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DISCLOSE Act Moves Through Assembly

By Richard Knee
Friday January 13, 2012 - 07:47:00 PM

The Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee gave a 5-0 thumbs-up Monday to the California DISCLOSE Act (Assembly Bill 1148), which would require political ads on the web, radio and TV, and in print to identify who paid for them. -more-



Press Release: Mountain Lion Sighting Reported--Tips on Safety

From UC Berkeley Police
Friday January 13, 2012 - 09:04:00 AM

On Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at approximately 10:14 p.m., there was an unverified sighting of a mountain lion on top of a dumpster at the Smythe-Fernwald apartment complex. In December, 2011 UCPD received a report of an unverified sighting of two mountain lions running north on Lawrence Road toward Glaser Road at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Last year several sightings of mountain lions occurred in the hills above the Berkeley campus and carcasses of animals suspected to have been attacked by mountain lions were also discovered. -more-



Public Comment

Letters to the Editors

Friday January 13, 2012 - 06:10:00 PM

Kamlarz Rip-Off -more-


The Other Gray-Haired Brigade

By Roger O. Blais
Friday January 13, 2012 - 07:02:00 PM

A self-described patriotic friend recently sent me a letter entitled, “The Gray Haired Brigade". He apparently believed I would be receptive to its suggestions that, “You have tasted socialism and seen evil face to face, and have found you don’t like it after all”, and “We didn’t fight for the Socialist States of America, we fought for the ‘Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave’”.

I told my friend I am not threatened by the U.S. Postal Service, Social Security, the National Guard, U.S. Marshals, our National Parks Service, the FBI or public schools. That’s the socialism I have tasted.
I explained that my wife and I are both military veterans, and our son is currently serving in Naval Special Forces. We place our hands over our hearts when saying the words, “With liberty and justice for all”. To us, “all” refers to Americans regardless of religion, race, color, income, sexual orientation, or health conditions. -more-


Worldwide Candlelight Vigil to Unite Movements for a Better World--
MLK, Jr. Birthday, January 15, 7pm

By Kenn Dzaman
Friday January 13, 2012 - 06:38:00 PM

On his birthday and in the spirit of Dr. King’s vision for racial and economic equality, peace, and non-violence, we are holding candlelight vigils at 7pm in each time zone to unite our world in a global movement for systemic change. On January 15, wherever we may be, whether in our homes, in city squares, online, Occupies, places of worship, or at work, we lift a beautiful message high above the political dialogue. We light the dream of a more equitable world in our hearts. We can overcome! -more-


No Birth Control for America's Last Wild Buffalo!

By Sandy Sanders
Friday January 13, 2012 - 07:43:00 PM

Papers across the country are revealing horrific plans by the USDA-Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service to sterilize members of America's last wild buffalo population, the beloved herds of Yellowstone country. -more-


Editorial

Serving the Citizenry Should be the Goal of Berkeley Mayor's Staff

By Becky O'Malley
Friday January 13, 2012 - 05:42:00 PM

Who does the Mayor of Berkeley serve? The city charter provides for a “weak mayor” form of government, with the mayor theoretically having not much more power than an extra at-large councilmember who presides over meetings and cuts ribbons at civic events.

Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, schooled in the ways of politics by 20-some-odd years in the state legislature and married to the former mayor, has made the most of the job. He is adept at squeezing every possible perk out of the job, though he can’t accept direct pay for his work without losing his state of California pension.

What he does have, and exploits to the max, is a great big city-paid office staff, huge considering what the mayor is supposed to be doing under the charter. When his wife had the job, she increased the staff head count from one (like all the other councilmembers) to four FTEs. They’re well-paid by the city of Berkeley—with 2010 salaries alone totaling close to a half-million dollars, before benefits, which in Berkeley are famously generous.

(These figures come from the San Jose Mercury’s Public Employees Salaries Database—but the city has refused to disclose how much is paid out in benefits despite repeated requests.)

What does the Mayor’s staff do for the citizens of Berkeley, exactly? -more-


The Editor's Back Fence


Berkeley Business in the News

Saturday January 14, 2012 - 11:01:00 PM

http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/313-17/9437-fda-panel-judging-birth-control-risk-had-ties-to-bayer -more-


Columns

THE PUBLIC EYE: The Republicans' Mitt Romney Problem

By Bob Burnett
Friday January 13, 2012 - 09:06:00 AM

After Rick Santorum’s surprising showing in the January 3rd Iowa caucuses, many observers asked, “Why didn’t Mitt Romney win? What explains Santorum’s late surge?” The answer lies at the core of contemporary Republican politics: they don’t have one candidate that appeals to their fractured base. -more-


ECLECTIC RANT: Occupy Groups Move to End Corporate Personhood, Restore US Democracy

By Ralph E. Stone
Friday January 13, 2012 - 09:10:00 AM

January 21st marks the second anniversary of the infamous January 21, 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case, where the Supreme Court held that the First Amendment prohibits government from placing limits on independent spending for political purposes by corporations and unions. In other words, money equals speech. Move to Amend is planning occupations and rallies on January 20th to protest this Supreme Court decision. -more-


SENIOR POWER… The crime of the 21st century

By Helen Rippier Wheeler
Thursday January 12, 2012 - 07:32:00 PM

Many of the nation's fast-growing, elderly population are prime targets for abuse — physical, financial, sexual or emotional. Concern among the elderly and their advocates mounts as the number of seniors soars and more of them live longer. The Cedar Village Retirement Community in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason has opened a long-term care facility to victims of abuse. It is the first elder abuse shelter in Ohio and one of only a half-dozen in the country. All are funded by non-profit groups. -more-


Arts & Events

EYE FROM THE AISLE: Theater Review: GHOST LIGHT at Berkeley Rep

By John A. McMullen II
Sunday January 15, 2012 - 09:45:00 AM
Rep, Danforth Comins and Christopher Liam Moore (right)

When I first heard that Jon Moscone was the new artistic director of Cal Shakes, my brain went “Moscone? Any relation?” When I found that he was, it always set me to wondering in the way we wonder about John-John and Caroline and other scions of assassinated good-guys. -more-


Back Stories

Opinion

Editorials

Serving the Citizenry Should be the Goal of Berkeley Mayor's Staff 01-13-2012

The Editor's Back Fence

Local Business: West Berkeley Corporation Makes News 01-14-2012

Berkeley Business in the News 01-14-2012

Cartoons

Odd Bodkins: Ten Megatons (Cartoon) By Dan O'Neill 01-10-2012

Bounce: Joe: Final Awk (Cartoon) By Joseph Young 01-10-2012

Public Comment

Letters to the Editors 01-13-2012

The Other Gray-Haired Brigade By Roger O. Blais 01-13-2012

Worldwide Candlelight Vigil to Unite Movements for a Better World--
MLK, Jr. Birthday, January 15, 7pm
By Kenn Dzaman 01-13-2012

No Birth Control for America's Last Wild Buffalo! By Sandy Sanders 01-13-2012

MIC CHECK?!?! State Run Political Campaigns? By Thomas Lord 01-10-2012

New: REDEVELOPMENT FORUM: The Facts behind the Hype By Jim Mellander 01-12-2012

REDEVELOPMENT FORUM: A View from San Diego By Richard Thompson 01-10-2012

Press Release: ZOA Praises U.S. Cong. Brad Sherman For Call To UC Berkeley: Reconsider Award To Former UN Official And Israel-Basher [sic] Mary Robinson From the Zionist Organization of America 01-10-2012

News

DISCLOSE Act Moves Through Assembly By Richard Knee 01-13-2012

Press Release: Mountain Lion Sighting Reported--Tips on Safety From UC Berkeley Police 01-13-2012

Occupy Cal Shoot Re-Sprouts on Sproul By Steven Finacom 01-09-2012

'Confession' of Accused CIA Spy Reveals Link to US Videogame Maker By Gar Smith 01-10-2012

Updated: Family Says Berkeley City Clerk Died from "A Terrible Accident" By Jeff Shuttleworth (BCN) 01-09-2012

Just Another Day in The Hood
(First Person)
By Ted Friedman 01-09-2012

Press Release: Realty Notes from All Over: Developer Bails, Berkeley Blamed, Ross-for-Less Building Sold for $8.425 Million From Adriana Aceves, Marketing, Retail West Inc. 01-10-2012

Columns

THE PUBLIC EYE: The Republicans' Mitt Romney Problem By Bob Burnett 01-13-2012

ECLECTIC RANT: Occupy Groups Move to End Corporate Personhood, Restore US Democracy By Ralph E. Stone 01-13-2012

SENIOR POWER… The crime of the 21st century By Helen Rippier Wheeler 01-12-2012

DISPATCHES FROM THE EDGE: Cyber War: Reality or Hype? By Conn Hallinan 01-10-2012

New: Wild Neighbors: Another Round of the Name Game By Joe Eaton 01-10-2012

Arts & Events

EYE FROM THE AISLE: Theater Review: GHOST LIGHT at Berkeley Rep By John A. McMullen II 01-15-2012

Carnage: Welcome to Our Humble Home; Grab Your Forks! Review by Gar Smith 01-10-2012

Eye from the Aisle: Don Reed “Kipling Hotel” Luke-Warm-Up @ Berkeley Marsh By John A. McMullen II 01-10-2012