Editorials

“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”

That’s (ten points on the quiz if you can identify it) Franklin Roosevelt’s first inaugural address, a beautiful statement which popped into my mind the last time I watched the pathetic Berkeley City Council in action, or more precisely their inaction. No insult to rabbits, but the six-vote majority which answers to Mayor Bates looks more and more like bunnies caught in the headlights. 

What are they afraid of? Well, for starters, they’re afraid of the category of people commonly identified as “the homeless”, a term which covers many different personal problems, all of which lead to, as the Brits say, “living rough”. It’s true that a small sub-set of people living outside are there because of anti-social or even hostile behavior, but most of “the homeless” are working through a variety of issues with simply being dead broke at the top of the list. Even most of the “crazy” people who mutter to themselves or shout to the sky aren’t dangerous to others (and of course these days some of the scariest mutterers turn out just to be talking on their cell phones.) 

The pervasive fear which seems to have infected Berkeley’s elected officials was manifest most strikingly at the last city council meeting in the discussion of whether the Berkeley Police should continue to participate in Urban Shield, a combination combat training program and trade show for vendors of military-style weapons like assault rifles and tanks . The statements made by Councilmembers Max Anderson and Daryl Moore justifying their respective votes were in stark contrast. 

Moore was overwhelmingly in favor of Berkeley’s continued participation. He recounted in obviously terrified terms his fear that what happened in San Bernardino was just waiting to happen here, and he wanted our cops to be ready to strike back when it came down. He didn’t claim any association between fears of the city’s homeless population and religious fanatics with assault weapons, of course, but his emotional outburst was reminiscent in tone of tales of encounters with down-and-outers at past council meetings. 

Max Anderson’s statement, on the other hand, detailed why Urban Shield doesn’t solve anything. It’s interesting to note that physical descriptions of the two councilmembers might be very similar: African-American men of a certain age, balding, semi-bearded, tending toward stout, but they couldn’t be more different in attitude. Max is an ex-Marine and a trained nurse—two professions which require a good amount of physical courage, while Moore has spent most of his life in one bureaucratic job or another, where presumably he’s had to go along to get along. 

Max highlighted with his usual eloquence the key problem with the Urban Shield culture: it’s a military model, familiar to him from his experience in the Marines. He said that it pushed citizens into the inappropriate role of “the enemy”, as in war, when most of the time the duty of police officers in urban settings should instead be that of problem solvers. He referenced a number of situations where he thought things had been handled wrong because of this militaristic preconception, illustrated in the on-going investigation into why the Berkeley Police made such a mess of handling marching Black Lives Matter demonstrators about a year ago, which is now the subject of a lawsuit by aggrieved citizens. Interestingly, Moore displayed no consciousness of how militaristic police reponses fall more heavily on African-Americans. 

Max suggested that our police officers needed a completely different kind of training to deal with our normal problems like unruly street behavior by a small minority of disturbed people. 

The worst example of how the spineless majority is failing Berkeley came at the last council meeting, when the council majority took no action on the looming shelter emergency, which has left many on the street in the face of the El Nino rains which are now upon us. It is ironic that the meeting was preceded by a “workshop” presented by State Senator Loni Hancock and Assemblymember Tony Thurmond to an empty council chamber, where the state leaders discussed such problems, but their remarks fell on deaf council majority ears. 

Today, as it happens, is the traditional day when residents of the Northern Hemisphere have celebrated the possibility of freedom from fear. Our ancestors, especially those in the frigid European lands, worried annually that as the days got shorter the sun might eventually disappear forever. That’s why they partied up a storm on December 21, at the very bottom of the curve, even though the wise among them were predicting that things would eventually get better.  

I myself can predict with absolute certainty that starting today the sun will make a comeback. I wish there were a way to be sure that our leaders (yes, I’m talking about the Berkeley City Council again) would magically be transformed into cheerful problem-solvers instead of fearful naysayers.  

Here’s Roosevelt again: 

“In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory.” 

A leadership of frankness and vigor: what a concept!  

Is this possible for Berkeley? If the current leaders can’t do the job, will “the people themselves” elect new leaders in 2016 who can? The campaign has already started with two candidates for Mayor announced—its outcome will be crucial for the future of our city. It looks like a stirring contest. 

Maybe things are looking up. Happy Solstice to one and all, and remember, tomorrow will surely be a longer day. 

And a Merry Christmas too. I'll be slacking off for a week or two--no new issues most likely, though perhaps occasional additions to this one.