The Santa Rosa lights in the crosswalk at the intersection of Ashby and Piedmont have been out of order for weeks. Photograph by Riya Bhattacharjee
The Santa Rosa lights in the crosswalk at the intersection of Ashby and Piedmont have been out of order for weeks. Photograph by Riya Bhattacharjee

Page One

Safety Lights Disabled on Busy Street

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday October 06, 2006

Some pedestrians using the crosswalk at Ashby and Piedmont avenues said they feel endangered crossing the street during busy traffic hours, because the Santa Rosa lights at that intersection have been dismantled. -more-



BUSD Sued Again Over Policy of Using Race

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday October 06, 2006

Two days after the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) sued Berkeley Unified School District, charging it with violating California’s Proposition 209 by racially discriminating among students during placements at elementary schools and at programs at Berkeley High, school district officials said they will not change their policies. -more-



Berkeley Mayor Candidates Present Divergent Choices

By Judith Scherr
Friday October 06, 2006

While incumbent Mayor Tom Bates, with 20 years in state office and four years as mayor, has accumulated the lion’s share of endorsements and buckets of cash—about $74,000 according to his Oct. 5 filing—challenger Zelda Bronstein is running a relentless community campaign, while raising about one-third—$24,000—the amount Bates raised. -more-



Eastshore State Park Dedication Fulfills Berkeley Activist’s Dream

By Richard Brenneman
Friday October 06, 2006

After 21 years of organizing, planning, cajoling and fund-raising, Eastshore State Park became a reality Wednesday, fulfilling the dreams of a coalition of environmentalists, politicians and organizations. -more-



Sunshine Law Slow to Appear in Berkeley

By Judith Scherr
Friday October 06, 2006

While Berkeley may have been known as the free speech capital of the world, the city now lags behind seven other jurisdictions that operate under “sunshine” laws that expand California’s open government statutes. -more-



Features

Closed-Door Session Addresses Lawsuit, Police Complaints

By Judith Scherr
Friday October 06, 2006

Concerns about the city attorney’s abrupt mid-September shutdown of the public process addressing complaints against police drew about a dozen people to the open portion of the joint City Council-Police Review Commission closed session Tuesday. -more-


Measure J Embodies Battles Over Berkeley’s Landmarks

By Richard Brenneman
Friday October 06, 2006

Berkeley voters will have the chance to settle the fate of Berkeley’s Landmarks Preservation Ordinance (LPO) when they vote on Measure J. -more-


State Superintendent Targeted

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Friday October 06, 2006

A “Wanted—Jack O’Connell” flyer was posted to the Oakland Public School Parents email list this week, taking the State Superintendent to task for what it called “crimes against democracy.” -more-


A Guide to Oakland’s Ballot Measures M, N and O

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Friday October 06, 2006

The City of Oakland has three local measures on the November ballot, all them placed by a vote of the Oakland City Council. Two of them—Measures M and O—are amendments to Oakland’s city charter. One of them—Measure N—is a bond measure. -more-


County Plans Conference on Instant Runoff Voting

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Friday October 06, 2006

With the cities of Berkeley and San Leandro already approving the use of instant runoff voting (IRV) whenever the Alameda County voting system can accommodate it—and Oakland voters scheduled to decide on an IRV ballot measure next month—the Alameda County registrar’s office has set up tentative plans for an IRV conference later this month with representatives of the county’s municipalities and other interested parties. -more-


Police Blotter

By Richard Brenneman
Friday October 06, 2006

Police seeks suspects in two sexual assaults -more-


News Analysis: Torture Case Casts Light on America’s Most Secret Spy Agency

By Jeffrey Klein and Paolo Pontoniere, New American Media
Friday October 06, 2006

The U.S. government’s Gulfstream jets are back in the news. -more-


Public Comment

Letters to the Editor

Friday October 06, 2006

THANKS -more-


Commentary: Those Who Forget the Past are Condemned to Repeat It

By Shirley Dean
Friday October 06, 2006

By Shirley Dean -more-


Commentary: Ten Reasons We’re Supporting Kriss Worthington

By Nancy Carleton and Susan Hunter
Friday October 06, 2006

By NANCY CARLETON and -more-


Commentary: Déjà vu All Over Again: Downtown ‘Planning’

By Carol Denney
Friday October 06, 2006

By Carol Denney -more-


Editorial

Editorial: The Bates Mayoralty: A Tale of Opportunities Missed

By Becky O’Malley
Friday October 06, 2006

Many readers seem to assume that the Planet will automatically endorse former Planning Commission Chair Zelda Bronstein, who is on leave from her job as one of the Planet’s Public Eye columnists, in her campaign for mayor of Berkeley. But it’s not that simple. We do have enormous respect for Bronstein’s experience and expertise in all matters related to the current and future state of the city fabric, and for her keen intelligence and quick mastery of new ideas. Since she’s been contributing to the paper, she’s become a friend as well as a colleague. But that shouldn’t be the whole story. Following the “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” theory of management, it is appropriate to see what Tom Bates has done with his opportunities before deciding whether to support a change. He’s generally conceded to be personable and friendly, but is that enough? Under our charter, the mayor of Berkeley is able to establish a tone and a direction for the efforts of the City Council, but he or she must lead by example and exhortation rather than by exerting power. -more-


Columns

Column: Campaign 2006: Top Ten Senate Races

By Bob Burnett
Friday October 06, 2006

Voters will determine 33 Senate seats in 2006. According to veteran DC prognosticator Charlie Cook, 17 incumbent senators are all but guaranteed reelection. In order to regain control of the Senate, Democrats will have to win at least six of the eight Republican seats that are in play and retain all eight of the contested Democratic sets. -more-


Column: Undercurrents: Lessons in the Inner Workings of Government

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Friday October 06, 2006

This fall brings an enormous lesson in civics and how to understand the secret and inner workings of our government. Sometimes in the rush surrounding a particular event or action or piece of legislation, details get lost or overlooked, and it is only with the passage of time, and patient digging, that we begin to learn the truth of how a particular government action came to be. Thus it is with our emerging understanding of the actions of the Bush Administration with regard to terrorism both before and after the September 11th attacks. -more-


Restaurant Review: Way Down Yonder on Shattuck Avenue

By B. J. Calurus, Special to the Planet
Friday October 06, 2006

There was a time not too long ago when “Jamabalaya” was just a Hank Williams song. The rich cuisine of southern Louisiana—Cajun, Creole, and their hybrid offspring—wasn’t well known outside the region. Then, as fiddler Michael Doucet recalls, -more-


About the House: Having Good Boundaries

By Matt Cantor
Friday October 06, 2006

It’s funny that humanity ever had trouble identifying itself as part of the continuum of animal life on this planet. Anyone who has ever looked into the eyes of a dog or cat must realize that there is as much of a person inside that creature as can be found in you or me. -more-


Garden Variety: This Sonoma Nursery Is Well Worth the Detour

By Ron Sullivan
Friday October 06, 2006

I must have passed this place a thousand times without going in. I think it used to be called “The Windmill Nursery” and it still has the eponymous windmill, an old but still unrusted Aeromotor, evidently not in current use. -more-


Quake Tip of the Week

By Larry Guillot
Friday October 06, 2006

How’s Your Earthquake Knowledge? -more-


Arts Listings

Arts Calendar

Friday October 06, 2006

At the Theater: Carlin Guides SF Playhouse’s ‘Ride Down Mt. Morgan’

By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet
Friday October 06, 2006


Moving Pictures: ‘Up Series’ Presents True Human Drama

By Justin DeFreitas
Friday October 06, 2006

Jazz House Hosts New Series Every Third Friday

By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet
Friday October 06, 2006

Events Listings

Berkeley This Week

Friday October 06, 2006

Back Stories

Opinion

Editorials

Editorial: The Bates Mayoralty: A Tale of Opportunities Missed 10-06-2006

Act I & II Landmark Bid Tops Commission’s Agenda 10-03-2006

Public Comment

Letters to the Editor 10-06-2006

Commentary: Those Who Forget the Past are Condemned to Repeat It By Shirley Dean 10-06-2006

Commentary: Ten Reasons We’re Supporting Kriss Worthington By Nancy Carleton and Susan Hunter 10-06-2006

Commentary: Déjà vu All Over Again: Downtown ‘Planning’ By Carol Denney 10-06-2006

Letters to the Editor 10-03-2006

Commentary:Casino Would Meet Albany’s Long-Term Needs By Tony Caine 10-03-2006

Commentary: Another View of Golden Gate Fields By Trevor Grayling 10-03-2006

Commentary: Instant Runoff Voting Gone Bad By John Curl 10-03-2006

Commentary: Helping Vulnerable Youth of Color By Sally Hindman 10-03-2006

Commentary: Albany Shoreline: Private vs. Public Interests By Michael Marchant 10-03-2006

News

Safety Lights Disabled on Busy Street By Riya Bhattacharjee 10-06-2006

BUSD Sued Again Over Policy of Using Race By Riya Bhattacharjee 10-06-2006

Berkeley Mayor Candidates Present Divergent Choices By Judith Scherr 10-06-2006

Eastshore State Park Dedication Fulfills Berkeley Activist’s Dream By Richard Brenneman 10-06-2006

Sunshine Law Slow to Appear in Berkeley By Judith Scherr 10-06-2006

Closed-Door Session Addresses Lawsuit, Police Complaints By Judith Scherr 10-06-2006

Measure J Embodies Battles Over Berkeley’s Landmarks By Richard Brenneman 10-06-2006

State Superintendent Targeted By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 10-06-2006

A Guide to Oakland’s Ballot Measures M, N and O By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 10-06-2006

County Plans Conference on Instant Runoff Voting By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 10-06-2006

Police Blotter By Richard Brenneman 10-06-2006

News Analysis: Torture Case Casts Light on America’s Most Secret Spy Agency By Jeffrey Klein and Paolo Pontoniere, New American Media 10-06-2006

Chef Stirs Up Fancy Food For Berkeley School Kids By Riya Bhattacharjee 10-03-2006

Plans Unveiled for Gourmet Ghetto Plaza By Richard Brenneman 10-03-2006

Pickets Call For Emeryville Hotel to Honor Minimum Wage By Judith Scherr 10-03-2006

Critics Question Closed-Door Discussion of Police Disciplinary Hearings By Judith Scherr 10-03-2006

Former Library Director Heads for Ventura County By Judith Scherr 10-03-2006

UC Projects Featured on Downtown Panel Agendas By Richard Brenneman 10-03-2006

ZAB Addresses Residential Use Permits By Riya Bhattacharjee 10-03-2006

Fire Department Log By Richard Brenneman 10-03-2006

Ralph S. Hager, 1939-2006 By Susan Parker, Special to the Planet 10-03-2006

Columns

Column: Campaign 2006: Top Ten Senate Races By Bob Burnett 10-06-2006

Column: Undercurrents: Lessons in the Inner Workings of Government By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 10-06-2006

Restaurant Review: Way Down Yonder on Shattuck Avenue By B. J. Calurus, Special to the Planet 10-06-2006

About the House: Having Good Boundaries By Matt Cantor 10-06-2006

Garden Variety: This Sonoma Nursery Is Well Worth the Detour By Ron Sullivan 10-06-2006

Quake Tip of the Week By Larry Guillot 10-06-2006

Fritillaries, Passionvines and Chemical Warfare By Joe Eaton, Special to the Planet 10-03-2006

Arts & Events

Arts Calendar 10-06-2006

At the Theater: Carlin Guides SF Playhouse’s ‘Ride Down Mt. Morgan’ By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 10-06-2006

Moving Pictures: Video and Film Festival at Oaks Theater 10-06-2006

Moving Pictures: ‘Up Series’ Presents True Human Drama By Justin DeFreitas 10-06-2006

Jazz House Hosts New Series Every Third Friday By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 10-06-2006

Restaurant Review: Way Down Yonder on Shattuck Avenue By B. J. Calurus, Special to the Planet 10-06-2006

About the House: Having Good Boundaries By Matt Cantor 10-06-2006

Garden Variety: This Sonoma Nursery Is Well Worth the Detour By Ron Sullivan 10-06-2006

Quake Tip of the Week By Larry Guillot 10-06-2006

Berkeley This Week 10-06-2006

Arts Calendar 10-03-2006

Shotgun Tells Story of South Berkeley District By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 10-03-2006

Oakland Opera’s ‘Les Enfants Terribles’ By Jaime Robles, Special to the Planet 10-03-2006

Fritillaries, Passionvines and Chemical Warfare By Joe Eaton, Special to the Planet 10-03-2006

Berkeley This Week 10-03-2006