Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

News Updates

Supreme Court Ruling Kills Oakland Law Allowing Seizure of Cars Used to Pick Up Prostitutes or Drugs

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Friday July 27, 2007

The California Supreme Court ruled on Thursday against California enacting ordinances allowing the seizure and forfeiture of vehicles used in picking up prostitutes or buying drugs, thus effectively ending the City of Oakland’s 10-year experiment in the practice. -more-

News

Clash Deepens Over Bus Rapid Transit

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday July 27, 2007

The Berkeley Transportation Commission’s transit subcommittee debated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on the Southside with Berkeley residents Wednesday. -more-

New Housing Authority Tackles Tough Questions

By Judith Scherr

Friday July 27, 2007

Flanked by high-priced consultants tasked with bolstering a “troubled” housing authority suffering from years of neglect, and facing a new board apparently ready to work through volumes of (sometimes contradictory, some say) HUD regulations, Berkeley Housing Authority (BHA) Executive Director Tia Ingram reported at the Monday BHA board meeting on the progress of the newly indepen-dent agency. -more-

West Berkeley Car Rezoning Ignites Public Opposition

By Richard Brenneman

Friday July 27, 2007

A proposal to rezone parts of West Berkeley for car dealerships drew massive, vocal public opposition at Berkeley’s Plan-ning Commission Wednesday night. -more-

Greenhouse Gas, BRT Issues Draw Crowd

By Richard Brenneman

Friday July 27, 2007

Greenhouse gases and Bus Rapid Transit dominated the first half of Wednesday night’s Berkeley Planning Commission meeting which drew a packed house to the North Berkeley Senior Center. -more-

Citizens Ask Council to Uphold Open-Meeting Laws

By Judith Scherr

Friday July 27, 2007

The state’s Brown Act and the Public Records Act aim to maximize the ability of citizens to participate in community affairs. -more-

Meeting Draws South Branch Library Supporters

By Judith Scherr

Friday July 27, 2007

Woman Arrested for Sex Abuse of Berkeley Teenager

By Richard Brenneman

Friday July 27, 2007

Investigation Continues of OUSD Boardmember and Student

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Friday July 27, 2007

Computer Recycling at Elephant

Friday July 27, 2007

First Person: Two Great Revolutionaries: ‘Loving Spirits Who Will Live Forever’

By Cynthia Johnson

Friday July 27, 2007

Berkeley Transportation Commission Chair Sara Syed talks to Southside residents during a Bus Rapid Transit community workshop discussion session at the Trinity United Methodist Church Wednesday. Photograph by Riya Bhattacharjee.

Editorials

Editorial: It’s Not Racism, It’s Just Plain Stupid

By Becky O’Malley

Friday July 27, 2007

Once again I’m exercising my editorial privilege of previewing opinion contributions and responding to them the same day they’re printed. I’ve read the comments from Jean Damu and Alona Clifton in this issue, and I both agree and disagree with the points they raise. -more-