Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

News

Ben Cohen Launches Topsy-Turvy Bus to Protest Tax Priorities

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday April 13, 2007

It’s the school bus from Neverland. And yet it sends a message to the powers-that-be in a way that could never have been imagined. -more-

Court Rules Wal-Mart Must Make Records Public

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Friday April 13, 2007

In a decision that will mean public access to in excess of 15,000 pages of documents from Wal-Mart corporation, a California Appeals Court has ruled that an Alameda County Superior Court judge erred in sealing thousands of pages of documents in an employment lawsuit against the retail giant. -more-

BUSD Rules Don’t Violate Prop. 209

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday April 13, 2007

The Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) emerged victorious in the American Civil Rights Foundation vs. Berkeley Unified School District lawsuit when Judge Winifred Y. Smith of the Alameda County Superior Court ruled in favor of the school district Monday. -more-

Commission Deems Public Commons Initiative Too Vague for Comment

By Judith Scherr

Friday April 13, 2007

Members of the Homeless Commission slammed Mayor Tom Bates’ Public Commons for Everyone initiative as “mean spirited,” “punitive,” “vindictive,” and too vague to address effectively. -more-

Court Upholds UC’s Long-Range Development Pact

By Richard Brenneman

Friday April 13, 2007

The City of Berkeley scored a first-round legal victory when a judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the City Council’s agreement with UC Berkeley that paved the way for the new downtown plan. -more-

School Board Postpones Solar Project Approval, Reviews API Scores

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday April 13, 2007

Oak Grove Raided—Again

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday April 13, 2007

School Employees Call for Cost of Living Increase

By Judith Scherr

Friday April 13, 2007

Landmarks Commission to Hold Special Meeting Monday

By Richard Brenneman

Friday April 13, 2007

Mayor Rejects Charges of Racism in Emeryville Government

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Friday April 13, 2007

UC-BP Debate Reveals ‘Two Cultures’ Schism

By Richard Brenneman

Friday April 13, 2007

Artist, Activist Joy Holland

By Judith Scherr

Friday April 13, 2007

Woodfin Workers

Friday April 13, 2007

Remembering John Denton

By Clifford Fred

Friday April 13, 2007

Down the Garden Path, Part II

By Shirley Barker, Special to the Planet

Friday April 13, 2007

Korean Cab Driver Self-Immolates to Protest Free Trade Agreement

By Christine Ahn, New America Media

Friday April 13, 2007

Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen boards the Topsy Turvy Bus Wednesday with the vehicle’s builder, artist Tom Kennedy, looking on. Photograph by Riya Bhattacharjee.

Editorials

Editorial: Finding the Courage to Negotiate

By Becky O’Malley

Friday April 13, 2007

So let us begin anew, remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. -more-