Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

News Updates

Flash: Army Recruiters Offer Climbing, Fun Stuff on UC Campus

By Judith Scherr

Friday November 09, 2007

Second Lt. Joseph Perkins described it as a small carnival—with its Humvee, Apache Helicopter simulator and climbing wall. A graduate of UC Berkeley, Perkins was one of the army recruiters on campus on Friday. -more-

Flash: Berkeley Marina Closed Due to Oil Spills, Rescue Stations Set Up Along Shoreline

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday November 09, 2007

The Berkeley Marina was closed to incoming and outgoing boat traffic Friday after the incoming tide brought more oil globules and sick birds into its beaches and surrounding parks. -more-

News

UC Santa Cruz Protesters Climb Redwoods, UCB Bolsters Oak Grove Fence

By Richard Brenneman

Friday November 09, 2007

The fenced-in tree-sitters at UC Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium oak grove gained new allies Wednesday as their counterparts in Santa Cruz climbed redwoods while their allies were driven back by an onslaught of police clubs and pepper spray. -more-

City Dredges And Dumps at Aquatic Park Without Permit

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday November 09, 2007

The City of Berkeley dredged the lagoon at the north end of Aquatic Park and dumped the sludge along the shoreline this week. State Water Resources Control Board officials said the city’s Public Works Department never requested a permit for the project. -more-

Council OKs Controversial Antennas

By Judith Scherr

Friday November 09, 2007

Amidst jeers, catcalls and demands for the mayor’s recall‚ and Mayor Tom Bates’ threats to clear the rowdy public from the chambers, the Berkeley City Council voted Tuesday to allow two powerful telecommunications companies to place antennas atop UC Storage, a five-story building owned by developer Patrick Kennedy adjacent to the neighborhood at Ward Street and Shattuck Avenue. -more-

Downtown Panel Nixes Point Tower Plan

By Richard Brenneman

Friday November 09, 2007

Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee members turned thumbs down on point towers in downtown Berkeley Wednesday, voting 13-7-1 for a six-story maximum building height, while allowing for up to ten exceptions. -more-

Chief Responds to PRC Concerns on Drug Evidence Theft

By Judith Scherr

Friday November 09, 2007

While Berkeley Police Chief Douglas Hambleton agreed with many of the Police Review Commission recommendations aimed at preventing criminal activity among police officers, he took issue with a few. -more-

Oil Spill Closes Local Beaches

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday November 09, 2007

Council Approves Private Solar Power Financing Concept

By Judith Scherr

Friday November 09, 2007

People’s Park Report Slammed

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday November 09, 2007

Berkeley in the 1932 Election

By Steven Finacom

Friday November 09, 2007

Workers construct the enlarged fence at the oak grove at UC Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium Thursday. by Doug Buckwald

Editorials

It’s Time to Jump on the Worthington Bandwagon

By Becky O’Malley

Friday November 09, 2007

The “Emily” in the very successful Emily’s List fundraising organization is not a person but an acronym. It stands for the old political slogan Early Money Is Like Yeast, which means that a dollar given early in a campaign is worth many more dollars for the would-be candidate than one contributed at the end. Early dollars can be used to do fundraising for additional funds, and to reach out to undecided voters in time to recruit them as campaign volunteers. -more-