Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

News

Edwards Brings Presidential Campaign to Berkeley

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Tuesday March 06, 2007

In a speech that touched on topics both local and global during his campaign stop at the Berkeley YWCA Sunday, Democratic presidential contender John Edwards sent a message to UC Berkeley. -more-

News Analysis: GMO Research Dominates BP-UC Partnership

By Richard Brenneman

Tuesday March 06, 2007

Critics of the proposed agreement between UC Berkeley and BP — the rebranded British Petroleum — should take their best shots now, because once the deal is signed not only Big Oil, but Big Academy and Big Government Lab will mobilize their own PR folks to fire back. -more-

Public Commons Initiative Targets Street Sitting

By Judith Scherr

Tuesday March 06, 2007

Next week, Mayor Tom Bates will introduce the “Public Commons for Everyone Initiative,” a proposal some say could provide the needed muscle to displace those who sit endlessly in the city’s public spaces adjacent to businesses. Others contend the mayor’s plan would erode the civil rights of those targeted, especially the homeless and mentally ill. -more-

Landmarks Panel Challenges LBNL Report

By Richard Brenneman

Tuesday March 06, 2007

On a 5-0-2 vote, Berkeley’s Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) raised a challenge to expansion plans for Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Thursday night. Commissioners Miriam Ng and Fran Packard abstained on the vote. -more-

Multi-School Education Center Discussed

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Tuesday March 06, 2007

Supporters of a new multi-school education center for Oakland Unified School District’s Second Avenue properties moved quickly to capitalize on the momentum gained from the collapse of the deal to sell that property, winning key commitments from local political and agency leaders for their project at an overflow mass meeting of more than 300 parents and students at Laney College last Thursday night. -more-

So An Brings Music, Activism to Bay Area

By Judith Scherr

Tuesday March 06, 2007

Corrections

Tuesday March 06, 2007

Running Wolf Free Again, Faces Hearing

By Richard Brenneman

Tuesday March 06, 2007

SF Cody’s May Close

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Tuesday March 06, 2007

Dellums Calls for Coherent Housing Policy

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Tuesday March 06, 2007

S.F. State Professor Matthew Stolz

Tuesday March 06, 2007

Pacific Steel Casting Final Emissions Report Released

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Tuesday March 06, 2007

Briefly Noted

Tuesday March 06, 2007

John Edwards greets supporters at a Berkeley rally. Photograph by Riya Bhattacharjee.

Editorials

Editorial: Berkeley’s Bookstores in Peril

By Becky O’Malley

Tuesday March 06, 2007

Last week the Planet carried a story about the Barnes and Noble store on Shattuck closing, including interviews with managers of other bookstores who expressed satisfaction at the impending departure. With all due respect, we’d like to differ with their analysis, even though one of them is a much-valued long-term Planet advertiser. -more-