The Opinion Pages

Well, a good time was had by all. Did the first ever Daily Planet mayoral debate change the course of history? Probably not, but then it wasn’t supposed to. -more-

Here are a few recommendations for races and measures which I think are particularly important: -more-

The citizens' committee members who have been working on a Sunshine Ordinance for Berkeley have released their final draft, which can be read here . They hope that it will be passed by the Berkeley City Council, and they are asking community leaders to sign on in support. If the council fails to act, the ordinance could also be passed by a ballot initiative. -more-

It took the collapse of a heavily trafficked bridge in Minnesota to alert significant numbers of Americans to the price to be paid for neglecting the nation’s physical infrastructure. But despite the equally dramatic descent of our political life in recent decades, few notice the cost of neglecting the nation’s cultural infrastructure that—along with so many of our bridges, dams, and watermains—was largely created by FDR’s New Deal. -more-

California voters are rarely given the chance to vote for an initiative that addresses a problem that many thought was unsolvable. Proposition 5, the Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act, provides the opportunity for voters to bring change to the state's crumbling and bankrupt criminal justice system in a manner that cannot be achieved within the special-interest-dominated world of Sacramento. -more-

Editor -- -more-

Terry Doran, currently on the Zoning Adjustments Board, is running for Dona Spring's seat on the City Council. As a member of the Zoning Adjustments Board, Terry voted against the positions of Dona Spring, Jesse Areguin, the Le Conte Neighborhood Association, and the Elmwood Neighborhood Association. -more-

You might be a tenant who has discovered mold in her kitchen. Your landlord is being dismissive of this grave impact on your habitability. Whom can you turn to? Since you reside in this city, you call 510-981-RENT, get in touch with a case counselor, and, if this does not resolve the issue, take your case to the nine elected Rent Stabilization Board commissioners. The landlord complies, and your faith in the rule of law is restored. -more-

In general we resist financing public projects by sale of bonds. Paying them off is just a form of us the people borrowing, and paying high interest to hugely wealthy individuals, or to banks/bankers, to use funds that should've been reserved for our use by taxing where the money is ahead of needing to spend it for us. We don't even have to sharply tax people who get as much as half a million dollars a year... but get it from the really huge incomes from amazing sources including investments, that are just money making money. -more-

Hard issues that include local development come up on a project-by-project basis but never rise as a top-level campaign issue. Political campaigns are remarkably free of pro- or anti-development dialogues. Even UC Berkeley, the big bully in town, has hardly been mentioned by the candidates in their mailers and websites. -more-

I decided to run for Mayor because I strongly believe that our city needs new, authentic leadership that is in touch with all citizens. Historically, our mayors have catered only to specific communities. This has resulted in a city divided, with stark inequities in housing, education, safety, and opportunities. My mission as mayor will be to bring the city together as a community and to improve living conditions for all residents, to support ecologically sustainable improvements, and to reclaim the ideals of our city. -more-

I am endorsing Shirley Dean for Mayor of Berkeley; I firmly believe that her program of 50 solutions to the current crisis and problems of the City of Berkeley will benefit the entire population of the city, especially those of us who are disabled and with special needs. I lived in Berkeley during Mrs. Dean’s first term as Mayor and know that disability services were much better funded and more extensive then. -more-

In general we resist financing public projects by sale of bonds. Paying them off is just a form of us the people borrowing, and paying high interest to hugely wealthy individuals, or to banks/bankers, to use funds that should've been reserved for our use by taxing where the money is ahead of needing to spend it for us. We don't even have to sharply tax people who get as much as $1/2m a year...but get it from the really huge incomes from amazing sources, including investments, that are just money making money. -more-

It’s hard to understand why the mayor and certain council members don’t run on a pro-development platform. They should just come out and say, ‘I want growth, including big buildings, higher density, less parking and more noise.” They could also say, “I’ll take all the money developers can bundle for my campaign.” And of course the most important thing, “I’ll vote for every big development project put forward, even if it goes against the will of our neighborhoods.” -more-

I have just read the horrific West County/ Contra Costa Times editor’s endorsement of Norman LaForce. Clearly someone did not do a full background check. LaForce is not only “a thorn in the side of park officials,” he is fiercely aggressive and known for vengeful acts. The CC Times editor omits that the citizens of El Cerrito launched a recall to rid themselves of their thorny city council member. Nobody did a quick LexisNexis search on LaForce’s name. No reporter examined the revealing transcript of public testimony when the East Bay Regional Parks board had to appoint Jean Siri’s successor after she died. Jean would roll in her grave if she knew any newspaper had endorsed this man. -more-

Measure JJ will ensure that medical cannabis continues to be safely available to Berkeley’s patients and that the needs and rights of neighbors are respected. -more-

Sharon Hudson’s previous two commentaries on Berkeley elections appeared in the Oct. 6 and 16 issues of the Berkeley Daily Planet. -more-

Once again the City is asking to tap further into our wallets instead of making the effort to manage its huge budget. Together with many of you, Berkeleyans Against Soaring Taxes (BASTA!), Berkeley Property Owners Association (BPOA), Telegraph Business Improvement District (TBID) and neighborhood groups are committed to responsible fiscal management. We urge “no” votes on ballot measures FF, GG & HH. -more-

Opponents of AC Transit’s planned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service have proposed an alternative that they call “Rapid Bus Plus” (RB+). But their half-baked proposal doesn’t stand up to close scrutiny; it’s a minor variation on existing inadequate 1R service rather than a real alternative. -more-

Several people have asked my opinion regarding some Berkeley candidates and ballot measures. For what it's worth, here are my preferences. -more-

At the Oct. 21 council meeting, misleading information on Berkeley property values and foreclosures was publicly stated by City Manager Kamlarz, Councilmember Capitelli, and Economic Development Director Caplan. The City should investigate, correct, and update this information. -more-

The arguments that have appeared against Measure KK (Berkeley’s initiative to give you a vote on future street conversions) do not hold up. -more-

TransForm (formally the Transportation and Land Use Coalition) recognized very early on that Measure KK is really about process and not whether or not voters agree with the concept of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). If approved it would further delay an already exhaustive public process in Berkeley, and we encourage Daily Planet readers to vote “no” on KK. -more-

We are writing in re-sponse to LA Wood’s candidate statement in the Daily Planet, to explain our endorsement decision in his race, and to address the charges that our process was “back room” and “slate politics at its worst.” -more-

In a commentary in last week’s Planet about Albany’s City Council election, which pits a Sierra Club slate against three other candidates, Nan Wishner wrote of the three slate candidates, “I have heard an objection that electing Lieber, Panian, and Toomey will create an all-progressive council. I don’t have a problem with a council committed to the progressive values of environmental stewardship and social justice that I believe most Albany residents share.” I am a progressive environmentalist committed to social justice, and I have a big problem with the assumption that electing the straight Sierra Club slate is consistent with progressive values. -more-

Every Berkeley resident concerned about the city’s future should vote “no” on Measure GG. Why? Consider a conversation I recently had with Mayor Tom Bates. -more-

As the election draws close, the debate concerning KK is coming to a close. KK has been a success. Regardless of the final outcome, KK began a real city wide public discussion of BRT. The Transportation Commission won’t do it, The City Council won’t do it, and AC Transit won’t do it—KK has. -more-

The Indo-American relationship has never been so high and as good as it has been during last three years. -more-