News

School Board Hears Nutrition Services Reorganization Plan

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday September 22, 2006
Reorganization of the Nutrition Services Department, a progress report from the B-Tech, and a presentation by the Life Academy at Berkeley High School were highlights of the BUSD Board meeting on Wednesday. -more-

Police Review Hearings Nixed In Response to Court Decision

By Judith Scherr
Friday September 22, 2006
Since 1973, the Berkeley community has been able to air complaints in public against its police officers and compel them to respond. But a recent California Supreme Court decision may have knocked the teeth out of the ordinance that created Berkeley’s Police Review Commission. -more-

Council Postpones San Pablo/Harrison Decision for a Week

By Judith Scherr
Friday September 22, 2006
Prakash Stephen Pinto wants the deserted glass-strewn lot at San Pablo Avenue and Harrison Street near his Stannage Avenue home replaced by shops and new housing, but he told the City Council Tuesday night that the project before them “is a serious detriment to the neighborhood.” -more-

Staff Density Plan Chosen Over Committee Recommendation

By Richard Brenneman
Friday September 22, 2006
With the specter of Proposition 90 lurking in the wings, Berkeley’s City Council Tuesday passed a conditional new law governing the sizes of apartment and condominium buildings. It attempts to reconcile conflicts between size bonuses offered by the state of California and the City of Berkeley as a reward for the provision of affordable housing. -more-

Black Officials Hold Oakland Forum on Police Contract

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Friday September 22, 2006
In an effort to bring public awareness to the issues involved in critical contract talks between the City of Oakland and the powerful Oakland Police Officers Association, members of the Black Elected Officials of the East Bay sponsored a public forum Wednesday night on the contract negotiations. -more-

Panel Recommends Raising Downtown Parking Fees

By Richard Brenneman
Friday September 22, 2006

Community Wants Input Into Library Director Search

By Judith Scherr
Friday September 22, 2006

Court Denies Preliminary Injunction in CBE Lawsuit Against Pacific Steel

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday September 22, 2006

Oak-to-Ninth Opponents File Lawsuit Amendment

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Friday September 22, 2006

BHS Student Assaulted

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday September 22, 2006

City Offers Reward In Student Murder

By Richard Brenneman
Friday September 22, 2006

Commission Targets Need For West Side Art Space

By Richard Brenneman
Friday September 22, 2006

Police Blotter

By Richard Brenneman
Friday September 22, 2006

Malcolm X Kindergartener Raquela-Maria Ambrize and her friend Kyelle enjoy their freshly made cafeteria lunch on Thursday.  At Wednesday’s Berkeley school board meeting, Ann Cooper, BUSD director of Nutritional Services, whose salary is now funded by the Chez Panisse Foundation, presented a plan to restructure BUSD’s Nutrition Services Department. Photograph by Riya Bhattacharjee.
Malcolm X Kindergartener Raquela-Maria Ambrize and her friend Kyelle enjoy their freshly made cafeteria lunch on Thursday. At Wednesday’s Berkeley school board meeting, Ann Cooper, BUSD director of Nutritional Services, whose salary is now funded by the Chez Panisse Foundation, presented a plan to restructure BUSD’s Nutrition Services Department. Photograph by Riya Bhattacharjee.

Editorials

Editorial: The Planet Endorses . . .

By Becky O’Malley
Friday September 22, 2006
We have had many inquiries about whether or not the Planet will endorse candidates for the November election. Election day is a little over six weeks away, and mail-in ballots (formerly known as absentees) will be out in little more than a week. More and more voters are going to be voting by mail, so the campaign is winding up right now. Last-chance political efforts, sponsored by MoveOn.org and others, are underway across the nation and in this area. -more-

Reader Commentaries

Letters to the Editor

Friday September 22, 2006

Commentary: Cody’s Goes Global, Leaving Local Shoppers Behind

By Anne Blackstone
Friday September 22, 2006

Commentary: A Choice Between Bad Food and No Food at All

By Eric Weaver
Friday September 22, 2006

Columnists

Column: Undercurrents: Jerry Brown, Departing, Leaves a Mess Behind Him

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylo
Friday September 22, 2006

News Analysis: Campaign 2006: The Issues, the Stakes, the Prospects

By Arthur I. Blaustein, Mother Jones
Friday September 22, 2006

The Best Guys in Town

By Phila Rogers, Special to the Planet
Friday September 22, 2006


About the House: Home Inspection Confidential

By Matt Cantor
Friday September 22, 2006


Quake Tip of the Week

By Larry Guillot
Friday September 22, 2006

Arts & Entertainment

Arts Calendar

Friday September 22, 2006

Moving Pictures: Two Early German Expressionist Classics Restored

By Justin DeFreitas
Friday September 22, 2006

Moving Pictures: Dr. Mabuse: Lang's Masterpiece of Pulp on DVD

By Justin DeFreitas
Friday September 22, 2006

The Theater: A Really Big Show In the Forest of Arden

By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet
Friday September 22, 2006

Events Calendar

Berkeley This Week

Friday September 22, 2006