Opinion

Editorials

Can Education in California Be Salvaged?

By Becky O'Malley
Wednesday March 03, 2010 - 07:08:00 PM

This week is education week in California. All over the state, especially on Thursday, there are demonstrations planned to protest the cuts in funding and tuition increases which have been made necessary by the legislature’s inability or unwillingness to allocate the money which is needed to support even a modest amount of education. Sob stories abound at every level. Shocking statistics comparing California unfavorably to the poorest, most benighted states in the union are all too easy to find. -more-


Cartoons

A Dan O’Neill Extravaganza

By Dan O’Neill
Thursday March 04, 2010 - 10:45:00 PM

More Dan O’Neill Extravaganza

By Dan O’Neill
Thursday March 04, 2010 - 10:51:00 PM

Pepper Spray Times

By Carol Denney
Thursday March 04, 2010 - 12:59:00 PM

Public Comment

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Wednesday March 03, 2010 - 06:59:00 PM

Editor: -more-


Blair's Testimony: A Tangled Legacy

By Stuart Dodds
Thursday March 04, 2010 - 09:02:00 AM

As a British-born resident of the United States with family in both countries, I followed Tony Blair's testimony before the Chilcot Iraq Inquiry in London (January 29, 2010) with a morbid fascination. -more-


The Iron Fist Behind the Humor:Will Travis on Democracy

By Claire Pierce
Wednesday March 03, 2010 - 07:04:00 PM

Every once in a while, a member of the local Berkeley elite will reveal some useful information about his or her true character. We were treated to just such a moment in the publication of Will Travis’ letter about the mayor’s latest plan to help developers speed up the planning process (“New Downtown Plan,” February 18, 2010). While Mr. Travis couches his remarks in ironic humor, the arrogance of his attitude nevertheless shines through. -more-


Why the Bad Teacher Narrative Does Not Help Our Students, But Fixing our Budget Process Will

By Tracey Iglehart
Wednesday March 03, 2010 - 06:53:00 PM

Please help to defend public education Thursday, March 4th by rallying at 2134 MLK Jr. Way beginning at 3:3opm. As educators across the state of California plan events on March 4th to defend public education, President Obama is proudly claiming that the firing of teachers at a Rhode Island High School is sound education reform and a necessary form of accountability. -more-


President Obama is still fighting for healthcare reform. Are we?

By Anne Sunderland
Wednesday March 03, 2010 - 05:05:00 PM

Last week I watched the Healthcare Summit with many people in mind. After a year of working on healthcare reform I’ve met many local residents who have been failed by our healthcare system. They include a man who watched his parents, janitors who had saved for years to buy a home, loose that home due to medical bills resulting from his mother’s diabetes. And a cancer survivor who can’t get health insurance due to her pre-existing condition. Now she forgoes regular check-ups to see if her cancer has returned. If it does, she’ll have few options. -more-


Planet Needs to Publish Correction

By Rob Wrenn
Wednesday March 03, 2010 - 09:38:00 PM

Riya Bhattacharjee's article on the Downtown Plan in the February 25-March 3 Planet presents a factually inaccurate picture of the differences between the Downtown Plan adopted by the City Council last year and the plan adopted and sent to the Council by the Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee (DAPAC) in 2007. She says the Council adopted a 225' maximum while the DAPAC plan "suggested" a 120' maximum. -more-


The Planet's Response

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Thursday March 04, 2010 - 08:01:00 AM

EDITOR’S NOTE Rob Wrenn’s rant stands as proof of his assertion that “some of the opinion is poorly thought-out or poorly written, or, worse, full of misinformation.” The entitled attitude he exhibits is breathtaking. He shows his naivete about journalism by his suggestion that newspapers—any newspapers—have the time or money to employ factcheckers. Factcheckers, in the olden days, used to be people who worked for the New Yorker and a few similar select lavishly staffed magazines, but even the New Yorker makes its share of mistakes in the brave new world of the 21st century. Newspapers have always had a few mistakes, and they always will. The New York Times’ correction column is one of the most entertaining and well-read parts of the paper. And anyhow, this story was correct. Wrenn confuses an accurate report of what was actually said at the last city council meeting, which was recorded and is available online for anyone to check, with what he thinks should have been said or hopes was said. Given the self-righteous tone of his ill-informed and ill-mannered demand for “correction”, I have asked the reporter to set him straight below: -more-