News

Commons Initiative Hearing on Saturday

By Judith Scherr
Friday September 28, 2007

Proposed laws and services aimed at people exhibiting “inappropriate street behavior” make up the Public Commons for Everyone Initiative, to be discussed at a forum Saturday. -more-


Berkeley Drive-By Murder Victim Suspected in Richmond Deaths

By Richard Brenneman
Friday September 28, 2007

A Berkeley man slain by a fusillade of high-powered automatic rifle shots fired from a passing van early Saturday morning had himself been arrested two years earlier as one of six suspects in a similar slaying in Richmond. -more-


Planners Approve West Berkeley Car Dealerships

By Richard Brenneman
Friday September 28, 2007

Planning Commissioners Wednesday approved a modified plan and rezoning agenda that will open up the northern end of West Berkeley to car dealerships. -more-


Top Legal Talent Battle in City-University Confrontation

By Richard Brenneman
Friday September 28, 2007

The courtroom battle over UC Berkeley’s stadium-area building boom pitted the city’s hired legal gun in a Tuesday showdown against the university’s own sharpshooter-for-hire. -more-


James Kenney Park Inclusionary Workers Lose Jobs

By Judith Scherr
Friday September 28, 2007

Fulani Offuti has been an hourly worker in the Parks and Recreation Department for 11 years, working most recently in James Kenney Park’s inclusionary program, where disabled and able-bodied children are integrated into recreation activities. -more-


Trial Starts for Man Accused of Shooting Berkeley Police Officer

Bay City News
Friday September 28, 2007

More than 25 uniformed Berkeley police officers crowded into a courtroom today for opening statements in the trial of a man accused of attempting to murder Berkeley police Officer Darren Kacalek more than two years ago. -more-


Superintendent Search Identifies BUSD Problems

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday September 28, 2007

At over 25 meetings held during two days this past week, parents, teachers, students and community members showed up to question, comment and prophesy on the role of the new superintendent who will replace current Berkeley Unified School District superintendent Michel Lawrence in February. -more-


Kavanagh Pleads Not Guilty

Bay City News
Friday September 28, 2007

Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board member Chris Kavanagh pleaded not guilty today to five felony counts stemming from allegations that his real home is in Oakland and that he falsely claims he lives in Berkeley in order to hold office and collect city benefits there. -more-


Code Pink Protests Marine Recruitment Center

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday September 28, 2007

Code Pink took to the streets of Berkeley Wednesday to try to drive the U.S. Marine Recruitment Center out of the city. -more-


Health Officer Cites Race as Factor in Health Inequalities

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday September 28, 2007

Berkeley still has a long way to go before it can eliminate health inequalities, according to city officials who spoke at Tuesday’s Community Action Forum at St. Paul AME Church. -more-


Fire Department Log

By Richard Brenneman
Friday September 28, 2007

Flames destroyed most of a large carport behind one of Berkeley’s tenancy-in-common (TIC) buildings last Friday, consuming two cars in the process. -more-


Three Medical Emergencies in a Day at Berkeley High School

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday September 28, 2007

One of the two students who were injured in a series of unrelated accidents at Berkeley High Wednesday was back in the classroom Thursday, said Berkeley Unified School District spokesperson Mark Coplan. -more-


Port Commission Nominee a Test of Dellums’ Strategies

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Friday September 28, 2007

The wisdom of Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums’ policy of keeping his distance from the politics of the Oakland City Council gets its first real test this Tuesday when the council considers Dellums’ appointments to the powerful Port of Oakland Board of Commissioners. -more-


BHA: Today Is Last Day to Mail Housing Applications

By Judith Scherr
Friday September 28, 2007

Today (Friday, September 28) is the last day for eligible persons to put their applications in the mail for the two available units of Berkeley’s public housing, Berkeley Housing Authority Director Tia Ingram reminded the BHA board at its Wednesday evening meeting. -more-


Autumn Holiday Activities May Sell Out Quickly

By Steven Finacom, Special to the Planet
Friday September 28, 2007

I’m not one for making holiday plans too early. I cringe at Halloween displays in stores on Labor Day, and abhor hearing ho-ho-ho’s anytime before Thanksgiving. -more-


Center for Independent Living Still Strong at 35

By Judith Scherr
Tuesday September 25, 2007

“Independent Living isn’t doing everything by yourself—it’s being in control of how things are done.” -more-


Rent Board Member Free on Bail

By Judith Scherr
Tuesday September 25, 2007

Kavanagh Will Plead Not Guilty -more-


Protesters Call For Prosecution Of Oakland Police Sergeant

By Angela Rowen, Special to the Planet
Tuesday September 25, 2007

Friends and family of Gary W. King rallied outside of Oakland City Hall Monday afternoon to call for the prosecution of the police sergeant who shot and killed the 20-year-old Oakland resident last Thursday. -more-


‘An Inadvertent Revolution’ Women on the World War II Home Front

By Geneviève Duboscq, Special to the Planet
Tuesday September 25, 2007

After her mother’s death in 1999, journalist Emily Yellin came across the wartime diary and hundreds of letters her mother had written home from the Pacific while working with the Red Cross. Within days, Yellin could see that “My mother’s story served as a window through which to see the story of all the women in World War II.” -more-


UC Berkeley Museum Director Steps Down

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday September 25, 2007

Berkeley Art Museum/Pacific Film Archive Director Kevin Consey will leave his post in January, the museum announced Friday. -more-


Berkeley Police Investigate Two Weekend Homicides

Bay City News
Tuesday September 25, 2007

Berkeley police are investigating two deaths on Saturday as the city’s third and fourth homicide of 2007. -more-


West Berkeley Car Sales Tops Planning Commission Agenda

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday September 25, 2007

Planning commissioners meet Wednesday to hold their second and final vote on the zoning ordinance and plan amendments paving the way for car dealers to set up shop in West Berkeley. -more-


Memorial Stadium Lawsuit Moves Forward Despite Delay Caused by Bomb Threat

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday September 25, 2007

The courtroom battle over UC Berkeley’s stadium-area building plans has shifted from shaky ground to the broader environment—though a bomb threat delayed Friday’s session. -more-


Oakland Officials Say Bayfill That Delayed Wayans Deal Was Long Known by Both Sides

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Tuesday September 25, 2007

Representatives of the Wayans Brothers-Pacifica Capital Urban Development Partnership have said that they did not know, when they signed an exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) with the City of Oakland to purchase old Oakland Army Base property, that the Port of Oakland was planning a bayfill and container cargo storage in waters directly across from that property. -more-


Community Benefits District Meeting Delayed

By Judith Scherr
Tuesday September 25, 2007

A meeting, billed as a forum to discuss the West Berkeley Community Benefits District (WBCBD), has been delayed, according to Michael Caplan, the city’s acting economic development director. -more-


Zoning Board Considers Use Permit for Tower Records Re-Development Project

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Tuesday September 25, 2007

Berkeley Developers Ruegg & Ellsworth will ask the Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) Thursday for a use permit to redevelop the former Tower Records building at 2517 Durant Ave. -more-