The Opinion Pages

Editorials

Editorial: Time to Get Ready to Vote: Endorsements

By Becky O'Malley
Thursday May 22, 2008
We’re down to the wire on the June election. June election? What election, you might be saying right about now. Wasn’t the primary in February? -more-

The Editor's Back Fence

The Editor's Back Fence

By Becky O'Malley
Tuesday May 27, 2008
In today's experiment, the executive editor will answer a couple of letters. We've been longing to try this ever since the paper was started. For years letters to the editor and the editor's often sarcastic replies were the centerpiece of the much-enjoyed Anderson Valley Advertiser. The Greater Berkeley Area takes itself more seriously than the Anderson Valley, so what he did there might not work here. But occasionally we get letters that deserve an answer, serious and not-so-serious. -more-

Editorial Cartoons

Constitutional Amendments

By Justin DeFreitas
Thursday May 29, 2008

Begging for Oil

By Justin DeFreitas
Thursday May 22, 2008

Letters

Letters to the Editor

Thursday May 22, 2008

Letters to the Editor

Tuesday May 27, 2008

Reader Commentaries

Commentary: NoCoho at the 'Kingfish': Anatomy of a Deception

By Bob Brokl
Tuesday May 27, 2008
A group of well-intentioned individuals (North Oakland Cohousing) with a laudatory goal—creation of a cohousing community in the heart of Oakland’s Temescal District—partners with local entrepreneurs of several controversial projects. -more-

Commentary: Proposition 98 Would Deeply Subvert California’s Future

By John English
Tuesday May 27, 2008
Our state and our cities and counties are again in grave peril. At the November 2006 general election hugely harmful Proposition 90 failed by just a slim margin. Now the same greedy special interests are back with something even worse: Proposition 98. -more-

KPFA: The Alternative Home Shopping Network?

By Richard Phelps
Thursday May 22, 2008
Recently Michael Eric Dyson spoke in Oakland about the Jeremiah Wright controversy. He is a dynamic and entertaining speaker. KPFA recorded his speech. Has KPFA played it on the air for our listeners? No! KPFA management has played a portion of it to promote it for sale! -more-

BRT: It’s Big, It’s Boondogglicious — Let the Voters Decide!

By Gale Garcia
Thursday May 22, 2008
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is AC Transit’s plan for a massive project including Telegraph Avenue and parts of Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley. Two traffic lanes would be allocated to AC Transit buses, forcing all other vehicles (cars, bikes, trucks, motorcycles) to share just one lane each way. Most of the parking on Telegraph would disappear, to the chagrin of the local merchants. -more-

In Support of Kriss Worthington

By Ruth Michaels and Sydney Vilen
Thursday May 22, 2008
-more-

Berkeley Needs Fiscal Responsibility

By Barbara Gilbert
Thursday May 22, 2008
At a time when Berkeley residents are economically very insecure, and homeowners are extremely worried about the impact of declining home values and retirement assets, the city of Berkeley is proposing to increase local real property taxation. It will also be asking voters to re-authorize several special taxes previously approved. -more-

Celebrating Objectors and Resisters

By Bob Meola
Thursday May 22, 2008
What if they gave a war and nobody came? What if they gave a war and nobody paid for it? What if civil resistance was used for the good of our community? -more-

War and Race

By Marvin Chachere
Thursday May 22, 2008
The older I get the angrier I become when word merchants—politicians, newscasters, advertisers, pundits of all sorts—twist words to hide reality and manipulate perceptions. Two words in particular, like grains of sand in my shoe, hurt ever more acutely these days. They are “war” and “race.” -more-

Berkeley, Land of the Anti-Union Progressive

By Dave Blake
Thursday May 22, 2008
Last week I began outlining why our progressive local power structure isn’t really progressive anymore. The hardest pill for me, as a long-time progressive, to swallow was the betrayal of the Berkeley Bowl workers. -more-

Ask the Auditor, Tell the Auditor

By Ann-Marie Hogan
Thursday May 22, 2008
Does the city manage your tax dollars well? What performance audits should the Berkeley city auditor’s office conduct next year? Should the auditors set up a confidential ethics line or whistleblower hotline for employees? These are some questions I’d like you to help me answer. -more-

Assembly District 14 Candidate Statement: Tony Thurmond

Thursday May 22, 2008
Our communities and our state need help. California is off track, and we simply can’t wait or hope for someone else to fix the problems. -more-

Assembly District 14 Candidate Statement: Nancy Skinner

Thursday May 22, 2008
California is in crisis. We need courageous and effective leadership to fight for a California that: -more-

Assembly District 14 Candidate Statement: Kriss Worthington

Thursday May 22, 2008
Acknowledging my 40 years of progressive activism, when Jerry Brown was running for Attorney General he was asked “Would you say you have been a progressive Mayor of Oakland?” His answer: “We can’t all be Kriss Worthington.” -more-

Assembly District 14 Candidate Statement: Phil Polakoff

Thursday May 22, 2008
I am running for Assembly to help build a healthier California… to reform our healthcare system, clean up our environment, support our schools, make our communities safer, and build a strong local economy. -more-

Oakland City Council District 1 Candidate Statement: Jane Brunner

Thursday May 22, 2008
I am proud of what I have accomplished as the Councilmember representing North Oakland, but there’s much still to be done. That’s the reason I am running for re-election June 3. -more-

Oakland City Council District 1 Candidate Statement: Patrick McCullough

Thursday May 22, 2008
I’m seeking election because the needs of Oakland residents, particularly in North Oakland, haven’t been met by the incumbent and I’m sure my presence on the City Council will lead to improvement. -more-

State Senate District 9 Candidate Statement: Wilma Chan

Thursday May 22, 2008
I am running for the state Senate seat being vacated by current Senator Don Perata. My priorities are education, environmental justice, access to healthcare and good jobs. -more-

State Senate District 9 Candidate Statement: Loni Hancock

Thursday May 22, 2008
As your state senator, I will use my experience in local, state and national government to continue to fight for universal healthcare, strong environmental protections, campaign finance reform and better schools. I have spent many years working with people in Berkeley and the Bay Area for responsive government and social justice—serving as one of President Clinton’s top education officials, two terms as the first woman elected as mayor of Berkeley, eight years on the Berkeley City Council and three terms in the state Assembly. -more-