David Bacon

Extra

Afternoon Unloading of Israeli Ship at Oakland Port Canceled after Morning Protest

By David Bacon
Sunday June 20, 2010 - 10:52:00 PM

OAKLAND-- Hundreds of demonstrators from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area set up early morning picket lines in front of four gates into the SSA terminal in the Port of Oakland, as a ship carrying Israeli cargo was preparing to dock. Demonstrators were protesting the Israeli attack on the flotilla that sought to break the blockade of Gaza, in which Israeli troops killed nine people. In response to the picket line, members of Local 10 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union decided not to go into the terminal and unload the cargo. In the afternoon, with picket lines again in front of the gate, the stevedoring company decided not to ask for a crew of longshore workers to unload the ship, in the expectation that the crew would again not enter the terminal. -more-


Flash: Israeli Ship Unloading Blocked at Port of Oakland by Protestors

By Marc Sapir (Partisan Position)
Sunday June 20, 2010 - 02:23:00 PM

From 5 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. this Father’s Day morning somewhere between 500 and a thousand pickets blocked the 4 entrances to Berth 58 at the Oakland, California Port to prevent the workers from unloading an Israeli ship sailing up the California coast. The ILWU workers did not want to cross, nor did they challenge the picketers. Teamster truckers were turned away at one gate. At 9:30 a.m. the official announcement came that the Union Contract arbitrator had evaluated the situation and decided that potentially dangerous working conditions allowed the Longshoremen to legitimately honor the picket lines. Police were low key. The ship has delayed entry to the Port. -more-


Flash: Berkeley Daily Planet Wins Three SF Peninsula Press Club Awards

Sunday June 20, 2010 - 02:05:00 PM

The Daily Planet won three awards in the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club’s 2009 annual Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards dinner, held June 19 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City.
Riya Bhattacharjee won first place in the Breaking News category for her March 5, 2009 story about the death of a LeConte Elementary school student (“Investigation Continues into Kindergartner's Death") and second place for Continuing Coverage on the incident. The Daily Planet competed in the non-daily newspaper category. -more-


Police Arrest Suspect in May 20 Berkeley Shooting

By Jeff Shuttleworth, BCN
Friday June 18, 2010 - 10:36:00 AM

A 27-year-old Oakland man will be arraigned today on attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon charges for a shooting in Berkeley last month that left two people critically injured. -more-


Overheard on the Internet

Thursday June 17, 2010 - 07:13:00 PM

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Berkeley Mayor's Office <mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us>
To: lecontechat@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, June 17, 2010 4:28:20 PM
Subject: RE: [lecontechat] do we want BRT in Berkeley?

-more-


Report Says UC Berkeley Did Poor Job of Planning for Protest

By Jeff Shuttleworth,BCN
Wednesday June 16, 2010 - 05:25:00 PM

University of California at Berkeley administrators and police did a poor job of planning for a protest last November that resulted in the takeover of a building and more than 40 arrests, an investigative panel said today. -more-



Page One

Berkeley School District Proposes Ballot Measures, Discusses Budget Shortfall

By Raymond Barglow
Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 02:34:00 PM
Teachers, students, and family members from MLK Middle School hold placards favoring retention of a vice-principal position at the school.

The Berkeley School District Board voted on Wednesday evening to place two measures before the voters in November. The first is a bond measure for 210 million dollars “to improve school safety and facilities for learning and teaching.” This measure would fund construction of classrooms and science labs, seismic upgrades and technology upgrades, and would renovate playgrounds, restrooms, cafeterias, heating and fire safety systems, and other facilities. -more-



Flotilla Resolution Pulled from Agenda in Richmond Tonight, But Discussion Still Planned

By Bay City News and Planet
Saturday June 12, 2010 - 10:26:00 PM

The Richmond City Council had been scheduled to consider a resolution today (Tuesday) condemning the Israeli military's takeover of a ship in the Freedom Flotilla last month and the country's continued blockade of Gaza. Mayor Gayle McLaughlin and Vice Mayor Jeff Ritterman were originally sponsoring the resolution, but Ritterman announced Monday night that he is no longer backing the resolution, in a letter forwarded to the Planet by fellow councilmember Tom Butt. -more-



Updated: Court Hears Appeal from UC Berkeley Professor Yoo in Torture Case

By Julia Cheever, BCN
Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 08:25:00 AM

Attorneys for a Berkeley law professor went before a federal appeals court in San Francisco on Monday to seek dismissal of a lawsuit in which a former military prisoner claims that legal memos written by the professor justified his alleged torture while being held in a Navy brig. -more-



Public Comment

Letters to the Editor

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:45:00 PM

Measure C; Who’s to Blame?; Midwives in Peril; Cost of Doing Business; Mind the Meter Maids (and Men);Alaska Project Danger to Wildlife; Why 2/3 Vote? Scorched Earth policy by Pro-C Proponents Drained the Pool Measure of Life; Birgenau Puff Piece; BP Responsible; Dealing with Hamas; Gates Foundation Grants; BP Should Clean Up What it Messed Up; Why Should Israel Feel Embarrassed?; Leadership -more-


Remembering Rachel Corrie

By Ralph E. Stone
Sunday June 13, 2010 - 08:19:00 PM

The Irish-owned MV Rachel Corrie is one of the ships in the international aid Gaza Freedom Flotilla that was attacked by Israeli naval forces on May 31, 2010. On June 5, Israeli forces seized the ship. -more-


Betty and Helen Take Center Stage

By Matthew Surrence
Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 07:39:00 AM

For those of us in the Boomers and older group who couldn’t tell Spidey from Speidi, a funny thing happened in the media forum this spring. Two gals pushing ninety have taken center stage. -more-


Saving Public Education is Crucial

By David Esler
Saturday June 12, 2010 - 08:52:00 PM

I reading the Planet’s report on the failure of Measure C to rehab Berkeley’s public swimming pools, a phrase in Measure C supporter Robert Collier’s statement jumped out at me, to wit: “...will we also allow our public education to crumble and decay?” -more-


Editorial

Moving On After Berkeley Turns Down Measure C

By Becky O'Malley
Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 09:40:00 AM

Now that the dust has settled after the Measure C vote, it’s time to figure out what happened and how to get a better result.Many theories have been forwarded this way, several of which might be labeled “conspiracy”, but the most persuasive is this one, from my friend Antonio Rossmann, environmental attorney, father of two Willard students, enthusiastic athlete and yes, ardent architectural preservationist too: -more-


The Editor's Back Fence

Is the Mayor Composting His Downtown Plan?

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:20:00 PM

So, it looks like Mayor Bates is planning to substitute a Green Waffle, or perhaps a Trojan Horse, for the draft of the Downtown Plan which he and staff fronted in February. Slipped into Monday’s agenda for the Agenda Committee Meeting [for non-insiders: this is where the pre-council-meeting deals go down] was this peculiarly bifurcated item: -more-


Columns

Dispatches from the Edge:The Oil Spills You Never Heard Of

By Conn Hallinan
Sunday June 13, 2010 - 08:13:00 PM

While the news about British Petroleum’s (BP) Deepwater Horizon platform blowout in the Gulf of Mexico is on a 24-hour news feed, it took a long boat ride and some serious slogging by John Vidal of The Observer (UK) to uncover a bigger and far deadlier oil spill near the village of Otuegwe in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. -more-


Blogbeat: Whose Berkeley Is It, Anyway?

By Thomas Lord
Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 01:25:00 PM

Reading lots of blogs, so that you don’t have to.
This week’s theme: Berkeley’s political polarizations.
This week’s items: wrapping up (for now) on Measure C and the controversial Rose St. project, a Berkeley psychologist “diagnosis” of President Obama, and Berkeley High School student leadership team election problems. -more-


Wild Neighbors:Pit Stops along the Flyway

By Joe Eaton
Sunday June 13, 2010 - 08:10:00 PM

We’re never too long between migrations here. Most of the northbound birds have reached their destinations by now, even the chronic laggards like the yellow-billed cuckoo. But this is just a pause in the action between the first wave of shorebirds come through on their way south, starting next month; then the rufous hummingbirds tracing the Sierra southward, and the early-migrant passerines, and the raptors and the waterfowl. -more-


The Public Eye: Barack Obama: The Birth and Death of Cool

By Bob Burnett
Saturday June 12, 2010 - 09:54:00 PM

I’m part of an American demographic that values cool, the mystical self-confidence that sends the message “I have it handled.” Since he burst upon the national political scene in 2004, Barack Obama has seemed the epitome of cool. But after the BP gulf oil disaster, pundits accused Obama of being “too cool.” -more-


Senior Power: A Good Book..and More

By Helen Rippier Wheeler
Saturday June 12, 2010 - 09:11:00 PM

A History of Old Age is a good book…a great book, in fact. If it appears to be a mere coffee table book, look closely at the cover -- a color reproduction of an 18th Century painting of the head of a nameless old woman? Or perhaps you agree that Christian Seybold’s ‘Old Woman with Green Scarf’ (1794) has dignity and beauty. A History of Old Age is about old age in literature and old people in history and art. It was Charlotte Perkins Gilman who pointed out that, through literature, we know the past, govern the present, and influence the future. -more-


Restoration Comedy: Bankster Rap

By Jane Powell
Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 07:37:00 AM

I admit to being kind of disappointed at not receiving a single nasty e-mail after my last column. Either Planet readership has dropped significantly since going web-only, or everyone in Berkeley and environs is completely hip that the banks are screwing us, and that homeowners are not responsible for the situation in which they find themselves. -more-


Odd Bodkins: The Bunny

Dan O'Neill
Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 02:21:00 PM

Arts & Events

Around and About: Fresh Voices, Bloomsday and More

By Ken Bullock
Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 01:25:00 PM

San Francisco Cabaret Opera, whose Goat Hall home base on Potrero Hill is undergoing renovations this year, is presenting its innovative Fresh Voices program of new short operas at Live Oak Theater in Berkeley this week.This one, the tenth in the series, is called Fresh Voices X. -more-


Events

Don't Miss This!

By Dorothy Snodgrass
Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 04:05:00 PM

Never let it be said that our Bay Area lacks exciting and mostly free activities during the long summer months. Far from it, as you'll see from the sampling of just a few events available in June and July. -more-


Arts Listings

Popmusic-East Bay Through June 27

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:40:00 PM

Classical Music-East Bay Through June 27

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:38:00 PM

Classical Music-San Francisco Through June 27

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:42:00 PM

Professional Dance- Through June 27

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:37:00 PM

Readings-East Bay Through June 27

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:36:00 PM

Stage-East Bay Through June 27

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:35:00 PM

Stage-San Francisco Through June 27

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:33:00 PM

Galleries-East Bay Through June 27

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:48:00 PM

Events Listings

Highlights-East Bay Through June 27

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:47:00 PM

Museums-East Bay Through June 27

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:46:00 PM

Museums-San Francisco Through June 27

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:45:00 PM

Exhibits-East Bay Through June 27

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:49:00 PM

Outdoors-East Bay Through June 27

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:43:00 PM

General-East Bay Through June 27

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:48:00 PM

Dance-East Bay Through June 27

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:49:00 PM

Kids-East Bay Through June 27

Tuesday June 15, 2010 - 03:47:00 PM

Back Stories

Opinion

Editorials

Moving On After Berkeley Turns Down Measure C 06-15-2010

The Editor's Back Fence

Is the Mayor Composting His Downtown Plan? 06-15-2010

Cartoons

Odd Bodkins: The Bunny Dan O'Neill 06-15-2010

Public Comment

Letters to the Editor 06-15-2010

Remembering Rachel Corrie By Ralph E. Stone 06-13-2010

Betty and Helen Take Center Stage By Matthew Surrence 06-15-2010

Saving Public Education is Crucial By David Esler 06-12-2010

News

Afternoon Unloading of Israeli Ship at Oakland Port Canceled after Morning Protest By David Bacon 06-20-2010

Flash: Israeli Ship Unloading Blocked at Port of Oakland by Protestors By Marc Sapir (Partisan Position) 06-20-2010

Flash: Berkeley Daily Planet Wins Three SF Peninsula Press Club Awards 06-20-2010

Police Arrest Suspect in May 20 Berkeley Shooting By Jeff Shuttleworth, BCN 06-18-2010

Overheard on the Internet 06-17-2010

Report Says UC Berkeley Did Poor Job of Planning for Protest By Jeff Shuttleworth,BCN 06-16-2010

Berkeley School District Proposes Ballot Measures, Discusses Budget Shortfall By Raymond Barglow 06-15-2010

Flotilla Resolution Pulled from Agenda in Richmond Tonight, But Discussion Still Planned By Bay City News and Planet 06-12-2010

Updated: Court Hears Appeal from UC Berkeley Professor Yoo in Torture Case By Julia Cheever, BCN 06-15-2010

Columns

Dispatches from the Edge:The Oil Spills You Never Heard Of By Conn Hallinan 06-13-2010

Blogbeat: Whose Berkeley Is It, Anyway? By Thomas Lord 06-15-2010

Wild Neighbors:Pit Stops along the Flyway By Joe Eaton 06-13-2010

The Public Eye: Barack Obama: The Birth and Death of Cool By Bob Burnett 06-12-2010

Senior Power: A Good Book..and More By Helen Rippier Wheeler 06-12-2010

Restoration Comedy: Bankster Rap By Jane Powell 06-15-2010

Arts & Events

Popmusic-East Bay Through June 27 06-15-2010

Classical Music-East Bay Through June 27 06-15-2010

Classical Music-San Francisco Through June 27 06-15-2010

Professional Dance- Through June 27 06-15-2010

Readings-East Bay Through June 27 06-15-2010

Stage-East Bay Through June 27 06-15-2010

Stage-San Francisco Through June 27 06-15-2010

Galleries-East Bay Through June 27 06-15-2010

Around and About: Fresh Voices, Bloomsday and More By Ken Bullock 06-15-2010

Restoration Comedy: Bankster Rap By Jane Powell 06-15-2010

Highlights-East Bay Through June 27 06-15-2010

Museums-East Bay Through June 27 06-15-2010

Museums-San Francisco Through June 27 06-15-2010

Exhibits-East Bay Through June 27 06-15-2010

Outdoors-East Bay Through June 27 06-15-2010

General-East Bay Through June 27 06-15-2010

Dance-East Bay Through June 27 06-15-2010

Kids-East Bay Through June 27 06-15-2010

Don't Miss This! By Dorothy Snodgrass 06-15-2010