Berkeley city councilmembers Tuesday night passed the first-in-the nation ordinance that provides oversight and transparency for the use of military equipment by the city's police officers.

The ordinance was written by Councilmember Kate Harrison and passed its first reading. A second reading will occur within 30 days after which the ordinance will become law. -more-

Editor’s Note: Zelda Bronstein, formerly Berkeley Planning Commission chair and Daily Planet Public Eye columnist, has an ongoing series of articles on San Francisco’s 48 Hills news site which spotlights the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a limited liability for-profit corporation which is funded by Facebook stock owned by founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan.

The corporation (known as CZI) mimics non-profit foundations by making grants to groups which advance its political/policy agenda. The latest piece in the series reveals CZI’s $750,000 investment in creating a KQED radio news desk which has showcased CZI’s view of remedies for what’s called the California housing crisis under the unwittingly ironic title of “Sold Out”.

The KQED programs and podcasts rely on a theory championed by, among others, San Francisco state Senator Scott Wiener, Berkeley Senator Nancy Skinner and their YIMBY allies, well-funded activists who contend that increasing urban density all over California, regardless of how much it costs tenants and home-buyers, will eventually cause some housing to become magically affordable for low income people. In Berkeley, Councilmember Lori Droste is the most prominent supporter of these ideas.

This is what’s called supply-side economics by its fans and “trickle-down” by its critics. And non-CZI academic research shows that trickle-down doesn’t.

But CZI money has gone to a variety of think-tank-like centers which have been cited by the Sold Out series. Wienerite advocates in the Califoria legislature have been fronting a variety of bills aimed at shifting control of land use away from regional and local governments to state agencies, and they rely on these CZI-funded organizations to back up their plans and even to draft laws.

Here’s how Bronstein’s exposé starts:

In 2019, I reported in 48 Hills that the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative was using mega-grants to shape California housing law and policy. CZI gave Enterprise Community Partners $500,000 to draft and then lobby for Assemblymember David Chiu’s AB 1487, the law that authorized the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to become a one-stop regional planning agency overseeing transportation and housing and to levy taxes on the nine-county Bay Area; CZI formally endorsed that bill.

CZI also gave the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley nearly a million dollars: $440,000 for unspecified uses and $500,000 to start a Housing Lab—essentially, a development incubator under the aegis of the celebrated public university.

I didn’t realize that Chan Zuckerberg was also using its largesse to try to shape California housing news.

KQED’s housing series was funded with Facebook money.

For starters: In 2019, CZI gave KQED $750,000 to help launch what the NPR station called a “dedicated housing news desk to cover the Bay Area’s housing and affordability crisis.” A November 2019 announcement from KQED said that the desk would open the following month. -more-

Agenda and Rules Committee at 2:30 pm, -more-

The week started with a Berkeley Town Hall on COVID-19 with Mayor Arreguin. I waited until late in the week when the recording would be posted and I could watch it on YouTube at 1.5 speed. By that time the U.S. had in 16 days added another million new cases of COVID-19 crossing 32,000,000 according to Johns Hopkins. I still prefer www.worldometers.info for my daily tracking with its easy to read spread sheet. The state by state incidence goes up and down, with hot spots appearing, being flattened and then popping up in a different location, all the while keeping the addition of another million on average of every 16 days since mid-February.

Dee Williams-Ridley, Berkeley City Manager, reported that the planning process for returning city staff to working on site will take about four months and that telecommuting (working remotely) for some will continue. While Williams-Ridley gave no speculation as to what degree telecommuting will continue in a post pandemic world, it is the big hovering question for all of us.

WETA (Water Emergency Transportation Authority) is planning around a robust commuting future that will spill over to support ferries and the proposed Berkeley Pier. The Ashby and North Berkeley BART housing projects are centered on a commuting population that will infuse new revenue and fill the trains. The $40,000,000 from Berkeley’s Measure O bonds will only provide enough funds to have 35% affordable housing at each station. That leaves 65% of these units to be filled by tenants with ample incomes for market rate apartments. -more-

The year was near the end of the decade, maybe 1969. If I told you I remembered the 60s, you'd know I wasn't really there. Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, need I add California?

Protesting demonstrations and marches were common enough that we knew what to do and what to expect. We were part of a large crowd crowding into Sproul Plaza, a sprawling area in front of the University Administration Building bearing the name of the first system-wide President (1952-1958) of the University of California system, Robert Gordon Sproul. We were protesting, what? that day? It could have been against the Vietnam war. It could have been against racial injustice endured by the Black Panthers. It could have been against the general prohibition of political advocacy, e.g., free speech, on campus. I think we were protesting the University Administration's fencing off of newly-created Peoples' Park, four blocks from Sproul Plaza.

The previous weekend, scores of us had been digging on this vacant lot, planting trees, laying down broken pieces of cement sidewalk to become walking paths, erecting a bulletin board to enable our community to communicate with each other, putting up tents, building benches, tables, and a fire pit. A creative vegetable garden was begun, with psychedelic posters designating the plants in each row. -more-

The Justice Department concluded today, based upon a thorough investigation, that there is reasonable cause to believe that Alameda County is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in its provision of mental health services, and that conditions and practices at the county’s Santa Rita Jail violate the U.S. Constitution and the ADA.

The department’s investigation found that the county fails to provide services to qualified individuals with mental health disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. Instead, it unnecessarily institutionalizes them at John George Psychiatric Hospital and other facilities. In Olmstead v. L.C., the U.S. Supreme Court held that Title II of the ADA requires public entities to provide community-based services to persons with disabilities when appropriate services can reasonably be provided to individuals who want them. However, on any given day in Alameda County, hundreds of people are institutionalized for lengthy stays at one of several large, locked psychiatric facilities in the county or are hospitalized at John George Psychiatric Hospital, while others are at serious risk of admission to these psychiatric institutions because of the lack of community-based services.W ithout connection to adequate community-based services, people return to John George Psychiatric Hospital in crisis again and again. -more-

City Council Budget & Finance Committee at 10 am

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82433984748

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 Meeting ID: 824 3398 4748

AGENDA: Department Budget Presentations 2. Health, Housing & Community services, 3. Public Works, 4. Parks, Recreation & Waterfront, Police Department, UNSCHEDULED ITEMS for future meetings: 6. Predevelopment allocation ARCH, 7. Proposal to allocate revenues generated by Transient Occupancy Tax (hotel tax) generated in waterfront to the Marina fund.

PolicyCommittee@cityofberkeley.info,

Mental Health Commission at 7 pm

Videoconference: https://zoom.us/j/96361748103

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 Meeting ID: 963 6174 8103

AGENDA: 3. Presentation by Research Development Associates (RDA) on Results Based Accountability and evaluation for the Division of Mental Health, 4. Update Specialized Care Unit, Update Reimagining Public Safety Task Force, 6.d. PRIDE Program Update – LGBTQIA+ Transition Age Youth.

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

Zoning Adjustment Board at 7 pm

Videoconference: https://zoom.us/j/97790280207

Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 977 9028 0207

AGENDA: 2. 1333 Sixth Street – new – 1-story existing industrial building change use of less than 25% of 17,220 from material recovery enterprise to auto repair and service, located in newly established new tenant space (MU-LI – mixed use light industrial district zoning)

3. 55 (0) Latham Lane – new – Construct 2,905 sq ft 2-story single family dwelling, ave height 22’ 10” on 9,755 sq ft vacant lot, Zoning: R-1(H) Hillside overlay - fire zone 2

65 (0) Latham Lane – new – Construct 3,344 sq ft 2-story single family dwelling, ave height 26’ 3” on 8,347 sq ft vacant lot, Zoning: R-1(H) Hillside overlay - fire zone 2

75 (0) Latham Lane – new – Construct 3,140 sq ft 2-story single family dwelling, ave height 22’ 3” on 7,913 sq ft vacant lot, Zoning: R-1(H) Hillside overlay - fire zone 2

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

As the country grapples with yet another mass killing, Republicans continue to bury the heads in the sand ignoring the weeping of Americans pleading with lawmakers to legislate sensible gun laws supported by over 80% of the population.

Four of eight victims gunned down at the FedEx facility warehouse were Sikhs easily distinguished by their turbans and beards although one was a woman.. A majority of the workers at the warehouse are Sikh. It is likely the killer, Brandon Hole, was targeting Sikhs as police found evidence that he was frequently browsing white supremacist websites. Simran Jeet Singh, scholar, activist and senior fellow for the Sikh Coalition is demanding a full investigation into the possibility of bias and racism in this attack.

It is astounding that Indianapolis police reported that the white terrorist, Brandon Hole, and former FedEx employee, who killed himself, legally purchased the two semiautomatic rifles used in last week’s attack just a few months after police seized a shotgun from him, after his mother raised concerns about his mental state. But prosecutors inexplicably admitted they did not try to use Indiana’s “red flag” law, which could have prevented Hole from obtaining the two guns. Tragically, the Indianapolis mass shooting took place as more than 15 states across the country, including Indiana, are marking April as Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month to reflect the enormous contributions by Sikh communities across the country. -more-

City Council Regular Meeting at 6 pm

The Special City Meeting at 5:30 pm to appoint Farimah Faiz Brown as City Attorney uses the same videoconference and teleconference links as the 6 pm meeting.

Videoconference: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84640742374

Teleconference: 1-669-900-9128 or 1-877-853-5257 Meeting ID: 846 4074 2374 -more-

The People’s Park Historic District Advocacy Group has released an Open Letter today that was sent to UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ, Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin, State Legislators, the Board of Regents and Governor Newsom.

The hundred and two signatories on the letter include Berkeley residents, UCB professors, two former Berkeley mayors, three former Berkeley city councilmembers, many former Berkeley commissioners, Cal alumni and students, attorneys, architects, historians and many others who are concerned about the threatened destruction of People’s Park.

The open letter calls upon the University of California to work with the Berkeley community to protect and enhance People’s Park, rather than destroy it and build a 17-story housing structure. UC argues the destruction of the park is necessary to respond to its housing shortage, yet the university has identified several other possible sites for student residences.

While recognizing the need for truly affordable housing, the letter condemns the threat to the historic and cultural legacy of the People’s Park and the environmental damage that would result from the loss of the irreplaceable open space. The letter envisions what would be a properly maintained park and “a safe, well-used public space frequented by all.”

The Board of Regents will consider People’s Park project and another poorly conceived UCB construction project in a meeting this summer. Berkeley, Bay Area and California residents are encouraged to investigate the overreach of UC and contact their legislators. More information can be found at peoplesparkhxdist.org. -more-

Not long ago the Berkeley City Council held a special meeting at the behest of Association of Bay Area Governments President (oh, and also Berkeley Mayor) Jesse Arreguin. He called the meeting to reify the dubious proposition that the City of Berkeley could make amends to the descendants of enslaved Africans by giving investors the right to put ten dwelling units on one city lot where previously only one had been allowed.

Did you find that hard to follow? If you happened to tune in via Zoom, you might have wondered what all the excitement among the one-minute public commenters was about.

You’re not the only one to be confused, especially if you figured out while listening on Zoom that the preponderance of the fans calling to support the original proposal (sponsored by Arreguin and Lori Droste) seemed to be young (well, 30-something) White males. -more-

Decision Comes on Heels of City of Berkeley’s Rejection of Cal’s Long Term Development Plans for Campus

Berkeley hills neighborhood group won a major court victory to hold UC Berkeley responsible for the impacts of a massive new softball stadium in the very high fire risk and environmentally sensitive Strawberry Canyon area.

The Alameda Superior Court ruled April 23 that UC’s proposed “Levine-Fricke Softball Field Improvements Project,” was so large and complex that it was not within the scope of any previous environmental review. As a result UC Berkeley is now required to do a full environmental analysis of the $26 million project, Judge Frank Roesch said in his ruling.

Panoramic Hill Association sued UC Berkeley alleging that Chancellor Carol Christ had approved the project without adequate environmental review and without properly evaluating the impacts of the project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

“Calling a $26 million project, with extensive demolition and construction, ‘improvements’ is like tearing a house down to the studs and calling it a remodel. Merely calling the project less than it was did not make it so,” said Janice Thomas, Vice-President for UC Affairs of the Panoramic Hill Association.

The project proposed a huge expansion of the field in the very highest fire risk zone designated by the state, with locker rooms, television quality lighting, 1,500 permanent seats, additional space for 1,000 temporary seats and a press box. -more-

[Editor's Note: The Berkeley City Council voted on April 20 to change these rules despite this April 19 letter from the union which represents city employees]

I am writing on behalf of SEIU 1021 to express our concerns about proposed changes to City Council Rules of Procedure which would have a negative impact on democracy in Berkeley. Specifically we are concerned that the proposed rules would make it significantly harder for members of the public to participate in the public comment process during the meeting by discontinuing the practice of reading emailed comments at the time of the meeting. The City Manager says "the community hasadapted well to the new technology" but it is not true. Affluent, well-resourced, tech-connected parts of the community have adapted well. But those with fewer resources, without broadband access in their homes, those who work swing shifts or other irregUlar schedules, will be negatively impacted by this change. I can not imagine that you intend a change that will disproportionately impact these segments of our community.

And we are equally concerned about a change which prohibits the consideration of new legislation except as narrowly related to Covid. To prohibit new legislation related to homelessness when we are still in a pandemic and homelessness is skyrocketing is counter-productive. To prohibit new legislation related to climate change when we can track back the root causes of this pandemic to climate change is illogical. We are in a crisis of faith in our community and our country related to policing and the disproportionate impacts of policing on black and brown and immigrant community members and to say that you will not entertain any new legislation on the question of how black people are treated by police at this time is unacceptable.

I appreciate Councilmember Hahn's supplemental packet proposing a sunset date and allowing a limited exception for items related to health and public safety. But these do not go far enough. Democracy should not be hindered at all, not even for the four months between now and July. Public health is an important progressive priority, but it is far from the only one. -more-

Dear [Planet] Editor:

It’s hard to break a bad habit. We’ve subscribed to the Chronicle for years, although recently only getting the Sunday paper home-delivered. Otherwise, on-line, mostly for weather, smattering of local news, obits….

We dropped the paper before—their wrong-headed endorsements, employment of columnists like Chip Johnson, but this time the rupture seems more serious. The paper has yielded hard reporting to others, concentrating on food, sports, and lifestyle diversions. And, of course, if it bleeds, it leads.

The Chronicle will never run the following note, so hopefully it will get some exposure this side of the Bay.

Thanks,

Robert Brokl



Dear [Chronicle] Editor:

Your Berkeley zoning editorial, damning single family housing, was the last straw. More greenwashing—the insidious insinuation that zoning is inherently “racist,” discriminatory, etc. The latest developer propaganda, espoused by paid lobbyists like the YIMBYs, but even more dangerous and potent than the previous argument that zoning was driving up the costs of housing, creating homelessness. -more-

George W. Bush, the “decider” as he loved to call himself, and his side-kick, Dick Cheney, made a monumental blunder invading Afghanistan in 2001. Both were “green” to the horrors of war, Cheney received 5 deferments and escaped the Vietnam draft and George W was MIA in the National Guard, protected by Papa Bush. -more-

Some years ago, Harry Brill told me that local politics weren’t very interesting , since the topic was just real estate. A lot has changed in the years in between then and now.

Real estate and land use are big issues. Those of us who care about open space, biodiversity, climate and urban habitat are horrified by state legislation to strip cities of local control over such factors. Add in the resolutions and ordinances coming from Berkeley’s own mayor and City Council these days. There are obvious disconnects when you’re discussing density, covering land with concrete, climate change and environmental impacts. Another real estate piece of the picture is the complete denial that deregulation of zoning brings on an investor feeding frenzy. If this isn’t enough add UC Berkeley’s plans.

The city meeting of the week with the highest video attendance was Tuesday’s special City Council meeting on the UC Berkeley Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) draft environmental impact report (DEIR). https://lrdp.berkeley.edu/environmental-review The deadline to respond to UC is this Wednesday, April 21 at 5 pm. One surprise: Why did the council wait until a week before the deadline for a presentation by staff and council comment and questions, when the LRDP 45 day review period started March 8?

-more-

In the scene on the TV, we see a man lying on the ground, unmoving, his hands behind his head. His head is raised a bit so he can see what is coming toward him. We see four large men walking in a line toward this guy on the street. The four approach him slowly, carefully, as if with a predatory intent, expecting him to defend himself. We don’t know why they are preparing an attack, but we watch them step carefully toward him, as if samurai about to enter mortal combat. The samurai step, forward and to the left with the left foot, forward and to the left with the right foot in front of the left, then the left foot again, always keeping balance and facing frontwards. It is like an adult street gang in the movies. We can almost hear the Edward G. Robinson growl; “Okay, punk, you t’ink you wise or somethin’. We’ll show you a thing or two.” -more-

So far, Joe Biden's presidency has been a success. Recent polling showed his approval rating at 59 percent. Biden has done an excellent job handling the pandemic. He's managed to pass a significant recovery plan. And his administrative efforts have largely been successful.

The most recent Pew Research Poll (https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2021/04/15/covid-19-policies-the-u-s-economy-and-the-vaccine-rollout/) found President Biden with 59 percent approval (39 percent disapproval) -- this rating is deeply split along Party lines, as only 18 percent of Republicans approve of Biden's performance in office. Interestingly, more voters support Biden in terms of issues than in terms of his personality. For example, about 37 percent of Republicans agree with him on some or "virtually all" issues. Given this finding, it's most important to evaluate Biden in terms of progress on specific issues. -more-

If License Plates Could Talk (Note: They Can!)

I recently spotted a car parked in front of the Berkeley Main Post Office with a license plate that read: LIFELIB. The driver returned from his visit to the PO as I was snapping a photo of his fashionable plate.

"Yes I'm a lifelong Libertarian," he confessed. And then he asked if I knew about Daniel Nussbaum's 1993 book, PL8SPK, published by Harper Collins. Turns out, I was already an admirer of Nussbaum's Platespeak, a 93-page book that retold classic tales (like Romeo and Juliette) using only quirky personalized license plates registered with California's Department of Motor Vehicles. Here are two examples:

The story of the Garden of Eden in Platespeak

'EVENADM CHOWDWN THAT TABOO SNACK
'YIIIKES' THEY SAY.
'LOOKITU! LOOKAME! GOGETA FIG LEAF.'
And here's the fable of 'The Emperor's New Clothes' (where no one has the nerve to point out the ruler's nakedness):
'CHEERZ ECHO THRU THEGREAT CAPITAL.
'LKNGUD EMP' 'WAYKUL ENSEMBL'
'FITS POIFEKT'' -more-

Poor Diets Given to Mental Health Consumers Revisited

My wife when younger was underestimated. She graduated from a very good college before the onset of her condition, yet when she became bipolar, she was subjected to treatment as "a dumb mentally ill person". For example, her worker at California Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Linda, sent her to a training to become a motel maid. This was inappropriate. She is a highly intelligent and thoughtful person and my marriage to her is one of the primary reasons that I've done well.

People with psych conditions are routinely grossly underestimated. This is a disservice. Being mentally ill doesn't make you dumb or worthless. And it does not mean that you do not deserve good health and a long, meaningful life.

Those who oversee non-independent mentally ill people have misconceptions concerning food that should be given. I know of an organization that is generous enough to often deliver a free meal, and I've eaten some of them. The error is assuming we prefer high fat, high carb, over seasoned food along with sweets. This is not a healthy diet, and it is unpalatable. Some good pork was ruined by smothering it in a massive amount of seasoned salt. I re-grilled some of it along with some water, and repeatedly drained off the salty, artificially- or paprika colored water. The meat was salvaged to the extent that I could make an acceptable sandwich out of it. My preference is San Luis Sourdough. It is not whole wheat. Yet most of the whole wheat grocery stores sell is doctored up with excessive sugar and other unnecessary ingredients. -more-

I've had some amount of not-so-great behavior in my past. Some of it consisted of getting jobs that were over my head and then quitting when I was unable to fulfill the expectations of the job. This was a very unprofessional behavior and I regret it. Yet, in employment scenarios, it is hard for a medicated, mentally ill person to keep up with demands of most jobs. Additionally, it is difficult for us to relate on a personal level to coworkers and supervisors, since we may not have enough in common, and we may not know enough about how social interactions are done. Both of those factors are significant barriers to employment.

In 1989, I landed a job at Sears Service Center, Concord location, as a television repair technician. (The salary and benefits of the job were great.) Yet, I was really struggling with the job demands and with a coworker was critical and harsh toward me. Some of the other coworkers also weren't that nice. After work, when I'd been there for two or three weeks, the Loma Prieta Earthquake struck. The following day, there was no reprieve from the expectation to show up and do work; it was business as usual. The earthquake was the final bit of dust on the camel's back. -more-

Get the Money Out of (Gubernatorial) Politics

When it comes to putting a proposition on the State Ballot, California sets a high bar. To qualify, petition-backers must gather a number of signatures equal to at least 5% of the total votes cast for the office of Governor at the previous election. Gathering a million legitimate signatures in 180 days can wind up costing millions of dollars. Not surprisingly then, special interest groups and corporations have dominated successful initiative-qualifying campaigns in California.

But when it comes to running to become governor, you only need to gather 7,000 valid signatures. And if that's too much trouble, there's another option that makes running to occupy the Governor's Mansion far easier than trying to get a proposition on the ballot. As the Chronicle's Joe Garafoli recently noted: "All it will take is $3,916."

Yep. While it's costly and time-consuming to place a proposition on the ballot, you can flat-out buy yourself a spot as a contender to win the state's highest elected office!

With such a low bar, it's no surprise that previous recall efforts have drawn the attention of past-due-date celebrities and publicity seeking wing-nuts who might not be able to find 7,000 fans to sign a sheet but can scrape together a couple of thou. -more-

Worth Noting:

Even though I’ve tried to narrow the list of agenda items to those of the most interest, the Agenda Committee on Monday and the city council meeting on Tuesday still take up a lot of space. To review the full agendas for any meeting use the links provided.

Monday: The Land Use Committee at 10 am has one agenda item TOPA, The Agenda Committee at 2:30 pm is reviewing the City Council May 11 agenda and may take up discussion of objective standards recommendations, The Zero Waste Commission is at 7 pm and #3 under discussion/action may tell us how much of non-bottle plastic recycling of 1-7 is “wishcycling.” -more-

Worth Noting:

Wednesday, April 21 at 5 pm is the deadline for responding to UC Berkeley’s Long Rang Development Plan – Draft EIR (Environmental Impact Report) https://lrdp.berkeley.edu/environmental-review

Monday – COVID-19 Town Hall is at 6 pm with Mayor Arreguin (it will be recorded if you miss it).

Website for vaccine appointments https://myturn.ca.gov/

Tuesday – City Council regular is meeting at 6 pm.

Wednesday – Facilities, Infrastructure Committee meets at 2:30 pm, paving is on the agenda

Thursday – Budget and Finance committee meets at 10 am.

Future Events

Getting Off Gas in Berkeley’s Buildings (homes, offices, schools, businesses) Shape the Vision of All-Electric Future, May 4 at 7 pm register at http://electrifyberkeley.eventbrite.com

If you have a meeting you would like included in the summary of meetings, please send a notice to kellyhammargren@gmail.com by noon on the Friday of the preceding week. -more-