News

New: UC Berkeley Strikers Still On Campus

By Bay City News and Online Sources
Monday May 10, 2010 - 06:38:00 PM
via Alejandro Garcia: Students march to Chancellor's house.

Hunger strikers at the University of California at Berkeley tried to block the school's administration building today but people could still get inside, according to a university spokeswoman. The students held a rally today at 3:30 p.m, and then marched to the Chancellor's residence. A twitter message at about 5 pm said "Admin has contacted us: there will be a meeting only if we end up the hunger strike." Strikers posted this video of the march on their Facebook page on Monday night. -more-


New: UC Berkeley Football Team Will Play 2011 Games at AT&T Park

By Bay City News Service
Monday May 10, 2010 - 04:32:00 PM

The University of California at Berkeley has reached an agreement with the San Francisco Giants for Cal's football team to play their home games in 2011 at AT&T Park in San Francisco while its own stadium is being retrofitted and renovated. -more-


New: Richmond and Chevron Reach Agreement

From the Richmond Progressive Association, via Councilmember Tom Butt (Partisan Position)
Monday May 10, 2010 - 08:53:00 AM

Negotiators for the city of Richmond and Chevron have reached an unprecedented agreement that settles several major tax issues. Chevron has agreed to pay millions of additional dollars to the city if the city will drop its appeal of Measure T and proposed changes in the Utility Users Tax. (See below for details.).The settlement goes to the city council next Tuesday where the Richmond Progressive Alliance expects and supports its adoption. -more-


Flash: Police Roust UC Berkeley Hunger Strikers

From a press release.
Monday May 10, 2010 - 08:43:00 AM

The hunger strikers on the UC Berkeley campus who are protesting Arizona's new immigration law were ordered to disperse by UC police early this morning. -more-


Press Release: Bart Police Ask for Public's Help in Investigating Suspicious Death

Saturday May 08, 2010 - 09:53:00 AM

OAKLAND, CA – The BART Police Department is investigating a suspicious death in which a 22-year-old white male from Berkeley, Konstantin Tomashevsky, was found at the UN Plaza entrance of the Civic Center BART Station on May 5, 2010. -more-


Updated: UC Berkeley Hunger Strike against Arizona Law Continues

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday May 07, 2010 - 12:47:00 PM

The UC Berkeley hunger strike urging university officials to publicly denounce Arizona's illegal immigration bill that began Monday at noon has garnered strength over the last few days. -more-


Rabbi Lerner Asks for Media's Help to Publicize Vandalism

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday May 07, 2010 - 12:45:00 PM

In a message to supporters Thursday, Rabbi Michael Lerner--whose Berkeley Hills home was recently vandalized by right-wing Zionists— urged the media to draw attention to the incident and what it means for “Americans and for American Jews.” -more-


Berkeley This Week

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday May 07, 2010 - 12:00:00 PM

In the news since the last issue: Berkeley City Council postpones new marijuana regulations, tables fine proposal for large daycares, approves a proposal for amendments to Telegraph late night zoning; Berkeley Rep plays get Tony nominations and Berkeley police ask for help on missing teen. -more-


Skyline High Students Visit Their Representatives in Sacramento

Raymond Barglow, Ph.D. www.berkeleytutors.net
Friday May 07, 2010 - 12:29:00 PM

It’s one thing for California high school students to read or hear a lecture about how government works. It is quite another for them to experience this in person. -more-


UC Workers Join Student Hunger Strike: Say UC must realign its priorities to put students, workers first

From AFSCME 3299 Press Release
Thursday May 06, 2010 - 12:52:00 PM

Saying the University of California's sharply misguided priorities call for unprecedented and unified action, two University of California employees represented by the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3299 have joined students in a hunger strike at the UC Berkeley campus. Today's action comes after workers last week called on prominent graduation speakers at UC campuses statewide to refuse to deliver their commencement addresses unless workers' demands are met (see list of demands below). -more-


San Pablo Citizens Win Four Year Moratorium on Eminent Domain

By Marilynne L. Mellander (Partisan Position)
Friday May 07, 2010 - 01:58:00 PM

Hundreds of citizens attended the San Pablo City Council meeting Monday night 5/3/10 to voice their opposition to the reinstatement of eminent domain (ED) in their city, a provision that lapsed in March 2009. Redevelopment project areas currently cover over 90% of the city leaving most citizens in fear of losing their homes. -more-


New: UC Workers Join Student Hunger Strike

From AFSCME 3299 Press Release
Thursday May 06, 2010 - 12:58:00 PM

Saying the University of California's sharply misguided priorities call for unprecedented and unified action, two University of California employees represented by the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3299 have joined students in a hunger strike at the UC Berkeley campus. Today's action comes after workers last week called on prominent graduation speakers at UC campuses statewide to refuse to deliver their commencement addresses unless workers' demands are met (see list of demands below). -more-


New: UC Berkeley hunger strike negotiations break down when administration tries to split students and workers

From the organizers' press release
Thursday May 06, 2010 - 10:31:00 AM

On Wednesday evening, it appeared a resolution was within reach to end the three-day hunger strike by students, workers and other members of the UC Berkeley community. The strike began Monday with demands of denouncing racist legislation in Arizona, creating a sanctuary campus and ending retaliation against student and worker activists (see next page for complete demands). As five negotiators were entering California Hall; Tanya Smith, the lone UC employee on the team, was denied entry into the building. “The police blocked the door and indicated that no union members would be allowed to enter,” said Smith; who also is the campus President of U.P.T.E., a UC union. “Then Isaac Castro, a fellow negotiator, came to join me outside and the police lost control”. -more-


New: Jury Starts Deliberations in UC Berkeley Student Murder Case

By Bay City News
Wednesday May 05, 2010 - 05:19:00 PM

An Alameda County Superior Court jury today began deliberating the fate of a man charged with murder for the stabbing death of University of California at Berkeley senior Christopher Wootton near campus two years ago. -more-


New: Oakland: Council Votes to Boycott Arizona over Immigration Law

By Bay City News
Wednesday May 05, 2010 - 05:17:00 PM

The Oakland City Council voted Tuesday night to boycott Arizona and Arizona-based businesses to protest the state's tough new immigration law -more-


New: Berkeley Today: Wednesday

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Wednesday May 05, 2010 - 05:06:00 PM

In the news today: Berkeley City Council postpones new marijuana regulations, tables fine proposal for large daycares, approves a proposal for amendments to Telegraph late night zoning; hunger strike at UC Berkeley against Arizona immigration bill strengthens;Berkeley Rep plays get Tony nominations and Berkeley police ask for help on missing teen. -more-


Berkeley City Council Rejects "Full Build" BRT for EIR, Endorses "Reduced Impact"

By Joyce Roy (Partisan Position)
Tuesday May 04, 2010 - 01:08:00 PM

Last Thursday night the Berkeley City Council unanimously approved the “Reduced Impact Alternative” BRT that is similar to “Rapid Bus Plus” as the “Locally Preferred Alternative.” It rejected the “Build Alternative” which would have removed traffic lanes and placed boarding stations in the middle of the street even though AC Transit sent a letter saying, more or less, that it was obliged to choose that alternative. This meeting with Bus Rapid Transit the only agenda item ended after 11:00 pm. Sixty-six members of the public were against the “Build Alternative,” twenty-three in favor and five asked all alternatives to be studied. Here are the alternatives. -more-


Rabbi's Berkeley Hills Home Vandalized

From a Tikkun Magazine Press Release
Tuesday May 04, 2010 - 12:56:00 PM

[Editor's Note: This information was received as a press release at 3 on Monday afternoon. Berkeley Police Department Public Information Officer Jamie Perkins confirmed that the crime at Rabbi Michael Lerner's home in the 900 block of Cragmont was reported at 11:40 on Monday, and she said Monday at about 6 p.m. that police had no suspects as yet.]

Berkeley police today confirmed that the attack on Rabbi Lerner's home late Sunday May 2nd or early morning Monday May 3rd was in fact a crime and was being investigated. The attackers used a powerful form of glue to attach posters to his door and around the property of his home attacking Lerner personally, and attacking liberals and progressives as being supporters of terrorism and "Islamo-fascism." -more-


Berkeley News Roundup

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Tuesday May 04, 2010 - 12:53:00 PM

In the news since the last issue: Zoning changes for Panoramic Hill and Telegraph, fines for daycare centers proposed, new marijuana regulations, 155-unit apartment complex for South Shattuck, credit card fraud, a music club in financial trouble, students begin hunger strike to protest immigration law. -more-


Arizona’s Immigration Law Spurs Copycat Legislation

By Marcelo Ballvé, New America Media
Monday May 03, 2010 - 07:19:00 PM

Arizona’s new get-tough immigration law has emboldened other state capitols to follow suit. -more-


New: Ex-Letter Carrier Tries to Run Down Postal Supervisor in Albany

By Bay City News
Wednesday May 05, 2010 - 10:20:00 PM

A former letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service has been accused of trying to kill his former supervisor by ramming the victim with a car over the weekend. -more-


UC Berkeley Students in Second Day of Hunger Strike

By Bay City News
Tuesday May 04, 2010 - 11:44:00 PM
UC Berkeley students camped on a lawn near California Hall to take part in a hunger strike protesting Arizona's new anti-immigrant law.

A group of about 25 University of California at Berkeley students entered the second day of a hunger strike today asking the university to publicly oppose Arizona's new immigration law. -more-


Family Mourns Son Murdered a Year Ago Today--Crime is Still Unsolved

Tuesday May 04, 2010 - 06:54:00 PM

A year ago today, on the night of May 4, 2009 at about 11:30, neighbors reported hearing gunfire in the 1300 block of 67th Street. Berkeley police officers found Maurice Robertson, 18, of Berkeley, dead from gunshot wounds in the backyard of a home there. -more-


Berkeley High Community Members Weigh in on Principal Selection Process

By Raymond Barglow www.berkeleytutors.net
Tuesday May 04, 2010 - 07:15:00 PM

About 25 parents and other community members met at the Berkeley High School Library last Tuesday evening to present to the district board their ideas about what they are looking for in a high school principal. -more-


Closing Arguments in UC Berkeley Stabbing Trial

By Bay City News
Tuesday May 04, 2010 - 12:44:00 PM

A defense attorney told jurors today that "it's been a long and demanding ride" for a man charged with murder for the stabbing death of University of California at Berkeley senior Christopher Wootton near campus two years ago today. -more-