News

Press Release: Alameda County D. A. Announces a Major Operation Against Large-scale Prostitution Ring in Berkeley and Throughout the Bay Area.

From the Alameda County District Attorney's Office
Friday January 21, 2011 - 02:31:00 PM

On January 20, 2011, a team of 125 law enforcement personnel assisted the Hayward Police Department (HPD) in serving search and arrest warrants at ten locations in Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties. Participating agencies include Hayward, Oakland, Berkeley, Sunnyvale, Newark, Danville, and San Jose Police Departments, Contra Costa and Santa Clara County Sheriffs Offices, California Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (ACDAO). Yesterday’s joint effort was intended as both an enforcement and rescue operation. Eight people were arrested for their role in operating the ring. Ten adult females were recovered, provided with support services, and all but one taken into custody. Asian Community Mental Health, Standing Against Global Exploitation, Bay Area Women Against Rape, Women Inc., Community Violence Solutions and an ACDAO H.E.A.T. (Human Exploitation and Trafficking) Unit advocate participated in the operation. The investigation as well efforts to further identify victims and suspects is ongoing. -more-


New: Sex Change Surgery is Beside the Point (Reader Commentary)

By Barbara Gilbert
Thursday January 20, 2011 - 03:44:00 PM

Sex change surgery is beside the point when examining Berkeley’s budget and its employee health care program. -more-


Press Release: UC Berkeley appoints new vice chancellor for administration and finance

Thursday January 20, 2011 - 11:52:00 AM

University of California, Berkeley, Chancellor Robert Birgeneau today (Thursday, Jan. 20) announced the appointment of John Wilton, an economist and senior manager with nearly 25 years’ experience with the World Bank, as UC Berkeley’s chief administrative officer. -more-


Flash: UC Berkeley Appoints Former World Bank Executive to Finance Position

Thursday January 20, 2011 - 09:59:00 AM

An anonymous correspondent has forwarded to the Planet the following letter from U.C. Berkeley Chancellor Robert Birgenau, announcing the appointment of a former World Bank executive to the position of Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance: -more-


Berkeley Council Worksession Examines Unfunded Liabilities

By Charlotte Perry-Houts
Thursday January 20, 2011 - 09:56:00 AM

The Berkeley City Council discussed the city's unfunded liabilities with City Auditor Anne-Marie Hogan, City Manager Phil Kamlarz, and Budget Manager Teresa Berkeley-Simmons at Tuesday night's Worksession. Facing a projected $11.5 million deficit this fiscal year, the city is trying to figure out how to deal with its employees' pension, vacation, and health benefits that it doesn't have the money to pay for. Hogan's report shows that while 77% of the city's total benefits are funded, several categories of benefits are significantly lower, with only 2% of Sick and Vacation payouts funded and 13% of Police Retiree Medical expenses funded. The report lists the dollar amount of unfunded liabilities to be $252.81 million. -more-


Berkeley Council Approves Local Hiring, Safeway Project--Postpones Funding Sex Reassignment.

By Charlotte Perry-Houts
Thursday January 20, 2011 - 09:23:00 AM

At Tuesday night's regular meeting, the Berkeley City Council took action on the Community Workforce Agreement, discussed sex reassignment surgery, and upheld a ZAB decision to allow the Safeway on North Shattuck to expand and remodel. Councilmember Max Anderson was absent due to back problems. -more-


Library Buys Temporary Bookmobile – Paid for out of Branch Permanent Renovation Funds

By Steven Finacom
Wednesday January 19, 2011 - 07:44:00 AM

The City of Berkeley has purchased and registered with the State, at a cost of nearly $88,000, a bookmobile to bring limited Berkeley Public Library services to Berkeley neighborhoods when their branch libraries are closed down for renovation or demolition, starting this year.

To buy and register the temporary-use van the City dipped into bond money Berkeley voters approved for the permanent physical renovation of the branches. -more-


Massive West Berkeley Rezoning on Council Agenda (News Analysis)

By Zelda Bronstein
Wednesday January 19, 2011 - 02:42:00 PM

On January 25, the council will twice consider sweeping changes to West Berkeley zoning will be that would open the district up to high-rise, high-density, Emeryville-style development. In the works for three years, the proposed changes will come to the council for the first time at a 5:30 worksession. Then they are the subject of a public hearing at the council’s regular meeting, which starts at 7 pm. Both meetings will take place at Old City Hall, 2134 Martin Luther King, Jr., Way. -more-


Press Release: UC Berkeley Police Report Armed Robbery on Grizzly Peak

From UC Berkeley Police Departent
Wednesday January 19, 2011 - 12:50:00 PM

On Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at approximately 11:30 p.m. an armed robbery occurred at “Vista Point” located at sign post 15 on Grizzly Peak. The male and female victims, both non-affiliates, were sitting in their parked car when four men exited a large pickup truck and approached their car. One suspect stood in the back of the vehicle to prevent it from leaving while another suspect approached the passenger side and pointed an automatic handgun at the victim. The other two suspects, wearing black ski masks, were standing next to the driver’s side window. The suspect with the gun spoke in both Spanish and English and demanded the victims’ property. The victims complied and the four suspects were last seen fleeing the scene in their pickup truck northbound on Grizzly Peak. UCPD searched the area but was unable to locate the suspects or the pickup truck. The victims were not injured during this incident. -more-


Firefighters Battle Two Alarm Blaze

By Bay City News
Tuesday January 18, 2011 - 09:57:00 AM

Firefighters battled a residential blaze that broke out near downtown Berkeley this morning, the city's fire chief said.

-more-


Press Release: Books Available for Local Schools

By Anne Hawkins
Wednesday January 19, 2011 - 12:47:00 PM

Bruce Larkin, owner of Wilbooks, Inc and author of over 900 children’s books, has pledged that his company will donate 2,000 local interest books to Alameda County elementary schools in 2011. Wilbooks is a donor to the East Bay Children’s Book Project, and Larkin has even written a book about the literacy charity called “A Book For Every Child.” -more-


Timothy J. Moellering, 1957-2011

Friday January 21, 2011 - 12:39:00 PM

Timothy J. Moellering , 53, of Berkeley, passed away on January 18, 2011. Tim was born in Chicago on September 7, 1957, but lived in Berkeley since the age of 2. -more-