Public Comment

UNIMPEACHABLE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

So it turns out that there were WMDs in Iraq. Got it from an unimpeachable source.  

Thanks, Pelosi. 

Bill Booth 

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ELMWOOD DISTRICT 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Sick and tired of power politics in Berkeley? Up to here with multi-millionaire developers calling the shots in our neighborhoods? Here’s a way to fight back and have a good time to boot. Mal Sharpe’s Big Money in Jazz and Eric and Suzy Thompson will give a benefit performance for the Elmwood Neighborhood Association on Monday, Oct. 15 at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Come and join the fun, hear some great music by world-class performers, and help the Elmwood Neighborhood Association fight City Hall for ignoring our neighborhood preservation ordinances. Doors open at 7 p.m.; music starts at 7:30. Your $20 donation supports ENA in its lawsuit against the city for approving a 5,000-square-foot restaurant and late-night bar and lounge in the old Wright’s Garage at Ashby and College in the heart of the historic Elmwood. 

David Esler 

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STREET SWEEPING 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Berkeley should really rethink its street-sweeping strategy at Addison and Bonar. It is unreasonable to shut down one side of the street in the whole neighborhood. The parking load is too great. How are these things decided? Has there been a recent survey? 

I counted 11 cars ticketed along two blocks of Addison alone. This took three meter maids. What was the total ticket count for this sweeping event on the morning of Sept. 7? These are serious questions and I would like some answers. Does this not indicate that the system is broken? 

What is the total revenue from street-sweeping incidents in the city? The city should not be looking to parking tickets as a source of operating revenue. This is a predatory practice. 

I notice little difference in debris between streets that have parking restrictions and those that don’t. Why does the sweeping happen at 9 a.m. when everyone is showing up for work and yoga classes here? We don’t have any rain this time of year so it’s not like the storm system is getting clogged. Please help me understand how this is the best solution. 

Douglas Sornberger 

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GARY KING’S DEATH 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Sam Herbert responds to an article in the Berkeley High School Jacket and makes her opinion known in the Berkeley Daily Planet letters column. She tries to suggest that Oakland Police Sergeant Gonzales was being slandered because the student paper questioned the way young Gary King was shot in the back and killed. She also tries to suggest that young Gary “pulled a gun” on this officer, which is a flat out non-truth. Nowhere, even in Sgt. Gonzales’ account, did it say or even imply that Gary King “pulled a gun. The sergeant said “he felt the presence of a gun and that as young Gary King was trying to get away Sgt. Gonzales thought he made a furtive movement” which caused him to fear for his life, and that is why Sgt. Gonzales shot and killed young Gary King in the back. Later a gun was supposedly found but no gun was “pulled” on Sgt. Gonzales. 

Robert C. White 

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TOBACCO MONEY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Today’s article regarding the debate at Cal over acceptance of tobacco research money reminded me of the day I walked into the Faculty Club in 2006 and discovered that Altria Corporate Services, Inc. was sponsoring a symposium there entitled “Women In Politics: Seeking Office and Making Policy.” I was horrified to discover that this event was hosted by none other than the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies chaired by Professor Jack Citrin. The blurb for this series asks the incisive questions: 

What barriers face women who choose to enter political life? How can young women be inspired to consider taking an active role in political affairs? Do women bring a special or unique perspective to politics and policy-making? 

I contacted Professor Citrin’s office and IGS during this time and they just couldn’t understand what the issue was. Considering Altria (aka Philip Morris USA) is the maker of Virginia Slims cigarettes, I’m surprised they didn’t use that unforgettably condescending pitch line that welcomed lung cancer into the bodies of thousands of “liberated” women: “You’ve come a long way, baby.” 

Michael Minasian 

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PELE DE LAPPE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

For Pele de Lappe, her family, comrades, friends, and fans: If there is a Marxist or commie artist’s heaven, I’m sure you are already there, enjoying a martini (or whatever you do there) with Decca Treuhaft (Jessica Mitford), Byron Randall, Donna Davis, Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and many other special people of your mutual choosing. 

Congratulations for a life well lived. Thank you for the example you set. I do the best I can. I hope, when my time comes, that you will let me into your club. I love you, and you will never be dead as long as I’m living. 

Much love and best wishes in your afterlife. I hope you be a Buddhist and come back soon. I miss you already. How are we gonna make the revolution without you? We’ll give it our best effort, as did you. 

Jim Ginger 

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BRT BOONDOGGLE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

It was quite helpful for Charles Siegel to remind us in his Oct. 5 letter to the Daily Planet that we really do need to improve transit access to BART. We should have feeder buses that provide free or low cost connection service to BART stations so that more people can use this efficient, comfortable regional transit system. What we don’t need is another regional transit system—such as the $400 million dollar BRT boondoggle—to parallel the BART line and compete with it for passengers. That would be poor transportation planning, and a big waste of taxpayer dollars.  

And now here is today’s quiz question: Can you guess the total number of BRT proponents who have agreed to accept my offer to have a public debate about this issue? I won’t keep you in suspense any longer: the total number is zero. So far, it appears that they only like to talk in forums that they have complete control over, with strict limits on citizen participation. Apparently, that’s their idea of democracy. 

Doug Buckwald 

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HALAL MARKET 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I want to thank Glen Hauer for writing the lovely goodbye memory article on Naim and Faiza and family’s Halal Market. I loved to go in there to say hi. As Glen said, you were always “Brother” or “Sister.” I know it’s just a manner of speaking, but it felt real coming from them. After my shock at knowing of Naim’s illness and the imminent closure of the store, I selfishly wondered where I’d buy delicious, fresh pita bread for 69 cents, and big glass jars of tahini. Those days are gone now. The article brought a rush of warm memories. I always came out knowing more then when I went in. Faiza once told me about how she was in line at another store, when another shopper, assuming Faiza wouldn’t understand, started lecturing her friend about how Muslim men mistreat their women by making them wear veils, using Faiza as an example. Finally, Faiza , always polite and warm, got tired of this. She surprised the ladies by telling them, in perfect English, how her husband had tried for three years to get her not to wear the veil in the store. Of course, she always wore it there. Another time, finding her not in the store, I was told by one of her sons, that she had been up all night catering a big halal meal for Muslim prisoners at a local prison. All their children are wonderful, too. The little one, Amir, is the spitting image of his father, except for masses of wild wavy brown hair. The last time I saw him, I noticed he looked different. Faiza told me he had gotten scissors and given himself a very unique haircut. Anyway, I’ll miss them a lot. Maybe they’ll open another store someday—Inshalla. 

Barbara Henninger 

P.S. I’m sorry if I misspelled anyone’s name! 

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LOTS OF VOTES, MONEY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

General Petraeus cannot betray us because he doesn’t work for us. He works for Daddy Warbucks, whether he realizes it or not. Granny D, at age 90, walked across the country to point out that “campaign contributions,” or “bribery,” were responsible for most of our country’s policies and problems. I can’t help suspecting that the newly elected Democrats were met at the door by some of Daddy Warbucks’ minions smiling and waving big, big checks, accompanied by threats to contribute to the opposition next time around. We can write and demonstrate all we want without having much effect unless we can deliver lots of votes or lots of money. The money is used, of course, to advertise and influence...votes. That’s our hope: numbers. Then maybe we can eliminate the personhood of corporations and their huge influence. 

A more beautiful subject is the delightful editorial featuring birds. I’d like to recommend a good birdbook and Golden Gate Audubon’s free slideshows and birdwalks to make life even more lovely. www.goldengateaudubon.org. 

Anyone notice the decreasing number of ladybugs this year? Maybe that’s why there’s more stickiness on sidewalks, since ladybugs eat aphids. I hope they’re OK. 

Ruth Bird 

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MAXIMIZING JOBS FOR  

OAKLAND RESIDENTS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Alert! Action needed now! The Oakland Chamber of Commerce is priming its allies to lobby the Oakland City Council to give priority industrial land consideration to the spin-offs from the British Petroleum (BP) deal at UC Berkeley! 

Not only is the BP research of limited value as a means to reduce global warming (because it will gobble up land needed for feeding people and continue the industrial structure that is about shipping liquid fuels great distances) but also the spin-offs from that research will provide only very very limited opportunities for jobs for those Oakland residents who are in the greatest need for employment. 

This is another tragic mis-direction of Oakland’s precious economic development resources into a industry area that will mainly benefit fat cats that do not live in Oakland. Don’t let Oakland be a patsy again! Please, write a counter-letter to the Oakland Planning Commission and the Oakland City Council that says, “Yes, give a priority to Industrial Zoning for green technology but make true green technology the criteria and make it those sectors that will maximally provide jobs for Oakland residents.” There are only bottle-washer and sweeping jobs in the bio-fuels’ labs that the Chamber is proposing. Please do not put it off; do it now! 

Wilson Riles 

Former Member of the Oakland City Council 

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HEALTH CARE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

It’s good to see the California Legislature is finally ready to address the pressing health care needs of our state. Of special importance is the extension of comprehensive coverage to all children. 

Children with health insurance are healthier, are at less risk of suffering from preventable illnesses, and are better able to access needed health care services. 

They also perform better academically: miss fewer school days, are more attentive in the classroom, and have an easier time learning than children without health insurance. 

Children are our common future. It is the responsibility of all to ensure them healthy lives and productive futures. 

Sophie Hahn 

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REBUTTAL TO BUCKWALD 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Apparently I managed to touch a nerve with Doug Buckwald, as he spent seven full paragraphs responding to my two paragraph letter. Yet like most reactionaries in politics, he sticks to his guns in supporting the Big Lie rather than effectively rebutting a challenge to his position. 

For example, Mr. Buckwald claims that my letter used “disrespectful language” that “confuses issues, rather than illuminates them.” Of course, I must have shed some light on the situation given the length of his response. The facts as I set them out were clear: 1) The plaintiffs suing the university are putting the lives of student-athletes, coaches and fans at risk by delaying much needed improvements to Memorial Stadium. 2) Doug Buckwald is no Cal fan. 3) The behavior of Mr. Buckwald’s allies in the trees is disrespectful of the rule of law. Mr. Buckwald fails to rebut a single one of those facts. 

In an effort to rebut the charge that he and his cronies are willing to put lives at risk in order to serve their environmental extremist agenda, Mr. Buckwald argues that the university is to blame for not shutting the doors on Memorial Stadium. I agree with Mr. Buckwald that it is tragic that the university allowed Memorial Stadium to fall into such disrepair. But Chancellor Birgeneau is taking action to solve that problem, while Doug Buckwald is taking action to make it worse. As for the suggestion that Memorial should be shuttered and everyone moved to “safe, temporary facilities now,” where exactly would those be built? When the State of California realized that bridges and overpasses were seismically unsafe, did it shut down all the roadways? No, the state retrofitted its infrastructure as quickly as possible—which is what the university would be doing this very moment were it not for the meritless lawsuit that Mr. Buckwald and his allies have filed on behalf of trees that the university has every legal right to turn into office furniture. Mr. Buckwald’s attempt to shift the blame to Chancellor Birgeneau is simply shameful. 

Next, Mr. Buckwald continues to claim he is a Cal fan, citing to his years of watching bad football as proof. Yet when Mr. Buckwald states that “public statements” should “be made at the beginning of every home football game” that “encourage more civil behavior toward the guests that come to our campus,” he ignores the fact that those statements are in fact made by Coach Tedford and his players in a video shown on the video screen at Memorial before every home game—including our most recent victory over the University of Arizona. Where were you Mr. Buckwald? Certainly not in the stadium it seems. As for understanding what he is talking about when it comes to having “stuck it out through those dismal years,” I most certainly do. I grew up in Berkeley and sat through my share of losing seasons long before ever becoming an alum. Unlike Mr. Buckwald, however, I have no desire to stick it out through more dismal years in the future because we have refused to give our coaches and student-athletes the tools they need to compete in a safe and modern facility. It is sad that a “Cal Bears fan” would join with Zachary Running-Wolf, Ayr, Tom Bates and the NIMBYs on Panoramic Hill, all of whom would be happy to see Cal return to the days of 3-8 seasons and 38,000 fans in the stands on a good Saturday. 

Finally, when it comes to “anger” and “hysteria,” Mr. Buckwald and his allies still take the cake. I am hardly consumed by my anger—but I am annoyed by your respect for the rule of law. A judge of the Alameda County Superior Court has confirmed the University’s right to clear the trees of trespassers. So I challenge you to publicly call for all those currently violating state law and a court order to respect the decision of the Court and come down from the trees. Until you do, you have no business lecturing anyone on the concept of respect. 

Jeff Ogar 

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SCHIP VETO 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

This doesn’t make sense. Bush vetoes a five-year $35 billion expansion of the children’s health insurance program while at the same time demanding $200 billion a year for war in Iraq. The children’s insurance program would have helped millions of lower and middle-class children, who incidentally make up the bulk of young military recruits. For Bush to veto the health insurance program is like a person cutting off their nose to spite their face. Let’s hear another round of applause for the “compassionate conservative.” 

Ron Lowe  

Grass Valley 

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ANTIDOTE FOR LIES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

As president Bush limps toward his final year in office the world of political punditry begins to ponder his legacy. What changes hath W. wrought? What are the accomplishments of our 43rd president?  

In the fullness of time Bush’s complete and true impact will take shape. Meanwhile, a pattern is discernable, a template that will outline whatever legacy historians decide to assign.  

Bush found it necessary to make plans in secret and was therefore obliged to lie when he decided to activate those plans. Thus, the invasion of Iraq was justified by lying about weapons of mass destruction and then occupation was justified by the lie that Hussein harbored al Qaeda terrorists, and so on.  

For decades this nation witnessed a lot of lying at the top echelons of government and sometimes the practitioners have been made accountable. What we’ve never seen before is what the Bush administration does after the lies are discovered and his “spin doctors” have failed to repair the damage.  

Bush and his team cover up the lies with bullshit. 

Bush likes to acknowledge his aptitude for bullshit and did so again last week in a speech to a friendly audience in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In typical self-deprecating style, having talked for over an hour, he said, “I can keep on blowing hot air until the time runs out.” (Source: Huffington Post.).  

Although Mr. Bush is the chief bullshit artist, there are many other gifted practitioners on his team. Rove was perhaps the best but Rumsfeld was a close second. Consider, for example, how Rumsfeld answered a journalist’s question a while back with permutations on knowing and not knowing, to wit, “There are known knowns, …known unknowns… and also unknown unknowns…”  

When it comes to collective bullshiting Congress wins first place: a) every Congress member stood on the steps of the capital building early one morning and solemnly pledged allegiance to the flag with special stress on the words “under God”; b) Congress suspended proceedings in order to allow members the time to take a stand against disconnecting life support for Terri Schiavo; and c) Congress voted overwhelmingly to condemn the full page MoveOn ad containing a pun on the name of the originator and leader of the surge in Iraq, to wit, “…General Betray Us.”  

H.G. Frankfurt, distinguished moral philosopher, wrote in his bestselling book on the theory of bullshit that “liars at least acknowledge that truth matters” whereas bullshiters, because they don’t care, are the greater enemies of truth.  

Given the pace-setting pattern of secrecy, lies and bullshit the Bush team has set, our government is adrift between no moral compass and spiritual death.  

Marvin Chachere 

San Pablo