these stats into question before printing it. 

Of the eight units rehabilitated for hurricane evacuees, seven were given new carpet. All of the units received new paint. Four received granite countertops, kitchen sinks and fixtures. Most received brand new appliances, the ones that didn’t, had appliances that were in excellent condition. In addition, our partners at Rebuilding Together and Prospect Sierra also provided beautiful furniture and households items for all the families. 

Of the 14 houses that surround Allston House, I see comments from only one to support your articles claims of increased crime. Could you not get comments from the other thirteen, many of whom I know have witness a positive change? You quote one tenant saying, “There need to be more security cameras, more vigilance with known drug dealers, better locks, better gates and brighter lights.” There is a security camera at every entrance to the building. No one come or goes without our ability to see who it is. There is a point when security cameras become an infringement to our personal privacy, must we take it there? Furthermore, the reporter came to the property, in no instance does she site proof the claims of poor security, or presence of drug dealers. 

It is true, Allston House has been plagued with many problems. However today, most of those problems no longer exist. The ones that do, are either being addressed in the rehabilitation beginning this summer, or are a bigger problem of the community within the surrounding neighborhood. For the record, I am proud of the work that I have done, alongside my co-workers at AHA to dramatically and continuously improve the conditions at Allston House. 

Edward Grylich 

Affordable Housing Associates  

Maintenance Staff 

 

• 

AHA’S ROLE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

As the executive director of Affordable Housing Associates (AHA), I wanted to take this opportunity to provide your readers with more detailed information and some additional context about AHA‘s role with Allston House. 

AHA took over the management of the property in October 2004. Many of the problems that were discussed in your article were the result of over 20 years of mismanagement or neglect by the previous landlords. When approached to lease, manage and eventually own the property, AHA saw the potential to improve the lives of the residents and neighbors of the property. Our staff has worked tirelessly over the past year and half to dramatically improve both the physical conditions as well as the security of the building. 

In general, the article cites two major problems with AHA’s management: maintenance problems and crime. On maintenance—AHA staff takes our job very seriously and has very clear policies and procedures in place to handle all repair issues. As stated in the article, we have already invested over $120,000 in repairing and maintaining the building and have a comprehensive rehabilitation scope planned and funded to begin in the fall. While Ms. LaBarre found two tenants who were unsatisfied with our maintenance work, had she asked any of the other 46 families, she would have had to write a different article. All of the repair issues she describes in her article (sewer problems, back up kitchen sink) were regular maintenance issues which were handled promptly and effectively by our skilled maintenance staff. 

On security, Ms. LaBarre chooses not to interview the many residents, community members who have joined together with AHA to improve the safety and security of the building. She chose not to include in her article that the three households causing the majority of the security problems have been removed from the building as a result of AHA’s management. She chose not to mention that prior to AHAs’ management, there were no security cameras or other security measures. She also chose to dismiss the police officer’s positive testimony because they did not have supporting data at the time she called. 

AHA is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income community members. Our staff takes their responsibilities seriously and come to their jobs each day with the purpose of improving people’s lives. 

Susan Friedland 

Executive Director 

Affordable Housing Associates 

 

• 

IN FAVOR OF PEET’S 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

We are writing on behalf of the staff at Moe’s Books, located half a block away from the proposed location of a new Peet’s coffee shop at Dwight and Telegraph Avenue. We would like unanimously, unequivocally, and uproariously to voice in support of Peet’s. Whoever opposes the Peet’s application has no idea about the extremity of the deteriorating conditions of Telegraph Avenue, which a Peet’s could only benefit. A new Peet’s in this vicinity would help in the following ways: 

1) It would encourage walking traffic, which typically peters out at Telegraph and Haste, to continue on to Dwight Avenue, directly past Moe’s and Shakespeare and Co., the two remaining bookstores on Telegraph in Berkeley.  

2) It would enliven this neighborhood in a more general way, encouraging students and others to hang out in a safer environment. 

3) It could entice other vibrant businesses into the area. 

4) It would provide shoppers a favorite place to buy their coffee. People love Peet’s coffee, including us! The two other nearby coffee places do not sell their coffee in bulk; indeed, one is primarily a restaurant, and the other is a place no student has stepped foot into in the past two decades. Which reminds us, because Peet’s sells bags of coffee and coffee merchandise, it is absurd to call it a “fast-food establishment,” as some people seem to think it represents. 

5) Lastly but crucially, Peet’s is a successful homegrown Berkeley business, a critical point to make two days after Cody’s has closed its Telegraph doors for good. 

We encourage those opposed to putting a Peet’s here to come spend a few hours on our block. The experience could only change their minds. 

Sincerely, 

Moe’s Staff 

 

EDITOR’S NOTE: We received two more letters from Telegraph Avenue business owners in support of Peet’s. To read letters from Reprint Mint and Annapurna, see our website: www.berkeleydailyplanet.com. 

 

• 

OUT WITH MAIO 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Linda Maio needs to be voted out of office this fall.  

We need to find a clean, green candidate to replace a woman who just can’t seem to get environmental justice for her own district. We need a candidate that isn’t pandering to the dirty union hands at Pacific Steel Casting—and asleep at the pro-development wheel with old man Bates. We need Linda out.  

I will give my time and money to such a vision and campaign but it won’t be easy. Maio has a head-lock on all of the players in West Berkeley—even environmental groups, like the Sierra Club, think she’s doing a great job. Did you know that Maio is priming for mayor already? What a thought!  

John Hawkridge is lamenting about his toxic life from Hopkins Street these days. He’s complained, written to newspapers, written to Maio, Mayors Dean and Bates (who never acknowledged any of his e-mails), the EPA (who pointed him back to BAAQMD). Nothing has been done. Nothing is being done. The smells are getting much, much worse. 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Nothing is done. He says that his lungs feel like they are coated with this stuff. The smell soaks into his furniture and curtains and hangs in his home. Something needs to be done immediately. This 24/7 destruction of our health and environment is just not acceptable.  

He is not alone. 

Are you gonna run against this madness for John? For the children choking on PSC asthma? Or just sit on your couch and wonder what silly corporate-fueled agenda Linda Maio is (still) pushing on us now?  

Run for District 1 City Council. Most of us are ripe for the strike. 

Willi Paul 

 

• 

BRONSTEIN 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Although I dislike prolonging the Zelda controversies, I want to point out that Zelda Bronstein’s commentary “A Pro-Business, Pro-Berkeley Agenda,” and the letter she wrote in self-support, prove she has a remarkable facility for scatter-shot, fact-free, history-defying attacks on anyone caught in the glare of her displeasure. 

It’s useful to look at the real-life results of the policies Ms. Bronstein promotes. For instance, her rigid guardianship of business quotas has brought sky-high prices for properties holding permits for business that are in high demand, such as restaurants. The result? Only prosperous chains can afford to open businesses in many locations in Berkeley. Zelda, of course, does not favor chains, but she’s creating the conditions that allow only chains to thrive. And she’s laying the groundwork for future controversies that will guarantee that her name will continue in the news. 

The strict business quotas Zelda was instrumental in placing into law for Solano Avenue kept La Farine from opening there for weeks and months. Most people in the Thousand Oaks neighborhood which Zelda, as chair of the neighborhood association claimed to represent, were told at Association meetings: “Oh, we don’t vote here,” by the authoritarian chair. But in the face of a noisy revolt, members were allowed a vote and the policy of opposition La Farine was voted down. The result? Zelda continued to assert that the neighborhood association opposed the opening of La Farine. The lesson? One shouldn’t expect “open government” with Ms. Bronstein at the helm.  

The moral of the story, for me, is that a vote for Tom Bates will be a vote for a continued search for inclusiveness, for thoughtful consideration of all facets of proposed policies, and for a determination to address the needs of all of Berkeley residents. An added plus—he favors the right to vote.  

Mim Hawley 

 

• 

YMCA 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Thank you for Riya Bahattacharjee’s excellent May 30 article on the problems at the downtown Berkeley YMCA. I’m a disabled man who was a member there for over three years, until March 15 this year. I was then “priced out” of the YMCA; the reduced rate offered me by the Financial Assistance Department was more than I could afford on a “poverty level” Social Security check.  

Like Kate Bernd Barnett, another disabled YMCA member mentioned in the article, I encountered many problems at the YMCA. May Cotton, a former lifeguard at the YMCA, who was very helpful to me and other disabled members, suggested I join the Facilities Committee to advocate for disability issues. 

I asked YMCA director, Peter Chong, if I could join the Facilities Committee. Mr. Chong’s response to me was similar to his response to Ms. Barnett. She wanted to form a committee of disabled members to advocates for disability issues, and was told she could only make suggestions. Mr. Chong said I should write him if I has disability problems. 

But I wrote three letters on disability problems to him this year, and got no response whatsoever. To Mr. Chong’s credit, he was sympathetic and helpful to me when a husky 6’3” man harassed me because of my disability in the locker room, 

In contrast, former director Fran Gallatti implemented several of my suggestions, especially the designation of one convenient areas of the Men’s Locker Room as a priority space for people with disabilities. 

My biggest problem with the YMCA is the lack of “pay-per-visit” type of membership. I am a wheelchair user with multiple disabilities, and cancer. My disabilities are such that I can only get to the YMCA once or twice an month, or three times a month at most. 

An able-bodied member of the YMCA coming three ties a week for standard dues of $62, would only pay about $4.75 per visit. The financial assistance staff offered me reduced dues of $36.58 per month. Coming three times a month, for reduced dues of $36.58, I would pay $12.19 per visit. 

As a person with disabilities, I would pay almost three times as much per visit as an able-bodied person. That’s very unfair. I consider that a violation of the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Many people can come more often than three times a week. Front desk personnel at the YMCA have told me that membership fees assume that a person could come to the YMCA every day of the month. A person coming every day would pay about $2 per visit. 

In December, 2005, I did not make it to the YMCA one single time. YMCA dues are non-refundable, so my “dues” were actually a “charitable contribution” to the YMCA. Despite shortcomings of the YMCA, I think the YMCA is basically a good institution. On a “poverty level” income I cannot afford to pay for something I don’t get. 

When Mr. Chong phoned me about my harassment incident, I told him I couldn’t afford the rate offered by the Financial Assistance Department. He said he would review my financial assistance application, but again Mr. Chong made no response. 

The Berkeley Downtown YMCA seems to ignore issues of discrimination against people with disabilities. 

Tom Ross 

 

• 

LANDMARKS ORDINANCE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

During the “building” of the new landmarks ordinance that will soon be adopted by the City Council, some preservationist concern focused on one innovation: the proposed “request for determination” (RFD) process by which a property owner can obtain a neutral landmarks evaluation from the LPC without first filing a building permit application. Though the outcome of that process could be designation of the property as a landmark or structure of merit, in almost all cases an RFD applicant will be supporting a case that the property does not qualify for designation—and if the LPC agrees gaining a two year “safe harbor” period during which landmarking could not be revisited. This would allow the owner time to decide if any development project should be undertaken—more likely if the property is found not to qualify for historic status—and to develop and file actual plans. The advance knowledge gained by an RFC would prevent some permit applications involving newly-designated properties—saving property owners the expense of developing a more questionable application and saving preservationists the grief of having to oppose an unwanted project. 

Given the owner’s motivation, however, preservation activists were concerned that an applicant could simply “low ball” the application—intentionally submit less than complete information and require neighbors to take on an unfair burden to do independent research on the property. That potential loophole has, we hope, been closed in the last iteration by requiring an RFD applicant to pay for the city to obtain an “expert assessment” by a pre-approved consultant—much like an EIR is developed today. And one likely change in the often-bitter developer-vs-neighbor dynamic has gotten little attention. Property owners who decide to go the RFD route will be “sticking their heads up”—giving the neighborhood an early warning that some project may later be contemplated for the site. Since neighbors and owners will likely meet during the RFD process before the Landmarks Preservation Commission, that creates an incentive to start a neighborhood dialog very early in the potential development process, rather than meeting more confrontationally only after a permit application is filed. Such early discussions are likely to generate projects more in keeping with neighborhood sensitivities, and perhaps even to forestall some genuinely negative developments. 

Though it’s taken the city over six years to get here, the new LPO now contains several such hard-won compromises between the interests of property owners and the interests of neighbors and ardent preservationists. The new law should encourage more LPC neutrality on the desirability of development in general, less politicizing of the designation process, and—we all now hope—greater success in preserving our important historic resources. 

Alan Tobey 

 

• 

RON SULLIVAN 

Just a note to let you know how thoroughly I enjoy Ron Sullivan’s gardening and nature articles. Not only is the content invariably interesting, her prose is outstanding—always gracefully literate, sometimes clever and amusing, often verging on the poetic (examples of all are in the Douglas-fir article in the June 27 edition). I often find myself wondering how she can write so well so consistently with such obviously tight deadlines. By the way, I went back and re-read her series of articles on the best, most useful gardening tools available, and as I, too, have purchased many such tools at Hida Japanese Tools on San Pablo, I think her characterization of some of their wonderful tools as “esoteric, obscure, clever, or kinky” is perfectly fair, not racist, as a previous letter writer claimed. Bottom line, did it offend the Hida owners or staff? As for cleaning and polishing my tools in a bucket of oily sand as she suggests, it sounds like a great idea, but I probably won’t get around to it. When I lived in Japan there was a saying, “Dirt is the mark of your love of the tool,” and while I know that doesn’t mean you ought to let them rust, I do use it to sooth myself in the face of congenital procrastination and inevitable wear and tear. Anyway, thanks for giving us the opportunity to regularly read Ron Sullivan’s entertaining, informative and ecologically sound articles.  

Jessie West 

 

• 

PACIFIC STEEL 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Thank you for your continued coverage of the Pacific Steel Casting Company issue. With regard to the sustained letter-writing in your paper concerning Pacific Steel, the West Berkeley Alliance for Clean Air and Safe Jobs reiterates three important points that seem to get lost in the discussion:  

• Pacific Steel can and should begin comprehensive Toxic Use Reduction (TUR) of all toxics and allow installation of publicly readable Continuous Emissions Monitoring (CEM) technology that shows exactly what comes out of the facility.  

• Pacific Steel’s union jobs are important in west Berkeley and should not be endangered. 

• Pacific Steel is responsible for protecting both its workers’ health and the community’s air quality and health. A few letter writers seem unaware of the possibility that Pacific Steel could use TUR and CEM solutions. The same writers, who are justifiably frustrated, have suggested that the foundry be driven out of town or shut down. These extreme suggestions are destructive to our local industrial economy, would export the pollution production to another unsuspecting community (likely a poor community), and would target many working class people of color with the loss of union jobs. Berkeley’s dedication to social justice should restrain such extreme action. 

There is still the potential for maintaining local union jobs and cleaning the air. Pacific Steel’s owners have failed to adopt adequate measures to insure clean air and safe jobs. With sufficient pressure from government and a change in Pacific Steel’s policy, workers, residents, schoolchildren, pregnant women, babies, elders, environmentally sensitive folks and visitors in affected areas of the East Bay could enjoy clean air and safe jobs. The Alliance is distressed because, without sufficient and immediate reduction of pollution (both odorous and toxic) Pacific Steel, the City of Berkeley, and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District will provoke more frustrated community members to push for the relocation or closure of Pacific Steel. 

Janice Schroeder 

West Berkeley Alliance for Clean Air and Safe Jobs 

 

• 

DADDY PAYS THE BILLS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Guess who’s going to pay the cost of rebuilding the Gaza electricity plant that the Israelis bombed? We, the U.S. taxpayers, will be paying it because the power station was insured by a U.S. government agency, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz (July 2, 2006). Well, that’s what daddies are for—to pay the bill when junior goes out and breaks windows. Or, maybe it’s about time we Americans wake up to the fact that we’re supporting a full blown, hardcore juvenile delinquent. 

Daniel Borgström 

Oakland 

 

• 

PET PEEVE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Here’s a raging pet peeve ive had for years now. When people on TV or radio say: “ya-know,” or “youknowwhatimsayin’,” it indicates that they are confessing to being incapable of expressing what they mean. Therefore, we should respond loudly: No, we dont know! Tell us or quit talking until you can!” It’s all part of the insidious (I’m exagerating) plan to dumb down American.....ya-knowwhatimsayin’?  

Robert Blau  

 

 

GAIA BUILDING SAGA 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I was particularly troubled with one paragraph of the article written about the Gaia Building, where behavior is incorrectly attributed to me. The article states at the last paragraph on the first page: “Kennedy, the owners of the catering company and de Leon were able to craft the uneasy compromise that exists today, with de Leon in control of part of the ground floor and Glass Onion catering owners Gloria and Tom Atherstone in control of the two-floor cultural space.” This so-called “compromise” is utter fabrication. I have never crafted anything with Mr. Kennedy. His attorney crafted the lease which I modified and we both signed in January of 2004. I am a tenant of Panoramic Interests, paying market rent. My business comprises only 15 percent of the Gaia commercial space. 

Almost four years ago, when I was introduced to the owners of the Glass Onion by Mr. Kennedy, at a meeting that included Reed Martin, a co-owner of the Gaia, I made clear my unwillingness to form any agreement with them within a half-hour and left. A few days after the meeting, I brought them a copy of the Gaia Use Permit describing the necessity for cultural use in the belief that they might be unaware of the central condition of the use of the ground floors. Mr. Kennedy informed me in July 2005 that Glass Onion Catering had become the other commercial tenant in the Gaia Building about two months after I had already opened for business. 

I first complained about their sales of alcoholic beverages in the fall of 2005 since they did not have and still do not have a license to sell and people holding glasses of wine have come into my space. A check with the public records of the ABC website can confirm their lack of license. My central complaint centers around their primary use of the facility as a private dining hall/party venue rather than as the cultural facility for which Mr. Kennedy was given the two extra floors of revenue producing apartments. 

Clarification regarding cultural use: The Marsh Theater would be a perfect tenant for the theater space, especially since Mr. Kennedy, in his use permit application letter, promised the city a theater tenant with weekend use. Instead, he has rented the theater and mezzanine to a catering company which allows the Marsh only Wednesday and Thursday use, and one month of weekends a year. The Marsh has informed both the city and Mr. Kennedy, in writing, that they want to rent the space to use the theater for all weekends so they can mount a genuine theater season. They have made clear that only Wednesdays and Thursdays, with only a few weekends, is unworkable. Thus far, Mr. Kennedy will not lease the theater to the Marsh. A catering company, with high end private parties, is more profitable for him. If the City Council does not now simply require the cultural use the Use Permit requires, they will have effectively evicted the Marsh. 

Anna de Leon 

Anna’s Jazz Island


More Letters to the Editor

Friday July 14, 2006

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following letters appear only on our website. 

 

• 

IN FAVOR OF PEET’S  

ON TELEGRAPH 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

As the owner and managers of the Reprint Mint, a business that has shared the same block of Telegraph for over 40 years with Moe’s and the late lamented Cody’s, we wish to voice our strong support for a Peet’s Coffee at the corner of Dwight and Telegraph. 

Peet’s is a well-run, established, local company with a large following and would immediately attract customers to the Avenue. The economic benefits would start the day it opened. With any luck it could anchor our end of Telegraph and help fill the void left by the loss of Cody’s. 

The proposed site size seems appropriate when retail sales of coffee beans, ground coffee and tea as well as related accessories are taken into account. The special circumstances necessary to warrant a zoning variance might well be reversing a very real downward spiral on Telegraph. 

While the zoning quotas are well intentioned, the reality is that they have led to a proliferation of tattoo parlors, schlock-shops and many empty store fronts. 

We strongly advocate and support Peets on Telegraph at Dwight. 

Craig Altes, owner 

Sabina McMurtry, manager 

Lisa VonStauffenberg, manager 

Reprint Mint 

2484 Telegraph Ave. 

 

• 

ALSO IN FAVOR OF PEET’S  

ON TELEGRAPH 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

We totally endorse this new business getting permit approval.  

It will be a great addition improving the image of the Telegraph area substantially. I believe It will attract many new patrons to this very depressed shopping district with its great following and the fact it is a business that has it roots in North Berkeley.  

This is a special situation in that Peet’s brand and quality will bring the upscale customers to help Telegraph’s recovery in a way other quick service restaurants could not. 

Al Geyer 

Annapurna 

2416 Telegraph Ave. 

 

• 

THE CLOSURE OF  

CODY’S BOOKS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I would like to thank Andy Ross and his family, Mr. and Mrs. Cody, and all the great Cody’s Books employees for providing Telegraph Avenue with one of the greatest independent book stores in the country, if not the entire world. It is a sad day for Berkeley when Cody’s Books closes. I guess the one consolation is that all the minds that have been expanded by all the great Cody’s books over all the years, will continue to reverberate in the hearts and minds of the universe for many years to come. 

Many reasons have been given for the demise of Cody’s Books, as well as the closing of many other long-time businesses on Telegraph Avenue: the Berkeley Market (!!), La Vals, Tower Records, Greg’s Pizza, the Gap, the Coffee Source, Wall Berlin, etc. We are hardly economists or financial wizards, God knows what is going on. Any Ross as stated that sales have been dropping since 1990, and I believe him. One reason for this, I believe, is that rents have tripled for many Berkeley residents during those 15 years. And people who used to have hundreds of dollars of disposable income to spend on books, records, jewelry, etc. now are forced to scrape together every penny just to keep a roof over their heads. 

Another reason for the dismal state of our economy, I believe, is the billions of dollars that that idiot George Bush is spending destroying and then trying to re-build Iraq’s economy. 

Much has been made of blaming the street people for the myriad of Telegraph Avenue woes. There’s no question that there are some obnoxious, dysfunctional, and even dangerous street people up there (I’ve probably been one of them on a bad day, what the fuck). But I think this has been way over-blown, simply because the streets of Telegraph are packed with more people than ever these days. And most of them aren’t street people (come up and count them some time if you don’t believe me). The customers are there: They just don’t have much money to spend anymore. 

At any rate, we wish Cody’s Books the best of luck in all their future endeavors. As Andy Ross said: Cody’s Books isn’t real estate, it’s an idea.” Its just a damn shame that that idea will no longer be part of the Telegraph Avenue real estate. We will all be poorer for it. All the best. 

Ace Backwards,  

B.N. Duncan 

 

• 

UC PAY CONTROVERSY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The recent reports of UC misuse of funds are eye opening but not surprising. To think that administrators/chancellors, who are already paid more than adequately, receive additional money is an insult to the thousands of UC employees who work diligently every day to serve the real needs of students, and to the taxpayers who help pay the bills. 

In 2004 the university abruptly closed the English Language Program run through UC Extension. It made a considerable profit for the university (it was a fee-based program) and had established an outstanding reputation over its 30-year history. According to colleagues who had worked for many years in that program, the administration refused to explain the reason for such action and attempted to evade full payment of contracts to its instructors. These were people who were earning far, far less than the well-paid executives who have received the largesse of UC president Dynes and his predecessors. And I am certain that other faculties and support staff members at UC have many similar stories. 

That UC could nickel-and-dime hard-working faculty while at the same time bestowing excessive stipends, unapproved monetary grants, and illegal housing subsidies demands more than the resignation of UC President Dynes. The legislature needs to look at the ways in which members of the Board of Regents are appointed and administrative decisions are made so that the corporation now known as UC returns to its mission of educating our future generations. 

Vera Stanley 

 

• 

BUSH ADMINISTRATION 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Recent attacks on the media by the president for the exposure of the international bank transfer spying program serve two purposes for the Bush regime. First, they are an attempt to intimidate the media into silence about the regime’s crimes. Second, they are meant to shift the discussion about the illegality of these actions to a discussion of what should be done to media outlets that dare to report them. 

Weeks ago, Attorney General Gonzales floated the idea of prosecuting the New York Times under the ‘97 Espionage Act for exposing the regime’s wiretap program. Now the president and VP have joined the attack on freedom of the press. The media is the last check on this imperial presidency. Congress caved in long ago and the regime largely bypasses the courts when it ignores the fourth amendment protection against illegal searches. Congressional Rep. Pete King has asked the Justice Department to open an investigation of the Times. The magic phrase “national security” is enough to keep most members of Congress quiet when it comes to the administration’s actions. While the Democrats occasionally make noises of protest, they rarely take any serious actions to impede the regime. 

It is important to understand why the Bush regime is launching these attacks. It is not operating from a position of strength despite appearances. It really fears exposure of its illegal actions. It knows if most people are aware of what is being done to our freedoms under the guise of “protecting us” that these actions will not be accepted by the vast majority. Like rats hiding in the dark, the regime can not stand light. Therefore it is doing everything possible to keep the media quiet and acquiescent. This is a continuation of other actions such as the attacks on Joseph Wilson and his wife when he exposed the lie about Iraq obtaining uranium with his op-ed in the Times.  

The media must not be quelled by these political attacks. It must continue to expose all infringements on our freedom and all lies of the Bush regime while we still have some freedom to protect. The Bush regime will only be driven from power if people are aware of what it is doing.  

Kenneth J. Theisen 

Oakland 

 

• 

CLEAN WATER 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Preserving clean water is a health issue for many Americans. Unfortunately, President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress have let the oil companies pollute the waters in every part of the country. Whether it is in the lakes, rivers, or oceans, oil companies cause damage to the waters. 

This president and the Congress can care less about the health of the American people who might be exposed to dirty waters created by the oil companies. For example, recently the House of Representatives passed a bill that will allow offshore drilling in U.S. coastal areas. The oil companies who already drill offshore in the Gulf of Mexico will do so again in some other coastal areas. 

People who are concerned about preserving clean water, free from off-shore drilling, should fight Congress either by writing letters of voting the Republican-controlled Congress out of office in November. 

Billy Trice, Jr. 

Oakland 

 

• 

BERKELEY  

POLICE DEPARTMENT 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Under the auspices of law enforcement and the civil responsibilities that a Police Department has, and is engaged in, I find the mission statement of Berkeley Police Department has changed somewhat. When I was a boy riding my bicycle around Berkeley 35 years ago, we knew almost every officer by name—and could count on them for ensuring our safety whenever possible. That is what they do in all wishful societies around the world. 

I am not opposed to the police to enforce the law—but the manner in which they serve is not exactly justice—it’s more like robbery...and we have plenty of that here! 

In Berkeley—maybe elsewhere too—this mission statement has changed, and for the worse! A stop sign violation 20 years ago was probably $20, but now it is $146! The police in Berkeley wait at these “pumpkin patches,” as they refer to them, and collect fees for Berkeley—fees prohibitively high for many—so I believe they need to change their mission statement from “Preserve and Protect” to “Preserve and Collect”—at least then we Berkeley citizens know what to expect and how much it is going to cost us! 

Mark Bayless 

 

• 

A RESPONSE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The following observations are a response to “Intellectual Laziness,” Michael Duenes’ June 30 letter. 

First, there are at least three collections of books that are commonly published with the title The (Holy) Bible or The Holy Scriptures: the collection Protestants use, the collection Roman Catholics use (which includes more books,) and the collection Jews use (which includes quite a few less books.) The difference between these three collections is the result of differing opinions about whether or not certain books ought to be considered “scripture,” i.e., that their origin was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

Second, all the books rejected from the Biblical canon by Jews (often referred to as The New Testament) are written in Koine Greek. As I understand it, the reason for this is that Greek was a language many people could be expected to understand--as, for example, the English language is today. The reason Greek was widely understood is that Greek Civilization had been in full flower in the relatively recent past.  

In Part Two of his book Through the Looking Glass, psychologist Richard Idemon describes the part homosexuality had played in Greek culture. “In ancient Greece...it was the father of the young boy who often took it upon himself to pick the eratos, the older male lover who would educate the boy to take his place in the state’s political system. This was considered a natural part of growing up.”  

Our present day society (most gay people included) would regard this as sexual child abuse, and it probably caused boys who had no innate disposition toward homosexuality to grow into men who were sexually attracted to men. When Paul of Tarsus referred to “men who love men,” he may well have had this kind of cultural pattern in mind. And he may well have been familiar with no other pattern.  

Paul also felt that the only excuse single heterosexuals had for getting married was lack of self-control. If you just couldn’t control your burning lust, it was “better to marry than to burn.” 

He felt that married people experienced the desire to please their mates as a distraction from love of the Lord. That married love can enhance the relationship of both spouses to the Lord (a perspective that was the norm in Judaism) is a sentiment quite foreign to Paul’s thought.  

This is often explained as the result of Paul’s belief that the world would soon end. His sense of urgency, in light of this belief, led him to feel that the spreading of the gospel was a crisis situation--no time to get married. But while this sense of urgency puts Paul’s attitude toward marriage in perspective, it also clearly indicates something else about Paul. He could be wrong.  

He was not a divinely-inspired robot whose every word can be taken out of historical context as though it had been written by God in stone. There is good reason to regard the phenomenon of inspiration by the Holy Spirit as one which is conditioned by the personality and the social and historical context of the person inspired.  

To get a sense of the contemporary American historical context of attitudes about homosexuality, reading Paula Gunn Allen’s book The Sacred Hoop, especially the chapter titled “How the West was Really Won,” is instructive. Another book I would recommend to those whose aspire to transcend “intellectual laziness” is Another Mother Tongue by Judy Grahn, especially chapter Three, “Gay is Very American.” 

Up until the recent past, gay marriage was accepted as a normal part of the social order almost everywhere on this continent, and gay people were more often than not accorded great respect--not, so far as I can tell, because of sexual child abuse, but because the original societies here respected the nature with which each human being was created.  

Chadidjah McFall 


Commentary: Berkeley’s Image After Forty Years

By Krishna P. Bhattacharjee
Friday July 14, 2006

I visited the city of Berkeley and the campus of the University of California after a period of forty years, on my way back from participating at the U.N. World Urban Forum conference held during June 19 to 24, 2006 in Vancouver, Canada. 

I am a former graduate student of UC Berkeley; and by profession, an architect, city planner, former professor in architecture and a freelance writer & author, based in Calcutta. I worked as a professional in San Francisco and Oakland for a couple of years prior to returning to India. 

It was a great experience to re-visit Berkeley, a friendly city and known throughout the world for the famous university around which the city has grown and developed. The institutional buildings abutting Bancroft Avenue, the Student Union building, Sproul Hall, the Law building and the recently developed Museum complex have remained intact. Many new buildings have been added beyond Sather Gate; however, there is no dramatic change in campus landscape. 

The city of Berkeley has changed, but it was difficult to judge whether the city has changed to provide better living conditions along with access to basic amenities, such as housing, green open space, schools and social facilities, commercial and services at an affordable price. On the other hand, it is to be seen whether the city is being driven by the commercial forces. 

During a walk down Bancroft Way, Telegraph, Durant, and the surrounding blocks, and having talked to some local shop keepers and local residents, I discovered that rent for shops and commercial establishments is going up fast; the old small shop owners are moving out. This has happened to the camera shop (which I found had closed on June 26, 2006) located opposite to Rexall Drugstore on Telegraph Avenue. Other well-known shops have closed too: recently, Cody’s bookstore. Cal Book store at the corner of Telegraph and Bancroft closed long ago; it was a landmark for the students. Back in the late ’60s there was a restaurant and coffee shop on Telegraph (opposite Rexall drugstore), where the film “The Graduate” was shot and Dustin Hoffman acted; the place was a landmark; it does not exist any more. It is indeed sad that these prominent landmarks do not exist anymore. 

What is a city without landmarks and historical buildings? Image of cities have close relationship with landmarks, historical buildings and a vibrant living environment.  

A city must preserve its historical buildings and landmarks to provide an exciting living environment. These issues have been stressed by well-known author, architect and planner Jane Jacob, who taught at Berkeley and who described her vision of a living city in her book Death and Life of Great American Cities. 

She championed her cause for preserving the quality of neighborhood by preserving the stores and popular coffee shops/eateries, museums, cultural centers and even historical buildings where people frequently visit, and remembering the city with those images. For this she was honored this past June 19 at the World Urban Forum in Vancouver, Canada. 

Canadian by birth, she is now an icon in Canada for her determination to create livable cities where people get preference over commercialization and competition. 

Kevin Lynch in his book Image of the Cities lays stress on preserving landmarks, monuments, parks and playgrounds to have a clearer view of the city; as these objects are easily remembered by citizens. Berkeley’s citizens and local authority must come forward to preserve its landmarks and monuments as well as its green spaces. 

At this year’s World Urban Forum in Vancouver, Prof. John Friedman, City Planner, who taught for many years in University of Southern California, delivered a special lecture on the “Wealth of Cities” in which he echoed the thoughts of Jane Jacob and Kevin Lynch and at the same time talked about the development of infrastructure and services for expansion of airports and new information technology based industries. He also highlighted that utmost attention be directed towards the people of the city and the living environment.  

It is indeed heartening to read the Letters to the Editors of Berkeley Daily Planet (June 20-22), where George Beier has written on “A 12 Point Plan for Revitalizing Telegraph,” which includes some positive steps for the city, such as: establishing a Telegraph Avenue Commission; completely re-thinking the quota system; maintaining a close relationship between the city and the university; building long term affordable housing and condominiums; preserving the parks and increase their usage; considering the Free Speech Trail. 

The Commentary article titled “How to create a Lively ‘Green’ Oasis in Downtown” by Kirstin Miller (April 28-May 1, 2006) makes positive suggestions on how to provide a large green space within the heart of Berkeley, so that “within this green urban oasis, human voices and sound of running water and singing birds would come alive without the usual competition from cars and traffic. It would be a beautiful downtown center celebrating Berkeley’s natural and architectural past while demonstrating a commitment to the sustainable future.” Such green oases exists on both sides of Orchard Street in Singapore and that is why the city is evergreen and people from around the world love to go there and walk and sit within the green spaces. 

It’s disturbing to hear news that a strained relationship between the city and the UC Berkeley has been brewing for some time; this must come to a peaceful end through discussions and consensus. A symbiotic relationship must exist between the city and the university as they are complementary to each other. The sooner this is achieved the better it will be for the city and the university. Former residents of Berkeley, like myself, would like to return to the city again and remember it as a friendly and vibrant city preserving historical buildings, shops, cultural centers and neighborhood parks and green spaces. 

Let’s make it a sustainable green city (it may be the first of its kind). To achieve this, recycling of waste is essential; moreover, due consideration should be given to generating power from non-conventional energy, so that less harmful greenhouse gases are emitted, and the city can preserve its green character. 

 

 

Krishna P. Bhattacharjee is an architect and city planner living in Calcutta, India.


Commentary: Let Them Eat Bush!

By Barbara Gilbert
Friday July 14, 2006

To paraphrase a famous ruler dealing with citizen discontent, “Let them eat Bush.” 

On June 27, 2006, the Berkeley City Council, in its infinite wisdom and guile, passed a crowd-pleasing measure guaranteed to distract Berkeley voters from local woes, divert press coverage away from local candidates and issues, bring forth a larger number of machine-oriented voters than might otherwise be motivated, and forge a righteous and self-righteous sense of togetherness and Berkeley boosterism despite the sorry state of the Berkeley  

polity. 

So our wise councilors decided, against the advice of our sometimes-sensible City Manager, to oh-so-fearlessly and bravely promote the impeachment of President Bush and to be the first American city to put it on the ballot. Profiles in courage! 

Will Berkeley voters and the press rally around this red herring, let our city dog be wagged by its tail, hitch their wagons to this falling star, scape this goat, and fall for all the other clichéd aspects of this unanimous City Council policy breakthrough? 

In the excitement and press coverage of the Bush Bash, I hope that our voters do not forget about the secret settlement/sellout to UC and the loss of Downtown planning control and of maybe about $15M annually in UC reimbursement for City services. 

I hope that our voters and press do not forget about the secret deal to remake the Ashby/Adeline area into a high-density transit village without so much as a by-your-leave from the local residents and institutions. 

I hope that our voters and press do not forget about the multimillion dollar boondoggle known as the Brower Center/ Oxford Plaza, cleverly designed to bring yet more non-taxpaying residents, buildings, and institutions into our deteriorating Downtown and to do away with a major Downtown parking lot for several years.  

I hope that our voters and press do not forget about Berkeley’s extremely high crime rate. 

I hope that our voters and press do not forget about the sorry state of the City’s Housing Authority/Department, which is on HUD’s list of extremely troubled and incompetent agencies, in the midst of a fraud investigation, and once again asking for million dollar bailouts from the City’s General Fund. 

I hope that our voters and press do not forget that our City has the highest number of employees per resident, that City employees get 53% in benefits on top of their high salaries, that Berkeley’s local tax/fee burden is the highest in the state, and that the average Berkeley homeowning taxpayer household has an income of under $100,000.  

I hope that our voters and press do not forget that our once-beautiful foliaged City is being transformed into high-rise heaven filled with rabbit-warren apartments and paved-over side yards, and that the only real plutocrats in Berkeley are (mostly Democratic) developer high-rollers. And our venerable landmark preservation/ neighborhood preservation protections will be lost unless Berkeley voters remember that there is more on the ballot than Bush. 

I hope that our voters and press do not forget that Cody’s, Radston’s, Ifshin’s, Habitot Children’s Museum,Tupper and Reed, ActI/Act II Theatre, and many many other venerable institutions and people are getting out of Dodge despite the fact that the City has a multimillion dollar economic development program and staff. Hello? 

I hope that all of our elderly, disabled and family-possessing residents understand that they are ignominious gas-guzzlers and polluters because they stubbornly refuse to get with the program by biking around town with the more physically-abled and waiting for transit on dark crime-ridden streetcorners with the more fearless of our denizens. 

Enough diatribe. You get the point. I admit that like other centrist and sensible Democrats, I believe that impeachment is a distraction, not doable or justifiable, and not a substitute for sound national policy alternatives and good electoral politics. REGARDLESS, BASHING BUSH IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR LOCAL POLICY AND POLITICS. 

As a protest against this distracting measure, I intend to abstain on it in November. I hope that many other Berkeleyans will do the same or at least just quickly check a box and quickly move on to more immediate local matters and candidates. 

 

 

Barbara Gilbert was a District 5 Council candidate in 2004 and is active in many Berkeley civic organizations.


Letters to the Editor

Tuesday July 11, 2006

BUILDING AN ARTS COMMUNITY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Jerry Landis (Letters, July 7) is right on when he points out the inefficiencies of artists, professional artists, and professionals fighting over space and housing in Berkeley. So what do you suppose we do about it? Here’s what I’ll do. I don’t have much, but I will give $500 to a group of Berkeley and other local residents who can find a place with reasonable land prices in California (Davis? Mt. Shasta? The Central Valley?) that could serve as an arts community. We will buy this land. I envision a non-profit organization running a tract with cabins, shacks, a group center, and tent sites with rules outlining no permanent residency but self- and foundation-funded tenancy and fellowships. We could limit participation to Bay Area artists. I’d bet you’d get a great mailing list out of this, too. Government land is still inexpensive and grants are available to groups interested in the idea of intentional artistic communities. So, Jerry, here is my $500. I only ask that someone scrawl (with permanent marker) my name on the bench on the patio of this proposed community. Who’s with me? 

John Parman 

 

• 

WHEELCHAIR SEMANTICS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I have been a wheelchair “user” for over 20 years now. I get out of my wheelchair to go to sleep, take a shower, swim, get into automobiles. If I did not have a wheelchair I truly would be “confined.” I would be confined to my bed. Thanks to both Ann and Brian. While some might assert we should lighten up and not take ourselves so seriously I would counter that language and its use or misuse is critical in forming how the public perceives everyone—male, female, black, white, heterosexual, straight, able bodied or disabled. Such terminology as “confined” to a wheelchair is not only inaccurate it is offensive. 

Ruthanne Shpiner 

 

• 

SPIN-IDIOCY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I was taken aback by a couple of recent Daily Planet letters to the editor criticizing Zelda Bronstein’s ideas for economic renewal. The comments of Tom Case, however, win a prize for spin-idiocy. In it he questions the need for an Office of Economic Development. While it is certainly true that Berkeley’s current Economic Development Office is next to worthless, many other cities around the state not only have full-time professionals in their OEDs but often have one employee per business district. The salaries of these professionals are returned to the city manyfold when appropriate businesses move in and when concerns of existing business are monitored and addressed. To state that this is nothing but “more bureaucracy” is no more logical than firing good salespeople to save on salaries. 

If you want to do a case study on failed municipal economics there is no better place to start than Tom Bates. His proposal to raise parking fees and solicit national chain stores on Telegraph Avenue belies a wholesale lack of business and economic sense. It should come as no surprise that the city has experienced double-digit declines in business revenues since Bates became mayor. His willingness to cut fire and police services, reduce parking, and raise every possible fee or tax, while spending millions to subsidize real-estate developers is a recipe for disaster. Imaging what Fourth Street will look like with no parking and empty storefronts, a scenario that will come to pass if Brennan’s and that area’s parking give way to the huge and ugly apartment blocks Tom Bates supports.  

There’s no question in my mind that Berkeley needs a mayor who understands business and economics and Bronstein is the only viable candidate in that department. 

John Felix 

 

• 

GAIA SAGA 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I’ve been wading through the volumes of detail in Richard Brenneman’s article on Gaia Building cultural uses. Not for the first time in reading his work, it is hard to get at the key issues before nodding off. 

But they seem to boil down to two, maybe three: fire safety rules, noise, and sometimes unruly and hard-to-manage crowds, including wannabe participants excluded—probably in turn because of fire regulations. These last issues seem more than a little reminiscent of similar problems long rampant at fraternity parties near the UC campus, and frequently lubricated or exacerbated by alcohol. Fire matters I will leave to the fire authorities. I suspect the noise and hard-to-manage crowds go together, and that as long as Anna’s Jazz Island is expected to coexist with rock concerts and parties featuring highly amplified music, no amount of sound-proofing could hope to prevent a parade of problems for De Leon’s business and probably for residents of the building as well. 

Of course I also have to wonder if city officials are loathe to rain on the parades of promoters with business ties to Patrick Kennedy and family ties to city officials. 

It seems to me that the kind of use made by the Berkeley Marsh is ideal. Certainly cultural by any definition, not unduly noisy. Not infrequently, people leave a Marsh performance and stop in at Anna’s for awhile afterwards. Maybe the Marsh doesn’t yet have enough of a following to use the space more consistently, but this seems like the direction to aim for. I for one can hardly wait to see in Berkeley more performers featured at the Marsh’s SF location. Meantime, I think the loud parties and rock concerts should be out no matter how well connected their promoters are. 

Donna Mickleson 

 

• 

CLEAN MONEY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Tonight, Tuesday July 11, the Berkeley City Council will once again take up the issue of whether it will refer the “Clean Money” proposal to the people, and place the question on the November ballot. 

The League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville strongly supports the proposal, which would provide for public financing of election campaigns for Berkeley Mayor and City Council. 

Berkeley’s Fair Campaign Practices Commission recommended, by an overwhelming vote of 7 to 1, to send the proposal to the City Council with a strong recommendation of passage and placement on the ballot for the vote of the people. 

At the last council meeting, an apparent lapse in understanding of a parliamentary procedure caused a split in the vote, with four councilmembers voting to place the measure on the November ballot, two voting in opposition, and three abstaining. 

The proposal will once again be before the City Council tonight (Tuesday), and because of time deadlines the council must pass it tonight or it is dead for at least two more years (the measure is a City Charter amendment, and thus must come before the citizenry at general elections). This provides a chance for the abstaining officials (Mayor Bates and Councilmembers Anderson and Maio) to commit one way or another on the question, rather than declining to reveal their point of view by abstaining (effectively, a “no” vote). 

The League of Women Voters urges all supporters of clean elections, where the money for campaigning comes from the people rather than from the lobbyists and election-time “friends” of elected officials, to immediately contact the mayor’s office and their councilmember, to tell them to vote to put the measure on the fall ballot—no abstentions, just a commitment to yes or no, up or down. 

If you can, please come out tonight to show your support of the concept. 

An initiative has qualified to place the question on the state ballot in November, providing public financing for state campaigns. With evidence of bias in favor of campaign contributors all around us, the time is ripe to seize the moment and pass legislation at the state and Berkeley levels. 

Sherry Smith 

League of Women Voters of Berkeley, Albany and Emeryville 

 

• 

MORE ON CLEAN MONEY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I wish to concur with Sam Ferguson’s excellent July 7 letter insisting that all nine Berkeley City Councilmembers explicitly vote their position—rather than abstain—on a proposed “clean money” campaign reform ballot measure for Berkeley candidate elections. The City Council will likely decide this issue today (Tuesday). 

More importantly, I would respectfully urge councilmembers to allow Berkeley’s 60,000 registered voters to decide for themselves—on Nov. 7—the merits of clean money election reform. 

It is imperative that the City Council provide Berkeley’s voters with the democratic opportunity to vote yes or no on this critical and groundbreaking issue rather than the council itself deciding. 

If the council is allowing Berkeley citizens an opportunity to vote yes or no on an impeachment ballot measure, then the council should extend to Berkeley citizens the same opportunity to vote up or down on public financing of candidate elections. 

Please permit Berkeley’s voters, themselves, to decide this important issue on Nov. 7. 

Chris Kavanagh 

 

• 

IN DEFENSE OF BRONSTEIN 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I can’t sit back and let Planning Commissioner Harry Pollack run down former Planning Commission Chair Zelda Bronstein as unfriendly to business, and not place his comments in perspective. Which businesses are you talking about, Harry? When I was on the Planning Commission I saw Ms. Bronstein work hard to bring proposals before the commission in support of industrial and artisan businesses. I also saw Mr. Pollack work hard to undercut that effort, and to prevent it from even being discussed. It was Pollack who was anti-business. 

As an industrial business owner myself, I know that Bronstein is far from trying “to impose her personal views on neighborhoods.” She is guilty only of being one of the very few people in city government who has listened to the needs of the industrial business community, and who has tried to help. Pollack on the other hand supports the commercialization of the industrial zones in West Berkeley, and doesn’t appear to care that in many cases that means driving industrial businesses out of town. Harry, you may not consider us important, but we think we are. Push industries, artisans, and artists out of town and the character of the city is changed. Is that’s what you want? Bronstein, to the contrary, has supported our struggle to stay in town, and has argued that new West Berkeley shopping centers would draw business away from the existing commercial zones, which are already badly struggling. 

Ms. Bronstein was not “leading” the struggle over the Berkeley Bowl; it was engaged in by many people living or working in the neighborhood, both businesses and residents, and we remain very concerned about the impact that 50,000 cars per week will have on us. Twenty-seven local industrial, retail, recycling, art and artisan businesses employing hundreds of people joined together to request that the EIR also study the economic impacts of this project on local businesses, but this was never done. Pollack blames Bronstein for the time-consuming planning process for the Bowl. To the contrary, the city manager writes, “The unusual duration is due in part to the city’s decision, relatively late in the process, to prepare an EIR, and also to oversights and errors by the applicant’s traffic consultant and the city’s environmental consultant, which necessitated recirculation of the EIR and the extension of the review period….” Bronstein only joined in this experiment we call democracy. Pollack apparently would prefer everything planned quickly and quietly by developers, city staff, and commissioners, and get rid of the messy “delays” of citizen participation. 

Yes, Ms. Bronstein does not live or work in West Berkeley. But just for the record, Harry, you don’t have to live or work in our neighborhood to support the retention of industrial and artisan businesses. We welcome the support of all people, including you. How about it, Harry? Will you finally turn around and support our businesses? Will you listen to the neighborhood? 

John Curl 


Commentary: Town and Gown: Great Things Are Happening...Elsewhere

By Doug Buckwald and Anne Wagley
Tuesday July 11, 2006

Want to know how Gainesville, Florida, protects neighborhood residents during college football games? How Columbus, Ohio handles the problem of trash in neighborhoods near the Ohio State campus? How Colorado State University in Fort Collins responds to calls about off-campus student behavior problems? Or how police in Boulder, Colorado and Corvallis, Oregon handle disruptive student parties? So did we. That’s why we went to the conference on “Best Practices in Building University/City Relations” last month in Colorado. What we learned there kept our eyes wide open and our pens scratching notes as fast as we could write. We learned that cities across the United States and Canada handle these problems effectively and efficiently every day—in contrast to the typical inaction of our own city officials and UC Berkeley. 

 

Game Day in Gainesville 

Just about everybody loves football in Gainesville, where the University of Florida Gators’ stadium seats 90,000 spectators. The stadium is adjacent to residential neighborhoods, just like Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium, but in Gainesville, the city takes the safety and comfort of its residents seriously. On game days, when the population of the town swells to near double, the university pays for 40 extra on-duty police officers who patrol the neighborhoods near the stadium. These officers aggressively ticket any parking and traffic violations, and watch for litter, alcohol, and noise violations. They are empowered to block off residential streets with patrol cars, to protect neighborhoods. 

Satellite parking lots and shuttle busses are utilized to limit cars coming into town, and they are heavily used because they are convenient and are promoted with all ticket sales. The University of Florida recognizes that night games impose significant additional burdens on residents, so it limits these games to only two per year. There are no non-university football games or special events held at the stadium. And the university hires a crew to clean up after every game to guarantee that “by 10 a.m. the next day the town is spotless.”  

When we described how Berkeley handles football games, representatives from Gainesville found it difficult to believe us. In fact, as we described Berkeley’s policies on many issues during the three-day conference, the typical reaction was skepticism or outright disbelief. This shows how far out of step with the rest of the country Berkeley’s policies are in handling university problems.  

 

“Adopt-a-Street” and “The Great Sofa Roundup” 

As is true in many college towns, the student residential areas near Ohio State University were frequently marred by litter, graffiti, and other public nuisances. That is, until Sean McLaughlin developed a program to encourage student organizations to “adopt” streets in the off-campus neighborhoods. Now, OSU students cooperate to maintain their streets and improve the neighborhood quality of life. We believe that many residents of Berkeley’s Southside—who just experienced a massive trashing of their neighborhood by departing student tenants—would welcome a similar program and attitude.  

When we showed conference participants photos of the large piles of discarded furniture and garbage lining our streets—photos taken almost a month after the students had departed—can you guess what their reaction was? They couldn’t believe it. They had never let things get this bad in their own cities. CSU at Fort Collins has a program called “The Great Sofa Roundup.” During that event, everyone is invited to come to a central location and either drop off used furniture, or take some of it to furnish their new place. Items in any condition are accepted; furniture too damaged to be reused is taken to the dump. It’s the ultimate recycling program, and it’s a win-win solution for the city, the neighbors, and the students. 

 

Taming disruptive parties 

In many university towns, the student code of conduct applies to students living off campus as well as on campus. And many cities have enacted noise, parking, and trash ordinances which keep off-campus housing quiet and clean.  

In Syracuse, New York, the city enacted a “Nuisance Party Ordinance,” the violation of which results in a fine up to $500, and/or imprisonment of up to 15 days. Significantly, the police do not need a complaint from a citizen to act; rather, a citation may be issued if the police observe disorderly conduct, unlawful possession of an open container, furnishing alcohol to a minor, possession of alcohol by a minor, littering, obstructive parking, unlawfully loud noise, or property damage. Some cities in Colorado impose even stiffer fines—up to $1,000 for a first violation of a noise or public nuisance ordinance. Students are expected to know the laws, and warnings are not issued to first-time offenders.  

Imagine, if just a few of these laws had been in place in Berkeley, it wouldn’t have taken over 20 years and a trip to small claims court by 12 neighbors to shut down the notorious UC Chateau Co-op. 

 

University expansion and construction 

Our city has endured the continual expansion of the UC Berkeley campus ever since its inception in 1868, from the original 160 acres to over 1200. UC Berkeley continues to grab more and more office space and other institutional space throughout the city. Other universities have established healthier relationships with their host communities. University of Arizona at Tucson and the University of Colorado at Boulder both have fixed campus boundaries; the Boulder campus has not expanded in 50 years. Boundaries help city officials anticipate and fund their own infrastructure needs, help residents decide where to put down roots, and help businesses plan where to locate. 

Most universities abide by the land use regulations and construction codes established by their communities. The University of Arizona is currently doing major construction on campus adjacent to an established neighborhood. For this project and all others, their neighborhood liaison explained, they have a strict and enforceable construction code of conduct—and neighborhood residents receive prompt assistance if there are any violations. 

 

A bureaucratic miracle 

One of the main issues citizens contend with in college towns is finding out where to get help with specific problems. To address this difficulty, Anne Hudgens, the executive director for campus life at CSU Fort Collins, instituted a system in which the person on her staff who receives an initial request for assistance from a citizen must personally find the answer to their question, and call the person back to give them the information. Thus, the citizen makes only one call and does not get bounced around from department to department. Ms. Hudgens feels that it is important to respect the members of the community, and not waste their time. She claims that her system is working very well: there is greater accountability on her staff, and the public loves it. Imagine that!  

 

City-university liaisons  

Most of the universities represented at the conference have some type of campus/city coordinator, who handles citizen complaints. To guarantee his or her effectiveness in representing the public, this liaison operates independently of any city or university department. Notably, this is not considered a “public relations” job, but is a substantive and empowered position. This arrangement provides the public with a direct channel to handle everyday problems as well as long-term concerns. In Fort Collins, this position is jointly funded by the university and the city. Many universities consider this their single most important tool to enhance their interaction with residents. 

 

What about Berkeley? 

Last year, UC Berkeley established a chancellor’s task force to work on problems related to student alcohol abuse in the Southside. Their work has been productive, but it is limited to the impacts of student parties; the task force has no plans to address the other serious problems that residents face. But there is reason for hope—several representatives of the city and UC Berkeley attended the conference with us—and if they came away with the volumes of information, good ideas, and contacts we collected, we should soon see some major improvements in our own backyard! 

The University of California represents itself as a great university, dedicated to public service. It is long past time that they dedicated themselves to serving the public right here in the community we all share: Berkeley. 

 

Doug Buckwald and Anne Wagley presented their program, “Bear Territory: From Cub to Grizzly,” at the recent university/city relations conference sponsored by Colorado State University and the City of Fort Collins, Colorado. 


Commentary: Bates’ LPO Serves Developers, Not Citizens

By Neal Blumenfeld
Tuesday July 11, 2006

Because you can easily see 10-story buildings, large condo projects and several giant transit villages in the pipeline, it hardly seems that large-scale real estate development in Berkeley needs a boost. Yet the Planning Department, along with the mayor and his followers on the City Council, has drafted a new landmark ordinance that will be presented to the City Council. The bureaucratic language crafted by our local Machiavellis in the city attorney’s office—likely still spinning the regs as I write—will make you run up to Tilden for a breath of clean air, vowing you will never come within earshot of City Hall again.  

But the deal, folks, is that the new “compromise” Landmarks Preservation Ordinance (LPO) adroitly circumvents the old LPO, fought for over a generation ago as part of neighborhood preservation. Local activists achieved this after “boxes made of ticky tacky” popped up over much of Berkeley. Now, via a reasonable-seeming provision, the new ordinance puts citizen landmarkers back where they started from—out of sight. But you must bear with me and wade through, um, ticky-tacky City Hall-speak in order to see my point. 

The finely crafted loophole is the preemptive exemption/entitlement: an advance request for determination (RFD) to find if a given property has historic merit. A property owner or his agent can do this before any project is even proposed, hiring their own historic consultant from a list approved by the Planning Department. The consultant then submits an opinion to Planning, one that the owner can live with, to wit: this property is not a landmark. If Planning agrees—and who in recent memory recalls Planning disagreeing with a developer; they get their fees, ahem, from the same developers—they endorse the report and recommend that the Landmarks Commission (LPC) concur with the decision of “no historical features.” 

Now I was taught in fourth grade civics that, theoretically, the LPC could disagree with Planning. Of course, I was also taught that Congress was not supposed to play dead toward the president. My civics teacher failed to mention the power of the military-industrial complex or the oil megacorps in DC. And they certainly didn’t bring up the influence of large-scale developers on local politicians and bureaucrats, even liberal ones who call for Bush’s impeachment while greasing the skids locally for faster demolitions.  

Back to the RFD saying “no history here,” which is now in the hands of the LPC. With a certified report from an expert endorsed by Planning, what are the odds that the LPC , who serve at the pleasure of the majority pro-developer council, will challenge the point? Furthermore, LPC’s members can be removed at will, as Patti Dacey was recently. She made the mistake of casting a swing vote that criticized an illegal demolition in West Berkeley, an area developers claim as their new playground.  

My civics teacher reminds me that citizens still have a theoretical chance of challenging the RFD. To quote George W.’s father: “there must be a level playing field.” With a time-frame that is greatly curtailed, using the Permit Streamlining Act as an excuse, and facing an arcane language to decipher, citizens and neighbors will be playing serious catch-up ball with a ticking clock.  

So let’s pull together and stop this preemptive exemption, especially the two-year-plus contraction carte blanche, tailored for unchallenged demolitions. Why in the world does the LPC need to be “reined in?” They have never been the anti-developer zealots who make good copy for the San Francisco Chronicle and the East Bay Express’ standard lampoons of Berkeley’s lefty nuts. They as often as not lean over backwards to accommodate real estate speculators and their retinue of high-price lawyers and architects. 

But, aha! They have shown some independence and occasionally functioned as a court of last resort for citizens and neighbors. Fighting city hall and developers even 5 percent of the time must have been too much for corporate and city hall types, trained in the sixth year of the Bush to expect getting their way 100 percent. Taking a page from Karl Rove, they punish those who, even timidly, don’t follow orders. This new LPO preemptive exemption clause will, subtly but definitively, align the LPC even more than it already is with the developer-Planning complex. It will no longer be even occasionally user friendly, as it is now, for the people. Its original purpose, an independent forum for citizens to have input into their neighborhood and their city, will be lost and very hard to retrieve. 

 

Neal Blumenfeld is a seasoned but  

wounded veteran of the Sisterna Historic District Wars.


Columns

Column: Undercurrents: What Did Ward Accomplish in the Oakland Schools?

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Friday July 14, 2006

As far back as the spring of 2005, when State Superintendent Jack O’Connell was forced to come to Oakland Technical High School and release his legally required but long-delayed Fiscal Recovery Plan for the Oakland Unified School District, a group of Oakland educators and activists—led by Board of Trustees President Gary Yee—had been saying that the legal requirements had either been met or were close to being met for a return to local control of the Oakland schools. 

That local control movement slowly grew over the next year, gained considerable momentum after state officials released the letter of intent to sell OUSD’s administration building and five Lake Merritt-area schools, and has now kicked into high gear with the announcement of state administrator Randolph Ward’s pending departure from OUSD. 

With the escalation of the drive to put Oakland schools back into Oakland control has come the inevitable counterrevolution—those who argue that the State of California should continue to run the Oakland public schools, at least for the forseeable future, or, like Bro’ Rabbit’s tarbaby, they are ready to turn us go. 

The latest in this line of “keep them under control” advocates comes in a recent San Francisco Chronicle op-ed by Mills College professor and former state superintendent Delain Eastin, bless her heart. According to Ms. Eastin, Oakland Unified was “quite dysfunctional” before Mr. Ward arrived, Mr. Ward “dramatically” turned the district around educationally, administratively, and fiscally in three years, and Oakland needs “another strong leader” sent down from the state to keep us from “becom[ing] a failing school district again.” 

One hopes it is not history that Ms. Eastin is teaching to the young ladies up at Mills, since she either misunderstands or understands but misstates the actual facts of the Oakland school takeover. 

Ms. Eastin begins by announcing that prior to the state takeover “those in charge [of Oakland Unified] had been running the district for the benefit of the grownups—not the students.” This is one of those lines guaranteed to get long applause at a community meeting, but in the absence of supporting detail (what exactly was done by whom to benefit the adults and not the students?) it is a pretty useless assertion. If Ms. Eastin has such details, she carefully hides them from us in her op-ed. 

Continuing, Ms. Eastin gets more specific, charging that prior to the state takeover, Oakland Unified “ran up a $100 million budget deficit.”  

She’s about $35 million to $43 million off. 

There has always been some disagreement about the actual size of the budget deficit that led to the 2003 state takeover. Recently Trustee Greg Hodge, who was president of the school board at the time of the takeover, said that the 2003 deficit was originally $57 million, but had actually been cut down considerably by the board by the time the state moved in. SB39, the state legislation that authorized the takeover, granted a $100 million line of credit to Oakland Unified, but up until last month, only $65 million of that amount had actually been borrowed from the state. It is fair, then, to say that Oakland Unified was somewhere between $57 million and $65 million out of balance at the time of the state began debating the takeover, but perhaps Ms. Eastin gets confused between what the state authorized and what Oakland actually needed. Anyways, we’ll return to that $100 million figure in a moment, since it is important. 

Ms. Eastin then paints a glowing picture of the work of Randolph Ward as he tramps through the Oakland vineyards, stating that he “dramatically improved academic instruction and student achievement. Between 2004 and 2005, OUSD reported one of the largest achievement increases of a large urban school district in California… Ward recruited and hired more fully credentialed teachers… Ward dramatically reduced administrative overhead and improved school operations.” 

All of this is true, though a little heavy on the “dramatic,” but needs some explanation to put it in context. 

Mr. Ward was hired in the fall of 2003. If he were to achieve such “dramatic” student achievement increases in a year and a half, all on his own and from scratch, he indeed would be supersuperintendent, and worthy of great praise. In the real world, however, jumping student achievement that far from a standing start is virtually impossible to achieve. In fact and instead, the OUSD student accomplishments that became evident in 2005 began during the administration of former Superintendent Dennis Chaconas, and were a result of a districtwide push that began even before Mr. Chaconas’ hiring in 2000. Whatever Mr. Ward did was built on what was already there. 

The reason Mr. Ward was able to recruit and hire more fully credentialed teachers? It was in large part because of the 24 percent teacher pay hike authorized by Mr. Chaconas, the pay hike that, according to the Associated Press in 2003 “put starting teacher pay at $38,000, bringing [Oakland Unified] up to the top third in the state and helping solve a pressing shortage of teachers.” It was also, ironically, the same pay raise that broke the OUSD budget, and put it into state control.  

Mr. Ward’s “dramatic” reduction of administrative overhead described by Ms. Eastin was also built on the foundation laid down by Mr. Chaconas. “Chaconas demonstrated the teeth in his reform plan this summer by firing several Oakland principals and shuffling many more,” the conservative Pacific Research Institute noted in an October 2000 report on Oakland Unified. “He has also reduced staff at the district level, cutting back on the bureaucracy.”  

All of these reform efforts under Mr. Chaconas were what prompted state legislators, in the SB39 state takeover legislation, to write in 2003 that “the Oakland Unified School District has made demonstrable academic improvements over the last years, witnessed by test score improvements, with more fully credentialed teachers in Oakland classrooms, and increased parental and community involvement.” 

Meanwhile, ignoring the good, Ms. Eastin chooses to emphasize the bad that Mr. Ward encountered on entering Oakland. Mr. Ward “discovered, for example,” she writes, “that hundreds of employees had district-issued cell phones with no justifiable need for them. He shut them off.” 

Perhaps. But Ms. Eastin fails to talk about what new and interesting expenditures Mr. Ward has authorized during his three-year tenure with the money he has “saved” us on such unjustifiable things. Earlier this month, we discover that Mr. Ward approved an amendment to the “Protective Services Agreement with the California Highway Patrol, for the latter to provide protective and transportation services for State Administrator.” The cost? $94,000 in overtime costs added to the original $173,308 base pay budgeted to provide Mr. Ward with a personal Highway Patrol driver and bodyguard for the period January 2004 through June 2005. That amendment brought the total cost to the district for the year-and-a-half period to more than a quarter of a million dollars. Is it “justifiable” for Oakland citizens to be paying more than $200,000 a year to have a bodyguard drive Mr. Ward around and sit in the next office while the state administrator works all day? Since Mr. Ward approves the district budget on his own and does not have to explain himself to the Oakland taxpayers who actually pay the bill, we can’t say for sure. 

Similar in the lack of full explanation is the revelation that one day before OUSD access to the $100 million state line of credit ran out, Mr. Ward borrowed the remaining $35 million for what the Oakland Tribune said was “to improve its computer finance program, bankroll moving the administration headquarters to a middle school campus and to create a reserve fund for unexpected costs.” 

According to Ms. Eastin, Mr. Ward “put Oakland’s fiscal house in order.” By putting us $35 million more in debt than when he was appointed by State Superintendent Jack O’Connell? Wasn’t running up a $57 million to $65 million debt the reason Oakland was placed in state receivership in the first place? Either Ms. Eastin has a different definition than I do of “in order” or she applies different standards to Mr. Ward’s activities than she does to Oakland. 

In fact, in her conclusion, Ms. Eastin lectures that “people in Oakland” need to “speak honestly” about why, in her opinion, we needed and continue to need a state administrator rather than local control over the Oakland schools. “The consequences of spending beyond your means needs to be driven home,” she scolds us. 

Myself, I think all of the events surrounding the Oakland school takeover only demonstrates the “Golden Rule” as they used to talk about it in the old comic strip, “The Wizard Of Id.” What was Id’s “Golden Rule?” Whoever has the gold, makes the rules. Oakland, not having control over the gold, in this case, watches the rules and standards change in breathtaking fashion, depending on whose actions are being described. 


First Tibs: Exploring Ethiopian Food at Finfine

By B. J. Calurus, Special to the Planet
Friday July 14, 2006

With all the Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurants in Berkeley and Oakland, it took me a while to get around to Finfine. My loss. 

My dining companion and I went there on a tip from a dental hygienist with Ethiopian roots. Commenting on another well-regarded venue, she said that was mainly where her fellow expats went to hang out and drink coffee, although the food was passable. For Ethiopian cuisine with the freshest ingredients, she recommended Finfine.  

Well, she was right. After a couple of visits, I’m prepared to put this place, downstairs in The Village at Telegraph and Blake, at or near the top of the local rankings. The ingredients are indeed fresh, and handled with a light touch, a refinement, that’s exceptional. And you’ll find dishes that go well beyond the Horn-of-Africa standards. 

On our first foray, we were accompanied by a vegetarian (and occasionally piscivorous) friend. One of the things I’ve always liked about Ethiopian restaurants is that they’re great places to take visiting vegetarians. 

The Coptic Church to which most Amharic- and Tigre-speaking Ethiopians belong has 208 meatless days on its calendar. Of necessity, Coptic Ethiopians developed a rich and varied vegetarian cuisine, based on several kinds of lentils, chickpeas, and collard greens, and augmented in the last few centuries by potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers. There’s even a “mock meat” tradition, with chickpea flour molded into fish shapes and fried. 

So we ordered the vegetarian combination, and a sea-bass dish, goord-asa tibs, that sounded promising. Finfine’s menu is unusual for its depth in fish. As the restaurant’s helpful web site explains, anything called “tibs” is going to be stir-fried; “wat” denotes a stew. And both the fish and vegetables were splendid. I could have used more collards, but that’s just me. The green beans were just on the tender side of crunchy; the lentils were subtly seasoned. 

“The ingredients aren’t cooked down as much as in other places,” our friend said appreciatively. The bass—a generous serving—had been marinated, then sautéed with onions and peppers; it was tangy and succulent. 

In both fish and vegetables, the spices—including the traditionally popular chilicentric mix called berbere—had been used with a light hand. I’ve had Ethiopian fare that would cauterize the taste buds; at Finfine, the seasoning complemented but didn’t overwhelm the other flavors. 

For anyone new to the whole concept of Ethiopian food, I should explain injera. It’s a spongy flatbread that serves as both plate and utensil; you tear off a piece, wrap it around a morsel, and pop it into your mouth, or your companion’s mouth (a custom called goorsha). 

Injera is made from tef (Eragrostis tef), a grain endemic to the Ethiopian highlands, which may have been one of several parts of the world where people independently came up with the idea of agriculture. Tef seeds are pinhead-sized and the seed heads are prone to shattering, so harvesting the stuff is labor-intensive. But it’s high in iron, resistant to disease and pests, and doesn’t require irrigation—virtues that have kept it in cultivation for millennia. 

Injera typically arrives at the table rolled up and stacked in a basket; it looks rather like a stash of Ace bandages. Tastes much better, though. And here’s a culinary secret known to (and needed by) few: it doesn’t stick to orthodontic braces. There is culinary salvation for adolescents! 

With an Ethiopian-brewed Hakim Stout—a wonderfully smoky, substantial beer—the fish-and-vegetable meal was a success. There was an odd moment when our waiter, asked about the creamy white cheese that had come with the assortment, tried to convince us it wasn’t cheese at all, but processed chickpeas. 

He may have assumed we were upset about dairy products mingling with our vegetables, although I don’t know how he would have accounted for the fish. Or maybe the kitchen had just subbed the cheese for the chickpeas—we’d devoured it all by the time we asked. But it was all satisfying, and we decided to return with a couple of omnivores and try the meat dishes. 

Mad cow phobia notwithstanding, all four of us agreed to sample the kitfo, Ethiopia’s answer to steak tartare: raw minced beef mixed with niter kebbe—clarified butter spiced with cardamom, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, onion and garlic—and mit’mit’a, a blend of chilies. (Finfine will cook the beef on request.) 

As with the sea bass, there was almost too much to finish. The kitfo was complicated—with a dominant note of cardamom and a lively fresh tone from the ginger, but much else going on—and, unlike others I’ve had, not overpoweringly hot. The cheese, ayib, made a nice foil for the richness. 

Our other meat entrée, ye-beg wat, was more of a mixed bag: chunks of lamb in a thick berbere-laden sauce like a good Oaxacan mole. Warning: all the chunks contained bits of neckbone, and dealing with the bones and the injera required considerable juggling; not to mention winding up with this little pyramid of bones that you don’t want to put back on the injera. 

We repeated the goord-asa tibs, the vegetarian combination, and the Hakim Stout, and one of us ordered a glass of tej, Ethiopian honey wine. Another pleasant surprise: light, fruity but not cloying, reminiscent of a really good mead (and yes, such a thing exists, at least in the subculture of home brewing).  

So I have to give proper credit to our tipster: this place is a cut above the competition, and I speak from a lot of injera mileage. 

It’s a pleasant spot, with traditional art and musical instruments on the walls, and wonderfully idiosyncratic Ethiopian pop music on the sound system (Did anyone else catch Aster Aweke at the late lamented Festival at the Lake?) 

Entrees top out at $12.95; a glass of tej is $4.50, as is the beer. There are lots of intriguing menu options we didn’t get to, including chicken dishes and a fish version of kitfo. Whether you’re new to Ethiopian foodways or an old hand, Finfine—named for a spring of legendary purity near Addis Ababa—is a worthy exponent of an ancient and distinctive culinary tradition.  

 

 

FINFINE 

Open 5-10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 5-10 p.m. Monday. Closed Tuesday. Credit cards accepted. 2556 Telegraph Ave., 883-0167, www.finfine.com. 

 

 

 


About the House: How Trees Do and Do Not Impact Structures

By Matt Cantor
Friday July 14, 2006

Your Honor, does this lovely Liquid Amber appear capable of doing harm to anything, let alone Mr. Filbert’s 1926 Craftsman bungalow? No, I tell you, it’s a lie, a myth, a hit and a myth! 

My friends the trees have been sorely abused. And it’s all based on false information and a general lack of understanding about how they grow and what they do to the foundations of houses. Although I’ve read tracts by engineers and other experts on the dangers of trees, I’m here to tell you that it just ain’t so. 

You know how the nurse often has better info than the doctor, especially the one in the clinic that sees the same rash a thousand times and the doctor has to check the Merck manual to confirm her findings? Well, in some respects, I’m that nurse. 

I’ve been in the field, seen a lot of houses and have never, ever seen a tree that was overturning a foundation. I expect to see it one day but it won’t be for the reasons that are commonly attributed to trees and I’ll explain why. 

First let’s start with the things that trees do destroy and then we’ll move on to houses and we’ll see a very startling difference that only took me about 1,000 houses to figure out. 

Trees really wreck havoc with sidewalks. This the place we see the most mayhem wrought by our leafy friends. Every year, thousands of linear feet of city sidewalk get slated for replacement due to the formidable tripping hazard that trees create. 

They seem to be completely unaware of the presence of sidewalks, driveways (less than sidewalks), patios and concrete pathways as they toss them, albeit glacially, this way and that. 

That’s the key, they’re unaware and the reason they are is that concrete (I only learned this a few years ago and was shocked to say the least) weighs about the same as soil (given a specific volume, of course). 

So what this means is that a tree will treat a sidewalk the same as any patch of ground, although it may be somewhat more cohesive and a bit rocky. Since the breakages we see happen over long periods of time and as a function of the slow growth of a root, it’s really no great task to break up a three-inch thick skin of low strength concrete that has also been provided with some deep control grooves designed to ease breakage.  

Now again, in the examination of thousands of homes over the last 20 years, why haven’t I seen this happening to houses? Tree roots are certainly capable of doing enormous damage to house foundations and, over time, to entire structures. 

Trees are located right near houses in a large percentage of the homes I see. Well here’s the difference. 

As noted above, concrete doesn’t weigh more than earth and so a skin of concrete over a small area isn’t going to pose any significant resistance to the advancement of a tree root. But a house is a different kettle of bricks, right? A house has real and substantial weight pressing down upon the footing of the house and the earth below 24/7. 

In other words, the tree can actually feel the weight compressing the soils below the footing and can choose a less resistant path. This isn’t to say that there will be no growth below a foundation but I believe that trees will choose, like all of us, the path of least resistance as they grow and that means staying out from under the 80 tons of a house. 

Again, a sidewalk is just too light to feel, weighing roughly the same as soil. Now, I’ll make one amendment. 

I do believe that trees are less likely to break up large heavy and well built pads of concrete because they have some cohesive strength that soil will not exhibit and that slows the advancement of large roots growing near the surface. However, this is, perhaps, putting too fine a point on my argument.  

There is one type of structure that I do see trees destroy and that’s retaining walls. These are also lacking in the load provided by the weight of a house but seem so much more sturdy than sidewalks. Well, they are, but they’re still vulnerable, especially when they lack some sort of foot that resists overturning. 

When they’re just a wall coming up out of the soil and holding back a body of soil on one side, there isn’t that much resistance to leaning. 

If a tree is planted nearby on the uphill side, the roots have little choice but to crowd the space behind the wall and eventually push the thing over. 

Since there can be a moderate amount of designed resistance in better retaining walls, I have no doubt that trees try to send their roots away to easier digs (get it, digs, I sure crack myself up) but the unstoppable growth of the root system of a tree isn’t something you can send just anywhere. Like a woman who’s just broken water, it’s just going to happen … right here and right now.  

I want to wrap up a line that I opened up near the start of this column regarding the damage to a foundation I expected to someday see caused by a tree. Trees aren’t perfect things, sometimes they die and fall over, sometimes they grow in response to the light and become imbalanced and more than a few are gradually being tipped over by landsliding (you can see whole groves of them in the East Bay hills if you look for them). 

So I expect one day to see a tree root ball levering up the corner of a foundation as it falls the opposite way due to one of the above conditions, most likely earth-movement. 

I’m sure that the Animists and the Cartesians are going to line up on either side of this argument but I don’t think I’m imbuing our leafy friends with too much intellect in this theorem. I’m sure you could get a Planarian to do the same thing.  

Nonetheless, I choose to see this as a kind and stewardly act on the part of the arboreal world. But that’s just me. 

 

Got a question about home repairs and inspections? Send them to Matt Cantor, in care of East Bay Real Estate, at realestate@berkeleydailyplanet.com.


Getting the Real Dirt on Smuggled Plants and Seeds

By Ron Sullivan
Friday July 14, 2006

So you don’t wear sweatshop clothes or eat veal or plant invasive exotics. Now that the bulb and seed catalogues are starting to come in the email, there’s one more ethical matter to consider. 

The trade in smuggled plants is at least as dangerous to conservation as the trade in smuggled parrots. Even some legal trade is imperiling species. 

Every plant is native somewhere. Somewhere in the world, those daffs and lilies and snowdrops and tulips just pop out of the ground with no help from anyone. Some are too gorgeous for their own good. 

It’s a good thing to want a piece of wild beauty where we can see it every day. 

That impulse gives rise to learning and research and exploration, all great things. It gives rise to some of our best aesthetics: bonsai, for example.  

Bonsai can epitomize the problem with this trait. I have heard and read and felt objections to taking bonsai subjects from the wild. 

The practice risks the life of the tree, and what perverse practice endangers a creature precisely because we admire it? Trophy hunting comes to mind.  

Gardeners have the advantage of being able to reproduce our favorites, not just harvest or hunt them. 

We can boast that we’re preserving a genome, as with Franklinia alatamaha; that lovely tree exists only in cultivation, and only because a few were collected before the wild population vanished. 

The problem is that we’re also removing our prizes from their species’ gene pool by growing them miles or continents away. That limits the value of piecemeal preservation.  

There are ways to stay virtuous. The first is not to collect from the wild. There are always exceptions, but it’s a good thing to be conservative about.  

Another is to find out where the plants we buy come from. A surprising number of plants, especially bulbs, still originate in the wild; it’s still cheaper to pay a gatherer than to propagate them. 

Often these are plants that mature slowly, especially from seed. Greenhouse space is expensive, and slow turnaround of stock requires financial investment and gambles on fashion changes, new regulations, and disease.  

The Netherlands remains foremost in the flower-bulb industry, though too often as a broker for wild-collected plants.  

Such collecting has rendered, for example, Cyclamen mirabile officially endangered in its native Turkey, though bulbs are still being exported. Stricter standards are being imposed and treaties like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) slow down dubious trade. Indigenous propagation projects are blooming in many places, too.  

Read labels carefully. Nina T. Marshall’s The Gardener’s Guide to Plant Conservation warns against “ambiguous phrases, such as ‘nursery grown’” that can just mean that the wild-collected plant has done time in a greenhouse before hitting the retailer. 

We can question bargains, and deal with reputable sources who in turn deal with other reputable sources, like native plant societies.  

The best thing is to learn, learn, learn about the plants we love. That will give us tools to figure out how not to love them to death. 

 

Ron Sullivan is a former professional gardener and arborist. Her “Garden Variety” column appears every Friday in East Bay Home & Real Estate. Her column on East Bay trees appears every other Tuesday in the Berkeley Daily Planet.


Quake Tip of the Week

By Larry Guillot
Friday July 14, 2006

The Quake Hits—Now What? 

 

A major earthquake will cause violent ground shaking and it may be impossible to stand up. Most injuries result from falling or flying objects. At the first sign of shaking, take cover and protect yourself from falling objects.  

If you want to know more about retrofits and how they work, there is a free earthquake retrofitting & home safety seminar this Saturday morning, July 15, from 10 a.m.-noon at the South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis St., at Ashby Avenue. 

This free seminar describes the three main elements of an effective retrofit, tells how to evaluate an existing retrofit, describes retrofitting hillside homes, and will have community safety exhibits. It will cover the basics and make you knowledgeable about choosing a retrofit contractor.  

 

 

Larry Guillot is owner of QuakePrepare, an earthquake consulting, securing, and kit supply service in the East Bay.  

558-3299, www.quakeprepare.com.


Column: The Public Eye: Attempting to Derail a Presidental Dictatorship

By Bob Burnett
Tuesday July 11, 2006

Many progressives view the November mid-term elections as a referendum on the presidency of George Bush and the ineptitude of his rubber-stamp Republican Congress.  

Voters have an opportunity to express their views on the war in Iraq, the economy, and immigration. Yet lurking behind these serious problems is an issue that most Americans are only vaguely aware of: Bush’s ruthless drive to increase the power of the presidency. 

His plan to move the United States away from a system with three equally powerful branches of government—the executive, legislative, and judicial—and replace them with an omnipotent, “unitary,” president. The critical issue to be decided on Nov. 7 is whether or not Congress will stand up to Dictator Dubya. 

In a May interview in the Washington Post, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi gave some indication of what Democrats plan to do if they take back control of the House in the November elections. She said that during their first week in power Dems “would raise the minimum wage, roll back parts of the Republican prescription drug law, implement homeland security measures and reinstate lapsed budget deficit controls.” 

Pelosi went on to promise “a series of investigations of the Bush administration” including their use of intelligence data to justify the invasion of Iraq. It is the threat of these investigations that has riled Republicans. They don’t want the public made aware of Bush’s power grab. They don’t want average Americans to comprehend that Dubya has become a greater threat to democracy than the terrorists he frequently warns us about. 

In a June 22 article in the New York Review of Books, veteran political reporter Elizabeth Drew described the elements of administration’s design for an omnipotent presidency. The first is the widespread use of the “signing statement.” President Bush has amended more than 750 laws by attaching a statement saying that because, in his opinion, the law in question impinges on the power of the presidency, he considers it “advisory in nature.” 

In other words, George Bush doesn’t veto laws; he signs them in carefully orchestrated photo-ops and later attaches a signing statement indicating that he plans to ignore the provisions in the law he doesn’t agree with. 

The fact that Bush consciously subverts the will of Congress is, in itself, the basis for public hearings and national dialogue about his abrogation of the separation of powers. But “signing statements” are just one of the devices that Dubya has used to expand the power of the Presidency.  

According to Republicans, since 9/11 the United States has been in a perpetual state of war and this justifies George Bush’s repeated use of his constitutional powers as “commander in chief.” First, the administration created the designation of “enemy combatant” for those captured in Afghanistan. The White House decided that combatants were not to be treated as prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions or to be accorded the due process rights given to defendants in the United States; most were lodged in Guantanamo or in CIA-administered prisons outside the United States. At the same time, the president decided that it was permissible to torture these detainees in order to determine whether they knew of any plans to attack the United States. The fact that the administration condoned torture influenced the interrogation techniques used in Iraq, resulting in the scandals at Abu Ghraib and other facilities. 

Subsequently, Congress passed “the McCain amendment,” which banned cruel, inhuman, or degraded treatment” of POWs. After he signed the McCain amendment, George Bush attached a signing statement: “The executive branch shall construe [the torture provision] in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President to supervise the unitary executive branch and as Commander in Chief and consistent with the constitutional limitations on the judiciary.” In other words, Bush would do what he thought was best, regardless of the intent of Congress. 

In December, the New York Times revealed that President Bush had authorized the National Security Agency to monitor domestic phone calls in violation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Bush justified this both on the basis of his war powers as commander-in-chief and his contention that the FISA act was illegal as it limited the “inherent powers” of the Executive branch. (On June 22, the Times reported that Bush authorized the CIA and Treasury Departments to monitor all flows of funds in and out of the US.) 

Since 9/11, George Bush and his closest advisers have seized upon the threat of another terrorist attack as the basis for an unprecedented expansion of presidential powers. A Republican-controlled Congress is unwilling to check this power grab because they are beholden to Bush the politician for much of their financial support. 

Thus, Capitol Hill “business as usual” has seen the GOP ignore Dubya’s dictatorial designs. That’s why it is so important that Democrats seize control of one or both wings of Congress in November. Our democratic form of government is at risk and someone needs to do something about it. 

 

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


Column: Intuitive Leaps Through Ordinary But Striking Occurrences

By Susan Parker
Tuesday July 11, 2006

In last week’s column I mentioned that I had been out of the country and that I wouldn’t bore readers with the details of my fabulous vacation. I said I had endured no pathos, problems, or porn, and that I had no epiphanies while abroad. This, of course, was not true. I experienced plenty of the above-mentioned items. I suffered sorrow. I encountered difficulties. I saw several dirty pictures. I had a few insights.  

This week I renege on my promise to keep quiet about them.  

Through the generosity of friends I went to Italy. One cannot go to the birthplace of the Roman Empire without running into pathos, problems, and porn, no? And the very nature of Italian culture incites some pleasurable, ass-kicking epiphanies.  

So I had a few in Italy. But first the pathos, problems, and then a little porn.  

Pathos: At the end of my fabulous vacation I felt sorry for myself. On the return non-stop flight from Rome to New York I sat beside a man who was pissed off at Alitalia for screwing up his seat reservations. He could not park himself next to his wife and daughter. He had to sit by me. He was damn glad to be returning to his New Jersey home where he would write a letter to Alitalia and tell them just what he thought. 

Instead of reflecting upon the beauty and splendor of Italy, I was forced to brood over my bad luck in seatmates. I longed to be across the aisle, next to the diminutive Italian nun who closed her eyes and crossed herself before indulging in a bottle of red wine while playing a video game on the small screen attached to the seatback in front of her.  

Problems: In the tiny, vertical village of Massa Lubrense on the Amalfi Coast, my friends and I could not find paper filters for the electric coffee maker provided for foreign visitors in the kitchen of the villa where we were staying. Italians don’t use electric coffeepots so they don’t have a need for filters. This was a minor inconvenience blown up bigger than it should have been. The less said about it the better. 

Porn: There is porn in Pompeii! (See below under Epiphanies for details.) There is porn along the Amalfi Coast! Dove La Trasgressione Puo’Diventare Un Gioco is located on a side street in Sorrento next to a church and across from a pizzeria. It has the same gadgets for sale that can be found at Good Vibrations, but they run on 220 volts, not 110, and the operating instructions are written in Italian. 

Epiphanies: The last time I was in Europe was in 1993. My mother and I visited Switzerland. We flew for nine hours, took trains and busses to Kandersteg, dragged our bags into our hotel room and collapsed. We awoke, hiked around town and shared a bottle of German wine. 

My mother got a little tipsy from lack of sleep and the excitement of crossing the Atlantic for the first time. She raised her glass to me. Her eyes filled with tears. “Susan,” she said, “I so adore Sweden!”  

My epiphany? Italy is a country that can never be confused with Sweden—or with Switzerland—or with anywhere or anything else. You can’t get tipsy in the heart of the Mediterranean and forget that you are there. The ruins won’t let you. The homemade cheeses, wines, and pastas do not allow it. The ancient olive groves and fat lemon trees whisper over and over again: “Italy, Italy, Italy.” The narrow cobblestone paths flanked by crumbling buildings, the archways, frescos, and faded doors, the peeling paint and wild drivers, the roosters that crow at dawn, and the laundry strung out to dry between noisy apartments all repeat the same thing: “You are in Italy and nowhere else.” 

And yes, there was porn in Pompeii before Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the city in layers of soft deadly dust. 

Everything changes, and yet in some ways it all stays the same.


A Garden on Codornices Creek Welcomes Wildlife

By Joe Eaton, Special to the Planet
Tuesday July 11, 2006

“We’ve had people say they’d like to come back as our cats,” says Juliet Lamont. 

Personally, I haven’t given much thought to what I’d rather be reincarnated as; I suspect my karmic burden will restrict my options to something along the lines of a slime mold, or a Texas Republican. 

But polydactyl tuxedo-cat Nimitz and his gray tabby associate Chester do seem to have good lives. They can watch the world from a deer-fencing enclosure on the garage roof and take an actual elevated catwalk to Lamont’s sister’s house next door. What they can’t do is get out and kill things. 

Confining their cats is just one way Lamont and Phil Price invite wildlife to their North Berkeley home. They’ve landscaped and planted to attract birds and butterflies, and their efforts have paid off in a major way. Since they started rebuilding their creekside garden nine years ago, over 50 species of birds have shown up. 

There are new faces and voices every year. Earlier this year a rowdy flock of band-tailed pigeons moved in for a while, and this spring was the first time Price and Lamont have heard the ethereal spiraling song of the Swainson’s thrush, and the less musical calls of the oak titmouse. Black phoebes hawk insects over the water and nest under the eaves of the neighboring house. Even a great blue heron has dropped in. 

When they moved here in 1994, the view out the back door was a sea of Algerian ivy. “The place had two features,” Lamont recalls: “gorgeous coast live oaks and Codornices Creek.” A hired crew cleared the ivy, and Four Dimensions Landscaping installed an irrigation system and began replanting with native species that were drought-resistant and wildlife-attractant. Price and Lamont have done supplemental planting over the years. Although the ivy still encroaches from neighboring properties, maintenance and vigilant weeding in the first few years kept it from staging a comeback. “It’s really about putting something in instead of ivy,” says Price. 

They also took out a eucalyptus tree, whose stump is a popular vantage point for visiting raccoons, and a Monterey cypress. 

Most of the new plants came from Berkeley’s estimable Native Here Nursery, some of whose stock originates in the Codornices watershed. Native strawberry has edged out the ubiquitous Bermuda sorrel, and the birds have gone enthusiastically for the berries. Price and Lamont have also put in native bunchgrasses, Berkeley sedge, snowberry, Indian rhubarb, beeplant.  

Plants were chosen for deer resistance. “They’ll take a snatch of everything, but it all comes back.” Lamont says. As we talk, two young bucks wander down through the yard toward the creek, one taking a random bite. Price exhorts them to eat the ivy instead; it still borders the native garden on an adjacent property. The deer are very much at home, bringing their new fawns every spring. Their habitual paths have been left in place. 

“When deer have established a pathway, it’s hard to shift them off it,” he explains.  

The only exception to the natives theme is the front garden, planted as a magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies. Natives like flowering currant, penstemon, and sticky monkeyflower mingle with Mexican bush sage and scabiosa. There’s also native wild rose for the butterflies and bees. 

The creek is a work in progress. Price and Lamont haven’t modified the streambed, but they’ve planted willows and red-twig dogwood to buffer extreme flows. 

“Urban Creeks Council taught us five different erosion-control techniques,” says Price. “The easiest is willow stakes.” 

They’re tracking stream temperatures through the summer and monitoring water quality. Aquatic creatures have responded already: after the eucalyptus and cypress were removed, the damselfly population exploded—and the phoebes were very happy. 

“We have newts or salamanders,” Lamont says. “We wish we had frogs; they’re further downstream.” 

Just upstream, Codornices Creek is straitjacketed in a concrete box culvert. Last year two mule deer fawns fell into the steep-sided trench; Lamont and Price heard them squealing in the night and hauled them out. Lamont explains their plans for that section of the creek: “We want to restore the neighboring property, take out the gabions and concrete, put in step pools for fish passage, give the creek room for moving around.” 

They’re hoping for a grant that will let them get rid of the box channel. 

And how do the neighbors feel about all this? “We have them in every year for a barbecue and people love the place”, she continues. “They’re all really excited about doing restoration work themselves. When people have an understanding of what’s going on, they develop a vested interest in it.” 

Chester does get out into the garden as well, on a leash. And so have a lot of human visitors: groups from Berkeley Path Wanderers and the Greenbelt Alliance, and hundreds on recent native-plant and Bay-friendly garden tours. If it’s featured on future tours, this thriving experiment in welcoming the natural world is well worth a stop.  

 

 

A young buck makes his way through the garden toward Codornices Creek. Photograph by Ron Sullivan.


Arts & Events

Arts Calendar

Friday July 14, 2006

FRIDAY, JULY 14 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “Night of the Iguana” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. at Berryman, through Aug. 12. Tickets are $12. 649-5999. www.aeofberkeley.org 

Ambitious Theatre Company “As You Like It” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. and Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, Alameda. Tickets are $8-$15. 800-838-3006. www.altarena.org 

Aurora Theatre “Permanent Collection” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at 2081 Addison St., through July 30. Tickets are $28-$45. 843-4822. www.auroratheatere.org 

Berkeley Rep “Ennio” A comedy written and performed by Ennio Marchetto through July 21 at 2015 Addison St. Tickets are $20-$45. 647-2949.  

California Shakespeare Theater “Restoration Comedy” at the Bruns Amphitheater, 100 Gateway Blvd., Orinda. Tues.-Thurs., 7:30 p.m., Fri.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 4 p.m. through July 30. Tickets are $15 and up. 548-9666. www.calshakes.org 

Central Works “The Inspector General” a new comedy, Thurs., Fri., and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., through July 30. Tickets are $9-$25. 558-1381. 

Contra Costa Civic Theater “Footloose” at 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat., and Sun. at 2 p.m. at Contra Costa Civic Theater, 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito, through August 5. Tickets are $12-$20. 524-9132. www.ccct.org 

Crowded Fire Theater Company “We Are Not These Hands” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 7 p.m. through July 16 at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. Tickets are $10- $20. www.crowdedfire.org 

Kids Take the Stage “Annie” Fri. at 7:30 p.m., Sat. at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Sun. at 7:30 p.m. at Chabot College Arts Center, 25555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward. Tickets are $10-$20. 864-7061. 

Masquers Playhouse “The Fantasticks” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond, through July 22. Tickets are $18. 232-4031.  

Pinole Community Players “Oliver!” the musical, Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., at the Community Playhouse, 601 Tennent Ave., Pinole, through July 15. Tickets are $14-$17. 724-3669.  

Woodminster Summer Musicals “Ragtime” Fri.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, 3300 Joaquin Miller Rd., through July 16. Tickets are $21.50-$34.50. 531-9597.  

EXHIBITIONS 

“The Light and the Dark” Group photography show. Reception at 6 p.m. at ACCI Gallery, at 1652 Shattuck Ave. Show runs to Aug. 19. 843-2527. www.accigallery.com 

FILM 

A Theater Near You “The Death of Mr. Lazarescu” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Gautam Malkani introduces his new novel “Londonstani” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

John Curl and Matundu Makalani read their poems at 7 p.m. at the Frank Bette Center, 1601 Paru, Alameda. Free, donations accepted. 523-6957. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

The Crucible Fire Arts Festival “Twisted Fiery Circus” performances and installation art at 8 p.m. at 1260 7th St., Cost is $25-$30. Oakland. 444-0919. www.thecrucible.org 

Alameda Civic Light Opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Kofman Auditorium, 2200 Central Ave., Alameda. Tickets are $27-$31. 864-2256. www.aclo.com 

Bastille Day Ball with Baguette Quartette at 9 p.m. at International House, 2299 Piedmont Ave. Waltz classes at 7 p.m. Cost is $10-$20. www.baguettequartette.org 

Son De Madera at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12-$15. 849-2568. 

Sublime Remembered at 9:30 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $10. 848-0886.  

Cressman-Stinnet Quintet at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373.  

Frankye Kelly & her Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

Minkus, Minus Vince, Speakeasy, Protocol at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $9. 525-5054.  

Atmos Trio at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

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

Yaelisa & Caminos Flamencos at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

The Nomadics, jazz, at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Culann’s Hounds, The Trespassers at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082.  

Walken, Ragweed, A Sleeping Irony, 100 Suns at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $5. 525-9926. 

Bay Balasters at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low. Cost is $7. 548-1159.  

Flux, Al Howard and the K23 Orchestra at 9 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $9. 451-8100. 

Zoe Ellis, soul, funk, jazz, at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Hiroshima at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s, through Sun. Cost is $20-24. 238-9200.  

SATURDAY, JULY 15 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Bay Area Hot Spots” Representations of Bay Area experiences and locations by a variety of artists. Reception at 7 p.m. at Fourth Street Studio, 1717-D Fourth St. 527-0600. 

THEATER 

Everyday Theatre “Dreaming in a Firestorm” by Tim Barsky at 8 p.m. at 2232 MLK, Oakland. Tickets are $12-$20. 644-2204. www.everdaytheatre.org 

Women’s Will “Twelfth Night” Sat. and Sun. at 1 p.m. at John Hinkle Park. Free. 420-0813. www.womanswill.org 

FILM 

A Theater Near You “Antonio Gaudí” at 6:30 p.m. “The Passenger” at 8:10 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Future Tense” Gallery Talk by Taro Hattori, Kathryn Kenworth Srdjan Loncar, and Daniel Ross at 2 p.m. at Kala Art Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 549-2977. www.kala.org 

Robert L. Allen will lead a panel discussion on “The Port Chicago Mutiny” followed by a performance of the “Port Chicago” jazz suite by the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra, at 4:30 p.m. at Pittsburg High School, Creative Arts Building, Little Theater, 250 School St., Pittsburg. For tickets call 925-642-7321. 

Thomas Crum and BJ Gallagher read at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Rachel McGee Beck reads from her latest poems at 2 p.m. at Oakland Public Library, Lakeview Branch, 550 El Embarcadero. 238-7344. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Opera “The Girl of the Golden West” at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts. Tickets are $15-$40, available from 925-798-1300.  

The Crucible Fire Arts Festival “High Voltage Chaos” performances and installation art at 8 p.m. at 1260 7th St., Oakland. Cost is $25-$30. 444-0919. www.thecrucible.org 

From Pa to the Bay at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $7-$10. 849-2568.  

Robin Gregory & her Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

West African Highlife Band with the Shumba Marimba Youth Ensemble at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $15. 525-5054. 

Jane Lui and Linh Nguyen at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. 

Laura Love Duo with Jen Todd, Afro-Celtic, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Three the Hard Way, Opio, Scarub at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $12-$15. 848-0886. 

Danny Mertens Trio at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Nick Brown, classical guitar, at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. All ages. Cost is $7-$10. 558-0881. 

Ron Thompson & the Resistors at 9 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $10. 451-8100.  

Open Space Project, Plum Crazy, 7th Direction at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082.  

CV1 at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Lights Out, Ceremony, Short Fuse, Phantom Pains at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, JULY 16 

CHILDREN 

Classic Shorts for Children “The Red Balloon,” “The White Seal” and “A Cricket in Times Square” at 11 a.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Donation $5.  

THEATER 

San Francisco Mime Troupe “Godfellas” at 2 p.m. at Lakeside Park, Lakeside Drive at Lake Merrit, Oakland. www.sfmt.org 

FILM 

A Theater Near You “The Death of Mr. Lazarescu” at 5:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Susan Dinkelspiel Cerny on Berkeley’s architectural heritage, at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloway’s, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

“Bancroft Library at 100” Gallery talk at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. 

Poetry Flash with Mark Turpin at 3 p.m. at Diesel, 5433 College Ave. 653-9965. 

Norma Barzman reads from “The End of Romance: A Memoir of Love, Sex, and the Mystery of the Violin” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Island Literary Series with poet Miguel Algarin at 3 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $3. 841-JAZZ. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Oakland Jazz Choir at 2 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $35, includes reception following concert. 228-3207. 

John Renbourn, folk-baroque guitar, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $19.50-$20.50. 548-1761.  

Americana Unplugged, Rita Hosking, bluegrass and oldtime showcase, at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 655-5715. 

La Nueva Trova Alterlatina, at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5. 849-2568.  

Frederick Hodges, international café music, at 2 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Adrian West at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

MONDAY, JULY 17 

CHILDREN 

Rafa Cano, Spanish sing-along for children at 10:30 a.m. at PriPri Cafe, 1309 Solano Ave., Albany. Free. 528-7002. 

Willy Claflin and Friends with storytelling, music and puppets at 7 p.m. at the Rockridge Public Library, 5366 College Ave. 597-5017. 

Juggler Marcus Raymond with magic and fun at 7 p.m. at the Temescal Branch of the Oakland Public Library, 5202 Telegraph Ave. 597-5049. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Geoffrey Nunberg explains “Talking Right: How the Right Turned Liberalism into a Tax-Raising, Latte-Drinking, Sushi-Eating, Volvo-Driving, New York Times-Reading, Body-Piercing, Hollywood-Loving, Left Wing Freak Show” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Story Tells, a storytelling swap, with Ed Silberman at 7 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, Jack London Square, Oakland. 238-8585. 

Poetry Express with Linda Zeiser, editor of the East Bay lesbian anthology “What We Want From You” at 7 p.m., at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. berkeleypoetryexpress@yahoo.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Tommy Emmanuel at 8 p.m. at the Roda Theater. Cost is $22.50-$23-50. 548-1761.  

Blue Monday Jam at 7:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100.  

9th Annual East Bay Blues Review at 7:30 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $20. 238-9200. 

TUESDAY, JULY 18 

CHILDREN 

Kathleen Rushing of Bingo Schmingo, interactive songs and stories, suitable for the entire family at 7 p.m. at The Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

FILM 

Nicaraguan Film Festival at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5. 849-2568.  

Screenagers: Documents from the Teenage Years “Thirteen” at at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

John Hamamura introduces his novel “Color of the Sea” on the Japanese-American experience at 7 p.m. at El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave. 526-7512. 

Bruce Jenkins introduces his biography “Goodbye: In Search of Gordon Jenkins” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

T. C. Boyle introduces his new novel “Talk Talk” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Cecil Brown introduces his new novel “I, Stagolee” at 7 p.m. at Rountrees, 2618 San Pablo Ave.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Bruce & Lloyd’s Tri Tip Trio at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $9. 525-5054.  

Gjallarhorn, innovative Nordic sounds, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761.  

Ellen Hoffman Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ.  

Kim Nalley at 8 and 10 p.m. Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200.  

Jazz Fourtet at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Jazzschool Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19 

FILM 

Nicaraguan Film Festival at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5. 849-2568.  

Labor Fest: Four Short Films on unions around the world at 7 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donations of $5 accepted. 

Global Rhythms on Screen “Ombres” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Blood on the Border Readings Commemorating the Sandinista Revolution at 7 p.m. at Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. 595-7417. 

Café Poetry hosted by Paradise at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña. Donation $2. 849-2568.  

George Lakoff discusses “Whose Freedom? The Battle Over America’s Most Important Idea” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way at Dana. Donation of $10 suggested. 559-9500. 

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 

Berkeley Opera “The Girl of the Golden West” at 7:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts. Tickets are $15-$40, available from 925-798-1300.  

Roy Zimmerman in “Faulty Intelligence” satirical songs, Wed.-Fri. at 8 p.m. at The Marsh Berkeley, 2118 Allston Way, through July 27. 800-838-3006.  

Calvin Keys Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $6. 841-JAZZ.  

Whisky Brothers at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473.  

Orquestra La Verdad, salsa, at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Rachel Efron at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Kapakahi, Crash Landing, Cold hot Crash at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $8. 848-0886.  

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

Tiempo Libre at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200.  

THURSDAY, JULY 20 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Chukes-Sculptor” Opening reception at 5:30 p.m. at Joyce Gordon Gallery, 406 14th St., Oakland. Exhibition runs to Aug. 26th. 465-8928. 

FILM 

Nicaraguan Film Festival at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5. 849-2568.  

Beond Bollywood: “Palace of the Winds” with neo-Benshi performance by Summi Kaipa at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Jane Powell introduces “Bungalow Details: Interior” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloway’s Literary and Garden Arts, 2904 College Ave. www.mrsdalloways.com 

“Jewish Artists and Their Role in Mid-Century Abstract Art” at 6:30 p.m. at the Magnes Museum. Cost is $6-$8. Reservations encouraged. 549-6950, ext. 345. 

Robert Scheer on “Playing President: My Close Encounters with Nixon, Carter, Bush I, Reagan, and Clinton and How They Did Not Prepare Me for George W. Bush” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Joseph Barry Gurdin reads from his memoir “Border of Lilies and Maples” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Elline Lipkin and Sandra Lim, poets, at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

Word Beat Reading Series with Jan Steckel and Diane Frank at 7 p.m. at Mediterraneum Caffe, 2475 Telegraph Ave. 526-5985. 

COMEDY 

Bay Area Comedy Festival with The Un-Scripted Theater at 8 p.m. at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. Cost is $15. Three-day pass is $35. 595-5597. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Summer Noon Concert with Upside Down and Backwards at the Downtown Berkeley BART station. Free.  

Big Lou’s Polka Casserole at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $9. 525-5054.  

Leni Stern at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761.  

Bob Kenmotsu Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $8. 841-JAZZ.  

Travis Jones & Friends at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

The Prids, Sueco at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082.  

Bobby Hutcherson with Miguel Zenon, Renee Rosnes, and Rufus Reid at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s, through Sun. Cost is $16-$26. 238-9200.  

Femi, Fiyahwata, Fanatix at 10 p.m. at The Ivy Room, 858 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $7. 524-9220. 

Wayward Monks at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100. 


‘As You Like It’ in Neo-Classical Garb

By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet
Friday July 14, 2006

Summer is the time for Shakespeare in America, and, whether outdoors or in, The Bard’s elusive sense combines best with the fragrance of the season in the comedies. 

Arclight, a new theater company, has given that combination a new spin with a staging of As You Like It in a French Neo-Classical setting that adds the light touch of a Watteau landscape, peopled with courtiers and clowns. 

Directed by founder David Koppel, himself an actor who’s been seen with TheatreFIRST and in Altarena’s fine Death of a Salesman last winter, this is Arclight’s first sally onstage, and, surprisingly, the first production of Shakespeare at Altarena in its venerable seven decades of diverse productions. 

In this comedy of exile healed by love, a verbal sleight of hand renders the Forest of Arden, where the deposed Duke (David C. McGaffney) makes his primitive refuge into a rustic utopia with his faithful entourage, into Ardennes, where the disaffected go to make merry in the perverse freedom of their displacement. 

Arriving in disguise, are the sister-like pair Rosalind (Shannon Nicholson) and Celia (Amy Wares), daughter of the deposed Duke and her friendly cousin, whose father, the usurper, has banished Rosalind. They are accompanied by truant court fool, Touchstone (Mike Nebecker). 

Their transition from playful, fairy-like ladies of the court in powdered wig and gown to lowly attire is one of the magic touches of this play, and this production.  

Unknown to them, a lad dispossessed by his older brother, Orlando (Jeremy Forbing), who attracted Rosalind’s passion in a brief glimpse during a wrestling match at court, has also fled to the forest, attacking the Duke’s camp for food only to find it freely given. 

Orlando becomes Ganymede’s student in love, after he papers the trees of the forest with extravagant verses to Rosalind. 

Among the Duke’s companions is melancholy Jaques (excellently played by James Hiser), who laughs dryly and well at all he perceives. 

Adding to the diverse (and whimsical) sensibilities of the forest creatures is the constant flow of music, both from a hidden ensemble above, led by Adrienne Chambers, playing French 18th century airs on strings, flute and French horn and the fine voice of Maureen Quintana as Amiens (and a Courtier), singing the great, evanescent songs The Bard has made the soul of the play. The songs are the play’s very meaning, along with the acid and ironic truths about life and love his clowns have license to utter playfully amid the romantic fervor of the principals. 

This cast of 14, many of them young players, is very game and sprightly, complemented by the designers (Hilma Kargoll for sets, Robert Anderson for lighting, Maya Attai and Noor Manteghi for the sumptuous costumes). 

Scene and costume changes from court to forest are made in full view of the audience, another magic touch, as the shadows of the leaves seem to turn in the light to music, and pillars become tree trunks, courtiers rustics—and, as Jaques so famously declaims, “All the world’s a stage.” 

 

AS YOU LIKE IT 

Through July 23 at the Altarena Playhouse. $8-$15. For more information, call (800) 838-3006, or see www.altarena.org. 1409 High St., Alameda.


Staging the Life of Billie Holiday

By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet
Friday July 14, 2006

“Them that’s got will get/Them that’s not will lose ...” Billie Holiday in all her lyric glory, and all her degradation, has been subject for more than a few portrayals over the years. 

The movies she was in herself and performance footage can be compared to any, including the most widely seen, and off-key, Diana Ross vehicle, Lady Sings the Blues (better for Richard Prior’s portrayal of her accompanist). 

But, whether on screen or live onstage, each show faces the same problem: how to portray Holiday’s inimitable voice and manner, as well as how to present her sad, scandal-ridden life. 

Lady Day in Love, C. J. Verburg’s play presented by the Fellowship Theater Guild at the Fellowship Church in San Francisco, neatly skirts the moralisms that start piling up at any survey of Holiday’s history by referring to incident and anecdote mainly to place the characters in their setting, to give a touch of backstory. All the action takes place at a rehearsal in New York sometime in the ‘40s, and at a club date a few years later. 

And the difficulty of portraying Billie the singer and the woman has been taken solved by the presence of vocalist Kim Nalley (who’s also proprietor of Jazz At Pearl’s in North Beach), who not only sings 15 of Lady Day’s numbers wonderfully, but manages to convey something of the sense of her character, by turns demure and tough, as much through suggestion as through any kind of overly studied scheme.  

This kind of Impressionism lends a subtle radiance to a play of vignettes, involving just three dramatic characters, directed by Courtney Brown. The truly original hook is to have the action (Billie’s romantic attachment to Harlem-to-Paris wandering club promoter Jimmy Monroe, ably portrayed by Ed L. Gillies III) framed by her mother, Sadie Fagan (played wonderfully by Lady SunRise, “The Jazz Angel”), who’s skeptical about Jimmy’s intentions, due to her own failed marriage to a roving jazzman—a good part of the cause of her daughter’s woes. 

“My, oh my, we had some good times in Baltimore!” Sadie enthuses. 

“And some bad times,” counters Billie. “They sent me to the reformatory. I got raped.” 

Sadie, dubbed The Duchess by tenor titan Lester Young, as he named Billie Lady Day (and Billie called him Prez, president of the saxophone), introduces herself by the title to Jimmy when he shows at Billie’s rehearsal: “She’s a Lady, so I got to be a Duchess. That’s what Lester Young say.” 

And so Jimmy kisses her hand and gives his name as Winston Churchill. Back in the Big Apple since the War cut short his self-lauded Paris peregrination, he’s pursuing Billie despite The Duchess’  

motherly meddling. 

Sadie’s not exactly a welcome stage mother or moralizer. 

“She might be a Catholic, but she sure as hell ain’t no saint,” her daughter informs Jimmy on the sly. Jimmy makes it a point to charm The Duchess; a high point of the play’s reached when Kim belts out “Give me a pigfoot/And a bottle of beer” as Jimmy and Sadie dance, arm in arm, then facing each other and getting down, while Billie struts, flanking them. 

The second act, in the club, is introduced by Sadie, speaking to the audience, resplendent in silver lame’ turban and pearl gray gown. It gradually comes out she’s speaking from the other world. When Billie comes onstage, a little bit unsteadily, she tells the audience she still keeps a table reserved for her mother. Sadie’s told the audience of her slide with Jimmy into addiction. Jimmy, now her estranged husband, stumbles in, the only one who can see The Duchess, whom he accosts. 

“I can sing in Carnegie Hall. I can sing in a kid’s show. But I can’t sing where they serve juice. How ‘bout that?” Billie Holiday’s glory and decline have seldom been shown so directly or with as much humanity. 

It’s a straightforward show with as many twists and turns as Billie’s tragic life. And then there are the songs. Kim Nalley shows Billie’s range, as well as her own (and she’ll be singing Nina Simone’s music soon at Yoshi’s). 

The other stars of the show have few lines, but underpin the heart of the play: Kim’s own faithful accompanist, T. Hall, playing Billie’s pianist Bobby, and, in the club scenes, Ned Boynton (oft of Downtown Restaurant) on guitar and bassist Dana Stevens sitting in. 

There are more than a few moments it’s easy to see why, according to Randy Weston, that the only ornament in Thelonious Monk’s spartan practice room was a photo of Lady Day on the ceiling, where he could look up to her as he played.  

 

 

LADY DAY IN LOVE 

8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 12. $33. For tickets, call (866) 811-4111.  

Fellowship Theater Guild, 2041 Larkin St., San Francisco. For more information, call (415) 305-3243.


Moving Pictures: Lost Treasures Recovered and Restored

By Justin DeFreitas
Friday July 14, 2006

To be a silent movie fan is to live with a mixture of excitement and despair. It is estimated that more than 80 percent of all films from the silent era are lost, either destroyed by Hollywood studios during the transition to talkies or simply lost to the ravages of time. Original negatives and nitrate prints eventually succumb to chemical decomposition, disintegrating into piles of dust. And what has been lost is not limited to Hollywood movies; documentaries, social films, political films, home movies—a vast trove of footage documenting our social history has simply vanished. 

The pain of the loss is often compounded by the fact that sometimes a tiny fragment of a film survives, a shred of footage just long enough to hint at the treasures that have disappeared. Sometimes a single reel of a six-reel feature; sometimes a trailer or even just a fragment of a trailer; sometimes still photos, either from the set or from a publicity campaign; and sometimes just a press release or a review, or maybe just an entry in a studio logbook.  

But now and then a discovery is made and a film is miraculously found again, having been mislabeled in a studio vault, in the archives of a private collector, or tucked away in some musty basement or in the dark corner of a forgotten storage closet. These are hardly optimal conditions for the storage of such fragile cultural documents; nitrate requires strict climate control in order to ensure its preservation. But sometimes a miracle occurs and a long-forgotten movie survives in remarkable condition. 

And so it is with two new DVD releases from Milestone Film and Video: Beyond the Rocks and Electric Edwardians.  

Beyond the Rocks is one of the most sought-after of lost silent-era movies, not so much because of its quality as the simple fact that it featured two of the biggest stars of the day: Gloria Swanson and Rudolph Valentino. It was rare for two such prominent actors to appear in the same film; the logic at the time was that either one could draw a huge audience, so why waste the money on two astronomical salaries when just one would suffice? 

A minute-long fragment survived to taunt historians for nearly eight decades, with hope of its recovery fading with each passing year. And then one day it appeared. 

An eccentric Dutch collector passed away in 2000, and among the assorted artifacts he kept in several storage facilities were dozens of rusted film canisters. The films were donated to the Netherlands Film Museum, and there archivists began sorting through the cans to see what they contained. Eventually a reel of Beyond the Rocks was discovered, and, some time later, another reel, until, in 2004, the complete movie was finally pieced together. 

The film was restored and released in 2005, making its way from Holland to New York, to Los Angeles, and finally, in November, to the Castro Theater, where it was screened as a special presentation of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. (The festival runs today through Sunday at the Castro and was previewed in this space last Tuesday).  

The movie is, for the most part, a light and silly entertainment, a nonsensical Hollywood blockbuster that places its glamorous stars in a series of melodramatic situations in exotic locales. The screenplay is the work of Elinor Glyn, a popular novelist of the day. It was Glyn who wrote the book It and, in a brilliant cross-marketing campaign, proclaimed starlet Clara Bow the embodiment of the sexual allure referred to as “It,” sending both Bow and the ensuing movie into the box office stratosphere. 

 

Though the discovery and restoration of Beyond the Rocks is good news, its significance pales in comparison to the recent discovery of the work of Sagar Mitchell and James Kenyon, released under the title Electric Edwardians.  

Mitchell and Kenyon were filmmakers in early 20th century Britain, contracted by traveling showmen to film everyday folks in small towns and cities in anticipation of a fair or circus coming to town. Advertisements would be posted informing the locals that, for just a few pence, they could come to the fair and see themselves and their friends and neighbors on the screen.  

To Mitchell and Kenyon, and to their employers, these were throwaway films. They were simply part of a marketing gimmick, a way to lure paying customers. But a few years ago, several drums filled with film canisters were discovered in a basement due for demolition, and in those cans were the original negatives of several dozen Mitchell and Kenyon films.  

One commentator on the DVD describes the films as containing “infinite surprises in a finite space.” It is an apt description, for these films are not polished productions, but are simply snapshots of an era, with the camera merely catching a glimpse of the passing parade of everyday life. A fictional character only exists insofar as he is on the screen; he ceases to exist once he moves beyond the frame. But the Mitchell and Kenyon films feature real people; they are not posing for posterity, they are simply going about their lives, and those lives do not end once they pass through and beyond the frame. Watching these films is like cupping your hands in a rushing stream and capturing just a small sample, just a fleeting glimpse, of the life rushing by.  

The faces are both mysterious and familiar: workers, athletes, children and adults. We see children who will one day become parents and then grandparents and great-grandparents, who will one day be remembered only as faded, foreign photographs in a dusty, dog-eared album; we see men flooding out of factories; we see merchants sweeping the sidewalk; we see regiments of uniformed young boys marching in parades, boys who, in just a few short years, will likely be sent to the battlefields of the Great War. Thousands of faces pass before us, anonymous lives lived and forgotten. But here in the films of Mitchell and Kenyon they live and breathe; they smile, wave, grimace, and walk on by, some curious, some indifferent, some silly, some sober. 

All of these films have their particular charms, from the hundreds of faces pouring out of a factory, to the faces of curious children gaping or grinning at the sight of the camera, to the pensive faces of spectators at a soccer match, to the quaint entertainments of long-forgotten performers. But among the most fascinating films are the ones shot from streetcars, with Mitchell and Kenyon and their camera passing unnoticed through cities and towns, capturing footage of quiet, everyday moments: a man walking alone along the sidewalk; women stopping to chat on a street corner; horse-drawn carriages navigating traffic at an intersection.  

Eighty-five minutes worth can be a lot for one sitting, but select one among the several categories of films and give it your full attention. It’s a rewarding time capsule; the flood of images, accompanied by poignant scores by In the Nursery, provide a genuinely moving experience. 

 


First Tibs: Exploring Ethiopian Food at Finfine

By B. J. Calurus, Special to the Planet
Friday July 14, 2006

With all the Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurants in Berkeley and Oakland, it took me a while to get around to Finfine. My loss. 

My dining companion and I went there on a tip from a dental hygienist with Ethiopian roots. Commenting on another well-regarded venue, she said that was mainly where her fellow expats went to hang out and drink coffee, although the food was passable. For Ethiopian cuisine with the freshest ingredients, she recommended Finfine.  

Well, she was right. After a couple of visits, I’m prepared to put this place, downstairs in The Village at Telegraph and Blake, at or near the top of the local rankings. The ingredients are indeed fresh, and handled with a light touch, a refinement, that’s exceptional. And you’ll find dishes that go well beyond the Horn-of-Africa standards. 

On our first foray, we were accompanied by a vegetarian (and occasionally piscivorous) friend. One of the things I’ve always liked about Ethiopian restaurants is that they’re great places to take visiting vegetarians. 

The Coptic Church to which most Amharic- and Tigre-speaking Ethiopians belong has 208 meatless days on its calendar. Of necessity, Coptic Ethiopians developed a rich and varied vegetarian cuisine, based on several kinds of lentils, chickpeas, and collard greens, and augmented in the last few centuries by potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers. There’s even a “mock meat” tradition, with chickpea flour molded into fish shapes and fried. 

So we ordered the vegetarian combination, and a sea-bass dish, goord-asa tibs, that sounded promising. Finfine’s menu is unusual for its depth in fish. As the restaurant’s helpful web site explains, anything called “tibs” is going to be stir-fried; “wat” denotes a stew. And both the fish and vegetables were splendid. I could have used more collards, but that’s just me. The green beans were just on the tender side of crunchy; the lentils were subtly seasoned. 

“The ingredients aren’t cooked down as much as in other places,” our friend said appreciatively. The bass—a generous serving—had been marinated, then sautéed with onions and peppers; it was tangy and succulent. 

In both fish and vegetables, the spices—including the traditionally popular chilicentric mix called berbere—had been used with a light hand. I’ve had Ethiopian fare that would cauterize the taste buds; at Finfine, the seasoning complemented but didn’t overwhelm the other flavors. 

For anyone new to the whole concept of Ethiopian food, I should explain injera. It’s a spongy flatbread that serves as both plate and utensil; you tear off a piece, wrap it around a morsel, and pop it into your mouth, or your companion’s mouth (a custom called goorsha). 

Injera is made from tef (Eragrostis tef), a grain endemic to the Ethiopian highlands, which may have been one of several parts of the world where people independently came up with the idea of agriculture. Tef seeds are pinhead-sized and the seed heads are prone to shattering, so harvesting the stuff is labor-intensive. But it’s high in iron, resistant to disease and pests, and doesn’t require irrigation—virtues that have kept it in cultivation for millennia. 

Injera typically arrives at the table rolled up and stacked in a basket; it looks rather like a stash of Ace bandages. Tastes much better, though. And here’s a culinary secret known to (and needed by) few: it doesn’t stick to orthodontic braces. There is culinary salvation for adolescents! 

With an Ethiopian-brewed Hakim Stout—a wonderfully smoky, substantial beer—the fish-and-vegetable meal was a success. There was an odd moment when our waiter, asked about the creamy white cheese that had come with the assortment, tried to convince us it wasn’t cheese at all, but processed chickpeas. 

He may have assumed we were upset about dairy products mingling with our vegetables, although I don’t know how he would have accounted for the fish. Or maybe the kitchen had just subbed the cheese for the chickpeas—we’d devoured it all by the time we asked. But it was all satisfying, and we decided to return with a couple of omnivores and try the meat dishes. 

Mad cow phobia notwithstanding, all four of us agreed to sample the kitfo, Ethiopia’s answer to steak tartare: raw minced beef mixed with niter kebbe—clarified butter spiced with cardamom, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, onion and garlic—and mit’mit’a, a blend of chilies. (Finfine will cook the beef on request.) 

As with the sea bass, there was almost too much to finish. The kitfo was complicated—with a dominant note of cardamom and a lively fresh tone from the ginger, but much else going on—and, unlike others I’ve had, not overpoweringly hot. The cheese, ayib, made a nice foil for the richness. 

Our other meat entrée, ye-beg wat, was more of a mixed bag: chunks of lamb in a thick berbere-laden sauce like a good Oaxacan mole. Warning: all the chunks contained bits of neckbone, and dealing with the bones and the injera required considerable juggling; not to mention winding up with this little pyramid of bones that you don’t want to put back on the injera. 

We repeated the goord-asa tibs, the vegetarian combination, and the Hakim Stout, and one of us ordered a glass of tej, Ethiopian honey wine. Another pleasant surprise: light, fruity but not cloying, reminiscent of a really good mead (and yes, such a thing exists, at least in the subculture of home brewing).  

So I have to give proper credit to our tipster: this place is a cut above the competition, and I speak from a lot of injera mileage. 

It’s a pleasant spot, with traditional art and musical instruments on the walls, and wonderfully idiosyncratic Ethiopian pop music on the sound system (Did anyone else catch Aster Aweke at the late lamented Festival at the Lake?) 

Entrees top out at $12.95; a glass of tej is $4.50, as is the beer. There are lots of intriguing menu options we didn’t get to, including chicken dishes and a fish version of kitfo. Whether you’re new to Ethiopian foodways or an old hand, Finfine—named for a spring of legendary purity near Addis Ababa—is a worthy exponent of an ancient and distinctive culinary tradition.  

 

 

FINFINE 

Open 5-10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 5-10 p.m. Monday. Closed Tuesday. Credit cards accepted. 2556 Telegraph Ave., 883-0167, www.finfine.com. 

 

 

 


About the House: How Trees Do and Do Not Impact Structures

By Matt Cantor
Friday July 14, 2006

Your Honor, does this lovely Liquid Amber appear capable of doing harm to anything, let alone Mr. Filbert’s 1926 Craftsman bungalow? No, I tell you, it’s a lie, a myth, a hit and a myth! 

My friends the trees have been sorely abused. And it’s all based on false information and a general lack of understanding about how they grow and what they do to the foundations of houses. Although I’ve read tracts by engineers and other experts on the dangers of trees, I’m here to tell you that it just ain’t so. 

You know how the nurse often has better info than the doctor, especially the one in the clinic that sees the same rash a thousand times and the doctor has to check the Merck manual to confirm her findings? Well, in some respects, I’m that nurse. 

I’ve been in the field, seen a lot of houses and have never, ever seen a tree that was overturning a foundation. I expect to see it one day but it won’t be for the reasons that are commonly attributed to trees and I’ll explain why. 

First let’s start with the things that trees do destroy and then we’ll move on to houses and we’ll see a very startling difference that only took me about 1,000 houses to figure out. 

Trees really wreck havoc with sidewalks. This the place we see the most mayhem wrought by our leafy friends. Every year, thousands of linear feet of city sidewalk get slated for replacement due to the formidable tripping hazard that trees create. 

They seem to be completely unaware of the presence of sidewalks, driveways (less than sidewalks), patios and concrete pathways as they toss them, albeit glacially, this way and that. 

That’s the key, they’re unaware and the reason they are is that concrete (I only learned this a few years ago and was shocked to say the least) weighs about the same as soil (given a specific volume, of course). 

So what this means is that a tree will treat a sidewalk the same as any patch of ground, although it may be somewhat more cohesive and a bit rocky. Since the breakages we see happen over long periods of time and as a function of the slow growth of a root, it’s really no great task to break up a three-inch thick skin of low strength concrete that has also been provided with some deep control grooves designed to ease breakage.  

Now again, in the examination of thousands of homes over the last 20 years, why haven’t I seen this happening to houses? Tree roots are certainly capable of doing enormous damage to house foundations and, over time, to entire structures. 

Trees are located right near houses in a large percentage of the homes I see. Well here’s the difference. 

As noted above, concrete doesn’t weigh more than earth and so a skin of concrete over a small area isn’t going to pose any significant resistance to the advancement of a tree root. But a house is a different kettle of bricks, right? A house has real and substantial weight pressing down upon the footing of the house and the earth below 24/7. 

In other words, the tree can actually feel the weight compressing the soils below the footing and can choose a less resistant path. This isn’t to say that there will be no growth below a foundation but I believe that trees will choose, like all of us, the path of least resistance as they grow and that means staying out from under the 80 tons of a house. 

Again, a sidewalk is just too light to feel, weighing roughly the same as soil. Now, I’ll make one amendment. 

I do believe that trees are less likely to break up large heavy and well built pads of concrete because they have some cohesive strength that soil will not exhibit and that slows the advancement of large roots growing near the surface. However, this is, perhaps, putting too fine a point on my argument.  

There is one type of structure that I do see trees destroy and that’s retaining walls. These are also lacking in the load provided by the weight of a house but seem so much more sturdy than sidewalks. Well, they are, but they’re still vulnerable, especially when they lack some sort of foot that resists overturning. 

When they’re just a wall coming up out of the soil and holding back a body of soil on one side, there isn’t that much resistance to leaning. 

If a tree is planted nearby on the uphill side, the roots have little choice but to crowd the space behind the wall and eventually push the thing over. 

Since there can be a moderate amount of designed resistance in better retaining walls, I have no doubt that trees try to send their roots away to easier digs (get it, digs, I sure crack myself up) but the unstoppable growth of the root system of a tree isn’t something you can send just anywhere. Like a woman who’s just broken water, it’s just going to happen … right here and right now.  

I want to wrap up a line that I opened up near the start of this column regarding the damage to a foundation I expected to someday see caused by a tree. Trees aren’t perfect things, sometimes they die and fall over, sometimes they grow in response to the light and become imbalanced and more than a few are gradually being tipped over by landsliding (you can see whole groves of them in the East Bay hills if you look for them). 

So I expect one day to see a tree root ball levering up the corner of a foundation as it falls the opposite way due to one of the above conditions, most likely earth-movement. 

I’m sure that the Animists and the Cartesians are going to line up on either side of this argument but I don’t think I’m imbuing our leafy friends with too much intellect in this theorem. I’m sure you could get a Planarian to do the same thing.  

Nonetheless, I choose to see this as a kind and stewardly act on the part of the arboreal world. But that’s just me. 

 

Got a question about home repairs and inspections? Send them to Matt Cantor, in care of East Bay Real Estate, at realestate@berkeleydailyplanet.com.


Getting the Real Dirt on Smuggled Plants and Seeds

By Ron Sullivan
Friday July 14, 2006

So you don’t wear sweatshop clothes or eat veal or plant invasive exotics. Now that the bulb and seed catalogues are starting to come in the email, there’s one more ethical matter to consider. 

The trade in smuggled plants is at least as dangerous to conservation as the trade in smuggled parrots. Even some legal trade is imperiling species. 

Every plant is native somewhere. Somewhere in the world, those daffs and lilies and snowdrops and tulips just pop out of the ground with no help from anyone. Some are too gorgeous for their own good. 

It’s a good thing to want a piece of wild beauty where we can see it every day. 

That impulse gives rise to learning and research and exploration, all great things. It gives rise to some of our best aesthetics: bonsai, for example.  

Bonsai can epitomize the problem with this trait. I have heard and read and felt objections to taking bonsai subjects from the wild. 

The practice risks the life of the tree, and what perverse practice endangers a creature precisely because we admire it? Trophy hunting comes to mind.  

Gardeners have the advantage of being able to reproduce our favorites, not just harvest or hunt them. 

We can boast that we’re preserving a genome, as with Franklinia alatamaha; that lovely tree exists only in cultivation, and only because a few were collected before the wild population vanished. 

The problem is that we’re also removing our prizes from their species’ gene pool by growing them miles or continents away. That limits the value of piecemeal preservation.  

There are ways to stay virtuous. The first is not to collect from the wild. There are always exceptions, but it’s a good thing to be conservative about.  

Another is to find out where the plants we buy come from. A surprising number of plants, especially bulbs, still originate in the wild; it’s still cheaper to pay a gatherer than to propagate them. 

Often these are plants that mature slowly, especially from seed. Greenhouse space is expensive, and slow turnaround of stock requires financial investment and gambles on fashion changes, new regulations, and disease.  

The Netherlands remains foremost in the flower-bulb industry, though too often as a broker for wild-collected plants.  

Such collecting has rendered, for example, Cyclamen mirabile officially endangered in its native Turkey, though bulbs are still being exported. Stricter standards are being imposed and treaties like the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) slow down dubious trade. Indigenous propagation projects are blooming in many places, too.  

Read labels carefully. Nina T. Marshall’s The Gardener’s Guide to Plant Conservation warns against “ambiguous phrases, such as ‘nursery grown’” that can just mean that the wild-collected plant has done time in a greenhouse before hitting the retailer. 

We can question bargains, and deal with reputable sources who in turn deal with other reputable sources, like native plant societies.  

The best thing is to learn, learn, learn about the plants we love. That will give us tools to figure out how not to love them to death. 

 

Ron Sullivan is a former professional gardener and arborist. Her “Garden Variety” column appears every Friday in East Bay Home & Real Estate. Her column on East Bay trees appears every other Tuesday in the Berkeley Daily Planet.


Quake Tip of the Week

By Larry Guillot
Friday July 14, 2006

The Quake Hits—Now What? 

 

A major earthquake will cause violent ground shaking and it may be impossible to stand up. Most injuries result from falling or flying objects. At the first sign of shaking, take cover and protect yourself from falling objects.  

If you want to know more about retrofits and how they work, there is a free earthquake retrofitting & home safety seminar this Saturday morning, July 15, from 10 a.m.-noon at the South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis St., at Ashby Avenue. 

This free seminar describes the three main elements of an effective retrofit, tells how to evaluate an existing retrofit, describes retrofitting hillside homes, and will have community safety exhibits. It will cover the basics and make you knowledgeable about choosing a retrofit contractor.  

 

 

Larry Guillot is owner of QuakePrepare, an earthquake consulting, securing, and kit supply service in the East Bay.  

558-3299, www.quakeprepare.com.


Berkeley This Week

Friday July 14, 2006

FRIDAY, JULY 14 

Impeachment Banner Fridays at 6:45 to 8 a.m. on the Berkeley Pedestrian bridge between Seabreeze Market and the Berkeley Aquatic Park, ongoing until impeachment is realized. www. Impeachbush-cheney.com 

Tilden Tots A nature adventure program for 3 and 4 year olds, each accompanied by an adult (grandparents welcome)! We will study buterflies from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Bastille Day Ball with Baguette Quartette at 9 p.m. at International House, 2299 Piedmont Ave. Waltz classes at 7 p.m. Cost is $10-$20. www.baguettequartette.org 

Bastille Day for Children with stories and activities celebrating French Independence Day from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Habitot Children’s Museum, 2065 Kittredge St. Free. 647-1111. 

Stagebridge Story Workshop with local storytellers on Fridays in July from 10 a.m. to noon at Arts First Oakland Center, 2501 Harrison St., Oakland. Bring a bag lunch. Cost is $10 per workshop, or $25 for the series. 444-4755. www.stagebridge.org 

Kol Hadash Family Pot Luck at 6 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave. RSVP with food choice to info@kolhadash.org 

SATURDAY, JULY 15 

César Chávez Celebration with cultural performances, speakers and informational tables, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Center St. at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. 548-3333.  

Fire Operations 101 The public is invited to observe Fire Dept. trainings from 1 to 4:30 p.m. across from the Double Tree, 200 Marina Blvd., Berkeley Marina. 

Fresh Tracks: Natural and Cultural History of Tilden Park Walk the watershed from creek to ridge, on a sometimes steep 2.5 mile loop hike, followed by lunch provided by Wente Restaurant. Cost is $20-$32. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Help Restore Cerrito Creek from 10 a.m. to noon. Wear shoes with good traction and clothes that can get dirty. Meet at Creekside Park, south end of Santa Clara St., El Cerrito, just north of Albany Hill. All ages welcome; light or heavy tasks. 848-9358. www.fivecreeks.org 

Wetlands Restoration in Oakland Volunteers needed to tend to the native wetland plants by removing non-native plants, collecting native plant seeds and helping with site monitoring and continuing shoreline clean-up, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline, Oakland. RSVP to 452-9261 ext. 109.  

California Historical Radio Society “Live! At KRE” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the old KRE radio station building near Aquatic Park. Cost is $5, children under 12, free. For directions see www. 

CaliforniaHistoricalRadio.com 415-821-9800.  

62nd Anniversary of the Port Chicago Explosion Ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Concord Naval Weapons Station. RSVP required for shuttle service leaving at 9 a.m. from the parking lot by the Weapons Station’s main gate on Port Chicago Hwy. 925-838-0249. 

Kid’s Garden Club for ages 7-12 to explore the world of gardening, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 636-1684. 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland around Preservation Park to see Victorian architecture. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of Preservation Park at 13th St. and MLK, Jr. Way. For reservations, call 238-3234.  

Oakland Heritage Walking Tour of Uptown Art Deco from 1 to 3 p.m. Meet in from of the Mary Bowles building, 1718 Telegraph Ave. Cost is $5-$15. 763-9218.  

Friends of the Albany Library Book Sale including children’s books, magazines, records, DVDs and a special “treasure hunt” section, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. For more information, or to volunteer for the sale, call 526-3720, ext. 16. 

Building Healthy Communities Through Food A community workshop on increasing access to healthy foods and making change in our communities, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at EcoVillage Farm Learning Center, 21 Laurel Lane, Richmond. For directions see www.ecovillagefarm.org/directions.htm 310-822-5410.  

Produce Stand at Spiral Gardens Food Security Project from 1 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon St. 

Non-Ansethetic Teeth Cleaning for Dogs and Cats from noon to 4 p.m. at RabbitEARS, 303 Arlington Ave. behind ACE Hardware. For an appointment call 525-6155.  

Create Habitat By the Bay Join our restoration project on the south Richmond shoreline near the Bay Trail, from 9 a.m. to noon. Tools, gloves, and light refreshments are provided. Youth under 18 need signed permission from a parent or guardian. To register call 665-3689.  

Bay Street Arts and Music Festival Sat. and Sun. from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Bay Street, Emeryville. www.baystreetemeryville.com 

“California Wild” An introduction to wild animals for children at 10:15 a.m. at the Golden Gate Branch of the Oakland Public Library, 5606 San Pablo Ave. 597-5023. 

Seminar on C.S. Lewis’s “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” Envisioning Christian Concepts from the Novel with Margaret McBride Horwitz, Professor of Literature, New College, Berkeley, from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. at First Covenant Church, 4000 Redwood Rd., Room 103, Oakland. www.lewissociety.org 

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.  

Around the World Tour of Plants at 1:30 p.m., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. 643-2755. 

Car Wash Benefit for Options Recovery Services of Berkeley, held every Sat. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University Ave. 666-9552. 

SUNDAY, JULY 16 

Breakfast Aboard the Red Oak Victory Ship from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Berth 6, 1337 Canal Blvd., Richmond. Cost is $6, children under 6 free. 237-2933. 

San Francisco Mime Troupe “Godfellas” at 2 p.m. at Lakeside Park, Lakeside Drive at Lake Merrit, Oakland. www.sfmt.org 

Community Labyrinth Peace Walk at 3 p.m. at Willard Middle School, on Telegraph Ave. between Derby and Stuart. Everyone welcome. Wheelchair accessible. 526-7377. 

Dynamite History Walk in Point Pinole Discover the park preserved by dynamite on a flat easy-paced 3 mile walk from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Registration required. 525-2233. 

Bike Tour of Oakland Explore Oakland on a leisurely two-hour tour. Meet at 10 a.m. at the 10th St. entrance of the Oakland Museum of California. Participants must be over twelve years old and provide their own bikes, helmets and repair kits. Free, but reservations required. 238-3514. 

Oakland Heritage Walking Tour of Oakland’s Cable Railways from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the former Cox Cadillac Showroom, 2500 Harrison St. at Bay Place. Cost is $5-$15. 763-9218. 

East Bay Atheists with David Seaborg on “Global Warming: The Most Important Issue of the 21st Century” at 1:30 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 3rd flr meeting room, 2090 Kittredge St. 222-7580. 

Health Care for All Californians A presentation on SB 840 by Karen Arnstead at 1 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. http://healthcareforall.org 

Pool Party Open House with free swimming, live music, and demonstrations of synchronized swimming, diving and stroke techniques, and a pot luck BBQ, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the King School, Hopkins and Colusa. Sponsored by the City of Berkeley and United Pool Council. 548-9050. 

New Farmers’ Market in Kensington, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the parking lot behind ACE Hardware at 303 Arlington Ave. at Amherst. 528-4346. 

Summer Sunday Forum: Millenium Development Group of the UN Association with Enra Rahmanoie at 9:30 a.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

Treating Allergies Naturally at noon at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

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

Tibetan Buddhism with Joleen Vries on “The Nyingma Mandala in the West” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812.  

MONDAY, JULY 17 

“Access is Everything: If it is public information, why can’t we get to it?” with Dan Noyes, Center for Investigative Reporting, Barbara Newcombe, author of Paper Trails, and Barbara Snider, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6107, 548-1240 (TTY). 

Center for Independent Living Relationship Workshop on family planning for disabled youth age 14-22 at 3 p.m. at 2539 Telegraph Ave. Registration required. 841-4776 ext. 128 or email movingon@cilberkeley.org 

East Bay Vivarium An introduction to insects, lizards, amphibians and reptiles at 7 p.m. at the Golden Gate Branch of the Oakland Public Library, 5606 San Pablo Ave. 597-5023. 

World Affairs/Politics Discussion Group for people 60+ years old meets at 10:15 a.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave. Cost is $3. 524-9122. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Tilden Room, MLK Student Union, UC Campus. To make an appointment call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.  

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. Join us to work on current issues around police misconduct. Volunteers needed. For information call 548-0425. 

Stress Less Seminar at 7 p.m. at New Moon Opportunities, 378 Jayne Ave., Oakland. Free, but registration required. 465-2524. 

TUESDAY, JULY 18 

Angels in the Wilderness with author and wilderness survivor Amy Racina at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140.  

American Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation at 6 p.m. For information call 594-5165.  

“Long-Term Health Care Insurance” with Phil Epstein from HICAP at 1 p.m. at North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5190. 

“Trigger Point, Spray and Stretch Therapies” a video at noon at the Maffley Auditorium, Herrick Campus, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, 2001 Dwight Way. 644-3273. 

Family Storytime at 7 p.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

Discussion Salon on Global Warming: Have We Passed the Tipping Point Or Will Technology Save Us At The Last Minute? at 7 p.m. at 1414 Walnut by Rose. 

Tuesday Tilden Walkers Join a few slowpoke seniors at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot near the Little Farm for an hour or two walk. 215-7672, 524-9992. 

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

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19  

Walking Tour of Old Oakland “New Era/New Politics” highlights African-American leaders who have made their mark on Oakland. Meet at 10 a.m. at the African American Museum and Library at 659 14th St. 238-3234.  

Blood on the Border Readings Commemorating the Sandinista Revolution at 7 p.m. at Niebyl-Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. 595-7417. 

Spanish Revolution Anniversary Celebration at 7 p.m. at AK Press Warehouse, 674-A 23rd. St., Oakland. 208-1700. 

Labor Fest: Four Short Films on unions around the world at 7 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5.  

Read with Berkeley Free copies of “Funny in Farsi” by Firoozeh Dumas will be given away at 1 p.m. at Berkeley Public Libraries, for a community reading project. First come, first served. 981-6139. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at BART/MTC Metro Center Auditorium, 101 Eighth St., Oakland. To make an appointment call 464-6237. 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome. 548-9840. 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

Sleep Seminar at 7 p.m. at New Moon Opportunities, 378 Jayne Ave., Oakland. Free, but registration required. 465-2524. 

JumpStart Networking Share information with other entrepreneurs at 8 p.m. at A’Cuppa Tea, 3202 College Ave. at Alcatraz. Cos tis $10. 652-4532. 

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6:30 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. 848-1704.  

THURSDAY, JULY 20 

Family Fun in the Garden for ages 5 and up accompanied by an adult, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. Cost is $14-$18 for one adult and child. Registration required. 643-2755. 

Transportation Needs in South/West Berkeley Community meeting to identify priority needs at 7 p.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center, 2939 Ellis St. 981-5170. 

The MGO Democratic Club will discuss the possible sale of OUSD property and future governance of the District after the departure of State Administrator Randolph Ward at 7 p.m. at 110 41st St., Oakland. 531-6843. www.mgoclub.org 

Teen Science Fiction/Fantasy Book Club will discuss the role of food in Brian Jacques’ Redwall series, at 4 p.m. at Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue. 981-6133. 

“Wanki Lupia Nani: The Children of the River” A documentary on Nicaragua, 1985-1988, at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. 

Simplicty Forum with Alex Goldman on “Focusing First on the Inside” at 6:30 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, Claremont Branch, 2940 Benvenue Ave. 

“Full Moon Feast” with food activist Jessica Parker at 7:30 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Avatar Metaphysical Toastmasters Club meets at 6:45 p.m. at Spud’s Pizza, 3290 Adeline at Alcatraz. Free, all are welcome. jstansby@yahoo.com 

World of Plants Tours Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at 1:30 p.m. at the UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. Cost is $5. 643-2755. 

ONGOING 

Energy Saving Program for Residents CYES is running its 7th annual summer program, providing direct-installation of CFLs, retractable clotheslines, showerheads, and more. This year they have also received funding to provide attic insulation at approximately 75% off the retail price. Services available in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond. Free. 665-1501. 

Medical Care for Your Pet at the Berkeley East Bay Humane Society low-cost veterinary clinic. 2700 Ninth St. For appointments call 845-3633.  

CITY MEETINGS 

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board meets Mon., July 17, at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Pam Wyche, 644-6128 ext. 113.  

City Council meets Tues., July 18, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Citizens Humane Commission meets Wed., July 19, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Katherine O’Connor, 981-6601.  

Commission on Aging meets Wed., July 19, at 1:30 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. William Rogers, 981-5344.  

Commission on Labor meets Wed.,July 19, at 6:45 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Delfina M. Geiken, 981-7550.  

Design Review Committee meets Thurs., July 20, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Anne Burns, 981-7415.  

Downtown Area Plan Advisory Commission meets Wed., July 19, at 7 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7487. 

Human Welfare and Community Action Commission meets Wed., July 19, at 7 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Kristen Lee, 981-5427.  

Human Welfare and Community Action Commission meets Wed., July 19, at 7 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Kristen Lee, 981-5427.  

Transportation Commission meets Thurs., July 20, at 7 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Peter Hillier, 981-7000.  

School Board meets Wed., June 21, at 7:30 p.m., in the City Council Chambers. 644-6320.


Correction

Friday July 14, 2006

An article in the June 30 Berkeley Daily Planet incorrectly stated the name of the president of the Berkeley Property Owners Association as Michael Wilson. The correct name is David Wilson.


Arts Calendar

Tuesday July 11, 2006

TUESDAY, JULY 11 

CHILDREN 

Prescott Circus Theater Stilts, juggling, and clowns at 7 p.m. at the Oakland Public Library, Rockridge, 5366 College Ave. 597-5017. 

Flute Sweets & Tickletoons A muscial introduction to the flute and classical music at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext 17. 

FILM 

Screenagers: Documents from the Teenage Years “Rockaway” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Works In Progress” Women’s open mic at 7:30 p.m. at Montclair Women’s Cultural Center, 1650 Mountain Blvd., Oakland. Donation $5.  

Bay Area Writing Project Young Writers Group Reading at 6 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloway’s Literary and Garden Arts, 2904 College Ave.  

The Blue Candle, spoken word and open mic at 7 p.m. at Dorsey’s Locker Soul Food Cafe, 5817 Shattuck Ave., Oakland. 428-1935.  

Eric Davis, author, and Michael Rimar, photographer, present “Visionary State: A Journey Through California’s Spiritual Landscape” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Barbara Traub, photographer, introduces “Desert to Dream: A Decade of Burning Man Photography” 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Swamp Coolers, cajun, western swing, at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $9. 525-5054.  

Singers’ Open Mic with Ellen Hoffman at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. 841-JAZZ.  

Debbie Poryes & Friends at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

Jazz Jam with Michael Coleman Trio at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Free, bring your instrument. 451-8100.  

André Bush at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s. Cost is $10-$14. 238-9200.  

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12 

THEATER 

Berkeley Rep “Ennio” A comedy written and performed by Ennio Marchetto through July 21 at 2015 Addison St. Tickets are $20-$45. 647-2949.  

FILM 

Global Rhythms on Screen “A Tickle in the Heart” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Café Poetry hosted by Kira Allen at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña. Donation $2. 849-2568.  

Caroline Paul will read from her new novel “East Wind, Rain” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

The Desert Arts Preview, fire arts, from 7 to 11 p.m. at The Crucible, 1260 7th St., Oakland. Free. 444-0919.  

Roy Zimmerman in “Faulty Intelligence” satirical songs, Wed.-Fri. at 8 p.m. at The Marsh Berkeley, 2118 Allston Way. 800-838-3006.  

North Indian Classical Music with Eric Fraser and Ehren Hansen at 6:30 p.m. at Taste of the Himalayas, 1700 Shattuck Ave. 849-4983. 

Dani Thompson at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100.  

Daby Touré, African, at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $16. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Pepe y Su Orchestra, salsa, at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Houston Jones at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761.  

Bag of Toys at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Patrice Bushen Benefit for the Young Musician’s Project at 8 p.m. at Yoshi’s. Cost is $30. 238-9200.  

THURSDAY, JULY 13 

EXHIBITIONS 

“The Bay in Bloom” A Group Show by the artists of The Artful Steps Program. Reception at 4 p.m. at the LunchStop Cafe, MetroCenter, 101 Eighth St., Oakland. 817-5773. 

FILM 

Beyond Bollywood “John & Jane Toll-Free” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Edge of Desire: Recent Art in India” Guided tour at 12:15 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. 

Hans Kemp, photographer, introduces his tribute to the motorcycles of Vietnam, “Bikes of Burden” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Josh Braff presents his debut novel “The Unthinkable Thoughts of Jacob Green” at 6:30 p.m. at the Magnes Museum, 2911 Russell St. Cost is $6-$8. RSVP to rlander@magnes.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Summer Noon Concert with Times 4 at the Downtown Berkeley BART station. Free.  

The Crucible Fire Arts Festival “Fire and Light” Benefit at 7 p.m. at 1260 7th St., Oakland. Cost is $100-$125. 444-0919. www.thecrucible.org 

Ancient Vision reggae showcase, at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054.  

Anne Feeney, Dave Lippman, and George Shrub at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$15. 849-2568.  

Kitka & Davka “Old and New World Jewish Music” at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 2808 Summit St., Oakland. 848-0237. 

Jazz Function at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473.  

Rory Block, country blues, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Steve Gannon’s Monday Blues Band at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $7. 841-JAZZ.  

Blurred Entities, Dream Nefra at 10 p.m. at The Ivy Room, 858 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $7. 524-9220.  

Joe Paquin, swing blues guitar and vocals, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Fuse at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082.  

Hiroshima at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s, through Sun. Cost is $20-24. 238-9200. 

FRIDAY, JULY 14 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley “Night of the Iguana” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave. at Berryman, through Aug. 12. Tickets are $12. 649-5999. www.aeofberkeley.org 

Ambitious Theatre Company “As You Like It” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. and Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, Alameda. Tickets are $8-$15. 800-838-3006. www.altarena.org 

Aurora Theatre “Permanent Collection” Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 and 7 p.m. at 2081 Addison St., through July 30. Tickets are $28-$45. 843-4822. www.auroratheatere.org 

Berkeley Rep “Ennio” A comedy written and performed by Ennio Marchetto through July 21 at 2015 Addison St. Tickets are $20-$45. 647-2949.  

California Shakespeare Theater “Restoration Comedy” at the Bruns Amphitheater, 100 Gateway Blvd., Orinda. Tues.-Thurs., 7:30 p.m., Fri.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 4 p.m. through July 30. Tickets are $15 and up. 548-9666. www.calshakes.org 

Central Works “The Inspector General” a new comedy, Thurs., Fri., and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave., through July 30. Tickets are $9-$25. 558-1381. 

Contra Costa Civic Theater “Footloose” the musical based on the 1984 film at 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat., and Sun. at 2 p.m. at Contra Costa Civic Theater, 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito, through August 5. Tickets are $12-$20. 524-9132. www.ccct.org 

Crowded Fire Theater Company “We Are Not These Hands” a comedy about the friendship between two teenaged girls in a fictional third-world nation, Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 7 p.m. through July 16 at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. Tickets are $10- $20. www.crowdedfire.org 

Kids Take the Stage “Annie” Fri. at 7:30 p.m., Sat. at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Sun. at 7:30 p.m. at Chabot College Arts Center, 25555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward. Tickets are $10-$20. 864-7061. 

Masquers Playhouse “The Fantasticks” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2:30 p.m. at 105 Park Place, Point Richmond, through July 22. Tickets are $18. 232-4031.  

Pinole Community Players “Oliver!” the musical, Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., at the Community Playhouse, 601 Tennent Ave., Pinole, through July 15. Tickets are $14-$17. 724-3669.  

Woodminster Summer Musicals “Ragtime” Fri.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park, 3300 Joaquin Miller Rd., through July 16. Tickets are $21.50-$34.50. 531-9597.  

EXHIBITIONS 

“The Light and the Dark” Group photography show. Reception at 6 p.m. at ACCI Gallery, at 1652 Shattuck Ave. Show runs to Aug. 19. 843-2527. www.accigallery.com 

FILM 

A Theater Near You “The Death of Mr. Lazarescu” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Gautam Malkani introduces his new novel “Londonstani” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

John Curl and Matundu Makalani read their poems at 7 p.m. at the Frank Bette Center, 1601 Paru, Alameda. Free, donations accepted. 523-6957. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

The Crucible Fire Arts Festival “Twisted Fiery Circus” performances and installation art at 8 p.m. at 1260 7th St., Cost is $25-$30. Oakland. 444-0919. www.thecrucible.org 

Alameda Civic Light Opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Kofman Auditorium, 2200 Central Ave., Alameda. Tickets are $27-$31. 864-2256. www.aclo.com 

Bastille Day Ball with Baguette Quartette at 9 p.m. at International House, 2299 Piedmont Ave. Waltz classes at 7 p.m. Cost is $10-$20. www.baguettequartette.org 

Son De Madera, from Mexico, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $12-$15. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Sublime Remembered at 9:30 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $10. 848-0886.  

Cressman-Stinnet Quintet, Brazilian jazz, at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Frankye Kelly & her Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Minkus, Minus Vince, Speakeasy, Protocol, rock, ska at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $9. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Atmos Trio at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Sisters Morales at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Yaelisa & Caminos Flamencos at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

The Nomadics, jazz, at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Culann's Hounds, The Trespassers at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Walken, Ragweed, A Sleeping Irony, 100 Suns at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $5. 525-9926. 

Bay Balasters at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $7. 548-1159.  

Flux, Al Howard and the K23 Orchestra at 9 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $9. 451-8100. www.uptownnightclub.com 

Zoe Ellis, soul, funk, jazz, at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Hiroshima at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $20-24. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, JULY 15 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Bay Area Hot Spots” Representations of Bay Area experiences and locations by a variety of artists. Reception at 7 p.m. at Fourth Street Studio, 1717-D Fourth St. 527-0600. 

THEATER 

Everyday Theatre “Dreaming in a Firestorm” by Tim Barsky at 8 p.m. at 2232 MLK, Oakland. Tickets are $12-$20. 644-2204. www.everdaytheatre.org 

Women’s Will “Twelfth Night” Sat. and Sun. at 1 p.m. at John Hinkle Park. Free. 420-0813. www.womanswill.org 

FILM 

A Theater Near You “Antonio Gaudí” at 6:30 p.m. “The Passenger” at 8:10 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Future Tense” Gallery Talk by Taro Hattori, Kathryn Kenworth Srdjan Loncar, and Daniel Ross at 2 p.m. at Kala Art Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 549-2977. www.kala.org 

Thomas Crum and BJ Gallagher read at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books, 1491 Shattuck Ave. 486-0698.  

Rachel McGee Beck reads from her latest poems at 2 p.m. at Oakland Public Library, Lakeview Branch, 550 El Embarcadero. 238-7344. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Opera “The Girl of the Golden West” at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts. Tickets are $15-$40, available from 925-798-1300. www.berkeleyopera.org  

The Crucible Fire Arts Festival “High Voltage Chaos” performances and installation art at 8 p.m. at 1260 7th St., Oakland. Cost is $25-$30. 444-0919. www.thecrucible.org 

From Pa to the Bay, reggae, dancehall and hip hop, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $7-$10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Robin Gregory & her Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

West African Highlife Band with the Shumba Marimba Youth Ensemble at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $15. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Jane Lui and Linh Nguyen, singer-songwriters, at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. 

Laura Love Duo with Jen Todd, Afro-Celtic, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Three the Hard Way, Opio, Scarub at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $12-$15. 848-0886. 

Danny Mertens Trio at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $10. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Yaelisa & Caminos Flamencos at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Nick Brown, classical guitar, at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. All ages. Cost is $7-$10. 558-0881. 

Ron Thompson & the Resistors at 9 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $10. 451-8100.  

Open Space Project, Plum Crazy, 7th Direction at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $6. 841-2082.  

CV1 at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Lights Out, Ceremony, Short Fuse, Phantom Pains at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, JULY 16 

CHILDREN 

Classic Shorts for Children “The Red Balloon,” “The White Seal” and “A Cricket in Times Square” at 11 a.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Suggested donation $5. www.juliamorgan.org 

THEATER 

San Francisco Mime Troupe “Godfellas” at 2 p.m. at Lakeside Park, Lakeside Drive at Lake Merrit, Oakland. www.sfmt.org 

FILM 

A Theater Near You “The Death of Mr. Lazarescu” at 5:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Susan Dinkelspiel Cerny on Berkeley’s architectural heritage, at 4 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloway’s, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

“Bancroft Library at 100” Gallery talk at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. 

Poetry Flash with Mark Turpin and members of his poetry workshop at 3 p.m. at Diesel, 5433 College Ave. 653-9965. 

Norma Barzman reads from “The End of Romance: A Memoir of Love, Sex, and the Mystery of the Violin” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Oakland Jazz Choir at 2 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. Tickets are $35, includes reception following concert. 228-3207. 

John Renbourn, folk-baroque guitar, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $19.50-$20.50. 548-1761.  

Americana Unplugged, Rita Hosking, bluegrass and oldtime showcase, at 5 p.m. at Jupiter. 655-5715. 

La Nueva Trova Alterlatina, at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5. 849-2568.  

Frederick Hodges, international café music, at 2 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Adrian West at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

MONDAY, JULY 17 

CHILDREN 

Willy Claflin and Friends with storytelling, music and puppets at 7 p.m. at the Rockridge Public Library, 5366 College Ave. 597-5017. 

Juggler Marcus Raymond with magic and fun at 7 p.m. at the Temescal Branch of the Oakland Public Library, 5202 Telegraph Ave. 597-5049. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Geoffrey Nunberg explains “Talking Right: How the Right Turned Liberalism into a Tax-Raising, Latte-Drinking, Sushi-Eating, Volvo-Driving, New York Times-Reading, Body-Piercing, Hollywood-Loving, Left Wing Freak Show” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Story Tells, a storytelling swap, with Ed Silberman at 7 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, Jack London Square, Oakland. 238-8585. 

Poetry Express with Linda Zeiser, editor of the East Bay lesbian anthology “What We Want From You” at 7 p.m., at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. berkeleypoetryexpress@yahoo.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Tommy Emmanuel at 8 p.m. at the Roda Theater. Cost is $22.50-$23-50. 548-1761.  

Blue Monday Jam at 7:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100.  

9th Annual East Bay Blues Review at 7:30 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $20. 238-9200. 


Arts: The Fake Real of ‘Future Tense’ at Kala Art

By Peter Selz, Special to the Planet
Tuesday July 11, 2006

Art at the Kala Institute is becoming increasingly multi-media. The current show, called “Future Tense,” predicts a future in which reality is replaced by its virtual substitute. 

Taro Hattori’s Beaut Brute consists of disassembled parts of M16 rifles, made of plastic mirrors with great precision and laid out neatly on faux fur. A luscious bunch of reflecting grapes hangs in the corner of this glossy installation that explores a world in which violence and abundance are aestheticized. 

Kathryn Kenworth’s Footnotes are stacks of fake books. They were carefully made of cardboard to look like books, but they cannot be read or opened because they are fake, virtual books. They have gone one step beyond the computer, which provides information, mere data rather than knowledge. They suggest a world in which appearance has replaced reality. But then, even in the past, there were so-called “libraries” in stately homes with all the leather-bound, never-opened classics adorning the book shelves. 

Daniel Ross, artist in residence at Kala’s Electronic Media Center, presents digital photographs of nature, made with ink jet, acrylic glitter and epoxy on plywood. One of his pieces shows a photograph of three white owls floating above a tree trunk, another a pig with two heads and six legs standing in a kitsch landscape with rainbow and all. Ross, I think, comments on the platitude of so many landscape paintings in the past. 

Best in Show is the combination of photography and sculpture in Nature Scenes by Srdjan Loncar, whose residence at Kala was provided by the Alliance of Artists’ Communities and the Irvine Foundation for artists affected by Hurricane Katrina. The viewer looks at a campfire environment with a tree stump and rock formations before realizing that what looks solid is soft as it has all been made of styrofoam, covered by detailed digital photographs to make it appear “real.” A CD player hidden in the campfire even makes crackling sounds of wood burning. It is all very disorienting as nature is replaced by technological simulacrum. 

All four artists in “Future Tense” have used technology to make counterfeits, raising important moral questions for our time. They will hold a gallery talk at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, the final day of the exhibition. 

 

FUTURE TENSE 

Through July 15 at the Kala Art Institute, 1060 Heinz Ave. 

549-2977. www.kala.org. 

 

Contributed photo  

A few of the works in “Future Tense” on display at the Kala Art Institute. 


Arts: ‘Restoration Comedy’In Fashion at CalShakes

By Jaime Robles, Special to the Planet
Tuesday July 11, 2006

The play begins with the gorgeously dressed rake Loveless (Elijah Alexander) addressing the audience and explaining why and how we and he are there—in this small open air theater on a lovely California summer evening, the stage decked out in oversized 17th-century graphics, floral and starkly black and white at the same time. 

Loveless’ speech is casual, witty, and conspiratorial. He calls himself by his real name, Elijah, not his character’s name. He reassures us that the whole play will not be in verse like the speech he is currently delivering, and concludes by telling us that the ultimate reason for everyone taking part in the play about to begin is ... clothes.  

And he’s right, who wouldn’t want to wear those cascades of silks, fields of satin, drapes of velvet and towers of bright cottons. Even in summer. 

Fashion and all the lightness, frivolity and indulgence that the word implies lie at the heart of Restoration Comedy, the new play by Amy Freed that opened at CalShakes on Saturday evening. 

The play is an amalgam of two late Restoration comedies written in England in 1696, some 35 years after the death of Cromwell, the restoration of the monarchy and the reopening of the theaters that had been closed during the Puritan control of the government. 

The audiences of Restoration England preferred a wilder, faster-paced theatrical event with multiple plots. The subjects tended to be sexually explicit and unsentimental; the rake—the riotous, glamorously dissipated and sexually irresistible courtier—is a Restoration character. 

Actresses, rather than boys, had begun to play women’s roles, which added an erotic element for the audiences that had not existed before. Nell Gwynn, who became the most famous comedic actress of the time, also became the king’s mistress. 

By 1688, however, the “Merry Monarch” Charles II had been replaced by the Protestant Mary and William and middle-class respectability had begun to concern the English, socially and legally. 

In 1696 an actor named Colley Cibber wrote a play entitled Love’s Last Shift; or, The Fool in Fashion. The play—and it is this play that the first act of Freed’s two-act play is largely based on—is about a virtuous wife who manages to reform her rakish husband by seducing him into sexual, and thereby moral, submission.  

Loveless has spent ten years away from London, practicing his debauchery and returns only when he believes his wife Amanda (Caralyn Kozlowski) is dead.  

Having run into Loveless, a former companion and fellow rake Ned Worthy (Kaleo Griffith) tells the very much alive Amanda that her husband is also very much alive. And the two of them, Worthy and Amanda, plot how she can win back Loveless’ love. 

Winding through this main story are a passel of secondary characters, chief among them Sir Novelty Fashion (Danny Scheie), a burlesque bonbon of 17th-century foppery in day-glo codpiece, trailing lace sleeves and an avalanche of blonde curls. Sir Novelty Fashion is on the trail of seduction as well, but his is the seduction of high society, born of his narcissistic need to form the eyes of the fashionable into his own gem-lashed mirrors. 

Amanda is successful in her conquest of Loveless; and when she reveals her identity to him, he is overwhelmed. Her ability to be both virginal and virtuous wife as well as lustful woman of pleasure fulfills his ultimate desire for “variety.”  

She convinces him that he has only one form of love left to try—fidelity. They retire to the country and all is well. 

Until the second act. 

The second act is based on John Vanbrugh’s The Relapse, a play that was written in response to Cibber’s Love’s Last Shift. It takes place after the retirement to the country, and was meant to answer the sentimental goodness—what Vanbrugh must have considered hypocritical and pandering to emerging social mores—of Cibber’s extremely successful play. 

Vanbrugh takes on marriage, suggesting at play’s end that it serves only as a convenience, not so much to keep people chaste as to allow them to love, either in marriage or out. For ”the joys of life and love /Are in variety.” 

In Freed’s second act not only does Loveless fall into his old devilish habits by pursuing and conquering the worldly wise and beautiful Berinthia (Marcia Pizzo) but Amanda herself finds her virtue assailed and her monogamous commitment to her philandering husband under attack.  

Ned Worthy admits that he loves her. Just possibly she loves him as well. 

In counterpoint to the marital problems of the Lovelesses, Sir Novelty Fashion and his brother Young Fashion take a large part of the play’s action to examine marriage from the standpoint of financial and social alliance.  

Blending these two 17th century plays has clearly caused some problems for the writer, not the least of which was deciding what is relevant for a contemporary audience. It is not just language that is at stake here.  

Does one write a 21st-century play that is placed in a 17th-century setting, rather like one might place it in the Ukraine or Bali, an exotically different cultural milieu that is nonetheless impinged upon by the global culture?  

Or does one simply take the play and translate it into contemporary language, leaving in the social arguments whether or not they are relevant or politically correct to the modern mind? 

Freed has opted for the former. Many of the intricacies of the original play, especially The Relapse, were dropped. All the considerable verbal philosophizing that goes on between characters about marriage and about love is gone. The ever-present gender-specific determinations about what man would do versus what woman can do are gone. 

Even though much of the moral fascination of the original plays has been replaced with a sunny but dubious variety-is-the-essence-and-spice-of-life philosophy, Restoration Comedy is a lot of fun. It’s excellently acted and produced, and makes for a frothy and enjoyable summer evening’s entertainment. 

 

CalShakes’ Restoration Comedy plays at 8 p.m. through July 30 at the Bruns Amphitheater in Orinda. $15-$57. 548-9666 or visit www.calshakes.org. Nightly Grove Talks (7:15 p.m.) by members of the artistic staff provide insight into the production.


Moving Pictures: Festival Honors the Beauty of the Silents

By Justin DeFreitas
Tuesday July 11, 2006

No one quite knew what to make of the new invention at first. The ability to capture motion on film, while a scientific breakthrough, didn’t seem to portend much for the future. Most deemed it a novelty, a toy which would quickly lose its appeal. 

Few could have imagined in 1894 that these flickering images, first seen through an eyepiece at five cents a pop and later projected on a sheet tacked to a wall, would not only become a new art form, but the art form of the new century. 

The next few decades saw the nascent medium grow at a rapid rate, in length, in maturity and in significance, expanding from 20-second clips to three-hour epics; from brief celluloid documents of real world events—called “actualities”—to feature-length documentaries; from amateurish filmed stage productions to feature-length narrative movies, rich in character and emotion; from sophomoric roughhouse comedy to the full-fledged visual humor of the great comedians, sophisticated in their use of the new cinematic language. 

By 1927, the language of film as a visual medium was nearly complete and was just reaching its peak. The moving camera had been perfected; the potential of montage had been deeply explored; the power and emotion of the close-up had been exploited; acting techniques had evolved to suit the medium. A vast array of genres had been firmly established: the western, horror, drama, comedy, slapstick and farce, melodrama and satire, adaptations and original works, special effects, documentaries, instructional films, political films, avante garde experiments and mainstream entertainments. The breadth and depth of what was arguably the most universal of art forms was staggering. 

But just as technology had made it all possible, so technology would tear it all down. With the advent of reliable sound technology and the dawn of the talking picture in 1927, 30 years worth of the medium’s range and diversity was almost instantly demoted to the status of a genre. No longer were they called “moving pictures”—now they were “silent.” From the lowest and crudest pieces of hackwork to the towering artistic masterpieces of the era, all were now thrown together in a single category, the name of which took on a pejorative quality. Films that had entertained, inspired and enriched viewers for three decades were now considered outdated, quaint, laughable, behind the times.  

The San Francisco Silent Film Festival is an attempt to remedy that situation, to clear away the myths and misconceptions with quality prints presented at proper projection speeds and accompanied by live music. In other words, silent films as they were meant to be seen. Now in its 11th year, the festival runs Friday, July 14 through Sunday, July 16 at the Castro Theater. 

Some of the those misconceptions stem from the moniker itself, for silent films were never silent; they were always shown with live musical accompaniment. The largest theaters featured full orchestras, mid-sized theaters featured Wurlitzer organs, and the smallest theaters employed a piano player. The musicians either improvised on the spot or performed a written score, often of their own composition or sometimes provided by the film’s producers. 

Another misconception is that silent films were of poor visual quality, with high-contrast images of muddled blacks and grays, and always featured ham-fisted, overly dramatic acting and silly figures running about at abnormal speeds. The speed problem is simple: Silent films were shot at roughly 16 frames per second, as opposed to sound films, which are shot at 24 frames per second. Since the advent of sound, silent films have too often been mistakenly projected at sound speed, leading viewers to believe that they were manic and absurd. And most of the prints available over the years have been low-quality 16-millimeter transfers from the original 35-millimeter format, causing a loss of visual detail that was compounded by the deterioration of old nitrate prints. 

If you’ve never seen a big-screen presentation of silent film, there is no better place to start than the Silent Film Festival. While there are several venues in the Bay Area which provide excellent presentations of silent films throughout the year, with excellent prints and live music, the festival goes a step further, providing historical context with informative on-stage interviews and panel discussions, trailers and outtakes and historical short subjects. Many of this year’s programs feature archival footage of the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake, and even a “neo-silent” newsreel of this year’s centennial commemoration of the quake at Lotta’s Fountain, shot with an authentic hand-cranked silent-era camera.  

This year’s festival could be rightly called the Year of the Woman, for most of its marquee evening presentations are starring vehicles for some of the silent era’s finest actresses. The festival kicks off with Seventh Heaven, starring Janet Gaynor in a performance which earned her the Best Actress Oscar at the first Academy Awards. Gaynor plays a street waife who falls in love with a sewer worker, played by Charles Farrell, only to see World War I intervene. The film was directed by Frank Borzage. (Borzage and Gaynor will each be the subject of retrospectives at Pacific Film Archive starting July 21.) 

Saturday’s lineup features Mary Pickford in Sparrows. Pickford was the most successful and powerful woman in Hollywood in her time, one of the few stars with enough clout to eventually assume creative control of her films, selecting her material as well as her directors. Her films are not often seen these days, rarely showing up on television or at revival theaters. Sparrows represents a darker side of the Pickford cannon, depicting an orphanage where the kids are used as slave labor. 

Saturday night will see a screening of Pandora’s Box, a German film directed by G.W. Pabst and starring the iconic American actress Louise Brooks. Brooks was not a great success in American films and she eventually made her way to Germany where she made three films in an effort to resuscitate her career. It is those films upon which her reputation rests today. Returning to America, she found herself blacklisted and never again had much success. 

But later her talent for self-promotion, including at least one romantic relationship with a film historian, led to rekindled interest in her career and helped to retroactively establish Brooks as a great and important figure of the silent era. Her credentials as a great actress may be debatable, but her charisma, beauty and sexual appeal are undeniable, and Pandora’s Box presents her in her signature role as a seductive and dangerous woman who brings ruin to those she encounters. 

The final show on Sunday night will put the spotlight on another great, if underappreciated, actress of the 1920s, the gifted comedienne Marion Davies. Davies, the mistress of William Randolph Hearst, was quite successful and well loved by movie audiences. Hearst, however, wanted to see her play more dignified roles, roles more suitable for the mistress of a great newspaper baron. He poured money into countless lavish costume dramas—clumsy, bloated productions that did nothing for her career—and relentlessly promoted them in his newspapers. Much of this was later satirized in Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane, which helped to unjustly tar Davies’ reputation, rendering her as a mere pawn of Hearst, a no-talent chorus girl riding the great man’s coattails. 

The Silent Film Festival will right this wrong with a screening of director King Vidor’s Show People, a light comedy that clearly demonstrates Davies’ charm and talents and features a number of silent-era stars in cameo roles as themselves.  

There’s far more on display at the festival, however, and often it is the lesser known films that provide the event’s most fascinating moments.  

• Bucking Broadway (1917) is one of only two surviving silent westerns directed by John Ford and stars the great western star Harey Carey. The film will be preceded by an onstage interview with Harey Carey, Jr. 

• Au Bonheur Des Dames (1930) is an adaptation of an Emile Zola novel, about a young girl who takes a job in a vast Paris department store.  

• “Amazing Tales From the Archives” is a free presentation detailing the hard work, passion and luck that goes into the discovery, preservation and presentation of cinema’s early works. 

• Three of Laurel and Hardy’s silent two reelers will be screened Sunday. Few of the duo’s silent films survive, but the few that do show the pitch-perfect timing of their comic pantomime at its peak.  

• The Girl With the Hatbox (1927) is a slapstick comedy from Russia that was deemed subversive by Soviet censors.  

• The Unholy Three (1925), by Freaks director Tod Browning, is the story of a ventriloquist, played by Lon Chaney, who heads up a madcap scam to rob the rich in a wild, strange pulp story which gave Chaney an opportunity to poke fun at his horror film persona. 

 

 

11TH ANNUAL SAN FRANCISCO SILENT FILM FESTIVAL 

www.silentfilm.org 

Festival box office: 833 Market Street, San Francisco, Suite 812. (925) 866-9530. 

 

8 p.m. Friday, July 14. $17. 

Seventh Heaven (1927) 

Music by Clark Wilson (Wurlitzer organ) 

A Trip Down Market Street (April 14, 1906) 

Narrated by Rick Laubscher  

Music by Michael Mortilla (piano) 

 

11 a.m. Saturday, July 15. $13. 

Bucking Broadway (1917)  

San Francisco Earthquake and Fire  

(April 18, 1906) 

Music by Michael Mortilla (piano) 

 

1:40 p.m. Saturday, July 15. $13. 

Au Bonheur Des Dames (1930 

Music by the Hot Club of San Francisco 

 

4:20 p.m. Saturday, July 15. $13. 

Sparrows (1926) 

Music by Michael Mortilla (piano) 

 

8:20 p.m. Saturday, July 15. $15. 

Pandora’s Box (1929) 

Music by Clark Wilson (Wurlitzer organ) 

 

11 a.m. Sunday, July 16. Free. 

“Amazing Tales From the Archives,” a demonstration of film restoration processes 

Music by Michael Mortilla (piano) 

 

12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 16. $13. 

Laurel and Hardy (three short films:  

The Finishing Touch (1928), Liberty (1929), Wrong Again (1929) 

Scenes in San Francisco (May 9, 1906) 

Music by Michael Mortilla (piano) 

 

2:40 p.m. Sunday, July 16. $13. 

The Girl With the Hatbox (1927) 

Music by the Balka Ensemble 

 

5 p.m. Sunday, July 16. $13. 

The Unholy Three (1925) 

Mabel and Fatty Viewing the World’s Fair  

at San Francisco (1915) 

Music by Jon Mirsalis (piano) 

 

8 p.m. Sunday, July 16. $15. 

Show People (1928) 

Triumph Over Disaster (a 2006 “neo-silent”newsreel of the 1906 Earthquake Centennial 

Commemoration at Lotta’s Fountain) 

Music by Dennis James (Wurlitzer organ) 

 

 

Photograph: The San Francisco Silent Film Festival presents a wide array of arresting imagery, including the seductive charm of Louise Brooks.


A Garden on Codornices Creek Welcomes Wildlife

By Joe Eaton, Special to the Planet
Tuesday July 11, 2006

“We’ve had people say they’d like to come back as our cats,” says Juliet Lamont. 

Personally, I haven’t given much thought to what I’d rather be reincarnated as; I suspect my karmic burden will restrict my options to something along the lines of a slime mold, or a Texas Republican. 

But polydactyl tuxedo-cat Nimitz and his gray tabby associate Chester do seem to have good lives. They can watch the world from a deer-fencing enclosure on the garage roof and take an actual elevated catwalk to Lamont’s sister’s house next door. What they can’t do is get out and kill things. 

Confining their cats is just one way Lamont and Phil Price invite wildlife to their North Berkeley home. They’ve landscaped and planted to attract birds and butterflies, and their efforts have paid off in a major way. Since they started rebuilding their creekside garden nine years ago, over 50 species of birds have shown up. 

There are new faces and voices every year. Earlier this year a rowdy flock of band-tailed pigeons moved in for a while, and this spring was the first time Price and Lamont have heard the ethereal spiraling song of the Swainson’s thrush, and the less musical calls of the oak titmouse. Black phoebes hawk insects over the water and nest under the eaves of the neighboring house. Even a great blue heron has dropped in. 

When they moved here in 1994, the view out the back door was a sea of Algerian ivy. “The place had two features,” Lamont recalls: “gorgeous coast live oaks and Codornices Creek.” A hired crew cleared the ivy, and Four Dimensions Landscaping installed an irrigation system and began replanting with native species that were drought-resistant and wildlife-attractant. Price and Lamont have done supplemental planting over the years. Although the ivy still encroaches from neighboring properties, maintenance and vigilant weeding in the first few years kept it from staging a comeback. “It’s really about putting something in instead of ivy,” says Price. 

They also took out a eucalyptus tree, whose stump is a popular vantage point for visiting raccoons, and a Monterey cypress. 

Most of the new plants came from Berkeley’s estimable Native Here Nursery, some of whose stock originates in the Codornices watershed. Native strawberry has edged out the ubiquitous Bermuda sorrel, and the birds have gone enthusiastically for the berries. Price and Lamont have also put in native bunchgrasses, Berkeley sedge, snowberry, Indian rhubarb, beeplant.  

Plants were chosen for deer resistance. “They’ll take a snatch of everything, but it all comes back.” Lamont says. As we talk, two young bucks wander down through the yard toward the creek, one taking a random bite. Price exhorts them to eat the ivy instead; it still borders the native garden on an adjacent property. The deer are very much at home, bringing their new fawns every spring. Their habitual paths have been left in place. 

“When deer have established a pathway, it’s hard to shift them off it,” he explains.  

The only exception to the natives theme is the front garden, planted as a magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies. Natives like flowering currant, penstemon, and sticky monkeyflower mingle with Mexican bush sage and scabiosa. There’s also native wild rose for the butterflies and bees. 

The creek is a work in progress. Price and Lamont haven’t modified the streambed, but they’ve planted willows and red-twig dogwood to buffer extreme flows. 

“Urban Creeks Council taught us five different erosion-control techniques,” says Price. “The easiest is willow stakes.” 

They’re tracking stream temperatures through the summer and monitoring water quality. Aquatic creatures have responded already: after the eucalyptus and cypress were removed, the damselfly population exploded—and the phoebes were very happy. 

“We have newts or salamanders,” Lamont says. “We wish we had frogs; they’re further downstream.” 

Just upstream, Codornices Creek is straitjacketed in a concrete box culvert. Last year two mule deer fawns fell into the steep-sided trench; Lamont and Price heard them squealing in the night and hauled them out. Lamont explains their plans for that section of the creek: “We want to restore the neighboring property, take out the gabions and concrete, put in step pools for fish passage, give the creek room for moving around.” 

They’re hoping for a grant that will let them get rid of the box channel. 

And how do the neighbors feel about all this? “We have them in every year for a barbecue and people love the place”, she continues. “They’re all really excited about doing restoration work themselves. When people have an understanding of what’s going on, they develop a vested interest in it.” 

Chester does get out into the garden as well, on a leash. And so have a lot of human visitors: groups from Berkeley Path Wanderers and the Greenbelt Alliance, and hundreds on recent native-plant and Bay-friendly garden tours. If it’s featured on future tours, this thriving experiment in welcoming the natural world is well worth a stop.  

 

 

A young buck makes his way through the garden toward Codornices Creek. Photograph by Ron Sullivan.


Berkeley This Week

Tuesday July 11, 2006

TUESDAY, JULY 11 

Tuesday is for the Birds A tranquil early morning walk through the park. Meet at 7 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center. Bring water, sunscreen binoculars and a snack. 525-2233. 

Moe’s Bookstore 47th Birthday Party Celebrate with this independent bookstore on Telegraph at noon at 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Rally to Save Berkeley Housing Authority at 6:30 p.m. on the steps of Old City Hall, 2134 MLK. 843-6591.  

Civil Liberties Fim Series “Religious Freedom” followed by a talk by Rev. Phil Lawson, Greater Richmond Interfaith Project, at 7 p.m. in the Richmond Public Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza. Free. 620-6561. 

Family Storytime at 7 p.m. at the Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

“How to See Your Health: A talk on diagnostic techniques in Chinese medicine at 7:30 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Raging Grannies of the East Bay invites new folks to join us from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. to sing and have fun at Berkeley Gray Panthers office, 1403 Addison St.548-9696. 

Tuesday Tilden Walkers Join a few slowpoke seniors at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot near the Little Farm for an hour or two walk. 215-7672, 524-9992. 

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

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12  

Walking Tour of Oakland City Center Meet at 10 a.m. in front Oakland City Hall at Frank Ogawa Plaza. Tour lasts 90 minutes. Reservations can be made by calling 238-3234. 

“Five Factories: Workers Control in Venezuela” a documentary at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. “Stories from an American Mill” will also be shown. Donations of $5 accepted. 

“Spirit of the Rainforest” An introduction to wild animals for children at 10 a.m. at the Martin Luther King Branch of the Oakland Public Library, 6833 International Blvd. 615-5728. 

“Uncommon Conifers” A twilight tour at 5:30 p.m. at UC Botanical Garden 200 Centennial Drive. Cost is $8-$12. Registration required. 643-2755.  

Poetry Writing Workshop with Alison Seevak at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720. 

Sleep Seminar at 7 p.m. at New Moon Opportunities, 378 Jayne Ave., Oakland. Free, but registration required. 465-2524. 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. 548-9840.  

THURSDAY, JULY 13 

Tilden Tots Join a nature adventure program for 3 and 4 year olds, each accompanied by an adult (grandparents welcome)! We’ll study butterflies from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park.Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Insect Discovery Lab Learn to appreciate insects and nature by meeting giant millipedes, hissing cockroaches, whip scorpions and others at 2 p.m. at the Montclair Branch of the Oakland Public Library, 1687 Mountain Blvd. 482-7810. 

Richmond Southeast Shoreline Area Community Advisory Group meets to discuss the cleanup at the Zeneca/Stauffer Cemical site, at 6:30 p.m. at the Bermuda Room, Richmond Convention Center, 403 Civic Center Plaza at Nevin and 25th Sts., Richmond. 540-3923. 

“Understanding Chinese Herbal Prescriptions” A talk at 7:30 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Historical & Current Times Book Group meets on Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1249 Marin Ave. 548-4517. 

FRIDAY, JULY 14 

Impeachment Banner Fridays at 6:45 to 8 a.m. on the Berkeley Pedestrian bridge between Seabreeze Market and the Berkeley Aquatic Park, ongoing until impeachment is realized. www. Impeachbush-cheney.com 

Tilden Tots A nature adventure program for 3 and 4 year olds, each accompanied by an adult (grandparents welcome)! We will study buterflies from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Bastille Day Ball with Baguette Quartette at 9 p.m. at International House, 2299 Piedmont Ave. Waltz classes at 7 p.m. Cost is $10-$20. www.baguettequartette.org 

Bastille Day for Children with stories and activities celebrating Frech Independence Day from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Habitot Children’s Museum, 2065 Kittredge St. Free. 647-1111. 

Stagebridge Story Workshop with local storytellers on Fridays in July from 10 a.m. to noon at Arts First Oakland Center, 2501 Harrison St., Oakland. Bring a bag lunch. Cost is $10 per workshop, or $25 for the series. 444-4755. www.stagebridge.org 

East Bay Genealogical Society meets at 10 a.m. in the Library Conference Room of the Family History Center at 4766 Lincoln Ave., Oakland. The speaker will be Lisa Lee, President of the California Alliance of Genealogical Societies. 635-6692. 

Kol Hadash Family Pot Luck at 6 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave. RSVP with food choice to info@kolhadash.org 

SATURDAY, JULY 15 

César Chávez Celebration with cultural performances, speakers and informational tables, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Center St. at Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. 548-3333.  

Fresh Tracks: Natural and Cultural History of Tilden Park Walk the watershed from creek to ridge, on a sometimes steep 2.5 mile loop hike, follewed by lunch provided by Wente Restaurant. Coat is $20-$32. Registration required. 636-1684. 

Help Restore Cerrito Creek from 10 a.m. to noon. Wear shoes with good traction and clothes that can get dirty. Meet at Creekside Park, south end of Santa Clara St., El Cerrito, just north of Albany Hill. All ages welcome; light or heavy tasks. 848-9358. www.fivecreeks.org 

Wetlands Restoration in Oakland Volunteers needed to tend to the native wetland plants by removing non-native plants, collecting native plant seeds and helping with site monitoring and continuing shoreline clean-up, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline, Oakland. RSVP to 452-9261 ext. 109. www.savesfbay.org/bayevents 

California Historical Radio Society “Live! At KRE” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the old KRE radio station building near Aquatic Park. Cost is $5, children under 12, free. For directions see www. 

CaliforniaHistoricalRadio.com 415-821-9800.  

62nd Anniversary of the Port Chicago Explosion Ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Concord Naval Weapons Station. RSVP required for shuttle service leaving at 9 a.m. from the parking lot by the Weapons Station’s main gate on Port Chicago Hwy. 925-838-0249. 

Kid’s Garden Club for ages 7-12 to explore the world of gardening, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8, registration required. 636-1684. 

Walking Tour of Old Oakland around Preservation Park to see Victorian architecture. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of Preservation Park at 13th St. and MLK, Jr. Way. For reservations, call 238-3234.  

Oakland Heritage Walking Tour of Uptown Art Deco from 1 to 3 p.m. Meet in from of the Mary Bowles building, 1718 Tlelgraph Ave. Cost is $5-$15. 763-9218.  

Friends of the Albany Library Book Sale including children’s books, magazines, records, DVDs and a special “treasure hunt” section, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. For more information, or to volunteer for the sale, call 526-3720, ext. 16. 

Building Healthy Communities Through Food A community workshop on increasing access to healthy foods and making change in our communities, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at EcoVillage Farm Learning Center, 21 Laurel Lane, Richmond. For directions see www.ecovillagefarm.org/directions.htm 310-822-5410.  

Produce Stand at Spiral Gardens Food Security Project from 1 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon St. 

Non-Ansethetic Teeth Cleaning for Dogs and Cats from noon to 4 p.m. at RabbitEARS, 303 Arlington Ave. behind ACE Hardware. For an appointment call 525-6155.  

Create Habitat By the Bay Join our restoration project on the south Richmond shoreline near the Bay Trail, from 9 a.m. to noon. Tools, gloves, and light refreshments are provided. Youth under 18 need signed permission from a parent or guardian. To register call 665-3689. www.thewatershedproject.org 

Bay Street Arts and Music Festival Sat. and Sun. from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Bay Street, Emeryville. www.baystreetemeryville.com 

“California Wild” An introduction to wild animals for children at 10:15 a.m. at the Golden Gate Branch of the Oakland Public Library, 5606 San Pablo Ave. 597-5023. 

Seminar on C.S. Lewis’s “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” Envisioning Christian Concepts from the Novel with Margaret McBride Horwitz, Professor of Literature, New College, Berkeley, from 9 a.m.to 1 p.m. at First Covenant Church, 4000 Redwood Rd., Room 103, Oakland. www.lewissociety.org 

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.  

Around the World Tour of Plants at 1:30 p.m., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. 643-2755. 

Car Wash Benefit for Options Recovery Services of Berkeley, held every Sat. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University Ave. 666-9552. 

SUNDAY, JULY 16 

Breakfast Aboard the Red Oak Victory Ship from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Berth 6, 1337 Canal Blvd., Richmond. Cost is $6, children under 6 free. 237-2933. 

San Francisco Mime Troupe “Godfellas” at 2 p.m. at Lakeside Park, Lakeside Drive at Lake Merrit, Oakland. www.sfmt.org 

Community Labyrinth Peace Walk at 3 p.m. at Willard Middle School, on Telegraph Ave. between Derby and Stuart. Everyone welcome. Wheelchair accessible. 526-7377. 

Dynamite History Walk in Point Pinole Discover the park preserved by dynamite on a flat easy-paced 3 mile walk from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Registration required. 525-2233. 

Bike Tour of Oakland Explore Oakland on a leisurely two-hour tour. Meet at 10 a.m. at the 10th St. entrance of the Oakland Museum of California. Participants must be over twelve years old and provide their own bikes, helmets and repair kits. Free, but reservations required. 238-3514. 

Oakland Heritage Walking Tour of Oakland’s Cable Railways from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the former Cox Cadillac Showroom, 2500 Harrison St. at Bay Place. Cost is $5-$15. 763-9218. 

East Bay Atheists with David Seaborg on “Global Warming: The Most Important Issue of the 21st Century” at 1:30 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 3rd flr meeting room, 2090 Kittredge St. 222-7580. 

Health Care for All Californians A presentation on SB 840 by Karen Arnstead at 1 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. http://healthcareforall.org 

Pool Party Open House with free swimming, live music, and demonstrations of synchronized swimming, diving and stroke techniques, and a pot luck BBQ, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the King School, Hopkins and Colusa. Sponsored by the City of Berkeley and United Pool Council. 548-9050. 

New Farmers’ Market in Kensington, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the parking lot behind ACE Hardware at 303 Arlington Ave. at Amherst. 528-4346. 

Summer Sunday Forum: Millenium Development Group of the UN Association with Enra Rahmanoie at 9:30 a.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

Treating Allergies Naturally at noon at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

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 Joleen Vries on “The Nyingma Mandala in the West” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812.  

MONDAY, JULY 17 

“Access is Everything: If it is public information, why can’t we get to it?” with Dan Noyes, Center for Investigative Reporting, Barbara Newcombe, author of Paper Trails, and Barbara Snider, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6107, 548-1240 (TTY). 

Center for Independent Living Relationship Workshop on family planning for disabled youth age 14-22 at 3 p.m. at 2539 Telegraph Ave. Registration required. 841-4776 ext. 128 or email movingon@cilberkeley.org 

East Bay Vivarium An introduction to insects, lizards, amphibians and reptiles at 7 p.m. at the Golden Gate Branch of the Oakland Public Library, 5606 San Pablo Ave. 597-5023. 

World Affairs/Politics Discussion Group for people 60+ years old meets at 10:15 a.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave. Cost is $3. 524-9122. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Tilden Room, MLK Student Union, UC Campus. To make an appointment call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.  

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. Join us to work on current issues around police misconduct. Volunteers needed. For information call 548-0425. 

Stress Less Seminar at 7 p.m. at New Moon Opportunities, 378 Jayne Ave., Oakland. Free, but registration required. 465-2524. 

ONGOING 

Energy Saving Program for Residents CYES is running its 7th annual summer program, providing direct-installation of CFLs, retractable clotheslines, showerheads, and more. This year they have also received funding to provide attic insulation at approximately 75% off the retail price. Services available in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond. Free. 665-1501. 

Medical Care for Your Pet at the Berkeley East Bay Humane Society low-cost veterinary clinic. 2700 Ninth St. For appointments call 845-3633. www.berkeleyhumane.org  

CITY MEETINGS 

City Council meets Tues., July 11, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900.  

Homeless Commission meets Wed., July 12, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Jane Micallef, 981-5426.  

Planning Commission meets Wed., July 12, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Janet Homrighausen, 981-7484. 

Police Review Commission meets Wed., July 12, at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-4950. 

Commission on Early Childhood Education meets Thurs. July 13, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5428.  

Community Health Commission meets Thurs., July 13, at 6:45 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5356.  

West Berkeley Project Area Commission meets Thurs., July 13, at 7 p.m., at the West Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7520.  

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Thurs., July 13, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. Mark Rhoades, 981-7410.