Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

News

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-

DAPAC Upholds Lowered Skyline; Plan Final Meeting

By Richard Brenneman

Friday November 16, 2007

Arrests Follow Fence-Cutting at Grove

By Richard Brenneman

Friday November 16, 2007

City Stops Aquatic Park Project, Tests Sludge for Toxins

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday November 16, 2007

Business Improvement District For Solano Avenue Dismantled

By Judith Scherr

Friday November 16, 2007

Commissioners Tighten Grandfathered-In Liquor Sales Rules

By Richard Brenneman

Friday November 16, 2007

Coalition Sues Caltrans Over Planned Caldecott Bore

By Judith Scherr

Friday November 16, 2007

Brown Flip-flops on CEQA; Governor, Perata Spar

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Friday November 16, 2007

State Senate Education Committee to Hold Takeover Hearing

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Friday November 16, 2007

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.

Editorials

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-