Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

News Updates

Flash: Kavanagh Steps Down

By Judith Scherr

Tuesday October 02, 2007

Accused by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office of lying about where he lives in order to maintain his seat on the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board, Rent Board Member Chris Kavanagh stepped down temporarily from his post, while he battles the question in court. -more-

News

Community Says Yes to Public Bathrooms for Everyone

By Judith Scherr

Tuesday October 02, 2007

Most everyone attending Saturday’s forum on Mayor Tom Bates’ Public Commons for Everyone Initiative agreed on one part of the proposal: Berkeley needs more public toilets for everyone. -more-

Judge Hands Legal Setback To Campus Tree-Sitters

By Richard Brenneman and By Riya Bhattacharjee

Tuesday October 02, 2007

Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium oak grove tree-sitters, who first took to the branches last Dec. 2 on Big Game morning, seemed at first to have suffered a legal setback on Monday afternoon when a Fremont judge issued a preliminary injunction. -more-

Campus T.A. Strike Averted; Alta Bates Nurse Action Near

By Richard Brenneman

Tuesday October 02, 2007

Last week, essential workers at two of Berkeley’s largest institutions said they were headed toward walkouts. By Monday afternoon, one strike threat had ended but the other was moving forward. -more-

Dellums Endorses Clinton for President at Laney College Rally

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Tuesday October 02, 2007

U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton won the running battle she held over the weekend for the attention of the Oakland electorate with her Democratic Presidential rival, Senator Barack Obama, announcing the endorsement of Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums during a hastily convened Monday afternoon appearance at Laney College. -more-

Nicole Sawaya Named National Director for KPFA

By Judith Scherr

Tuesday October 02, 2007

Fired in 1999 when, as KPFA’s general manager, she stood up to national Pacifica management, Nicole Sawaya will take the position of the boss she battled in the bloody KPFA vs. the Pacifica Foundation Board fight. -more-

Two Alleged Gang Members Arrested in Berkeley Murder

By Richard Brenneman

Tuesday October 02, 2007

Sex Assault Suspects Still at Large

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Tuesday October 02, 2007

Rival Plans, Downtown Skyline Headed for DAPAC Decision

By Richard Brenneman

Tuesday October 02, 2007

Zoning Board Extends Hours for Art House Cafe

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Tuesday October 02, 2007

Judge Orders Sanctions, New Election in Measure R Case

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Tuesday October 02, 2007

LPC to Discuss Japantown, Wood Smoke Ordinance

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Tuesday October 02, 2007

Roses: A Digression

By Shirley Barker, Special to the Planet

Tuesday October 02, 2007

Berkeley High’s Brainiest Team

By Al Winslow, Special to the Planet

Tuesday October 02, 2007

Feds Announce New Funds For Berkeley Biofuels Lab

By Richard Brenneman

Tuesday October 02, 2007

Making their political point musically outside Saturday’s meeting on the Public Commons for Everyone Initiative (left to right), Jeffrey Carter, Pat Mullen, Carol Denney and Hali Hammer croon, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime.” Photograph by Judith Scherr.

Editorials

Editorial: Public Bathrooms for Every Body Initiative

By Becky O’Malley

Tuesday October 02, 2007

Here’s a quick and simple suggestion: Let’s just change the name to the “Public Bathrooms for Every Body Initiative.” As we predicted in this very space in the very last issue, that’s all it’s really about in the end (no rude pun intended). On Saturday, a lovely autumn day, tirely too many of the usual suspects were entombed in the North Berkeley Senior Center to talk about the politicians’ latest proposal to curry favor with some elements of what they perceive to be Berkeley by cracking down on undesirable street behavior. All agreed that urination and defecation in all the wrong places is undesirable. -more-