Editorials

UPDATE:The Mayor backed off--he canceled the special meeting.

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At 8:02 p.m. tonight I received an email from Berkeley’s Deputy City Clerk Rose Thomsen announcing a special city council meeting almost exactly 24 hours later, at 8:15 tomorrow night. Attached was an agenda with only one action item:

“Discussion and possible action regarding the temporary suspension of the June 9, 2020 policy prohibiting the use of tear gas, smoke and pepper spray for the duration of the City Council recess.

From: City Manager

Recommendation: Adopt a motion to temporarily suspend the June 9, 2020 policy prohibiting the use of tear gas, smoke and pepper spray, and affirming compliance with Penal Code Section 13652 (AB 48) for the duration of the City Council summer recess.

Financial Implications: None.”

Remember, June 9,2020, was a week after the death of George Floyd, and the Berkeley City Council passed this policy in reaction to the protests that followed.

The code section referenced pertains to the circumstances under which “Use of kinetic energy projectiles and chemical agents” is permitted..

In other words, while the council is on summer recess the city manager wants to be allowed to order up rubber bullets, tear gas, smoke bombs, pepper spray—all the usual suspects in the crowd control universe.

And why, do we think, this request suddenly materialized, out of thin air?

It just might have something to do with Chancellor Carol Christ’s longtime plan to demolish Berkeley’s newest national historic landmark, People’s Park, the minute my old buddy Frank Roesch The Judge gave her the All Clear, preferably during the students’ summer vacation.

Which plan, of course, the City Manager and The Mayor knew nothing about until today. And if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you.

Today there was another Special Meeting, approximately 9 to 5, jammed with undigested proposals which needed to get on the November ballot. Some attendees protested, justifiably, that 24 hour notice was not enough public notice for such important topics. After a couple of speakers complained, Mayor Arreguin self-righteously consulted the city attorney about why there had not been the usual 48 hour notice as the Brown Act requires, and the answer is that this meeting was …. Special…..

The agenda for tomorrow’s Special Meeting was announced 24 hours and 13 seconds in advance. This makes it very difficult for all those troublesome citizens, the BLM crowd that irritates Arreguin and his gang so much, to muster any meaningful opposition.

“Financial Implications: None”?

If the City of Berkeley once again uses militaristic weapons on protesters, as in the past?

Oh sure. The lawsuits alone…