I have a PhD in economics from the University of Chicago (received it at a time when the department was under the control of Milton Friedman). I didn’t enjoy my time at Chicago, but I did come away with an appreciation for prices, markets, and individual behavior in relation to them as well as an understanding of how to evaluate policies in terms of costs and benefits. I taught economics and environmental policy at Cal for 25 years and I’m very familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of cost benefit analysis. The cost benefit framework is helpful in identifying key questions that need to be addressed if we are to make rational use of our resources. Some costs and some benefits are hard to quantify, but in the case of this proposed paid parking project, most of these impacts can at least be identified, if not fully quantified. Unfortunately, the city did not conduct such an analysis, so it is not surprising it is getting so much pushback from the neighborhood. Had it conducted such an analysis, I’m convinced it wouldn’t have pursued this pilot project in this setting. -more-

In a painstaking investigation, the New York Times reported the US military killed dozens of civilians in an airstrike in the town of Baghuz, Syria on March of 2019, then ferkeleyverishly spent the next two-and-a-half years covering up evidence of war crimes. The bombing was carried out by a classified special operations unit known as Task Force 9 but its sordid activities were never investigated. The U.S. military downplayed the death toll and classified civilian deaths after which it bulldozed the blast site but was unable to remove the stench of rotting bodies.

The Defense Department’s independent inspector general began an inquiry, but the report was heavily redacted to downplay culpability.

In a complete mockery of lack of accountability and justice, the only assessment done immediately after the strike was performed by the same ground unit that ordered the strike.

A conscientious Navy officer who worked for years as a civilian analyst with the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Counterterrorism Center was forced out of his job in a desperate effort to halt the investigation which never occurred. -more-

The story of a killing

It happened in 2012. The facts were known at the time, but they got lost in the crowd of all the other killings, the hundreds that happened that year. Even so, it signified what was wrong. Now, ten years later, the film gives us focus. Lest we forget, lest we cease to understand the rules of the game, and what we have to change, it reaches across the sea of time, reminding us, “don’t buy the hype.”

What hype? “We’re just doing our job.” What job? Terrorizing an old man because he lives in a NY tenement, and says no? They imagine lurid crimes occurring behind all the cheap slum doors with their many locks and sheet-steel façade reinforcements. It took the cops 40 minutes to break in, to finally invade the apartment of a low income retired black former Marine whose only need for attention was a heart condition. And shoot him to death. -more-

We, the undersigned, are writing to express our concern about the recent decision by the Berkeley City Council, the City Manager, and the Berkeley Police Department to use encrypted public safety radio devices in Berkeley. It is our understanding that the City of Berkeley selected the company, Motorola Solution, to provide encrypted public safety radio devices for two reasons: 1) there is no alternative radio device to share communications with neighboring police units, and 2) the company would provide a discount to this city. We now understand that these reasons are false. -more-

On November 10th it was announced that the consumer price index has increased 6.2 percent in twelve months, the largest yearly increase in thirty years. This announcement coincided with a Washington Post/ABC poll (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/11/14/post-abc-poll-biden/)l showing that President Biden's approval ratings have fallen again: "Despite a mix of economic signals — falling unemployment and rising prices — 70 percent rate the economy negatively, including 38 percent who say it is in 'poor' condition." What should we make of this? -more-

Sometimes when people, systems, or organizations create problems, a little bit of pushback can go a long way toward resolving them. If a person wants to harass, intimidate, or otherwise create obstructions or problems for you, it can be important to show that you are not a pushover. Even when dealing with assaultive men, some counter-intimidation, or at least standing up to the person, can help with putting a stop to that. -more-

The August 9, 2021, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) delivered a doom and gloom report on climate change predicting that we can no longer stop global warming from intensifying over the next 30 years and the role of human influence on the climate system is undisputed. The report is described as a “Code Red for Humanity.” -more-

Is That Why It's Called a Restroom?

After my sixth lap around the MLK Jr. Middle School track, I had to "recalculate" and head for the head—a.k.a. the privy, outhouse, latrine, loo, comfort station, honey bucket, earth closet, bogger, brasco, commode.

As I was trotting through the newly opened tot-playground, I heard another pair of shoes slipping up behind me. The runner soon passed and was clearly going to reach the Porta-Potty before me. I diplomatically veered off to await my turn at the urn. As I took up a position in front of the gate to the Swim Center, I watched as the runner approached the "comfort station"—and was baffled when he opened the door, suddenly bolted backwards, and shut the hut.

He turned to see me standing in line and offered some breaking news:
"I don't think you want to go in there just now. There's someone sleeping inside!" -more-

Bringing race home: Race, racism is our country’s history. Racism is front and center in the trial of the killers of Ahmaud Arbery in Glynn County, Georgia, in the Charlottesville civil trial over the deadly “Unite the Right” rally in 2017. Racism is tangential to the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse and his acquittal. -more-

Worth Noting:

Expect extra Council meetings to be called on short notice before Council leaves on Winter Recess. Council Winter recess is December 15, 2021 – January 17, 2022. https://www.cityofberkeley.info/Clerk/City_Council/City_Council__Agenda_Index.aspx



December 1, 2021 at 5 pm is the deadline to submit response to the DEIR for the Ashby and North Berkeley BART Station Housing Projects is https://www.cityofberkeley.info/bartplanning/ (395 pages)



Vision 2050 Survey – the City is planning for a major bond measure in 2022 on infrastructure: tinyurl.com/2050survey



Sunday, November 28^th is the Berkeley Equity Summit series at 6 pm provided in collaboration with Friends of Adeline on protecting your home ownership.

Monday the Agenda and Rules Committee at 2:30 pm will be reviewing the agenda for December 14, the last council meeting before winter recess.

Tuesday is the Regular City Council meeting at 6 pm. The agenda is long with 24. Development Agreement and certification of FEIR with Bayer, 26 Commission Reorganization merging the Parks and Waterfront Commission and the Animal Care Commission, 27 The Surveillance Technology Report and 28 the Budget Referral for Automatic License Plate Readers.

Wednesday the FITES Committee meets at 2:30 pm on establishing emergency GHG emission limits ordinance and native plant ordinance referral. The Energy Commission meets at 5 pm, the Independent Redistricting Commission meets at 6 pm and the Planning Commission meets at 7 pm.

Thursday the Land Use Committee meets at 10:30 am and the Landmarks Preservation Commission meets at 7 pm. The Reimagining Public Safety Task Force is scheduled to meet, however, it is not posted. Check after Monday for time and zoom link. https://www.cityofberkeley.info/RIPST.aspx

Saturday, December 4^th is the Native Plant extravaganza from 10 am – 4 pm with a percentage of the proceeds going to support the spring Native Plant Garden Tour. If you are unfamiliar with why native plants our so important to the health of pollinators (bees and butterflies) and birds and us watching one of the many videos with Douglas Tallamy should help here are two to choose from:

Restoring the Little Things that Run the World (60 minutes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN7-jzL40zQ

Nature’s Best Hope Conservation that Starts in Your Yard (90 minutes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAzDP0wQI78



Sunday, November 28, 2021

Berkeley Equity Summit Series 6 at 6 pm

Videoconference: https://bit.ly/3qHQV2H

Teleconference: 1-669-900-6833 or 1-253-215-8782 Meeting ID: 810 7490 9352 Passcode: 692041

AGENDA: Community Conversation about Receivership, Probate, Pitfalls and Deceptive Tactics to steal BIPOC Homeownership. Protect your home and stop BIPOC Displacement. -more-

Coming out of the opera Messalina on Satiurday night, November 20, all I could think to say were two words: Wow! And Whew! Messalina, a Venetian opera by Carlo Pallavicino, may be the wildest and craziest opera I’ve ever seen! Based on the flagrant sexual exploits of the Roman Empress Messalina, who as a teenager was forced to marry the 50 year old Emperor Claudius, this opera explores rampant sexuality, marital infidelity, cross dressing, and the nature of love itself. All this in a decadent Roman social milieu that Ars Minerva’s founder and Artistic Director, Céline Ricci, likens to that of Federico Fellini’s film La Dolce Vita. -more-

Worth Noting:

The only published public city meeting found during the week of the Thanksgiving Holiday is the Mental Health Commission DOJ Santa Rita Jail Subcommittee at 1 pm on Monday. Thursday is Thanksgiving and Friday is listed as City of Berkeley Thanksgiving Holiday – offices will be closed.

The November 30 regular City Council meeting is available for comment. On consent is item 6 the rescinding of the October 26^th council action requirements for sprinklers in fire zones 2 & 3. Action items include 24 - the City and Bayer development agreement, 26 – the reorganization of the Parks and Waterfront Commission, 27 – the Surveillance technology report, and 28 - the budget request for automated license plate readers (ALPR).

Don’t miss the December 1^st deadline to respond to the DEIR for the Ashby and North Berkeley BART Housing projects or forget to complete the surveys.

December 1, 2021 at 5 pm is the deadline to submit response to the DEIR for the Ashby and North Berkeley BART Station Housing Projects is https://www.cityofberkeley.info/bartplanning/ (395 pages)

Complete Streets Survey closes November 28 at 5 pm. It is for the Southside, but this has implications for the rest of the city: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6575124/Berkeley-Southside-Survey-October-2021

Vision 2050 Survey – the City is planning for a major bond measure in 2022 on infrastructure: tinyurl.com/2050survey

At the Reimagining the Public Safety Task Force meeting the task force was informed that history section of the draft final NICJR (National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform) Report and Implementation Plan will be removed at city staff request with the reason given that it was not accurate. The next meeting is December 2, 2021.Reimagining Public Safety Public Meetings – the draft final NICJR Report is available: www.berkeley-rps.org -more-

Though two decades apart in age, and coming from vastly different cultures, Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos and Chinese-born pianist Yuja Wang make great music together, often touring together and even recording together. On Saturday, November 13, they performed four quite different sonatas for violin and piano at Zellerbach Hall under the auspices of Cal Performances. The unifying theme of this concert was the example and influence of Johann Sebastian Bach. Featured here were two Bach sonatas for violin and keyboard plus Ferruccio Busoni’s Sonata No. 2 for Violin and Piano from 1898 and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Sonata for Violin and Piano from 1968. -more-