Iraq war vet Joe Tugas undergoes a waterboarding demonstration at Sproul Plaza Wednesday as part of a rally to protest the nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey as U.S. Attorney General. Photograph by Felix Barrett.
Iraq war vet Joe Tugas undergoes a waterboarding demonstration at Sproul Plaza Wednesday as part of a rally to protest the nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey as U.S. Attorney General. Photograph by Felix Barrett.

Page One

Call for Feinstein Censure Grows

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday November 16, 2007

As a local movement to censure U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein for supporting Michael Mukasey’s nomination for U.S. Attorney General began, more than 200 students gathered in front of UC Berkeley’s Sproul Plaza Wednes-day to witness a waterboarding demonstration. -more-



UC Signs BP Contract, Research Already Underway

By Richard Brenneman
Friday November 16, 2007

The $500 million pact between UC Berkeley and one of the world’s largest oil companies went into effect Wednesday, though research covered by the contract started months ago. -more-



Oil Spill Prompts City To Declare Emergency

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday November 16, 2007

The only sound along the deserted shoreline at the Berk-eley Marina Wednesday was the clattering of pebbles inside Carole Rathfon’s double-layered plastic bag. -more-



Residents Say Richmond Shore Cleanup Neglected

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday November 16, 2007

Richmond residents expressed concern this week at the failure of state and federal officials to rescue oiled birds from the Rich-mond shoreline. -more-



Solar Grant Leaves CESC in the Cold

By Judith Scherr
Friday November 16, 2007

The question of who will implement the East Bay Smart Solar Program, funded by the Depart-ment of Energy with matching city money, brings to the fore the question of how government engages nonprofits and other organizations—for better or worse—to do work it cannot or will not do. -more-



Features

DAPAC Upholds Lowered Skyline; Plan Final Meeting

By Richard Brenneman
Friday November 16, 2007

DAPAC approved a limited-height mandate for the downtown Berkeley plan, dividing their Monday night vote between a majority who felt they’d compromised enough and a minority who wouldn’t approve anything without an economist’s imprimatur. -more-


Arrests Follow Fence-Cutting at Grove

By Richard Brenneman
Friday November 16, 2007

The Memorial Stadium confrontation between tree-sitters and campus officialdom heated up Thursday, marked by three arrests and a fence breach. -more-


City Stops Aquatic Park Project, Tests Sludge for Toxins

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday November 16, 2007

Berkeley officials said they plan to submit a work plan for dredging Aquatic Park lagoon to the State Water Resources Control Board for approval, according to city and state officials. -more-


Business Improvement District For Solano Avenue Dismantled

By Judith Scherr
Friday November 16, 2007

A three-year-old business assessment district that had become controversial with some of its members was voted off the Avenue at last week’s Solano Avenue Association (SAA) board meeting. -more-


Commissioners Tighten Grandfathered-In Liquor Sales Rules

By Richard Brenneman
Friday November 16, 2007

Berkeley planning commissioners voted to clamp down on liquor stores that started selling spirits before the city instituted its current zoning policies. -more-


Coalition Sues Caltrans Over Planned Caldecott Bore

By Judith Scherr
Friday November 16, 2007

Arguing that the California Department of Transportation did not adequately assess impacts on the environment in its plans to add a fourth bore to the Caldecott Tunnel, attorneys Stuart Flashman and Antonio Rossmann have filed a petition in Alameda County Superior Court in an attempt to get Caltrans to modify its plans. -more-


Brown Flip-flops on CEQA; Governor, Perata Spar

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Friday November 16, 2007

California Attorney General Jerry Brown told a gathering of California county leaders in Oakland this week that global warming was the single most important issue of our time, that the California Environmental Quality Act was a “key environmental milestone” in fighting the greenhouse gas emissions that are much of the cause of global warming, and that counties which do not address such emissions in their CEQA environmental impact reports face a likelihood of being sued by his office. -more-


State Senate Education Committee to Hold Takeover Hearing

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Friday November 16, 2007

The California Senate Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing in Oakland next month on the State Department of Education and procedures for return to local control of school districts in state receivership. -more-


Public Comment

Letters to the Editor

Friday November 16, 2007

CLEANUP PART II -more-


Commentary: The Biggest Game in Town

By Merrilie Mitchell
Friday November 16, 2007

The Biggest Game in Town is Mayor Tom Bates’ favorite—Deals for Developers. -more-


In Circulation: This Is Not the Time for Caution

Friday November 16, 2007

EDITOR’S NOTE: This correspondence between Downtown Area Planning Advisory Committee staffer Matt Taecker and former city land-use Planning Manager Mark Rhoades was sent to the DAPAC and has been circulating on the Internet for the last week. -more-


Commentary: The Source of Oakland’s Violent Crime

By Jackie Wilson
Friday November 16, 2007

In his Nov. 9 letter, Jeffrey Jensen of North Oakland is unsatisfied with nebulous crime-fighting plans and bigger-picture orations from Mayor Dellums. -more-


Commentary: Open Letter to Chancellor Birgeneau

By Emma Fazio, Jessica Karadi, Christina Oatfield and Marcella Sadlowski
Friday November 16, 2007

Dear Chancellor Birgeneau, -more-


Commentary: Truth to Power: What Truth? What Power?

By Christine Staples
Friday November 16, 2007

It is human nature to form our opinions out of small bits of available information, a large dose of personal experience, with random bits of stuff we’ve heard from other sources thrown in; that’s how we figure out the world. Unfortunately, all too often we form our opinions based on too little information combined with too much “stuff we’ve heard”—and that’s how we wind up with bigotry and prejudice. -more-


Editorial

Editorial: Growth: Who Pays for It?

By Becky O’Malley
Friday November 16, 2007

An e-mail from an old friend chided me recently for this space’s seeming pre-occupation with local land use issues (and with opera). He pointed out that serious national matters like Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s inexcusable endorsement of Michael Mukasey deserve attention too, and he’s got a point. Luckily here in Berkeley we’ve got a good number of writers, some better than me, to keep track of Feinstein’s lapses, and they’re doing a sterling job, so we are off the hook. -more-


Columns

Column: Undercurrents: For Commercial Development in Oakland, Look Beyond Downtown

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Friday November 16, 2007

Development battle opponents are often depicted as pro-development on one side, anti-development on the other, but that’s almost always a mischaracterization. Just as it would be virtually impossible for someone to be in favor of all development, regardless of what that development happens to be, you never run into someone who is against any and all development. The questions for both sides always is: what type of development are we talking about? Where will it be located? And, probably most important, what portions of the community will it benefit? -more-


East Bay Then and Now: A Tale of Two Mystery Houses and One Politician

By Daniella Thompson
Friday November 16, 2007

Mystery is the reverse side of history. Berkeley, a city chock-full of historic houses, naturally has its share of mysteries—interesting structures about whose origin little or nothing is known. -more-


Garden Variety: A Rare Case of Virtue’s Being Fun: Annie’s Annuals

By Ron Sullivan
Friday November 16, 2007

Annie’s Annuals sent me a promo e-mail a week or two back. Not spam; I’ve put my name on Annie’s mail list because I want to know when the Annies do interesting stuff. -more-


About the House: The Brick Chimneys in Our Houses

By Matt Cantor
Friday November 16, 2007

Dash it all! It seems to take so blasted long to get clothed for the office these days, what with button-hooking the boots, those darned gaiters, buttoning those trousers all the way up and then there’s all the layers. My tailoring bill has become absolutely astronomical and my dresser takes a good 45-minutes ironing my shirt, cravat and those endless four-fold handkerchiefs. Perhaps one day, a man will be able to wear only three layers when flagging his Hansom cab to the office, but for now we must plod through, chin high and suffer silently. -more-


Quake Tip of the Week

By Larry Guillot
Friday November 16, 2007

Tectonic Time Bomb -more-


Arts Listings

Arts Calendar

Friday November 16, 2007

The Theater: Zimmerman’s ‘Argonautika’ at Berkeley Rep

By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet
Friday November 16, 2007


Moving Pictures: PFA Examines the Complexities of Chaplin

By Justin DeFreitas
Friday November 16, 2007

Moving Pictures: Reilly: A Career-Defining Performance

By Justin DeFreitas
Friday November 16, 2007

Events Listings

Berkeley This Week

Friday November 16, 2007

Back Stories

Opinion

Editorials

Editorial: Growth: Who Pays for It? 11-16-2007

Editorial: Vox Populi, Vox Deae 11-13-2007

Public Comment

Letters to the Editor 11-16-2007

Commentary: The Biggest Game in Town By Merrilie Mitchell 11-16-2007

In Circulation: This Is Not the Time for Caution 11-16-2007

Commentary: The Source of Oakland’s Violent Crime By Jackie Wilson 11-16-2007

Commentary: Open Letter to Chancellor Birgeneau By Emma Fazio, Jessica Karadi, Christina Oatfield and Marcella Sadlowski 11-16-2007

Commentary: Truth to Power: What Truth? What Power? By Christine Staples 11-16-2007

Letters to the Editor 11-13-2007

Commentary: KPFA Needs Dialogue, Not Demonization By Sasha Lilley 11-13-2007

Commentary: The Bitter Fight to Control KPFA By Raymond Barglow 11-13-2007

Commentary: Vibrant Urban Neighborhoods Need Lower Buildings By Andy Singer 11-13-2007

News

Call for Feinstein Censure Grows By Riya Bhattacharjee 11-16-2007

UC Signs BP Contract, Research Already Underway By Richard Brenneman 11-16-2007

Oil Spill Prompts City To Declare Emergency By Riya Bhattacharjee 11-16-2007

Residents Say Richmond Shore Cleanup Neglected By Riya Bhattacharjee 11-16-2007

Solar Grant Leaves CESC in the Cold By Judith Scherr 11-16-2007

DAPAC Upholds Lowered Skyline; Plan Final Meeting By Richard Brenneman 11-16-2007

Arrests Follow Fence-Cutting at Grove By Richard Brenneman 11-16-2007

City Stops Aquatic Park Project, Tests Sludge for Toxins By Riya Bhattacharjee 11-16-2007

Business Improvement District For Solano Avenue Dismantled By Judith Scherr 11-16-2007

Commissioners Tighten Grandfathered-In Liquor Sales Rules By Richard Brenneman 11-16-2007

Coalition Sues Caltrans Over Planned Caldecott Bore By Judith Scherr 11-16-2007

Brown Flip-flops on CEQA; Governor, Perata Spar By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 11-16-2007

State Senate Education Committee to Hold Takeover Hearing By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 11-16-2007

Flash: UC Signs BP Contract; By Richard Brenneman 11-13-2007

City Restricts Access to Waterfront, Trains Volunteers to Contain Spill By Riya Bhattacharjee 11-13-2007

Mayor Berated For Refusal to Let Disabled Speak Early at Council Meeting By Judith Scherr 11-13-2007

Ethel Dotson Remembered At Citizen Group Meeting By Richard Brenneman 11-13-2007

Minority Communities Need More Parks, Report Says By Angela Rowen, Special to the Planet 11-13-2007

First Person: By Any Means Necessary... By Bryce Nesbitt, Special to the Planet 11-13-2007

Army Recruiters Offer Fun and Games on UC Campus By Judith Scherr 11-13-2007

State Nominates Berkeley High Historic District to National Register By Riya Bhattacharjee 11-13-2007

Oak-to-Ninth Referendum Lawsuit Dropped for Lack of Funds By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 11-13-2007

State Control Is Bad, Except in Oakland, Says O’Connell By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 11-13-2007

Berkeley Tree-Sitter Falls; Santa Cruz Vigil Continues By Richard Brenneman 11-13-2007

Liquor Law, Density Bonus on Planning Commission Agenda By Richard Brenneman 11-13-2007

School Board to Vote on Hiring Architects for Demolition of Old Gym By Riya Bhattacharjee 11-13-2007

Columns

Column: Undercurrents: For Commercial Development in Oakland, Look Beyond Downtown By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 11-16-2007

East Bay Then and Now: A Tale of Two Mystery Houses and One Politician By Daniella Thompson 11-16-2007

Garden Variety: A Rare Case of Virtue’s Being Fun: Annie’s Annuals By Ron Sullivan 11-16-2007

About the House: The Brick Chimneys in Our Houses By Matt Cantor 11-16-2007

Quake Tip of the Week By Larry Guillot 11-16-2007

Column: The Public Eye: The 2008 Presidential Election By Bob Burnett 11-13-2007

Green Neighbors: When Is a Tree Not a Tree? When It’s a Great Big Grass By Ron Sullivan 11-13-2007

Arts & Events

Arts Calendar 11-16-2007

The Theater: Zimmerman’s ‘Argonautika’ at Berkeley Rep By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 11-16-2007

The Best of Italian Cinema in San Francisco 11-16-2007

Moving Pictures: PFA Examines the Complexities of Chaplin By Justin DeFreitas 11-16-2007

Moving Pictures: Reilly: A Career-Defining Performance By Justin DeFreitas 11-16-2007

East Bay Then and Now: A Tale of Two Mystery Houses and One Politician By Daniella Thompson 11-16-2007

Garden Variety: A Rare Case of Virtue’s Being Fun: Annie’s Annuals By Ron Sullivan 11-16-2007

About the House: The Brick Chimneys in Our Houses By Matt Cantor 11-16-2007

Quake Tip of the Week By Larry Guillot 11-16-2007

Berkeley This Week 11-16-2007

Arts Calendar 11-13-2007

The Theater: Aurora Revisits Mae West Blockbuster By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 11-13-2007

Green Neighbors: When Is a Tree Not a Tree? When It’s a Great Big Grass By Ron Sullivan 11-13-2007

Berkeley This Week 11-13-2007