Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

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.

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-