News

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It took a week of intense negotiations, with Councilmember Laurie Capitelli moving back and forth between developer Jim Hart and neighbors of his proposed five-story mixed-use project at Harrison Street and San Pablo Avenue, for the two sides to come to what appears will be a compromise agreement. -more-

The Milo Foundation returned to the Zoning Adjustments Board on Thursday with a set of proposed use permit conditions for approval which included: a maximum number of four dogs overnight, no boarding or kennel use and changes in its driveway usage. -more-

A steady stream of latte drinkers and Internet users moved in and out of the Royal Ground Café on Shattuck Avenue and Channing Way last week, creating a backdrop hum for a lunch-hour interview with Raudel Wilson, the District 4 City Council candidate, challenging 14-year incumbent Councilmember Dona Spring. -more-

With incumbent Councilmember Dona Spring raising $13,000 and challenger Raudel Wilson raising just under $12,000 as of Sept. 30, the District 4 candidates have more modest and more equal campaign war chests than candidates in the Districts 7 and 8 races, where funds raised by challenger George Beier mount to $44,000 and funds raised by Councilmember George Wozniak are at $34,000. Their challengers Kriss Worthington and Jason Overman, according to the Oct. 5 reporting, raised about $19,00 and $14,000 respectively. -more-

State officials have ordered UC Regents and two chemical manufacturing multinationals to clean up toxic wastes at UC Berkeley’s Richmond Field Station (RFS). -more-

Just how much radiation is there in southern Richmond, and how dangerous is it to residents and folks who work there? -more-

What is the definition of a “test”? -more-

While condo conversions and the Landmarks Preservation Ordinance represent the bread and butter issues of municipal politics, Berkeley voters will also get to weigh in on matters of national and global significance when they cast votes on two ballot measures. -more-

6:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17: -more-

UC Berkeley officials have issued a call for a consultant to lead the process that could end with major changes for the most hotly contested piece of real estate in Berkeley history, People’s Park. -more-

A five-person panel will present their views Wednesday night about the role of social services, homelessness and new housing in a new plan for downtown Berkeley. -more-

The question of how to deal with out-of-district students in the Berkeley public schools has become a major issue for school board candidates in this election. -more-

Butter knife bandits -more-

Fourteen former El Cerrito mayors have endorsed me, since I will bring fresh ideas to the city council and I understand to prioritize how we spend our city’s limited funds. -more-

My name is Janet Abelson. I’m the mayor of El Cerrito and I appreciate this opportunity to tell you about my background, my accomplishments on the El Cerrito City Council and my plans for the future. -more-

I was elected to the City Council in El Cerrito in 2002 and I’m now running for my second term. I have been serving my community for 10 years, first as a member of the Redevelopment Advisory Committee, than as a Planning Commissioner, and for four years on the City Council. I proudly served as Mayor in 2004-2005, representing our City on the West County Mayors and Supervisors board; on the Contra Costa Conference of Mayors; and on regional boards, such as the Association of Bay Area Governments. I also have extensive experience volunteering in our public schools. I have lived in El Cerrito with my husband—Phil Martien— raising our two daughters who have attended Madera Elementary, Portola Middle School and El Cerrito High School. I served on school site councils at Madera and Portola and currently represent El Cerrito on the West Contra Costa Unified School District Citizen Bond Oversight Committee. -more-

I, Andrew W. Ting, have lived in El Cerrito since 1987. I graduated from El Cerrito High in 1991. I earned my bachelor degrees in Music and Economics from U.C. Berkeley in 1995. Go Bears!!! From 1995–1997, I went to University of Minnesota to pursue my masters of music with an emphasis in Orchestral Conducting. After coming back to El Cerrito, I realized that my passion has always been in education. I began teaching in the public schools under West Contra Unified School District in 2000 while attending California State University, Hayward to obtain my teaching credential. -more-

After Berkeley firefighters rescued her from her burning home Monday night, a Berkeley woman took out a cigarette lighter and tried to set herself ablaze. -more-

While the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce is raking in thousands of dollars to battle for candidates and oppose ballot measures, there’s no record on file anywhere to show who’s giving or getting the money—and there probably won’t be until right before or after the Nov. 7 election. -more-

During the past legislative session, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic legislative leaders (primarily Sen. Don Perata and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez) reached an agreement to put four bond measures on the ballot to fund various projects in California. -more-

A law intended to increase construction of affordable housing units was invoked at Tuesday’s Berkeley City Council meeting by attorney Rena Rickles, in an attempt to push the council to approve a controversial mixed-use housing and commercial development at San Pablo Avenue and Harrison Street. -more-

In this internet-dependent age, when less than a month before a runoff election an incumbent officeholder’s website [www.roland4auditor.com/] has no photo, no qualifications, no campaign platform, no endorsement information, no contact number, and reads only “Site under construction—check back for more information”—well, then, you know that incumbent is in some political trouble. -more-

What started off as a discussion differentiating creeks and culverts at the Planning Commission meeting on Wednesday went on to become a heated debate about the ambiguities and inaccuracies of the proposed amendments to the Creeks Ordinance. -more-

After years of grappling, construction on the long-awaited multi-use playing field at Derby Street and Martin Luther King finally started on Oct. 1. -more-

Last Friday, Ivery McKnight-Johnson left behind her legacy as Berkeley High School’s (BHS) Student Activities Director to go work as a middle school counselor in the Central Valley. -more-

A hearing on a four-year-old police union suit against the city is slated for Nov. 14 at 9 a.m. in Alameda County Superior Court Dept. 31. -more-

Gas fire -more-

This is part one of a two-part series -more-