Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

News

‘Drop Everything And Read’

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday March 16, 2007

The smiles, gasps and cries of delight from the kindergartners sitting in their classroom at Washington Elementary School Tuesday morning were evidence of a morning well spent. -more-

City Concerned Over UC Lab, Campus Plans

By Richard Brenneman

Friday March 16, 2007

For the city, it’s both too much and too little—too much building by UC Berkeley and too little consideration of its potentially profound impacts on the surrounding community. -more-

‘Commons for Everyone’ Excludes Homeless, Some Charge

By Judith Scherr

Friday March 16, 2007

Mayor Tom Bates’ proposal to crack down on people engaged in “prolonged sitting” or yelling in public spaces near businesses got Berkeley City Council approval (5-2-1) in concept Tuesday night—and sharp condemnation from the several dozen residents who came to the meeting to demand that the council not criminalize homelessness and drug addiction. -more-

City Council Agrees to Limit Commissioner Terms

By Judith Scherr

Friday March 16, 2007

Berkeley City Counclimember Laurie Capitelli said an ordinance approved 6-3 Tuesday night to limit the time commissioners can serve on key commissions and to restrict service to just one of these commissions at a time is good government. -more-

Peralta Trustees Approve ‘Concept’ of $10 Million Laney Complex

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Friday March 16, 2007

The ghost of construction deals past stalked the Peralta Community College District trustees meeting this week, with a sometimes-bitter clash between trustees and district staff over a $9.7 million proposal to build a new physical education complex on the Laney College campus. -more-

Planners Pick New Chair, Hear Economic Report

By Richard Brenneman

Friday March 16, 2007

BUSD Reviews Summer School Program Options

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday March 16, 2007

Hawking Inspires Students at UC Lecture

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday March 16, 2007

Weekend of Anti-War Events

By Judith Scherr

Friday March 16, 2007

Mayor Tom Bates reads to fifth graders in Hilary Mitchell's class. Photograph by Mark Coplan.

Editorials

Editorial: Berkeley Businesses Need to Accentuate the Positive

By Becky O’Malley

Friday March 16, 2007

A young friend told me that she’d made the mistake of watching the city council on cable on Tuesday night. Her verdict? “Pathetic!” she said. “Most of the time they didn’t even seem to know what was going on.” Sadly, I agree. -more-