Rosa Parks School Tries Going Solar
Rosa Parks Elementary School went solar for a couple of days earlier this month. -more-
Rosa Parks Elementary School went solar for a couple of days earlier this month. -more-
Berkeley High School administrators informed students this week about a change in board policy that requires all juniors and seniors who do not want their names and addresses released to the U.S. military for recruitment purposes to sign an “opt-out” form. -more-
Skewered in a city attorney’s report for incompetencies such as housing dead people in low-income apartments and obstructing investigations, Berkeley Housing Authority workers fought back at Tuesday’s BHA meeting, where the City Council approved the city manager’s recommendation to eliminate the positions of all BHA workers except the manager. -more-
A bid to designate downtown Berkeley as a priority development area (PDA) targeted for state-funded high-density development failed by a single vote Wednesday night. -more-
The City Council meeting ended in a complete meltdown just before midnight Tuesday with Councilmember Betty Olds walking out of the meeting followed by Councilmembers Max Anderson and Kriss Worthington. -more-
On Wednesday evening, the Police Review Commission (PRC) approved 3-1 new rules that will govern hearings involving complaints against police officers and set June 7 as its first hearing date since September—an action commissioners say is likely to get the city back in court facing off against the Berkeley Police Association. -more-
UC Berkeley custodians have won their equity raises, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 announced in a press release Tuesday. -more-
A last-minute lawsuit filed this week alleges the Richmond City Council violated state environmental law by signing a $310.4 million contract to provide services for a North Richmond casino. -more-
Tod Mikuriya, M.D., died Sunday at his home in the Berkeley Hills. He was 73. The cause was complications of cancer. In the final days he’d been in the care of his sisters, Beverly, an M.D. from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and Mary Jane of San Francisco, and his longtime assistant, John Trapp. -more-
EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES OF BERKELEY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION -more-
In separate reports, City Manager Phil Kamlarz and City Attorney Manuela Albuquerque have found gross incompetence, if not fraud, in the Berkeley Housing Authority. BHA manages a budget of $25,000,000 per year. This is supposed to provide subsidized housing for nearly 1900 needy families. The truth, as reported in the Daily Planet on May 22, is that in too many cases the money goes to ineligible persons, and even to people who are long dead. Finding “egregious violations” of federal rules, and active employee resistance to reform, Kamlarz and Albuquerque ask the mayor and City Council to replace themselves as directors of BHA with a set of Mayoral appointees, and to terminate the employment of 13 full time staffers. Strangely (given the alleged misconduct), the fired employees are to be offered equal or better positions elsewhere in the city bureaucracy. The city will kick in another $947,000 to help BHA to “transition” to something different (what exactly is not described). -more-
There have been many articles on this subject lately. To generalize, it comes down to two very broad reasons. The first is based on the desire for the Democrats to just let the bastard stew in the mess that he created and in the process take the Republicans down with him. The Dems are dreaming of winning back the presidency without having to work very hard. This is probably correct. It insulates the Dems from having to make a courageous stand on principle, an especially odious enterprise for the other corporate dominated party, but, it also makes them culpable for this endless war. This will be the Republican’s defense come next elections: You were with us on this war until it got hard. They have a point. -more-
Residents of the 2400 block of Seventh Street in Berkeley, be warned. A couple of weeks ago my sister’s little poodle, Floy, got her throat ripped out by a neighbor’s pit bull. A young man was walking past our home with this vicious dog on a leash with no muzzle, while Floy was happily romping in her yard. Being a friendly sort, the poodle ran over to greet this dog, and with no warning the pit bull seized her by the throat. There was a terrible struggle, in which my sister’s hand was somewhat mangled. The young man had no idea what to do, so he just kept beating his fist on the dog’s head until it finally relaxed its jaws enough to pull Floy loose. But, oh it was so awful! Her little jaw was crushed and her throat literally tore out. My God, it could have been the little girl who lives across the street! Why didn’t this animal have a muzzle on?! -more-
Despite the many complaints we have heard about its being “stupid,” we commend the City of Berkeley for erecting the 10-foot high self-locking gates at each entrance of the Ohlone Dog Park to prevent unauthorized persons and/or animals from entering the park during the hours in which it is closed. We have several suggestions for further improvements. -more-
Some people make things happen. Some people watch things happen. Some people say, “What happened?!” -more-
Drivers leaving the freeway at the Fifth street exit in San Francisco often find their cars besieged by several men carrying signs: middle-aged or older, many though not all African-American, disheveled, some with teeth missing. Frequently they wave signs, hand-lettered on cardboard boxes, saying things like “I’m a veteran who needs help.” Or “Will take any kind of job.” It’s easy to keep the windows rolled up and drive on. -more-
Deja vu all over again? The longer the United States and NATO stay in Afghanistan, the more the place is looking like Vietnam: -more-
It’s bug time! The plants in the garden are just starting to thrive and get real leaves; the flowers are midway in their annual sequential display; what was mud is starting to look like future meals. -more-
Woody Allen says “When you're forty, half of you belongs to the past—and when you’re seventy, nearly all of you.” -more-
Editorial: Remembering Living Veterans on Memorial Day 05-25-2007
Editorial: Doing Things Wrong on the West Side of Town 05-22-2007
Letters to the Editor 05-25-2007
Letters: Save Yassir Chadly’s Job! 05-25-2007
Commentary: The Housing Scandal: A Perfect Storm By David M. Wilson 05-25-2007
Commentary: Why We Don’t Impeach the President or Stop the War By Bill Hamilton 05-25-2007
Commentary: People Injured in Pit Bull Attack By Sally Tarver 05-25-2007
Commentary: A Modest Proposal Regarding the Ohlone Dog Park By Beverly Slapin 05-25-2007
Commentary: Aloha Rachel Rupert By Winston Burton 05-25-2007
Letters to the Editor 05-22-2007
Commentary: Mayor Bates Sends Mixed Message On Troubled Housing Authority By Lynda Carson 05-22-2007
Commentary: Don’t Assume He’s Pro-Israel By Joel Tranter 05-22-2007
Commentary: Subverting the Peace and Justice Commission By Joanna Graham 05-22-2007
Rosa Parks School Tries Going Solar By Riya Bhattacharjee 05-25-2007
BHS to Give Student Data To Military Recruiters By Riya Bhattacharjee 05-25-2007
City Housing Workers Fight Back By Judith Scherr 05-25-2007
Planners Reject High-Density Downtown Fund Bid By Richard Brenneman 05-25-2007
Council Unravels After Seven Hours of Deliberation By Judith Scherr 05-25-2007
PRC Plans Closed-Door Complaint Hearing; Expects Police Union TRO By Judith Scherr 05-25-2007
UC Custodians Win Raises By Judith Scherr 05-25-2007
Lawsuit Challenges Richmond Casino By Richard Brenneman 05-25-2007
Tod Mikuriya, 1933-2007 By Fred Gardner, Special to the Planet 05-25-2007
Flash: Housing Authority Workers Fight Back By Judith Scherr 05-22-2007
Missing the Oxford Parking Lot By Al Winslow, Special to the Planet 05-22-2007
Dead Tenants Get Low-Income Housing; City Blames Staff By Judith Scherr 05-22-2007
Council Addresses Two City of Refuge Proposals By Judith Scherr 05-22-2007
Governor Touts Berkeley Biofuel Programs By Richard Brenneman 05-22-2007
Fluorescent Light Bulbs, Controlling Electricity Sources Lauded at Community Meeting 05-22-2007
Chronicle Newsroom Slashed, East Bay Express Goes Indie By Richard Brenneman 05-22-2007
Board Considers Washington School Solar Project By Riya Bhattacharjee 05-22-2007
Council Re-Examines Mayor’s Public Commons Initiative By Judith Scherr 05-22-2007
Cheryl Draper Named Coach for BHS Women’s Basketball Team By Riya Bhattacharjee 05-22-2007
Residential Additions Dominate Zoning Board Agenda By Riya Bhattacharjee 05-22-2007
National Talk Show Hosts Brings Health Expo to Oakland By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 05-22-2007
Column: Dispatches from the Edge: Deja Vu in Afghanistan; Paraguay Political Challenge By Conn Hallinan 05-25-2007
Garden Variety: Try Not to Poison Your Neighbor’s Baby Food By Ron Sullivan 05-25-2007
About the House: How to Handle a Condo at Forty By Matt Cantor 05-25-2007
Quake Tip of the Week By Larry Guillot 05-25-2007
Green Neighbors: The Tough, Sweet Beauty of Cecile Brunner Roses By Ron Sullivan 05-22-2007
Arts Calendar 05-25-2007
Arts and Entertainment Around the East Bay 05-25-2007
Moving Pictures: PFA Presents ‘Shohei Imamura’s Japan’ By Justin DeFreitas 05-25-2007
The Theater: Shotgun Players Stage Mamet’s ‘Cryptogram’ By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 05-25-2007
Garden Variety: Try Not to Poison Your Neighbor’s Baby Food By Ron Sullivan 05-25-2007
About the House: How to Handle a Condo at Forty By Matt Cantor 05-25-2007
Quake Tip of the Week By Larry Guillot 05-25-2007
Berkeley This Week 05-25-2007
Correction 05-25-2007
Arts Calendar 05-22-2007
Arts and Entertainment Around the East Bay 05-22-2007
The Theater: Berkeley Playwright Makes Hometown Debut By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 05-22-2007
Green Neighbors: The Tough, Sweet Beauty of Cecile Brunner Roses By Ron Sullivan 05-22-2007
Berkeley This Week 05-22-2007