Posted Fri., March 28—A Superior Court judge ruled today that Oakland school boardmember Greg Hodge must be placed on the June 3 ballot for the City Council race for District 3, setting up what is expected to be a fierce election challenge to incumbent Councilmember Nancy Nadel. 

Judge Frank Roesch wasted no time in making his decision, ruling immediately following attorneys’ arguments in a Friday morning hearing that Hodge had substantially complied with the state election code in presenting the City of Oakland with a nominating petition containing the signatures of 50 registered voters in District 3. 

Roesch also ruled that Assistant City Clerk Marjo Keller had not acted improperly in the matter. 

The City Clerk’s office disqualified Hodge a week ago, ruling that his petition contained only 49 valid signatures. 

At issue was the signature of a Myrtle Street resident whose single dwelling has two legal addresses. The resident is registered to vote at one of the house’s addresses, but signed Hodge’s petition with the second address. Because the state election code requires that the addresses on the registration form and a candidate’s nominating petition have to be identical, Keller said she had no choice but to invalidate the signature. 

Following the judge’s ruling, Keller said, “I feel what I did was proper,” and was following state law. 

Hodge said he was happy about the judge’s order, adding, “I think the judge made a fair decision.” 

Besides Hodge, who represents District 3 on the school board, Nadel is being challenged by Covenant House Development Director Sean Sullivan, a political newcomer. 

The ongoing battle over the future of West Berkeley won’t be a quick campaign, city planning staffers promised Wednesday. 

That may be good news for a diverse assortment of stakeholders, ranging from woodworker John Curl to real estate broker Don Yost and recycler Mary Lou Van Deventer. 

While the city’s plan for “increased flexibility” in West Berkeley zoning seemed headed for a fast-track approval, planner Alex Amoroso said that any changes to the zoning codes created to support the West Berkeley Plan will be made only after extensive consultation with stakeholders. 

No one on the city staff seemed ready for Planning Commissioner Helen Burke’s proposal to hold a public workshop, but the city’s Land Use Manager Debra Sanderson said she has been consulting with stakeholders in one-on-one meetings and in small groups. 

The push for zoning changes comes at a time when Mayor Tom Bates has allied with mayors of other East Bay cities to form a Green Technology Corridor of cities eager to capture the entrepreneurial fallout from synthetic fuel research and other endeavors at UC Berkeley and its affiliated Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. 

During the recent Berkeley Energy Symposium, investment fund mogul John Doerr—a colleague of Al Gore’s and Colin Powell’s in the green tech funding business—spoke of trillions of dollars to be made from “green” technologies. 

Doer is a partner with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), which recently recruited both Gore and Powell. 

But does the lure of promised riches from high-tech green threaten another, more basic form of green, the one the mayor so recently praised when the city released its green-collar jobs report? 

That document, prepared by San Francisco State professor Raquel Pinderhughes, praised the kinds of jobs offered by green businesses like the recycling efforts of Van Deventer’s Urban Ore, bike repair shops, public transit and print shops that use organic inks and recycled papers. 

Those jobs offer the best chance for minorities, people with limited education and people with past brushes with the law to find jobs that pay enough in wages and benefits to support a family. 

The high-tech jobs, by contrast, draw from a much narrower and better educated work force. 

“I encourage you to take a deep breath, pause and allow stakeholders to comment,” said Yost. “The issues are very complex, and they all deserve to be heard.” 

Some changes are straightforward and could be quickly accomplished with little disagreement, said Curl, “but other issues are more complex and will take a long time to vet thoroughly.”  

The first step toward progress on solutions, he said, would be to separate out the simpler issues where there is broad agreement among stakeholders. 

Curl and Van Deventer are members of WEBAIC, the West Berkeley Alliance of Artists and Industrial Companies. Curl, WEBAIC staff member Rick Auerbach and others met with Yost to prepare their own alternatives to the suggested changes formulated by Principal Planner Allan Gatzke. 

Larry Hayes, however, said action was needed soon because two properties his company owns were built atop dividing lines separating the MULI (manufacturing and light industrial) and C-W (commercial and warehouse) zones. Because fire regulations call for firewalls between the two uses, and zoning codes prescribe and proscribe different uses in the two zones, leasing the buildings becomes difficult, with one property remaining vacant for six years. 

Bernard Marszalek, marketing manager for West Berkeley’s Inkworks print shop collective, said that two issues covered in the commission’s West Berkeley tour earlier this month—large sites and zoning problems—were distinct concerns and shouldn’t be conflated. 

A WEBAIC activist, Marszalek said he wasn’t opposed to development but that growth should occur within the context of the West Berkeley Plan. 

On behalf of the Sierra Club, Zoning Adjustments Board member and city housing commissioner Jesse Arreguin read a letter from Kent Lewandowski, the club’s Northern Alameda County group chair, who offered an endorsement of the plan’s support of recycling businesses critical to help the city reach its zero waste goals. 

Losing recycling businesses and green- collar jobs would force the companies to the Central Valley, resulting in the loss of green-collar jobs for the city and increased traffic congestion, Lewan-dowski said. 

George Williams, a former San Francisco planning official who was sitting in for absent commissioner David Stoloff, said he wanted to see more concrete proposals from the staff, including examples of policies on industrial retention from other cities. 

“San Francisco and Oakland are struggling with this,” he said, urging the staff to give the commissioners definitions of manufacturing used in other jurisdictions. 

Commissioner Patti Dacey said that while she appreciated that Sanderson and others on the city staff were meeting with stakeholders, it was also important for commissioners to have access to them. 

Commissioner Larry Gurley said that meetings between stakeholders and the commission would be premature before the stakeholders themselves got together and reached a consensus on key issues. 

For more background on the issues, see the city’s web page on the subject at www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=10764. WEBAIC has its own web pages at www.webaic.org, and the Green Collar Jobs report is available online at ellabakercenter.org/page.php? pageid=26&contentid=350.

Planning commissioners Wed-nesday voted to conduct a transportation study on the impact of narrowing Shattuck Avenue from four lanes to two to make way for a proposed Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane. 

The vote wasn’t an endorsement of AC Transit’s controversial BRT program, but it did set the parameters for a transportation study required for the Downtown Area Plan’s environmental impact study. 

Planning commissioners are reviewing the plan, the culmination of two years’ work by the Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee, before sending it on to the city council with their own parallel recommendations. 

The nine-member Planning Commission has already overruled one vote by the downtown committee majority, voting two weeks ago to call for a study that could be used to undermine DAPAC’s proposed height limits on new downtown construction, which the City Council has now approved. 

City planning staff, with the help of consultant Bill Delo of the IBI Group, determined that the DAPAC proposal to reduce both Shattuck Avenue and Oxford/Fulton Street to single lanes in each direction would overtax Milvia Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way, as well as the two narrowed thoroughfares. 

City Planning and Development Director Dan Marks said the city had only enough funds to study one of the alternatives. In the end, commissioners opted to have the transportation study consider only the narrowing of Shattuck, since it’s the city’s main business street and a focus of the plan. 

While AC Transit would be required to do its own study on the effects on Shattuck traffic if the bus route runs down the street, planner Matt Taecker said Transportation Commission members had objected to delaying the survey because “it’s our main street, and we don’t know at the end of the day” which route BRT will take. 

City planning staff is recommending that the study include all other features adopted by DAPAC, including the diversion of both lanes of Shattuck onto the western side of Shattuck Square, which is now used only for southbound traffic, and the closure of Center Street to through traffic between Shattuck and Oxford. 

The eastern lanes would be used primarily to serve the hotel planned for the northeast corner of the Shattuck/Center Street intersection and businesses located along the two-block stretch that ends at University Avenue. 

Commissioners will work their way through the plan’s chapters with the goal of completing their review of their own revisions by Sept. 10. 

First up on the list is the plan’s section on economic development, now scheduled for Apr. 23, followed in turn by historic preservation on May 14, with the Landmarks Preservation Commission scheduled to provide its own input to commissioners two weeks earlier. 

Development standards 

Commissioners also voted to hold an April 9 public hearing on development standards governing the size of new mixed-use buildings, so the city can enact ordinances before the June 3 general election vote on two opposing measures that could radically alter development policies throughout California. 

Propositions 98 and 99 are rival initiatives that target eminent domain policies, with the former heavily bankrolled by developers and apartment owners and the latter supported by municipalities and counties as well as tenant advocates. 

Prop. 98 is a reincarnation of Proposition 90, a 2006 ballot measure that was defeated by a narrow 52/48 margin. 

Both 90 and 98 bear the fingerprints of the same coalition of forces that led to the passage of Proposition 13, the 1978 initiative approved by 65 percent of California’s voters. One of the major sponsors of 98 is the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, named for Prop. 13’s most famous advocate. 

Precisely what effects the measures would have remains an open question, said planner Alex Amoroso, who prepared a report that Commissioner Gene Poschman had repeatedly urged city staff to produce. 

“It will either have draconian effects or it will have minimal effects, depending on who you talk to,” Amoroso said of Prop. 98. 

“It could make us obsolete,” said Commissioner Helen Burke, “so it is very important.” 

“It could definitely put a crimp in certain career paths,” quipped Amoroso. 

He said the most dire predictions contend that the initiative would impact zoning by decreeing that “any rule that limits a person’s ability to make as much as possible off a piece of property would be considered an encumbrance and a take-back,” susceptible to costly litigation. 

“No one really understands what the implications are because the language is so ambiguous,” said Commissioner Susan Wengraf. 

DAPAC member Patti Dacey joked that passing the proposed limitations makes sense as a way “to get some insurance that I can do my nuclear-waste-dump/pig-farm.” 

The commission will hold its hearing April 8 on the same two proposals that went to the City Council before the November 2006 election. 

One proposal came from the Density Bonus Subcommittee, composed of members of the Zoning Adjustments Board and the Planning and Transportation commissions, while the second and more developer-friendly measure was proposed by city planning staff. 

In the end, councilmembers opted for the staff version. 

If Prop. 98 fails at the polls, the ordinance would quickly expire, leaving the commission precisely where it is today: struggling to come up with their own version of a density bonus ordinance. 

The measures would decide the size and scale of mixed-use apartment-over-commercial buildings that developers could erect in the city. 

Acting City Attorney Zach Cowan has told the commission that some elements of the subcommittee version would impose illegal limits on developers, a point hotly disputed by most of the members of the disbanded subcommittee. 

ZAB member Bob Allen has attended most of the commission meetings on the proposal, and Planning Commissioner Wengraf was chair of the group. One subcommittee member, David Stoloff, opposed the recommendations.

The marathon Berkeley City Council meeting on Tuesday night began on a high note, with staff playing a Pete Seeger CD lauding Berkeley’s efforts to reduce its waste stream. Lyrics were written by Zero Waste Commission members and Seeger wrote the tune.  

If it can’t be reduced 

Audience: If it can’t be reduced 

Re-used, repaired 

Audience: reused, repaired 

Rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled … 

Hoo-ray for the City of Berkeley, hooray for the City of Berkeley and its Zero Waste Commission … 

Zero Waste commissioners, however, pointed out to the council after the brief songfest that, despite lofty goals, Berkeley still does not forbid stores to use plastic bags, and it lacks recycling services for apartment dwellers. 

The council began its sessions at 5 p.m., with a workshop on possible ballot measures, but made no decision on what to place before the voters. It approved a condominium conversion ordinance revision, with a promise by staff to address outstanding questions in September. It approved a study on the economics of building heights and placed additional restrictions on smoking in commercial areas. 

New taxes 

At the workshop on potential ballot measures, the city’s swimming pools brought out more than a dozen people who walked or wheeled up to the public forum microphone to ask the council to place funding for a therapeutic warm pool—or combined warm pool and neighborhood pool upgrades—on the November ballot. 

But new swimming pool taxes may compete with proposals for ballot measures supporting police, fire, youth violence reduction, storm-water infrastructure upgrades and branch library improvements. 

The council, however, decided to delay its decision on what to place on the ballot—possibly a combination of various proposals—to wait for the results of a survey that David Binder Research of San Francisco will conduct in April to determine what taxpayers are willing to fund and how much they’re willing to pay. 

Jeff Egeberg from the Public Works Department showed the council slides of flooding in West Berkeley, a result of the city’s crumbling storm-drain system. Extensive repairs would take new taxes, he said.  

Recreation Manager Scott Ferris discussed a possible recreation ballot measure and spoke about the need to refurbish the 40-year-old neighborhood swimming pools as well as building a new therapeutic warm pool. He also brought up the skateboard park question, because the five-year-old skate park, which cost the city some $800,000, has numerous cracks. 

“Did we get screwed by the company?” asked Councilmember Betty Olds, referring to the contractors. 

“I’m not sure who screwed up,” responded Deputy City Manager Lisa Caronna, who was head of the parks department when the skateboard park was built. “We’re looking at the engineering company for possible future litigation.” 

“In the long-term, a full rebuild of the Skate Park is needed and a bond measure may be the best funding option at this time,” said the staff report that accompanied Ferris’ presentation. 

The question of a possible library bond measure was raised by Library Director Donna Corbeil, who pointed to the needs of the four branch libraries and a possible new branch at the Ed Roberts Campus, at the Ashby BART station.  

Councilmembers cautioned that if the city asked for too much, voters could reject everything, as they have in the past. 

Condo conversion 

The discussion of revising the condominium conversion ordinance began around 10:30 p.m. and went on for about an hour, with numerous speakers representing property owners on hand. They said they had felt left out of the loop in earlier discussions. 

In the end, the council voted 7-1-1 for non-controversial changes in the ordinance that would streamline the conversion process. Councilmember Betty Olds abstained and Councilmember Gordon Wozniak voted in opposition.  

Questions of modifying the 12.5 percent conversion fee will be taken up in September.  

One significant change in the ordinance the council approved is that all work completed without permits in a unit must be disclosed. Repairs would be required only for health and safety code violations. 

“It’s a piecemeal approach,” said David Wilson, one of those who spoke in support of property owners. “It omits the key fee issue.” 

Height study 

Councilmembers approved 6-1 the expenditure of $40,000 for a study of the relationship between building height and developer profits. The Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee had rejected a staff-backed plan to build 16-story “point towers” in the city center, along with a proposal for an economic analysis to see if the proposed Downtown Plan could cover costs of proposed improvements without reviving the rejected high-rise zoning as a way of increasing fees from development. 

However, a majority of Planning Commission members voted to ask the City Council to authorize the planning staff to hire a consultant to do the study anyway, and the council agreed to do so. 

Councilmember Dona Spring opposed the measure and Councilmember Kriss Worthington and Betty Olds were absent for the vote.  

“It should be referred to the budget process like every other item” requiring city funding, Spring said, arguing that the study was simply a way to allow developers to build high. 

“They’ll say it’s unprofitable unless they go to 18 stories,” she predicted. 

161 Panoramic Way 

A divided council voted 5-3-1 to deny the appeal of the Panoramic Hill Neighborhood Association, which opposed construction of a home at 161 Panoramic Way. The neighbors said the new home would create dangerous conditions, especially while it was being built. Numerous conditions were placed on developer Bruce Kelley’s project, but that did not satisfy neighbors. 

Councilmembers Kriss Worthington, Gordon Wozniak and Max Anderson voted in opposition; Spring abstained. 

The council also: 

• voted 7-2 to approve making the half-time civic arts coordinator position full time, beginning in July. Councilmembers Linda Maio and Wozniak voted in opposition. 

• unanimously approved an ordinance adding smoking restrictions in all commercial areas, part of the city’s Public Commons Initiative, which also includes prohibitions of lying on the sidewalk. The new ordinance, which will go into effect 30 days after the second reading on April 22, was lauded as an advance for Berkeley, which pioneered no-smoking sections in restaurants. Advocates for the homeless, however, say that the ordinance could be selectively enforced. 

• approved, just minutes before midnight, an item urging the Chinese government to end its violent suppression of peaceful demonstrations in Tibet. Councilmembers Laurie Capitelli and Gordon Wozniak abstained.  

“I don’t think this is appropriate for a city government to get involved in,” Wozniak said. 

The council is now on a four-week spring break. It will meet next on April 22.

The Berkeley city attorney’s office’s draft Sunshine Ordinance—supposed to provide citizens with greater access to local government—has been scheduled for a public hearing at the Berkeley City Council on April 22 . 

City Manager Phil Kamlarz has asked City Attorney Sarah Reynoso to provide him with a copy of the proposed ordinance by this week.  

“I brought it back because it was time,” Kamlarz said. “It [the draft] has been on the website for people to see for a while now. Based on the input we have had so far, it’s time we did something. I want to take it to council for some kind of closure.” 

The city has been trying to implement a Sunshine Ordinance since 2001, when at the request of Councilmember Kriss Worthington, the City Council asked Kamlarz and then-City Clerk Sherry Kelly to look into improving the city’s sunshine policies, including the adoption of a Sunshine Ordinance. 

Kamlarz told the Planet last week that the city had made some improvements to public access of information since then, including providing live and archived videostreams of City Council, Redevelopment Agency, Berkeley Housing Authority and Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) meetings, and uploading entire packets of meeting reports, agendas and minutes on the city’s website. 

“We have implemented bits and pieces from the draft ordinance over the last few years,” he said. “We are tweaking it a bit at this point to see how we can include all the suggestions and comments.” 

Sunshine ordinances—which have been adopted by San Francisco, Oakland, Benicia and several other cities—require local agencies to make extra efforts to conduct public business in the open beyond the requirements of state law. 

Berkeley’s proposed Sunshine Ordinance—drafted by former City Attorney Manuela Albuquerque—has been criticized in the past. 

Councilmembers Worthington and Dona Spring have both complained that Albuquerque’s proposal was full of loopholes. 

“We did not progress as a city with Manuela Albuquerque at the helm,” Spring told the Planet. “Now the question remains whether we are going to get a true Sunshine Ordinance. Will it be easier for the public and myself to get information from the city?” she asked. 

A citizens’ group—comprised of representatives from the League of Women Voters, SuperBOLD (Berkeleyans Organizing for Library Defense) and other community members—has been meeting for almost a year to review Albuquerque’s 21-page draft ordinance. 

“We want to take the good things in it and make it better,” said Dean Metzger, one of the group’s members and a former Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) commissioner. “The two most important things about the Sunshine Ordinance are public participation and open meetings. Right now, you are totally at the discretion of the ZAB chair or the mayor to allow you to speak. We don’t have any rules laid out for rebuttal. This makes it very difficult to have a real discussion.” 

The group split into three smaller teams focused on separate issues: meetings, records and enforcement. Each group researched sunshine ordinances adopted by San Jose, San Francisco and Benicia, Metzger said.  

Representatives from both San Francisco and Oakland told the group that the biggest problem was that these laws were not enforceable, he said.  

“There’s no teeth in any of them,” Metzger said. “If you are a public official and you don’t follow the ordinance, there is no penalty. The only way you can get compliance is by taking the city to court. But how many people want to spend the time and the money to do that? We are trying to make the ordinance actually mean something.” 

The citizen group is trying to get its own draft ordinance to the City Council to be considered along with the city manager’s proposal but wants more time to complete its work. 

“We are about two-thirds of the way through,” Metzger said. “There are 27 people in the group. We meet twice a month but are trying to accelerate it to once a week to finish our draft. The controversial part is the enforcement of the sunshine ordinance itself. I can’t think of any city whose Sunshine Ordinance has enforcement. San Jose’s ordinance is probably better than most, because it calls for more open meetings.” 

A few community members suggested establishing a committee to oversee the ordinance at a sunshine ordinance public workshop last year. Kamlarz responded that such a commission would not have any power unless the measure was put before voters as a charter amendment. 

To view the city’s draft ordinance visit: http://www.cityofberkeley.info/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=5476 

For more information on the citizens’ group send an email to : drm1a2@sbcglobal.net 

The question of how best to police protesters surfaced over the last few months as anti-war and pro-war groups stepped up demonstrations at the downtown Marine Recruiting Center and other Berkeley venues.  

At its meeting Wednesday evening, the Police Review Commission appointed a subcommittee to review and consider revising the Berkeley Police Department’s crowd-control policies. Commissioners also decided to hold a forum on May 14 where the public will be able to speak and the police chief and city manager will follow up on complaints made at a March 13 meeting that neither attended. 

At the March 13 meeting, where police were accused of overreacting to demonstrators, including pushing some down on the ground and failing to give clear direction, the public asked for immediate changes in crow-control techniques, as the five-year anniversary of the war was to take place March 19, with several demonstrations planned.  

Commissioners Bill White and Michael Sherman attended meetings with police, city staff and protesters prior to the March 19 demonstrations. 

Videos shot by members of the public at earlier demonstrations showed police pushing demonstrators with batons—some forcibly—without the protesters having been asked to vacate the area.  

“I asked if a warning could be given,” Sherman told the commissioners, explaining, however, that he was told that if a dispersal order is given, arrests have to follow if the order is ignored. Police did not want to do that, he said. 

Sherman said discussions in meetings with city staff also focused on the role played by city employee Greg Daniel, whose title is Code Enforcement Supervisor. Daniel was called to the Marine Recruiting Station on March 13 by police to enforce code violations related to objects placed on the sidewalk, which observers said resulted in increased tensions.  

A collision between Zanne Joi of Code Pink and Daniel—which Joi says was intentional and Daniel’s supervisor, Deputy City Manager Lisa Caronna, says was inadvertent—resulted in Joi’s landing on the ground in the street. Joi told the Planet Thursday she has made a complaint to police (who refused to acknowledge that she had made a citizen’s arrest at the time) and is waiting to see whether police will send the complaint to the district attorney. 

Sherman told the commission he spotted Daniel again at the March 19 World Can’t Wait demonstration: “On Wednesday he showed up again. He took out his pad [to write up citations]. There was a line of police with him.”  

Sherman said the plan had been to diffuse tensions, not increase them, which the code enforcement officer was likely to do. Sherman said he made a quick call to Deputy City Manager Lisa Caronna and immediately after that, Daniel left the area.  

Police Chief Doug Hambleton told the commission that satisfying the public had been a challenge. 

“We’ve been feeling like we’re caught in the middle,” he said, explaining that there are concerns from three distinct groups: the anti-war protesters, the pro-military group and the business community.  

“They all said we’re not doing our job,” he said, joking that therefore they must be doing something right.  

Hambleton addressed the question of objects placed on the sidewalk. “The police department is not the principal enforcer for objects on the sidewalk,” he said. Sound permit enforcement comes from the Environmental Health Division in the Health and Human Services Department. 

“All departments are meeting on this,” he said.  

Commissioners said they thought policing went well during the anti-war demonstrations March 19 and the pro-war demonstration the following Saturday.  

Hambleton added that four Code Pink women had been arrested Monday when they entered and refused to leave the recruiting center. He said they praised the jail conditions and even got hot vegetarian meals. (A Daily Planet call to Code Pink confirmed this.) 

The Planet asked the chief to explain some differences perceived in policing the anti-war and pro-war demonstrations. For example, there appeared to be fewer officers Saturday for the larger pro-war crowd.  

“The numbers [of police] are based on the anticipated crowd size and anticipation for conflict,” the chief said. The information police had for the Wednesday demonstration indicated it would be larger, he said.  

The chief spoke to the issue of helmets worn at the 24-hour Feb. 12 demonstration and counter-demonstration in front of the Council Chambers. “We prefer not to have the helmet on; we put it on when we perceive hostility.” 

The perception of hostility can depend on whether the crowd is yelling at you, he said. Video clips of at least two demonstrations show demonstrators standing at close range to officers and shouting at them.  

Asked about whether police feel more comfortable with pro-war groups than pro-peace demonstrators, Hambleton said it’s easier to be with people who shake hands and comply with requests than with “people cussing at you.”

The Community Energy Services Corporation board voted Wednesday to hire Kim Malcolm, an administrative law judge with 25 years’ working experience at the Public Utilities Commission, as its new executive director.  

She will retire from the commission in mid-April and take up her new post at that time. 

The previous CESC director left after accusations surfaced last year that she had misused funds. The city has hired an outside firm to investigate. 

“What a fit!” commented Tim Hansen, secretary-treasurer of the board. 

The approximately 20-year-old nonprofit has an unusual relationship with the city. Its board is the city’s Energy Commission; each member of the City Council and the mayor make one appointment. The commission meets as the board for about 30 minutes each month.  

Now it looks like the CESC will sever relations with the city, Hansen said. The city and CESC have hired attorneys that are working on the amicable separation. 

“They always said wait until Manuela retires” to sever relations, Hansen said, noting that under present conditions “the board can hardly function.” City Attorney Manuela Albuquerque retired late last year. 

There is no attorney on the board  

and only two board members have experience in nonprofits, Hansen said. “There’s no heavyweight for fundraising, and we can’t recruit board members,” he said. 

CESC is a $2.2 million nonprofit with numerous programs relative to energy conservation, including contracts with Berkeley to do Residential Energy Conservation Ordinance inspections for homes that will be sold and Commercial Energy Conservation Ordinance evaluations for commercial properties being sold. 

Among her qualifications, Malcolm lists experience in state energy efficiency programs, said Ruth Grimes, chair of the Energy Commission. “We’re so excited she’s coming,” Grimes said. 

Oakland City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente has pulled in more than $81,000 in his bid for re-election to his fifth-district central East Oakland City Council seat, far overshadowing any other campaign fundraising in contested races in five City Council districts and three Oakland Unified School Board districts. 

The office of the Oakland City Clerk recently released campaign contribution and expenditure reports in City Council and school board races. 

De La Fuente has raised eight times the money of Fruitvale realtor Mario Juarez, who has picked up $10,500 in contributions in his bid to unseat the veteran councilmember. 

The Daily Planet did not receive campaign finance reports for the two other District 5 challengers, small business owner Beverly Blythe and community development consultant David Wofford. 

De La Fuente’s lead in the fundraising race was part of a trend in which incumbent City Councilmembers are outraising their challengers, though none of them by as wide a margin as the council president. 

In Council District 1 (North Oakland), incumbent Jane Brunner outraised her opponent, public safety activist and Berkeley city employee Patrick McCullough, $7,654 to $906 between Jan. 1 and Mar. 17, the most recent report filing period. But with $27,386 carried over from contributions made before the first of the year, Brunner holds an even larger cash advantage over McCullough, with $26,881 cash on hand to McCullough’s $570. 

In Council District 3 (West Oakland/ Downtown), incumbent Nancy Nadel holds a $19,656 to $8,124 advantage over her only certified challenger, Covenant House Development Director Sean Sullivan. But Nadel is awaiting an expected Friday morning Superior Court decision on whether or not District 3 OUSD School Board member Greg Hodge will be allowed into the race after the Oakland City Clerk’s office ruled that he was one signature short of the 50 needed to qualify for the ballot. Hodge’s fund-raising totals were not available from the City Clerk’s office at the time this story was written. 

In Council District 7 (far East Oakland), incumbent Larry Reid reported only $950 raised since the first of the year, compared to $4,165 by his opponent, community activist Clifford Gilmore. But Reid carried over $5,259 raised before the first of the year, leaving his campaign with a cash balance of $4,828 to Gillmore’s $3,407. 

With incumbent At-Large Council-member Henry Chang deciding not to run for reelection shortly after local power broker State Senate President Don Perata gave his support to another candidate—District 1 School Board member Kerry Hamill—there was no runaway leader in fundraising among the five people competing for Chang’s old seat. 

Hamill has raised $7,997 and had $7,773 cash on hand at the end of the mid-March reporting period. 

AC Transit At-Large Director Rebecca Kaplan had the largest amount of contributions—$20,517—but contributed $7,600 of that herself. In addition, Kaplan has spent $10,000 of her cash total with The Next Generation campaign consultants of Oakland, leaving her with $7,112 cash on hand in mid-March. 

Former AC Transit Director and Oakland attorney Clinton Killian raised $8,199 in the last reporting period. But Killian also loaned his campaign $10,000, leaving him with the largest cash balance of the contenders: $18,187. 

The fourth challenger, Oakland Residents for Peaceful Neighborhoods co-founder Charles Pine, raised $3,735 during the last reporting period, leaving him with $3,531 on hand. 

The Daily Planet did not receive campaign contribution reports for the fifth At-Large challenger, Oakland volunteer Frank Rose. 

Oakland school board 

In the Oakland Unified School District 1 race (North Oakland) to replace the retiring Hamill, parent activist Jody London was a somewhat surprising fundraising leader over educational philanthropist Brian Rogers, with the two candidates taking distinctly different fundraising paths. London raised $16,309 during the last reporting period, leaving her with a cash balance of $17,605, while Rogers raised $13,150, leaving him with $9,813 in the bank. Of London’s 82 individual contributions, 57 came in amounts of $100.  

Rogers, on the other hand, paid little attention to getting money from outside sources, giving $10,000 to his own campaign. No campaign finance contribution report was made available for the campaign of a third challenger, writer Tennessee Reed, the daughter of writer Ishmael Reed. 

The Daily Planet did not receive fund-raising totals for OUSD District 3 (West Oakland), where community building consultant Jumoke Hinton Hodge (the wife of board member Greg Hodge) and community program manager Olubemiga Oluwole Sr. are competing. No fundraising totals were received for the OUSD District 7 (far East Oakland) race, where incumbent Alice Spearman is being challenged by Acts Full Gospel Church Associate Pastor and Acts Christian Academy principal Doris Limbrick and Beverly Williams of East Oakland. 

Oakland City Attorney John Russo and 5th District (central East Oakland) OUSD Board member Noel Gallo are running unopposed for reelection.

The Berkeley Board of Education had its first look Wednesday at Berkeley Unified’s proposed budget reductions in the face of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed $4.6 billion in cuts from the state education budget over the next two years. 

Based on the proposed cuts, Berkeley Unified stands to lose approximately $3.7 million in general fund revenue next year. 

According to a presentation by Deputy Superintendent Javetta Cleveland Wed-nesday, the district will need to cut $3.2 million from its unrestricted general fund budget and any programs that receive a general fund contribution, to deal with the lost revenue. 

“We wanted to make sure the cuts did not affect student performance, did not jeopardize student safety and could be legally supported,” she said. “We did not want the cuts to cost the district in the future or jeopardize the purpose of Measure A.” 

Measure A, the school parcel tax that renewed two school measures—Berkeley School Excellence Project (BSEP) and Measure B—won a decisive victory last year, ensuring that the current level of school funding in Berkeley would be extended for 10 more years.  

Cleveland stressed that the recommendations were a preliminary list, which would be reviewed by Superintendent Bill Huyett’s Budget Advisory Committee over the next month. 

The superintendent will take the recommendations of his Budget Advisory Committee to the school board in May, after which the board will adopt the final budget on or before July 1. 

The district’s list of recommendations includes a one-time freezing of vacant positions ($100,000), reducing the amount of general funds needed to fund release periods ($140,000)—this supports the district’s compliance with PE time requirements—and reducing general fund contribution to food services ($150,000), special education ($500,000) and transportation of its students ($200,000). 

Some school board members ex-pressed concern about the proposed cuts to special education. 

The district also recommended reducing some certificated and classified employee positions—which amounted to $727,680—from the general fund. 

Berkeley Unified sent out 55 potential layoff notices to teachers and counselors two weeks ago to prepare for the governor’s proposed cuts. 

According to Berkeley Federation of Teachers (BFT) President Cathy Campbell, 10 counselors at Berkeley High School received pink slips, including the only two college counselors at the school.  

Berkeley Technology Academy saw one teacher receive a pink slip. 

Among the three middle schools, Willard was the worst hit, with five classroom teachers, one art teacher and one counselor receiving potential layoff notices. 

Longfellow Middle School saw one of its teachers and both counselors receive potential layoff notices. One counselor at King Middle School received a possible layoff notice. 

“Berkeley Unified recently hired three districtwide math coaches,” said Campbell. “One got a layoff notice; the other two were on a temporary contract and were released. It’s really unfortunate, especially because our area of greatest weakness in state testing is math. It’s an area of need.” 

In the elementary schools, potential layoff notices were also received by teachers at Malcolm X (four), Emerson (three), LeConte (three), Oxford (five), Cragmont (one), Washington (four), Jefferson (three), Thousand Oaks (one), Rosa Parks (one). 

Four classroom teachers and one art teacher at Berkeley Arts Magnet received pink slips. 

The district will be sending out final layoff notices on May 15, as required by state law. 

BFT will be organizing a community rally to protest the governor’s proposed cuts in front of the district headquarters at 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way on Wednesday, April 9, at 5 p.m.  

Teachers who received pink slips are expected to speak at the event along with district employees and parents.

The University of California Board of Regents voted unanimously Thursday to appoint Mark Yudof, currently head of the University of Texas system, to lead the 10-campus UC system. 

The appointment was made at a regents meeting at the UC San Francisco-Mission Bay campus. 

Richard Blum, who chairs both the UC Board of Regents and the search committee, said in a statement, “I am delighted that Mark Yudof has agreed to lead the UC system and serve as its next president. 

“I cannot think of a more qualified person to meet the day-to-day challenges and provide the long-term vision that is needed at this time in the university’s history,” said Blum. 

Yudof, 63, will replace current UC President Robert Dynes, who last August announced his intention to step down no later than June 2008 after nearly five years in the position.  

Yudof’s appointment is effective this summer, with the exact date to be determined. He will get a compensation package valued at $828,000 for the 2008-09 academic year.  

“I am deeply honored by this appointment. The University of California stands as a model for the world, creating tomorrow’s leaders and innovators and helping to solve many of society’s most pressing problems,” Yudof said. 

He added, “I can think of no greater personal privilege than to have the opportunity to lead this remarkable institution.” 

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “The regents have made a terrific choice in selecting Mark Yudof to be the next president of the University of California. As one of the nation’s most important and respected university leaders, Mr. Yudof has a proven record of great achievements.” 

“I am confident that his broad range of executive and academic expertise will serve the university and the people of California well,” Schwarzenegger said of the appointee. 

Yudof has served as chancellor of the University of Texas system since 2002 and UC officials describe him as one of the leading figures in American higher education. 

He heads one of the largest university systems in the country, with 15 campuses, 185,000 students and an annual operating budget of $10.7 billion. 

Yudof previously was president of the University of Minnesota.  

Before serving as chief executive in Minnesota, Yudof was a faculty member and dean and provost at University of Texas at Austin for 26 years.  

Yudof, a native of Philadelphia, earned a bachelor’s degree and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a member of the American Law Institute, and a member of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, an appointment President Bush made in 2006.  

The University of California includes more than 220,000 students, 170,000 faculty and staff, and an $18 billion annual budget at its 10 campuses throughout the state. 

The UC system also is involved in managing the U.S. Department of Energy’s national laboratories at Berkeley, Livermore and Los Alamos, N.M.

The School of Social Justice and Ecology (SSJE) at Berkeley High School will round up its first Green Career Week with a career fair today (Friday) in the Jacket Gym. 

Open to all high school students, the fair will host booths for more than a dozen participants, including Save the Bay and Elephant Pharmacy. 

Established two years ago as a small school within Berkeley High, SSJE is known for learning expeditions that go beyond the classroom. 

In the past, students have worked on habitat restoration in the bay and dissected banana peels and bubble gum wrappers from their school’s trash cans for better recycling. 

“The idea behind this career week was to show students how they can continue in this theme even after they graduate,” said SSJE teacher Kate Trimlett who helped organize the event. “There’s a whole bunch of opportunities to join the green world or work in social justice today. We want to give kids a push in the right direction.” 

Throughout the week, experts on green businesses practices, sustainable architecture and community health gave hour-long lectures to students followed by question-and-answer sessions about career choices. 

Sophomores Anthony Vaili and Darrian Perry discovered their love for green buildings during a session on green businesses with Chris Avant, president of the Federal Building Company. 

“He went from being a laborer to owning the company,” said Anthony. “All his offices are made from recycled materials. His vehicles run on biodiesel. I want to do the same when I grow up.” 

Darrian, 15, told the Planet that he had learned about the uses of solar panels and other “eco-friendly” appliances for the first time Monday. 

“Sure, I heard about them before, but I didn’t know how they worked,” he said. “Now I am more conscious about the environment and the community. I want to start my own green business one day.” 

Students received career tips from businesses as varied as Oakland Releaf—a tree planting business—and Alameda County’s Office of Rehabilitation. 

“When we studied climate change last week, students got to play with solar panels and learned about alternate fuels at AC Transit,” Trimlett said. “This is taking things to a whole different level. They are getting business cards from professionals and some have even signed up for an internship this year.” 

Since SSJE will be sending out its first graduating class next year, internships will be crucial for seniors. 

The school’s curriculum focuses on science, humanities and math to prepare students for careers in engineering, science and social justice. 

“The kids are definitely asking some good questions,” said Lisa Thompson, a SSJE parent and nurse practitioner at La Clinica de la Raza. “I think this will open them up to more volunteering opportunities ... Help them to focus on one area. This is the time when students start thinking of jobs. Instead of working at Burger King after graduating from high school, they could work at the Ecology Center.” 

UC Berkeley conservation and resource studies major Dale Dualan was preparing to talk with students about his work with Global Community Monitor Wednesday. Dualan spent time with West Berkeley residents last year to help set up an air monitor to test emissions from Pacific Steel Casting. 

“A career fair helps to present high school students with the issue because it’s real,” he said. “It’s in your home, in your neighborhood. I hope my experience will motivate the kids and provide them with some insight. I am not here to advocate anything, it’s all about students developing their own opinion.” 

“All the discussions interest me,” said Olivia Dolorier, a tenth grader. “I don’t just want to work for a big corporation and earn money. I want to do something to give back to the community.” 

More than 35 students came to a session with Alameda County’s Behavioral Health Care Services Rehabilitation Director Theresa Razzano, who heads a program which helps people with mental illnesses get jobs. She encouraged the students to apply for jobs in community health services. 

“What advice can you give us about our career choice?” asked Sadiqua Bynum, a freshman. 

“You want to engage in as many life experiences as possible,” Razzano said. “Every life experience you have gives you a different flavor. You can go stack cans at a grocery store, but does that make your heart beat faster? That’s the question you need to ask yourself.”

A few weeks ago, Youth Spirit Art Works hosted a novel event, described by director Sally Hindman as an “artists reception and art making event” at Sweet Adeline Bake Shop, a cafe on 63rd and Adeline streets.  

At long tables set up on the street, people painted messages promoting health care on tiles to be used in decorating traffic turnarounds in south Berkeley. Inside the cafe visitors viewed an exhibit (which will remain through the end of March) of some of the works of the participants in the Youth Spirit Art Works program. Berkeley City Councilmember Max Anderson came and spoke of the “outpouring of community energy and talent here that makes me very proud to represent this district.” 

Operating out of the art studio on the Berkeley Technology Academy campus, Youth Spirit Art Works provides a place where young people can learn about art and create their own art, where they can use art to bring about social change, where they can get school credit and earn some money.  

Specifically for homeless and low income young people between the ages of 16 and 25, Youth Spirit Art Works is modeled after YaYa (Young Aspirations, Young Artists), a New Orleans furniture painting program that was founded in 1988. That program has changed the lives of thousands of young people as well as being a hugely successful business enterprise. 

Sally Hindman, founder and director describes the multifaceted program. One area of activity, she said, is “taking old recycled furniture, chairs that people have thrown out, tables that people have donated and having youth turning them into art.”  

The young artists will get half the money from everything that is sold and, Hindman said, “let me just say that art furniture is pricey.”  

Between two dozen and three dozen young people come to the studio at B-Tech every day. The morning session is for B-Tech students who get class credit for participating, and then the afternoon is open to others. The program is an opportunity for the teenagers to be creative, to explore new ideas, and it also is a serious learning experience.  

Hindman describes the mission of the program: to “empower and transform the lives of youth by giving them experience, skills and self-confidence to meet their full potential.”  

On a recent afternoon, one girl decorated her chair with painstakingly detailed flowers, another did hers by splattering paint inspired by Jackson Pollock, whose work one of the staff members introduced her to. Student Charles Hutson painted an impressive lion head on a table to go with the claw feet on the bottom of the table. 

Ryan McAllister, 20, found it difficult to work on furniture so he chose to paint pictures instead. His delightful paintings are on the walls at the cafe. His mother says that he has been drawing almost all his life. He attended Children’s Learning Center in Alameda from first grade through high school and at some point a social worker referred him to the Youth Spirit program.  

His paintings are cartoons, inspired, he says, “by the Japanese animation cartoons and video game characters.” Most of his pictures are of girls, some accompanied by biographies he has created. There is one of a girl from outer space who “just wanted to see what Earth was like and make new friends.” She looks just like an Earth girl except that she has a tail. “She might even find romance here,” he said. 

The tile painting project is another part of the Youth Spirit Art Works program. The project, called Beautiful South Berkeley, is focused on decorating street benches, barricades and turnarounds with the tiles. 

The tile art centers on the theme of health and is being done in conjunction with Health Access Coalition—which is working for health care reform— and with the city of Berkeley Department of Public Health.  

“(We’re) using art-making in the community as a vehicle for doing public education around health care,” Hindman said. “We have a 20-year disparity between the life span of a white person versus a black person. So we’re trying to work with people using the leadership of youth in order to promote health in south and west Berkeley.” 

Another program is planned for the future—to engage artists who have gained experience through Youth Spirit to teach art in the local elementary schools.  

“What this is about is meeting people where they are and working with them and recognizing that,” Hindman explains. “Some people have some limitations in what they’re able to do and this allows them to really blossom in their own way.” 

My husband and I chose a Montessori School for our children because of small classes, low teacher-student ratios and a belief that our children’s imagination and curiosity should inform if not guide their education. We somehow managed to make every conceivable parenting mistake. 

Our son began first grade, we thought happy and prepared to learn. So we forced him to do his homework in spite of his tears and protestations. We assumed his teachers wouldn’t give him work he couldn’t do. Then we got a report card stating his teacher’s concern about our son’s motor development because of the difficulties he had copying words. He had also begun to quietly refuse to do assignments in class, he could not finish activities in the time allotted and he frequently looked and acted confused or distracted. 

My husband and I redoubled our efforts to get our son to complete his school assignments. His frustration and our anxiety built and built. His younger sister who learns quickly and brags incessantly began to pass her brother in many areas. Since we could get little help or guidance from their school, we began looking into programs and testing. A neighbor who had two children who needed special help sent us to the Raskob Institute. 

After two thousand dollars and ten hours of testing we got a detailed report informing us that our child learned quite normally but that he had anxiety about learning. They also politely suggested that developmentally inappropriate materials and teaching might be contributing to the problem. We hired a learning specialist through Raskob and our son made rapid academic gains, and more important, his confidence and calm happy ways returned. 

In spite of all evidence and expert advice, we tried to keep both children in their private school. We had long painful meetings, we had written plans, we had good intentions, and we got bad advice and still could get little or no accommodation for our son or family. 

In a fit of sheer frustration we called the Oakland Unified School District enrollment office looking for two openings for our children. The enrollment office found us a school with spaces for both of our children. We transferred to Oakland public schools with low expectations and high anxiety. 

When we paid a visit to our children’s new school, Mr. Stenger, the principal, listened to our concerns about our son and then pointed out that “all children learn differently; our job is to find the best way to teach them.” He had no reservations about having our children and our family thrust on him mid-year in an emotional and academic panic. He also told us to speak directly and openly with our children’s teachers. 

We left a huge packet of reports, test results and questions in our son’s new teacher’s box. Ms. Haruyama called us the same night and had read the materials. She knew more about teaching and learning than most of the experts we had worked with. Our son’s comfort and ease with writing and math began to improve dramati-cally after only a few weeks in her class. 

Our daughter began to complain, “My mother gave me to public school and put me in kindergarten.” Her teacher, Miss Pessin caught me in the hall and said, “Your daughter’s a good reader but she has a tendency to sight read, so I put her in a small group to work on the phonics.” 

My hard-case daughter then began to complain that her class work was too easy; the next day she came home with a huge stack of homework assignments. We haven’t heard a complaint since. 

Our children couldn’t have more different learning styles, but Kaiser Elementary teaches them both effortlessly. Embracing diversity doesn’t just mean throwing different people together and treating them the same. It means having wildly different children and meeting their different needs so they can all excel. 

Our children adore their teachers, their principal, the parents and other staff and their classmates. They love the freedom to be themselves and to learn in their own ways. The Oakland public schools have created a wonderful place for our children.

Five students from Berkeley Technology Academy (B-Tech) will fly to New Orleans Sunday as part of a week-long spring break arts and culture trip to help Hurricane Ka-trina victims and to mingle with local artists. 

The teenagers belong to South Berkeley-based Youth Spirit Art Works—a new interfaith nonprofit involved in providing jobs and training to homeless and at-risk young people. 

The teenagers competed with 50 of their peers in their art program to paint the most chairs, and won the trip as a award. 

Although six students qualified to participate in the trip, only five of them will be able to make it, said Sally Hindman, executive director for the organization. 

The group will meet with young artists from the New Orleans-based arts non-profit Young Aspirations, Young Artists (YaYa) to discuss their work and exchange ideas. 

“We are very excited about this opportunity to meet with so many talented artists,” said Hindman, who will be accompanying the students on the trip. “They have so much to teach these kids. We will attend YaYa arts workshops, tour their New Orleans studio and shop, and meet the YaYa board.” 

The group will also spend a day volunteering for Habitat for Humanity to help with Katrina clean-up efforts. 

“I am very excited about volunteering in the clean-up,” said B-Tech sophomore Charles Hutson, one of the winners. “I want to go and help rebuild homes and stuff.” 

Hutson said he had never picked up a brush until he became involved in the arts program at Youth Spirit. 

“I had never painted anything in my life before,” he said. “I was a bit nervous painting chairs, but it was cool in the end.” 

Founded in 2006, Youth Spirit works with 16- to 25-year-old youth from schools, shelters and youth programs to paint chairs, create murals and participate in other community arts activities. 

Although the trip is costing the organization $9,500, individuals and local businesses have stepped in as sponsors. 

“We are paying only $2,680,” said Hindman. “We will be living at the United Methodist Church. Our food will be provided by Narsai David and Ann Cooper. We also received five free plane tickets.” 

The group will also have their artwork featured in the Youth Spirit Artworks March exhibit at the Sweet Adeline Bake Shop, 3350 Adeline St., till Monday. 

To support Youth Spirit Artworks, checks can be sent to: YSA, c/o CIF of San Francisco Fdn., 225 Bush Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco CA.  

See www.youthspiritartworks.org for information about its art programs.

Posted Tue., March 25—A Superior Court judge has ordered the City of Oakland and the Alameda County Registrar of Voters to put Oakland School Board member Greg Hodge on the June 3 ballot for the District 3 Oakland City Council race, or to show cause why he should be kept off. 

Judge Frank Roesch made the ruling today (Tuesday) following a brief conference in the hallway of the Superior Court at the Oakland Post Office on 13th Street with one of the judge’s clerks, Hodge, his attorney, and representatives of the Oakland City Attorney’s office, the Oakland City Clerk’s office, and the office of the Alameda County Counsel. A hearing on the matter has been set for Friday morning, with Roesch indicating that he will probably make a final ruling that day. 

A representative of the Alameda County Counsel’s office asked for a ruling by Friday in order to get the final lineup for the ballots to be sent to the printer on that date. 

Hodge is seeking to run against longtime District 3 incumbent Nancy Nadel for the council seat, which has the same West Oakland-downtown boundaries that Hodge represents on the Oakland school board. 

Hodge is challenging a ruling by the Oakland City Clerk’s office that he was one signature shy of the 50 required to qualify for the ballot. While the Oakland city attorney’s office is representing the Oakland city clerk’s office in the matter, representatives from the Alameda County Counsel’s office said they have no interest in the matter either way, but only want the issue decided to get the ballots to the printer on time. 

Hodge, an attorney, is being represented by Sean Welch of the Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Mueller & Naylor law firm of San Francisco and Mill Valley. 

Both Hodge and the City of Oakland are in general agreement on the facts of the dispute. Hodge was initially certified to be on the ballot on March 12 after a review of his petition by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters office. A day later, after Oakland housing activist James Vann of the Oakland Tenants Union and Oakland environmental and land use attorney Stuart Flashman came to the City Clerk’s office to challenge signatures on Hodge’s petition, Assistant City Clerk Marjo Keller reversed the certification and ruled that Hodge was one signature short. Keller says that she found no problem with the signatures that Vann and Flashman challenged but during a re-review of the petition discovered another signature that contained a “discrepancy.” 

Flashman and Nadel once served together on the East Bay Municipal Utilities District Board of Directors.  

Ironically, Flashman most recently made news as the attorney for the Oak To Ninth Referendum Committee, the group which filed a lawsuit to challenge the Oakland City Attorney’s decision to disallow the group’s petition for a referendum on the controversial development. 

Keller did not give information on which disqualifying signature ended up knocking Hodge off the ballot in either a March 19 letter to Hodge or in her declaration to the court. Hodge said the contested signature was of a longtime West Oakland resident and voter, and the house the man lives in has two addresses which he often uses interchangeably. But because state election law requires that the address on nominating petitions be the same as the address on the voter’s registration application, and because the man used one address for the registration application and the second address for Hodge’s nominating petition, the City Clerk ruled his signature invalid, dropping Hodge to one below the required 50. 

Assistant Oakland City Attorney Kathleen Salem-Boyd argued on Tuesday that Keller had no choice under state election law but to invalidate the petition, and that the assistant city clerk did not abuse her authority. 

Hodge’s attorney, Welch, argued that once Hodge’s petition was originally certified, the only recourse for a challenge by Vann and Flashman was for them to go to court, rather than to the city clerk. Welch said that Hodge’s rights were violated because the post-certification review was done outside of his presence.  

In addition, Welch is arguing that the Superior Court has the authority to judge that the man whose signature was contested is a legal voter and resident of District 3 and that his signature should be counted on Hodge’s petition. 

Roaring into Berkeley on their Harley’s—with the more sedate aboard red-white-and-blue-draped SUVs—a leather-clad flag-bearing conservative America took center stage Saturday at the downtown Marine Recruiting Center. The event, which drew some 350 people at its height, was organized by two groups, Eagles Up and Move America Forward (MAF). 

“I’m Cat Moy, and I’m an American,” said the Move America Forward executive director, speaking from the bed of a pickup truck at the noon rally in front of the center.  

Moy praised the patriots she said she saw in the crowd. “We stand today in the bowels of anti-Americanism,” she said as the crowd cheered and waved hundreds of American flags. The Berkeley City Council “paid the way of America’s enemies. They have called our Marines—our heroes—‘unwelcome.’ And these traitors refuse to apologize to the Marines, the very men and women who give them the freedom to act like maniacal dopes. These filthy leftovers from the Vietnam-era and their spawn give nothing to this country….” 

The gathering and rally was monitored by a half-dozen Berkeley police officers stationed in front of the center and about 15 more scattered around the Shattuck Square area, about a third as many officers assigned to the smaller anti-war demonstration March 19 sponsored by Code Pink, International Answer and the World Can’t Wait. At its height, that rally drew 250 people and was much smaller most of the day. 

At least one off-duty police officer from Santa Rosa was among the protesters. 

Unlike what they had done at some earlier demonstrations, police permitted older folks among the participants to set up folding chairs on the sidewalk, which was often impassible as they chatted among themselves in front of the Marine Recruiting Station. Police appeared to ignore Berkeley’s no-smoking laws and gave a heads up to the out-of-town crowd by asking speakers at the noon rally to let people know that city personnel would soon be out to check the parking meters. 

Speakers could be heard three blocks away, but, according to Deputy City Manager Lisa Caronna, who spoke to the Planet on Monday, city staffers were present to monitor the sound and make sure it conformed to the group’s permits.  

Asked why demonstrators were allowed to block sidewalks and place chairs on the sidewalk—something counter-recruiting protesters had not been allowed to do—Caronna said “police use discretion.” The important thing, she said, was to keep traffic flowing, which police did.  

Caronna further noted that, although anti-war protesters had no permit to march in the street March 19, police permitted them to do so and allowed them to use an unpermitted bullhorn as well.  

A number of demonstrators told the Planet they had came to Berkeley to counter Code Pink, the often outlandish anti-war group that has maintained a presence most weekdays at the center since September.  

MAF, which staged the rally, is a pro-military group chaired by former KSFO broadcaster Melanie Morgan and allied through MAF Chief Strategist Sal Russo to the Sacramento-based public relations firm Russo Marsh & Rogers.  

Eagles Up, which organized most of the protesters, is a group formed last summer to support the military and the war. The Eagles website describes one of its principles: “America is at war with a brutal, butchering, Islamic enemy. Victory is the only option in the current war in Iraq and around the world. Political surrender is not an option. We reject the theory of supporting the troops but not the war.…” 

Sporting a leather vest, Alfonso Peña of Oakland told the Planet he supports the war as retaliation against “whoever” crashed planes into the twin towers.  

Peña pointed to the success of the war. “We put down a dictatorship,” he said. 

Dale Thompson of Sunnyvale, a retired Naval officer, was standing in uniform in front of the center. He said he was there to support the all-volunteer troops.  

Responding to a question of why the U.S. is fighting in Iraq, Thompson said it was about fighting those who had destroyed the twin towers. It isn’t a question of the specific nationality of the enemy, he said: “Iraqis, Iranians, al Qaeda—it doesn’t matter,” he said. “After 9/11 people came together.” 

James E. Bundgaard, warrant officer CW4 retired, fought in Vietnam and told the Planet he remembered when he came home and couldn’t wear his uniform without being harassed. He said the same feelings against the military are resurfacing and blamed the anti-military recruiting demonstrations for some of that.  

“You’re never going to get rid of war,” Bundgaard said. “There are forces like us that have to take a stand.” Saddam Hussein was captured and killed “through efforts of ours to stand for what is right.” 

Forty-year Berkeley resident Doris Balabanian and a friend had been shopping at the nearby farmers’ market when they saw a group of men on motorcycles with flags and followed them up the street to see what was going on.  

Balabanian told the Planet she supports the troops and also supports the country getting out of Iraq. She hadn’t been to a Code Pink demonstration, but said she thought their anti-war message was getting lost. 

A small group of Code Pink women set up a table at University and Shattuck avenues, away from most of the demonstrators. 

“We’re here to show a presence,” said Norma Myers a Berkeley resident and business owner, standing at the Code Pink table. 

Melanie Morgan emceed the rally and introduced San Diego businessman Brian Dennard to the crowd. Dennard later told the Planet that his company, which purchases yacht supplies, had cancelled orders with businesses in Berkeley and Alameda, though he declined to name them. He called on the crowd to boycott Berkeley businesses.  

Screaming and wailing to mark the 4,000th America soldier who had died in Iraq, four Code Pink women blocked the doorway at the downtown Marine Recruiting Center Monday, then walked inside where police handcuffed and arrested them. 

“There are 4,000 lost lives and many communities affected,” said Code Pink organizer Zanne Joi, speaking through a bullhorn as she sat in the MRC doorway before the arrest. 

“How many more will die?” asked Medea Benjamin, seated with Joi. The group of about 15 supporters gathered around them chanting, “No more killing,” and joined Berkeley singer-songwriter Betsy Rose in “We Shall Not Be Moved.” Others stood on the curb holding anti-war signs and banners. 

Earlier, when Joi affixed a banner “Berkeley says no to war” to the MRC window, Marine Corps Captain Richard Lund came out and ripped it off. This was repeated several times, with Joi affixing the banner each time and Lund ripping it off. 

“Captain Lund, this is just a window—4,000 people are dead,” Joi said. Lund responded that he wanted clean windows. 

Benjamin, Joi, Pam Bennett and Toby Blome of Code Pink were arrested inside the station and charged with trespassing, according to Lt. Andrew Greenwood, police spokesperson. At the Planet’s 5 p.m. deadline, police had not released them, but, according to Greenwood, they were expected to be released on their own recognizance by 7 p.m. Greenwood said they were waiting for fingerprint confirmations from Alameda County.  

Lund declined to speak to the Daily Planet. 

Workers, residents and small business owners gathered Thursday night to hear planners and labor activists offer evidence and arguments for exercising restraint in making any zoning changes in West Berkeley. 

Organized by West Berkeley Artisans and Industrial Companies (WEBAIC), the meeting challenged proposed zoning changes now before the city’s Planning Commission. 

“The (city) staff has put everything on the table ... on an extremely fast-track basis,” said WEBAIC Chair John Curl, a woodworker with his studio in the Sawtooth Building, a West Berkeley landmark. 

With their final draft due to the City Council for action in June, Curl said, the process bears little semblance to the process that created the West Berkeley Plan, which involved lengthy deliberations among stakeholders. 

Sitting in the back of the room and listening attentively throughout the session was Allan Gatzke, the city planner who drafted the proposals and presentations under attack from Curl and the panelists. 

While the push for “zoning flexibility” comes from the City Council, with Mayor Tom Bates taking a prominent lead, one of Thursday night’s cautionary critics was the author of a report the city has been using as justification for its push for changes. 

Raquel Pinderhughes said green-collar businesses offer the one sure job category that could provide living wages for those with minimal education and criminal records. Her word should carry some weight with the city since she is the San Francisco State urban studies professor who authored the city’s green-collar jobs report. 

While the tour for commissioners sponsored by the city Planning Department which looked at the proposed zoning changes focused on high-tech companies, most of the business categories in Pinderhughes’ report are lower-tech, with college degrees optional for most jobs. 

Businesses cited in her report range from landscaping and bicycle repair to energy conservation retrofits, recycling and public transit jobs.  

Only one category in her report unequivocally matched the city report’s high-tech criteria, manufacturing jobs related to large-scale production of appropriate technologies. 

The mayor and leaders in other East Bay cities have targeted the high-tech jobs that could result from two major “green fuel” projects now under way under the aegis of UC Berkeley and its Department of Energy-sponsored national labs. 

Another panelist, Karen Chapple, a UC Berkeley associate professor of city and regional planning, has lived in West Berkeley for the past decade, said that zoning offers the best tool “to preserve the fragile industrial ecology” of the area from the economic pressures of housing, offices and retail uses, all of which command higher values when property is leased or sold than industrial and light manufacturing. 

She called for a more focused approached to specific areas within West Berkeley, rather than an implementation of broader measures. 

Abby Thorne-Lyman, another speaker, is a planning consultant with Strategic Economics, a consulting firm now working on industrial land policies in several California cities. While there is often a push to change land uses to allow more intense users that command higher prices, some cities are drawing the line because of the role industrial land plays in providing jobs with better pay and benefits than are offered in the commercial sector, she said. 

Kate O’Hara of the East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy, a workers’ rights advocacy organization, said her organization did some of the basic work that paved the way for Berkeley’s living wage ordinance and advocates for worker rights. 

Trade and logistics, a key non-manufacturing use of industrial land, offer a median wage of $19.85 per hour. In the East Bay, 65.9 percent of the positions offer health care benefits, and many are union jobs, she said. 

The other major use, food manufacturing and processing, offers lower starting wages but rises at middle levels to a median pay of $20.40 an hour. 

These industrial uses provide the main opportunities for workers with no higher education and even past brushes with the law to find work that pays wages adequate to support a family, she said. 

All of the speakers urged the city to tread carefully before disrupting policies that offered the chief opportunities for minorities and those who are striving to rise out of poverty. 

Shades of green 

In his opening remarks, Curl said that one reason for the push for zoning changes in West Berkeley was the East Bay Green Corridor Partnership, an alliance of East Bay mayors who hope to attract “green tech” companies to their cities. 

“Who could disagree” with the idea of a cooperative effort to lead the world in environmentally friendly technology? Curl asked rhetorically. 

However, he said, there are already proposals afoot to have Berkeley industries relocate to Emeryville and Oakland, while West Berkeley would be opened up to offices—which other speakers noted would exert inflationary pressures on property prices. 

Bernard Marszelak of the Inkworks cooperative printing firm in West Berkeley addressed the same issue one week earlier during a public forum on fuels derived from farmed crops held by critics of UC Berkeley’s $500 million Energy Bioscience Institute, funded by BP (formerly British Petroleum).  

Marszalek said he was concerned how the push of agrofuels “affects all of us in Berkeley.” 

He described West Berkeley as a habitat threatened by BP, agroindustrial giant Cargill “and other multinational giants that are trying to take over our zoning regulations in West Berkeley.” 

Marszalek said he was concerned that the rush by Mayor Tom Bates and other regional political leaders to transform the East Bay coastline into a green tech corridor may displace the area’s smaller scale artisans and industries. 

One company heavily involved in the farmed fuels program is now moving its labs from West Berkeley to Emeryville. Amyris technologies, headed by UC Berkeley professor Jay Keasling, has leased space downstairs in the same building that houses the Joint BioEnergy Institute, funded by the Department of Energy. 

Critics of the biofuel programs say that will result in the displacement of small landholders from large areas of the Third World to make way for plantations of genetically engineered crops tailored to produce fuels for the cars and SUVs of the First World. 

If critics of the West Berkeley rezoning push are right, the first to be displaced in the rush to synthetic fuels may be much closer to home, in the artists’ studios and small shops of West Berkeley. 

Debra Sanderson, the city’s land use planning manager, told critics who spoke to the Planning Commission that there has been no move to change the plan itself. 

But West Berkeley critics say that the kinds of changes to the zoning regulations now before the commission would have the same effect.

Dozens of community members joined Berkeley Unified School District employees and parents to protest Gov. Arnold Schwarzenneger’s proposed $4.6 million state education budget cuts Friday. 

They held signs forming a human billboard reading: “No Cuts! Increase State Revenue!” which snaked along the length of the district’s headquarters at 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. 

“People are starting to notice,” said Berkeley Federation of Teacher’s President Cathy Campbell, as drivers honked in support of the protesters. “The word is getting out that these cuts will be devastating for our kids.”  

Campbell said she expected hundreds to turn up at a bigger rally planned for April 9. 

The district sent out 55 pink slips to teachers earlier this month to prepare for the proposed cuts.  

“There’s an effort by the district to bring teachers back by looking at retirements and resignations and their funding options, but there’s still a lot of uncertainty,” Campbell said. 

At least 20 teachers who could be potentially laid off in June showed up to voice their concerns. 

“I still have hope that I won’t lose my job,” said sixth-grade Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School teacher Yvette Felarca, one of those who received a pink slip. “I want to stay on in Berkeley Unified. Our teachers and students deserve better. These cuts are criminal. We need to ensure revenue and a regular form of funding, especially with our state’s diversity. Minorities need our help more than ever in the classroom today.” 

Berkeley Unified stands to lose up to $5 million from the proposed cuts, which could potentially lay off dozens of teachers and counselors and bring an end to after-school programs. 

Districts across California are trying to get the same message across to Sacramento. While some, like Alameda, are getting creative by putting students into trash cans to show the gravity of the situation, others are knocking on the doors of their legislators. 

Felarca and other teachers from her school held letters spelling the word “no” before the word “cuts.” 

“I am here to support the teachers who did get layoff notices,” said Maria Isabel Barrea, a sixth-grade special education teacher who did not receive a potential layoff notice. “It’s important that we all stand together. Our funds are already strained and I think the governor needs to really evaluate how we can fix this situation for the students.” 

The district’s special education teachers did not receive pink slips, Campbell said. 

“They were skipped since it’s an area of shortage,” she said. “There aren’t enough special education teachers in the state or in Berkeley. The board can legally decide to skip them.” 

Counselors, however, were not so lucky. 

“How do you expect students with mental disorders and emotional challenges to sit in the classrooms without additional support?” asked Rosina Keren, one of two counselors at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School who received potential layoff notices. “Mental health is an integral part of a child’s education. Enough said.” 

School Board President John Selawsky joined the rally holding the letter “T” in the word “cuts.” 

“T for taxes,” he shouted. “They are going to have to talk about raising revenue. The state is letting millionaires get away without paying sales taxes for their yachts. It’s criminal. It’s affecting our kids. Laying off people won’t help to solve the budget crisis at the state level.” 

Selawsky said there had been little change in the proposed cuts over the last month. 

“We won’t know much for another month and a half,” he said. “I predict that the governor won’t pass the budget until August or September, which is good. Otherwise the governor would have his way, which is bad, unless he changes his mind, which I very much doubt.” 

Jefferson Elementary School parent Shui Wong came with her son Owen to protest. 

“We made a conscious decision to put our kids in public school instead of private,” she said. “It’s a real shame. Because of the governor’s short-sightedness, more and more people will opt to put their kids in private school.” 

“Teachers are important,” said Owen, who spent the afternoon waving to motorists and blowing on his whistle as they cheered the protesters. “And teachers at Jefferson are wonderful.”  

Jefferson teacher Beth Trevor, one of the teachers to receive a pink slip, came with her son Jasper to flaunt a red and yellow poster which read: “Flunk the budget, not our children.” 

“It’s been a week since I got the letter,” she said, sporting a “Berkeley’s Best Teachers” badge. “It’s still hard thinking about how we are going to make it to the end of the year, but we are carrying on.” 

Trevor, along with a host of other district employees, are asking people to write letters to their legislators—especially Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata—to increase state revenue. 

“We want Sen. Perata to continue fighting for us and not leave Sacramento before this is resolved,” she said. “We want the state to reinstate the vehicle license tax—which the governor cut when he came in—and bring the top tax bracket back to 11 percent. We didn’t cause the state’s budget problems, so why should we suffer?”

A long-awaited revision of the Condominium Conversion Ordinance will be before the Berkeley City Council tonight (Tuesday).  

Also on the 7 p.m. agenda will be a contract to manage aspects of a new animal shelter, a feasibility study on impacts of building skyscrapers downtown, an appeal by neighbors of a single-family home proposed for 161 Panoramic Way, a discussion of legal options for challenging aerial spraying to eradicate the Light Brown Apple Moth, a proposal to re-establish the East Bay Public Safety Corridor partnership, and an item that would give the City Council and the public background information on items listed on a commission agenda. 

At a 5 p.m. workshop, the council will discuss various measures it may want to put before the voters on the November ballot, including new taxes for police, fire youth violence prevention, clean storm water, the warm water pool for disabled and elderly people and more. The council will have the option of approving placing the measures on the ballot at its 7 p.m. meeting. 

The chief of police has submitted a report on revisions to the department’s internal procedure for processing complaints against officers. It is an information report that the council can opt to discuss if it chooses to do so. 

Condo conversion 

There was general agreement between housing activists and property owners that the way the condominium conversion ordinance was originally written made it difficult to implement, especially the requirement that units to be converted should be brought up to code. In the revised version before the council, only visible life-safety violations must be remedied. Other code violations must be disclosed, but do not have to be remedied. 

At issue between housing activists and property owners, however, is the 12.5 percent fee charge when the property is sold. “It’s got to be reduced,” said David Wilson, active in issues affecting property owners. Wilson said he supported a $19.87 per square foot fee charged early in the conversion process. 

Rent Stabilization Board Chair Jesse Arreguin said the question of fees should be discussed later. Property owners “want to totally redo the ordinance—they want to maximize profits,” he said. 

Arreguin added that the city ought to put a program in place that helps first-time buyers purchase property.  

Police complaint policy 

Police Chief Doug Hambleton has updated police complaint procedures to include some of the Police Review Commission’s concerns.  

One of the chief concerns involves the case of former Sgt. Cary Kent, convicted of felonies related to stealing drug evidence he was supposed to keep safe. The commission said police colleagues failed to report Kent’s problem behavior and when it was reported, management failed to act on the reports. 

The new regulation states: “When an employee, who is not a supervisor, becomes aware of or observes what he/she believes to be possible misconduct by another department employee, he/she shall, by the end of the employee’s current shift ... notify a supervisor.” 

Requirements for the supervisor to take immediate corrective action and to report the incidents to a commending officer are written into the new rules. 

The new procedure says serious complaints must be reported immediately. They include: dishonesty, commission of a misdemeanor or felony, improper use of force, employee under the influence of intoxicants, discrimination. 

Animal shelter contract 

Also on the agenda is a $50,000 contract ($82 per hour) with former city employee Rene Cardinaux for design and management services connected to building a new animal shelter. Cardinaux would write a request for proposals for the new shelter. Part of the task will be finding the right place for the new structure. A site larger than the current one is needed—which could mean constructing a taller structure at the site—and it needs to be a place where barking dogs will not disrupt residences.  

In November 2002, Berkeley passed Measure I, a $7.2 million bond measure to build a new animal shelter, but an appropriate site was never found. Given rapidly increasing building costs, “the less likely [it has become that] the $7.2 million bond will cover all costs associated with land purchase and construction of a new shelter or the reconstruction of the animal shelter on Second Street,” says the staff report written by Jim Hynes, assistant to the city manager. 

Building higher 

The council will consider whether to allocate $40,000 to study the economic implications of various proposals from the Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee (DAPAC), especially whether building structures as high as 16 stories will be necessary to provide revenue for implementation of DAPAC's recommendations.  

Better information 

To give the council more time to read proposals coming from commissions, Councilmember Gordon Wozniak is asking the council to approve an item saying that the full commission packet, which includes background information, must be posted on the Internet at the same time the agenda is posted. 

Some LeConte neighborhood residents trying to stop plans for a 24-hour mini mart at the Chevron franchise at 2996 Shattuck Ave. are scheduled to appear before the city’s Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) Thursday as it takes up the question of changing the use permit for the business. 

Property owner Keith Simas—who owns the franchise Xtra Oil Company—will ask the zoning board to approve two more fueling pumps to an existing 24-hour four-pump gas station. He will also request a demolition permit to raze the existing 24-hour kiosk on the property and build a larger convenience store. 

Although some residents in the neighborhood are against the overall expansion, the LeConte Neighborhood Association voted specifically against the 24-hour convenience store aspect of the plan Thursday. 

“We don’t think it’s necessary to expand the store at this point,” said Karl Reeve, the association’s president. “We are not necessarily against the two new fuel pumps, but having a 24-hour convenience store would increase traffic problems and attract the wrong kind of people at night. It would also mean competition for the Roxie Deli that’s right across the street.” 

The city’s zoning ordinance does not regulate retail markets or impose limitations on the number of retail stores in the commercial south area district, under which the project falls. 

Calls to Councilmember Max Anderson —under whose constituency the proposed development falls—for comment were not returned by press time Monday. 

In a letter to the zoning adjustments board, Stuart Rembaum, who lives close to the proposed project, objected to the overall expansion. 

“From my own experience it is extremely difficult to even enter the service station during peak hours, when most people fill up, due to the backed-up traffic on Shattuck Avenue,” he said. “Additional fuel bays hardly make sense given the time and difficulty in accessing the entrance to the service station ... There is already a large Chevron facility at the corner of Telegraph and Ashby. Why should residents have to put up with increased 24-hour noise and traffic, the possibility of increased crime, and unsightly development in a largely residential neighborhood?” 

Project applicant and architect Muthana Ibrahim of Walnut Creek-based MI Architects told the Planet that the additional fuel pumps would reduce on-site traffic. 

“When you have six pumps, it means a lot less congestion,” said Ibrahim, who described himself as a specialist in gas station construction. “It will help to serve the neighborhood. We want to move the kiosk to the back of the square lot and increase its size to 873 square feet. It will organize the pumps, and people will have more opportunity to line up.” 

Ibrahim told the Planet that he couldn’t comment on the concerns raised about the 24-hour-food mart. 

“All I can say is that there will be no major change in operations for the store, ” he said. “The door will be locked at night. It’s important to remember that this is not a corporate site, it is owned by an individual and not Chevron Corporation.” 

Calls to Simas at his Xtra Oil Company office for comment were not returned. 

In the meantime neighbors are gearing up to protest the proposed development at Thursday’s meeting. 

Bill, who has owned Roxie Deli on Shattuck and Ashby since 1985, told the Planet that a neighborhood group had submitted a petition with nearly 200 signatures opposing the 24-hour convenience store to the zoning board. 

“It will lead to more traffic, more noise, more trash,” he told the Planet Friday. “There will be panhandling and drug dealing going on at all sorts of odd hours. My store used to be open until 11 p.m. before but now I close it at 4 p.m. It’s not safe. Why do they need a supermarket in the neighborhood for 24 hours? Unless it’s an emergency, people don’t go out to buy anything in the middle of the night.” 

Although some neighbors had initially believed that the new store would sell alcohol, the staff report states that the zoning staff had cleared up this misconception in August. Calls to project planner Fatema Crane were not returned. 

Mark Tarses, who has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years, said that Ashby and Shattuck was the sixth most dangerous intersection in the city. 

“None of us needs more traffic there,” he said. “A 24-hour fueling station and convenience store would be more appropriate on a freeway. I can imagine some people like college students might want a cup of coffee at 2 a.m., but what kind of people go shopping at 2 a.m.? If all they had wanted was a bigger gas station, then it would have been OK, but he wants too many things at the same time.” 

Bikash Adhikari, a cashier at the US Smog & Gas station—which is at the same intersection, on the other side of Ashby from the Chevron station—said that two new fuel pumps would create more traffic problems. 

“The junction will choke,” he said. “I have seen quite a few accidents happen here. Just the other day two cars hit each other in the middle of the day.” 

Just how many Alta Bates Summit nurses have honored picket lines at the two Berkeley hospitals and Oakland’s Summit Medical Center remained an open question Monday. 

Members of the California Nurses Association (CNA) walked out Friday morning for the start of a 10-day strike against 11 hospitals in the Sutter Health chain. 

How many RNs are striking is a contested issue. While a Sutter e-mail to the media claimed that 57 percent of Summit Alta Bates reported for working Friday, it’s unclear just which nurses are being counted. 

In a press release from the company’s Sacramento headquarters, Sutter Health claimed Friday that “impressive numbers of registered nurses have rebuked” the union and returned to work as scheduled. 

The percentages of returning nurses, Sutter reported, ranged from a low of 31 percent at California Pacific Medical Center’s St. Luke’s campus in San Francisco to a high of 57 percent at Alta Bates Summit. 

“They are deliberately lying about those numbers,” said CNA activist Chuck Idelson, who said that 95 percent of Sutter RN’s are participating in the action, and that numbers are especially high at the three Summit Alta Bates facilities. 

While Sutter claims the strike is really about increasing union membership and revenues, the nurses contend the fight is about patient care standards and reduction of health care benefits. 

The current action, which began at 7 a.m. Friday, is the third and longest walkout called by the CNA since talks stalled between the hospitals and the union. Two other one-day walkouts were extended to five-day lockouts by the chain. 

Though all the hospitals are owned by one corporation, Sutter has fought all union attempts to win a system-wide contract. 

CNA represents only part of Sutter’s nursing staff, with licensed vocational nurses represented by the health care division of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). 

While the SEIU honored CNA picket lines during the first walkout, the two unions have since entered an ongoing feud. 

The strikers, who thronged the eastern corner of the hospital’s main driveway on Ashby Avenue Monday, were in good spirits, buoyed by frequent friendly honks from the cars of passing motorists. 

Money matters  

While Sutter is legally a non-profit, some of the salaries revealed in the corporation’s tax filings are on a par with those at for-profit corporations. 

For tax year 2005, the last year for which tax returns are available, outgoing president and CEO Van R. Johnson earned a salary of $2,309,575. Sutter’s organizational development executive, James Farrell, made $777,177, while the Alta Bates Summit CEO made a mere $581,679. 

The tax return lists 14 executives making over $500,000, including then-incoming CEO Patrick Fry, who made $1,371,464, mostly from his prior tenure as chief operating officer. 

One other executive reached the seven-figure level, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Gordon Hunt, with $1,019,089. 

While Alta Bates Summit public relations director Carolyn Kemp hasn’t returned calls from a Daily Planet reporter for more than a year, a hospital press release reported that average full-time pay for nurses at the hospitals “is more than $120,000 a year.” 

Sutter Health reported total revenues of $376.6 million for the year, against expenses of $380.8 million. During the same year, net assets increased from $508.5 million to $560.2 million. 

West Berkeley zoning changes are back on the Planning Commission’s agenda for Wednesday night, along with the Downtown Area Plan and the density bonus. 

The issue in West Berkeley is a set of proposals prepared by city planning staff that would provide what officials call “increased flexibility” and which a coalition of artists and small industrial companies says could spell doom for the West Berkeley Plan.  

The proposals come at a time when the city is mounting an official effort to attract more companies researching high-tech “green” approaches to environmental problems such as energy conservation and global warming. 

Wednesday’s meeting will look at current regulatory issues in West Berkeley and will feature a staff report on the commission’s March 1 tour of the area. 

The commission is also preparing its own recommendations which will accompany the Downtown Area Plan to the City Council. The panel’s majority has already voted once against the wishes of the majority of the Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee, which spent two years formulating the proposed plan. 

Commissioners voted to support an economic study specifically rejected by the DAPAC majority, and which goes to the City Council for a vote tonight (Tuesday). 

During Wednesday’s meeting, commissioners will focus on transportation proposals required before the plan’s environmental impact report can be prepared. 

Commissioners will also be discussing density bonus recommendations from city staff, which conflict in part with another set of recommendations prepared by a joint subcommittee drawn from the Planning and Housing Advisory commissions and the Zoning Adjustments Board. 

The commission will also hear a staff report on the potential impacts of propositions 98 and 99 on development standards. The rival initiatives ostensibly focus on eminent domain, but could have far greater impacts on the ability of local government to regulate development. 

Finally, the commission is also slated to set a hearing date on proposed revisions to the city’s wireless telecommuncations facilities ordinance, which regulates the installation of cell phone antennae in the city. 

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave.

With a new round of campaign finance filings due Monday to the California Secretary of State’s office, the big surprise was that Richmond City Councilmember Tony Thurmond continued to hold the lead in fundraising for the District 14 Assembly seat. 

But East Bay Regional Parks board member and former Berkeley City Councilmember Nancy Skinner has the largest campaign war chest for the stretch run of the campaign. With $122,198 in the bank in mid-March, Skinner has twice as much money on hand than any of her three opponents. 

Four candidates—Thurmond, Skinner, Berkeley physician Phil Polakoff, and Berkeley City Councilmember Kriss Worthington—are running in the June 3 Democratic primary to replace the termed-out Loni Hancock in an assembly district that stretches from Richmond through Berkeley and a small portion of north Oakland, and out to Orinda, Lafayette, and Moraga to the east.  

Political observers expected Polakoff to have a large fundraising edge in this campaign. But Thurmond continues to lead in Assembly 14 fundraising, with Polakoff second, Skinner third, and Worthington fourth. 

After Thurmond outraised Polakoff $84,215 to $58,150 during 2007, with Worthington coming in third at $56,373 and Skinner not yet receiving contributions, Thurmond told the Daily Planet that his fund-raising lead came only because he has been raising money since the beginning of 2007, and he expected the other candidates to surpass him before the election. 

Skinner did not begin raising money until after the first of the year. 

But Polakoff raised only $10,000 more than Thurmond ($49,257 to $39,216) during the last reporting period—Jan. 1 through March 17, 2008—giving the Richmond councilmember a fundraising total of $123,431 to Polakoff’s $107,407 since January 2007.  

Worthington raised $25,914 in the latest reporting period, bringing his fund-raising total since January 2007 to $82,287. Worthington also loaned his campaign $22,000 in January. The Berkeley councilmember entered the main portion of the campaign season with more money in the bank ($64,317) than Polakoff ($55,883) and Thurmond ($53,494). 

Skinner more than made up for her late fund-raising start, raising $95,668 in contributions in the first two and a half months of 2008, not counting $3,500 she transferred from her Nancy Skinner for Park District campaign committee and $3,600 she contributed to her own campaign. Skinner also loaned her campaign another $30,000.  

Polakoff’s only major donor during this reporting period was Menlo Park investment banker James Davidson ($3,600). 

Worthington had three large donors: Cooper White & Cooper LLP legal assistant Martin Spence of San Pablo ($3,600), Michael Sheen, associate consultant to 16th District Assemblymember Sandré Swanson ($3,000), and Great Works Inc. owner Ross Moore of San Francisco ($3,000). 

Thurmond had several large donors: Construction & General Laborers Local 304 PAC of Sacramento ($3,600), Oakland real estate investor Wayne Jordan ($3,600), Akonadi FDN grant writer M. Quinn Delaney of Oakland ($3,600), San Francisco attorney Steve Phillips ($3,600), and Piedmont developer J.R. Orton ($2,600). 

Skinner also had several large donors: City of Berkeley computer specialist Lance Brady ($3,600), Berkeley City Councilmember Linda Maio ($3,600), Berkeley retiree Sara Sanderson ($3,600), Berkeley attorney Jeffrey Sinsheimer of Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass LLP ($3,600), Berkeley attorney Eric Weaver ($3,600), Berkeley resident John Dickson of Chevron Energy Solutions business development ($3,500), Berkeley retiree Alice Philipson ($2,500), Kaiser Permanente physician Richard Godfrey of Fremont ($2,500), Green Energy War LLC blogger/podcaster John Geesman of Orinda ($2,000), and City of Berkeley urban planning consultant Michael Berkowitz ($2,000).

Fourteenth District Assemblymember Loni Hancock continued to outraise her opponent, former 14th District Assemblymember Wilma Chan, in their race for the Senate District 9 seat vacated by Don Perata, according to the most recent reports filed by both campaigns with the California secretary of state. 

Hancock raised $125,097 between January and March 17, 2008, to the $33,560 raised by Chan, giving Hancock a $625,604 to $198,394 fund-raising lead since January 2007. 

Chan maintains a $100,000 lead—$507,283 to $406,107—in cash on hand for the stretch run to the June 3 Democratic primary. 

Chan had only a handful of major donors this reporting session: Harbor Bay Isle Associates-Doric Realty of Alameda ($3,600), Re-Elect [John] Russo for [Oakland] City Attorney committee ($3,600), UNITE HERE TIP State and Local Fund of New York (labor-based PAC, which says it “supports pro-worker candidates for local office”) ($3,300), and AGI Capital Group of San Francisco ($2,000). 

Hancock’s major donor list for the first two and a half months of 2008 was considerably larger: California Dental PAC ($5,200), Alberto Torrico for Assembly 2008 committee of Fremont ($3,600), Home Budget Loan executive Stanley Zimmerman of Los Angeles ($3,600), Desaulnier for Senate 2008 campaign committee of Sacramento ($3,600), [Bill] Lockyer [for Governor] 2010 campaign committee ($3,600), Friends of Anthony Portantino campaign committee of Los Angeles ($3,600), investor Peter Kinzie Buckley of Mill Valley ($3,000), Meyer Sound engineer John Meyer of Berkeley ($2,600), Los Angeles retiree Rita Williams ($2,500), Herst Ventures Inc. executive Douglas Herst of Ross, California ($2,500), Betty Yee 2010 campaign committee of Los Angeles ($2,000), Political Education Committee of Public Employees #1 of Martinez ($2,000), Oliver & Company construction, development and management firm of Richmond ($2,000), Waste Management & Affiliated Entities of Sacramento ($2,000), International Union of Painters and Allied Trades of Washington, D.C. ($2,000), and environmental consultant Juliet Lamont of Berkeley ($2,000). 

Bennett James Hassink, known to his many friends as “Bud,” died in Berkeley on Monday Feb. 25, 2008, at the age of 81, from congestive heart failure.  

He was born in Cleveland, Ohio in March 1926, where he was married to Mildred Pugh. Bud and Millie could be considered one of the early “bohemian” couples during the early 1960s. Millie, a talented artisan and jeweler, bore him his first daughter March. Their home on Wadena Street in East Cleveland was always full of interesting people, listening to electronically combined sounds and bits of recorded music that Bud mixed on reel-to-reel tapes, with lots of conversations, philosophical discussions and chess games. The music Bud made was far ahead of the synthesizer music and sounds of the’70s, and it had an ethereal yet melodic quality. He was routinely involved in the Cleveland music scene.  

Bud regularly brought his daughter, March, to the local be-ins in the park, and then went backstage at the La Cave Club to meet some of the musicians who played there, such as the Velvet Underground and Janis Ian. Bud came to the Bay Area in the mid ‘60s. He was an early member, along with his good friend Ron Thelin of the SF Diggers. Together the Diggers went on to start The Free Clinic and Food Services for Poor Youth in San Francisco. Bud hung out in the Bay Area during the height of the counter-culture movement, befriending many—Peter Coyote, some of the members of the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, etc.  

Bud received a part in the film The Last Movie with Dennis Hopper, Michelle Philips, and Peter Fonda, which was filmed in Peru and released in 1971. He played a cowboy that was a member of Billy’s Gang.  

Another life-changing event was to happen in 1970, when Bud was staying with friends in Mendocino County and was shot by an acquaintance five times at close range with a large handgun. The details of exactly what happened that night never really emerged, but Bud miraculously survived. He always said afterwards that he didn’t hold anything against the person who shot him, and thought that the shooting had given him a second chance at life—that he was indeed reborn. 

By 1973 Bud settled down in Berkeley, in the Elmwood District. Here he met Alice Meyers, and his second daughter, Cebelle, was born in 1975. He worked for many years for the Berkeley public schools, supervising the playground during lunch time and recess, reading to children from the Great Books program in the Library, helping kindergartners open their milk cartons, helping them all find their way around the school, nursing their little hurts and truly befriending the youngsters. He made a huge impact on many young lives as evidenced by the number of young adults who would visit the bookstore where Bud later worked to say hello and tell stories of how he took care of them in their elementary school days.  

During this same time, Bud was a frequent regular at Ozzie’s Soda Shop at the corner of College and Russell. He could often be found there with his good friend Ed Lindsey, sipping on a chocolate malt and discussing the day’s events. Their meetings and regular attendance at the Soda Shop was even chronicled in a book on the history of the Elmwood District. 

From 1985 to the present, Bud worked at Lewin’s Metaphysical Bookstore on Ashby Avenue. Literally hundreds of people, both regular and new customers of the bookstore, would stop by to say hello, buy a book, or most affectionately, have an interesting and dynamic conversation with Bud on an incredible variety of topics. On the days he wasn’t in the bookstore, he would attend the Arthur Young’s Institute presentations or UC Berkeley academic colloquiums and engagements.  

In April of 1991, Bud traveled with his friend Alvin Warwas to the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. There they visited the Mayan ruins and sites. Bud was keenly interested in the historic development of the Mayan Calendar. The archeological site of Dzibilchaltun was a particularly important town to Bud among those they visited. Recent visitors to the bookstore would usually be asked when their birthday was so Bud could look up their symbol, or glyph, in the Mayan ritual cycle, and then help them read and understand what the cycle symbol meant. Bud was indeed, in many more ways than any of us really knew, a World Bridger 

Surviving Bud are March Hajre-Chapman, daughter of Mildred Pugh; and Cebelle Hassink, daughter of Alice Williams Meyers; and Bud’s long-time partner, Yvonne Lewin. 

A celebration of Bud’s life will be held on Sunday March 30 at 2247 Ashby Ave. starting at noon, with a tribute in his honor at 1 p.m. Please RSVP to 649-8980. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to any Berkeley Public School in his name.

Corinne “Corie” Calfee will fill the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board seat vacated by the resignation of Chris Kavanagh, Rent Board Executive Director Jay Kelekian said Friday.  

Kavanagh stepped down just before pleading no contest to a felony charge related to having lived in Oakland while serving on the Berkeley rent board. He will be sentenced April 24.  

Also on Friday, City Manager Phil Kamlarz announced the appointment of Jane Micallef as acting housing director, effective Monday. She takes over from Interim Housing Director Rae Mary, who had told the Planet he did not seek a permanent post.  

Micallef, who has worked in various positions in the city concerned with housing and homelessness since 1996, will leave her post as head of the Housing and Homeless Services Division to take the position of acting director. 

Micallef is a graduate of Boalt Hall Law School (now called the UC Berkeley Law School) and practiced poverty law after graduation.  

Rent Stabilization Board Chair Jesse Arreguin, also a member of the Housing Advisory Commission, told the Daily Planet Monday that he’s worked with Micallef and has been “constantly impressed with her knowledge and dedication to trying to serve underprivileged people in the community.”  

Calfee, named to the board in an unanimous vote March 17, is a land-use attorney at Ellman Burke Hoffman & Johnson in San Francisco, with a dual degree from Boalt and the UC’s Goldman School of Public Policy.  

She will serve until Nov. 30 and can choose to stand for election in November.  

In her interview, Calfee showed a clear understanding of the mission of the rent board and the duties of the board, according to a statement by the search committee.  

“She also comprehends the complex nature and power dynamics of the landlord/tenant relationship. Ms. Calfee articulated how rent control functions as a vital public policy for maintaining the stability of our community and its diverse social and economic character,” the search committee said in a report to the full board.  

Fourteen people applied for the rent board post. The board interviewed seven of them: Raquel Aguirre, director of Immigrant and Refugee Services, Catholic Charities of the East Bay; former rent board Member Judy Ann Alberti, Peace and Justice Commissioner Elliot Cohen, former school board Member Terry Doran, former rent board Member Marsha Feinland and Takasumi Kojima, a semi-retired architect.  

The other applicants were: Nasira Abdul-Aleem, Robert Blau, Max Dama, Jonathan Shane Davis, Scott Christopher Locklin, Allen Stross and Stacy Young.  

Arreguin said he himself was impressed that so many people applied for the rent board post and that the board was especially impressed with Calfee’s experience in land-use law and her commitment to oppose Proposition 98, which he said will gut rent control in California. 

Samuel Torres, a 60-year-old West Berkeley man, died in an early morning accident Saturday near the Ashby Avenue exit on eastbound I-80. 

The driver of the second car in the collision, a 27-year-old Oakland man, was arrested by CHP on suspicion of drunk driving. CHP Sgt. Mark McAffee said his agency was notified of the accident at 5:46 a.m. 

While details of the accident remain subject to the findings of the investigation, McAffee said that the Oakland driver’s car, a 2001 Volkswagen, struck the center divider before swerving right across the traffic lanes and into the guardrail. 

Just when his car struck Torres’ 1994 Suzuki is still under investigation, McAffee said, but the small Japanese car also struck the guardrail. 

The CHP is withholding the Oakland driver’s name, while Torres, 60, lived at 1654 10th St. in West Berkeley. He died at the scene. 

Our friend the J-School professor has directed our attention to a 2005 interview with Michael Smith, a reporter for the Sunday Times of London, which ran in the Washington Post on June 16, 2005. She’s been using it as a text in a news reporting class.  

Smith, you may or may not remember, led the press coverage of the top-secret British documents which were leaked to the press in the spring of 2005, starting with his report on the Downing Street Memo. These documents suggested that the Bush administration jiggered the intelligence reports about what was going on Iraq at the time of the invasion in 2002, and that, according to the Post article, “actions at the United Nations were designed to give legal cover to British Prime Minister Tony Blair.” 

This quote from the interview with Smith caught her eye, or more accurately sent chills down her spine: 

Michael Smith: “We’re stuck over a barrel now. The Geneva Convention says that if you occupy a country, you have to leave it able to govern itself and protect itself. The Brits will stick to that I am sure but we will see a drawdown of troops in the U.K.-controlled sector because it is much more peaceful and getting to the point where it needs to be able to govern itself. But when will Iraq be repaired enough for us all to leave? I suspect it will be a long time yet.” 

Just about two years out, that comment seems to have been prophetic. The British mostly withdrew from Basra City last fall, when they thought they’d gotten things approximately in order, and now all Hell is breaking loose—again. So talk of further British withdrawals from the area is being toned down, the Brits being a reasonably responsible bunch.  

Here’s what Caroline Wyatt, the BBC’s defense correspondent, said yesterday: “Having gone into Iraq in 2003 shoulder to shoulder with Washington, London cannot be seen to be abandoning its ally prematurely—nor leaving the people of Basra in the lurch.” 

What implications does this have for the election campaigns now underway in our own country? Wyatt again: “Britain’s future plans for its forces in Iraq also depend on another key election —that in the U.S., and the decisions made by America’s next leader on U.S. troop levels in Iraq.”  

Well, yes. How will the next U.S. administration deal with the mess we’ve made in Iraq?  

We ran Smith’s Geneva Convention quote past a former U.N. employee who has worked in humanitarian programs and studied international law.  

“The Geneva Conventions?” she said with a somewhat bitter laugh. “How long has it been since the United States paid any attention to the Geneva Conventions?” She pointed out that the Bush administrations—both of them—have taken pride in ignoring the Geneva Conventions, citing the writings of law professor Jordan J. Paust on the topic. One of his many law review articles starts out this way:  

“If one focuses on the January 25, 2002 Memorandum for the President by White House Counsel Alberto R. Gonzales and President Bush’s subsequent decisions and authorizations, there is evidence of the initiation of a Common Plan to violate the 1949 Geneva Conventions.” This particular article primarily concerns the maltreatment of prisoners at Guantanamo, justified by the administration’s reliance on a memorandum addressing possible war crime responsibility and designs for attempted avoidance of international criminal responsibility that was co-authored by Berkeley’s own JohnYoo. But the Bush administration’s cavalier attitude to the Geneva Conventions is similarly reflected in the mess it’s made in Iraq. The Brits might care about what they’re leaving behind, but we Yanks don’t seem to be worrying about it.  

Colin Powell—does anyone remember him?—had his own shorthand version, the Pottery Barn Rule: if you break it, you’ve bought it. But since Powell turned out to be the witting or unwitting vehicle for the phony baloney at the U.N. in 2002, no one pays any attention to him any more. 

There are just three possibilities for the next president of the United States: two lawyers and an old soldier. We could also throw in anothr lawyer, Ralph Nader, for humor if we want. None of them has any real experience of the kind that’s going to count if this country plans to try to fix what we’ve broken in Iraq.  

McCain talks grandly about winning the war, but what on earth could that mean? He doesn’t even seem to know exactly who our soldiers are fighting, for which he’s been roundly scolded, but do they themselves know who they’re fighting? How could they? What would “winning” mean? Would it mean, perhaps, causing peace to reign throughout the land, with our soldiers as police? Our police can’t even make peace in Oakland, or even in Richmond, so how can we make peace in Iraq? 

All three—or four—candidates are falling all over each other to establish who knew first that the invasion was a mistake. Obama seems to win that one, and Nader’s also in the running. But we’re in the soup now, whoever’s responsible. 

Mrs. Clinton wants us to believe that this race is about who will react fastest in the next crisis (the red phone commercial), but in actuality both she and McCain were quite a bit too fast on the draw in the last one, with disastrous consequences. And none of the four has had any relevant experience in the real world of international crises anyhow.  

We’re left with Smith’s question hanging in the air: When will Iraq be repaired enough for us all to leave? Who’s to judge? How will we know when it’s happened? Or maybe we should just pull out right away, leaving the hapless Iraqis to shoot it out until only a few are left standing. 

It’s time for all the candidates to stop bickering about how we got where we are, and to make some concrete plans for what we should do next. The simplistic solutions of the Cindy Sheehans of the world, just bring the troops home and forget about the Iraqis, aren’t enough, but McCain’s frequently quoted estimate that we’ll need a hundred years to make peace in Iraq is too awful to contemplate. 

Clinton and Nader have spent most of their lives in the adversarial environment of the practice of law, and McCain’s principal experience is with war, not with peace. Of the four frontrunners, only Barack Obama has had any experience at all with the tedious nuts and bolts of governing in a civil society. His years in the Illinois legislature, where he was exposed to many of the problems of corruption and self-interest which Iraqis will face if they ever have a chance to reconstruct their nation, should stand him in good stead in that regard. It’s time for him to get to work with whatever advisers he can muster to advance a real plan for doing more than just declaring victory and pulling out of Iraq, though we must do that as well.  

Tacitus, the historian of an ancient empire too much like our own, quoted a speech by a citizen of a territory conquered by the Romans, the British chieftain Calgacus: Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium; atque, ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant. “To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false titles, they call empire; and where they make a desert, they call it peace.”  

That’s not the peace we want to leave behind us in Iraq. How can we do better? 

The black phoebe is back in Santa Cruz. A handsome bird, black on top and white below, check. Found near water, often around houses, southern exposures, check. Sits on top of posts (the umbrella pole), check. Builds nest on vertical surface with shelter above (under the eaves of the studio), check.  

More accurately, phoebes, since it takes two to build the nest and raise the babies, which is why they’re both flying up to the roof with stuff in their mouths today.  

They’ve come back annually for a couple of years at least. Besides being handsome, phoebes eat flies, so they’re doubly welcome. 

If we weren’t here they would probably find another place to settle down, but this human habitat is ideal for phoebes as well as for people. My late mother-in-law, whose studio in the country we’ve inherited, was an artist, so she couldn’t resist improving on nature. Besides building herself a studio from a kit for a prefabricated tin barn, she built a (small) chapel from concrete blocks, complete with a labyrinth (poured concrete), picturesque garden walls and more. The centerpiece is a hand-built Italianate fountain, fed by a well which is in turn fed by the many little creeks that run through the Santa Cruz Mountains, with a cast concrete nymph in the center dribbling water into a pool. It’s perfect for the phoebes, and very pleasant for the people too.  

Watching the phoebes settle comfortably into our built environment in Santa Cruz on Easter, I thought about the show-and-tell session Walter Hood and his sponsors put on last week. Many Berkeleyans are eager to bring a bit of nature back to downtown, and the focus of their Rousseauian fantasies is the many little creeks that used to wander through the Berkeley Hills, just as they still do in the Santa Cruz Mountains. A few are still open, and a few more have been opened up through the efforts of dedicated volunteers in the last few years. 

Creek fanciers seized on the opportunity presented by the University of California’s plans to re-purpose downtown Berkeley to promote the further exploitation of the presence of Strawberry Creek underground somewhere near Center Street. It’s already exposed to good advantage a bit uphill on the UC campus, and also anchors a park much further downhill near Sacramento and Addison. 

Hood, a UC planning faculty member with a string of innovative projects to his credit, was hired by generous creek fans with private means to come up with buildable concepts for the stretch of Center Street that links the campus with Shattuck Street and BART. The fruit of his endeavors so far was showcased at the public event, which brought together nearly anyone and everyone who has displayed an interest in what’s happening to the city’s much maligned downtown. The jury’s still out on whether his ideas will work, but it was a nice party. 

My own plan-reading abilities are considerably below average, so I couldn’t make head nor tail of the 15 or 20 tiny matchstick models he showed us, or even of the pictures posted on the wall or the PowerPoint picture show which preceded the viewing of the models. As I circulated in the crowd, I discovered that I was not the only person with this problem. I did buttonhole a few attendees that I knew to be good writers to say a few words in print about what they got out of the event for the benefit of our readers—those who came through are on these pages today, with perhaps more to come. 

Hood’s talk, however, was lively, the best way for a word person like me to get some idea of what might be offered. What I came away with was a sense of the challenges the site presents, with two potentially looming institutional buildings planned for the north side of the street and a successful but fragile commercial strip on the south side, already occupied, mostly by restaurants. The elements he’s playing with are the usual: water (from the relocated creek, or from EBMUD), paving (permeable, of course, but how much and where), and vegetation (native or domesticated, formal or informal).  

It would have to be a thruway of some kind, but for whom or what? Just pedestrians? Bicycles? Emergency vehicles? Delivery trucks? Path options: straight lines, curves, or zigzags, with arguments for each.  

There seem to be three favored alternatives at this point. The only planting feature I could bring into focus was a grove of Meyer lemon trees in one of them. This looked like an hommage to Berkeley’s current foodie culture, which was represented at the showing by free snacks catered by none other than Alice Waters. Hood mentioned that Waters hopes to run a restaurant in the museum UC plans to build on the site, or perhaps he said that others hope she will.  

I did overhear one of Berkeley’s preeminent native plant and creek advocates remonstrating with him about the lemons: neither native nor natural, and in a monocultural grouping subject to disease. But Alice’s tangerines were divine. There would never be enough sun for tangerines, however.  

Would any of these plans bring phoebes to nest in downtown Berkeley? It doesn’t seem likely.  

The site of the showing was the inner sanctum of the Gaia building, which was originally flogged by some of the same people who sponsored Hood’s design. They promoted the future Gaia with pictures of hanging gardens and promises of a cultural oasis.  

Today’s Gaia reality is much different. The interior “cultural area” where the Hood event was held is a sullen windowless cave with cheap industrial fittings. The building itself is a characterless slab with a few tasteless tschotchkes on its main door, incongruously topped by what looks a lot like a Southern California motel or perhaps a minor Las Vegas casino. 

This is an all too common pattern. An original concept presentation is loaded with attractive amenities, but they fall by the wayside as the realities of budget and time take their toll.  

It’s not at all clear who’s going to pay for any Center Street plaza.  

One very real fear is that the lackeys of the building industry who have been promoting towers all over downtown are using it as part of a bait-and-switch game: you can’t have your amenities unless you take some towers to pay for them with tax revenues. (Never mind the reams of data proving that any kind of increased residential development costs cities more to provide services for new residents than it generates in taxes.) 

Mention was made of some kind of clean water bonds which might pay for opening the creek, but we’d better see the spreadsheets before getting too excited. Still, it doesn’t cost much to dream.  

Phoebes like to be near water, near buildings, to nest on vertical surfaces built by people. All of Walter Hood’s dream landscapes offered these features. It might just work out. Providing flies could be a problem. 

CHENEY’S EPIGRAPH 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

For those with weak stomachs who missed ABC-TV’s weekend interview with Dick Cheney, held during his latest “surprise!” visit to Iraq, he offered up the best one-word apology for the last seven years: “So?”  

So? Martha Raddatz’ request to compare the rectitude of Bush foreign policy to citizen discontent over the military-industrial incursion in Iraq (home of the Garden of Eden), damned them (us) for our tidal “fluctuations” of polled opinion. Now that’s a new one. 

Wouldn’t “So?” make a great epitaph on Cheney’s marker? 

Phil Allen 

• 

GREEN WASTE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I’m a life-long resident of Berkeley and I’m not a huge fan of Berkeley attitude. However one thing that I was very pleased to see was the weekly pick-up of green debris waste. Berkeley is known for being green, so being able to recycle food waste is a great idea. 

Today was our garbage and debris pick-up day, so I was shocked to see that the garbage collectors put my green debris bin into the same truck as the garbage. If I go to the trouble of separating out the green debris, then I expect the garbage people to keep them separate also. Berkeley appears to be green on the surface only. In actuality, it’s just another garbage dump. 

Kathy Fong 

• 

ECO-CITY KILLS ITS OWN TREES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Coming home after being out of town for a few days, I found half the trees on my street severely damaged from curb renovation work. In some cases, an area the size of the entire stem and top root diameter was chain-sawed open several feet deep into the soil, which, most likely, will result in tree death. I knew the city was planning to repave the road, but no one had notified us that they were planning to deeply cut into the stems and root systems of the 70-plus-year-old oak trees lining Deakin Street. There was no safety hazard whatsoever associated with our curbs. 

I am appalled that Berkeley of all places, a city claiming to be a model for green living and sustainable urban design, would—consciously or by negligence—threaten the survival of its own beautiful tall street trees. Not only are we losing yet another piece of nature and habitat, we are also contributing to global warming by destroying our urban carbon sinks and natural cooling capacities. A City officially committed to greenhouse gas reduction must watch more closely to what is happening to its own trees. 

I am grieving not just for these trees but also for the state of this world. This senseless damage symbolizes what is happening to our planet. Every time I look out the window at my oak tree, I am again reminded that we are cutting off our own life support system. While the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing, while we mindlessly take measures to improve the “urban quality of life” and continue our consumption habits as usual, the diameter of damage keeps expanding. The leaves of my oak tree are still green today, the tree may even survive another year or two, and by the time we see its leaves turn brown in spring and fall off in summer, it will already be on the verge of death.  

This oak tree’s wounds are this world’s wounds, they are my own wounds, and my child’s wounds. My 9-year-old daughter said “I can hear the tree cry.” And I cry with her because I have no way of knowing whether our children will survive the consequences of our own stupidity. 

Barbara Widhalm 

• 

WORDS FROM CHAVEZ 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

On March 31 we celebrate the birthday of the late Cesar Chavez, founder of the United Farm Workers. Hopefully this will a national holiday some day, for Chavez was a true American hero. 

Chavez fought for the rights of all beings, not just the farm workers. Unbeknownst to many of his followers, Chavez was a long-time vegetarian for ethical reasons. One of my most treasured possessions is a letter he wrote to me on Dec. 26, 1990 in support of my animal welfare efforts. It contains these insightful words: 

“Kindness and compassion towards all living things is a mark of a civilized society. Conversely, cruelty, whether it is directed against human beings or against animals, is not the exclusive province of any one culture or community of people. Racism, economic deprival, dogfighting and cockfighting, bullfighting and rodeos are cut from the same fabric: violence. Only when we have become nonviolent towards all life will we have learned to live well ourselves.” 

Words to live by. 

Eric Mills, coordinator 

Action for Animals 

Oakland 

• 

WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR? 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I wish I could just ignore the war and get on with my life. But I am a citizen of this country, which means that the war in Iraq is being waged in my name. They say that the surge is working. What about all of the people who are being killed each day? 

The only explanation is that leaders like Dick Cheney actually want everything to be in chaos, so that their privatized oil and security firms can make bundles of money. They have projected their own psychological issues onto society at large, and their screwed-up heads have lead them to create a screwed-up world. 

I hope when Barack Obama is president, and Bill Richardson is either vice president or secretary of state (he gets to choose), that they ask John Edwards to be our attorney general. Edwards could lead the investigations into all of the wrongdoing, and we can get the Bushes and Cheneys some psychological help after we put them in jail. 

Tom Kennedy 

San Francisco 

• 

COVERAGE OF WAR 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Please continue to give the Iraqi war the maximum amount of coverage. It is so very important to keep us all alert to the terrible costs of this monstrous war. All wars are signs of moral failure, none more so than this one. We must think every day of the lives lost, the lives ruined, the excruciating pain felt by the wounded in their bodies and by their loved ones in their hearts. We must try to share that pain by taking some action, every day, to protest and to urge others to do the same. That applies to us all, of course, but no one has a larger responsibility to do this than you, our media. It is your cross, and you must bear it. The rest of us must help you as we can. 

Kay Lawson 

Professor Emerita of Political Science, San Francisco State University 

Member, Grandmas Against the War 

• 

OBAMA 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

All Easter weekend long, we heard radio voices weighing in on Obama. How do white people feel about his blackness, how do black people feel about his whiteness? Absent from the discussion is any awareness of what he’s actually done. Where has he landed his punches? During Obama’s brief political career thus far, what issues has he acted on? Much has been made of his pastor’s disparaging comments about America and 9/11. So is that really Obama? Did he spend his young senate days hanging with the fringe wing of the Democratic party that pushes 9/11 conspiracy theories? Did he lend his voice to the view that 9/11 was America’s just comeuppance? No. If anything, Mr. Obama was a bit timid as a young senator, watching in dismay as his idealistic bits of legislation got watered down over time. 

Obama himself is a bit of a Rorschach Test, in that commentators superimpose on him what they think should be there. For this reason, Obama is often linked to Black Liberation Theology. This is silly, because he was never a radical. In his youth, he never went through a Chicago Seven phase, all fist-pumping, Bobby Seal haircuts and incendiary speeches. If anything, Obama was an eager but cautious Harvard law student with an eye on social justice issues, but apt to keep his options open. Not “options open” in a cynical sense, not soft-pedaling his views, but rather, living according to a belief that brash, extreme opinions only alienate those who might otherwise be your allies. Like many young black leaders, Obama saw the limitations of racially-charged politics, the futility of replacing one racial stereotype with another. Thus, he would find ways to discuss inflammatory issues in reasonable, nuanced tones. 

It looks like this year, America has a candidate that prefers to shed light, rather than heat. Are we up for it? If Obama loses, it won’t be because he’s black. It’ll be because America’s not ready for a President that talks to you as if you have a brain. 

Joy Apperson 

• 

HISTORY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The Bush-Cheney administration has done tremendous damage to our country. The war, the debt, the flouting of the Constitution, increase of Islamic enemies... Quite probably the worst administration in U.S. history. It will take much to begin to recover after them. Unless Congress at least starts the process of Impeachment, history will take a very dim view of the Congress, and us for not demanding it do so. 

Harry Gans 

• 

WAR POLICY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

“For the most part, Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have identical voting records on Iraq,” says the National Journal. Yes, before becoming a senator, Obama spoke out against giving Bush the authority to send troops to Iraq and that is to his credit. But, in a real sense that was an easy thing to do. What I think is much more telling is how Obama has voted since joining the Senate. If he is truly committed to getting us out of Iraq, shouldn’t he have voted against funding the military so that we might not be able to keep our troops there? One cannot oppose the war and yet support keeping our troops in Iraq.  

Irving Gershenberg 

• 

A REAL PUBLIC PLAZA 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I saw Walter Hood present his ideas for a public space on Center Street at a Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee meeting last year. Immediately after his talk, I went up to speak to him about my primary concerns about his initial concept: There wasn’t enough space for a true public plaza that could accommodate large groups, and there weren’t nearly enough trees. He was so dismissive of my suggestions that I knew right then that such features would not be present in his final proposals. That has indeed come to pass (Daily Planet, “Two Designs Promise Center Street Changes,” March 21). 

It’s not really Mr. Hood’s fault, after all. He’s been asked to do the impossible. A long and narrow space—like a street—just does not function well as a central gathering and performance space. And we do sorely need a central public plaza downtown. That is the one change that could really bring people back to our city center. One nearby example of a highly successful public square project can be found in Portland, Oregon. Done right, a public plaza works to bring a community together. 

So, here’s what I propose: Leave the street alone. It’s working pretty well, and the businesses are getting patrons, and it is quite lovely with the trees and the sunlight that shines on it. Instead, let’s put the new university art museum completely underground. And then on top at ground level, we can put a wonderful public square with a large assembly space, plenty of grass and trees, and lots of places for people to sit comfortably. In other words, a real public square. And if not here, let’s find another location with adequate space for the concept. 

But please, let’s not just change the paving of a narrow strip of land from asphalt to textured blocks, and add a water fountain or a couple little pools, and call it a public square. It will not be one. You can call a pig a palomino as many times as you want, but that doesn’t really increase its chances of winning the Kentucky Derby, does it? 

Doug Buckwald 

• 

TWO QUESTIONS  

AND A SOLUTION 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I don’t understand the outrage to Rev. Wright’s speech. He accused the United States of being racist from the beginning. Can anyone deny that land, freedom, and lives were stolen from Native Americans as soon as Europeans landed here? Soon after that, Africans were kidnapped and held as slaves, cruelly treated to enrich the slaveholders. Chinese laborers were used to build the railroads, then denied human rights. European factory workers were exploited and worked in wretched conditions. Japanese citizens were held in concentration camps because of their ancestry. Today, people of Mexican and Arabic descent are often persecuted. Sounds like racism to me. Resentment would be the mildest reaction to expect 

Another question: In what way do some people think that the marines are protecting my freedom of speech and behavior? From whom? No, thank you. 

The solution to budget cuts, school layoffs, health care shortages, and deficits of all kinds....... (drum roll please) cancel the war! Use the trillion or so dollars for sane, helpful purposes! 

Ruth Bird 

• 

OXFORD STREET 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

In Toyo Ito’s rendering of the proposed art museum, the sidewalk on Oxford Street in front of the museum is filled with people. But that sidewalk is empty today, and the rendering shows nothing that will attract all those people. 

In the rendering, the Oxford Street facade of the museum is made up of blank white walls rising up behind small lawns with abstract sculptures on them. Anyone who understands how to create lively urban places can predict that this will be an empty, unused space. 

If we want this to be a lively space, we should replace the small, unusable lawns with cafe seating, and we should add a couple of stands nearby selling coffee, tea, and food. 

Artsy architects are attracted by blank white walls rising up behind small lawns, but ordinary people are not. If we want people here, we need something that will attract people. 

Charles Siegel 

• 

WHITE CONSERVATIVE  

CHRISTIANS PREACH HATE, TOO 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

As a registered Green, I don’t condone the remarks that Senator Barack Obama’s pastor, Jeremiah Wright, made, but I have read, seen and heard about white conservative Christian pastors preaching more hate than Wright does. They describe people who don’t have a God in their lives as being “Godless.” It is not surprising since they have a long history of preaching hate in the name of Christianity. 

For example, several centuries ago, the majority of these white Christian pastors condoned the racist atrocities toward American Indians in this country. The Pequot Indians in New England for example, were massacred because their religion, according to the majority of these white Christians, is heathen, and that they are “Godless.” 

Also centuries ago, the majority of these white conservative Christians condoned the enslavement of African Americans in this country. After the Civil War and through the end of the 1960s they also condoned the lynching of black men who flirted with white women, and they supported Jim Crow. Someone should denounce the hateful rhetoric by these white conservative Christians. 

Billy Trice, Jr. 

Oakland 

• 

WARM POOL 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The Berkeley Unified School District directors are about as nice to the warm pool community as Israel is nice to its neighbor, Palestine. Iffy. 

BUSD directors have announced in the press they intend to take any new advice of a (charrette) committee of professionals about revising the BHS south-of-Bancroft master plan as seriously as our U.S. president takes the advice of protesters and peace-lovers around the world, including the new democratic majority in Congress: that is to say, not at all. 

All the great and warm effort and time expended by Superintendent Mclaughlin to help the warm pool community are as nothing to the president of the board of directors at BUSD. 

All the agreements and contracts by the board and Super Jack prior to His Coming are as nothing to the president of the board, regarding maintenance, parking, crosswalk, continued existence where now located ... of the warm pool at BHS. 

All communication about flawed reports are as nothing to the board of directors regarding the value of the warm pool and the old gym at BHS. 

All efforts to speak to the BUSD board are as nothing to the board and their president re the value of the warm pool. 

I could go on but maybe the reader begins to understand how I feel on the subject. Pessimistic. 

Reportedly the committee in question is intent on suggesting reasonable alternative(s) to the truly awful master plan in question. 

However, just as our dictatorial president seems intent on wrecking the U.S. government and U.S. economy to get his way, I anticipate the BUSD president to respond to rational pressures to save buildings and money ... with irrational total negativity, as usual. 

Terry Cochrell 

• 

JOHN McCAIN 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

What do you know about Republican presidential candidate John McCain? 

John McCain is another “war president” in waiting, cut in the mold of George Bush. 

Ex-POW McCain urged President Bush to veto a bill that would have banned waterboarding torture. 

McCain wants to make Bush tax cuts for the wealthy permanent. 

John McCain has flip flopped on most hot button issues since he began his run for president. 

John McCain believes women should be prosecuted if they have abortions. (San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 24.) 

McCain wants to fill the Supreme Court with more social conservatives like John Roberts and Samuel Alito. 

The League of Conservation Voters gave McCain a zero percent rating on his environmental votes last year. 

“I am a very superstitious person” he recently said. McCain is wholeheartedly behind Bush’s pre-emptive war syndrome. 

“Superstitious people are possessed by panic and they produce it,” said Voltaire. 

I’ve yet to hear any new ideas from John McCain, just more of the same. 

With John McCain as the next president America would go from the frying pan into the fire. 

Ron Lowe 

Grass Valley 

EDITOR’S NOTE: On March 18, the Society of Professional Journalists held their annual Freedom of Information banquet in San Francisco. Recipients included Berkeley’s own Daily Planet for Community Newspaper and SuperBOLD for Citizens Activism. Following is the text of SuperBOLD’s acceptance speech, delivered by Gene Bernardi. 

The SuperBOLD Steering Committee, Jim Fisher, Jane Welford, Peter Warfield and myself, Gene Bernardi, was very surprised, but delighted to be the recipients of the Citizen’s Freedom of Information Award. Super Berkeleyans Organizing for Library Defense is actually an offshoot of BOLD, a group of Berkeley Public Library employees concerned about the radio frequency ID tags attached to all the library’s books and materials. SuperBOLD took on the more overt activities that the library employees avoided for fear of retaliation from the then current library director. 

In the process of watchdogging the Board of Library Trustee meetings, we discovered violations of the Brown Act; for example, routinely using a lottery system to restrict the number of speakers. This same method, also used by the Berkeley City Council, was not only a constraint on the freedom of speech of many members of the public, but also it prevented the opportunity for each item on the agenda to be addressed by the public, a clear violation of the Brown Act. The success we have had, so far, would not be possible if the First Amendment Project had not taken our case and threatened to sue the City of Berkeley. Additionally, the coverage by the Berkeley Daily Planet was essential to building public awareness. 

The city dispensed with the lottery and Mayor Bates began “experimenting” with public comment procedures. In some respects, the new procedures exceeded our expectations. Now, public comment is allowed for each item on the agenda. However, the mayor is arbitrary and selective in his implementation of the new procedures. After a year of Mayor Bates’ “experimenting,” SuperBOLD pushed for the codification of the new procedures. Unfortunately, the resolution approved by the City Council gave short shrift to public comment on those community concerns not on the agenda. Such comment is now allowed to occur after the City Council meeting has been adjourned, clearly a violation of the Brown Act. 

Another concern we have is the cordoning off of the Berkeley City Hall with police to prevent members of the public from entering the City Council meeting when a large number of people is expected to attend. This, instead of arranging for a larger venue! 

On Feb. 12, the night the City Council was revisiting the Marine Recruiting controversy, there were at least 135 police from the Alameda County Sheriff and the Oakland Police Departments in front of City Hall in addition to the Berkeley Police cordon. This is hardly conducive to “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” It is SuperBOLD’s position that an environment conducive to free speech, and a truly participatory democracy, cannot be wholly achieved in Berkeley without a lawsuit. 

The struggle for free speech continues and we hope this award will inspire the City of Berkeley to open its meetings to greater public participation and that it will inspire others to join us in this struggle. 

As a former Officer of Marines, I wish to make some comments on this fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, some of which will no doubt be controversial. During the Winter Soldier hearings two weeks ago in Washington D.C., a question was raised about why not many active or retired officers are speaking up against the war. There is indeed a reason for this, and it has to do with simple survival. Those officers on active duty, of course, risk the end of their careers. But those of us who are retired tend to gravitate toward the corporate world, who by the way, are the greatest beneficiaries of this war. Speaking from my own personal experience, to openly speak out against the Iraq war risks termination from one’s employment, potential bankruptcy, and social ostracism. 

Next I will bring up something that’s also been on my mind, and it’s the anti-war movement itself. While I from the beginning have vehemently opposed this unmitigated disaster in Iraq, I’m still not a pacifist, and do have many disagreements with the organizations who’ve taken it upon themselves to coordinate this movement. Their leadership cadres tend to come from a left radical activist background, and they take stands and actions which alienate many people who would otherwise support us. A good example of this are the recent attempts to shut down the Marine Corps Officer Selection Office in downtown Berkeley. And to openly disagree with these people brings forth rebukes which rival those of the right wing pro-war supporters whom they profess to despise. With individuals such as these guiding its direction, its perfectly understandable why the anti Iraq war movement continues to be marginalized. But further, I will say that the American public itself is to blame for this war. Our so-called “lifestyle” is at the root of this. The American economy’s dependence on cheap oil, and the consumer economy that goes with it, require wars like this to continue. Even in communities such as Berkeley and San Francisco, who call themselves “progressive,” one sees the same hyper-consumptive way of life that perpetuates these foreign wars. And it is these same people who do not want to make the connections, as it would call into question their very existence. As a result, brave men and women lose their lives, their limbs and their sanity while some affluent liberal drives their Volvo to their weekend anti-war rally, screams their outrage, and feel they have done something good. Simply put, the American people are unwilling to abandon their wasteful way of life which consumes so much of this planet’s resources and justifies expeditionary wars such as this one. 

Unless we break the hold of corporations and the national security state over our lives, wars like this present one will inevitably continue to happen. As I’ve always believed that one should never bring up a problem without suggesting a solution, I’ll offer some ideas as to what must be done even before this Iraq misadventure comes to its inevitable conclusion.To start with, two Supreme Court decisions must be overturned: Santa Clara vs Southern Pacific, which gave corporations the same rights as a human being, and Buckley vs. Vallejo, which declared money to be free speech. Also, the National Security Act of 1947, which created the present militarized nation state, needs to be radically amended so as to stop the abuses of clandestine government agencies. While I do believe in the need for America to be able to defend itself, I will nevertheless say that 

these unelected unaccountable institutions must be brought to heel if we are stop the recent spate of undeclared and illegal military adventures. 

To paraphrase the words of Lincoln: A democracy and a corporate national security state cannot coexist.  

Berkeley resident John F. Davies is a former U.S. Marine. 

I am just astonished at the media for treating this democratic race as still somewhat viable for Hillary Clinton. Short of some devastatingly egregious blunder on the part of Obama’s campaign, there is virtually no chance for Hillary to win this nomination based on pledged delegates. The statistics are completely against her; she would have to win close to 70 percent of all remaining primaries to gain on Barack Obama’s pledged delegates. But despite all these unignorable facts, the media has many people duped into thinking that this campaign is a nail biter. Who are they fooling—or rather—who are these fools who believe this charade?  

The idea that the super delegates will somehow overturn the will of the voters and go against the pledged delegates by Clinton’s democratic cohorts is not only arrogant but downright undemocratic and delusional. If there was any scenario which could be construed as grave for Obama’s campaign which would have helped Hillary Clinton, it was the one which plagued his campaign few weeks ago regarding his ex-pastor: thanks mostly to Fox network’s repeated playback of the most sensational clips ad nauseum. 

The Democratic Party has some vim and vigor for the first time in a long while in this presidential election; but all that seems to be waning away under the dark shadow of campaign negativism. If Hillary Clinton were a true stateswoman, she would simply bow out in dignity and let the party prevail. This would allow the nominee to focus their campaign and resources on the already nominated Republican candidate. But instead her campaign keeps redefining the idea of a win and the predetermined rules of the campaign to drag out this nomination race into infamy. 

Who are the overseers of the rules of the campaign and the Democratic Party? The sniping and attacking have reached the nadir of same party politics, but the worst attacks have come from her campaign and her surrogates, the sort of attacks you expect from the other party. The atmosphere and the tone of the campaign is so demoralizing, that one begins to wonder if there is any acrimony left for the general election. 

When all the candidates signed an agreement not to campaign in Michigan or Florida at the behest of the DNC, it should be honored by all parties. She didn’t take her name off the ballot in Michigan like everyone else and coincidentally showed up in Florida for a fundraiser on the eve of the primary. But now that Hillary Clinton is behind in delegates and behind in popular votes, suddenly she has become a strong advocate for franchising the voters from those two states, and says she never made any such agreements? But it is more than just about signing an agreement; it speaks volume about the candidate’s integrity. When a candidate is willing to lavish experience accolades on the opposition party’s candidate to undermine one of her own party’s candidate then it is quite evident we are dealing with a person who is a political cannibal. 

I am reminded of college parties where a churlish invitee would usurp all his, less than perfect, Don Juanian graces to court someone, and then would linger unwelcomed until the end of the party without the prospect of meeting anyone, and all the choice alcohol would be consumed down to the dregs, leaving the host wishing he/she hadn’t invited him. 

Rizwan A. Rahmani is an Oakland resident.

Since the invasion of Iraq the United States has occupied that nation for five years. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have died, 4 million have become refugees, tens of thousands have been rounded up and incarcerated in hell holes called prisons, and millions more suffer on a daily basis, while the Bush regime brags how it is bringing democracy and freedom to the Middle East. In Afghanistan the U.S. occupation has been even longer with similar suffering for the people of that country. War with Iran could be launched any day by the United States, creating an unimaginable catastrophe for the people of Iran and the world. 

Do you wonder from where such wars come? Are they just the result of “electing” a bad president? Or are they rooted in the workings of the economic system known as imperialism, and don't we need something different? What is that something? And how will it be created? 

Well these and other questions were addressed on March 22 at Berkeley’s Black Repertory Theater by one of Berkeley’s own, Bob Avakian. Avakian grew up in Berkeley in the ’50s and ’60s, attending Berkeley High and UC Berkeley. He went on to become the Chairman of the Revolutionary Communist Party. I went to the well-attended event where there was a presentation and discussion of Avakian’s new synthesis re-envisioning revolution and communism. 

I know a lot of the readers are now rolling their eyes and saying something to the effect of doesn’t this Theisen know that communism is dead and so is the possibility of radically transforming the world into something better. But is this true? Why? Are we only faced with adapting to the “new world order” announced by Bush I in the ’90s and well on its way to creation by Bush II in this century? Must we live in a world of torture and imperialist wars, where due process and other legal rights are relics of the past in order to guarantee our “safety?” 

Or is there a possibility of a better world where the lives of millions of children are not cut short by curable diseases; where hellholes like Guantánamo do not exist; where nooses are only displayed in museums; where immigrants are welcome guests and not hunted fugitives; where women are allowed to control their own bodies without fear of domestic violence, rape, or a government telling them they must remain pregnant; where youth are not treated as either criminals or commodities; and where the earth itself is not seen as commodity to be used and destroyed in the pursuit of profit. 

I have dreamed of a revolution that can set about ending these horrors and meeting the pressing needs of the people. But that is not enough? Revolutions have occurred before, but then have been turned into their opposites. A truly emancipatory socialism must lay the basis, and take concrete steps, toward a society where people consciously change the world and themselves, in a society of freely associating human beings and where the need for any kind of state has been surpassed. 

In that light, Bob Avakian has done path-breaking work to go beyond even the best of the previous socialist societies and re-envisioned a socialism that is both visionary and viable. Avakian’s new synthesis comes out of 30 years of hard, scientific work. It recasts and recombines the positive experience so far of the communist movement and of socialist society, while also learning from the negative aspects of this experience. This “new synthesis” has tackled a whole realm of questions, including: 

How does the new revolutionary power maintain power and maintain it as a power worth keeping? How does it not just survive in a world dominated by imperialism, but do that as a base area for further revolutions? 

What would be the role of individual rights, civil society, and politics outside the purview of the state? What would be the role of a constitution and elections? Why would this re-envisioned socialism not only tolerate, but foster, dissent? 

What would be the relation between scientists, artists, and intellectuals carrying out urgent work to meet the most pressing needs of society and, at the same time, pursuing work, experimentation, and exploration not tied to those kinds of immediate goals? How would the age-old division between those who work with ideas and those who are locked out of that, be overcome—in a way that does not sacrifice but actually enhances vibrancy and intellectual ferment throughout society in unprecedented ways? 

What is the importance of a fearless attitude toward the truth and what have been the shortcomings and blinders in regard to this in the communist movement as it has developed? 

How does this new synthesis both continue on the path first charted by Marx, Lenin, and Mao while going beyond it, in new and crucial ways? 

What is the importance of taking Bob Avakian’s new synthesis out into society? What does all this have to do with how to prepare for revolution? What difference does it make if the people who will make the communist revolution get involved in wrestling with what it is all about and the means to make it? 

Berkeley had often been on the cutting edge of change since the ’60s. The free speech movement was born here. The recent debate around the Marine recruiting station has stirred the nation and the world. It is only fitting that a discussion involving the future development of humankind should also take place in Berkeley. 

Since I was a child I have dreamed of a different and better world. I have had enough of the new world order. Have you? Check out this new synthesis and start to change the world by going to the websites: rwor.org or engagewithbobavakian.org. 

Kenneth J. Theisen is an Oakland resident and political activist. 

NOT WHAT SUBSCRIBERS PAID FOR 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The Berkeley Rep should be shamed for presenting the hackneyed one person show by Carrie Fisher as part of its subscription series. The Roda Theater should be used for state of the art productions. To reduce its use to bloviation with no focus by a third rate actor renders the contributions of its founders a travesty. I do not know how the Berkeley Rep justifies this betrayal of its historic purpose. The first show I saw at Berkeley Rep more than 30 years ago was a wonderfully nuanced comedy of manners by Feydeau. To see the mishmash of Wishful Drinking as part of that lineage is to abandon judgment. The Jack-in-the Box audience members in the front rows jumping up to give Wishful Drinking a standing ovation testify to how low things have become. If subscribers are not careful, we may get more of the same. 

Ken Hempel 

Kensington 

• 

MISOGYNY AND MEAN-SPIRITEDNESS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

As a Berkeley resident for over 25 years, I have been proud to call myself a left/progressive person. But I have been aghast at the misogyny, close-mindedness, and mean-spiritedness demonstrated by some members of the left this primary season. The vitriol, the attacks on Hillary Clinton and her supporters, the name calling, all of it has been contrary to the progressive agenda of tolerance, equality, and fairness. Try to question Obama’s qualifications to be president or express concern about his ties to people like Tony Rezko, and find yourself on the receiving end of attacks. This is unity? Count how many of his supporters have actually researched his background and are aware of both his strengths and weaknesses. This is intellectual freedom? What I’ve learned from this experience is that extremism, whether on the left or the right, can sometimes lead to blindness and a hardening of the heart. 

Stacy Taylor 

• 

RACE RELATIONS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

In response to Deborah Cloudwalker’s March 21 letter, I would like to say that it is both un-informed and irresponsible to argue that the reality of race relations in America resides entirely in the minds of black people. This type of statement attempts to negate the reality of structural and institutional racism, confining it only to personal experience. More importantly than placing blame (which Cloudwalker’s letter appears to do), this sentiment denies that anyone but black people have a stake in ending racism. This is simply not the case. Racism is not the problem of people of color alone, white people are harmed by its poisonous effects as well. While it is true that racism may not exist everywhere that people believe they see it, it is just as true that many are unable or simply refuse to acknowledge racism where it does, in fact, exist. 

Sadly, the history of this nation is built on episodes of genocide and violence aimed at people of color. As a nation, we can be proud of the steps that we have taken towards remedying this history. However, it is again un-informed and irresponsible to claim that racism is a thing of the past. For those who are resistant to the notion that racism continues to exist, it is crucial to acknowledge that not all allegations of racism are aimed at individuals. Nor is it necessary for discrimination to be the stated intent of an action for racist effects to occur. This is the crux of American racism at this point in history. For many, it is comforting to believe that Ward Connerly, Condoleeza Rice, and the Civil Rights Movement are evidence of racism’s demise. Yet racism continues to exist in the laws and structures of out society, “hidden” for some and very tangible for others. Yes, America has started down the path towards ending racism, but we are far from the finish line. 

Sarah Fong 

Oakland 

• 

DISINGENUOUS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

In J. Douglas Allen-Taylor’s recent column about race, he asks why other candidates for national public office have not spoken to racial issues. This is a disingenuous question. White Americans have long ago learned that we cannot speak honestly about racial issues, because whenever we do, we are called “racist” and our attempts to open dialogue about this very worthy issue are closed down. It is insincere for black Americans to on the one hand cry that white Americans aren’t speaking about race, and then on the other hand to slap us in the face and shut us down when we attempt to do so honestly.  

Secondly, Barack Obama did not speak openly about race until forced to do so by the scandalous images of racist and hateful preaching by his pastor for 20 years. There is anti-black racism in America, no doubt, and Allen-Taylor gives examples of this, which all of us must be willing to face. There is anti-white racism in America as well, which Reverend Wright demonstrates, and which all of us must be willing to face. As long as “talking about race in America” means nothing but blacks airing their grievances and refusing to allow white people to speak honestly about our experiences, and our grievances, which include anti-white racism, or our concern about blacks such as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson “playing the race card” in a manipulative and self-serving fashion, then the “dialogue” ensuing is little but a biased sermon, is untruthful and is no dialogue at all. Real dialogue means all people must be allowed to speak honestly, no matter the color of their skin, and means all of us being honest and open and working together for change. I hope this is the new dawn which Barack Obama may bring to this nation.  

Hank Goldman 

• 

AC TRANSIT’S CLEVER PLANS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

It appears that AC Transit has come up with a bold and sophisticated plan to make bus usage even less attractive. As we learned in last Friday’s Daily Planet (“AC Transit Sets Fare Increase Hearing for May 21”), the AC Transit Board intends to increase fares and cut back on routes. These changes—along with the recent changeover of the bus fleet to the hated and uncomfortable Van Hool buses—are certain to decrease bus ridership even further. Brilliant! 

Thank heavens such a competent agency is in charge of the proposed Bus Rapid Transit project. If recent trends are any indication, I have no doubt that AC Transit will find a way to build and run this system without a single passenger ever using it at all! But the practical benefits of such an approach are apparent. Without ever having to stop for passengers, buses will have a much easier time meeting their schedules. And without any boardings, AC Transit will save significant dollars on wear and tear on the fare boxes and bus interiors. 

The savings that will accrue can be put into the travel budget for AC Transit executives—who regularly need to search the world for new buses to purchase. I have heard that they are currently in negotiations with bus companies in Tahiti, Venice, and the Greek Islands. Obligatory week-long stopovers at luxury hotels in Paris will be included in each junket, both to ease the transition to a new time zone and to make sure that the effects of jet lag do not cloud the judgment of our AC Transit officials. But, then again, who would ever notice the difference? 

Doug Buckwald 

• 

NEW SOCCER FIELDS A  

BAYSIDE EYESORE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The new soccer compound being constructed on the shores of the bay was supposed to be a low-impact project benefiting many communities and was apparently endorsed by the Sierra Club, CESP and Save Our Shoreline. It turns out that due to lack of funds, the specified less visible, high quality fencing as well as landscaping to lessen visual impact have been eliminated. We are now getting the “my” design. 

Although there were insufficient funds to budget those critical visual elements, the “possible” owl-burrough was moved to the Albany Plateau at a cost of $75,000—and without the owl. Then, as a result of “value engineering,” we now have an unsightly architecture which will be a blight on our waterfront for many years to come. 

The prominent feature looking West will be the 20-foot tall, unpainted galvanized posts and prison-like chain link fence surrounding the fields. This structure will obscure our wonderful view of Mt.Tam and the horizon as we are using the Bay Trail or driving north on I-80. 

Every sunset, we will be blinded by bright-as-day lighting coming on just as twilight casts its spell over the bay. We have not “saved” our shoreline or protected its natural beauty by any means. 

Along with this, we are told that there will be many days when traffic to Golden Gate Fields combined with games will cause major congestion at the bottom of Gilman Street. There are two parking lots planned, one on Gilman and one on the south end, both of which will be a mess at game time. 

I suggest that the joint commission find a way to beautify this project: field coating the tall posts, coated fencing and some landscaping to make it look more natural. In the future, no waterfront projects, whether developer or government sponsored, should be supported which lack funding to include required amenities. 

Peter Hobart 

Albany 

• 

AERIAL SPRAYING 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Sen. Don Perata is circulating information about a senate resolution (SCR 87) urging the California Department of Food and Agriculture to impose a moratorium on aerial spraying for the Light Brown Apple Moth until the CDFA can prove that the compound it intends to use is both safe and effective. 

SCR87 may be a good first step. But those who want to spray us will try to make it sound safe; they will spend lots of money to try to get their way. 

Does anybody know the answers to the following questions? 

Who will profit from the proposed spraying? The companies selling the spray? Friends of the governor? 

Why can’t traps with the pheromones be placed around orchards and yards by hand? I heard one community activist suggesting that ordinary citizens (who don’t want spraying) could be organized to help with moth control in this way. I think organizing that kind of effort would be possible and have a positive overall social effect. 

And additionally, isn’t there some law that protects us from being used as subjects of experimentation or research without our consent? Because that’s what this spraying method really is; they are researching what the effect would be on the population. They are experimenting on us, and we do not consent! 

We must continue to resist this crazy plan to spray humans and pets and livestock in order to try to control a moth. 

Barbara Whipperman 

Richmond 

• 

ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH  

PESTICIDE SPRAYING 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

There is a serious public health problem with the proposed pesticide spray which I have not heard mentioned. That is the anxiety, depression, incidence of panic attacks, distraction from productive work, and anger accompanied by violent ideation which, as a clinical psychologist, I hear from clients who express their concerns about the consequences of the proposed spray. These are thoughtful and accomplished people. Some are elders; some are young and pregnant and have young children; some are chemically sensitive and vulnerable to allergies. 

Most of them, and perhaps all of us, are reasonably at risk, as demonstrated by scientific studies of ingredients of the spray—carcinogenic, mutagenic, and toxic, one a reproductive effector associated with birth defects, and several of which should not be inhaled. We know about the hundreds of reports of health problems following spraying in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. 

Their fears of disabling physical damage—for themselves, for their children, for their own parents—which might not be evident for years, cannot be dismissed. We have too much evidence of the application of insufficiently tested substancescthalidomide is the first that comes to mind. 

The anger that arises when citizen rights guaranteed by both national and state constitutions—the consent of the governed—has led to most of the world’s violence, and is fueled by the declaration of false emergencies and imposition of “executive authority,” which has been shown to be scientifically unsound. 

The longevity of grandparents who want to see their grandchildren grow into healthy adults is at risk. 

Even our food supply is at risk as we use methods which kill bees as well as the intended target of the light brown apple moth. Why? That moth has been in New Zealand for a hundred years and in California for likely 30-50 years without crop damage. If it were necessary to control, there are proven non-toxic methods available. 

I ask readers for your attention to these factors and their long-term consequences at many levels—physical, emotional, mental, and for some, spiritual, as well as political, economic, and environmental. 

I ask that you urge others to do all they can to influence our governor and the California Department of Food and Agriculture to call off and cancel all plans for aerial pesticide spraying. I am asking the state to divert the enormous economic outlay the current plan would entail to provide health-producing benefits rather than stress-inducing toxic spraying. Imagine keeping state parks open, providing early school for all children, and supporting training for organic farming.  

Anne Maiden Brown 

• 

AVOIDING THE TRUTH 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Last week at a meeting for Monterey County farmers, Secretary A.G. Kawamura of the CDFA said he was on a mission to fight “misinformation” about the aerial spraying to eradicate the light brown apple moth. 

There were rumors, he said, that the synthetic pheromone kills cats and fish, causes penile deformity in baby boys, and is even “radioactive,” a local newspaper reported. He was out to dispel these rumors and stand above the public’s ignorance. 

Kawamura was using a classic but juvenile communication tactic by creating a false premise (straw man) and then knocking it down, instead of talking about the real issues.  

But some people in Kawamura’s audience must have thought, “What is this guy talking about? What about the 643 illness complaints, and the kids who ended up in the hospital after the spraying in Monterey and Santa Cruz? Why is he bringing up these ridiculous ideas that I’ve never heard before? He is out of touch. He’s avoiding the truth. I can’t trust him!” 

But then again, what could Kawamura do? If he addressed the real issues, he’d have to talk about the people who have been forced from their homes on the Central Coast because they’re asthmatic or chemically sensitive and could not risk their lives.  

He’d have to talk about the long list of toxic ingredients in the spray, and the time-released micro-particles that embed themselves in a person’s deep lung tissue.  

And he’d have to talk about the privilege of being subjects of a health experiment against our informed consent, something prohibited by the Nuremberg Code, an internationally accepted standard of conduct instituted after the atrocities of World War II. 

I guess Kawamura had to focus on rumors like radioactivity and deformed body parts, because the aerial spraying campaign he is managing has such flawed science and reasoning behind it, and has already resulted in so much suffering and harm.  

If anyone is going to talk about the real issues—like how this aerial assault on our civil rights is not necessary, safe or effective—it is going to have to be citizens like you and me, and our state representatives who have shown courage in this matter. We don’t have to be afraid of the truth. 

Mike Lynberg 

Pacific Grove 

• 

PEACE SYMBOL EASTER  

(THE TIMES THEY ARE  

ENVISIONING) 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Last week, for the first time in, alas, yet another Christian millennium, anniversaries of Peace Symbol templated Easter Week. This is less than five years away from the end of that drum-beating Mayan Age, Winter Solstice 2012, that could just be cycle renewal, or bring extinction—nuclear holocaust, global warming, unknown. . . 

But it ain’t in the stars; it’s in us northern hemishpereoids and our energy lust. It’s maybe in the stars, but that ain’t for no astrologer me to say, as Pisces ended things, a full moon Good Friday Aries started it all over again—spring time and its allergies. 

The week kicked off Monday, March 17 with International Peace Symbol Day, created after the start of the stinking Iraq War. Of course, that self same St. Patrick’s Day had to be celebrated this year on the 15th because Paddy’s Day cannot parochially be boogied during Holy Week. 

Happened last in 1940, not again until 2160. We’re taking about rarities. With me? 

The past Easter weekend marked the Christian calendar’s 50th anniversary of the first public viewing of the Peace Symbol. It was on that initial 45-mile 1958 Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament stepping out death-and-resurrection April 4-7 from London to Aldermaston, England’s nuclear weapons factory to this day.  

A Golden Jubilee for the rest of us! From Peace Symbol’s Feb. 21 creation through its latest ban-the-bomb march to our customary calendar comin’ up Friday through Monday, April 4-7.  

Three galas! Like a well-trained preacher consummately stating belief three times. What more need be deduced. Tell me. Tell us. 

Armin A. Legdon 

• 

GLASS HOUSES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Those casting stones at Barack Obama better not live in glass houses. How many years have these same Republican corps, who are casting dispersions on Obama and holding him accountable for the words of his pastor, how many years have these same self-serving puritans been sitting in their megachurches listening to the likes of Rev. John Hegee spew out virulent, fiery, hate-filled sermons targeting immigrants, gays and abortion providers? 

Should Barack or any of us be held accountable for the words that issue forth from our pastor’s mouths? No, and this is not what this latest charade is about. The Obama controversy has all the earmarks of the Republican spin machine and is a preview of the sleazy things to come this fall. 

Ron Lowe 

Grass Valley

CENTER STREET 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The presentation of Walter Hood’s concepts for Center street was long awaited and as often happens it was not quite what we had hoped for. The presentation was an impressive display of models that were too abstract visually to understand without an accompanying text. The drawings were easier to “read” and showed cross-sections and a sense of scale and possible configurations. 

Hood’s verbal introduction to his exhibition did not promise a plan, but a range of possibilities which included the ideas of passageway, gathering place, adjacent buildings and their uses, along with some reference to the past and possible future presence of Strawberry Creek. The idea of opening the creek is not in any of the designs. Hood understands the myriad of opinions about the space, especially about the creek, as well as the political and financial constraints that are both real and perceived. These constraints should not be allowed to hinder the best design for the very center of our city. The continuation of Strawberry Creek from campus to the city’s center would not only energize the new gathering place but would in addition be a physical presence uniting the city and the university. 

Peter Selz 

• 

ITO’S BAM / PFA 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Thank you Daily Planet for giving my laugh of the week (and I needed it). The model of the proposed Berkeley Art Museum looked so much like the tupperware stacked in my closet. 

I am sure Mr. Ito’s finished building will be much more esthetic. 

But then, I am an optimist. 

Lenore Waters 

• 

LET’S DREAM A LITTLE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

After all, aren’t dreams what Berkeley is made of? Frederick Olmstead envisioned a parkway at the top of the campus, and we got a pretty nice road out of the deal. Julia Morgan and Bernard Maybeck dreamt us some magnificent buildings and with luck, we will have them to enjoy forever. Alice Waters gave us edible schoolyards, a better way to eat and a colorful commercial district to do it in. Sylvia McLaughlin and Tom Bates dreamed of an east shore park. Doug Fielding conjured up some soccer fields. Ed Roberts willed us a city that is just about accessible to everybody. And now Walter Hood has shown us how to turn a part of Center Street into a great public space.  

The Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee (DAPAC) had a peculiar sort of debate about what to do with Center Street between Shattuck and Oxford. Everyone seemed to like the idea of creating a pedestrian-focused public space. No one advocated leaving it alone. In true Berkeley tradition, however, we were able to make a split hair look like the Grand Canyon. By a vote of 11-10, the committee said it preferred a pedestrian-only mall and asked the city staff to develop some design options to explore its feasibility. No one suggested that closing the street was a done-deal, only that it was an idea worth pursuing if the designs worked out. But designs cost money which the city lacked, and it took a private grant to get the job done. Predictably, once the vision was put to paper, apparent differences seemed to melt away. One hybrid approach emphasizes gathering places, straight walkways, water features emerging in two places, and lots of trees. Most DAPACers I talked to seemed to like it. The biggest question is where to place the open creek-like features to optimize gathering space. That is the kind of constructive debate any community can handle. 

None of this dictates whether the street would be permanently closed to non-emergency, non-delivery vehicles, but Walter Hood’s vision does not close the door to either approach. Most instructive is Hood’s time lapse view of 24 hours on Center Street, showing that the handful of parking spaces on the street don’t turn over very often during the day. I am confident that commerce can thrive even if people need to walk a hundred feet or so from either entrance to the plaza in order to enter a store or café. Perhaps one day the merchants on the street will share that confidence. 

Civic Center Park offers a nice public space, but most people passing through downtown don’t see it. The dream is to create an appealing public place closer to the district’s front door—one that brings nature back into the city and invites people to do things together, such as listening to music, hearing a speech, or just enjoying the beauty of the water and the nearby hills. I am betting that Walter Hood has moved us closer to realizing that dream. 

Steven Weissman 

• 

SOMETHING TO  

LOOK FORWARD TO 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

When I went to the first meeting of the Alameda County Base Conversion Homeless Collaborative my wife was pregnant with our first child. I kissed her on the forehead as I was leaving and said, “Honey, I’ll be back in a couple of hours, this shouldn’t take long.” When I went to the last meeting of the Base Conversion Collaborative, where we finally received a settlement to help homeless providers, I had just finished dropping off our 10-year-old son. 

In November 2007, I completed a two-year (twice a month) commitment on the Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee (DAPAC) to help develop a plan for new projects and construction in downtown Berkeley. I served on the subcommittee to come up with a plan for Center Street that would include a new hotel, the Berkeley Art Museum, and the possible day lighting of Strawberry Creek. I was a blank slate when the meetings started. Eventually I agreed with the other subcommittee members that the idea of daylighting the creek or some other water feature should be considered, but trained professionals needed to work out the details. After seeing the past two presentations by Walter Hood, hired by EcoCity Builders, I think that we’ve got the right person on the job. 

Think outside the box? His first presentation was out of this world—literally. He presented a series of blown-up photos from outer space first showing California, then the Bay Area, Berkeley, and finally focusing on the 2100 block of Center Street. He described the type of soil under the street, degree of pitch, water flow, ecosystems, native foliage, and how much you would actually have to detour the existing creek to run down Center Street. He showed examples of other successful plazas around the world that combined people, traffic, and buildings with a creek or water feature.  

In the second presentation I went to, March 19, Walter unveiled more than 25 different options for Center Street. Some options did not require moving the creek but rather involved creating a water feature such as terraced fountains that would run the length of the street. I also liked the fact that his concepts extended across Shattuck and included the BART plaza. I think he addressed merchants’ concerns and traffic options, while offering designs that were appealing and aesthetically pleasing. Comments from those in attendance included words like “inspiring,” “innovative,” “creative,” and “unique.” Except for a few people who thought the designs did not accommodate a large enough public meeting space or a Jimi Hendrix statue (which in my opinion both should be located someplace else), there’s something here for everyone. What’s not to like? 

One of my life-coping mechanisms, when I’m stressed out, experiencing back pain, exercising, or doing something else I don’t like is to think of something positive in the future. Since that last presentation my thoughts keep returning to Center Street. It’s destined to be the crown jewel in the new downtown plan. I’m optimistic that if Walter is allowed to proceed at the pace that this project is moving ahead, we will not need to wait for 10 years before something actually happens. I think my son, who is now 14, and I will both have something to look forward to much sooner rather than later.  

Winston Burton 

My husband and I bounce through each year from holiday to holiday. Living in a bi-religious house, we have many to celebrate. Mostly they serve as a means to invite our friends and family over to our house to eat, drink and have a good time. The presents, candles, or type of food are all just a back drop to the same party. But Easter and Passover are different. These two holidays seem more in opposition to each other than any other. Maybe it’s because Hanukah isn’t as big of a holiday as Christmas that the duality doesn’t surface in winter. I think it is a given for my family that I will celebrate Christmas, despite the two religions that coexist in our home.  

When spring appears with the Easter Bunny lurking behind her budding flowers, I start to get the questions from my family. “Are you going to have an Easter dinner? Will you give Maya an Easter basket? Will you go to church?” This last question is most striking as I remember going to church one out eighteen Easters I spent at home. I understand that my mother doesn’t want me to loose the part of myself that connects me not only to her but to my culture and past. It’s just funny that Easter never really seemed like a big part of our family until it was threatened to be faded out. I don’t have anything against Easter, it’s just that I don’t consider myself a religious person and all that is left is really the bunny, candy and ham. At the same time, Passover is a dynamic celebration that is always our best holiday party of the year. We invite many of our friends who all make salty rich food that is hard to pronounce, and we drink too much wine as we read and sing one long story together around a table. How can the Easter bunny compete with that? A better question might be why have I created this competition between hidden eggs and afikomen? Wait a minute, couldn’t they be hidden together? 

Now that we have a baby girl to join our endless festivities, the stakes seem to be higher. I am trying to be mindful of not only the way we celebrate holidays but the meaning and purpose behind them. For example, during Christmas, I consciously only bought two presents for Maya, despite my urging need to buy her the world twice over. I wanted to focus on being with family and sharing our time together instead of the cacophony of presents that usually build below the tree. She was only 15 months, so I’m not sure she felt the impact of this focus, but it was a good first effort. Maybe next year we can do more to give to others or just to be there for those in need.  

Now I am left pondering the purpose and my own personal meaning of Easter. What message do I want Maya to receive from this holiday? As many Christian holidays coincide with the earthly worship traditions of the Pagans, the eggs, the bunny, and the basket all clearly represent sowing the seeds of a new crop. This is something I can emphasize to Maya as she collects her own eggs. We could even plant something together every Easter as a symbolic recognition of the spring season. It is a time of growth, power and beauty, all of which are not foreign to my little girl. 

Although it is not necessary to align the two holidays in any symbiotic way, I find myself wanting to reconcile my own issues between the two. So here it goes. Just as Easter can be interpreted as a celebration of the promise of all that is new, Passover represents the renewed optimism that life can continue and be more peaceful with increased tolerance. Spring is therefore a time for looking forward in expectation of all the bounty to come. I’m sure if we continued to expand our family to people of more faiths, we would find many more cultural representations of the same theme.  

Brooke Chabot is a Berkeley resident. 

This is a challenging time for teachers, and we already have a challenging job. These possible government cuts to education would be devastating to us. 

What’s happening here for me, as a teacher with a lay-off notice, is that “teachers on special assignment” (TSAs) may be re-assigned to the classroom. 

And that isn’t good for my position, because I might be cut, but more importantly, it is bad for Berkeley’s education in general. These TSA positions that might be cut are the life blood of our teaching. They are our coaches, our counselors and our leaders. 

At my site we have a Reading Recovery teacher. Reading Recovery teachers are like the Green Beret’s of Reading Instruction. They swoop down and rescue, they pull these kids up for air and give them a chance to survive academically. 

She is a TSA, and doesn’t directly service any of my third-grade students under the Reading Recovery title. But this fall, as our literacy coach, she and I worked together to implement the (Lucy Calkins) Writer’s Workshop program. We worked together each day, we planned, and team taught. We followed that best practice, really to a T. And the outcome was not only a huge success for the students, but also for me as a teacher. Many of my students that were actually reluctant to write at the beginning of the year, scored high on the mid year writing prompt. One student, who really hated writing, even wants to take a summer camp focusing on the writing craft. That is an enormous amount of change for this student! Our lit coach’s knowledge of literacy instruction is deep and intuitive, and she handed some of that knowledge on to me. How often do we get that opportunity? Well, this year I could access her skills as much as she and I had the time for. Next year, she will may not be there for the teachers because her position might be re-designated, eliminated. 

Why would we take that extremely special talent, that resource, away form our teachers? It’s something that could make us great teachers of literacy. It baffles me. It’s ridiculous. As teachers we care so much, we go above and beyond. Our students are “our kids.” 

“What you wouldn’t do for your kids.” You hear this a lot as a parent. I am a parent. But we feel it, and hear it a lot as teachers, too. What we do for our students is amazing, and they are amazing and they deserve the best. 

As one of my literacy instructors in my masters program, Dr. Lance Gentile, used to say to us, “If not with me, then with whom?” He would say this, pounding his fist on the table. Then with whom? He was intense. But I’m kind of wondering that myself right now. 

Beth Trevor is a Berkeley teacher. 

Self interest precedes community interest. Therefore, when the votes are cast for our 44th president each of us will choose the one who is more likely to improve our personal well being. So, if the economy means a collection of everything that will enhance one’s financial situation—then of course, “It’s the economy, stupid!” And the presidential nominee who waves this slogan best will win….again.  

But, wait. The economy that presidential aspirants, Congress, the Federal Reserve, economists and the punditry refer to is an abstract entity with pervasive reach full of surprises and intractable forces, resting on a mountain of data acquired from a vast range of activities. Economists prowl huge forests of numbers associated with stuff like national income, markets, business and international trade, considered to be economic indicators, and arrange their findings in verbal tableaux depicting the current state of things and suggesting future states. Their world is dominated by markets and the accumulation of wealth whereas our down-to-earth world turns on need and access.  

In economic discourse metaphors and inconsistencies abound: a lazy economy must be stimulated, a sinking economy must be propped up, a tottering economy must be bolstered, a weak economy must be strengthened, and so forth. The president tells us the nation is strong and yet each month tens of thousands lose their jobs. In Congress deficits are as acceptable as earmarks. No one wants to say “recession” but the president admits to a downturn and urges a stimulus package that will give borrowed cash to the working poor and continue tax breaks for the super rich.  

The ancient Greek idea of the economy as household management is stretched to the fantasy point as our leaders use it to cover management on a national and global scale.  

To what extent do numbers associated with national income, markets, business and international trade impact daily life? Do ordinary people care whether economics is a science, soothsaying, wishful thinking or plain boloney? Who cares? Most of us are too busy making ends meet. 

If there is a connection between the economy as conceived by our ruling classes and my personal well being it’s too complex for me to trace; the line between a surging (or plunging) stock market and my wallet is not only dim but tenuous and convoluted.  

I’m not so stupid as to act on the state of the economy as touted by contentious specialists who mix voodoo elements with trickle-down promises, rational, mathematical and sophisticated indeed, but no more reliable than tea leaves. 

My vote for president will not signify my concern for the economy but my hope for my own and my children’s well being.  

Marvin Chachere is a San Pablo resident.

Job security is the foremost domestic issue for working people in Pennsylvania, where Sen. Hillary Clinton is expected to win the Democratic Party primary. For many months, as a candidate for president, Senator Clinton has cultivated a pro-labor image. She claims to be an opponent of NAFTA, and she often denounces the outsourcing of American jobs. Before a crowd of students in New Hampshire, she claimed that she hated “seeing U.S. telemarketing jobs done in remote locations, far, far from our shores.” 

Newly released White House records demonstrate that Clinton lied about NAFTA. (See “Clinton Lie Kills Her Credibility on Trade Policy,” John Nichols, Common Dreams, March 22.) NAFTA, however, is but a single thread in a web of deception regarding globalization and free trade. Clinton is lying not only about NAFTA, but about outsourcing as well. And the evidence comes, not from Obama, but from official records, video tapes, quotations and recordings of Clinton speeches abroad. 

Consider this. In 2005 Sen. Clinton visited New Delhi, India, (“far, far from our shores”), where she met wealthy business leaders, venture capitalists eager for U.S. investment. A few years prior to her visit, Enron gained a foothold in India’s economy. Enron uprooted local communities, fleeced the public coffers, then pulled out of India with the profits of unregulated greed. 

In a speech promoting globalization and free trade, here is what Sen. Clinton said in New Delhi: “There is no way you can legislate against reality. Outsourcing will continue....We are not against all outsourcing, we are not in favor of putting up fences.” 

The India Review, a publication of the embassy of India, commented April 1, 2005: “Senator Clinton allayed apprehension in India that there would be a ban on outsourcing.” 

Siddharth Srivastava reported in Asia Times, March 1st, 2005: “Hillary Clinton made it apparent where she stood on outsourcing during her India visit...Hillary has been at the forefront in defending free trade and outsourcing. She faced considerable flak for defending Indian software giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) for opening a center in Buffalo, New York.” (TCS provided hundreds of special visas for foreign employees to work in New York for substandard, non-union wages.) She praised Clinton’s “strict adherence to the principles of free trade and outsourcing that affect India directly.” 

Outsourcing is inherent to global free trade, the attempt of corporate goliaths to move resources, jobs, money, capital in search of profits anywhere in the world without accountability. 

If a video clip of Clinton’s outsourcing remarks in India were played on TV before the upcoming primaries in Indiana, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, she would lose the elections, despite current polls. Not only because working-class voters oppose outsourcing, but because the duplicity of Clinton would become obvious. 

Clinton’s globalization speech in India would hardly be noteworthy today, except that, in her current campaign for the nomination, she is saying exactly the opposite of what she said in India. She was a globalizer in India. Now she’s a protectionist in Pennsylvania, and voters have a right to ask: Which is the real Hillary Clinton? 

The U.S. media, however, is presently experiencing a bout of amnesia. Pundits forget that Bill Clinton, with Hillary at his side, made huge campaign promises to labor in 1992. Within months of their victory, the Clintons rammed two Republican-initiated free-trade bills—NAFTA and GATT—through a Democratic Congress. Outsourcing of jobs to sweatshops in Mexico and Indonesia actually accelerated under the Clinton globalization agenda. The Clintons increased subsidies for corporate mergers and relaxed regulations that protect the public from the abuse of corporate power. 

The Clinton administration also passed the Financial Modernization Act of 1999, repealing the Glass-Steagal Act of 1933. That historic New Deal legislation made working-class home ownership possible and safe. The Jimmy Stewart film It’s a Wonderful Life idealized the New Deal arrangement. The savings-and-loan system—a system of small, often family-owned banks—was a bedrock of stability until the deregulation trends of the ’80s and ’90s transformed the U.S. economy into a high-risk casino. The Republican-sponsored, Clinton-backed Modernization Act deregulated the financial sector and encouraged the merger of business and commercial investment banks. Clinton’s “modernization” (he called it “reinventing government”) carved a path to the current sub-prime mortgage crisis. The current anarchy in housing and banking is, in part, a direct consequence of the Clinton deregulation legacy. As banks are failing, working people losing their homes, it takes a lot of gall for Hillary Clinton to take credit where blame is due for her White House experience. Shame on you, Hillary Clinton! 

Paul Rockwell is a columnist for In Motion Magazine. 

Sen. Clinton voted for a criminal war, she declinee to disclose her tax returns and the financial sources for her husband’s library, her much talked about experience is grossly exaggerated, by exploiting her relationship with Bill Clinton, she is less feminist than a beneficiary of nepotism, and her poor management of her campaign has demonstrated an alarming weakness as a manager. This is not to deny her intellect, her grasp of the issues and her capabilities as a political campaigner. However four more years of Republican rule are unthinkable. One must be objective and consider which of the two remaining candidates is best suited for the office, and which has a better chance of winning in November. The primary numbers provide the evidence—Obama has a commanding lead—delegates, popular vote, and states. 

Hilary Clinton is behind in the delegate count, and no one thinks she can catch up in the remaining primary elections. Clinton can only win the nomination in the backroom with the super delegates. If she wins the nomination, all her weaknesses will be exploited by the Republicans and John McCain this fall. Obama has treated her with great respect and gentleness; the Republicans will not be so constrained. She is unelectable. Her continued struggle against a truly remarkable candidate only serves to divide our party—to do the Republican’s work for them. The Republicans are in a win-win situation: if Hilary is the nominee, they will have a vulnerable opponent who arouses vehement antipathy and she and the super delegates will have alienated both black and young voters; if Obama wins, the Republicans will be the beneficiary of months of cheap attacks, the result of which will be an unnecessarily wounded candidate.  

Obama has proven himself to be a remarkable candidate. In response to some very dirty politics, his speech on racism is an eloquent message on a long festering problem. Real change will only occur with courageous leadership. Obama demonstrated such leadership, something this country hasn’t seen since FDR. He addressed an explosive issue with courage, equanimity and wisdom; there was no anger, deflecting, dodging, blaming, or disavowal. He actually embraced his minister. And then he moved on to initiate a long overdue dialog. And with this dialog, we have the possibility of moving beyond a narrow focus on racism and facing the real issues, starting with the education of this nation’s youth.  

But the campaign continues. The only ‘dirt’ on Obama is guilt by association: a brief encounter with a sleazy real estate investor, and membership in a church with a highly regarded minister who made some very provocative and controversial statements in the past 30 years. Are we going to trash him over this? We have Obama’s tax returns, earmarks, private life—nothing there. Oh, he did inhale as a teen-ager. No doubt that we will hear about that in due course. Compared to Clinton’s record, attacks on Obama based on guilt by association is a very high standard indeed.  

Party leaders and super delegates should be using their positions to convince Sen. Clinton to bow out. It’s time for the race for the Democratic Party’s nominee to end, to unite behind Senator Obama, and to permit him to campaign against John McCain. 

Bob Smith is a Berkeley resident.

When historians look back on the war in Afghanistan, they may well point to last December’s battle for Musa Qala, a scruffy town in the country’s northern Helmand Province, as a turning point. In a war of shadows, remote ambushes, and anonymous roadside bombs, Musa Qala was an exception: a standup fight.  

On one side was the Afghan National Army, the U.S. 82nd Airborne, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). On the other the Taliban. When the fight was over, the U.S.-led coalition had “won.” What they had “won” was a town shattered by B-1 and B-52s bombers, A-10 attack planes, Apache helicopters, AC-130 gunships, and artillery barrages.  

According to NATO, “Operation Snake” killed hundreds of Taliban. According to the London Times, British mop-up forces found one dead insurgent. No one knows how many civilians died in Musa Qala. NATO claims none were killed. The locals say more than 40 died.  

A Taliban spokesperson, Qari Ypousuf Ahmadi dismissed the significance of the battle: “Losing Musa Qala doesn’t mean that we will stop fighting.” 

Indeed, it has not. Last year was the deadliest since the 2001 invasion, with more than 6,200 Afghan deaths. Suicide bombs have increased eight fold, roadside bombs are up 24 percent, and diplomats are warned not to dine out in the country’s capital, Kabul.  

“The number of districts in which the Taliban operates exploded last year,” says John McCreary, former senior intelligence analyst for the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. “This is the first year they have managed to sustain over 100 attacks per month for a whole year since they started to climb back. One hundred attacks per month used to be a surge figure. Now it is the new norm.” 

In fact the number of attacks is averaging 548 a month. According to the United Nations, it is too risky to send aid teams into one fifth of the country. “The river appears to be running backward,” one analyst told the Financial Times. 

What happened at Musa Qala happens in virtually every province in the country: The insurgents move in, hand out money skimmed from the lucrative opium trade, drive out or intimidate local government forces, and through roadside bombs, midnight mortar attacks and ambushes, force NATO troops to bunker down in fortified camps.  

When the United States or NATO finally go on the offensive, the coalition’s lack of troops means they must rely on artillery and air power, which translates into a greater number of civilian casualties. Louise Arbour, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, says that civilian casualties caused by military activity has reached “alarming levels” this past year. “These not only breach international law but are eroding support among the Afghan community for the government and the international presence, as well as public support in contributing states for continued engagement in Afghanistan.” 

That erosion is accelerating. Polls indicate that the British and Australian public wants their troops out, and in Canada, only the minority Conservatives support the war. 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel—her eyes on polls indicating widespread antipathy for the war—recently said she has “absolutely no time” to consider redeploying Germany’s troops to the war-torn south. 

Only the French and the United States have agreed to send more troops, the former just a handful, and the latter 3,200. According to the United States’ counterinsurgency doctrine, Afghanistan would require 400,000 troops to pacify, although the country’s history suggests that even that number is probably wildly optimistic. The United States and NATO currently have 43,000 troops in Afghanistan.  

In a blow to the current push for more troops, the Netherlands decided it would withdraw all its soldiers by 2010. “The Dutch decision,” says the German newspaper Der Spiegel, “may set a precedent, raising concerns among NATO military leaders over a possible domino effect. If only one major NATO country yields to domestic pressure and decides to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan, it could set off an avalanche.” 

The possibility of an “avalanche” has so panicked the Bush administration that it sent Gates to Europe. “I am concerned that many people on this continent may not comprehend the magnitude of the direct threat to European Security,” said Gates in arguing for more troops. 

But Afghanistan was sold to the allies not as a war, but an international aid mission. “We are in the south [of Afghanistan] to help and protect the Afghan people reconstruct their own economy and democracy,” former British Defense Secretary John Reid told the Financial Times back in 2006.  

However, according to the aid organization Oxfam, the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is “comparable with sub-Saharan Africa,” and U.S. and NATO troops find themselves in the middle of a war with a significant section of the population. 

“The Taliban is growing and creating new alliances not because its sectarian religious practices have become popular, but because it is the only available umbrella for national liberation,” says Pakistani historian and political commentator Tariq Ali. “As the British and the Soviets discovered to their cost in the preceding two centuries, Afghans never like being occupied.” 

Certainly that is the message the Taliban is putting out. “We’re fighting to free our country,” says Mullah Mohammad Omar, “We are not a threat to the world.” 

Some of our allies are also beginning to question the Bush administration’s one dimensional portrayal of the Taliban as a tightly disciplined, international terrorist organization. “There is a hard core of Islamic extremists of varied ethnic and national origin, but the great majority of people we are engaged against are those who are fighting with the Taliban for financial, social and tribal reasons,” says British army chief, General Sir Richard Dannatt. “We will need to deal with and eventually reconcile the elected government with the majority of these people.” 

That approach has found little resonance in Washington, where a “victory” in Afghanistan is seen as central to the war on terrorism. “What is happening in Afghanistan and beyond its borders can have even greater strategic long-term consequences than the struggle in Iraq,” intones the Atlantic Council of the United States. 

While some NATO countries are hedging their bets in Afghanistan, the United States is already going “beyond its borders” and launching attacks into Pakistan. Unmanned Predator aircraft have killed several Taliban leaders, along with scores of civilians, and the United States is squeezing the Pakistani government to move its military into the Tribal Areas and Northwest Frontier to pacify Taliban forces. 

Fred Kagen of the influential American Enterprise Institute recently urged the Bush administration to surge troops into Afghanistan and threaten Pakistan with air strikes. 

Rather than suppressing the Taliban, however, this stepped up militarism has unified the Pushtuns—the heart of the Taliban—on both sides of the border, and local tribes have inflicted thousands of casualties on the Pakistani Army, rocketed the provincial capital of Peshawar, and spread the insurgency into the rich Swat Valley.  

“There is no way for NATO to win this war,” says Tariq Ali bluntly. 

That conclusion should hardly come as a surprise. As British correspondent Ronan Thomas notes, “Strategic success in Afghanistan has often been envisaged by outside powers—British, Soviet and now Coalition forces—but rarely if ever achieved.”

Back South, they say that if a single buzzard passes over your rooftop, don’t pay it no mind. But if you see a couple of them circling, you best check out in the yard. They’re most likely looking for easy pickings. 

Not that I’m calling San Francisco Chronicle columnist Chip Johnson and political consultant and columnist Clint Reilly buzzards, but both of them—seemingly independently, but you never know—have suddenly come up with the idea that outgoing State Senate President Don Perata ought to be Oakland’s next mayor. 

Now where in the world did Mr. Johnson and Mr. Reilly get that idea, one wonders. 

In mid-February, Mr. Johnson wrote a column that criticized Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums for being out of town and, therefore, failing to address a recent rise in murders and violent crimes in the city. A discussion on whether or not that constitutes a valid criticism of Mr. Dellums by Mr. Johnson will have to wait until another time. But way, far down in the column, Mr. Johnson mentions Mr. Perata as someone he believes would be a good alternative to Mr. Dellums. “[Mr. Perata] will be termed out of office next year and has his own future to look out for,” Mr. Johnson writes, “and if Dellums isn’t up to the job, his seat might be a good fit for a veteran East Bay politician.” 

That seems like unintentionally insightful writing on Mr. Johnson’s part, the fact that Mr. Perata as Oakland mayor is all about Mr. Perata and where he needs to land after hopping out of Sacramento, rather than what is needed for Oakland. Keep that point in mind as we move closer to the Oakland 2010 mayoral election. 

A month later, Mr. Reilly writes in a column reprinted in several Bay Area newspapers that it is Oakland that needs Mr. Perata. In fact, he says in the column’s title, “Perata is Oakland’s hope.” 

“Oakland’s leadership crisis troubles me,” Mr. Reilly writes, adding that “today, Oakland suffers from the bewildering rhetoric and bumbling policies of Mayor Ron Dellums. No American politician more clearly evidences the impotence of ideological rhetoric as a prescription for curbing urban violence than Dellums. His bombastic sermons echo Fidel Castro. At times, the most violent parts of his city resemble an American Baghdad. Dellums is painfully out of touch with the law enforcement best practices that have turned around other big American citites.” 

But relief is in sight, Mr. Reilly informs. 

“Oakland is fortunate to have one of California’s most able politicians protecting its interests in Sacramento,” he goes on, noting that this able politician is Don Perata. After a recitation of what he says is Mr. Perata’s history and accomplishments, Mr. Reilly concludes that “Oakland desperately needs a nuts-and-bolts mayor to fix its ongoing problems. There is no better political mechanic operating today than Don Perata.” 

As Samuel L. Jackson said in “Pulp Fiction” before he and John Travolta lit up the suburban drug dealer, allow me to retort. I have a somewhat different measure of leadership. 

My first and foremost standard for leadership is that if a leader sends troops into battle, the leader sticks around to make sure things are going all right, makes adjustments if things are going wrong, and takes the full consequences if things go disastrously. Most important, a good leader doesn’t leave the troops stranded. By that standard, Mr. Perata is not a poor leader. He’s not even a leader at all, but a man who has a history of ducking for cover and looking out for his own interests when the going gets tough. 

I cite two examples, and let you be the judge. 

In the mid-’90s, Mr. Perata was one of the major players in crafting the complicated deal that brought the Raiders football team back to Oakland. The Raiders came back, but it is universally accepted that it was a bad deal for the taxpayers of Oakland and Alameda County, costing us millions of dollars a year in money. In Oakland, in fact, the term “Raider deal” is synonymous with government inefficiency and corruption, one of the main reasons why many Oakland residents stopped trusting City Hall. 

In a 2003 article about one of the many lawsuits between the Raiders, Oakland, and Alameda County over the deal—a lawsuit in which the Raiders tried unsuccessfully to get Perata to testify—the Oakland Tribune wrote that “Raiders attorneys want Perata … to testify because [he] served as county supervisor when the county and city were negotiating to bring the team back from Los Angeles. [He was] instrumental in appointing members to an independent body that negotiated the Raiders deal and in pushing for approval of the final deal…” 

“Perata’s ties to the case are based on his longtime friendship with Ed DeSilva, an Alameda County contractor who was lead negotiator in the Raiders deal for the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Board,” the 2003 Tribune article went on to say. “The board was created as an independent body of local business leaders to run the Coliseum Complex. DeSilva, who has bankrolled many Perata election campaigns, was appointed to that board by the county supervisors, at Perata’s request. … Perata’s connection to the case also stems from his previous employment at the Oakland Football Marketing Association, a group formed to sell tickets to Raider games. Perata was hired by the group after he lost a campaign for state controller in 1994.” 

Mr. Perata’s hands, in other words, were all over the Raiders deal. 

Has Don Perata ever acknowledged any errors in the Raider deal? Never, to my knowledge. What steps has the State Senator taken to mitigate the damage done to Oakland and Alameda taxpayers by that deal? To my knowledge, again, none. In fact, Mr. Perata distanced himself so completely from the Raiders deal that other local politicians—Oakland City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente and former Alameda County Supervisor Mary King—more often get blamed for the deal, while Mr. Perata’s name is rarely mentioned. 

Mr. De La Fuente, in fact, continues to try to get relief for Oakland from the results of the Raiders deal, an example of how leadership should act when an error is made. 

A second example of Mr. Perata’s failure of leadership when things fall apart is in the state takeover of the Oakland Unified School District. 

It’s widely known that Mr. Perata sponsored the 2003 legislation that authorized the OUSD state takeover. But in an April, 2003 column, I wrote about how this was not the first time Mr. Perata sought state seizure of the Oakland schools.  

“Back in 1998,” I wrote in the 2003 column, “[Mr. Perata] called for the firing of then-Superintendent Carol Quan because of Oakland’s habitual low student test scores, on-campus crime, discipline problems and substandard textbooks and instructional technology. He also cited poor fiscal management, but poor fiscal management in 1998 terms didn’t mean overspending the budget, but rather a bloated downtown bureaucracy and not enough money for direct-education things like teacher salaries and counselors. And if the OUSD School Board didn’t fire Quan, Perata said he would … sponsor a bill to have the state take over administration of the Oakland Public Schools. In fact, at the time, he said he was already drawing up such legislation.” 

Mr. Perata’s pressure—along with that of then-Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown—eventually led to the firing of Ms. Quan, and to the hiring of Dennis Chaconas as Superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District. But after the 2003 OUSD budget shortfall—and, many in Oakland have speculated, after Mr. Chaconas’ failed to go along with Mr. Perata’s proposal to sell the valuable OUSD administrative headquarters to private developers—Mr. Perata led the way in the state legislature for California to take over Oakland’s schools. 

That story has been told many times. It is what happened afterwards—and, more important, what did not happen afterwards—that is key to the understanding of Mr. Perata’s leadership, or lack thereof. 

Under the legislation written by Mr. Perata, the state-hired OUSD administrator was supposed to clear up OUSD’s financial difficulties, while leaving intact the education reforms put in place under Mr. Chaconas. Instead, the state administrator did exactly the opposite. Under state administration, OUSD went deeper in debt than when it was when the state took over, while the state administrator fiddling and tinkered with the education plan, turning the Oakland school district into a vast educational experimental ground. For years, parents, teachers, and OUSD school board members complained that the state administration was not acting as it should, and that things were going terribly wrong in Oakland under state control. One of the things going wrong was that there was no clearly-defined way for Oakland to win back control of its school district, meaning the state was free to run Oakland schools until the state decided it was tired of the job. 

Meanwhile, Mr. Perata, who was deeply involved in telling Oakland how we should run our schools when we were running our own schools, suddenly lost all public interest in Oakland’s schools after the state took over, a takeover that he had long threatened and advocated. 

In other words, when the citizens of Oakland had to face bad consequences over the results of an action by Mr. Perata, Mr. Perata “booked” (to use a phrase from the Oakland streets.) 

Was there another course? 

After his election to the 16th Assembly District in 2006, Sandré Swanson showed us that there was. While never interfering with the state administration of OUSD, Mr. Swanson focused attention on how that administration was being carried out, while passing legislation that made it possible for an orderly and more predictable return to local control. 

Mr. Swanson did this as a first-term Assemblymember. It is something the powerful Mr. Perata could have done in his position as President of the California State Senate, but chose not to. 

A last point, before we go. Mr. Perata also has a reputation of “eating his young”-tossing aside loyal protégés, that is, when his political ambitions get in the way of theirs. Thus, he has kept a loyal former 16th District Assemblymember Wilma Chan waiting for several years while Mr. Perata got a willing judge to grant him more than his share of time in the Senate District 9 seat, making Ms. Chan’s run against sitting 14th Assemblymember Loni Hancock an uphill battle. Loyalty to those who are loyal to you is another leadership quality I value, one that Mr. Perata does not appear to hold. 

For myself, I will need a lot more convincing that—in Mr. Johnson’s words—Oakland would be a “good fit” for Mr. Perata, at least if that term is meant to mean of some benefit for Oakland. Otherwise, right now, it sounds like something we need to demand a prophylactic for, while bracing ourselves against the wall. 

Back in the late 1960s I had lunch in Regent’s Park in London with the editor of the RIBA Journal. As we strolled around in that lovely landscape, he gestured to the new Post Office Tower, a novel “foreign object” rising above the grand old trees and Regency terraces. Almost 600 feet high, crowned by a revolving-view restaurant and hung with satellite dishes, it was a living insult to any passionate contextualist. “I don’t dislike it,” said my colleague, “but it quite takes away that special joy of London—a collection of distinct neighborhoods.” 

His observation returns to my mind when I try to assess the impact, on a Berkeley resident, of the promised “made-over” skyline already appearing on Rincon Hill, not to mention that feverishly touted developer’s dream, the future Transbay Tower. For although London and San Francisco are very different, they face similar threats, particularly loss of unique character. London is loved for its historic river, ancient buildings, and enviably livable Georgian streets and squares, not for Cesar Pelli’s 800-foot Canada Tower, frowning down on the otherwise lively new Docklands. Similarly, San Francisco is adored for its European ambiance and breathtaking views of bridges, water and dramatic headlands, not for the Bank of America’s dark brooding (ex-)world headquarters, or its companion folly, the Transamerica pyramid. 

Living in Berkeley from the mid-’50s, one watched the pastel city across the bay change from a friendly, low-to-midrise affair, spread over recognizable hills, to a pincushion of corporate towers obliterating the beloved topography. By the late 1960s, the city’s planners and shapers had realized the threat to adjacent Telegraph Hill and North Beach, and, cleverly if brutally, steered the new Embarcadero Project—that “city within the city”—into walling-off further highrise expansion north of its narrow towers. 

In the 30-some years since that bold intervention, this vibrant business-area, now expanded south beyond Mission, has filled up with a good number of well-designed structures that look as though record-breaking height was not an aim. One could list Skidmore Owings and Merrill’s granite-faced (ex-)Crocker Tower at 1 Montgomery, their elegant “teardrop” building at 388 Market, or the glassy European-looking design at 101 2nd St. Though claustrophobic in places—think Bechtel’s overshadowed park—this impressive miniature Manhattan is made more bearable by its increasingly handsome public waterfront. To many of us who still regard San Francisco as our cultural downtown, this expanded financial district feels like a fait accompli, to be left in peace for a bit while other more pressing projects are tackled—like making a superb job of Mission Bay.  

As happy regionalists, many of us sustain an active interest in promoting neglected Oakland, aiding struggling Richmond, or saving dear old Berkeley from headlong “smart growth”! Thus it comes as an unwelcome distraction in this time of endless war and looming economic disaster to find San Francisco—or its political leadership—so totally gung-ho about a higher than ever downtown. 

While I write this I am looking at the February 2007 issue of San Francisco Magazine, whose striking cover is an aerial view of an impressive wood study model, with an “improved” Financial District in the foreground. All the buildings painted white—I count 22—are either proposed, approved, or under construction. SO far so good, except that a handful of them—the much-discussed Transbay Tower, the adjacent Twin Towers 2, and a few others—rise above all else, upsetting the unity and balance of the whole, while inevitable raising the ante for future development across the greater area. The recent completion of a 60-story apartment tower on Rincon Hill is startling proof that this new developer-planner alliance means business. 

In itself, the great southward expansion begun in 1986 when city residents voted to encourage high buildings beyond Market Street, seems natural and inevitable, protecting the established character of Nob Hill, Russian Hill and North Beach, while re-vitalizing a decaying old industrial terrain. The alarming thing, however, is not expansion, but an almost sudden obsession with competitive skyscraping! Seemingly out of the blue, Renzo Piano’s Twin Towers aim to be the nation’s third and fourth tallest buildings, while the promised marvel close-by, rising above a “Grand Central Station of the West” will dominate even those, if unrestrained egos prevail. 

One would like to think, that something as tall as the 1,250-foot Empire State Building—an image already invoked—would receive deep design attention, but so far, the architectural picture is not encouraging. Some time ago, the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, the regional body created in 2001 to bring about the construction of a new super transit terminal on the site of the obsolete bus station at First and Mission, devised a limited competition between three major developers and their chosen architects. The design teams were Richard (now Lord) Rogers, one of Britain’s high-tech stars, in internationally famous Skidmore Owings and Merrill, and Cesar Pelli, architect of many prestigious giants including the 1,483 foot Patronas (twin) Towers in Malaysia. 

Apparently the competition program mandated a huge attention-getting skyscraper crowing a grand, partially underground transportation interchange. Suddenly, eccentric little San Francisco, always delighted to not be Manhattan, has declared itself the West Coast rival! The three teams worked frantically away, and on Monday, Aug. 6 of last year, their large, impressive models were unveiled in City Hall before an admiring crowd of officials, TV crews, and interested public. The designs were intriguing as elegant models are always are, but disturbing—three extravagantly tall commercial towers posing as sculpture! None of them equaled the best work of their famous lead-designers. To me, the Richard Rogers entry—four separate buildings bung inside a giant “erector-set” frame, looked the most promising. SOM’s offering, the next best, seemed to strive too hard to be exciting, rising from a dented pyramid into a twisty, hard-to-comprehend shaft, but the Pelli design was way the most disturbing. Claming elegance through simplicity, it posed as a well-behaved glass tower, but with a strangely weak form, curving in as it ascended. An emasculated blow-up of Cleopatra’s Needle, it will be seen by detractors, if built, as a giant, shiny phallus, exacerbated by attention-getting height. Ranging from 1,200 to 1,375 feet, all three towers are way taller that the 770-foot Bank of America World HQ—still downtown’s dominant landmark. 

A few days after the unveiling, the Transbay Authority’s advisory committee voted in favor of the sleek “respectable” Pelli design. A couple of weeks later, the Authority itself seconded their choice, and there for the moment we are stuck. perplexed design professionals, and people just plain uncomfortable with ego-built sky-high towers. But at this early stage, all is far from lost. The daunting task of financing an ambitious multi-level terminal in the crowded middle of San Francisco, is lengthy and far from assured. To many, the whole concept, especially the location, sounds frighteningly centralist and vulnerable, evoking visions of terrorist attack and seismic disaster, but even without these familiar fears, there are powerful cultural reasons for resisting this “madeover” skyline. 

Collectively we remain the captive audience of our everyday surroundings. Paris of the great boulevards, Florence, Georgian Bath, etc., created a sense of order and predictability, of civic belonging and social pleasures. At best they were eminently livable. You didn’t have to commute from Walnut Creek to work on California Street, and in those lowrise cities, unusual height was reserved solely for buildings of civic or religious importance—the church spire or the dome of city hall. Even today, almost anybody looking up at the West Front of Notre Dame will find it more inspiring than forty levels of identical office floors. 

Alas, the only “cathedral” in the city’s Financial District is that secular novelty the Transamerica Pyramid, but that apart, the gleaming office towers and highrise hotels paraded along Market Street or enjoyed from the quiet splendor of Yerba Buena Gardens, range from pretty good to excellent without competing for record breaking height. Think of Timothy Pfleuger’s Art Deco Pacific Telephone Building on new Montgomery Street—no Sears Tower, yet a celebration of verticality that even after 83 years playfully enhances Mario Botta’s squat SFMOMA. As civilized architecture, Pfleuger’s modest-sized jewel, or its current equivalent—think of the city’s new, eminently non-slick Federal Building—is worth a dozen 1,300-foot featureless glass shafts, which brings me back to my opening comments. 

Apropos their huge flamboyant Transbay Tower entry, Crag Hartman, SOM’s chief designer, said a the public presentation, “in a single stroke, this design will redefine for the world San Francisco’s architectural, urban, and environmental intentions.” With all due respect for the power of bold statements, my gut response is “God help us,” for six or eight such assertive monsters would mesmerize a captive audience of millions. Large numbers of us, looking across the bay from Berkeley or Oakland, Richmond or Sausalito, at our “city on a hill” would rather not be continually reminded of World Trade, multi-million dollar condos with “world-class” views, or worse perhaps, tomorrow’s commute! 

With more bad economic news being revealed daily, I think even those of us who aren’t planning to sell, buy, or refinance a house are getting rather nervous. It’s come to the point where one starts to wonder how surreal it could get, given that some lenders are suddenly deciding to cancel or freeze home equity lines of credit, even for borrowers who have made all their payments on time, or are refusing to subordinate to new first mortgages, making it impossible for people to refinance.  

It makes one want to go through the loan papers to make sure the first mortgage doesn’t have some hidden clause which basically says, “We’re the bank and if we suddenly decide we need the whole $415,000 we lent you then we’ll send you a letter to that effect and you’ll have 30 days to pay up.” 

Funny thing, these are the very same banks that only a year or two ago were encouraging people to use their houses like ATMs for vacations, college tuition, or paying off their high interest rate credit cards. Not to mention encouraging “cash-out” refinancing where people were encouraged to take out a loan for more than they needed—say an extra hundred thousand—because the bank would make more income on a larger loan amount. But now that their complicated financial schemes are going to hell in a handbasket, suddenly it’s our fault. 

There’s been a good deal of finger-pointing, naturally. Some like to blame the victims, saying they never should have been given loans, it’s their fault they didn’t read the fine print, surely they realized they wouldn’t be able to afford the payments when their adjustable loan adjusted. It’s easy to believe this if you’re one of those people who is terribly financially savvy, or someone lucky enough to have owned their house since, oh, 1964 (back when only one income was often enough, and the payments only took 30 percent of it).  

I’m sure it’s true that there are many people who probably should not have been allowed to buy a house—the people whose credit scores suggested that handling money was maybe not their strong suit. If the only loan you can get is an adjustable loan linked to a volatile index that adjusts every three months and starts at 9 percent when prime fixed-rate loans are going for 5.5 percent, then that might be a clue that you shouldn’t be buying property.  

On the other hand, some lender was happy to make that loan, and then sell it in the secondary mortgage market, and is not now willing to drop the interest rate on it, in order for the borrower to continue to be able to pay it. And there may have been a mortgage broker who arranged the deal, and was happy to take 1 percent of that $500,000 up front as payment for doing so. He or she may have been honest enough to tell you it was a bad loan, but probably wasn’t honest enough to tell you shouldn’t be buying the house. 

But I can tell you about reading the fine print. I’ve owned 11 houses, and I’ve read lots of loan documents. Various laws have been passed that tried to make them more consumer-friendly and easy to understand—but they aren’t. They are all about covering the lender’s rear and kicking yours. Lawyers were involved in the writing of them—need I say more? I’m pretty sure the documents for my home equity loan don’t actually say, “There may come a day when the economy has gotten so screwed up and we’re feeling so paranoid that even though we promised you could borrow this money from us on these terms we’ve decided that you can’t, and actually, whatever you’ve already borrowed we’d like back immediately even though we said you didn’t have to pay us back for 10 years.”  

Another scapegoat has been “stated income” or “no documentation” loans. I have no doubt that many people either outright lied or least fudged their assets a bit. (It’s harder to fudge your credit score, although there are various sleazy ways to do so, and I’m sure some people used them.) But many of those loans went to people who, like me, are self-employed.  

Before stated income loans came along, self-employed people often had to either: have a spouse with a job, get a co-signer with a job, or spend the three years before they wanted to buy a house purposefully NOT taking all the income tax deductions they were actually entitled to in order to make their income look better to a lender. Interestingly enough, the other prime candidates for “no doc” loans are rich people who don’t want the lender to know many specifics about their financial situation. In any case, these loans are already becoming unavailable. 

Then the PMI companies (private mortgage insurance—which you have to pay on most loans if the down payment is less than 20 percent) announced that they have redlined ALL of California, as well as several other states. Great. So now, in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the U.S, you’ll have to be able to cough up hundreds of thousands of dollars for the down payment in order to get a loan.  

For instance, under the higher conforming loan limits that were temporarily put into place ($729,750 instead of $417,000), you could pay $912,000 for the property, but you’d have to put down $182,400. Even on a lower priced house, say $450,000, you’d still have to cough up $90,000. As usual, things are easy if you’re wealthy, but they suck for the rest of us. I hope you weren’t under the impression the Fed cares about what happens to regular people. I guess we should be happy the rates are actually coming down on existing home equity lines of credit—mine is now at a lower rate than my first mortgage! 

The good news? Prices have dropped pretty significantly. That may last a while, but it won’t last forever. The Bay Area is still a desirable place to live. If you want a house for $35,000, move to South Dakota. Otherwise, if you have a fabulous FICO score, a lot of cash, a high-paying job, and you plan to stay in the house for a while, now is probably a good time to buy. 

Jane Powell is the author of Bungalow Kitchens and other bungalow books.

All you gardeners within striking distance of northwest Berkeley: Here’s your chance to be influential. Westbrae Nursery on Gilman Street changed hands in January and just had an official Grand Opening. Jeff Eckhart, who owns the business now along with his sister Chris Szybalski, told me he has a few definite ideas about new directions and he’s open to more.  

One thing that has already surprised him is the number of edibles people want—vegetable seedlings and such—so he might give more space to those. There’s already a decent stock of ornamental and kitchen-garden seeds, but I noticed that the number of herb starts as well as the veggie sixpacks was considerably reduced from before the turnover.  

One pleasant surprise was finding succulents—just a few, including a Hesperaloe whose name I’ve forgotten—from the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek. That’s a trend I’d like to encourage because they certainly have interesting plants out there. It’s the first place I ever saw the gorgeous Antioch Dunes evening primrose in bloom, just for an offhand example. Westbrae has a direct pipeline now: Szybalski volunteers at the garden.  

There’s clearly an interest in succulents, demonstrated by a good bunch of little bitty ones on display including a few I don’t think I’ve seen before. If you like originality, that’s a good way to go; lots of plant families seem to have crazy aunts in the succulent attic.  

Another new aspect to the nursery is the “fountain court,” with traditional Euro-drooling sculptured types and some really handsome newer forms such as twisted black columns with alternately polished and rough surfaces for the water to run down to a cobbled base. The sounds these make are more subtle, too, than a spout-into-pool fountain’s.  

The new nursery owners have a little less space to work with, as some of the lot has been reclaimed by its landlord. Still, there’s room for a perfectly hilarious spiral-trunked whitebark birch. Eckhart says he intends to feature more such high-drama focal plants. He’s already got lots of foliage color, spiky, domed, umbrella-shaped, and other arresting forms.  

Goodlooking flowering stuff too, arranged on compact tiered tables in inspiring combinations. At the gate was a short, lush tree peony with the biggest blossoms I’ve seen on that plant. Annie’s Annuals is still well-represented. 

Houseplants, soil amendments, containers (and Paradise Pottery is right next door), trellises, and tools including Felco pruners are there already. If you want to have a nursery that fits your garden, go on over there and tell Eckhart and Szybalski what you want.  

If you cherish the weird and wonderful, you have two more of Merritt College’s Saturday plant sales this spring to check out: April 12 and May 10, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The propagators up there lean toward Mediterranean-climate plants: Californian, Australian, South African, well-adapted here.  

Westbrae Nursery 

1272 Gilman St, Berkeley 

526-5517  

http://www.westbrae-nursery.com 

Closed Mondays 

Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m. 5 p.m. 

Sunday 9 a.m. 4 p.m. 

Merritt College Landscape Horticulture Department 

12500 Campus Drive, Oakland 

436-2418 

www.peralta.cc.ca.us 

Ron Sullivan is a former professional gardener and arborist. Her “Garden Variety” column appears every Friday in the Daily Planet’s East Bay Home & Real Estate section. Her column on East Bay trees appears every other Tuesday in the Daily Planet.

I don’t know about you but I’m a person that’s very expert at feeling sorry for myself. If it’s not done my way, I’m grouchy. If they didn’t know what I wanted or anticipated how I was going to respond, I feel slighted. I’m not proud of it but that’s just the kind of gigantic baby I am. Waaaa. That’s why I volunteer. 

I don’t volunteer in order to set the world aright. The world can probably get along fine without me. No, I do it for myself. Volunteering, especially when I choose the right venue has the capacity to take me out of the “Poor Me”s faster than pretty much anything I can think of. So when I talk about Rebuilding Together (a.k.a. Christmas in April), understand that I don’t want you to help them … I want you to let them help you.  

I first encountered Christmas in April (now Rebuilding Together) in the winter of 1993 as a much younger general contractor and a person used to facing struggles alone. The model that they employed was something I really needed to learn and still need much reminding of that many hands make light work. 

The leadership of our own local Rebuilding Together—Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville (RTABE), including Executive Director June Lee at the helm, takes responsibility for figuring out who needs help on their home (that’s what they do), what will be done (painting, flooring, roofing) and who can get it done (you). 

Helping out with RT doesn’t require any building skills but you’ll gain some if you show up. Teams are built around a “House Captain” who organizes a body of work for a deserving homeowner (usually elderly, disabled or lacking the means to adequately care for their environs). If you volunteer, you’ll be assigned to a house captain who will show you how to paint a room or to lay a vinyl floor.  

You’ll never be asked to do a job that’s beyond your comfort zone but you can choose to work with someone (or several someones) more skilled than yourself to your own educational benefit. For many of us, tackling something new is less about the specific data involved than the sheer drop, the act of doing something completely new. Installing a handrail with a couple of trained volunteers is a great way to break through the fear and discover that, yes, you can do home repairs too. 

If you have more skill, RT is a great way to share those skills while meeting new people and just having fun. You can get plenty of help from lesser skilled people to do what you might normally do alone and there are very specific time and money constraints so you don’t have to worry about getting sucked into the Contractor Vortex of Eternal Malaise (and yes, I do have the T-shirt, thank you very much). 

Instead, the RT experience can be one in which you meet new people, share some laughs and experience the good feeling that comes from helping someone that could never afford what you normally purvey and a lot of these people are audibly and visibly grateful. 

If you know nothing at all about construction and never want to feel the thrill of a paint brush or hammer in your hand, you can still join a band of similarly comported brethren (& sistren) hauling the junk out of someone’s backyard or garage. Who knows, you may go home inspired to do the same with your own excess junk. 

While RT can use you for planning over the next few weeks, the main event is actually One Day. And now, you say “Hey, I can do One Day” and then you call June and tell her (or one of the other cool people over at RTABE) that you’re good for one day and you’ll take an X-LG for your shirt (we all get neat shirts because we’re a team!). 

You know, I can’t guarantee that you’ll learn how to build a deck in one day (that’s probably not going to happen) or how to paint like a pro , but I can make a promise that for one day, you’re far less likely to think about how cruddy your circumstances are. How rotten it is that your Volvo makes that noise, that your kids won’t finish their homework or that your portfolio is down.  

A day spent helping someone who can’t walk, who’s house is in really bad shape or who doesn’t have the money to buy a light bulbs might be just the medicine you need to come home and say “Wow, I have it good.” (by the way, bring your kids. They might end up feeling that way too). 

April Rebuild Day is the 26th of the month, the last Saturday in April. There are also Prep Workday’s on the 12th and 19th if these work better for you, or if you just need more cheering up! 

Eric Hoffer said “The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.” I don’t think I agree. Seems to me that it’s a one to one relationship. One day spent in pursuit of another’s betterment is one day in which yours is assured. 

Hope you see you all there. 

Rebuilding Together—Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville Executive Director June Lee. She or her staff can be reached at 644-8979.

Partnerships across species lines aren’t all that uncommon in nature. Where Darwin saw evolution as a process of deadly competition, the Russian aristocrat-anarchist Pyotor Kropotkin observed “mutual aid” everywhere-cooperative behavior not just within species, as in the beehive or wolfpack, but even between unrelated creatures. 

The association can be as tight as the symbiosis of the fungus and alga that form a lichen, or the ancient bond between two kinds of single-celled organisms that may have given rise to all complex life. Or it may be a transient connection, a chance opportunity taken. Commensal foraging is one of those loose mutualisms, in which a predator hangs out with another animal whose activities are likely to turn up lunch—“commensal,” after all, meaning “sharing a table.” 

The legendary hunting association between the American badger and the coyote is a good example of commensal foraging. The relationship is mostly to the coyote’s advantage: the badger, with its powerful forelegs and claws, may unearth rodents that the canid would otherwise never see. And if the prey escapes the badger, the coyote has a better shot at chasing it down. There’s really nothing in it for the badger, which would prefer to be left alone. 

Once in the inner Coast Range I saw a red-tailed hawk that appeared to be using a badger as a beater, hovering above the carnivore like a satellite in geosynchronous orbit. The badger was way too big to have interested the hawk as prey, but whatever it flushed might have been tasty. 

Some of the best-documented commensal-foraging relationships involve other birds and mammals: warblers with armadillos, falcons with maned wolves, herons with manatees. One heron, the cattle egret, even gets its name from its tendency to follow large ungulates around. These chunky white birds, native to Africa and Asia, have colonized the Americas and Australia as well, exploiting the cattle niche wherever they’ve gone. Singly or in flocks, they trail along behind the cows—or, depending on the continent, rhinos or water buffaloes—and snatch insects and other prey disturbed by the hoof traffic. In the absence of cattle, they’ll follow tractors. 

Cattle egrets used to turn up in the Bay Area more often. There’s still a large population in the Imperial Valley, but they’ve become scarce north of there. I believe the lone bird that used to winter at Lake Merritt’s Rotary Science Center failed to return this season. 

It’s rarer for the native North American egrets to engage in commensal foraging. I’ve heard of observations involving snowy egrets, mainly in the Southeast. But the great egret hadn’t been caught in the act until November 2006, when Garth and Heidi Herring, apparently visiting from Florida, stopped to observe a couple of small herds of black-tailed deer at Bodega Head. What they saw was recently published in the journal Western Birds. 

The Herrings saw a great egret, which had been loitering near the deer herds, fly into a herd and land near its center. Five minutes later, a second egret joined the second herd. Each appeared to select a deer, which it followed at a distance of up to six feet for the next half hour. The birds were observed plunging their beaks into the grass and acting as if they were swallowing prey, although it was impossible to identify what they had caught. Voles would be a strong possibility: great egrets and great blue herons are serious rodent-eaters.  

Note, again, that this is a one-sided association. The deer don’t benefit from the company of the egrets, although if there were still mountain lions and grizzly bears at Bodega Head, it might be a different story. Other birds do act as sentinels for their commensal associates. In this case, if anything the deer might be a bit inconvenienced by the tagalong birds. 

Whether it’s a one-off observation or a hint at more widespread behavior that we’ve just missed, this is an interesting example of behavioral flexibility on the egrets’ part. It reminds us that birds aren’t just automatons, driven by inflexible instincts. To some extent, they can improvise to take advantage of novel situations, a tendency that may reach its highest development in corvids and parrots. 

You also have to wonder if the egrets were reenacting a very old relationship with long-gone partners. Asia and African didn’t always have a monopoly on megafauna. It might have been really rewarding for a great egret to follow a mammoth around.  

Joe Eaton’s “Wild Neighbors” column appears every other Tuesday in the Berkeley Daily Planet, alternating with Ron Sullivan’s “Green Neighbors” column on East Bay trees.

FRIDAY, MARCH 28 

THEATER 

Altarena Playhouse “Chicago” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda, through April 12. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553.  

“Amor Cubano” Written and performed by Maceo Cabrera Estevez at 8 p.m. through Sat. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5-$20. 849-2568.  

Berkeley Rep ”Wishful Drinking” with Carrie Fisher, at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St., through March 30. Tickets are $33-$69. 647-2949. 

Masquers Playhouse “Tartuffe” Fri.-Sat. at 8 p.m., some Sun. matinees at 2:30 p.m. at 105 Park Place, Pt. Richmond, through April 26. Tickets are $18. 232-4031.  

Shotgun Players “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” by George Bernard Shaw. Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m., through April 27, at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. Tickets are $17-$25. 841-6500.  

EXHIBITIONS 

“My Sister, My Sister” A personal response to homelessness, poetry by Zelma Brown, Photography by Meredith Stout. Opening reception at 7 p.m. at the Women’s Cancer Resource Center, 5741 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Screening of “Walking in My Shoes” at 8 p.m. Show runs to April 25. 601-4040, ext. 111. 

“Peace is Possible” Works by artists who are changing the world through creativity, Wavy Gravy and Carolyna Marks. Reception at 7 p.m. at 4th Street Studio, 1717d 4th St. 527-0600. 

“Pet Art” from Expressions Gallery on display at Just Pet Me Country Club, 2545 Broadway, Oakland to June 30. A portion of the proceeds from art sales with be donated to the Berkeley Humane Society. 500-5595. 

“Beyond the Studio: Community Collaborations” Exhibition of works by students in the Arts and Consciousness program on display to April 5 at Joh F. Kennedy’s University Arts Annex, 2956 San Pablo Ave., 2nd flr. 486-8118. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Richard Silberg and Thomas Centolella, poets, at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

David King Dunaway reads from the revised edition “How Can I Keep From Singing? The Ballad of Pete Seeger” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

R.Black discusses his art and new book “Futura: L’Art de R.Black” at 7:30 p.m. at Book Zoo 6395 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. 654-BOOK. 

Morton Felix and Stanford Rose, followed by open mic at 7 p.m. at Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Ave. www.expressionsgallery.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Opera “L’Elisir d’Amore” at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$44. 925-798-1300.  

“David Rogers: Guitar and Lute” at 7:30 p.m. at The Pro Arts Gallery, 550 Second St., Oakland. Tickets are $12-$18. 868-0695.  

Thomas Pandolfi, pianist, at 8 p.m. at The Berkeley Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Cost is $10-$15. 845-1350. 

Lisa B Quintet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ.  

Sambada, Afro, Brazilian, funk, at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054.  

Beth Waters at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

House Jacks at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $19.50-$20.50. 548-1761.  

Jessica Rice, Sacred Profanities at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe. 595-5344. 

The Dave Stein Bubhub at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

Slydini at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Julie Dexter, Jordana, R&B, at 8 p.m. at Maxwell’s Lounge, 341 13th St., Oakland. Cost is $10-$15. 839-6169. 

David Sanborn at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $35-$40. 238-9200. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 29 

CHILDREN  

East Bay Children’s Theater “The Emperor’s New Clothes” at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak St. Cost is $10. 655-7285.  

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Rafael Manriquez, songs in Spanish, at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $4-$5. 849-2568.  

Music with Melita and Sarita at 11 a.m. at Studio Grow, 1235 Tenth St. Cost is $7. 526-9888. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Earth Days” Works by Carrie Lederer, Irene Imfeld and Andrew Kaluzynski, opens at 1 p.m. at Oakopolis, 447 25th St., Oakland. Through May 3. 663-6920. 

“Beneath the Surface” Paintings and works on paper by Liz Mamorsky, assemblage sculpture by Paul Baker. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at The Float Center Gallery, 1091 Calcot Place, #116, Oakland. 535-1702. 

Fresh Paint 3.5 Group show closing reception from 2 to 4 p.m. at Montclair Gallery, 1986 Mountain Blvd., Oakland. 339-4286. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Vladimir Guerrero, author of “The Anza Trail and the Settling of California” at 1 p.m. at Lakeview Library, 550 El Embarcadero, Oakland. 238-7344. 

Elizabeth Rosner, Berkeley author, speaks about writing at 2 p.m. at the Rockridge Library, 5366 College, Ave., Oakland. 597-5017. 

Jodi Picoult reads from “Change of Heart” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books at 2201 Shattuck, next to the almost open new store. 559-9500.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

West Coast Blues Hall of Fame and Awards Show, performances and party, from 7 to 11 p.m. at Oakland Mariott City Center, 1001 Broadway, Oakland. Tickets are $30. 836-2227. www.bayareabluessociety.net 

Harmonie Universelle “Musikalische Ergotzung” at 8 p.m. at St. Johns Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Tickets are $22-$25. 528-1725. 

Tchaikovsky Perm Ballet and Orchestra “Swan Lake” at 2 and 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $34-$90. 642-9988.  

Davide Verotta, piano, at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864.  

The Dry Umbrella Tour with Seattle artists, Carrie Clark and Camille Bloom at 8 p.m. at Epic Arts Studios, 1923 Ashby Ave. Suggested donation $7.  

Ray Obiedo Group at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

The Unreal Band, The Itchy Mountain Men at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Khe Note at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Bill Kirchen at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761.  

Zoe Ellis/Maya Kronfeld, swing, jazz, at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

The Return of The P-PL at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Five Eyed Hand at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SUNDAY, MARCH 30 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Beyond the Pattern: The Quintessence of Fashion” celebrating applied handwork, embroidery, and lace. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles, 3163 Adeline St. 843-7178.  

Enrique Chagoya: Borderlandia Guided tour at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808.  

“Spring into Life” A street-long exhibit of art by children and youth along College Ave. from Broadway to Russell St. Kick-off party at 1 p.m. at Glitter & Razz, 5951 College Ave., Oakland. 814-8127.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Mark Fischer “Where Nature, Science and Art Meet” A presentation on Whalesong Art at 1 p.m. at Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Ave. 644-4930. 

“Contemporary Art in Cuba” with Terry McClain at 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6100. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“Our Own Words” Friends of Negro Spirituals will celebrate the release of its Negro Spirituals Oral History DVDs and transcripts to the public at 3 p.m. at Mills College in Lisser Hall, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. 869-4359. 

Berkeley Opera “L’Elisir d’Amore” at 2 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$44. 925-798-1300.  

Isadora Duncan’s Legacy With dancer Lois Flood and historian Joanna Harris at 2 p.m. at The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Suggested donation $15. 843-8982. www.hillsideclub.org 

Susan Matthews, organ, at 4 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$20. 684-7563. 

Oakland Civic Orchestra at 4 p.m. at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland. Free. 238-7275.  

Berkeley Symphony’s “Under Construction” at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley. Tickets are $10-$20. 841-2800. www.berkeleysymphony.org  

Junius Courtney Big Band at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

Morris LeGrande at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

Mamadou & Vanessa, African, at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054.  

Carrie Newcomer, Krista Detor at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

MONDAY, MARCH 31 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Berkeley: A City in History” with author Chuck Wollenberg at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge. 981-6241. 

Ernest Bloch Lecture with Steve Mackey on “Whim and Rigor: Rethinking Musical Influence: Rock-tinged Lecture” at 8 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. 642-4864.  

Poetry Express Open mic on “women role models” at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE  

Classical at the Freight: Kay Stern & Friends at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. 

Tia Caroll & Hard Work at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

TUESDAY, APRIL 1 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Reckonings: Contemporary Short Fiction by Native American Women” Discussion and readings with the editors and authors at 5:30 p.m. at University Press Books, 2430 Bancroft Way. 548-0585.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Zydeco Flames at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054.  

Singers’ Open Mic with Ellen Hoffman at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ.  

Time Out Quartet at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet & The Open World Jazz Octet at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Jazzschool Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2 

FILM 

“Il Posto” with lecture by Marilyn Fabe at 3 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Zachary Mason reads from his new novel, “The Lost Books of the Odyssey” at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

Chris Hedges on “I Don’t Believe in Atheists” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way at Dana. Suggested donation $10. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Wednesday Noon Concert, with Jessica Ling, April Paik, Quelani Penland at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. 642-4864. 

Berkeley Symphony with Laura Jackson, conductor, at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $20-$60. 841-2800.  

The Very Hot Club of Berkeley at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island. Cost is $9. 841-JAZZ.  

Whiskey Brothers at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473.  

Turlu, Balkan, at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. 

Rumbache at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Ezra Gale Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

THURSDAY, APRIL 3 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Palimpsest: Exploring the Layers” A mixed-media exhibit by Kate Swoboda on display in April at Gaylord’s Coffee & Tea, 4150 Piedmont Ave. Oakland. www.kateswoboda.com 

FILM 

Cine/Spin: “Simon of the Desert” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Lunch Poems with Jessica Fisher at 12:10 p.m. at the Morrison Library, inside the Doe Library, UC Campus. 642-0137. 

Artist Support Group Speaker Series with Rene de Guzman, Senior Curator, Oakland Museum, at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Center, 1275 Walnut St. in Live Oak Park. Cost is $8-$10. 644-6893. 

Michalel Krasny on his new autobiography “Off Mike: A Memoir of Talk Radio” at 7:30 p.m. at the JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

New Century Chamber Orchestra with Stuart Canin, guest concertmaster, at 8 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Tickets are $28-$42. 415-357-1111.  

Sean Hodge with High Heat, Matthew Hansen, Fauna Valetta at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $5. 525-5054.  

Eda Maxym & the Imagination Club, with Stephen Kent at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

The Jazz Mechanics at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $8. 841-JAZZ.  

Sitar and Tablo Duo at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12. 845-5373.  

Shawn Shaffer & Karen Sudjian-Lampkin at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Ise Lyfe, Rico Pabon, Big Dan in a fundraiser to help Oakland students travel to Puerto Rico at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5-$8. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Absolutely Zippo a zine (publication) party at 7 p.m. at 924 Gilman. 525-9926. 

The Creations at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

The Latin Giants of Jazz, featuring members of the Tito Puente Orchestra at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $18-$26. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Collie Budz at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $18-$20. 548-1159.  

Divasonic with Celeste Lear at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Friends of Negro Spirituals will celebrate the public release of their Negro spirituals oral history DVD set, “In Our Own Words: The Negro Spirituals Heritage Keepers,” on Sunday afternoon at Mills College. 

The first 10 DVDs are each 50 minutes long, with an interview with a “heritage keeper,” discussing their memories of learning about “slavery-born songs,” and the ways they have kept the songs alive in the Oakland-area community. The DVDs will be available through the Mills College Library, the Oakland Main Library History Room and the African-American Library in Oakland, as well as to the public. 

Sunday’s program will be hosted by  

storyteller Diane Ferlatte and will feature old-time community and contemporary choral singing of spirituals, an African dance performance and the release of a compilation DVD as well as the individual oral histories. 

Sam Edwards founded the Friends of Negro Spirituals with Lyvonne Chrisman in 1998. 

“Lyvonne and I recognized the great absence of efforts to preserve Negro spirituals in the culture of local communities, especially after hearing Moses Hogan,” Edwards said. “The goal was and always has been to educate the public on what we call the Negro spirituals folksongs—“the family jewels” handed down from 1865 to keep alive the power they have, the ways the slaves used them for their survival, by voicing the sentiments that carried the  

spirit of protest, religion, of celebration, and reinforced them in the community. That was the motivation behind our getting started.” 

Edwards talked about the heritage keepers: “Not all are musicians; some are everyday people. Everybody makes a different contribution. Some inspire their children through their own infectious feeling for the songs. We can no longer keep Negro spirituals alive through the oral tradition. The heritage keepers are selected by a committee of five or six in recognition of the work they have done for preservation in the Oakland community.” 

He described two of the better-known heritage keepers, Doug Edwards (no relation) and Helen Dilsworth. 

“Doug Edwards has been a popular jazz programmer on KPFA radio for 28 years,” he said. “The past five or six years, he’s included Negro Spirituals on his show, playing jazz renditions, classical versions and the more folk renderings. Equally as important, he’s allowed us to put programs about Negro Spirituals on his show, been a major supporter and consultant, providing contacts with others, which helps us do our mission. He’s been doing a lot that thanks to his airwaves reaching people in populations we wouldn’t be able to.” 

About Dilsworth, Edwards said: “[She is] a professional soprano and music teacher at San Francisco City College for 15 or 20 years, who teaches Negro Spirituals to her students and sings them in Oakland and many other parts of the world with her beautiful, beautiful voice, in what I call the classical style ... she’s very religious, as well as conscious of the importance of both the history of Negro Spirituals and their continuity in the present day. She’ll lead the group or community-type singing, how the slaves used to do it.” 

Edwards noted that classical singer and Negro Spirituals recording-artist Robert Sims, who appeared to great acclaim in a Friends of Negro Sprituals concert with Odetta in 2006, will be performing April 4 at the Four Seasons-Oakland. 

For further information or to leave an e-mail address for updates, go to www.dogonvillage.com/negrospirituals/ or call 869-4359. 

box: 

Friends of Negro Spirituals 

Oral History DVD release event 

free admission 

Sunday 3 p.m. 

Mills College, Lisser Hall  

5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland 

Because you are blind, you would rather others didn’t see.” The name of Tartuffe, Moliere’s creation, the title role in the most famous of French comedies, has become synonymous with religious hypocrisy. The Masquers have put up a fast-moving and very funny contemporary take on the play that made the Sun King laugh, using a flexible verse translation by Ranjit Bolt, now on at their playhouse in Point Richmond.  

It starts with a frozen tableau of a fam-ily in hilarious turmoil. When the spell is broken, the spiel begins, with Loralee Windsor as old Madame Pernelle laying down the law to the rest of the family. She’s a true believer, exhorting them to honor the itinerant preacher whom her son, pater familias Orgon (Robert Love, Masquers managing director), has become enthralled with and taken in by, alarming all but grandma Pernelle. The case for the prosecution is ably stated with slashing attitude and wit by maid Dorine, in a juicy and uproarious rendering by Alexaendrai Bond. 

“Your father clearly has gone insane;/ the Tartuffe bug has bit his brain!” she says. As the iambic tetrameter syncopates and the plot thickens, everyone talks about Tartuffe, but in the style of the older stage, we don’t see his face on stage (save a pious photo, framed on the bookshelf, praying with whitening knuckles) until well into act one. When he enters, dressed like a mortician in basic black with a violet display handkerchief, Keith Jefferds puts in perhaps his best performance, with unctuous voice and beady eye brightening at every chance to scavenge or usurp the fleshly wealth of the rich he preys on, a freelance spiritual adviser, a marvelous skulking coyote. 

When he and his pigeon General Orgon get together, it is a hysterical biddy session, what Orson Welles wryly dubbed “heterosexual camp.” The two strut and mince in mutual absorption, with Orgon wanting to give the hand of his beautiful young daughter (Laura Morgan as Mariane) to the preacher, instead of to her intended Valere (Greg Milholland). He evens offers to adopt Tartuffe as his sole heir. 

The situation seesaws back and forth, with Jefferds’ Tartuffe handling each denunciation with self-suffering jiu-jitsu, while turning the other cheek to smirk. He displays all the tricks of the televangelists, though with little of their cornpone. 

Finally, Orgon’s wife Elmire (Beth Chastain), for whom Tartuffe lusts, figures out a scheme to “pull his wool from your eyes,” to reveal the plaster saint as a randy sponge. Declaring “without scandal, there is no sin,” Tartuffe does a striptease, a not-so-saintly Chippendale’s routine. But the tables turn, then turn again, with a surprise cameo by the portrait of a very contemporary kind of political thespian. 

As the cast regards the visage of the actor-pol, someone intones: “we give thanks to our great leader/For saving us from bottom feeders.”  

Paul Shepard, formerly of UC Berkeley, has directed his cast well, ending up with an ensemble. Still, there are some inconsistencies and a few shrill notes. Even Robert Love at one point picks up the palsy of bobble-headedness from the young men of the Masquers. 

But it’s a rich show overall, far better at tapping Moliere’s comic wealth than the usual halfhearted, pumped-up academic and festival versions, which are often more hangdog than doggedly funny. It’s willing to worry the bone of language and situation until it yields up the marrow of humor, something more than slapstick with a happy ending.  

TARTUFFE 

8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays through April 26 at Masquers Playhouse, 105 Park Place, Point Richmond.

Back in the late 1960s I had lunch in Regent’s Park in London with the editor of the RIBA Journal. As we strolled around in that lovely landscape, he gestured to the new Post Office Tower, a novel “foreign object” rising above the grand old trees and Regency terraces. Almost 600 feet high, crowned by a revolving-view restaurant and hung with satellite dishes, it was a living insult to any passionate contextualist. “I don’t dislike it,” said my colleague, “but it quite takes away that special joy of London—a collection of distinct neighborhoods.” 

His observation returns to my mind when I try to assess the impact, on a Berkeley resident, of the promised “made-over” skyline already appearing on Rincon Hill, not to mention that feverishly touted developer’s dream, the future Transbay Tower. For although London and San Francisco are very different, they face similar threats, particularly loss of unique character. London is loved for its historic river, ancient buildings, and enviably livable Georgian streets and squares, not for Cesar Pelli’s 800-foot Canada Tower, frowning down on the otherwise lively new Docklands. Similarly, San Francisco is adored for its European ambiance and breathtaking views of bridges, water and dramatic headlands, not for the Bank of America’s dark brooding (ex-)world headquarters, or its companion folly, the Transamerica pyramid. 

Living in Berkeley from the mid-’50s, one watched the pastel city across the bay change from a friendly, low-to-midrise affair, spread over recognizable hills, to a pincushion of corporate towers obliterating the beloved topography. By the late 1960s, the city’s planners and shapers had realized the threat to adjacent Telegraph Hill and North Beach, and, cleverly if brutally, steered the new Embarcadero Project—that “city within the city”—into walling-off further highrise expansion north of its narrow towers. 

In the 30-some years since that bold intervention, this vibrant business-area, now expanded south beyond Mission, has filled up with a good number of well-designed structures that look as though record-breaking height was not an aim. One could list Skidmore Owings and Merrill’s granite-faced (ex-)Crocker Tower at 1 Montgomery, their elegant “teardrop” building at 388 Market, or the glassy European-looking design at 101 2nd St. Though claustrophobic in places—think Bechtel’s overshadowed park—this impressive miniature Manhattan is made more bearable by its increasingly handsome public waterfront. To many of us who still regard San Francisco as our cultural downtown, this expanded financial district feels like a fait accompli, to be left in peace for a bit while other more pressing projects are tackled—like making a superb job of Mission Bay.  

As happy regionalists, many of us sustain an active interest in promoting neglected Oakland, aiding struggling Richmond, or saving dear old Berkeley from headlong “smart growth”! Thus it comes as an unwelcome distraction in this time of endless war and looming economic disaster to find San Francisco—or its political leadership—so totally gung-ho about a higher than ever downtown. 

While I write this I am looking at the February 2007 issue of San Francisco Magazine, whose striking cover is an aerial view of an impressive wood study model, with an “improved” Financial District in the foreground. All the buildings painted white—I count 22—are either proposed, approved, or under construction. SO far so good, except that a handful of them—the much-discussed Transbay Tower, the adjacent Twin Towers 2, and a few others—rise above all else, upsetting the unity and balance of the whole, while inevitable raising the ante for future development across the greater area. The recent completion of a 60-story apartment tower on Rincon Hill is startling proof that this new developer-planner alliance means business. 

In itself, the great southward expansion begun in 1986 when city residents voted to encourage high buildings beyond Market Street, seems natural and inevitable, protecting the established character of Nob Hill, Russian Hill and North Beach, while re-vitalizing a decaying old industrial terrain. The alarming thing, however, is not expansion, but an almost sudden obsession with competitive skyscraping! Seemingly out of the blue, Renzo Piano’s Twin Towers aim to be the nation’s third and fourth tallest buildings, while the promised marvel close-by, rising above a “Grand Central Station of the West” will dominate even those, if unrestrained egos prevail. 

One would like to think, that something as tall as the 1,250-foot Empire State Building—an image already invoked—would receive deep design attention, but so far, the architectural picture is not encouraging. Some time ago, the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, the regional body created in 2001 to bring about the construction of a new super transit terminal on the site of the obsolete bus station at First and Mission, devised a limited competition between three major developers and their chosen architects. The design teams were Richard (now Lord) Rogers, one of Britain’s high-tech stars, in internationally famous Skidmore Owings and Merrill, and Cesar Pelli, architect of many prestigious giants including the 1,483 foot Patronas (twin) Towers in Malaysia. 

Apparently the competition program mandated a huge attention-getting skyscraper crowing a grand, partially underground transportation interchange. Suddenly, eccentric little San Francisco, always delighted to not be Manhattan, has declared itself the West Coast rival! The three teams worked frantically away, and on Monday, Aug. 6 of last year, their large, impressive models were unveiled in City Hall before an admiring crowd of officials, TV crews, and interested public. The designs were intriguing as elegant models are always are, but disturbing—three extravagantly tall commercial towers posing as sculpture! None of them equaled the best work of their famous lead-designers. To me, the Richard Rogers entry—four separate buildings bung inside a giant “erector-set” frame, looked the most promising. SOM’s offering, the next best, seemed to strive too hard to be exciting, rising from a dented pyramid into a twisty, hard-to-comprehend shaft, but the Pelli design was way the most disturbing. Claming elegance through simplicity, it posed as a well-behaved glass tower, but with a strangely weak form, curving in as it ascended. An emasculated blow-up of Cleopatra’s Needle, it will be seen by detractors, if built, as a giant, shiny phallus, exacerbated by attention-getting height. Ranging from 1,200 to 1,375 feet, all three towers are way taller that the 770-foot Bank of America World HQ—still downtown’s dominant landmark. 

A few days after the unveiling, the Transbay Authority’s advisory committee voted in favor of the sleek “respectable” Pelli design. A couple of weeks later, the Authority itself seconded their choice, and there for the moment we are stuck. perplexed design professionals, and people just plain uncomfortable with ego-built sky-high towers. But at this early stage, all is far from lost. The daunting task of financing an ambitious multi-level terminal in the crowded middle of San Francisco, is lengthy and far from assured. To many, the whole concept, especially the location, sounds frighteningly centralist and vulnerable, evoking visions of terrorist attack and seismic disaster, but even without these familiar fears, there are powerful cultural reasons for resisting this “madeover” skyline. 

Collectively we remain the captive audience of our everyday surroundings. Paris of the great boulevards, Florence, Georgian Bath, etc., created a sense of order and predictability, of civic belonging and social pleasures. At best they were eminently livable. You didn’t have to commute from Walnut Creek to work on California Street, and in those lowrise cities, unusual height was reserved solely for buildings of civic or religious importance—the church spire or the dome of city hall. Even today, almost anybody looking up at the West Front of Notre Dame will find it more inspiring than forty levels of identical office floors. 

Alas, the only “cathedral” in the city’s Financial District is that secular novelty the Transamerica Pyramid, but that apart, the gleaming office towers and highrise hotels paraded along Market Street or enjoyed from the quiet splendor of Yerba Buena Gardens, range from pretty good to excellent without competing for record breaking height. Think of Timothy Pfleuger’s Art Deco Pacific Telephone Building on new Montgomery Street—no Sears Tower, yet a celebration of verticality that even after 83 years playfully enhances Mario Botta’s squat SFMOMA. As civilized architecture, Pfleuger’s modest-sized jewel, or its current equivalent—think of the city’s new, eminently non-slick Federal Building—is worth a dozen 1,300-foot featureless glass shafts, which brings me back to my opening comments. 

Apropos their huge flamboyant Transbay Tower entry, Crag Hartman, SOM’s chief designer, said a the public presentation, “in a single stroke, this design will redefine for the world San Francisco’s architectural, urban, and environmental intentions.” With all due respect for the power of bold statements, my gut response is “God help us,” for six or eight such assertive monsters would mesmerize a captive audience of millions. Large numbers of us, looking across the bay from Berkeley or Oakland, Richmond or Sausalito, at our “city on a hill” would rather not be continually reminded of World Trade, multi-million dollar condos with “world-class” views, or worse perhaps, tomorrow’s commute! 

With more bad economic news being revealed daily, I think even those of us who aren’t planning to sell, buy, or refinance a house are getting rather nervous. It’s come to the point where one starts to wonder how surreal it could get, given that some lenders are suddenly deciding to cancel or freeze home equity lines of credit, even for borrowers who have made all their payments on time, or are refusing to subordinate to new first mortgages, making it impossible for people to refinance.  

It makes one want to go through the loan papers to make sure the first mortgage doesn’t have some hidden clause which basically says, “We’re the bank and if we suddenly decide we need the whole $415,000 we lent you then we’ll send you a letter to that effect and you’ll have 30 days to pay up.” 

Funny thing, these are the very same banks that only a year or two ago were encouraging people to use their houses like ATMs for vacations, college tuition, or paying off their high interest rate credit cards. Not to mention encouraging “cash-out” refinancing where people were encouraged to take out a loan for more than they needed—say an extra hundred thousand—because the bank would make more income on a larger loan amount. But now that their complicated financial schemes are going to hell in a handbasket, suddenly it’s our fault. 

There’s been a good deal of finger-pointing, naturally. Some like to blame the victims, saying they never should have been given loans, it’s their fault they didn’t read the fine print, surely they realized they wouldn’t be able to afford the payments when their adjustable loan adjusted. It’s easy to believe this if you’re one of those people who is terribly financially savvy, or someone lucky enough to have owned their house since, oh, 1964 (back when only one income was often enough, and the payments only took 30 percent of it).  

I’m sure it’s true that there are many people who probably should not have been allowed to buy a house—the people whose credit scores suggested that handling money was maybe not their strong suit. If the only loan you can get is an adjustable loan linked to a volatile index that adjusts every three months and starts at 9 percent when prime fixed-rate loans are going for 5.5 percent, then that might be a clue that you shouldn’t be buying property.  

On the other hand, some lender was happy to make that loan, and then sell it in the secondary mortgage market, and is not now willing to drop the interest rate on it, in order for the borrower to continue to be able to pay it. And there may have been a mortgage broker who arranged the deal, and was happy to take 1 percent of that $500,000 up front as payment for doing so. He or she may have been honest enough to tell you it was a bad loan, but probably wasn’t honest enough to tell you shouldn’t be buying the house. 

But I can tell you about reading the fine print. I’ve owned 11 houses, and I’ve read lots of loan documents. Various laws have been passed that tried to make them more consumer-friendly and easy to understand—but they aren’t. They are all about covering the lender’s rear and kicking yours. Lawyers were involved in the writing of them—need I say more? I’m pretty sure the documents for my home equity loan don’t actually say, “There may come a day when the economy has gotten so screwed up and we’re feeling so paranoid that even though we promised you could borrow this money from us on these terms we’ve decided that you can’t, and actually, whatever you’ve already borrowed we’d like back immediately even though we said you didn’t have to pay us back for 10 years.”  

Another scapegoat has been “stated income” or “no documentation” loans. I have no doubt that many people either outright lied or least fudged their assets a bit. (It’s harder to fudge your credit score, although there are various sleazy ways to do so, and I’m sure some people used them.) But many of those loans went to people who, like me, are self-employed.  

Before stated income loans came along, self-employed people often had to either: have a spouse with a job, get a co-signer with a job, or spend the three years before they wanted to buy a house purposefully NOT taking all the income tax deductions they were actually entitled to in order to make their income look better to a lender. Interestingly enough, the other prime candidates for “no doc” loans are rich people who don’t want the lender to know many specifics about their financial situation. In any case, these loans are already becoming unavailable. 

Then the PMI companies (private mortgage insurance—which you have to pay on most loans if the down payment is less than 20 percent) announced that they have redlined ALL of California, as well as several other states. Great. So now, in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the U.S, you’ll have to be able to cough up hundreds of thousands of dollars for the down payment in order to get a loan.  

For instance, under the higher conforming loan limits that were temporarily put into place ($729,750 instead of $417,000), you could pay $912,000 for the property, but you’d have to put down $182,400. Even on a lower priced house, say $450,000, you’d still have to cough up $90,000. As usual, things are easy if you’re wealthy, but they suck for the rest of us. I hope you weren’t under the impression the Fed cares about what happens to regular people. I guess we should be happy the rates are actually coming down on existing home equity lines of credit—mine is now at a lower rate than my first mortgage! 

The good news? Prices have dropped pretty significantly. That may last a while, but it won’t last forever. The Bay Area is still a desirable place to live. If you want a house for $35,000, move to South Dakota. Otherwise, if you have a fabulous FICO score, a lot of cash, a high-paying job, and you plan to stay in the house for a while, now is probably a good time to buy. 

Jane Powell is the author of Bungalow Kitchens and other bungalow books.

All you gardeners within striking distance of northwest Berkeley: Here’s your chance to be influential. Westbrae Nursery on Gilman Street changed hands in January and just had an official Grand Opening. Jeff Eckhart, who owns the business now along with his sister Chris Szybalski, told me he has a few definite ideas about new directions and he’s open to more.  

One thing that has already surprised him is the number of edibles people want—vegetable seedlings and such—so he might give more space to those. There’s already a decent stock of ornamental and kitchen-garden seeds, but I noticed that the number of herb starts as well as the veggie sixpacks was considerably reduced from before the turnover.  

One pleasant surprise was finding succulents—just a few, including a Hesperaloe whose name I’ve forgotten—from the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek. That’s a trend I’d like to encourage because they certainly have interesting plants out there. It’s the first place I ever saw the gorgeous Antioch Dunes evening primrose in bloom, just for an offhand example. Westbrae has a direct pipeline now: Szybalski volunteers at the garden.  

There’s clearly an interest in succulents, demonstrated by a good bunch of little bitty ones on display including a few I don’t think I’ve seen before. If you like originality, that’s a good way to go; lots of plant families seem to have crazy aunts in the succulent attic.  

Another new aspect to the nursery is the “fountain court,” with traditional Euro-drooling sculptured types and some really handsome newer forms such as twisted black columns with alternately polished and rough surfaces for the water to run down to a cobbled base. The sounds these make are more subtle, too, than a spout-into-pool fountain’s.  

The new nursery owners have a little less space to work with, as some of the lot has been reclaimed by its landlord. Still, there’s room for a perfectly hilarious spiral-trunked whitebark birch. Eckhart says he intends to feature more such high-drama focal plants. He’s already got lots of foliage color, spiky, domed, umbrella-shaped, and other arresting forms.  

Goodlooking flowering stuff too, arranged on compact tiered tables in inspiring combinations. At the gate was a short, lush tree peony with the biggest blossoms I’ve seen on that plant. Annie’s Annuals is still well-represented. 

Houseplants, soil amendments, containers (and Paradise Pottery is right next door), trellises, and tools including Felco pruners are there already. If you want to have a nursery that fits your garden, go on over there and tell Eckhart and Szybalski what you want.  

If you cherish the weird and wonderful, you have two more of Merritt College’s Saturday plant sales this spring to check out: April 12 and May 10, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The propagators up there lean toward Mediterranean-climate plants: Californian, Australian, South African, well-adapted here.  

Westbrae Nursery 

1272 Gilman St, Berkeley 

526-5517  

http://www.westbrae-nursery.com 

Closed Mondays 

Tuesday-Saturday 9 a.m. 5 p.m. 

Sunday 9 a.m. 4 p.m. 

Merritt College Landscape Horticulture Department 

12500 Campus Drive, Oakland 

436-2418 

www.peralta.cc.ca.us 

Ron Sullivan is a former professional gardener and arborist. Her “Garden Variety” column appears every Friday in the Daily Planet’s East Bay Home & Real Estate section. Her column on East Bay trees appears every other Tuesday in the Daily Planet.

I don’t know about you but I’m a person that’s very expert at feeling sorry for myself. If it’s not done my way, I’m grouchy. If they didn’t know what I wanted or anticipated how I was going to respond, I feel slighted. I’m not proud of it but that’s just the kind of gigantic baby I am. Waaaa. That’s why I volunteer. 

I don’t volunteer in order to set the world aright. The world can probably get along fine without me. No, I do it for myself. Volunteering, especially when I choose the right venue has the capacity to take me out of the “Poor Me”s faster than pretty much anything I can think of. So when I talk about Rebuilding Together (a.k.a. Christmas in April), understand that I don’t want you to help them … I want you to let them help you.  

I first encountered Christmas in April (now Rebuilding Together) in the winter of 1993 as a much younger general contractor and a person used to facing struggles alone. The model that they employed was something I really needed to learn and still need much reminding of that many hands make light work. 

The leadership of our own local Rebuilding Together—Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville (RTABE), including Executive Director June Lee at the helm, takes responsibility for figuring out who needs help on their home (that’s what they do), what will be done (painting, flooring, roofing) and who can get it done (you). 

Helping out with RT doesn’t require any building skills but you’ll gain some if you show up. Teams are built around a “House Captain” who organizes a body of work for a deserving homeowner (usually elderly, disabled or lacking the means to adequately care for their environs). If you volunteer, you’ll be assigned to a house captain who will show you how to paint a room or to lay a vinyl floor.  

You’ll never be asked to do a job that’s beyond your comfort zone but you can choose to work with someone (or several someones) more skilled than yourself to your own educational benefit. For many of us, tackling something new is less about the specific data involved than the sheer drop, the act of doing something completely new. Installing a handrail with a couple of trained volunteers is a great way to break through the fear and discover that, yes, you can do home repairs too. 

If you have more skill, RT is a great way to share those skills while meeting new people and just having fun. You can get plenty of help from lesser skilled people to do what you might normally do alone and there are very specific time and money constraints so you don’t have to worry about getting sucked into the Contractor Vortex of Eternal Malaise (and yes, I do have the T-shirt, thank you very much). 

Instead, the RT experience can be one in which you meet new people, share some laughs and experience the good feeling that comes from helping someone that could never afford what you normally purvey and a lot of these people are audibly and visibly grateful. 

If you know nothing at all about construction and never want to feel the thrill of a paint brush or hammer in your hand, you can still join a band of similarly comported brethren (& sistren) hauling the junk out of someone’s backyard or garage. Who knows, you may go home inspired to do the same with your own excess junk. 

While RT can use you for planning over the next few weeks, the main event is actually One Day. And now, you say “Hey, I can do One Day” and then you call June and tell her (or one of the other cool people over at RTABE) that you’re good for one day and you’ll take an X-LG for your shirt (we all get neat shirts because we’re a team!). 

You know, I can’t guarantee that you’ll learn how to build a deck in one day (that’s probably not going to happen) or how to paint like a pro , but I can make a promise that for one day, you’re far less likely to think about how cruddy your circumstances are. How rotten it is that your Volvo makes that noise, that your kids won’t finish their homework or that your portfolio is down.  

A day spent helping someone who can’t walk, who’s house is in really bad shape or who doesn’t have the money to buy a light bulbs might be just the medicine you need to come home and say “Wow, I have it good.” (by the way, bring your kids. They might end up feeling that way too). 

April Rebuild Day is the 26th of the month, the last Saturday in April. There are also Prep Workday’s on the 12th and 19th if these work better for you, or if you just need more cheering up! 

Eric Hoffer said “The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.” I don’t think I agree. Seems to me that it’s a one to one relationship. One day spent in pursuit of another’s betterment is one day in which yours is assured. 

Hope you see you all there. 

Rebuilding Together—Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville Executive Director June Lee. She or her staff can be reached at 644-8979.

FRIDAY, MARCH 28 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Wolfgang Homburger, Inst. of Transport Studies, UCB, on “The Past and Future of Transportation in the Bay Area” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14.50, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 526-2925.  

“How to Enter an Iris Show” A hands-on demonstration by a panel of experienced iris growers, at 8 p.m. at Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Sponsored by the Sydney B.Mitchell Iris Society. Free. http://bayareairis.org 

“Friendly Persuasions” A film about Quaker life in Indiana during the harsh realities of the Civil War at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Friends Church, Sacramento and Cedar St. berkeleyfriendschurch.org 

“Phoenix Dance” A new film by Karina Epperlein on a journey from loss to faith, trust at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship Unitarian Universalists Hall, 1924 Cedar St. Discussion follows.  

Radical Eco-Feminist West Coast Spring Tour A two hour presentation on radical eco-feminism and environmental ethics at 7 p.m. at Long Haul Infoshop, 3124 Shattuck Ave. 540-0751. www.risingtidenorthamerica.org 

Friday Films for Teens at 3:30 pm. at the Berkeley Puplic Library, 2090 Kittredge St. For details call 981-6121. 

Circle Dancing, simple folk dancing with instruction at 8 p.m. at Hillside Community Church, 1422 Navellier St., El Cerrito. Pot luck at 7 p.m. Donation of $5 requested. 528-4253. www.circledancing.com 

Kol Hadash Humanistic Shabbat at 7:30 p.m. at the ALbany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave. 428-1492. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 29 

Winks and Wags: A Singles Event for Pet Lovers with music and activities for humans and dogs from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Just Pet Me Country Club, 2545 Broadway, Oakland. Tickets are $20-$25. Benefits the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society. 845-7735, ext. 19. www.berkeleyhumane.org 

National Nutrition Month, with cooking demonstrations, free samples and free recipes, at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Center St. and Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Compost give-away from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., bring your own container. 548-3333. www.ecologycenter.org 

Memorial Service to Celebrate the Life of Dr. John Dillenberger, theologian, author, and founding President of the Graduate Theological Union at 3 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Reception to follow in the church’s Large Assembly Room. 

Sprouts Gardening Project Help out in the Kids’ Garden from 10 a.m. to noon at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. For ages three and up. 525-2233. 

Compost Give-Away at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market Bring your own container-two buckets are suggested or large garbage bags. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Center St. at MLK Jr. Way. For backyard amateur gardeners only. Sponsored by the Berkeley Community Gardening Collaborative. 548-3333. www.ecologycenter.org/bcgc 

Groundbreaking for New Community Garden in Richmond at noon at Richmond Public Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza, off Macdonald Ave. Activities include a baking contest, garden hat decorating contest and stories for children at 11 am. in the library. 620-6561. 

Ocean View Community Garden Opening Albany residents interested in a garden plot will be assigned one by lottery. Priority given to apartment dwellers. Lottery tickets distributed beginning at 11 a.m., lottery begins at noon at 900 Buchanan St., behind the Teen Center and tennis courts. Annual fee $50. 559-9283. 

Vernal Vistas Hike in Claremont Canyon A steep 1.5 mile hike with panaoramic vistas at the end. From 3 to 4:30 p.m. Bring water and a snack to share. For information on meeting place call 525-2233. 

“Lewis and Clark, the Corps of Discovery: A 200-Year Retrospective” The history and biology of the Lewis and Clark voyage with a focus on the 176 plants they discovered. From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Tilden Park Botanic Garden. Cost is $10-$20. Registration required. 841-8732. www.nativeplanets.org 

Vegetarian Cooking Class: Demystifying Tofu and Tempeh From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. at Castro. Cost is $49, in advance, plus $5 food/materials fee, due on day of class. Registration required. 531-COOK. www.compassionatecooks.com  

“The Anza Trail and the Settling of California” with author Vladimir Guerrero at 1 p.m. at Lakeview Library, 550 El Embarcadero, Oakland. 238-7344. 

Common Agenda Regional Network Meeting on reordering federal priorities from the military to human and environmental needs, at 2 p.m. at Peace Action West, 2800 Adeline at Stuart. 524-6071. 

Community Plant Exchange from noon to 4 p.m. at 3811 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland. Bring plants that need pruning or dividing. For more nformation or if you need help digging up a plant call 866-8482. plantexchange@hotmail.com 

“Accent Plants for the Garden” at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens, 729 Heinz Ave., off 7th St. 644-2351. 

Radical Eco-Feminism Workshop with Portland Animal Defense League, Rising TIde North America and Stumptown Earth First at 7 p.m. at the Long Haul, 3124 Shattuck Ave. stephanie@ 

RisingTideNorthAmerica.org 

Dharma Realm Buddhist Young Adults Spring Conference on Insight & Happiness on the Buddhist Path, Sat. and Sun. at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, 2304 McKinley Ave. RSVP to www.drby.net 

“Understanding Chronic Fatigue” at 11 a.m. at Elephant Pharm, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

39th Annual UC Open Taekwondo Championship with open ceremony at 8:30 am. and competition at 9 a.m. at Walter A. Haas, Jr. Pavilion, UC Campus. Cost is $5-$8. 642-3268. www.ucmap.org 

Teen Knitting Circle at 3 p.m. in the 4th Flr Story Room of the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. Bring your own needles in size 8. 981-6107. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction every Wed. and Sat. at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

Oakland Artisans Marketplace Sat. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Jack London Square. 238-4948. 

SUNDAY, MARCH 30 

Hike Around Jewel Lake A good first hike for the young trekker to learn about the lake and its flora and fauna, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. For information on meeting place call 525-2233. 

“Breaking the Silence: Israeli Soldiers Talk about Their Occupation Experiences” at 7 p.m. at Kehilla Community Synagogue, 1300 Grand Ave., Piedmont. Suggested donation $5-$20, no one turned away. 465-1777. 

“Iraqi Civil Resistance” Bill Weinberg reports on Iraqi trade unions, women’s organizations, and neighborhood assemblies opposed to the US occupation at 10 a.m. at Niebyl Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave. 

“A Taste of Ethiopia” A fundraiser and cultural event to benefit high school construction for The Merit Academy in Addis Ababa, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Berkeley Mills Furniture Showroom, 2830 Seventh St. Cost is $25, sliding scale donations at the door. 415-235-5467. 

Jewish Music Festival “Community Dance Party” with Jewish dance specialist Bruce Bierman at 4 p.m. at JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $12-$15. 848-0237. www.jewishmusicfestival.org 

Films for a Future “What Babies Want” at 2 p.m. at the Edith Stone Room, Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. Discussion follows. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

Tibetan Buddhism with Tom Morse on “Natural Openness: Direct Knowing” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000 www.nyingmainstitute.com 

MONDAY, MARCH 31 

“Berkeley: A City in History” with author Chuck Wollenberg at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge. 981-6241. 

Berkeley Housing Authority Annual Plan Public Hearing at 6 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/BHA/default.html 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

Free Boatbuilding Classes for Youth Mon.-Wed. from 3 to 7 p.m. at Berkeley Boathouse, 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. Classes cover woodworking, boatbuilding, and boat repair. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

TUESDAY, APRIL 1 

Tuesdays for the Birds Tranquil bird walks in local parklands, led by Bethany Facendini, from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Today we will visit Sobrante Ridge Regional Preserve. Call for meeting place and if you need to borrow binoculars. 525-2233. 

Docent Training for Tilden Nature Area Learn to assist the naturalists in providing interpretive programs at the Little Farm and narure area gardens, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fee is $35. Application required. For information call 544-3260. 

Freight & Salvage New Home Groundbreaking Celebration at 10:30 a.m. at 2020 Addison St., with music by Suzy Thompson and friends. RSVP to 547-8248 jeanshirk@freightandsalvage.org 

“A Dream in Doubt” A documentary that asks “What happens to the American dream when you look like America’s enemy?” at 6:30 p.m. at Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts. 238-2200. www.museumca.org 

“Taxes and Personal Finance” discussion group at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley JCC at 1414 Walnut St.  

Family Storytime at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043.  

End the Occupation Vigil every Tues. at noon at Oakland Federal Bldg., 1301 Clay St. www.epicalc.org 

Tuesday Tilden Walkers Join a few slowpoke seniors at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot near the Little Farm for an hour or two walk. 215-7672, 524-9992. 

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. Sponsored by the Ecology Center’s Farm Fresh Choice. 848-1704. www.ecologycenter.org 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 548-3991. www.berkeleycameraclub.org 

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. 845-6830. 

Sing-A-Long Group from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masoni Ave., Albany. 524-9122. 

Teen Playreaders meets to read and discuss plays at 4:30 p.m. at Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue. 981-6121. 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2 

Microfinance: A Global Tool to Reduce Poverty An interactive workshop for low-income entrepreneurs to secure loans and create income opportunities especially for women, at 7:30 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave. Sponsored by Calvert Foundation. 622-0202 ext. 203. 

“Under the Sea” A workshop for children to learn about how animals adapt to waves and predators, and how tide pool animals survive, from noon to 2 p.m. at Lawrence Hall fo Sceince, Centennial Drive. Cost is $6-$9. 642-5132. 

“The Carlyle Connection” A documentary about the world of private equity banking and the involvement of the Bush family, the Saudi Royal family, the Bin Laden family and others, at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org 

“Introduction to Triathlon” with Jane Booth at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Cycling Lecture with Dick Powell, organizer of European bicycle tours, at 7 p.m. at Velo Sport Bicycles, 1615 University Ave., enter at 1989 California St. RSVP to 849-0437. 

Kaleo and Elise Ching explain “Chi and Creativity: Vital Energy and Your Inner Artist” at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books on Solano Ave. 525-6888. 

Teen Chess Club from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the North Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda at Hopkins. 981-6133. 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes and a warm hat. Heavy rain cancels. 548-9840. 

Theraputic Recreation at the Berkeley Warm Pool, Wed. at 3:30 p.m. and Sat. at 10 a.m. at the Berkeley Warm Pool, 2245 Milvia St. Cost is $4-$5. Bring a towel. 632-9369. 

Morning Meditation Every Mon., Wed., and Fri. at 7:45 a.m. at Rudramandir, 830 Bancroft Way at 6th. 486-8700. 

After-School Program Homework help, drama and music for children ages 8 to 18, every Wed. from 4 to 7:15 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Cost is $5 per week. 845-6830. 

Stitch ‘n Bitch at 6:30 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

THURSDAY, APRIL 3 

A Question of Conscience: Military Perspectives on the “War on Terror” A panel discussion with Col. (Ret.) Lawrence B. Wilkerson, U.S. Army; Lt. Col. V. Stuart Couch, U.S. Marine Corps; Lt. Col. (Ret.) Stephen E. Abraham, U.S. Army Reserve, at 5 p.m. in the Maude Fife Room, 315 Wheeler Hall, UC Campus. 642-0965. www.hrcberkeley.org 

Introduction to Urban Permaculture Permaculture designers from the Ecological Division of Merritt College's Landscape Horticulture Dept. discuss what is possible in a city at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave, near Dwight Way. 548-2220, ext.233. ww.ecologycenter.org 

“Explaining the Inexplicable: Suicide Bombers’ Motivation as the Quest for Personal Significance” with Prof. Arie W. Kruglanski, Univ. of Maryland at 7:30 p.m. at Sibley Auditorium, Bechtel Engineering Center, UC Campus. 642-4670. 

Babies & Toddlers Storytime at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043.  

Fitness Class for 55+ at 9:15 a.m. at Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237. 

Avatar Metaphysical Toastmasters Club at 6:45 p.m. at at Spud’s Pizza, 3290 Adeline. nam 

aste@avatar.freetoasthost.info  

ONGOING 

E-Waste Recycling St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County accepts electronic waste including computers, dvd players, cell phones, fax machines and many other ewaste products for disposal free of charge at many of its locations throughout Alameda County. Free bulk pick-up available. 638-7600.  

Free Tax Help If your 2007 household income was less than $42,000, you are eligible for free tax preparation from United Way's Earn it! Keep It! Save It! Sites are open now through April 15 in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. To find a site near you, call 800-358-8832. www.EarnItKeepItSaveIt.org 

CITY MEETINGS 

Berkeley Housing Authority Annual Plan Public Hearing Mon. Mar. 31, at 6 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst. www.ci.berkeley. 

ca.us/BHA/default.htm

TUESDAY, MARCH 25 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Ed Coletti and Lynne Knight read their poetry at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Eric Alterman describes “Why We Are Liberals: A Political Handbook for Post-Bush America” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. 559-9500. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Kaspar/Sherman Jazz Quartet at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6241. 

Jewish Music Festival “Ladder of Gold” with Kaila Flexer and Gari Hegedus, at 7:30 p.m. at First Unitarian Church, 684 14th St., Oakland. 848-0237. www.jewishmusicfestival.org  

Gerard Landry & The Lariats at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054.  

Singers’ Open Mic with Kelly Park at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $5. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Randy Craig Trio at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Sasha Dobson at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Richard Price introduces “Lush Life” a new novel, at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books at 2201 Shattuck, next to the almost open new store. 559-9500.  

Writing Teachers Write at 5 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Music for the Spirit with Ron McKean on harpsichord at 12:15 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway. 444-3555. 

Five Play at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $8. 841-JAZZ.  

Grooveyard at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Karabali at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Salsa dance lessons at 8:30 p.m. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

Mikie Lee and Amber at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

Audrey Auld Mezera & Andrew Hardin at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761.  

Theatrum Musicum at 7 p.m. at Le Bateau Ivre, 2629 Telegraph Ave. www.lebateauivre.net 

David Sanborn at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $35-$40. 238-9200.  

THURSDAY, MARCH 27 

THEATER 

“Amor Cubano” Written and performed by Maceo Cabrera Estevez at 8 p.m. through Sat. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5-$20. 849-2568.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Sustainable Stewardship: Historic Preservation’s Essential Role in Fighting Climate Change” with Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, at 7:30 p.m. at First Church of Christ, Scientist, 2619 Dwight Way. Jon Carroll, San Francisco Chronicle columnist, will also speak. Suggested donation $20; free admission for students with ID. A reception will follow the address. Proceeds go to the preservation work at the Church. 841-2242.  

Jim Hightower “Swim Against the Current: Even a Dead Fish Can Go with the Flow” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $12-$15. www.brownpapertickets.com  

Daniel P. Gregory, lecture and slideshow on “Cliff May and the Modern Ranch House”at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Jewish Music Festival “Chen Zimbalista and Friends” percussion at 7:30 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church: 2727 College Ave. Tickets are $20-$24. 848-0237.  

Jeffrey Foucault at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Rick Vandevivier Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

Talking Wood, Afro roots, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

Fred O’dell and the Broken Arrows at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

FRIDAY, MARCH 28 

THEATER 

Altarena Playhouse “Chicago” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda, through April 12. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553.  

“Amor Cubano” Written and performed by Maceo Cabrera Estevez at 8 p.m. through Sat. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5-$20. 849-2568.  

Berkeley Rep ”Wishful Drinking” with Carrie Fisher, at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St., through March 30. Tickets are $33-$69. 647-2949. 

Masquers Playhouse “Tartuffe” Fri.-Sat. at 8 p.m., some Sun. matinees at 2:30 p.m. at 105 Park Place, Pt. Richmond, through April 26. Tickets are $18. 232-4031. www.masquers.org 

Shotgun Players “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” by George Bernard Shaw. Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m., through April 27, at The Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave. Tickets are $17-$25. 841-6500.  

EXHIBITIONS 

“My Sister, My Sister” A personal response to homelessness, poetry by Zelma Brown, Photography by Meredith Stout. Opening reception at 7 p.m. at the Women’s Cancer Resource Center, 5741 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. Screening of “Walking in My Shoes” at 8 p.m. Show runs to April 25. 601-4040, ext. 111. 

“Peace is Possible” Works by artists who are changing the world through creativity, Wavy Gravy and Carolyna Marks. Reception at 7 p.m. at 4th Street Studio, 1717d 4th St. 527-0600. 

“Pet Art” from Expressions Gallery on display at Just Pet Me Country Club, 2545 Broadway, Oakland to June 30. A portion of the proceeds from art sales with be donated to the Berkeley Humane Society. 500-5595. 

“Beyond the Studio: Community Collaborations” Exhibition of works by students in the Arts and Consciousness program on display to April 5 at Joh F. Kennedy’s University Arts Annex, 2956 San Pablo Ave., 2nd flr. 486-8118. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Richard Silberg and Thomas Centolella, poets, at 7:30 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 649-1320. 

David King Dunaway reads from the revised edition “How Can I Keep From Singing? The Ballad of Pete Seeger” at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

R.Black discusses his art and new book “Futura: L’Art de R.Black” at 7:30 p.m. at Book Zoo 6395 Telegraph Ave., Oakland. 654-BOOK. 

Morton Felix and Stanford Rose, followed by open mic at 7 p.m. at Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Ave. www.expressionsgallery.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Opera “L’Elisir d’Amore” at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$44. 925-798-1300.  

Bay Area Classical Harmonies “David Rogers: Guitar and Lute” at 7:30 p.m. at The Pro Arts Gallery, 550 Second St., Oakland. Tickets are $12-$18. 868-0695.  

Thomas Pandolfi, pianist, at 8 p.m. at The Berkeley Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Cost is $10-$15. 845-1350. 

Lisa B Quintet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ.  

Sambada, Afro, Brazilian, funk, at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054.  

Beth Waters at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

House Jacks at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $19.50-$20.50. 548-1761.  

Jessica Rice, Sacred Profanities at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe. 595-5344. 

The Dave Stein Bubhub at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

Slydini at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

Julie Dexter, Jordana, R&B, at 8 p.m. at Maxwell’s Lounge, 341 13th St., Oakland. Cost is $10-$15. 839-6169. 

David Sanborn at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $35-$40. 238-9200. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 29 

CHILDREN  

East Bay Children’s Theater “The Emperor’s New Clothes” at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak St. Cost is $10. 655-7285.  

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Rafael Manriquez, songs in Spanish, at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $5 for adults, $4 for children. 849-2568.  

Music with Melita and Sarita at 11 a.m. at Studio Grow, 1235 Tenth St. Cost is $7. 526-9888. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Earth Days” Works by Carrie Lederer, Irene Imfeld and Andrew Kaluzynski, opens at 1 p.m. at Oakopolis, 447 25th St., Oakland. Runs through May 3. 663-6920. 

“Beneath the Surface” Paintings and works on paper by Liz Mamorsky, assemblage sculpture by Paul Baker. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at The Float Center Gallery, 1091 Calcot Place, #116, Oakland. 535-1702. 

Fresh Paint 3.5 Group show closing reception from 2 to 4 p.m. at Montclair Gallery, 1986 Mountain Blvd., Oakland. 339-4286. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Vladimir Guerrero, author of “The Anza Trail and the Settling of California” will give a presentation on cultural assimilation and the racial make-up of Spanish California at 1 p.m. at Lakeview Library, 550 El Embarcadero, Oakland. 238-7344. 

Elizabeth Rosner, Berkeley author, speaks about writing at 2 p.m. at the Rockridge Library, 5366 College, Ave., Oakland. 597-5017. 

Jodi Picoult reads from “Change of Heart” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books at 2201 Shattuck, next to the almost open new store. 559-9500.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

West Coast Blues Hall of Fame and Awards Show, performances and party, from 7 to 11 p.m. at Oakland Mariott City Center, 1001 Broadway, Oakland. Tickets are $30. 836-2227. www.bayareabluessociety.net 

Tchaikovsky Perm Ballet and Orchestra “Swan Lake” at 2 and 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $34-$90. 642-9988.  

Davide Verotta, piano, at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864.  

The Dry Umbrella Tour with Seattle artists, Carrie Clark and Camille Bloom at 8 p.m. at Epic Arts Studios, 1923 Ashby Ave. Suggested donation $7.  

Ray Obiedo Group at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $14. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

The Unreal Band, The Itchy Mountain Men at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10-$13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com  

Khe Note at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Bill Kirchen at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761.  

Zoe Ellis/Maya Kronfeld, swing, jazz, at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

The Return of The P-PL at 10 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Five Eyed Hand at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 843-8277. 

SUNDAY, MARCH 30 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Beyond the Pattern: The Quintessence of Fashion” celebrating applied handwork, embroidery, and lace. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles, 3163 Adeline St. 843-7178.  

Enrique Chagoya: Borderlandia Guided tour at 2 p.m. at Berkeley Art Museum. Cost is $5.50-$9.50. 642-0808.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Mark Fischer “Where Nature, Science and Art Meet” A presentation on Whalesong Art at 1 p.m. at Expressions Gallery, 2035 Ashby Ave. 644-4930. 

“Contemporary Art in Cuba” with Terry McClain at 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. 981-6100. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

“Our Own Words” The Negro Spirituals Heritage Keepers, Friends of Negro Spirituals will celebrate the release of its Negro Spirituals Oral History DVDs and transcripts to the public at 3 p.m. at Mills College in Lisser Hall, 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland. 869-4359. 

Berkeley Opera “L’Elisir d’Amore” at 2 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$44. 925-798-1300.  

Isadora Duncan’s Legacy With dancer Lois Flood and historian Joanna Harris at 2 p.m. at The Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Suggested donation $15. 843-8982. www.hillsideclub.org 

Susan Matthews, organ, at 4 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$20. 684-7563. 

Oakland Civic Orchestra at 4 p.m. at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland. Free. 238-7275.  

Berkeley Symphony’s “Under Construction” at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley. Tickets are $10-$20. 841-2800. www.berkeleysymphony.org  

Tchaikovsky Perm Ballet and Orchestra “Swan Lake” at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $34-$90. 642-9988.  

Junius Courtney Big Band at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Morris LeGrande at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

David Grossman & Friends at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Flamenco with Dani Torres at 5 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

Mamadou & Vanessa, African, at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Carrie Newcomer, Krista Detor at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

MONDAY, MARCH 31 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Berkeley: A City in History” with author Chuck Wollenberg at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge. 981-6241. 

Ernest Bloch Lecture with Steve Mackey on “Whim and Rigor: Rethinking Musical Influence: Rock-tinged Lecture” at 8 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Poetry Express Open mic theme night on “women role models” at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Trovatore, traditional Italian music, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Classical at the Freight: Kay Stern & Friends at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage Coffee House. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. 

Tia Caroll & Hard Work at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of a three-part series featuring stories of forgotten Berkeley history excerpted from Richard Schwartz’s book Eccentrics, Heroes, and Cutthroats of Old Berkeley.  

The members of the Berkeley Society for Psychical Research were sure. Their president, Professor Joseph Voyle, and other officers were very sure. On June 21, 1908, the society announced that Voyle had discovered a huge prehistoric ceremonial site buried on the UC Berkeley campus. 

The members of the society were confident in their conclusions. It seemed perfectly logical to them that ancient people would have chosen to honor this place where Strawberry Creek was cloaked by bay, alder, sycamore, and oak trees, its lower banks shrouded in strawberry and watercress plants, where the ancient coast live oaks extended their gnarled limbs over the campus beneath the sheltering hills.  

Here, they would have enjoyed the commanding view of the Bay and Golden Gate, the mild weather, and the abundance of all forms of food. Indeed, many artifacts were found and graves uncovered during the construction of buildings in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; it is certain that Native Americans lived on and around the UC Berkeley campus.  

Most UC Berkeley professors considered the society’s claims to be a little too fanciful—and totally unsubstantiated. Voyle said that he had discovered a buried grid of an ancient habitation or ceremonial site, claiming that he and his students had used psychic magnetic compasses, or divining rods, to probe the invisible force fields of attractive matter under the ground.  

He claimed that this grid, measuring 1,200 feet in each direction, was one of a system of grids established around Berkeley. The grid under the UC campus, he said, was the only one that was subdivided into 120-foot square plots, making it, according to his thinking, a ceremonial site used during a certain time of year. He believed the smaller grids were privately owned by members of the ancient society. Voyle claimed to have seen similar markings all across the American continent, from Oregon to Florida.  

Voyle’s claims were wild. According to the Berkeley Daily Gazette: 

The ambition of the collectors of antiquities seemed to have been attained when a row of ordinary everyday rocks was reached and made by the fertile brains of the searchers to resemble the walls of a prehistoric North Hall. 

Towards the close of the day Voyle led his disciples back to the university grounds, where he proceeded to make a test that he said proved conclusively that the seat of learning of California today was the prized resort of sun worshipers ages ago. The test consisted of sticking up a pole in the ground at sundown and following the shadow as a base line for observations. In explanation of this, Voyle said: 

“From Arab and Oriental mystics versed in Egyptian lore, I have learned that it was an ancient custom to stick a rod in the ground at sundown of June 21st, the day on which the sun reaches its northernmost point, and that the shadow cast was used as a base line for the observations of the ancient engineers. My compass responds to certain markings I am convinced lie beneath these grounds.” 

Despite the outrageousness of his claims, there was something about this charismatic man Voyle that led a considerable number of people to accept his theories.  

By 1908 he had turned his focus to the Berkeley grid. Voyle contended that the center of the grid was located near UC Berkeley’s Bacon Library, built in 1888, which stood (until it was demolished in 1961) just east of Sather Tower. Voyle claimed that the corners of this buried site were the Harmon Gym, Hearst Hall, the Greek Theatre, and the Hearst Mining Building.  

He believed that the first two campus buildings, North and South Halls, were right within the area of this buried prehistoric square-shaped city. Voyle claimed that the grid was made of some kind of matter laid down by the ancients. He further maintained that disturbances of the “attractive matter” of this prehistoric work were noted in the recent 1908 construction work on the Doe Library and the southwest corner of the Hearst Mining Building. He was sure that the founders of the university were subliminally affected by the buried site.  

According to Voyle, everything in the site was laid out with mathematical accuracy, though its orientation was not in a north-south direction. Rather, the orientation was the same as the one that the Egyptian pyramid builders used-along the line created by the shadow of a pole when the sun set on the summer and winter solstices, when the sun sets at its northernmost point on the western horizon.  

Voyle believed, though he did not yet have exact proof, that these lines ran about thirty degrees north of west. If a pole was placed at the southwest corner of this ancient square on UC campus, which was west of South Hall, the shadow cast by the pole on June 21 would run directly on or very near to the edge of this buried ancient grid.  

While the professor did not claim to have solved the entire mystery of the site, he believed that his speculations could be supported by the location’s incontrovertible beauty:  

What the object of this particular subdivision of this prehistoric square was, I know of no way of deciding: that is purely a matter of speculation, but the natural beauty of the position, the grandeur of the view on all sides, but especially the view of the Golden Gate, the entrance to San Francisco bay where from this well marked prehistoric spot, at certain well known times of the year, the setting sun sinks to rest beyond the Pacific ocean, often in a grand halo of misty golden glory, that would thrill the soul of a sun worshipper to enthusiastic ecstasy, and make the spot, where now stands the University of California a sacred spot for semiannual pilgrimages where each family has its own abiding place on the national ceremonial site is probably as near truth as we can get, until further facts may be discovered.  

While it was fairly easy to poke holes in Voyle’s theories, his ideas about ceremonies occurring near that spot were not entirely unsupported. In fact, early European explorers observed sun ceremonies enacted by Bay Area Indians with much feeling and adoration. According to one explorer’s account of an event he witnessed in the Bay Area, a sun ceremony was performed every day by an entire village, whereby the members would gather and hold hands at sunrise to assist the sun in rising.  

This participation was part of the Indians’ belief in their ability and duty to partake and assist in balancing the forces of their world. To them, waking up together, joining hands, and singing as the sun rose to help it in its daily ascent was their duty and their concern. Indian solstice ceremonies were also recorded by local Spanish missions. The Indians, still performing the duties of their own culture after joining the church, would try to convince the sun to reverse its path northward and keep the world from going dark. Voyle’s speculations show at least some small degree of awareness of these cultural references.  

No University of California professor wanted to address the merits of Voyle’s theories. Voyle claimed to understand their distancing themselves from him. He said that classical truth always laughed at what it did not understand, but that one day they would understand the true nature of this site on UC Berkeley’s campus, and at that point they would give it another name.  

The Sacramento Bee had a field day with this story, poking fun at the students who believed Voyle’s claims The students, armed with divining rods, repeated the demonstration—supposedly finding the same energy lines in the same places, without prodding or instruction. To Voyle, his detractors were simply misguided; he believed they would come around to his way of thinking. The Sacramento Bee commented, “Still the doubters have one comfort. When Isaac Newton discovered the law of gravitation the people wouldn’t believe him, even when he showed them the apple.  

To prove his case, on Monday, June 20, 1908, Voyle took 150 people up into the hills four miles from the UC campus northeast of Vollmer Peak, where he showed them the lines of two long low rock walls. Like a preacher, Voyle boomed: “There lies before you the remnants of the building of a city of the ancients.” The crowd gasped. He then stated that the walls, according to his survey, showed “regularity.” The crowd gasped again, right on cue.  

The next day, Voyle met two hundred people at the north side of the Greek Theatre. The San Francisco Call mocked Voyle and his followers, saying that they were there to be led “away from the conventional archeology, away from the bondage of modern geology to the promised land pointed out by divining rod and psychical compass. Indeed, Voyle led them with the vigor of a mountain goat and the conviction of Moses, losing some of the less devout in the climb. One newspaper noted the division of labor that must have existed in the ancient civilization, as the women on Voyle’s trek were carrying the divining rods and the men the lunch baskets.  

Afterwards, the San Francisco Call satirized the event:  

The scientific world stands agape and palpitates with subdued expectation while Professor Voyle and the psychical society of Berkeley conduct their learned post mortem of the buried cities that underlie the University of California and its classic environs… The Call rejoices in the learned labors of Professor Voyle and his band of psychics. He has found not one defunct metropolis, but a whole covey of buried cities. With the eye of faith he finds them, scorning the vulgar pickax. It is a triumph of mind over matter. The plodding paleontologers and anthropologers of the university, their kitchen middens and their stuffy piles of undisturbed bones, are put to shame by the easy process of psychical divination.  

Voyle’s final address was 2226 Chapel Street in Berkeley. Following an operation at Berkeley’s Roosevelt Hospital in the spring of 1915, people concerned with Voyle’s health placed him in the Berkeley county infirmary. He had no relatives to help take care of him. 

Though Joseph Voyle never earned the recognition of the university or academic community, he was still acknowledged and sometimes touted highly by the greater public. The Oakland Tribune described him thus: “Never a recognized man among the recognized scientists, yet an original investigator of untiring industry, Professor Voyle continued his studies to the day when his illness bade him halt.” 

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second of a three-part series featuring stories of forgotten Berkeley history excerpted from Richard Schwartz’s new book Eccentrics, Heroes, and Cutthroats of Old Berkeley. (The first installment ran Dec. 14, 2007.) Schwartz has been writing California history books and giving talks for more than 20 years. His other books include The Circle of Stones: An Investigation of the Circle of Stones in Stampede Valley; Sierra County, California; Berkeley 1900: Daily Life at the Turn of the Century and Earthquake Exodus, 1906: Berkeley Responds to the San Francisco Refugees.  

Eccentrics, Heroes and Cutthroats of Old Berkeley is sold at local book stores, lumber yards, hardware stores, gift shops, movie theaters, and other local and online merchants. For a list of the locations where the book is available and information about Schwartz and his other books, see www.RichardSchwartz.info. 

The Planet will publish the final installment of this series in an upcoming issue.

“Tonight’s forecast: Dark. Increasing darkness, with widely scattered daylight in the morning.” So George Carlin’s stoned weatherman predicted the nocturnal trend in his ’60s stand-up comedy act.  

Will Eno’s Tragedy: A Tragedy, on the Thrust Stage at Berkeley Rep, begins where Carlin’s glib (and succinct) forecaster left off, riffing on a given in broadcasting that’s become a staple of American comedy routines—when there’s nothing to say over the mic or see on camera, just keep talking, all that dead air has to be filled. 

And a lot of mileage has been got from it, ever since Bob & Ray began to milk the laughter implicit in the solipsistic spiel of anchormen, special guests, men in the field and talking heads more than 50 years ago on the radio. 

But Eno’s opus isn’t a brief Saturday Night Live comedy sketch. It’s a 70-minute play by a playwright who’s been nominated for a Pulitzer for his piece Thom Pain (based on nothing). Thomas Jay Ryan plays an actor known for the title role in a noted film, flanked by two journeymen actors (girlish Marguerite Stimpson, laconic Max Gordon Moore) as other correspondents, with yet another as anchor (warm, avuncular David Cromwell) at his desk behind. They all face out over the audience, as if gazing at the horizon or encroaching destiny, as did Carl Dreyer’s characters in his final film masterpiece, Gertrud. 

The newsmen talk. They talk to the invisible eye of the camera, to the presumed viewers beyond it, to each other, to themselves. Trying to come to grips with—or at least articulate—some vast catastrophe that everybody feels, is aware of, but which leaves no visible or audible trace (unless the absence of commotion, of activity, is such a trace), they can only mouth big, vague words like “night,” “darkness,” “world,” while going on about what they see, what they feel, how they’re breaking down ... all equally vague, spectacularly banal. In fact, they are the spectacle, like proverbial actors reciting from the phone book, albeit with an underpinning of chagrin. 

Is it an apocalypse strictly from Zeno’s Paradox? Is it the long-awaited triumph of entropy, ushered in by the langueurs of media professionals? Or is it just the media itself, without content, with whatever event jerked off-camera, while the talent fidgets and twitches like marionettes whose strings are being snipped? 

Rep Artistic Director Tony Taccone warns, “to say that Tragedy: A Tragedy is a satire on the self-satirizing media is like saying that Waiting for Godot is about life on the road. It doesn’t even begin to capture what’s really going on ...” 

Eno has been compared to Beckett, of whom he says, “I really think he is great. One of my favorite nights of the last couple of thousand was reading Krapp’s Last Tape to [my friend] Shevaun in bed, while she was knitting. Later, I think we smoked a couple of those Gitanes cigarettes ... one of the most existential cigarette brands, unless they still sell Old Golds.” He’s also been called Existentialist. 

But such comparisons seem misnomers, like the current use of “irony” for a type of sarcasm or flippancy over one thing displacing another. Eno plays with redundancy, oxymoron, tautology, but Tragedy: A Tragedy still comes off as a one-trick pony, cantering around and around the track.  

The cosmic punch line which supposedly goes beyond the obviousness of the set-up of the joke seems to be what Ford Madox Ford averred was the ruination of the arts in Anglo-Saxon societies: the author winking at the audience, like a puppeteer showing his face, so everyone knows it’s all under control, that they’re in on something amusing.  

“Absurdist” drama and the historical avant-garde it drew from didn’t present static tableaux, passive images. Even Found Objects were made artful through montage, mounting dissimilar things together or in dissimilar contexts. That transformative activity was what counted, not an attitude or pose. 

Norman Mailer once satirized another well-known novelist, saying, “A lot of writers go to cocktail parties, and get an idea they talk up after a few drinks, but he’s the only one who goes home and writes it.” There’s an uneasy similarity between Eno’s idea and plays by writers unfamiliar with theater, naively fooling around with conventions new to them, eager to show off a new toy. 

As the newscasters break down, become surrogate family to each other and are praised by a sympathetic bystander, they jump (or decay, in the musical sense) from newstalk to what sounds like academic samples of different narrative styles, cut and pasted in. Another rather naive rendition of a fiction device, a little like William Burrough’s Cut-Up Technique. The overall effect of the play recalls a line from one of Burroughs’ jaded characters: “Why, he’d stand still for Joe Gould’s seagull impression!” 

TRAGEDY: A TRAGEDY 

Through April 13 at Berkeley Repertory  

Theater, 2025 Addison St. 647-2949.

Partnerships across species lines aren’t all that uncommon in nature. Where Darwin saw evolution as a process of deadly competition, the Russian aristocrat-anarchist Pyotor Kropotkin observed “mutual aid” everywhere-cooperative behavior not just within species, as in the beehive or wolfpack, but even between unrelated creatures. 

The association can be as tight as the symbiosis of the fungus and alga that form a lichen, or the ancient bond between two kinds of single-celled organisms that may have given rise to all complex life. Or it may be a transient connection, a chance opportunity taken. Commensal foraging is one of those loose mutualisms, in which a predator hangs out with another animal whose activities are likely to turn up lunch—“commensal,” after all, meaning “sharing a table.” 

The legendary hunting association between the American badger and the coyote is a good example of commensal foraging. The relationship is mostly to the coyote’s advantage: the badger, with its powerful forelegs and claws, may unearth rodents that the canid would otherwise never see. And if the prey escapes the badger, the coyote has a better shot at chasing it down. There’s really nothing in it for the badger, which would prefer to be left alone. 

Once in the inner Coast Range I saw a red-tailed hawk that appeared to be using a badger as a beater, hovering above the carnivore like a satellite in geosynchronous orbit. The badger was way too big to have interested the hawk as prey, but whatever it flushed might have been tasty. 

Some of the best-documented commensal-foraging relationships involve other birds and mammals: warblers with armadillos, falcons with maned wolves, herons with manatees. One heron, the cattle egret, even gets its name from its tendency to follow large ungulates around. These chunky white birds, native to Africa and Asia, have colonized the Americas and Australia as well, exploiting the cattle niche wherever they’ve gone. Singly or in flocks, they trail along behind the cows—or, depending on the continent, rhinos or water buffaloes—and snatch insects and other prey disturbed by the hoof traffic. In the absence of cattle, they’ll follow tractors. 

Cattle egrets used to turn up in the Bay Area more often. There’s still a large population in the Imperial Valley, but they’ve become scarce north of there. I believe the lone bird that used to winter at Lake Merritt’s Rotary Science Center failed to return this season. 

It’s rarer for the native North American egrets to engage in commensal foraging. I’ve heard of observations involving snowy egrets, mainly in the Southeast. But the great egret hadn’t been caught in the act until November 2006, when Garth and Heidi Herring, apparently visiting from Florida, stopped to observe a couple of small herds of black-tailed deer at Bodega Head. What they saw was recently published in the journal Western Birds. 

The Herrings saw a great egret, which had been loitering near the deer herds, fly into a herd and land near its center. Five minutes later, a second egret joined the second herd. Each appeared to select a deer, which it followed at a distance of up to six feet for the next half hour. The birds were observed plunging their beaks into the grass and acting as if they were swallowing prey, although it was impossible to identify what they had caught. Voles would be a strong possibility: great egrets and great blue herons are serious rodent-eaters.  

Note, again, that this is a one-sided association. The deer don’t benefit from the company of the egrets, although if there were still mountain lions and grizzly bears at Bodega Head, it might be a different story. Other birds do act as sentinels for their commensal associates. In this case, if anything the deer might be a bit inconvenienced by the tagalong birds. 

Whether it’s a one-off observation or a hint at more widespread behavior that we’ve just missed, this is an interesting example of behavioral flexibility on the egrets’ part. It reminds us that birds aren’t just automatons, driven by inflexible instincts. To some extent, they can improvise to take advantage of novel situations, a tendency that may reach its highest development in corvids and parrots. 

You also have to wonder if the egrets were reenacting a very old relationship with long-gone partners. Asia and African didn’t always have a monopoly on megafauna. It might have been really rewarding for a great egret to follow a mammoth around.  

Joe Eaton’s “Wild Neighbors” column appears every other Tuesday in the Berkeley Daily Planet, alternating with Ron Sullivan’s “Green Neighbors” column on East Bay trees.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25 

Tuesdays for the Birds Tranquil bird walks in local parklands, led by Bethany Facendini, from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Today we will visit the Eastshore State Park, Berkeley Meadow. Call for meeting place and if you need to borrow binoculars. 525-2233. 

National Nutrition Month, with cooking demonstrations, free samples and free recipes, at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market from 2 to 6 p.m. at Derby St. and Martin Luther King Jr. Way. 548-3333.  

El Cerrito Democratic Club Meet the Candidates Night with candidates for Assembly District 14, State Senate Districts 7 and 9, at 7:30 p.m. at El Cerrito United Methodist Church, 6830 Stockton St., near Richmond Ave. Childcare provided, call 375-5647. www.ecsclub.org 

“Adventuring Around the World on a Budget” with Dan and Emily Schaffer-Kling, at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Docent Training for Tilden Nature Area Learn to assist the naturalists in providing interpretive programs at the Little Farm and nature area gardens, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fee is $35. Application required. For information call 544-3260. 

Seniors Against Investment Fraud A free workshop to help older adults avoid fraud, identity theft, and questionable investment offers, at 12:15 p.m. at St. Jarlath's Catholic Church, 2620 Pleasant St., corner of Fruitvale, Oakland. 452-0868.  

“Speed of Flight” A workshop for children to make parachutes, paper airplanes and kites from noon to 2 p.m. at Lawrence Hall of Science, Centennial Drive. Cost is $6-$9. 642-5132. 

Community Conversation on CEDAW/CERD: The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. 259-3871. 

Parents’ Book Discussion Group on Frances O’Roark Dowell’s “Chicken Boy” at 6 p.m. at the Family Resource Center, 435 Goodling Way, Bldg. 123, Apt. 456, University Village, Albany. Sponsored by the Albany Library. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

Tuesday Tilden Walkers Join a few slowpoke seniors at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot near the Little Farm for an hour or two walk. 215-7672, 524-9992. 

Berkeley School Volunteers Orientation from 4 to 5 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. Come learn about volunteer opportunities. 644-8833. 

End the Occupation Vigil every Tues. at noon at Oakland Federal Bldg., 1301 Clay St. www.epicalc.org 

Family Storytime at 7 p.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043.  

Sing-A-Long Group from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masoni Ave., Albany. 524-9122. 

Street Level Cycles Community Bike Program Come use our tools as well as receive help with performing repairs free of charge. Youth classes available. Tues., Thurs., and Sat. from 2 to 6 p.m. at at 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

Berkeley PC Users Group meets at 7 p.m. at 1145 Walnut St. 527-2177. 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 548-3991.  

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. We welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26 

“Getting Rich off War: Blackwater and Halliburton” with Nancy Mencias of Global Exchange and Mary Magill, Gray Panther at the Berkeley-East Bay Gray Panthers meeting at 1:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst, corner of MLK. 527-0659. 

Radical Movie Night: “Bandit Queen” A film biography of Phoolan Devi at 8:30 p.m. at the Long Haul, 3124 Shattuck Ave. 540-0751. 

“Bush Family Fortunes” A documentary by Greg Palast on the connections between the Bush family and the Saudi Royal family at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.Humanist Hall.org 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes and a warm hat. 548-9840. 

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at the Berkeley BART Station, corner of Shattuck and Center. Sing for Peace at 6:30 p.m. followed by Peace Walk at 7 p.m. www. 

geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil 

Teen Chess Club from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the North Branch Library, 1170 The Alameda at Hopkins. 981-6133. 

Theraputic Recreation at the Berkeley Warm Pool, Wed. at 3:30 p.m. and Sat. at 10 a.m. at the Berkeley Warm Pool, 2245 Milvia St. Cost is $4-$5. Bring a towel. 632-9369. 

Morning Meditation Every Mon., Wed., and Fri. at 7:45 a.m. at Rudramandir, 830 Bancroft Way at 6th. 486-8700. 

After-School Program Homework help, drama and music for children ages 8 to 18, every Wed. from 4 to 7:15 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Cost is $5 per week. 845-6830. 

Stitch ‘n Bitch at 6:30 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

THURSDAY, MARCH 27 

“Sustainable Stewardship: Historic Preservation’s Essential Role in Fighting Climate Change” with Richard Moe, President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, at 7:30 p.m. at First Church of Christ, Scientist, 2619 Dwight Way. Jon Carroll, San Francisco Chronicle columnist, will also speak. Suggested donation $20; free admission for students with ID. A reception will follow the address. Proceeds go to the preservation work at the Church. For further information, contact Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association at 841-2242. http://berkeleyheritage.com 

Tilden Explorers An after-school nature adventure program for 5-7 year olds. We will hunt for amphibians from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 1-888-327-2757. 

Tilden Tots Join a nature adventure program for 3 and 4 year olds, each accompanied by an adult (grandparents welcome)! We’ll look for amphibians from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. Cost is $6-$8. Registration required. 1-888-EBPARKS. 

“Under the Sea” A workshop for children to learn about how animals adapt to waves and predators, and how tide pool animals survive, from noon to 2 p.m. at Lawrence Hall of Science, Centennial Drive. Cost is $6-$9. 642-5132. 

Immigration Forum: A discussion on issues and implications for the community at 7 p.m. at Richmond Public Library’s Madeline F. Whittlesey Community Room, 325 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond. Sponsored by the Richmond Public Library and the ACLU. 620-6561. 

Berkeley Democratic Club’s Endorsement Meeting for State Senate (9th SD) and for the 14th Assembly District at 7 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 

East Bay Association for Women in Science “Careers in Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs” with Gladys Ingle, Genentech; Miki Yamamoto, Genentec, and Peih F. Chiang, at 7 p.m., light supper at 6:30 p.m. at Novartis, Building 4, Room 104, 5300 Chiron Way, Emeryville. Check-in at the guard station on 53rd St. at Chiron Way prior to parking. Suggested donations of $5-$10. ebawis_secretary@yahoo.com 

Easy Does It Board of Directors’ Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at 1636 University Ave. 845-5513. edi@easyland.org  

Teen Book Club meets to discuss poetry at 4 p.m. at Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue. 981-6121. 

Fitness Class for 55+ at 9:15 a.m. at Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. 848-0237. 

Babies & Toddlers Storytime at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. at Kensington Library, 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043.  

FRIDAY, MARCH 28 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Wolfgang Homburger, Inst. of Transport Studies, UCB, on “The Past and Future of Transportation in the Bay Area” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14.50, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 526-2925.  

“How to Enter an Iris Show” A hands-on demonstration by a panel of experienced iris growers, at 8 p.m. at Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Sponsored by the Sydney B.Mitchell Iris Society. Free. http://bayareairis.org 

“Friendly Persuasions” A film about Quaker life in Indiana during the harsh realities of the Civil War at 7:30 p.m. at Berkeley Friends Church, Sacramento and Cedar St. berkeleyfriendschurch.org 

“Phoenix Dance” A new film by Karina Epperlein on a journey from loss to faith, trust at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship Unitarian Universalists Hall, 1924 Cedar St. Discussion follows.  

Radical Eco-Feminist West Coast Spring Tour A two hour presentation on radical eco-feminism and environmental ethics at 7 p.m. at Long Haul Infoshop, 3124 Shattuck Ave. 540-0751. www.risingtidenorthamerica.org 

Friday Films for Teens at 3:30 pm. at the Berkeley Puplic Library, 2090 Kittredge St. For details call 981-6121. 

Circle Dancing, simple folk dancing with instruction at 8 p.m. at Hillside Community Church, 1422 Navellier St., El Cerrito. Pot luck at 7 p.m. Donation of $5 requested. 528-4253. www.circledancing.com 

Kol Hadash Humanistic Shabbat at 7:30 p.m. at the ALbany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave. 428-1492. 

SATURDAY, MARCH 29 

Winks and Wags: A Singles Event for Pet Lovers with music and activities for humans and dogs from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Just Pet Me Country Club, 2545 Broadway, Oakland. Tickets are $20-$25. Benefits the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society. 845-7735, ext. 19. www.berkeleyhumane.org 

National Nutrition Month, with cooking demonstrations, free samples and free recipes, at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Center St. and Martin Luther King Jr. Way. Compost give-away from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., bring your own container. 548-3333. www.ecologycenter.org 

Memorial Service to Celebrate the Life of Dr. John Dillenberger, theologian, author, and founding President of the Graduate Theological Union at 3 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Reception to follow in the church’s Large Assembly Room. 

Sprouts Gardening Project Help out in the Kids’ Garden from 10 a.m. to noon at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. For ages three and up. 525-2233. 

Compost Give-Away at the Berkeley Farmers’ Market Bring your own container-two buckets are suggested or large garbage bags. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Center St. at MLK Jr. Way. For backyard amateur gardeners only. Sponsored by the Berkeley Community Gardening Collaborative. 548-3333. www.ecologycenter.org/bcgc 

Groundbreaking for New Community Garden in Richmond at noon at Richmond Public Library, 325 Civic Center Plaza, off Macdonald Ave. Activities include a baking contest, garden hat decorating contest and stories for children at 11 am. in the library. 620-6561. 

Ocean View Community Garden Opening Albany residents interested in a garden plot will be assigned one by lottery. Priority given to apartment dwellers. Lottery tickets distributed beginning at 11 a.m., lottery begins at noon at 900 Buchanan St., behind the Teen Center and tennis courts. Annual fee $50. 559-9283. 

Vernal Vistas Hike in Claremont Canyon A steep 1.5 mile hike with panaoramic vistas at the end. From 3 to 4:30 p.m. Bring water and a snack to share. For information on meeting place call 525-2233. 

“Lewis and Clark, the Corps of Discovery: A 200-Year Retrospective” The history and biology of the Lewis and Clark voyage with a focus on the 176 plants they discovered. From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Tilden Park Botanic Garden. Cost is $10-$20. Registration required. 841-8732. www.nativeplanets.org 

Vegetarian Cooking Class: Demystifying Tofu and Tempeh From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. at Castro. Cost is $49, in advance, plus $5 food/materials fee, due on day of class. Registration required. 531-COOK. www.compassionatecooks.com  

“The Anza Trail and the Settling of California” with author Vladimir Guerrero at 1 p.m. at Lakeview Library, 550 El Embarcadero, Oakland. 238-7344. 

Common Agenda Regional Network Meeting on reordering federal priorities from the military to human and environmental needs, at 2 p.m. at Peace Action West, 2800 Adeline at Stuart. 524-6071. 

Community Plant Exchange from noon to 4 p.m. at 3811 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland. Bring plants that need pruning or dividing. For more nformation or if you need help digging up a plant call 866-8482. plantexchange@hotmail.com 

“Accent Plants for the Garden” at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens, 729 Heinz Ave., off 7th St. 644-2351. 

Radical Eco-Feminism Workshop with Portland Animal Defense League, Rising TIde North America and Stumptown Earth First at 7 p.m. at the Long Haul, 3124 Shattuck Ave. stephanie@ 

RisingTideNorthAmerica.org 

Dharma Realm Buddhist Young Adults Spring Conference on Insight & Happiness on the Buddhist Path, Sat. and Sun. at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery, 2304 McKinley Ave. RSVP to www.drby.net 

“Understanding Chronic Fatigue” at 11 a.m. at Elephant Pharm, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

39th Annual UC Open Taekwondo Championship with open ceremony at 8:30 am. and competition at 9 a.m. at Walter A. Haas, Jr. Pavilion, UC Campus. Cost is $5-$8. 642-3268. www.ucmap.org 

Teen Knitting Circle at 3 p.m. in the 4th Flr Story Room of the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. Bring your own needles in size 8. 981-6107. 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732. www.nativeplants.org 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction every Wed. and Sat. at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

Oakland Artisans Marketplace Sat. from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Jack London Square. 238-4948. 

SUNDAY, MARCH 30 

Hike Around Jewel Lake A good first hike for the young trekker to learn about the lake and its flora and fauna, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. For information on meeting place call 525-2233. 

“Breaking the Silence: Israeli Soldiers Talk about Their Occupation Experiences” at 7 p.m. at Kehilla Community Synagogue, 1300 Grand Ave., Piedmont. Suggested donation $5-$20, no one turned away. 465-1777. 

“Iraqi Civil Resistance” Bill Weinberg reports on Iraqi trade unions, women’s organizations, and neighborhood assemblies opposed to the US occupation at 10 a.m. at Niebyl Proctor Library, 6501 Telegraph Ave. 

“A Taste of Ethiopia” A fundraiser and cultural event to benefit high school construction for The Merit Academy in Addis Ababa, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Berkeley Mills Furniture Showroom, 2830 Seventh St. Cost is $25, sliding scale donations at the door. 415-235-5467. 

Jewish Music Festival “Community Dance Party” with Jewish dance specialist Bruce Bierman at 4 p.m. at JCC East Bay, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $12-$15. 848-0237. www.jewishmusicfestival.org 

Films for a Future “What Babies Want” at 2 p.m. at the Edith Stone Room, Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. Discussion follows. 526-3720, ext. 17. 

Tibetan Buddhism with Tom Morse on “Natural Openness: Direct Knowing” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 809-1000 www.nyingmainstitute.com 

MONDAY, MARCH 31 

“Berkeley: A City in History” with author Chuck Wollenberg at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge. 981-6241. 

Berkeley Housing Authority Annual Plan Public Hearing at 6 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/BHA/default.html 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

Free Boatbuilding Classes for Youth Mon.-Wed. from 3 to 7 p.m. at Berkeley Boathouse, 84 Bolivar Dr., Aquatic Park. Classes cover woodworking, boatbuilding, and boat repair. 644-2577. www.watersideworkshops.org 

ONGOING 

Find a Loving Animal Companion at the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society Adoption Center (open from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday). 2700 Ninth St. 845-7735. www.berkeleyhumane.org  

E-Waste Recycling St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County accepts electronic waste including computers, dvd players, cell phones, fax machines and many other ewaste products for disposal free of charge at many of its locations throughout Alameda County. Free bulk pick-up available. 638-7600.  

Free Tax Help If your 2007 household income was less than $42,000, you are eligible for free tax preparation from United Way's Earn it! Keep It! Save It! Sites are open now through April 15 in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. To find a site near you, call 800-358-8832. www.EarnItKeepItSaveIt.org 

CITY MEETINGS 

City Council meets Tues., Mar. 25, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900.  

Civic Arts Commission meets Wed., Mar. 26, at 6:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7533.  

Energy Commission meets Wed., Mar. 26, at 6:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5434.  

Planning Commission meets Wed., Mar. 26, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7484. 

Police Review Commission meets Wed., Mar. 26, at 7 p.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center. 981-4950.  

Mental Health Commission meets Thurs., Mar. 27, at 5 p.m. at 2640 MLK Jr. Way, at Derby. 981-5213.  

Zoning Adjustments Board meets Thurs., Mar. 27, at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. 981-7410.  

Berkeley Housing Authority Annual Plan Public Hearing Mon. Mar. 31, at 6 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/BHA/default.htm