Editor's Note: We are following the example of Al Jazeera in no longer printing the names of mass murderers. 

He also left behind a 74-page “manifesto" declaring himself a “ racist” and “ethno-nationalist eco-fascist" and various diatribes against immigrants, Muslims, Jews and religious converts. He wanted to defend “our lands” from “invaders,” to reduce immigration rates” and to deepen division and start a civil war in the United States. Calling immigrants invaders is right out of Trump’s playbook. 

T****** further stated in his “manifesto” that he was inspired by mass murderer A*** B*****, who killed 77 people in Norway in 2011. He also mentions Finsbury Park terrorist D**** O*****, and then goes on to rail against mass immigration and said he views Donald Trump a “symbol of renewed white identity.” Think about that for a moment — Tarrant links Trump with two mass murderers. 

President Trump expressed sympathy for the victims, but played down the threat of white nationalism across the world, saying he didn’t consider it a rising threat despite data suggesting otherwise. Yet, Trump keeps encouraging both violence and white nationalism, and white-nationalist violence is rising. David Leonhardt of The New York Times put it nicely, “While Trump doesn’t deserve blame for any specific attack; he does deserve blame for using the world’s biggest bully pulpit to corrode our democracy and public safety.”

Medication is presumed to be a non-negotiable necessity for people with schizophrenia. The disease is considered biologically-based. Medication, much of the time, treats the worst of the symptoms by introducing a new abnormality to counter the devastating abnormality created by the illness. People with schizophrenia are thought to have excessive dopamine in an area of the brain, and this is believed to cause improper gating of thoughts. 

The medication lowers dopamine in all parts of the brain, and this includes the malfunctioning area, causing the gating area to function closer to "normal." The problem is that a patient is left with a slowed central nervous system, making it much harder to function to do a very wide variety of tasks, many of which most non-afflicted people take for granted, and assume anyone can do. 

When we have this slowed functioning, it is harder to defend oneself against verbal and psychological manipulation or other forces of assault. This is where we are vulnerable to those therapists who are therapeutically assaultive. This happens. 

Not to knock treatment professionals--they have good purposes. However, there are a few bad apples, who seem to get something out of wreaking havoc to the "code" within our minds that might otherwise allow us to function in life. 

Therapy has purposes. One of them is to facilitate relief from the pain that is often inherent in living with mental illness. Therapists often provide supportiveness. This includes pointing it out when we've done something right. This is helpful since it can generate positive emotions. 

Positive emotions and positive thinking allow success at tasks and enterprises on which we embark. Instilling "positivity" is potentially very helpful. 

However, some therapists focus too much on what is apparently going wrong. This is based on the idea that a mental health consumer is like a broken machine and must always be fixed. This is where the consumer is not perceived as an actual person, Instead, they are the material on which it is the therapist's job to perform work. 

Focusing on the negative, including in an attempt at helping, causes the patient's mind to create and dwell in more negativity. If the mind is filled with thoughts of what is supposedly wrong, it is bad content that results in a bad mood and ineffectiveness. Secondly, therapists might pick apart the thought processes of the consumer, by means of questions and sub-questions. I consider this to be a psychological form of vivisection. 

Psychological vivisection exists. And it can trigger an angry response. When it does, the therapist will analyze "What specifically makes you feel that way?" A good response to this, that you can rehearse is "Your dumb questions." Then, the therapist will probably ask either "Which question bothers you?" or, they will ask, "What about the questions makes you angry?" and then, they will ask, "What in your past leads you to be upset about this?" When they ask this, you can simply answer with, "I simply dislike being picked apart and I wish you would stop doing that." Then, they will ask, "What do you want to have happen in therapy?" or, "What do you want to get from therapy?" 

The modus operandi of these therapists is to take and maintain control of the conversation through a pre-prepared set of rehearsed questions. 

It is up to you. I believe that what I'm calling psychological vivisection really exists, and I believe it is abusive. It is a common practice for less experienced therapists, and it is done because they haven't figured out yet how to be a supportive therapist. Perhaps they are too young or perhaps they just lack enough expertise. 

Being medicated often causes the consumer to be more vulnerable verbally. It is easy for most therapists to lead the conversation to go where they want when dealing with a medicated person. This holds true even when a session begins with a therapist not saying anything. 

Many therapists continue to utilize what I consider outmoded systems. The assumption is often that something went wrong in a person's past, and that is what brought them into a position of receiving therapy. And while this could be true for many people, I question the usefulness of continually rehashing one's past.  

I've observed that therapists have methods of muddying a person's anger. In some instances, this is achieved along with, and by means of, invalidation. The questioning that therapists do, and the assertions that they make (e.g. this is your symptoms, it's not real) have a way of psychologically castrating a person. Of course, the therapist can defend this and protest that they aren't doing this. Then, the focus is back on the consumer, and on what made him or her have this "erroneous" perception. 

Those therapists who want to really help someone, and are able to do this, are a good find. And it is good to give mental health professionals the benefit of the doubt, and to presume, unless they repeatedly show otherwise, that they are trying to help. 

When accused or otherwise pressed, it is human nature to defend oneself. Thus, therapists could sometimes mistakenly resort to their tools of analysis in an attempt at obtaining refuge, if a consumer is hostile or accusatory towards the therapist. 

I've interacted with and observed people who are molded by the mental health treatment system. Some have adopted infantile ways of functioning and some completely believe in their own helplessness. 

Therapy, at its best, is a way of releasing old and unnecessary pain, and it is a way for us to feel that we are not alone in our struggle. Bad therapy, at its worst, reinforces helplessness, and it is a hindrance to success. 

Don't miss the cardboard turntable[1], the robot that speaks, or the Memorial Toilet[2] surrounded by flowers, candles, and remembrance cards. Don't miss the ethereal watercolors by one of Berkeley's most articulate advocates for more humane housing policy[3], the playful retrieved metal sculptures[4], or the subtle printed sheets almost obscured by garden leaves[5]. 

"Creativity Unhoused" is an Expressions Gallery exhibition in which artists, activists, and poets both with and without housing worked together to create a show full of humor, audacity, creativity, and sheer beauty using an outrageously wide spectrum of media, including film, weaving, shattered glass, monoprints on sheets, ultra-chrome prints, photography, lithography, scrap wire and stones, river rocks, and bathroom fixtures.  

Artists Rinna Flohr and Marcia Poole organized for months with an informal collective of artists and Berkeley residents to create this show. They collaborated with First They Came for the Homeless to provide access to materials and assistance in the presentation and submissions. The organizing group shared an interest in how the alchemy of mixing housed and unhoused artists might manifest in an exhibition about human survival and hardship, the camaraderie and humor built between people on the streets and neighbors, the inspiration and wild constraints that spring out of retrieved materials, and the brightest, most expressive colors of community building at its best. 

The show grew out of a similar exhibition a few years ago, where Flohr and Poole's efforts helped gallery newcomers get established as community artists. Both artists share a deep interest in reframing first impressions of class differences and eccentricities, and both have extensive backgrounds in creative outreach to marginalized communities. The gallery offers classes, poetry readings, and all the artists assist as docents throughout the show. 

Some of the artists would only agree to submit work on condition of anonymity, which was readily agreed to by both Flohr and Poole so that "Doc", "Mike", and "Anonymous Artist A" could contribute playful sculpture, intensely beautiful jewelry from found materials, and strangely human forms from river rock. Some artists are well-known, such as Doug Minkler, a printmaker who describes himself as making posters "for my own preservation, that is, planetary preservation. My prints are inspired not by rugged individualism, but by the collective humor, defiance and lust for life exhibited by those on the margins." 

But the Creativity Unhoused show is its own explosive, inspiring explanation. Celebrate spring by dropping by Expressions Gallery at 2530 Ashby Avenue, open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5:00 pm, and from Sunday noon to 3:00 pm (and by appointment at 510-644-4930) for an unforgettable sip of something wildly, wonderfully unexpected. 

# # # 

Reprising Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, which they last performed locally in 2015, American Bach Soloists presented this monumental work throughout the Bay Area over the weekend of March 22-25. I caught the Saturday evening performance at Berkeley’s First Congregational Church. The cast featured many of the same singers from the 2015 performances. Baritone William Sharp again sang the role of Christ (Christus in German), and both soprano Hélène Brunet and mezzo-soprano Agnes Vojtko repeated their roles from 2015. Once again, the orchestral forces were divided into two groups, as were the choruses, thereby highlighting the many antiphonal passages in Bach’s score.  

Where the score is concerned, ABS’s Music Director Jeffrey Thomas uses the relatively spare orchestration Bach himself would have used rather than the large-scale orchestration Felix Mendelssohn employed when he revived the long-forgotten St. Matthew Passion in Leipzig in 1829. Likewise, American Bach Soloists perform on period instruments, thus approximating as best as possible the sonorities of Bach’s era. Further, the American Bach Choir sings the large chorales that, in Bach’s time, were sung by the church congregation, who knew these set pieces by heart. 

The St. Matthew Passion begins with a brief instrumental introduction, then launches an antiphonal call-and-response between the two choruses. “Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen”/”Come, you daughters, help me lament,” sings Chorus I. “Sehet,”/”See” they add. “Wen?”/”Whom,” replies Chorus II. “den Bräutigam,”/”the bridegroom,” sings Chorus I. Here Bach’s text suggests the notion that Christ is the bridegroom of the worshipful Christian congregation. Yet these opening lines are addressed to unbelievers, the daughters of Zion, that is to say, the Old Testament Jews. So there is here both a forward and a backward glance, with the backward glance suggesting the union of the Old and New Testaments, so that Old Testament Jews, if the follow the teachings of Christ, can become the Christians of the New Testament.  

Just as The Gospel According to Matthew is narrated from Matthew’s viewpoint, so too is Bach’s St. Matthew Passion. For these ABS performances, British tenor Guy Cutting sang the role of the Evangelista. Cutting’s high tenor sounded almost like a countertenor, with the result that although he sang with great clarity, his voice did not always project strongly. This, however, is only a minor reservation, for in most respects Guy Cutting was superb as the Evangelista. Bach gave to the person of Christ a specific identity who speaks (or sings) in his own voice, and Bach underscored the sacred aspect of Christ and his utterances by accompanying Christ’s words with a “halo” in the strings. Baritone William Sharp sang grandly as Christus, though I seem to remember his voice as being stronger when he sang this role back in 2015.  

As in 2015, the vocal highlights were provided by Hungarian-born mezzo-soprano Agnes Vojtko. Her voice has a lilting quality that is sumptuous indeed. The aria “Erbarme dich,”/”Have mercy, Lord” as sung by Agnes Vojtko is a thing of utmost beauty! To my mind, it is the supreme highlight of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion.  

Almost as beautiful was Agnes Vojtko’s early recitative “Du lieber Heiland du”/”you dear Savior,” followed by the aria, “Buß und Reu”/”Penance and remorse.” With an accompaniment of two flutes, superbly performed here by Sandra Miller and Janet See, this offered yet another highlight. Likewise, the concluding recitative and aria as sung here by Agnes Vojtko, make a resoundingly beautiful ending to the work as a whole. 

Soprano Hélène Brunet also had some gorgeous moments, as in her first aria, “Ich will dir mein Herze schenken’?”I want to give you my heart.” This vocal part features accompaniment by two oboes da caccia, ably performed here by Stephen Hammer and Meg Owens. Also beautiful was the duet between Hélène Brunet and Agnes Vojtko plus chorus, “So ist mein Jesus nun gefangen”/”Now my Jesus has been taken,” accompanied by two flutes, two oboes, and two violins. Baritone Jesse Blumberg was excellent as Pontius Pilate; and baritone Constantine Novotny ably sang several small parts. Tenor Steven Brennfleck was convincing as Petrus, and soprano Kathleen Aungst had at least one lovely solo aria, “Blut nur, du liebes Herz!”/”Bleed, oh dear heart!” Countertenor Nicholas Burns also had at least one gorgeous aria, “Erbarm es Gott!”/”Have mercy, God!”; and tenor Mathew Hill shone in the aria, “Geduld!”/”Patience!” Violoncellist William Skeen had a lovely solo accompanying an aria near the close of this St. Matthew Passion. Violinists Elizabeth Blumenstock and Tatiana Chulochnikova of Orchestra I and violinists Tekla Cunningham and Jude Ziliak of Orchestra II were excellent throughout. Conductor Jeffrey Thomas led his forces with his usual sure hand.

Sunday, March 24, 2019

No City meetings found – City Sponsored John Lee Invitation Co-Rec Softball Tournament

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/CalendarEventMain.aspx?calendarEventID=15733

Monday, March 25, 2019

City Council Policy Committee Health, Life Enrichment, Equity and Community, 10 am, at 2180 Milvia, Redwood Room, Agenda: 3. Brown act, 5. Ban Racial Discrimination on the Basis of Hairstyle

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Home/Policy_Committee__Health,_Life_Enrichment,_Equity___Community.aspx

Ad Hoc subcommittee on Paid Family Leave, 1 pm, at 2180 Milvia, Cypress Room, Agenda: C. Paid Family Leave Proposal

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/paidfamilyleavesubcommittee/

Housing Advisory Commission – Housing Trust Fund Subcommittee, 5:15 pm at 2939 Ellis St, South Berkeley Senior Center, Agenda: 4. Operating Funds for Community Housing Development Organization

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Housing_Advisory_Commission/

Landmarks Preservation Commission - Subcommittee, 3 – 4 pm at 1200 Euclid, Berkeley Rose Garden, Scott Ferris discusses newest design for Rose Garden and pending ADA accessibility improvements

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/landmarkspreservationcommission/ 

Mental Health Commission – Accountability Subcommittee, 4 – 5 pm at 2180 Milvia, Cypress Room, Agenda: 2. Annual review subcommittee’s work 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Mental_Health_Commission_Homepage.aspx 

Zero Waste Commission, 7 – 9 pm at 1326 Allston Way, Willow Room, City of Berkeley Corporation Yard, Agenda: 6. Staff updates transfer station feasibility study, zero waste strategic plan, SB 1383 Formal Rulemaking Process, N.CA Recycling, 7. Deconstruction final report, 8. Marketability of non-bottle plastics #1-#7, 9. Single Use Foodware and Litter Reduction, 10. Carpet Recycling Promotion for Earth Day 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Zero_Waste_Commission_Homepage.aspx 

Tax the Rich Rally with Occupella, 5 – 6 pm, top of Solano in front of closed Oaks Theater, RAIN CANCELS 

Tuesday, March 26, 2019 

Berkeley City Council, at 1231 Addison Street, BUSD Board Room, https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/City_Council__Agenda_Index.aspx 

4 pm, Closed Session, Agenda: Existing Litigation Rudie v. City of Berkeley ACSC No. RG 17 870389, Greenberg v. City of Berkeley ACSC No. 17 858207 

6 pm – 11 pm, Regular Session, Agenda: Consent Calendar: 1. Density Bonus Ordinance, 11. PRC co-sponsorship of NACOLE (National Assoc. for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement Regional Training and Networking event May 3, 2019, Action Calendar: 19. ZAB appeal 1722 Walnut St, 20. Measure T1 Phase 1 project funding gap, 21. RV Parking adopt ordinance prohibiting parking during certain hours, 22. Missing Middle, 23. New General Plan 24. Response: 1000 Person Plan to Address Homelessness, Information Reports 26. Berkeley Economic Dashboards 

Solano Avenue Business Improvement District Advisory Board, 11 am, at 1821 Catalina Ave, Thousand Oaks Baptist Church, Agenda: 3. Street Team Basket watering, tree well maintenance, 4. Banners, 5. 2019 Fall OED Forum, 6. Wine Walk, 7. 2019 Budget 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Solano_BID_Board.aspx 

Wednesday, March 27, 2019 

Disaster and Fire Safety Commission, 7 – 9 pm at 997 Cedar St, Fire Department Training Center, Agenda: 3. Wildfire Evacuation, Emergency alerting and Public Education, 4. Referral Fire safety Standards for Rebuilt Fire damaged Structure, 5. Report from Community-Based Working Group, 6. Hazard Mitigation Plan, BAUASI cutting Alameda Co Funding for Urban Shield 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Disaster_and_Fire_Safety_Commission_Homepage.aspx 

Energy Commission, 6:30 – 9 pm at 1947 Center St, Sitka Spruce Conference Room, Agenda: 4. Building decarbonization and gas infrastructure, 5. Natural Gas Ban and Deep Green Reach Code and Building Code Amendment Update, 6. EV Roadmap Update, 7. 2019 Workplan, 8. Future agenda BESO evaluation 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Energy_Commission_Homepage.aspx 

Joint Subcommittee for the Implementation of State Housing Laws, 7 – 9 pm at 2180 Milvia, 6^th Floor Redwood Room, Agenda: 9. Existing Objective Standard Framework 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Joint_Subcommittee_for_the_Implementation_of_State_Housing_Laws_Homepage.aspx 

Police Review Commission, at 2939 Ellis St, South Berkeley Senior Center, 

5:30 pm, MOU Compendium Subcommittee, Agenda: 4. MOU with other law enforcement agencies 

7 – 10 pm, Commission Meeting, Agenda: 8. 2018 Annual Crime report, 9. Whether “clear and Convincing” standard is appropriate in PRC Boards of Inquiry & whether meet-and-confer is occurring or occurred on this issue, 10. New business, a. Safety for Sex Workers, b. Commendation of BPD personnel 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Police_Review_Commission_Homepage.aspx 

Thursday, March 28, 2019 

City Council Budget & Finance Committee, 2 pm at 2180 Milvia, 6^th Floor Redwood Room, members Kesarwani, Droste, Davila, Agenda: 2. Biennial Budget Process, 3. Funding Sources Public Works, Parks, Recreation and Waterfront and process for allocating funding, 4. Refer to City Manager Designation election Day as Holiday. 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Home/Policy_Committee__Budget___Finance.aspx 

Civic Arts Commission, 6 – 8 pm at 1901 Russell St, Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch Library, Agenda: Letter to Meyer Sound, Public Art Guidelines, Election Chair, Representatives to Design review, Cultural trust, Cultural Trust executive, request Audit by City Auditor of 1.5% Public Art revenue. Presentation: Mission Statement & Cultural Equity Statement 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/CivicArtsCommissionHomepage/ 

Community Health Commission, 6:30 – 9 pm at 2939 Ellis St. South Berkeley Senior Center, no agenda posted, check before going 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Community_Health_Commission_Homepage.aspx 

Housing Advisory Commission – Bi-annual Housing Policy Report Subcommittee, 6 pm at 2000 University, Au Coquelet, Agenda: BMC 19.44.020(B)(10) 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Housing_Advisory_Commission/ 

Mental Health Commission, 7 – 9 pm at 1947 Center St, Multi-purpose Room, Agenda: 3. Lifelong Presentation, 6. Annual Report, 9. Background material supporting Resolution on Police Use of Restraint Device, 11. Public Right to Information about commissioners 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/Commissions/Commissions__Mental_Health_Commission_Homepage.aspx 

Zoning Adjustments Board, 7 – 11:30 pm at 1234 Addison, BUSD Board Room 

2518 Durant – add distilled spirits services – on consent 

3212 Adeline – add distilled spirits services – on consent 

1711 MLK Jr Way – replace 799 sq.ft. non-conforming commercial space with one dwelling, eliminate 2 parking spaces, create 700 sq.ft. usable open space, increase total bedrooms from 15 to 19, wave 1 parking space, staff recommendation - DENY 

http://www.cityofberkeley.info/zoningadjustmentsboard/ 

Friday, March 29, 2019 

No City meetings or events found 

Saturday, March 30, 2019 

No City meetings or events found 

Sunday, March 31, 2019 

No City meetings or events found 

_____________________ 

City Council April 2 meeting agenda is available for review and comment, Agenda: Consent Calendar: 3. Budget referral year-round opening West Campus Pool5. Opposition to ACSC to Eliminating Settlement Conferences for Unlawful Detainer Cases, 7. Public Outreach and Educational Meetings on Electrification, Action Calendar: 13. Funding Eviction Defense Center and East Bay Community Law Center, 14. New Marina Fee, 15. DEIR Upper Hears and 2020 Long Range Development Plan, 17. Vehicle Dweller Program, 18. a.& b. Safe Lead-Paint Practices 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/2019/04_Apr/City_Council__04-02-2019_-_Regular_Meeting_Agenda.aspx 

Public Hearings Scheduled – Land Use Appeals 

1722 Walnut – ninth dwelling - 3-26-2019 

1050 Parker – Parker – Medical Office Building - 4-30-2019 

2700 Tenth – Pardee Parking Lot - 4-30-2017 

1444 Fifth St – 4 single family dwellings - 5-14-2019 

_____________________ 

To Check For Regional Meetings with Berkeley Council Appointees 

https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/City_Council__Committee_and_Regional_Body_Appointees.aspx 

_____________________ 

The meeting list is also posted on the Sustainable Berkeley Coalition website. 

http://www.sustainableberkeleycoalition.com/whats-ahead.html 

When notices of meetings are found that are posted after Friday 5:00 pm they are added to the website schedule https://www.sustainableberkeleycoalition.com/whats-ahead.html and preceded by LATE ENTRY