Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

News Updates

Tilden Carousel Reopens

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Tuesday October 14, 2008

After undergoing a $700,000 renovation which lasted nearly nine months, the rare 1911 Herschell-Spillman Menagerie edition merry-go-round has reopened in Tilden Park. -more-

North Oakland Residents as Divided as Berkeley Over Bus Rapid Transit Proposal

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Monday October 13, 2008

While the battle over the North Oakland portion of AC Transit’s proposed Bus Rapid Transit line has not reached the level or volume that it has in neighboring Berkeley, a Saturday morning political forum at Peralta Elementary School showed that the battle lines are drawn around similar issues. -more-

UC Considers Owl Box to Tackle Rats at People’s Park

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Monday October 13, 2008

People’s Park might not get a free clothing box any time soon, but an owl box is more than welcome, especially if it acts as a rat patrol. -more-

Planners Ponder Sustainability During Post-Debate Late Meeting

By Richard Brenneman

Monday October 13, 2008

Meeting an hour later than usual, Berkeley’s planning commissioners will have time to watching the final presidential debate before Wednesday night’s meeting. -more-

Berkeley Cracks Down on Unruly Parties, Second Time in a Year

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday October 10, 2008

Last week, for the second time in a year, the Berkeley Police Department and city officials sent out a letter to 400 restaurants in Berkeley warning them against holding late night parties, which have resulted in fights, gunfire and unruly crowds. -more-

Historic Sather Gate To Get Million Dollar Facelift

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Thursday October 09, 2008

It has weathered the Great Depression, World War II, the McCarthy Era and the Free Speech Movement. -more-

News

Court Orders Maio To Testify Over Loan From Developer

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 09, 2008

Controversy over a $45,000 loan from Berkeley’s most controversial developer to City Councilmember Linda Maio and her spouse has resulted in a court order compelling the councilmember’s testimony. -more-

Development Wanes in Wake Of Economic Woes

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Thursday October 09, 2008

Berkeley is feeling the pinch of the current economic slump, with the demand for new housing decreasing, real estate sales declining and developers adopting more of a “wait and watch” policy when it comes to breaking ground on new projects. -more-

Richmond Activists Blast Police Union for ‘Racist’ Flyer

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 09, 2008

A rainbow coalition of Richmond activists on Monday demanded that the city’s powerful police union rescind an electoral mailer they described as a racist hit piece. -more-

Police Complaint Hearings Still Must Be Closed

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Thursday October 09, 2008

A California Appeals Court has ruled that the City of Berkeley’s Police Review Commission must continue to exclude the public from complaint hearings against Berkeley police officers, and must continue to bar public access to peace officer personnel records or other records relating to Police Review Commission investigations or findings in such complaints. -more-

Landmarks Commission Approves Mills Act Contracts

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Thursday October 09, 2008

The Landmarks Preservation Commission approved Mills Act contracts Thursday for two historic Berkeley landmarks—the Durant Hotel and the Charles Keeler House. -more-

Alta Bates to Remain, But Herrrick’s Fate in Doubt

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 09, 2008

Berkeley in Good Shape for Current State Budget Cuts, but More Cuts May Be Coming

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Thursday October 09, 2008

Doubts Surround Activists’ Claims Of Vandalism of Cal Researchers

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 09, 2008

Developer Selects West Berkeley for New Housing Project

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Thursday October 09, 2008

Children’s Hospital Partners With Berkeley High School To Reduce Sports Injuries

By Rio Bauce Special to the Planet

Thursday October 09, 2008

Two Environmentalists Vie For Parks District Vacancy

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 09, 2008

Commission Spurns DAPAC Parking, Traffic Proposals

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 09, 2008

Dual Tragedy Shocks Residents of Berkeley Apartment Complex

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 09, 2008

Three Robberies in an Hour

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 09, 2008

Police Blotter

By Ali Winston

Thursday October 09, 2008

School District Receives $400,000 in State Intervention Funds

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Thursday October 09, 2008

Richard Brenneman

North Richmond Neighborhood House organizer Fred Jackson attacks a Richmond police union flyer as racist against Latinos during a press conference Monday as Andres Soto, right, the conference organizer, listens.

Editorials

Free Speech Is not ‘Hate-Journalism’

By Becky O’Malley

Thursday October 09, 2008

With friends like Blue Star PR, Israel doesn’t need enemies. The Berkeley Daily Planet made the grievous error of publishing a sympathetic story about local reaction to an incident in which graffiti were applied to a Blue Star poster advertising Israeli-Arab coexistence at a campus bus stop. Some of our readers wrote to us complaining that the story was too soft on Israel. -more-