More than 10,000 academic workers at the University of California campuses in the greater Bay Area went on strike Monday morning, a union source said. -more-

Vote counts released today (Monday) by the Alameda County Registrar of Voters -more-

_{Before going on to the meetings of the week, first: Why did Measure L lose?} -more-

The Berkeley Art Center in Live Oak Park has a new piece of art on display but it's not inside the building's art gallery—it's outside, on the fence overlooking the site. Somehow, a couple of months ago, the long wooden fence alongside a paved walking path was painted over with a long graffiti-art banner-statement bracketed by the image of two wild-looking squirrels squinting happily, paws filled with acorns.

The sassiest-looking of the two rodents—on the eastern end of the artwork—clutches a prized nut and sports a wild smirk. In a nice, painterly touch, the squirrel's two buckteeth are aligned on two parallel wooden fence planks leaving a space between the critter's front teeth that could be flossed by a Number 2 pencil.

According to Google, "Man One Art" the painting's perpetrator, is an LA-based artist "who has been involved with the graffiti art movement since 1987. His artwork has been exhibited in major museums around the world and his murals and street art can be seen in many cities around the globe." That global list now includes Berkeley.

Let's Start a Conspiracy Theory -more-

Statement from Vice-Chair Mizell* of the Berkeley Police Accountability Board* calling on the Berkeley City Council to delay the confirmation of Interim Chief Louis until a full investigation of allegations of severe Berkeley Police misconduct


I have become aware of allegations of severe misconduct within the Berkeley Police Department. These allegations come from a former BPD officer.

Currently, Interim Chief Jennifer Louis, who served as a Captain during the period of the alleged misconduct, is scheduled to be confirmed as the Permanent Chief of Police at a Berkeley City Council meeting tomorrow at 6 PM. -more-

The brightest individuals I've met have been very low-key and unassuming. I find those who have less egotism to be more accessible, and they have a better chance at hearing what I'm trying to tell them. As well, it is easier for me to receive a message, including a critical one, when it is delivered heart-to-heart rather than from towering superiority. -more-

Worth Noting:

Sunday check the map link for streets blocked for the Berkeley Half Marathon from 7:30 am – 1 pm

Monday the Health Life Enrichment, Equity & Community takes up re-entry programs at 10 am, Agenda & Rules at 2:30 pm (Fair Work Week is not in the proposed agenda for November 29), Youth Commission on School Safety at 6:30 pm. And, former police chief Greenwood is in the panel on military equipment and police at 10 am.

Tuesday the City Council has back to back meetings starting at 4 pm amnesty for unpermitted units and 6 pm building code, Hate Crime report, and ZAB appeals (I will attend both). The EV webinar is at 5 pm.

Wednesday my go to meetings of the week are Wednesday with the webinar on Dark Skies “Light at Night a Glowing Hazard” from 1 – 4 pm, The In-Person Civic Center design meeting at 5 – 7 pm and the North Berkeley BART meeting on objective standards on zoom at 7 pm. Other meetings are the Aging Commission at 1:30 pm, John Hinkel Park at 6:30 pm and Earthquake Brace and Bolt at 6:30 pm.

Thursday at 7 pm the Transportation and Infrastructure Commission takes up vision zero and transit first policy and the Fair Campaign Practices Commission is taking up election complaints and the Open Government Commission will hear my complaint on delinquent posting of minutes and request for Live Transcription for all city meetings as an accessibility issue.

Friday the first two presentations at 9:30 am and 10:10 am at the Climate Emergency Summit Series on Climate and Public Health which starts at 9 am look excellent. (more for my go to list)

Do not forget to check https://berkeleyca.gov/ for meetings posted on short notice.

Commissions that normally meet on the 3rd Wednesday and have no meeting announcements: Commission on Status of Women, Human Welfare and Community Action Commission

Cancelled meetings: FITES, Design Review Committee, Commission on Labor.

The eBike discount is available through Nov 21, https://rideanddriveclean.org/ebike-discount-campaign/ this is a collaborative program to reduce carbon emissions by transition to eBikes and EV.

Sunday, November 13, 2022 -more-

If anyone needed further proof of the daemonic wizardry of pianist Daniil Trifonov, his recital on Sunday, November 13, at Davies Hall offered proof in spades. The highlight of this recital was the fiendishly difficult Gaspard de la nuit by Maurice Ravel. Considered by many to be the most difficult work in the whole solo piano repertoire, Gaspard de la nuit received in the hands of Daniil Trifonov an absolutely jaw-dropping performance. Based on the ghoulish prose-poems by Aloysius Bertrand, Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit unfolds in three movements. The first, Ondine, depicts the fatally alluring nymph in her watery milieu. It opens with rippling music, full of shimmering tremolos that suggest the murmuring flows of a river. Occasionally, the music evokes cascades, and now and then one hears Ondine flirting openly with a male onlooker, then playfully frolicking away. Toward the end of this movement, Ondine departs with a sardonic or diabolic laugh. -more-

On Thursday, November 10, perennial favourite Jordi Savall returned to Berkeley under the auspices of Cal Performances. This time, Jordi Savall performed with Hespèrion XXI, the early music ensemble he and his late wife, Montserrat Figueras, founded in 1974 as Hespèrion XX. At the turn of the 21st century, this group became Hespèrion XXI. Currently, it is comprised of Jordi Savall performing on pardessus de viol, Philippe Pierlot on bass and treble viol, Anna Lachegyi on tenor viol, Juan Manuel Quintana on bass viol, Xavier Puertas on violone, and Enrique Solinis on theorbo and guitar. At this Berkeley concert, Mélisande Corriveau, a French-Canadian musician living in the US, substituted for the indisposed Anna Lachegyi. At the close of this concert, Ms Corriveau was singled out for special thanks by Jordi Savall for her last-minute preparation and scintillating performance. -more-