Former Mayor Shirley Dean, City Councilmember Betty Olds and Save the Bay co-founder Sylvia McLaughlin took to a suspended platform Monday to join the tree-sitting protesters opposed to cutting a grove of oaks and other trees to make way for a $125 million athletic facility along the western wall of UC Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium. They came down later in the afternoon. Photo by Richard Brenneman.
Former Mayor Shirley Dean, City Councilmember Betty Olds and Save the Bay co-founder Sylvia McLaughlin took to a suspended platform Monday to join the tree-sitting protesters opposed to cutting a grove of oaks and other trees to make way for a $125 million athletic facility along the western wall of UC Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium. They came down later in the afternoon. Photo by Richard Brenneman.

Page One

Dean, Olds, McLaughlin Join Campus Tree Protest

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday January 23, 2007

Three of the most prominent names in Berkeley politics ascended to an oak-borne platform Monday to put their bodies on the line in defense of a campus grove. -more-



Dismissal of Survey Complaint Questioned

By Judith Scherr
Tuesday January 23, 2007

Councilmember Dona Spring called a Fair Campaign Practices Commission decision not to pursue a complaint against those responsible for a July opinion poll “a whitewash of a blatantly political” survey. -more-



‘No Intent to Influence Vote,’ Says Landmarks Poll Backer

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday January 23, 2007

Despite a city attorney’s finding that a secret pre-election poll on Berkeley landmarks law didn’t violate city election codes, supporters of Berkeley’s defeated Measure J remain skeptical. -more-



Community Launches One Last Attempt to Save Iceland

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Tuesday January 23, 2007

A group of Berkeley community members and Bay Area skaters have come together to explore actions which could save the 67-year-old Berkeley Iceland from closing down in March. -more-



Measure A Committee Presents First-Year Findings

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Tuesday January 23, 2007

The 17-member Oversight Committee for Alameda County’s 2004 Measure A health services sales tax presented its first year of findings to the Board of Supervisors Health Committee this week, concluding that while funds were spent in compliance with the measure’s purposes during the ’04-’05 fiscal year, there were “inconsistencies” in expenditure reporting from organizations receiving Measure A “which did not allow consistent scrutiny of all fund recipients.” -more-



Features

Pro-Israel Peace Activist Speaks in Piedmont

By Judith Scherr
Tuesday January 23, 2007

Marcia Freedman went to Israel in 1967 when her then-husband landed a temporary job as guest lecturer at Haifa University. She stayed for decades, becoming an Israeli citizen, a member of the Knesset (1973-77), an author, an out lesbian and a self-defined peace activist. -more-


Telegraph Zoning Changes Face Planning Commission

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday January 23, 2007

Stores on economically ailing Telegraph Avenue will be allowed to keep longer hours and many new businesses there will find permits easier to get under new zoning ordinances to be considered by the Planning Commission Wednesday. -more-


Zoning Board to Consider Cell Phone Antenna Request

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Tuesday January 23, 2007

The Zoning Adjustments Board on Thursday will once again hear a request by Verizon Wireless and Nextel Communications for a use permit to construct a new wireless telecommunications facility for 18 cell phone antennas and related equipment atop the UC Storage building at 2721 Shattuck Ave. -more-


Public Comment

Letters to the Editor

Tuesday January 23, 2007

UC OAK GROVE -more-


Commentary: Nancy Pelosi Is Just a Successful Politician

By Gene Zubovich
Tuesday January 23, 2007

The sight of Nancy Pelosi calling the House of Representatives to order would make a shocking sight for someone paying no attention to politics for a year or two. Yet the San Francisco liberal, riding the crest of a wave of indignation that swept the Republicans out of power, is now the most powerful woman in the world and the major obstacle for George Bush’s war powers. -more-


Commentary: Praise for Carter Book Unwarranted

By Rachel Neuwirth
Tuesday January 23, 2007

I am not familiar with the curriculum of the “Peace and Conflict Studies” at UC Berkeley. But if Matthew Taylor’s latest article (“Jimmy Carter: The Courage to Tell the Truth”) reflects the standards of the P&CS, I can only despair of its future graduates. For it seems to me that the resolution of conflicts and the search for peace ought to be primarily based on factual truths. Only when these facts are sought, understood, analyzed and corroborated, can we address the source of the conflict and propose a peaceful solution. It is clear that Matthew Taylor has done none of that. He just plunged head on into a sycophantic praise of Jimmy Carter and his book, without the slightest effort at fact finding. -more-


Commentary: Mud-Slinging Against Carter is Disgusting

By Joseph E. Lifschutz
Tuesday January 23, 2007

We owe a debt of gratitude for Dan Spitzer’s contribution to the Carter book debate. But not in the way he supposes. He represents the typical conservative position. His letter is full of generalizations and non-specific attacks. Where is the evidence? Saying that Carter misrepresents Security Council resolutions is not evidence. How does he misrepresent? Merely saying so and faithfully quoting authority is not enough. His authorities represent the neo-con, pro-Israel Lobby line. Their Israel ally is the extreme reactionary wing of the Likud Party, led by Netanyahu. Mud slinging against our honorable former President is disgusting. -more-


Editorial

Career Day Affords B-Tech Students Access to Music Industry

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Tuesday January 23, 2007

“Freestylin’ 101: Hip-Hop D.I.Y.” (Do It Yourself) was the course of the day for some Berkeley Technology Academy students last week. -more-


Columns

Column: The Public Eye: The Politics of Sacrifice

By Bob Burnett
Tuesday January 23, 2007

On Jan. 16, PBS News Hour host Jim Lehrer interviewed President Bush. This encounter told us a lot about Bush’s brand of conservatism, in particular, his feelings about sacrifice. -more-


Column: A Toast to Uncle Jack And the Dreamgirls

By Susan Parker
Tuesday January 23, 2007

My mother and I went to see Dreamgirls on Dec. 25, the day it opened in theaters across the country. It was the first time Mom had gone to a movie on Christmas day, the first time she’d experienced a sold-out theater and had to wait two hours for the next showing, and the first time she’d thought about The Supremes since spring, 1968. -more-


Green Neighbors: The Geographic History of the Bunya-Bunya Tree

By Ron Sullivan
Tuesday January 23, 2007

If Chez Panisse were to serve up a menu to match its guardian bunya-bunya, it would include roast haunch of free-range sauropod and a salad of braised organic tree ferns. Maybe some wood-roasted hearts of sago palm and a gingko fruit crème brulee for dessert. If it ever gets around to producing its infamously huge cones—I’ve never seen the big ones here—the bunya-bunya’s seeds are edible, too. How about it, Alice? -more-


Arts Listings

Arts Calendar

Tuesday January 23, 2007

Kent Nagano to Step Down as Berkeley Symphony Music Director

By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet
Tuesday January 23, 2007

The Theater: Ragged Wing Harnesses ‘The Tempest’

By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet
Tuesday January 23, 2007

Afghan Archaeologist Discusses Bamiyan Site

By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet
Tuesday January 23, 2007

Events Listings

Berkeley This Week

Tuesday January 23, 2007

Back Stories

Opinion

Editorials

Career Day Affords B-Tech Students Access to Music Industry 01-23-2007

Editorial: Cal’s Continuing Cluelessness 01-19-2007

Public Comment

Letters to the Editor 01-23-2007

Commentary: Nancy Pelosi Is Just a Successful Politician By Gene Zubovich 01-23-2007

Commentary: Praise for Carter Book Unwarranted By Rachel Neuwirth 01-23-2007

Commentary: Mud-Slinging Against Carter is Disgusting By Joseph E. Lifschutz 01-23-2007

Letters to the Editor 01-19-2007

Commentary: Mayor Bates’ Mandate — and Mine By Zelda Bronstein 01-19-2007

Commentary: HUD Cuts Create Nationwide Housing Crisis By Frances Hailman 01-19-2007

News

Dean, Olds, McLaughlin Join Campus Tree Protest By Richard Brenneman 01-23-2007

Dismissal of Survey Complaint Questioned By Judith Scherr 01-23-2007

‘No Intent to Influence Vote,’ Says Landmarks Poll Backer By Richard Brenneman 01-23-2007

Community Launches One Last Attempt to Save Iceland By Riya Bhattacharjee 01-23-2007

Measure A Committee Presents First-Year Findings By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 01-23-2007

Pro-Israel Peace Activist Speaks in Piedmont By Judith Scherr 01-23-2007

Telegraph Zoning Changes Face Planning Commission By Richard Brenneman 01-23-2007

Zoning Board to Consider Cell Phone Antenna Request By Riya Bhattacharjee 01-23-2007

Man Dies in House Blaze By Richard Brenneman 01-19-2007

DAPAC Calls For Closed Center Street, Preservation By Richard Brenneman 01-19-2007

Stalled Landmarks Law Hit with New Challenge By Richard Brenneman 01-19-2007

Mayor Dellums Sticks to Goals in Speech to Local Business Community By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 01-19-2007

School Board Approves EIR for South of Bancroft Plan By Riya Bhattacharjee 01-19-2007

Berkeley City Council Debates Commissioner Term Limits By Judith Scherr 01-19-2007

City’s Chamber Membership Undecided By Judith Scherr 01-19-2007

Swanson Named to Assembly Labor Commission By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 01-19-2007

Area Reps. Call for Troops Out of Iraq By Judith Scherr 01-19-2007

Berkeley School Fair Offers Kindergarten Choices By Riya Bhattacharjee 01-19-2007

Saturday Tree-Sitter Event Planned By Richard Brenneman 01-19-2007

First Person: Cal State East Bay Professors Visit Venezuela By Charles DeBose 01-19-2007

First Person: Amazon Petition Demands Fair Treatment for Carter Book By Henry Norr 01-19-2007

Columns

Column: The Public Eye: The Politics of Sacrifice By Bob Burnett 01-23-2007

Column: A Toast to Uncle Jack And the Dreamgirls By Susan Parker 01-23-2007

Green Neighbors: The Geographic History of the Bunya-Bunya Tree By Ron Sullivan 01-23-2007

Dispatches From the Edge: Iran: Thinking the Unthinkable By Conn Hallinan 01-19-2007

Undercurrents: The Right Way to Leave Iraq By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 01-19-2007

The Hue and Cry of House Paint By Jane Powell 01-19-2007

About the House: What I Like and What I Don’t Like About Pergo By Matt Cantor 01-19-2007

Garden Variety: Save Water, Time and Plants With an Irrigation System By Ron Sullivan 01-19-2007

Arts & Events

Arts Calendar 01-23-2007

Kent Nagano to Step Down as Berkeley Symphony Music Director By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 01-23-2007

The Theater: Ragged Wing Harnesses ‘The Tempest’ By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 01-23-2007

Afghan Archaeologist Discusses Bamiyan Site By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 01-23-2007

Green Neighbors: The Geographic History of the Bunya-Bunya Tree By Ron Sullivan 01-23-2007

Berkeley This Week 01-23-2007

Arts Calendar 01-19-2007

Arts and Entertainment Around the East Bay 01-19-2007

‘California as Muse’ at Oakland Museum By Peter Selz, Special to the Planet 01-19-2007

Film Series Screens Rare Jazz Performance Footage By Galen Babb, Special to the Planet 01-19-2007

The Hue and Cry of House Paint By Jane Powell 01-19-2007

About the House: What I Like and What I Don’t Like About Pergo By Matt Cantor 01-19-2007

Garden Variety: Save Water, Time and Plants With an Irrigation System By Ron Sullivan 01-19-2007

Berkeley This Week 01-19-2007