For San Pablo city officials, it isn’t a casino so much as an economic godsend, a chance to save an impoverished city that will die without it. 

“Even with the casino as is”—a cardroom—“if [the expansion] doesn’t proceed, the City of San Pablo will fold,” said a passionate City Manager Brock Arner  

For critics, though, it’s an economic parasite, feeding off the poor and the elderly, sucking blood out of the community and threatening to create traffic and public health nightmares. 

“A casino is a false economy. It undermines the economic basis of small business... It destroys lives,” said Rev. Chuck Day, senior pastor emeritus of the First Baptist Church of San Pablo. 

If city and tribal officials have their way, with the blessing of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the cardroom that is Casino San Pablo will become a 2,500-slot-machine urban gambling mecca—California’s first—siphoning off millions for the state and local government and reviving a city on the brink. 

But the opposition is fervent and substantial, including state legislators, a U.S. senator and other gamblers, including the owners of the card rooms that are the only form of non-tribal gambling—besides the lottery—currently allowed in California. 

The conflicting currents all came together Saturday in a five-hour forum that packed a San Pablo auditorium and spilled out into the lobby. 

Led by East Bay Democratic Assemblymember Loni Hancock, whose district includes San Pablo, the meeting was organized into a series of panels heavily weighted with critics of the proposed casino. 

The staunchest defenders of the governor’s plan to create the first urban gambling palace along the California coast were Margie Mejia, chair of the Lytton Band of Pomos who own the casino in its current incarnation as a card room, elected and appointed San Pablo city officials and UNITE-HERE!, the hotel workers’ union. 

The promise of economic revitalization and jobs drives the city’s interest, and it’s the jobs themselves that fuel the union’s ardent advocacy. 

Other concerns about the proposal included a poignant plea by a woman whose life was saved by a fast ambulance ride to Doctors Hospital—situated adjacent to the casino and the only public emergency room within a 25-mile radius—who worried that heavy casino traffic congestion could cost lives, a concern shared by hospital officials. 

Contra Costa County Health Services Director William Walker said that assessing the casino’s public health impacts is difficult, primarily because there are no other urban casinos in California to compare it to. 

But he said other cities with casinos reported higher incidence of suicide, sexually transmitted diseases, alcoholism, drug deaths and arrests. He also noted that casino gambling is more addictive than other forms of wagering and results in increases in domestic violence. 

Walker said he also worried that increased traffic to the site on San Pablo Avenue could adversely impact access to Doctors Hospital. 

San Pablo Mayor Joe Gomes said he was very concerned when city voters originally passed a measure to allow the card room in 1994. “But we had been badly impacted financially, and in due time we would have had to disincorporate—and that would have been a disaster,” he said. 

“Since then, the club has enabled the city to stay solvent, improve our infrastructure and provide recreational facilities we didn’t have previously.” 

City Manager Arner put the city’s plight in starker terms: “Ninety percent of San Pablo residents have to commute outside the city to work. Eighteen percent of residents live below the poverty level, which is 330 percent above the county average, and unemployment is 170 percent higher than the county.” 

Tribal Chair Margie Mejia promised that her tribe “will provide good jobs with good benefits. We will create a thousand additional union jobs, and there will be thousands of union construction jobs.” 

The 25 percent of net gambling winnings the tribe has promised to pay the state—a figure she estimated at $155 million annually—“is higher than for any tribal government anywhere,” she said. 

“We will also pay for traffic mitigations and city services, and for improvements to local roads and the (San Pablo Avenue) freeway interchange.” 

Mejia hailed the casino as a “long-awaited opportunity to lift our tribe out of poverty. Many of us now live in desperate conditions as a result of generations of poverty going back at least 100 years.” 

However, the state’s percentage from the site could drop if other casinos open without the 35-mile-radius exclusive franchise proposed by the governor. Plans for two nearby casinos are now in the regulatory pipeline—a Las Vegas-style hotel resort at Point Molate and another casino-only planned for North Richmond.  

Similar arguments to those raised by Mejia and San Pablo officials were raised in Richmond when that city’s council agreed to sell Point Molate to Berkeley developer James D. Levine. 

But William Thompson, a professor at the University of Nevada—Las Vegas and one of the country’s leading gambling experts, said the proposed casino would inevitably draw its clientele from the people Arner said it would benefit. 

Thompson compared the likely habitués of the expanded Casino San Pablo to those who haunt the slot machines in Las Vegas grocery stores. 

“Neighborhood casinos are bad for communities,” he said, citing the 1999 findings of the National Gambling Impact Study Commission. He said half the players would be Alameda and Contra Costa County residents, and only 10 percent would come from outside the Bay area. 

The casino would pose no threat to Las Vegas, he said, and Nevada would reap substantial profits, including millions from slot machine sales, since all slots are manufactured in that state. 

Thompson’s contention received reinforcement this week when the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry published a study showing that elderly gamblers on fixed incomes are at high risk for becoming problem gamblers.  

Legislative View 

Hancock, an opponent of casinos in her East Bay district, began the meeting by noting that the state constitution doesn’t require local input when tribes negotiate casino compacts with the state. 

Though San Pablo voters approved the 1994 initiative authorizing the present card room, the current proposal requires no such action. That agreement was hammered out by representatives of the tribe and Schwarzenegger’s office, but has stalled in the state Legislature. 

“The California Constitution does not require that members of the community should be involved when a compact is negotiated between a tribe and the state,” Hancock said. “There is nothing requiring that the City Council be involved.” 

“There is the promise of a great many millions coming to the community, but there is no provision in the compact guaranteeing money to local communities,” she said. 

Assemblymember Joe Cianciamilla, a Pittsburg Democrat whose district borders on Hancock’s, said the broader question is whether gambling is good for California. “Is this the way we want to fund local services? Is this the legacy we want to leave for future generations?” 

Cianciamilla called Casino San Pablo “a bellwether for casinos in San Francisco and San Diego.” 

Joe Nation, an Assembly Democrat who represents southern Marin County, said “It seems to me that we’re losing control of the process.” 

While not an outright foe of gambling, Nation said he opposes authorization of urban casinos like the Lytton proposal. “Once you cross that line, instead of the 54 casinos we have now there could be 109 casinos in California.” 

San Pablo Councilmember Leonard McNeil blamed the need for casinos on Proposition 13. 

While he said he doesn’t believe that the states can “gamble their way out of fiscal crisis. . .you cannot put the genie back in the bottle.” 

While McNeil claimed that tribal gambling “is the most regulated in the country,” regulators in Nevada and New Jersey typically deride the loose oversight of tribal gaming, and a recent study by the San Diego Union-Tribune demonstrated that tribal records go largely unaudited. 

“Contra Costa County is becoming ground zero for urban gambling in California,” said Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia, who said he was especially concerned about the cumulative impacts and the ambiguity of compacts. 

Dave Brown, a member of the West Contra Costa County School District board, said he was especially concerned about the messages casinos send to young people whom the schools are trying to teach character and moral values. 

“The major regional impacts are out of scale with the surrounding communities,” said El Cerrito Mayor Sandi Potter. 

Oakland City Councilmember Jean Quan, a vocal casino foe, recently voted with her colleagues against plans for a tribal casino at the Oakland airport. 

“Gambling redistributes wealth from the have-nots to the haves,” said recently elected Richmond Councilmember Gayle McLaughlin. “It creates no new products and low-income people suffer the most from gambling problems.” 

Cathy Ornellos, representing San Leandro Mayor Sheila Young, noted that her city council had voted in unanimous opposition to the Oakland Casino, and Frank Egger, Fairfax councilmember, read from his proposed statewide ballot initiative calling for a moratorium on new tribal casinos and enhanced regulatory structure. 

Audience members seemed to be weighted against the casino, judging by the applause speakers received.

Is there enough room in West Berkeley for the green grocer and the guy in the hard hat? That is a question the Planning Commission started to consider Wednesday at its first public hearing/workshop on the proposed West Berkeley Bowl. 

While some in the capacity crowd called the new store a death knell to manufacturing and art space in West Berkeley and a harbinger of even worse traffic congestion, others see it as the triumph of a homegrown treasure and a boon to neighbors with no nearby market. 

On the table is a 91,060-square-foot three-building complex complete with a two story supermarket and pharmacy, a warehouse, offices and 211 parking spaces and a separate building for prepared foods. The West Berkeley Bowl would be the biggest supermarket in Berkeley and more than twice as large as the current South Berkeley store. 

Currently the 2.3-acre lot is home to vacant buildings and one asphalt business.  

The site, however, is part of West Berkeley zoned for artist and industrial space, not supermarkets. To move the project forward, the Planning Commission and later the City Council must rezone the block for retail. After two hours of public comments, with little discussion from commissioners, the commission agreed to continue the discussion at its next meeting. 

If the commission ultimately doesn’t oblige with the rezoning, Bowl owner Glenn Yasuda promised he would search out a different West Berkeley plot rather than shrinking his development plans. 

“We feel compromising the size is not an option,” he said. “In retrospect we feel that the proposed store is too small, but it’s something we can work with.” The original plans for the store envisioned a 27,000-square-foot market, akin to the current store. 

Opponents said they feared that the new store would open the flood gates to more commercial development in West Berkeley, driving up rents and chasing out artists and industrialists. 

“Changing the [zoning] means waving a big green flag to other developers,” said John Curl, a West Berkeley-based woodworker. “The only way [artists and industry] can stay in West Berkeley is under the umbrella of industrial zoning. Otherwise they’ll be pushed out by gentrification.” 

John Phillips, a business owner on nearby Grayson Street, called the proposal “spot zoning”, and cautioned the commission against giving extra leeway to the popular store. “Will this always be the Berkeley Bowl?” he asked. “What happens when it’s sold?” 

Darrell de Tienne, a local developer representing Wareham Properties, one of West Berkeley’s largest land owners, urged the commission to welcome new uses into West Berkeley. 

“You need to be flexible,” he told commissioners. “Nothing is static. Things do change and we need to change.”  

Cameron Woo, who lives a block from the proposed supermarket, said he would welcome more commercial development. “I breath that blue collar work every day and night,” he said. 

For many of Woo’s neighbors, the key issue wasn’t more retail stores, but more cars on their streets. 

A study by transportation consultants Fehr & Peers found the only significant impact for the project would be at the intersection of San Pablo Avenue and Heinz Street, where the Bowl has agreed to pay for the installation of a traffic signal. 

The store would generate about 3,800 new weekday vehicle trips, but most would absorbed by major streets like Ashby and San Pablo avenues, said Fehr & Peers’ Rob Reese. Ninth Street, he added, could expect a daily increase in vehicle trips from 1,800 to 2,100, and frequent traffic congestion on nearby Seventh Street could be alleviated by improving poorly timed traffic signals. 

“Seventh Street should not be an albatross around the neck of this development,” said Peter Hillier, Berkeley’s assistant city manager for transportation. He touted the supermarket’s willingness to extend the Ninth Street bicycle boulevard through its property and promised residents that the city would take actions to keep cars off residential streets if they become clogged with shoppers. 

Claire Cotts, who lives at an artist’s loft on Heinz Street, remained concerned. “I love the Berkeley Bowl, but I can’t park in my neighborhood,” she said. “Heinz is just way too small.” 

G

While the Berkeley Unified School District awaits a decision by the Berkeley City Council on whether or not the city will close down a block of Derby Street, a BUSD-contracted architectural firm is moving forward to develop proposals for temporary use of the district-owned adjoining property. 

At issue is the two-block property bounded by Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Milvia Street to the east and west and Carleton and Ward to the north and south, with Derby running in between. The southern block of the property houses the Berkeley Alternative High School, while the northern block houses unused storage buildings, offices, and classrooms owned by the school district. The Berkeley Farmers’ Market operates on Tuesday afternoons on the stretch of Derby Street. 

The Berkeley community has been split over the future of the property, with some residents wanting Derby Street to remain open and the Farmers Market preserved, others pushing for the two properties to be combined and turned into a regulation baseball diamond for use by the high school team. Some neighbors are adamantly opposed to the baseball field, and others complain that as long as the empty buildings remains standing, they serve as a haven for drug use, prostitution, and homeless people. 

On Tuesday night, representatives of WLC Architects of Emeryville and Rancho Cucamonga held a community meeting at the Berkeley Alternative auditorium to try to bring the various sides together for a temporary solution. 

Berkeley City Councilmember Max Anderson—who represents the district surrounding the properties—and BUSD Board Directors Terry Doran and John Selawsky participated in the meeting, but did not make formal presentations.  

Marcia Vallier of Vallier Design Associates, a subcontractor on the development project, drew applause when she told a gathering of some 75 residents that the school district had charged WLC with demolishing the existing buildings on the north lot. 

Vallier said that the architects are also responsible developing a plan for that property, with two conditions: The development plan cannot consider the closure of Derby Street, but the plan must have no permanent structures that cannot be moved or expanded in the event that Derby is eventually closed. 

Taking the Derby closure off the table for the sake of the meeting discussion initially disappointed baseball field supporters, who had mobilized their forces to come out to the meeting. 

Earlier in the week, Berkeley High baseball coach Tim Moellering had circulated an e-mail saying, “It is time for those of us who support a field that can include baseball to show ourselves.” 

Moellering’s e-mail explained “For many years, we have been trying to build playing fields at East Campus on MLK and Derby. In order to include a baseball field that can accommodate Berkeley High players, the City of Berkeley needs to approve the permanent closing of Derby Street between Milvia and MLK. Once again, this issue is on the table. Some neighbors are vehemently opposed to the project.” 

One property neighbor, looking over the participants at the beginning of the meeting, said “I don’t see many neighborhood residents here. It’s mostly field supporters. I think it’s a done deal.” 

It wasn’t, at least for the time being. With the full-sized baseball field temporarily off the table, field supporters and neighbors instead broke into groups around the auditorium, working out temporary plans on property maps to satisfy both maps.  

By the end of the evening, a consensus had emerged for a multi-purpose field for soccer and rugby on one portion of the property, with some combination of baseball infield, softball field, basketball courts, gardens, and other smaller parcels in the remaining space. 

Vallier said that the architects would return on Feb. 28 to present finalized plans to the community before giving a final report to the BUSD board. She said that demolition of the buildings on the north property is scheduled to begin in May or June or this year, and promised that the demolition would not affect the operation of the Farmers’ Market. 

Councilmember Anderson told meeting participants that he considered the meeting “as much a community building exercise as it is a design exercise.” 

He said that while “there has been some mistrust in the past between the community and city officials, I’m in office now, and I’m going to do my best to craft a resolution that will be in the best interest of both the community and the kids.”  

Anderson also said that he has been looking into land-swapping proposals that would place the high school baseball field in a location other than the Derby Street properties. 

Following the meeting, Anderson said he expected the Derby Street closure issue to be discussed by Berkeley City Council before the community meets again in late February.w

Starting this summer Marin Avenue is scheduled to slim down for its 21,000 daily motorists. 

The City Council Tuesday voted 8-1 (Olds, no) to approve a hotly contested plan, known as a “road diet,” to reduce traffic lanes on the major North Berkeley thoroughfare in hopes of slowing down cars and improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists. 

The city plans to reduce the lanes along the avenue in July. 

In other matters, the council approved funding for three affordable housing projects and ordered the Zoning Adjustment Board to conduct a new public hearing on a proposed five-story condo complex. 

The vote on Marin came one week after 42 residents split on whether Berkeley should join Albany in scaling back the avenue from four lanes of oncoming vehicle traffic to two lanes, with two bike lanes and a center turning lane. Only a couple of plan backers and detractors were in attendance Tuesday for the council vote. 

Berkeley’s share of the project is estimated at $35,000, which the city hopes to fund through state and regional grants, said Peter Hillier, assistant city manager for transportation. Restoring the street to its current configuration after a one-year trial period would cost an additional $35,000 and, if deemed necessary, would likely come from the city’s coffers, Hillier added. 

Although the council passed the plan by a strong majority, several councilmembers expressed concerns that despite a transit study showing limited traffic impacts, Marin might bottleneck during rush hour.  

“It’s a very crude model,” said Councilmember Gordon Wozniak. He feared that reducing the avenue’s vehicle capacity would send many commuters dashing through neighboring streets and leave Berkeley powerless to remedy the situation until the year trial period ended. 

“A year is a lifetime if you’re sitting on Marin for an extra half hour,” chimed in Betty Olds, who represents a swath of the Berkeley hills for whose residents Marin is the quickest route to I-80. 

As a condition for approval the council asked that city traffic engineers prepare a report three months after the re-striping project is completed and add Gilman Street and the San Fernando/Thousand Oaks corridor to a list of nine streets slated for before and after transit studies. Additionally, Mayor Tom Bates wrote a letter requesting that Albany officials consider scrapping the project quickly if it backs up traffic. 

Albany residents along Marin have lobbied for seven years to re-stripe the avenue, and the Albany City Council was set to go ahead with the project independent of Berkeley. 

The project will encompass 12 blocks in Albany from Cornell Avenue to Tulare Avenue and an additional four-and-a-half blocks in Berkeley ending at The Alameda where Marin shrinks to one lane in each direction.  

The specter of Albany going ahead with the project, leaving the four Berkeley blocks sandwiched between two narrower sections of Marin appeared to sway several councilmembers. 

“It just seems to me that trying to keep it consistent would be reason enough to do it,” said Linda Maio, fearing that otherwise motorists would see the Berkeley section with four lanes of traffic as a cue to make up for lost time. 

“In many ways it would be more dangerous not to go ahead with this,” said Councilmember Laurie Capitelli, who lives four blocks from Marin and found himself wrestling between the arguments of avenue residents concerned about safety and their neighbors who fear motorists will now commute down their streets instead. 

“It’s a rare opportunity to piss off 10,000 people if you vote yes and 10,000 people if you vote no,” he said. 

Condo Development 

The council voted unanimously to send back to the Zoning Adjustment Board (ZAB) a five-story condo project at University Avenue and McGee Street after an appeal showed that the project violated a state housing law. 

The ZAB had approved the project with a 25 percent density bonus in return for the project’s inclusion of four condos priced at 120 percent of the area’s median income. However, an appeal by project opponent Robin Kibby showed that a 2003 state law allows the 25 percent bonus only for condos priced below 80 percent of AMI.  

The ZAB now must either compel the developer to offer the affordable units at the lower price or find that the developer has economic necessity to proceed with the current design. Losing the bonus would cost the building three condos. 

The project, long opposed by several neighbors for being too big and bulky, has already been to the Design Review Commission seven times and the ZAB three times. In response to concerns, the developer has shrunk the project from 31,500 square feet to 28,300 square feet, reduced the number of units from 43 rentals to 25 condos and doubled the number of parking spaces from 16 to 32.  

Councilmember Dona Spring urged the council to ask the ZAB to consider shaving off an extra 800 square feet from the south end of the building, where there is no setback from the sidewalk, and requiring pedestrian improvements at the site as a condition of the use permit. Councilmembers Kriss Worthington and Max Anderson backed Spring’s motion, but couldn’t muster a majority. 

Affordable Housing 

The council voted to fund $6 million for three affordable housing projects totaling 231 apartments. The projects—Ashby Lofts, University Avenue Senior Housing and Oxford Plaza—will nearly double the number of new affordable housing units constructed in Berkeley since 1999. However to pay its share of the construction costs, the council agreed to tap its housing trust fund for the next three years and, if additional funds don’t materialize and the federal government cuts back on housing grants, commit $500,000 from the city’s general fund reserve. 

All three projects must first compete for state grants and win city permits before beginning construction. 

The council voted unanimously for Satellite Senior Homes and Ashby Lofts and approved Oxford Plaza 8-1 with Olds casting the lone dissenting vote.  

The City Council has authorized up to $75,000 to prepare a lawsuit against UC Berkeley.  

The action taken in closed session Monday comes after the latest round of town-gown negotiations last week ended in stalemate. 

“A lawsuit is all but certain,” said Cisco De Vries, chief of staff to Mayor Tom Bates. 

The suit would challenge the adequacy of the university’s Environmental Impact Report for its recently approved Long Range Development Plan. 

City officials argue the plan, which guides UC Berkeley development through 2020, neglects to specify precisely where the university intends to build and fails to account for the impact of the construction, especially of up to 2,300 new parking spaces. 

In negotiations, the city has tried to use the specter of a lawsuit to settle its demand that the university increase payments for city services it provides such as the fire department and sewer system. 

The city has retained Michelle Kenyon, of the Oakland firm McDonough Holland & Allen to prepare the lawsuit.  

Berkeley has until Feb. 18 to file suit against the university. A legal battle is estimated to cost the city $250,000. 

—Matthew Artz?

Caltrans announced Thursday that it is “moving full speed ahead” with perhaps the most eagerly awaited transit project in Contra Costa County and one of the least loved in Berkeley. 

The fourth bore to the Caldecott Tunnel should be completed by 2012 at a cost of between $200 million and $400 million, said Caltrans Director Will Kempton at a press conference atop the tunnel connecting Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The new bore would be located to the north of the other three, where Caltrans has secured the right-of-way. 

Caltrans currently devotes two two-lane bores heading in the direction of rush hour traffic and one in the opposite direction. The result is often that traffic backs up going towards Contra Costa County in the morning and towards Berkeley in the evening. 

The media gathering came the day after state legislators grilled Caltrans officials at a hearing over $2.5 billion in cost overruns on the Bay Bridge retrofit project. 

Pressed about the timing of Thursday’s announcement, Kempton refused to touch on the bridge controversy, but said the agency was pushing reforms. “We’re looking to improve our project management and operate more like a business,” he said. 

Kempton emphasized a memorandum of understanding among Caltrans, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority and the Alameda County Congestion Agency to handle potential conflicts and keep the tunnel project on track. 

Contra Costa politicians have pressed for the tunnel project for years and Berkeley has opposed it every step of the way. In 2000, the City Council voted unanimously to oppose the project, fearing that a fourth bore would mean more commuters driving their cars through Berkeley streets on their way to work. 

“It’s not going to do us any good,” said Transportation Commission Chair Rob Wrenn. He said he thinks the project will encourage more commuters to drive to jobs at UC Berkeley. 

“Instead of being creative and offering free BART rides and shuttles, Caltrans threw in the towel and decided to further clog roads,” said Stuart Cohen, executive director of the Transportation and Land Use Coalition. 

Ann Smulka, a transportation commissioner who lives in southeast Berkeley, said noise is a big issue in her part of town. Recently she began contacts with Oakland neighborhood organizations that have pressed for effective measures to lessen the impacts of construction and anticipated traffic. 

The project has been essentially a done deal since November when Contra Costa voters approved the extension of a sales tax earmarking $125 million for the tunnel. Previously a regional transportation initiative passed last March set aside $50 million for the project and Caltrans has already committed $40 million. 

Alameda County has pledged $8 million to pay for mitigations for surrounding neighborhoods, said Dennis Fay, executive director of the Alameda County Congestion Agency. Proposals include sound walls and bicycle access at the bore. 

Since commuters from Contra Costa County into Berkeley already have the advantage of two available bores, Fay didn’t think the fourth bore with traffic going in the opposite direction would attract more rush hour commuters into Berkeley. 

“The real advantage will be for people commuting from Alameda to Contra Costa County,” he said. 

Bob McCleary, executive director of Contra Costa County Transportation Authority, said the main issue for his county wasn’t to improve work commutes, but to provide predictability for off peak and weekend trips.  

“A lot of people from Contra Costa go to Cal sporting events and restaurants in Berkeley and Oakland weekend evenings when the traffic is horrendous,” he said. McCleary added that a 2000 Metropolitan Transportation Commission Study studying different alternatives to improve transit recommended proceeding with construction of the fourth bore. 

The price tag for the project will depend on whether the fourth bore has two or three lanes. A two lane design, favored by Caltrans, is estimated to cost between $200 million and $250 million, while the three lane design would push the costs closer to $400 million. 

A draft Environmental Impact Report, being prepared by Parsons Transportation Group, is due out by the fall, said Cristina Ferraz, Caltrans’ project manager for the tunnel. Caltrans, she said, would schedule a new round of public hearings to coincide with the release of the report. 

›

A sharply-divided Peralta Community College Trustee board this week narrowly approved Chancellor Elihu Harris’ request to authorize a Facility Land Use Plan. The decision followed a contentious debate. 

By a four-three vote (Cy Gulassa, Bill Withrow, and Nicky Gonzáles Yuen, no) trustees authorized Harris to enter into a six-month, $45,000 no-bid contract with Scala Design & Development company of Oakland to complete a Land Use Report for the district. 

The board had tabled approval of the proposed contract at its Dec. 14 meeting after Trustee Gonzáles Yuen requested that the proposal be first vetted through Facilities Committees from the district’s four colleges. 

Director of General Services Sadiq Ikharo told trustees that a survey of stakeholders from the district since the Dec. 14 meeting—including Facilities Committees, Academic Senates, Student Associations, and College Presidents from the four colleges—showed that “98 percent of all comments were not positive.” 

Ikharo said that the major complaints throughout the district were that the Facility Land Use Plan was being rushed through too quickly, and that the district should set some overall goals and objectives before moving forward with land-use issues. 

Trustees rejected an amendment by Trustee Gonzáles Yuen to establish a district-wide facilities committee chaired by a faculty member, as well as arguments by Trustee Gulassa that the Scala contract might conflict with a strategic planning group currently being formed by trustees, faculty, and district staff. 

Debate over the issue was sometimes bitter, with trustees interrupting each other and charges of possible racism and sexism by district employees. 

The contract negotiation approval came after Scala principal Atheria Smith asked trustees why district staff required her to submit 45 copies of her resume, and asked ethnic background and places of birth of her staff members. 

“Other vendors with much larger contracts are not asked to do this,” Smith said. While Smith did not offer any reason why her firm may have been singled out for special scrutiny, Trustee Hodge suggested that the actions might have been taken for “gender and race” reasons. Smith is African-American. 

And referring to the Scala contract controversy, Trustee Alona Clifton said that “there have been unconscionable things taking place in the past few weeks. Things that are absolutely unacceptable. Attacks on potential contractors and attacks on private citizens.” 

In answer to Smith’s complaint, Gulassa said that her firm was getting extra scrutiny “because we’re in a very sensitive area after the controversy over the Dones contract.” 

The Dones reference was to a proposed one-year contract with Oakland developer Alan Dones’ Strategic Urban Development Alliance (SUDA) to produce a development plan for certain Laney College properties and the adjacent Peralta administrative offices. Over the objections of some incoming board trustees and Laney College representatives who said they had not been consulted, the outgoing board at its final meeting last November authorized Chancellor Harris to negotiate the contract with SUDA. Last month, Harris announced that he had not moved forward with the SUDA contract negotiations because of the controversy, and because he thought such negotiations “premature.” 

At Tuesday’s trustee meeting, SUDA representatives said they were working to repair the damage caused by the controversy and to get the contract back on track. 

SUDA associate James Collier said that SUDA representatives was making contact with administration, faculty and staff, and student body representatives from Laney, and would soon be “making presentations looking for feedback” concerning the land development proposal. 

“Our development team’s proposal does not involve development of any of the athletic fields at Laney College,” he explained, stating that the proposal was limited to the Laney parking lot and maintenance facilities as well as the nearby Peralta District headquarters. 

Speakers at the November trustee meeting had focused most of their complaints about the proposed Laney College athletic field development portion of the plan. 

In a telephone interview following the meeting, SUDA principal Dones said that, in fact, he never intended to develop the Laney athletic fields since the fields are “constrained by a BART tunnel that runs underneath.” 

Dones also took responsibility for failing to consult Laney representatives about the proposal before it was introduced at the November trustee meeting. 

“That was an oversight on my part,” he said. “I was involved in some other meetings and activities, and did not get it done. But it’s very important—from my perspective—that the Laney College family be informed and completely engaged in any development plan at Laney. I’m not so arrogant than I think I know more than Laney people about what should be done at their college.” 

In his interview, Dones took issue with recent newspaper reports—one of them published in the Daily Planet—linking his proposal with State Senate Majority Leader Don Perata (D-Oakland). A Dec. 17 Daily Planet article revealed that SUDA principal Calvin Grigsby of San Francisco had close ties with the Senator. Dones called those references “ironic and unfortunate.” 

“Although I know Senator Perata and I like him, I’m not one of Don’s everyday people,” Dones said. “I don’t think any relationship between us is relevant to this contract. I’d like to be able to argue the merits of our proposal, without people getting distracted by all these other aspects.” 

›

The Berkeley Historical Society has announced that it is sponsoring the first Berkeley Historical Society Life Magazine-style photo essay competition, and the Berkeley Daily Planet has agreed to be a co-sponsor. A total of $1,028 will be awarded for 12 prizes: first prizes, $127, second, $75, third, $50.  

Entries will be accepted from now until March 19 at 4 p.m. They should be delivered to the Berkeley History Center, 1931 Center St., Berkeley, 94704, in the west wing of the Veterans’ Building. The center is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Its telephone number is 841-0181. 

Four categories of entries will be eligible: junior high and high school students, college students, adults and seniors 55 years of age and older. All contestants must be residents of California. Criteria for judging include: human interest and originality of research; visual impact and photography excellence in black/white, color and/or digital prints; and historic relevance to Berkeley, past and present, for publication or exhibition. 

All entries should be mounted on 30” x 40” mount boards furnished by the Society, with a maximum of six mounted photographic prints of any size, in black and white, or color. 150 words of text, including captions, will be allowed. 

On Saturday, Feb. 19, a free advisory “How To” workshop will be offered at the History Center. 

Winners will be announced on Friday, April 1, the 127th anniversary of the founding of Berkeley and the second anniversary of the revived Berkeley Daily Planet.

When they came for Hadi Saleh, they found him at home in Baghdad with his family. First, they bound his hands and feet with wire. Then they tortured him, cutting him with a knife. He died of strangulation, and before fleeing, his assailants pumped bullets into his dead body.  

No group claimed credit for the Jan. 4 assassination. But for many Iraqis, the manner of his death was a signature.  

In 1969, when Saleh was only 20 years old, sentenced to death in a Baathist prison, such murderous tactics were already becoming well known. For the next 30-plus years the Mukhabarat, Saddam Hussein’s secret police, used them against Saleh’s friends and coworkers. In early January in Baghdad, killers intent on sending the same bloody message finally visited these horrors on him.  

Iraq has never been a very safe place for trade unionists, socialists or democratic-minded people. Iraqi progressives seemed to be on top briefly in 1958, when they finally threw out King Faisal II. For a few years, organizing unions and breaking up the big estates were not just dreams, but government policy. Oil was nationalized, and the revenue used to build universities, factories and hospitals.  

That vision of Iraq shaped Saleh’s generation of political activists, and still does today. For Americans, who know little of Iraqi history, that vision is unknown. Mainstream U.S. media did not report his death.  

Thirty-five years ago, Saleh’s dangerous notions led to his being arrested, accused of being a trade unionist and a red. Narrowly escaping execution, he spent five years in prison. On his release he joined many of his compatriots in exile, where he lived for over 30 years.  

When Saddam Hussein finally fell, Saleh and his friends returned to reorganize the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU). He became its international secretary. Despite a brutal U.S. military occupation, the IFTU began seeking ways to turn into reality that old dream of a progressive Iraq.  

Remarkably, the group has been very successful at organizing new unions, which workers need as never before. A study by the economics faculty of Baghdad University last fall puts unemployment at 70 percent. Wages were frozen by the occupation authorities at $60 a month. First U.S. administrator Paul Bremer, and now Iyad Allawi, installed as president by the United States and the British, seek to privatize Iraq’s big state-owned factories, which workers fear will lead to even further job losses. In September 2003, Bremer issued Order #39, permitting 100 percent foreign ownership of businesses, except for the oil industry, and allowing repatriation of profits. Bremer appointee Tom Foley, a Bush fund-raiser, drew up lists of state enterprises to be sold off.  

In two years the IFTU has organized 12 national unions for different industries, and successfully challenged the occupation’s low-wage regime. But success has had its cost. Saleh’s murder is the latest in a series of attacks on workers and unions in response to their increasing activity. Last November, armed insurgents attacked freight trains, killing four workers. Other workers were kidnapped and beaten a month later. Teachers have also been murdered. They say they’re being blamed for helping the occupation by doing their jobs, although they perform no military function.  

Attacks come from U.S. troops and the Iraqi government as well. U.S. soldiers threw the Transport and Communication unionists out of their office in the Baghdad’s central bus station in December 2003, and arrested members of the IFTU executive board. Last fall, after textile workers in the city of Kut struck over low pay, the factory manager and city governor called out the Iraqi National Guard, who fired on them. Four were wounded, and another 11 arrested.  

Saleh’s murderers had two objectives in making him a bloody example. For the Baathists among the insurgents, the growth of unions and organizations of civil society, from women’s groups to political parties, is a dangerous deviation. Their hopes of returning to power rest on a military defeat for the United States, without a corresponding development of popular, progressive organizations that could govern a post-occupation Iraq.  

Trying to stop those organizations from using the elections to organize a support base is a second objective.  

None of Iraq’s new unions support the armed resistance, nor do most other organizations of Iraqi civil society. But even progressive Iraqis disagree about the elections. Some boycott the process as a charade organized by the occupation. Other parties, from the Iraqi Communist Party (ICP), to which Saleh belonged, to the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq of Shiite Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, see the elections as a vehicle for winning power. In exile, the ICP condemned the war and U.S. invasion, but when the occupation started it joined the Governing Council. Two of its members are currently ministers in the Allawi government.  

While some parts of Iraqi civil society and the Bush administration might share a desire for elections, they have very different goals in mind. For some on the Iraqi left, once the occupation is gone, a mass-based political party with a radical program could win the actual power to implement it.  

Iraqi civil society—unions, women’s and professional organizations and left-wing parties—are trying to grow in a political space that is rapidly shrinking. The armed resistance doesn’t want them around. And despite talk of democracy, the Bush administration would doubtlessly prefer another dependable dictator than popular resistance to the free-market plan. Furthermore, the longer the occupation lasts, the more violence skyrockets and the harder it is for workers to join a union, much less demonstrate and protest.  

Another IFTU leader, Abdullah Muhsen, remembered Saleh’s vision: “a democratic, peaceful and federal Iraq, which would unite all Iraqis, regardless of their background, ethnicity or religion ... workers’ rights to organize and to strike to achieve decent jobs, pay and working conditions ... a defeat for IMF shock therapy and economic occupation, imposed on us by the occupying powers.”  

David Bacon is a photographer and writer specializing in labor issues. He visited Iraq in October 2003.  

Taste of the Himalayas Restaurant 

1700 Shattuck Ave. 

849-4963 

Taste of the Himalayas is in the grand opening stage with new ownership. Rajen and Bijaya Thapa and their two children and friends are all recent immigrants to the United States and Berkeley from Nepal.  

Formerly the Kurry Klub, Taste of the Himalayas is located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Shattuck and Virginia. 

Dishes are prepared by a seasoned staff in true Nepalese and Indian styles featuring all fresh ingredients including mutton, chicken, fish, shrimp, Basmati rice, lentils, onions, peppers, peas, spinach, beans, okra, bamboo shoots, eggplant, and many others. Naan, a bread, is served with most dishes and especially compliments the servings from the Tandoor ovens. Vegetarian Tarkari (curry dishes) are popular for those who avoid meat. 

The current menu includes 49 listings of various appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. There is a good selection of beer and wines to complement these choices. 

The noon buffet served from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. offers a wonderful opportunity to sample the Nepalese and Indian cuisine at modest prices.  

Taste of Himalayas is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. 

—Bill Hissô

GRAFFITI 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

In reference to Sherry Smith’s Jan. 25 “Arts District Graffiti” letter: My hunch is that most of the poets who attended the events on Addison Street would be embarrassed to have such an overt violation of the First Amendment performed to protect their delicate sensibilities. 

Bonnie Hughes 

Member, Civic Arts  

Commission 

• 

THE GOVERNOR 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Our charming celebrity-governor is leaving nothing to our imagination as he continues to demonstrate his mental-challenges. Name-calling, of course, seems to be his favorite way to avoid mature intelligent discourse, and his continued focus on the “healthiness” of his distorted musculature further demonstrates his displaced values. I shudder to think our youth may be influenced by the vulgarity of these behaviors. 

Gerta Farber 

• 

OAKLAND CURFEW 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Stop Jerry Brown before he can hurt again! 

Jerry’s newest idea of curfews adds to the weight of my conviction that it is long time this man retires!! Curfews are the beginning of martial law. “First they came for the parolees and I didn’t speak up, next they came for the teenagers and I didn’t speak up, next they came for the poor...” Curfews are a terrible idea. Jerry Brown has consistently acted to hurt the poor and under advantaged in Oakland since he was elected to office on a platform promising the opposite. He has hurt school children, advertised for Auto Row without supporting real local businesses, shut down art and music venues and in general caters to rich “other” people while hurting the people who live in Oakland. Look at his face. There is no light in it. I suggest Jerry quickly resign from politics and find a nice retreat to try to save his own soul.  

Tierra Dulce 

• 

PERFORMANCE PAY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The governor and others are pushing the view that the same way of rewarding performance in business and industry should be applied to teaching. It stands to reason, they say, that good teachers should be paid more than average teachers.  

In the course of 30-plus years in the classroom I found out early that teaching is an art, the art of connecting with minds, the art of doing whatever you can to get students to want to learn. I found out that every mind is different as I’m sure doctors discover that every body is different. In this regard teaching is cousin to all art and like doctoring, mutatis mutandis, calls for the application of means to ends. Seen in this light a teacher’s performance is no more measured by students’ test scores than a doctor’s performance is measured in a battery of physiological tests. 

Marvin Chachere 

San Pablo 

• 

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I just would suggest that those “Not in My Name” folks either get with the program and unite behind our government the way we always do or leave the country. If you choose to do so you can get free tickets at www.sendthempacking.com. We will be glad to oblige. 

Steve Pardee 

• 

MARIN AVENUE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

As a frequent motorist on Marin Avenue and an avid cyclist, I read with great interest the many opinions regarding how best to mark the lanes on this important thoroughfare. I really don’t know what would be best for traffic and pedestrian safety, but cyclists should be clear about one thing—don’t ride on Marin, even if they paint bike lanes!  

Riding a bike on a thoroughfare makes sense only if there are no realistic alternatives. A quick look at a map reveals several alternate, quiet streets running parallel to Marin. I have ridden on them dozens of times, each time with very little auto traffic. 

Cyclists, steer clear of Marin and give yourselves a more peaceful ride, and your loved ones piece of mind. 

Andrew J. Dhuey 

• 

A COMMITMENT  

TO SAFETY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

On Jan. 25, the Berkeley City Council courageously voted 8 to 1 to join Albany in the experiment to reconfigure Marin Avenue. This vote reflects their commitment to the safety of school kids, bicyclists, and all those no longer able to dash for their lives as they try to cross Marin.  

This is a vote for safety over convenience. Although the engineering studies showed that the additional time to drive west from Colusa to San Pablo Avenue would range from nothing to about a minute, some opponents from the hills lobbied to prevent the change, fearful they would be slowed on Marin, and others feared traffic might be diverted onto their side streets.  

After years of study, it became clear that re-engineering the street was the best solution for safety and livability. The Berkeley City Council carefully examined these engineering studies showing how this change would slow Marin traffic without any significant negative impacts (no diverting traffic; no significant delays).  

It took courage to vote for safety in the face of these fears. The children of our Berkeley/Albany community can be proud of the Berkeley City Council for choosing wisely. 

Robert C. Cheasty 

Marin Avenue Neighbors for Safety 

Former Mayor of Albany 

• 

ALIENATING VOTERS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

On Jan. 25 the Berkeley City Council approved the Marin Avenue reconfiguration. Councilmember Olds made the lone stand for righteousness when she opposed this Albany Boondoggle. At the end of the meeting Mayor Bates giggled that the council had just alienated 10,000 people. I am one of the alienated and I will not forget this. The council was not aware of the potential opposition to this measure until the Jan. 18 hearing, but this was something it should have considered. The entrenched Bicycle Curia in the city comprised of the Transportation Commission, city staff and the consultants must be blamed for this. Their treachery in their dealings with the City of Albany lead the council as well as others into thinking this was a “slam dunk.” It was not and the semi secrecy in which the process was conducted was partly to blame. It was difficult to follow the doings of the city council and much less the Transportation Commission and who paid any attention to the backwater, Albany.  

I would say that this is the last bicycle project in the city, just to teach the Bicycle Curia a lesson. But, as they are so entrenched and since their policy is enshrined in the General Plan, I have little hope of this. Speaking of teaching a lesson, if this project turns out badly and I suspect it will, if any councilomembers who support it run for a higher office, like mayor or state assembly, I will oppose them as they have failed the litmus test. I will try to do what I can to get the 10,000 alienated to vote as a block against any such candidates. I can imagine the campaign signs on Marin, “__________GAVE YOU THIS TRAFFIC JAM” or “ANYBODY BUT _________” (or maybe I should form a PAC. How does teachthemalesson.org sound?). Remember, council tax plans failed, in much part, due to the lack of support in this area.  

Mayor Bates says that he wants to remain a good neighbor to Albany. I want to remind him that Albany has been a bad neighbor to us and the council did not stand up for us. It became partners with their fellow plutocrats in Albany in this Machiavellian subterfuge. Once this boondoggle is established there is little chance it can be reversed since there is no money identified to accomplish this. This had better work.  

Frederick O. Hebert  

• 

KACH PARTY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I believe that your characterization of the Kach party in Israel as “anti-Arab” or “virulently anti-Arab” is erroneous. I was intimately involved in Kach from the beginning. The Kach party points out that it is impossible for an Arab Moslem to be a good citizen of a Jewish state, since he (erroneously) sees the state as having robbed him of his land. Allowing people to be citizens of a state when they actively wish for and support the destruction of said state is suicide. No country would allow such people to stay in their borders, yet Israel does. Kach is against this suicidal policy. 

Kach also points out that the concept of an open secular democracy a la Jefferson, as opposed to a democracy of Jews only is unworkable. To have an open secular democracy such as the current State of Israel purports to be, one must accept that any group of citizens may become the majority, including Arab Moslems. However, the current state has repeatedly stated that they will not accept an Arab Moslem majority. This is akin to apartheid, and is nothing less than hypocrisy.  

Kach rejects the hypocrisy and says that citizenship in a Jewish state should be limited to Jews (duh!). It is important to keep in mind that whereas Judaism is a religion, the Jews are not a religious group. If a Jew even practices a different religion, he is still Jewish. Jews are a people with a land, a language, a legal code, and a religion. Thus they are a nationality, and it is logical that they may limit citizenship in their state to those of their nationality. 

Avraham Sonenthal 

• 

STOP PAYING TAXES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Since Mr. Bush was re-elected, many have been lamenting. Surely, people should express their frustration about the U.S. regime and Mr. Bush. Also, we witnessed that there were protesters who marched in D.C. on the inauguration day. I believe that holding signs and demonstrations against Bush’s regime will not change anything. Those who really believe that Mr. Bush and his cabinet should not be running the country, should stop filing taxes. Yes, it is possible to make this regime bankrupt by not sending taxes. Perhaps, this is the only means to dislodge an illegitimate regime. Your forefathers did so: Henry David Thoreau refused to pay taxes to oppose the U.S. war against Mexico. 

Ajit Indrajit 

• 

WEST BERKELEY BOWL 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The proposed West Berkeley Bowl is the sort of freeway-oriented development that environmentalist oppose because it generates more long-distance automobile trips, more energy consumption, and more air pollution—the same reason we oppose Wal-Marts and big-box retailers.  

The proposed 55,000-square-foot market is often compared with the existing 42,000-square-foot Berkeley Bowl, but the existing Bowl itself is a large store. It makes more sense to compare the proposed market with traditional-size supermarkets, such as Whole Foods, Andronicos, and north Shattuck Safeway, which typically have 27,000 or 28,000 square feet—only half the size of the proposed West Berkeley Bowl.  

The original proposal for a 27,000-square-foot West Berkeley Bowl would have been a traditional-size, neighborhood-serving supermarket. The expanded proposal would draw cars from the entire I-80 corridor, and it should be rejected.  

I write as a smart growth advocate who has supported virtually every major development proposed in downtown Berkeley and on transit corridors during the last 15 years (with the sole exception of a proposed drive-through Rite-Aid in downtown, which I worked against).  

It is time for Berkeley to move beyond the usual debates between people who blindly support all development and people who blindly oppose all development. We should learn the lesson that the smart growth movement is teaching to communities all across the nation: We should support pedestrian- and transit-oriented development, like most of the new development in downtown and on University Avenue, and we should oppose environmentally destructive freeway-oriented development, like the proposed West Berkeley Bowl.  

Charles Siegel  

• 

FIREPLACES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I was delighted to read in the Jan 18-20 Daily Planet that the Community Environmental Advisory Commission (CEAC) may make the use of some fireplaces illegal. Matthew Artz covered the pollution aspect of the problem thoroughly, and I thank you him for that. However, there is another important aspect to fireplace use that eludes most people and is important in deciding whether to burn wood, and that is efficient home heating. 

Most people think that burning wood will warm this house, but in fact the opposite is true. How can this be? How can a fireplace cool the house? Most homes are warmed by sun coming in the windows and the refrigerator pumping heat out of the food and into the kitchen. When you light a fire, the room air goes up the chimney with the smoke, and colder exterior air enters through cracks around the doors and windows. Thus, in the end, burning in a fireplace cools the house. 

Instead of burning a log, why not put candles in the fireplace and use a hot water bottle or an electric blanket to create a warm spot in a cozy chair? Your house will be warmer, your PG&E bill will be lower, and the air will be cleaner. There is no reason to retrofit the fireplace or to spend any money doing anything fancy. A few candles are cheap and easy and give that sense of a warm hearth without all the problems associated with burning wood. 

I applaud the CEAC and hope they follow though in their effort to make the air healthier for all to breathe. 

Sal Levinson 

• 

PRO-BOWL 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I am a resident of Berkeley, living a block away (Eighth and Grayson) from the proposed site of the West Berkeley Bowl development. I have attended at least three neighborhood meetings beginning in December 2003, discussing with Kava Massih (the architect), the owners and neighbors, their plans and concerns. I’ve found the dialogue to be honest, responsive and reasonable with the principle goal of addressing all of our needs. I resent the fact that a couple of individuals have misrepresented that process, denied its existence and diminished both parties involvement in the planning process. The meetings I attended showed overwhelming support for the project at every phase, including the expanded (current) size. The neighborhood clearly voiced concerns over traffic flow and parking but approached it with an open mind, requesting that the city and developers mitigate these issues satisfactorily.  

Now I read in the Daily Planet how the project has been created behind closed doors and morphed into a regional superstore. I hear inflammatory terms like “big box store” thrown around, and threats of an urban nightmare about to befall us. Are they talking about the same project I’ve been considering over the past year? I won’t argue about how this fits or doesn’t fit into the much talked about West Berkeley Master Plan. I’ll speak as a neighbor to the project and a resident of Berkeley. I am quite willing to give up a good portion of our deserted neighborhood quietude in exchange for the ability to walk to a quality market and green grocer to shop. No longer would I have to drive across town to a grocery shop or frequent a San Pablo liquor store for a quart of milk. The residents of West and South Berkeley have been in dire need of a supermarket for years, and now we have the opportunity to have a Berkeley-owned, world-renown greengrocer/market prepared to develop not only a store, but a holistic pharmacy and cafe. The Berkeley Bowl would bring much needed fresh food and produce to a community in great need. After shelter, is there anything more fundamental to the quality of life than fresh food? In this day and age of processed food, corporate ownership, genetically engineered produce—shouldn’t we herald the Berkeley Bowl for offering a healthy antidote to these forces? As a resident of Berkeley, I have to look beyond my own selfish concerns—whether they support (which is the case) or oppose this development, and look to what is good for the community and city at large. And, if I objectively consider the greater good, than the Berkeley Bowl project must succeed. And, I encourage the developers, the city, the residents and neighborhood businesses to work together to solve the valid issues we face.  

How can we as a community deny the right for families access to healthy food? Are we dooming future generations to a diet of fast food and liquor store groceries because we could not solve the traffic flow? Because of parking? Because it might, just might, in the imagination of some, open the door for a chain mega-store? Need I list the other tangible benefits?—tax revenue for the economically strapped city budget, over 150 jobs created and the decongestion of the other Berkeley Bowl location. I would argue that the stakes are too high not to work together to make this project succeed.  

Cameron Woo 

• 

WHO’S NEXT? 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

If you think the Bush administration is going to just stop with Iraq you are kidding yourself. As Bush has made it very clear that we are going to spread “democracy” around the world and that we are not going to leave Iraq until the mission is complete, a mission that most likely includes more then just Iraq. Recently if has been leaked out of the Pentagon that plans and preparations are being made to invade Iran sometime in the near future, already special forces have secretly gone into Iran during this past year. And we are already hearing similar accusations toward Iran that the Bush administration gave for invading Iraq. So the stage is being set, but Iran is no Iraq and if we think we are having problems in Iraq well multiply that by ten folds with Iran as they are no pushover to say the least. So let’s not kid ourselves, as most people though Hitler was done after he invaded Austria, if Bush does invade Iran this could possibly lead to world war three. Also Bush believes by “winning” the last election that he has a mandate and that the American people are supporting what he has done so far in Iraq regardless that no WMDs were ever found. At this point the only thing that maybe able to stop this madness is when enough people in this country take to the streets like we did during the Vietnam war and demand for it to stop or else! Otherwise it may not and then there will be no one else to blame but ourselves as we cannot claim we did not know. 

Thomas Husted 

Alameda 

• 

SAN LUIS OBISPO 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

What happens in San Luis Obispo, a small town of 25,000 taken over by 18,000 CalPoly students every fall, winter, and spring? The town shows indifference to all the investments and positive groups that thrive at CalPoly trying to make the community a better place, a place to survive and flourish. However, this year, they have shown resentment and disdain and have acted out by canceling the famous Mardi Gras scheduled for the week of Feb. 8, after a riot broke out last year in which police hoarded up festival goers like cows forcing them into apartments and then shooting tear gas and bean bags at angry participants. They have threatened the festival-goers this year before they even hit the streets with 400 extra police and security. Calvary units will be in place, and rumors go around about how partiers plan to bring weapons to protect themselves in case things get out of hand. Flyers and ads have been posted stating that “visitors are not welcome” in San Luis Obispo this Mardi Gras, however, being a small town with many private businesses placed on 7 o’clock evening curfews to shut down and no fast food drive-through, the town relies on tourist to support the economy.  

Rather than thriving off a possible great reputation as SLO being the Mardi Gras of the West, the community and authorities plan on being as stubborn as ever by threatening our basic rights. We have been warned to not walk on the streets and our civil liberties are being violated. Now it is time to warn the authorities of San Luis Obispo that the people want their festivities. 

Shaun Haugen 

San Luis Obispo 

• 

CROSSING TO SAFETY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

As a recent arrival from the crowded and yet pedestrian-friendly cities of the East Coast, I’d like to share something I was taught on my second day of Kindergarten. 

How to Cross the Street 

1) Approach the curb at the crosswalk 

2) Stop. Plant both feet. 

3) Look left. Remain standing still. 

4) Look right. Remain standing still. 

5) Look left again. Proceed if safe. 

6) Face oncoming traffic at all times, seek eye contact with other road users. 

7) Move quickly, do not hesitate or get distracted. 

This lesson would have been useful to the woman who walked straight into me this morning as I paused before crossing Shattuck. She was about to step into four lanes of busy traffic with her eyes fixed on a book and her ears blocked by headphones. I don’t think she appreciated that I prevented her from doing something quite reckless (and, as I was raised, quite inconsiderate). 

An urban area is a complex system of thousands of people, all with places to go and things to do. Reframing the debate in terms of responsibilities, rather than rights, might put the problems in their proper perspective. 

Matthew Reagan 

Oakland 

• 

BROWER CENTER COVERAGE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Your coverage of the proposed David Brower Center’s praise by Berkeley’s Design Review Committee omitted criticism delivered at the same hearing that your reporter may have attended. One reason for this omission may have been the odd impression your reporter had—or he has a brilliant sense of humor—in your Jan. 25-27 edition: “No parking is planned for the Brower Center, in keeping with the organization’s pro-bike and mass transit agenda.” 

Wow, I love that! If only it were true. It’s more like, “Enviros, start your engines!” The amount of parking on the site could almost double, from 132 spaces at present. On the architect’s website as of Jan. 26, the claim was that only underground parking would be available, but the plan is for above ground pollutionmobiles to be accommodated as well. The architect’s website also had David Brower down as the “founder” of the Sierra Club, which the Club was amused by when I visited yesterday at its headquarters for an all-day session of the Campaign Against the Plastic Plague. Perhaps one of the lead nonprofits in the “David Brower Memorial Parking Garage” scheme, the Center for Ecoliteracy, could educate the architect as to who the hell John Muir was. 

Planet readers can see a full report on the Brower Center and the criticisms, with some nice pictures of Dave himself, at the culturechange.org website (top of homepage). The report was sent out this week to over ten thousand subscribers of the Culture Change Letter, and the feedback has been emotional, such as from the architecture review editor of The Nation magazine, Jane Holtz Kay: “This is @#$%^&*() unbelievable. I will have to put it in my global warming book, or something. It sounds like your basic ‘Let all ye who enter here be damned.’” Mark Robinowitz, of Oilempire.us, wrote in: “The irony is overwhelming...” 

Wait, perhaps your reporter has a crystal ball about the “no parking,” and the city and the establishment environmental groups will soon see the light. More and more of us are crying out: Change this plan regarding designing a future for more global warming, oil wars and car injuries/fatalities, and instead honor David Brower as we all know he should be honored! 

Jan Lundberg 

Publisher, Culture Change 

• 

GIVE IT A REST 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I would be much more inclined to give some thought to the meetings between the mayor and Seagate developers if Zelda Bronstein’s name wasn’t associated with the story. Has anyone else noticed that Ms. Bronstein’s name appears regularly in news reports concerning opposition to development projects or requests for commercial expansion. This morning her name is in the Daily Cal story on the Berkeley Bowl, she is against the project. She was also against the expansion of Jeremy’s the clothing store on College Avenue. The Seagate project has gone through all the required levels of our city government checks and balances. Perhaps Ms. Bronstein could try and see that not all development is bad for our city....give it a rest! 

Alex Warren 

• 

LIBRARY FUNDING 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Your article on the Berkeley Public Library’s cutbacks mentioned a shocking fact: The city’s General Fund contributes $0 to the library. 

The library tax was originally posed as a supplement to ensure longer hours and more books. The General Fund should pay for a baseline of service. 

What next? Will the Police Department be entirely funded by a special tax? 

William J. Flynnô

Click here to view the latest work by Justin DeFreitas 

THE STUPIDIPTY OF THE POLITICAL LEFT 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

As our great nation marches steadily to the Right, the political Left is scratching its’ collective head trying to figure out why. They stubbornly blame their consistent and substantial electoral losses on the supposition that they are not getting their message out. The fact is that the Lefts’ melancholy and always predictable message is getting out loud and clear, but being rejected. 

The American public is maturing beyond the Left’s naive approach to social ills and is increasingly dismissing pillars of Leftist ideology such as political correctness, which most often requires the complete suspension of reality to be believed. Accepting personal responsibility is considered taboo as “society” is faulted for everything and the honorable badge of victim hood is draped around the necks of everyone from criminal junkies to the obese. 

Your story on the long troubled Harriet Tubman Apartments illustrates beautifully, at the local level, why the Left is not trusted on national security. Political correctness trumps common sense and denies reality, which then makes it impossible to identify and solve a problem. 

I have not had a Leftist lobotomy so I am still able to ask a tough question and accept the answer. How is it that the sweet and gentle old folk of Berkeley live in a senior housing project which is, and has long been plagued with crime and drug problems? Are the residents causing the trouble? Are the children of the residents or other family relatives responsible?  

In fine Leftist tradition, neither Max Anderson or Kriss Worthington demand any accountability or explanation from the seniors. Apparently the greedy, for-profit (dirty word) Century Pacific Housing Partnership was getting them hooked on drugs to maximize profits. Perhaps they were forced to sell drugs to make up for the money that George Bush stole from them. Common sense (dirty word) tells us that the residents of the apartments cannot all be innocent victims. For these conditions to prevail their must be some culpability. 

But let’s suspend reality and accept that they are all innocent victims. Then the blame for not protecting the most needy and vulnerable among us falls squarely on the shoulders of the Berkeley Housing Authority and the Berkeley Police Department. What type of system could allow such a horrible situation to fester and grow? It is shameful! What has rendered the police impotent to stop criminal behavior and provide security? Could it be that their hands are tied by the Leftist policy directives which promote “tolerance” to the point of absurdity? Who are the drug dealers and who are the criminals responsible for the problems? If you can’t ask the question because you may not like the answer you can never solve the problem. Thankfully there are those in this country who have not lost their common sense and they are beginning to make their voices heard. The Left in this country today, do nothing but whine, complain, and make excuses. The only answer they provide to today’s problems is a demand for more money to feed their failed and corrupted programs. The message which the Left is sending out is the best recruiting tool the Republicans ever had.  

Michael Larrick 

Now that we’ve heard the announcement that the Chinese government is going to rent two giant pandas to the Oakland Zoo—and before City Councilmember Henry Chang comes up with another five or six year project to occupy his publicly-financed hours—perhaps the time has come for Oakland to rethink this whole idea of an at-large councilmember. 

For those with short memories, Mr. Chang—who once told the San Francisco Chronicle that he had been “dreaming about pandas for years”—made acquisition of the rare Chinese bears his major project during his three terms on council, once leading a delegation of city officials to China to, among other things, “observe the panda.” 

(The Oakland Panda Project website www.oaklandpandas.com/oakland_camp includes a picture of Mr. Chang, fellow Oakland Councilmember Larry Reid, and several other suited and dignified-looking people posing in front of a pagoda-type building and a statue over the caption “In search of Pandas.” No actual pandas appear in the picture, so it is not certain whether any were found on that particular trip.) 

Now that they apparently have been found, the pandas—when and if they actually come to Oakland—will not come cheap. The Chinese government does not sell or give their pandas away, but only offers to rent them out. For Oakland, that means a term of 10 years at a million dollars a year, which is not as expensive as a good-rebounding power forward, but is rather on the high-end for creatures who do little else but sit and eat all day and balk at breeding. We are also told that it will cost between $5 million and $15 million to build a house for the bears—my, but home prices are skyrocketing in the Oakland hills these days—and an unknown additional amount to keep them in bamboo and other amenities during their stay. 

Oakland taxpayers are being cautioned to rest our worries, since the money is going to come mainly from private donations, and Oakland is going to see it all back in tourists flocking up to Knowland Park. This is from the same city government that once told us the Coliseum would sell out for every Raider game, so forgive us if we remain a little skeptical. 

Meanwhile, back to the at-large Oakland city councilmember thing. 

Not certain how or why this whole position was conceived, but for many years the at-large Oakland council position was considered the “Asian seat” on Oakland City Council, first held by Frank Ogawa—after whom Frank Ogawa Plaza in front of Oakland City Hall is named—and then passed on to Mr. Chang, who was first appointed to the position in 1994 following Mr. Ogawa’s death, mid-term. 

In my mind, this was not a bad thing, the “Asian seat” thing. I am a firm believer in affirmative action, an absolutely dreadful system only made necessary because it works toward the elimination of an absolutely worse system—institutional racism. 

But I’m also a firm believer that affirmative action should be eased out once it has been objectively demonstrated—Mr. Connerly and friends, please note the distinction—that the institutional racism conditions that caused it to come about are ending, and, therefore, the solution is no longer needed. Oakland voters having demonstrated in the cases of Councilmember Jean Quan and recently-former Councilmember Danny Wan that we are beginning to be mature enough to elect Asian-American officeholders on our own, without undue prodding, it would seem that we need to find other uses, now, for the at-large council seat. 

Some suggestions, therefore. 

One function of the at-large Oakland councilmember, we are told, is to act as a sort of a back-up for constituent service, helping city residents get through the maze of Oakland’s bureaucracy and city regulations. But even if that occurred in fact, it would not be enough to justify the presence of an extra councilmember. And it hasn’t occurred in fact. Mr. Chang once described himself as being “invisible” by design, and during Mr. Chang’s 2004 re-election campaign, the Oakland Tribune noted that “Councilmember Danny Wan, who is helping to orchestrate Chang’s campaign, said his colleague … worries about stepping on the toes of the other council members, who are elected by district.” Translate that to mean: since Mr. Chang doesn’t actively tell Oaklanders that he’s there to answer their constituent calls, Oaklanders don’t know it, and therefore don’t call. 

Another function of the at-large Oakland councilmember is to act as a sort of “super councilmember,” looking at larger city issues crossing district lines that the rest of the council—too often confined by the needs and demands of constituents in their own districts—either can’t or won’t see. 

But the sort of “super councilmember” role is what the city mayor is actually supposed to fill, even if the mayor no longer sits on City Council. Oaklanders have found that in recent years, at least, this relationship has been…umm….less than satisfactory, but we can hope that this will not always be the case, now that Mr. Brown is on his way out the door and other, more Oaklandcentric, politicians are lining up to take his place. 

Further, given Mr. Chang’s interpretation of grand visions is a six-year quest to put bears in the hills, Oaklanders can be forgiven if we want to give a little bit more direction to the job before letting another at-large councilmember loose to wander our streets and spend our money. 

Perhaps what is needed is an actual job description for the at-large council seat, putting a portfolio in the City Charter that outlines what an at-large councilmember ought to do for public pay. 

One set of responsibilities, as one example, might be as the council’s liaison for development issues. There are some development zones—the downtown area, the Coliseum, the Hegenberger corridor out by the airport, or the port—that are so important to the city’s economy that they supercede the interests of the district in which they are located (Oakland City Council normally ignores Councilmember Nancy Nadel’s wishes as to what ought to happen in her downtown district, anyway, so this would not be so large a change from what presently occurs). 

This does not mean that other councilmembers would not have an interest in—or a vote on—these development zones. But giving the at-large Oakland councilmember a specific set of responsibilities would allow voters to look for a specific set of qualifications in prospective candidates, and would also give something by which to judge when re-election time rolls around. 

Another alternative—if we’re still looking—would be for Oaklanders to go the teats-on-a-boar-hog route, declaring the at-large councilmember post a useless appendage and lopping it off of the Oakland body politic. There is nothing in constitution or custom mandating that once the number of a City Council has been set, it has been set in granite, for all time. Last November, voters in the City of Richmond agreed by a 72 percent to 28 percent margin to drop two seats from their nine-member at large City Council as a cost-cutting measure. Richmond, we are sure, will survive the operation. 

Whatever Oaklanders decide do about the at-large city councilmember position, the designation of Mr. Chang as the official Procurer of Pandas gives city residents a long-needed opportunity to rethink the position he holds. If we wait until the next election cycle, it will be way too late. 

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The election of a new Iraqi Assembly is a milestone in the occupation and, therefore, an opportunity for Americans to consider our options in Iraq: one would be to stick with the Bush “plan” to tough it out, another to withdraw our troops, and a third to proceed in some novel direction. This analysis considers the second option, a speedy withdrawal. 

Pundits have observed that George W. Bush’s brand of religion is closer to Manichaeism than it is to mainstream Christianity, as it is dominated by images of a battle between good and evil, and judgments such as “You’re either with us or against us.” Whatever it is called, Bush’s belief system causes him to paint America’s policy choices as either black or white. His penchant for radical simplification makes for convincing sound bites and has greatly helped create an image of Bush as a man who makes up his mind and sticks to it. 

As a result of this Manichaeism, the Bush administration has cast the occupation Iraq as having only two faces; those who support the president’s stance of “staying the course” are portrayed as being on the side of righteousness; on the other hand, those who suggest that we ought to withdraw are described as terrorist sympathizers. This aggressive Bush posture has been so effective that most Democrats have adopted the tactic of only questioning administration policy at the margins, by arguing, for example, that we need more troops or we should fight smarter. Over the holidays Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman was in Iraq visiting the troop and observed, “Morale is high. [U.S. troops are] serving with a real sense of purpose and they’re proud of what they’re doing. They are contributing in a difficult circumstance to a historic transformation.” Translation: “I support the troops and don’t have the slightest idea how to get out of this mess.” 

Yet there are plausible alternatives to the obdurate Bush Iraqi strategy. They begin with the observation that the occupation has been characterized by gross incompetence and, as a result, many policy choices have been rendered unfeasible by administration bumbling. Among these lost options is that of relying upon the United Nations or NATO to provide peacekeeping forces so that the United States can gracefully withdraw from Iraq. The few choices that remain viable might be termed triage tactics, for all of them have a painful down side.  

With notable exceptions, such as Congresswoman Barbara Lee, few Democrats have had the temerity to call for one of these difficult alternatives, an immediate withdrawal from Iraq, but such a move has obvious advantages: The swift removal of U.S. troops would bring an end to American casualties. It would also be viewed positively by much of the world, and, thereby, restore some of America’s credibility. For many Americans, it would belatedly recognize the immorality of the invasion. 

But the longer the occupation continues, the more unlikely it is that an immediate withdrawal would be a viable option. Saying that America should abruptly depart from Iraq is comparable to the situation where a well-intentioned friend or relative advises a battered wife that she should immediately leave her husband; It’s morally correct but, usually, operationally impractical advice, as most battered women have no resources: no housing, money, job, or childcare—none of the essentials they would need to make a safe break from an abusive relationship.  

A unilateral withdrawal may be the morally correct stance, but it is now operationally impractical. The United States overthrew the Hussein regime and occupied Iraq; in the process we destroyed the country’s infrastructure. Therefore, we have an obligation to rebuild Iraq and to do what we can to establish the social foundation for an enduring democracy. This would not happen if the U.S. were to abruptly withdraw. Instead, Iraq would fall further into chaos.  

There are many other considerations that argue against a total withdrawal: America has guaranteed the safety of the fledgling Kurdish state, and to a lesser extent, the prospects for democracy among Iraq’s Shiite population; both of these efforts would be jeopardized if we left now. The administration has touted Iraq as the cornerstone of an American initiative to bring real democracy to the Middle East; many would see our departure as not only a U.S. failure, but as evidence that democracy will not work in the region. Finally, observers of all political persuasions argue that removing our troops from Iraq would only serve to encourage terrorists, to remind them of previous retreats in Beirut and Mogadishu, and thereby increase the probability of attacks on American interests in the Middle East and Central Asia.  

The Bush administration is famously adverse to constructive criticism. They have stubbornly clung to the position that there is only one correct way through the Iraq maze, and that is the path that America is plodding down. Such a perspective does not encourage creative thinking, but that is what is needed if our nation is to escape this quagmire; progressives must think outside the box and propose a novel solution.›

Frat Pack, Not Rat Pack 

Berkeley Police were summoned to the 2300 block of Telegraph Avenue a few minutes before midnight Tuesday where callers had reported a brawl in progress, according to the police blotter. 

Officers quickly established that the frac as had resulted from an excess of testosterone and allegiances to two rival fraternities and counseled the combatants to, like, chill. 

City Hall Keys Swiped 

Berkeley Planning Commissioner Susan Wengraf called police to report that someone had broken in t o her car while it was parked near Cordonices Park Tuesday and made off with her purse—which included keys to City Hall. 

Officers were unable to find anyone who had witnessed the crime. 

Hit and Run Injuries 

A 40-year-old Berkeley man sustained injuries in a hit and run accident at 1099 San Pablo Avenue Tuesday morning. 

Police are seeking a Richmond resident in connection with the incident.

Yule Fuel 

A full crew of Berkeley firefighters arrived at Casa Zimbabwe just after 8:30 last Sunday evening after receiving a report of flames shooting from the roof of the co-op housing building on Ridge Road. 

Though the flames were gone when the trucks arrived, firefighters were quickly able to determine their source in the charred skeletal remains of two Christmas trees reposing in a water-filled bathtub accompanied by a partially gas-filled liquor bottle. 

Two residents acknowledged that they’d set one of the trees alight, just as they had the night before, said Deputy Fire Chief David Orth. 

After learning from their previous experiment that gas wasn’t needed to ignite a desiccated Christmas tree, the pair said they hadn’t bothered with the fuel for the Sunday night fire fest. 

No arrests were made, and no more trees remained to be burned. 

Burned Again 

A homeless couple camped against the side of a deserted and to-be-demolished building at 2332 Fourth St. inadvertently ignited a blaze last Friday that brought firefighters out in full force. 

“We suspect they were the same couple who was camped there in September and were responsible for a fire that destroyed another structure on the site,” said Deputy Chief Orth. 

Friday’s blaze did little structural damage, but Orth said that city officials have repeatedly tried to get the site’s owners to secure the area where homeless people have cut holes in the fence.?

The recent meeting between President Bush and the Congressional Black Caucus grabbed headlines because Bush and the group spent the last four years snubbing each other. What did not make news was a meeting Bush had with black evangelical leaders the day before his get-together with the caucus.  

The great untold story of the 2004 presidential elections was the black evangelical vote. Although black evangelicals still voted overwhelmingly for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, they gave Bush the cushion he needed to bag Ohio and win the White House. There were early warning signs that might happen. The same polls that showed black’s prime concern was with bread and butter issues—and that Kerry was seen as the candidate who could deliver on those issues—also revealed that a sizable number of blacks ranked abortion, gay marriage and school prayer as priority issues. Their concern for these issues didn’t come anywhere close to that of white evangelicals, but it was still higher than that of the general voting public.  

A Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies poll in 2004 found that blacks by a far larger margin than the overall population opposed gay marriage. That raised a few eyebrows among some political pundits, but there were much earlier signs of blacks relentless hostility to gays and gay rights. A survey that measured black attitudes toward gays published in Jet Magazine in 1994 found that a sizable number of blacks were suspicious and scornful of them. Many blacks also loathed Kerry’s perceived support of abortion. In polls, Kerry got 20 percent less support from black conservative evangelicals than Democratic presidential contender Al Gore received in 2000.  

In the right place and under the right circumstance, black evangelicals posed a stealth danger to Democrats. As it turned out, the right place for Bush was Ohio, Wisconsin and Florida. These were must-win swing states, and Bush won them with a considerably higher percent of the black vote than he got in 2000. In Ohio, the gay marriage ban helped bump up the black vote for Bush by seven percentage points, to 16 percent. In Florida and Wisconsin, Republicans aggressively courted and wooed key black religious leaders. They dumped big bucks from Bush’s Faith-Based Initiative program into church-run education and youth programs. Black church leaders not only endorsed Bush, but in some cases they actively worked for his re-election, and encouraged members of their congregations to do the same.  

The helpful nudge over the top that the black evangelicals gave Bush in Ohio, Florida and Wisconsin has not been lost on Bush’s political architect Karl Rove. He has publicly declared that he will pour even more resources and attention into revving up black evangelicals in the 2006 and 2008 congressional and presidential elections. Rove has flatly said that Bush will try to pay off one of his debts to evangelicals by pushing the languishing federal gay-marriage ban. Family groups say they’ll dump gay-marriage ban initiatives on ballots in as many states as they can.  

Republicans will inflame black’s anti-gay bias in states such as Michigan, where blacks, who make up a significant percent of voters, backed a gay marriage ban in big numbers. Even if passage of the federal marriage ban ultimately falls flat on its face should it get out of Congress to the states, the fight over it can still turn the 2006 mid-term and 2008 presidential elections into a noisy and distracting referendum on the family. That will give Republican strategists another chance to pose as God’s defenders of the family and shove even more black evangelicals into the Republican vote column.  

Meanwhile, Bush officials will continue to ladle out millions through their faith-based programs to a handpicked core of top black church leaders. They’ve already announced a series of conferences that will be held in various cities starting in February to show black church leaders and community groups how to grab more of the faith initiative money. That will be more than enough to assure the active allegiance—or at minimum, the silence—of some black church leaders on those Bush domestic policies that wreak havoc on poor black communities.  

Bush and the Republicans bank that their strategy of bypassing black Democrats and civil rights leaders to make deals with black evangelicals will finally break the decades-long stranglehold Democrats have had on the black vote. If they’re right, it will spell deep peril for the Democrats in future elections.  

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is a political analyst and author of The Crisis in Black and Black (Middle Passage Press). He publishes The Hutchinson Report Newsletter, an on-line public issues newsletter.›

Unless U.S. senators have a collective spine transplant (our own Barbara Boxer is thankfully excluded from this group) they will soon confirm Alberto Gonzales as the United States Attorney General. I mention spinelessness because it seems to be the new Democratic policy to “work with” the Bush administration, no matter how outrageous its proposals are. For example, if the Bush administration were to suggest strip mining the entirety of Yosemite National Park (as they probably will) we can be sure that some—if not most—of the Democrats will decry that and, instead, propose that they only strip mine half of Yosemite. Then, when a bill sails through the congress providing that three-quarters of the park be strip mined, the Democrats will trumpet that they got the best deal they were capable of. After all, they wouldn’t want to offend any middle of the road potential voters. 

Anyway, as background on Gonzales, he is a former Texas Supreme Court Justice, with ties to Enron Corporation. When on the court, he accepted $35,000 from that company in campaign contributions— according to the New York Daily News of February 2, 2002. The organization Texans for Public Justice charges that Gonzales accepted campaign contributions from other corporate litigants who were appearing before his court. Others would say this was bribery, but this, apparently, is accepted practice in the judicial offices of Texas. 

When Bush was governor of Texas, Gonzales advised him on death sentence commutation requests. Gonzales apparently supplied Bush with the Classic Comics Illustrated version of the facts. Atlantic Monthly reported that “Gonzales repeatedly failed to apprise the governor of crucial issues in the cases at hand: ineffective counsel, conflict of interest, mitigating evidence, even actual evidence of innocence.” (July/August 2003.) 

Gonzales has justified torture of prisoners to get information of them. He is the architect of the Abu Ghraib atrocities. Referring to the War on Terror, he wrote in a memo, “This new paradigm renders obsolete Geneva’s strict limitations on questioning of enemy prisoners and renders quaint some of its provisions.” (Do you want an attorney general who writes using the term “paradigm” whatever his views?) 

Now Newsweek reports that when George W. Bush was Texas governor, Gonzales pulled strings to get Bush out of jury duty. It seems that in 1996, Bush was called as a juror to sit on a case involving a stripper who was arrested for driving under the influence. In voir dire—the part of the trial where the lawyers question the biases of the potential jurors—it surely would have come out that Bush himself had been convicted of a DUI. Bush didn’t want that offense to be made public as it would impact his chance of becoming president. Gonzales took the defense attorney and the prosecutor back into the judge’s chambers and argued off the court record that if convicted the stripper could ask for a pardon from the governor (How many strippers convicted of drunk driving go to the governor for a pardon?) and this created a “conflict of interest.” The judge then excused Gov. Bush from the jury on this flimsy argument. The defense attorney, the prosecutor, and the judge all remember Gonzales doing this.  

However, Gonzales himself says he does not remember it. This is a sort of non-denial denial. Gonzales doesn’t say it didn’t happen, just that he “doesn’t remember.” 

Strange. I’ve been practicing law going on 30 years now, and if I ever took a governor back into a judge’s chambers to get the governor out of jury duty, I think I would remember it. Even if the governor for whom I did it was unmemorable, say, like Gray Davis.  

So how can we refresh Gonzales’s memory of this unusual influence peddling and help him to tell the truth? My suggestion: Torture him. I think perhaps some water boarding, or perhaps being made to stand naked in an uncomfortable position, being given minimal food in a cold cell, with strobe lights flashing, with no toilet and with wires attached to his testicles would do wonders for his capacity to recall the facts. 

I think that getting the truth from the man who is about to become the top law enforcement officer in the United States is every bit as important as gaining tidbits of information from Afghan farmers who fought on the losing side of a battle.  

When this little memory refreshment session is finished, someone could then ask Gonzales how “quaint” the prohibitions against torture now seem to him.  

Paul Glusman is a Berkeley attorney.

The recount of Berkeley’s Measure R ended Jan. 10, with the Alameda County Registrar of Voter declaring this initiative had failed by 161 votes. However, inefficient counting methods, denial of voter intent, and flawed machinery combined to make this recount meaningless. Americans for Safe Access, a Berkeley based patient’s rights group, along with several individual voters, are contesting this count with a motion filed in Superior Court. 

Measure R, a medical marijuana voter initiative, was too close to call on election night. It took 20 days of counting, which were observed by concerned patients and caregivers, before the Alameda County Registrar of Voters declared a loss by 191 votes. Observers had reported widespread problems throughout the original count, so supporters of the immediately requested a recount. 

Sadly, the recount was equally flawed, and supporters are no closer to a final vote total. Here are some of the problems observed: 

• The system used to verify registered voters in Alameda County does not work properly due to a lack of consistency in data entry resulting in difficulties with subsequent searches. Berkeley votes were disqualified without a complete search of this database. Of special concern are University of California students, as there were approximately 1,000 votes disqualified from campus polling places.  

• People who chose to use paper ballots at polling places instead of the touch screen machines may not have had their votes counted. There are hundreds of Berkeley votes that were left uncounted because voters did not correctly complete the provisional voter forms. These mistakes were found in several Berkeley polling places. Further investigation is merited to determine if this was a due to voter error or misinformation given by poll workers.  

• The Diebold electronic voting machines used in Alameda County do not allow for a meaningful recount. It is impossible to recount individual ballots cast on these machines, and there is no voter verified paper trail to back up the totals. Votes cast on these machines are converted into delicate electrons, and then put on hardware that is vulnerable to tampering and malfunctions.  

• Observers witnessed electronic voting machines malfunctioning throughout the reprint of election night data, including system crashes and difficulty getting machines to register touches correctly. This likely happened during the election, but supporters were denied back up data and audit logs from the machines used in Berkeley. 

• Provisional and absentee ballots were improperly cataloged and stored after the election. Tamper proof seals were broken on ballot boxes, batch totals were missing, misplaced, and tallied incorrectly, and the chain of command records were not intact on some boxes. Ballots are still missing, and have not yet been recounted. 

• Registrar staff is allowed to remake damaged hand ballots into “duplicates” in order for them to be counted with the optical scanners. During the recount, there were damaged original ballots that could not be matched to a duplicate ballot, as well as left over duplicates without matching originals. These ballots were not counted during the recount, and it is impossible to determine if their matches were lost or counted correctly. 

Vote totals changed in nearly every Berkeley precincts. Failure of the optical scanners to count the initial votes correctly accounts for some of this discrepancy, as the Diebold machines used in Alameda County miscount from 1 percent to 3 percent of the vote. However, no further effort will be made by the Registrar’s office to audit discrepancies, find missing ballots, or improve the damaged systems that led to these problems.  

People with serious illnesses depend on the initiative process to guarantee safe access to medical marijuana. Measure R would have implemented a sensible policy with lasting benefits for patients and caregivers. We still do not know the intent of Berkeley voters, but on March 2 the California Superior Court will have a chance to determine who really won Measure R. 

Debby Goldsberry is on the board of directors of Americans for Safe Access. 

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We live in an era of privatization of essential social services. The most recent to come under attack is social security, a reform enacted during the New Deal which the Bush administration now wants to roll back. 

Proposition 71, the stem cell research initiative recently passed here in California, goes against this trend. It provides government funding for life-saving biomedical research and places the administration and conduct of this effort squarely in the public realm. This measure, which aims to heal terrible illnesses to which human beings of every nation, ethnic origin, and religion are vulnerable, deserves our support. 

Yet here in the Bay Area, some progressive media are misinforming us about this proposition. The San Francisco Bay Guardian, for example, proclaims that the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee, established by Prop. 71 to administer and oversee implementation of the measure, is “composed entirely of representatives of groups who want a spot at the $3 billion trough.” An editorial in the Berkeley Daily Planet says that “Many of us voted for the big stem-cell ballot measure in November because we sincerely believed that it would aid scientific progress, and it probably will. But we didn’t understand what an immense cash cow for drug companies it would turn out to be ...” 

There is no evidence for these allegations of corruption. The entire 29-person Oversight Committee consists of individuals who have clear and consistent records of public service, including scientists from universities and nonprofit research institutes, ten patient-group representatives, and only four members from private industry. 

Prop. 71 is a “cash cow for drug companies”? On the contrary, Prop. 71 takes control of health care away from them. Currently, decisions regarding the direction of medical research are largely made by corporations such as Merck and Pfizer. Their research aims to develop drugs that will maximize profits, and they take little interest in finding treatments that are less profitable but of greater benefit to society. In marked contrast, the Oversight Committee established by Prop. 71 is mandated to serve the public interest, not a corporate bottom line. 

The provisions of Proposition 71 spell out in considerable detail appropriate ethical standards and ensure accountability. Chair Robert Klein and other Committee members have stated clearly and unequivocally their commitment to adhere to these standards, including those regulations that prohibit conflicts of interest. In implementing this measure, the Oversight Committee is consulting and cooperating with NIH authorities and California state committees to establish ethical working practices, and will continue to do so. 

Openness and transparency in implementing Prop. 71 are of course essential. And it’s true that at its first meeting in December, the newly constituted Oversight Committee stumbled in not providing the public with adequate advance notification and documentation about the agenda. But let’s not allow this mistake to obscure the Committee’s diligence as it begins to fulfill its responsibilities. Any California citizen can provide testimony at Oversight Committee meetings, whose agendas are posted at: www.cirm.ca.gov. 

Much of the criticism of the Oversight Committee has focused on its choice of Robert Klein, the financier who initiated and led the Prop. 71 campaign, to be its Chairperson. Being wealthy, he exemplifies to some progressives a ruling-class mogul clearly on the other side of the class divide. Yet Mr. Klein, whose son has juvenile diabetes and mother has Alzheimer’s, is a dedicated advocate of patient interests, and he has worked on behalf of good causes for decades, including affordable-housing legislation and global disarmament. Although categories of economic class are valuable analytic tools, they may mislead us if they’re not thoughtfully applied. 

By law, the California Assembly and Senate do not have direct responsibility for managing the implementation of Proposition 71. The reason for this is the desirability of a certain distance or “buffer” between scientific inquiry and legislative control. Public guidance and oversight of scientific research is necessary, as is a measure of freedom of inquiry on the part of scientists. (That freedom is precarious today -- the religious right aims to halt embryonic stem cell research.) Given the inherent tension between these two values, the provisions of Prop. 71 strike a careful, reasonable balance. 

Progressives’ suspicion of scientific research is often well-founded. For centuries, scientific discoveries have abetted militarism and oppression. That gives us all the more reason to applaud a scientific initiative that is humane in its aim and conscientious in its implementation. 

Barglow, Lowe and Shiffenbauer are Berkeley residents.

Lewis and Mary Suzuki will soon celebrate their fifty-second wedding anniversary, but a fair-sized book could be written about their adventures and misadventures before they ever got together, starting with Lewis’ father jumping ship in 1912, entering San Francisco illegally, and making his way to L.A., where he made a precarious living as a musician. In 1917 He went back to Japan, married, then re-entered the U.S. legally, starting a dry-cleaning business and a family in L.A.  

Lewis was born in 1920, “delivered by a midwife under a dry-cleaning press,” he says, grinning. “I was the oldest boy.” 

“Yes, ‘botchang,’” Mary laughs. “That means ‘spoiled son.’” 

In 1929 Lewis’ father died (along with the boom years of the ‘20s) and his mother took her three boys and three girls back to Japan.  

That was the year Mary’s parents married. They had met as students at the University of Nebraska. Her mother was Dutch-Irish-Welch American and her father had come from the Philippines to study. They left Nebraska, where so-called miscegenation laws prohibited them from marrying, and went to Chicago. Mary’s grandfather disowned his daughter. “But my grandmother gave my parents her blessing.” Mary, the second child, was born in 1931, and was only six months old when the family left for the Philippines.  

“My father had been beaten up repeatedly. He said if he had to deal with violence, he could handle it better in his home country. Actually it was much better for an inter-racial couple there. Both my parents got teaching jobs, and had three more children.” 

Meanwhile Lewis, in Japan, had found his vocation early. “The elementary schools in Japan had wonderful arts programs. Good teachers, art contests every couple of weeks; my best friend and I always won first and second prizes.”  

The rise of Japanese militarism began to cast a shadow over all of Asia, including the Philippines. “My father wanted my mother to take us children and go back to the U.S.,” says Mary, “but she wouldn’t go without him, and he wanted to stay and fight the Japanese, if they invaded. Suddenly it was too late to leave; the bombs started to fall, and we were stuck there throughout the war.” Mary has a couple of souvenirs from those years of “bombing and starvation:” a piece of shrapnel in her leg, the loss of hearing in her right ear. “My father lost an eye when the Japanese tortured him. He was in the resistance; so was my mother.” 

Lewis was luckier. By 1939 he was committed to art and wondering where he might study. One day, on a commuter train, he was looking at a directory of art schools in the United States. A man, looking over his shoulder, suddenly said, “If you’re a nisei, an American citizen, you should get out of this country, now.” Then he invited Lewis to his apartment. “I’ll never forget it. He showed me photos of the Rape of Nanking—he would have been put in prison if he’d been caught with those photos. He said war would come and I’d be drafted and made to do things like that! I must write to any relatives I could find in Japan, and get enough money to get me to America.  

‘Now!’ he said. And he did one more thing, gave me a name to contact when I got to L.A., Edo Mita.” (last name first, in the Japanese way) “So that’s what I did.”  

Edo helped him to get work as a house boy to take care of his room and board while finishing school at Belmont High. “After a while he invited me to his house to a ‘Marxist Study Group,’ attended by Japanese speakers who worked in the film industry behind the cameras. We watched movies and discussed them in terms of ‘dialectical materialism.’” Lewis smiles and shrugs, as if he’s still not quite sure what that term is supposed to mean. “They always ended up talking about things I did understand: militarism, war and peace, and the evil rule of the emperor of Japan.” 

In 1941 Lewis made his way to Washington D. C., where he got a job at the Japanese Embassy, “mostly as tea-boy,” mostly for room and board, taking art classes whenever and wherever he could. “Then came Pearl Harbor. There was a move to send all embassy personnel to Japan, but I had American citizenship and refused to go. I had heard the embassy officials talking at dinner, after they had a few too many drinks, crying, and telling how in China they had been handed a sword and forced to proved their loyalty to the emperor by grabbing innocent Chinese off the street and beheading them!” 

Mary nods. “I don’t know what it was, that beheading ethos—some crazy old combat tradition?” 

“Tell her about my brother,” says Lewis. 

Mary nods. “A couple of years ago, Lewis’ younger brother visited us here. One day he said he had to tell me something before he left. He wanted to apologize—you understand, this was half-a-century later—for any hurt the Japanese had done to my family. I knew he had not committed atrocities. I’d heard the story of how, at the end of the war, when Chinese civilians were hunting down remaining Japanese soldiers and killing them, a Chinese family had sheltered and hidden Lewis’ brother, saving him.” 

In 1942 Lewis worked briefly as a translator at the Office of War Information in New York, but as a Japanese-American he was always under suspicion. A friendly American officer took him to lunch one day and told him he was surely going to be laid off unless—“Could you possibly dig up some communist connections? Anything at all? Everyone knows communists are safe because they’re all anti- militarist, anti-fascist, anti-emperor of Japan.” 

“Later I realized that some of the anti-war groups I joined were connected to the Communist Party. But at that time the term ‘Marxist Study Group’ meant nothing to me.” Nor did the fact that helpful men like Edo seemed to have a lot of anti-fascist, anti-racist, anti-war friends here and there where Lewis could get help with housing and jobs. (Lewis sounds like the old-lefty friends I made during the McCarthyite-witch-hunting fifties, for whom political naivete and protective, selective amnesia had become a reflex.) “I had to tell the officer, no, I didn’t know a thing about communism or communists.” 

In that case, the friendly officer advised him, his best bet was to join the army, where he would surely be of value as a translator. Lewis took his advice and spent 1943 to 1945 teaching Japanese at the Military Intelligence Language School in Minneapolis. After being discharged at the end of the war in 1945, he spent the next seven years trying to study art in New York, to earn his living (as a cabinet maker) and to continue to work for peace and, especially, against atomic weapons. “Art and activism, art and activism. I couldn’t do both, but I couldn’t quite give up either one.” 

When the war ended in 1945, Mary’s mother took her children aboard a hospital ship back to the U.S. “Her marriage was over. My father was dedicated to staying and finishing the liberation struggle against colonial power—getting the Americans out and making the Philippines an independent country. We were still starving. My mother had actually seen human finger bones in soup in Philippine restaurants. She got us back to Nebraska, to Lincoln, where she had friends and could get a teaching job. Racial attitudes were better there too, except—” 

Mary laughs. “One day we kids were downtown and some police mistook us for Indians, wanted to pick us up. They almost drove us out to the reservation. But I had wonderful teachers at University of Nebraska High School in Lincoln. I’d missed out on school during the war. My math teacher tutored me. My English teacher encouraged my writing.” 

(Mary continues to write, occasionally publishing. Her “New Country” can be found in the anthology Writing For Our Lives.)  

“My brother was unhappy at school in Nebraska. He ran away to California, and soon the whole family followed, to Stockton, where I graduated from high school in 1949, with honors, and a scholarship to San Joaquin General Hospital Nursing School, awarded by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, their first to a Filipina. I liked nursing, but I didn’t last long. There was the Loyaly Oath, which I wouldn’t sign. And I was shocked when I was told to cover up medical errors on patient records.” 

“She’s still a good nurse,” Lewis adds, smiling. “She takes care of me.” 

“I ended up going to Berkeley,” Mary continues. “I managed, after a big fuss to prove my credits and transcripts were good, to get admitted to UC, took a full schedule of classes, and worked full time at Children’s Hospital. Of course, I was always exhausted, always getting sick. I finally managed to get a small scholarship. 

“By that time I had become a Quaker. In 1952 I learned of a chance to visit China, and, more than anything else in the world, I wanted to go there to see how they were celebrating the end of centuries of foreign domination. I identified with the Chinese because of growing up in the Philippines, under the Americans, then under the Japanese, then Americans again, and always hearing about the earlier Spanish rulers. It was a very hopeful time in China. I couldn’t resist. With $900 I was off, by way of New York, Europe, a roundabout route to Peking, where I immediately got deathly ill!” 

As she lay on her bed, several visiting Americans were asked to look in on her. One of them was Lewis Suzuki. “In 1952, I’d hurt my hand, so when the American Peace Crusade asked if I’d like to attend a meeting in Peking, I decided, okay, I can’t paint—time for some activism again.” 

“The first time he saw me,” says Mary, “I was throwing up.” 

It was love at first sight. They traveled around China together for a couple of months, then returned to America by way of a Peace Conference in Vienna. Once back here, they disagreed briefly about whether to settle in New York or in California. “UC was cheaper than Columbia,” says Mary, “and I wanted to finish my degree.” 

Lewis nods. “That settled it.” 

They were married in 1953. Lewis worked as a cabinet maker while Mary finished up at UC and gave birth to their son and daughter. Then Mary began working in early childhood education—part time when their two children were little—full time later—giving Lewis more time to paint. Both continued to work with activist groups against war and social injustice.  

Eventually Lewis was able to make enough by selling his paintings to paint full-time. He exhibited widely, mostly in California, and many of us own one or two of his landscapes or seascapes. “I try to keep the prices low so people can afford to own one. I even do smaller prints of some of the paintings and sell them for only about $20. I do my own framing because that’s what can run into money.” 

Lewis’ paintings, like his mellow, gentle demeanor, give no hint of the dangers he has survived nor of his passionate opposition to injustice. They are generally light, sunlit—glowing sails or flowers or trees against cloudless skies. There are exceptions, like a well-known peace-dove poster and his disturbing “Smokey Mountain.” This rather controversial painting (”some Filipinos don’t like it”) depicts the infamous shanty town built on a huge dump outside Manila, crowds of people foraging through garbage while gleaming white skyscrapers loom in the background. He painted it after he and Mary visited the Philippines in 1986. Lewis is proud of it as an example of the successful fusion of his art and activism. 

At 85 Lewis continues painting, as Mary continues to write, and both enjoy their three grandchildren. Lewis’ fragile health now prohibits him from driving out to exhibit or teach, but he continues to show and sell his paintings or prints in the studio attached to his home. “People come during the ‘Open Studios’ weekends every year, or by appointment the rest of the year.” (Call 849-1427).  

“As long as I can paint and work for peace, I’m satisfied,” Lewis says, as he tenderly places a cracker with a sliver of cheese in front of Mary, then turns to explain to me, “She’s diabetic, has to eat all day.” 

V

Giacomo Puccini’s Il Trittico (The Triptych), an unusual omnibus of three one-act operas, will be presented by Berkeley Opera this Saturday and Sunday and Feb. 2 and 6 at Julia Morgan Theater, sung in Italian with English supertitles. 

Seldom performed either separately or—as the composer intended—together, these three unrelated, fully self-contained short operas (“Il Tabarro,” “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicci”) make a combined program of just under three hours, “slightly trimmed” by the company.  

“It’s really three entirely different operas—albeit short ones—in one performance,” said Jonathan Khuner, artistic director of Berkeley Opera. He is also, with Jason Sherbundy and Rafal Klopotowski, in charge of musical and stage director of this production. 

“Puccini invested each opera with a completely unique atmosphere and its own high-tension drama,” Khuner said. “[He] deliberately set out to construct a different type of evening, partly because the stories ... intrigued him [yet weren’t] of sufficient scope for a full evening. Puccini was one composer who chose compression over the Italian tradition of expanding slim stories to full evenings.” 

“Il Tabarro,” a dark tale of murder, tells of the sullen jealousy of barge-owner Michele over the presumed infidelity of his country-girl wife Giorgetta, as his men unload the barge against the backdrop of a Paris sunset. Giorgetta is in fact awaiting her lover Luigi, one of the hired hands, after Michele retires—the tryst to be signaled by lighting a match. Duana Demus, John Minagro, Benjamin Bongers, Patrice Houston, Piet van Allen, John Milagro and William Pickersgill are the cast. 

“Suor Angelica,” a moving religious experience of life and death, is the tale of a young woman who left her wealthy family to join a convent, where she pines for her relatives. 

When her rich aunt comes to announce her younger sister’s wedding, Angelica’s happiness is swept away by revelations of shame and tragedy. Mortal desperation—and the fear of mortal sin—are succeeded by a miraculous sense of grace. Jillian Khuner, Fabienne Wood and Heather McFadden perform. 

“Gianni Schicchi,” a satirical celebration of wit, has the title character vocally impersonating an already dead man making a new will at the behest of a miserly family, so that the estate won’t go to charity—and Gianni gives a more than eloquent testament. It’s sung by Jo Vincent Parks, Ayelet Cohen, Brian Thorsett, Katherine Daniel and Linda Blum. 

Using creative backdrop projections by Jeremy Knight with spare staging, Khuner said, “Berkeley Opera’s intimate style of presentation can get closer to Puccini’s true intentions for dramatic effect than can a large company. We avoid the larger-than-life stances and vocal exaggerations.” 

He said, “People consider the grand Italian operatic style, but Puccini was against any exaggeration. His notation was very precise in suggesting the amount of nuance necessary to give a rich and vivid portrayal of his characters’ experiences. There is no overarching theme in the stories, but there is an underlying continuity in [Puccini’s] attachment to ‘telling the story’ line by line, scene by scene, with a minimum of reflection or out-of-frame vocal delivery.”  

Berkeley Opera has a commitment to producing lesser-known operas by well-known composers, Khuner says. 

“My philosophy for Berkeley Opera has always been to give our audience an alternative,” he said. “When a major opera house does unusual repertoire, it is often a vehicle for a particular star singer, or variety for variety’s sake. We can focus on [these works] for their own sake.” 

FRIDAY, JAN. 28 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley, “Seduced” by Sam Shepard at 8 p.m. at the Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck at Berryman, and runs Fri. and Sat. through Feb. 19. 649-5999. www.aeofberkeley.org 

Aurora Theatre, “Dublin Carol” by Conor McPherson Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun at 2 and 7 p.m. through March 6 at 2081 Addison St. Tickets are $28-$45. 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org 

"Bridge & Tunnel" workshop performances by Sarah Jones at 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 7 p.m. Sun. through Feb. 20 at Berkeley Rep’s Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St. tickets are $30-$40. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theater, “The Mousetrap” Agatha Christie’s classic mystery Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. through Feb. 19 at 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito. Tickets are $10-$15. 524-9132. www.ccct.org 

Ragged Wing Ensemble “The Serpent” theater with movement, masks and puppetry, Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., through Feb. 19, at the Eighth Street Studios, 2525 8th St. Tickets are $10-$20 sliding scale. 527-8119. www.raggedwing.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“California Landscapes” by Jim Brosnahan at 6 p.m. at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, Claremont and Russell St., also Sat from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by Options Recovery Services. www.optionsrecovery.org 

FILM 

David Thomson History of Hollywood: “Daisy Kenyon” at 7 p.m. and “Men in War” at 9 p.m. at Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Sierra Birds: A Hiker’s Guide” a dinner, lecture and slide show with author Jack Laws at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Yacht Club, One Seawall Drive. Tickets are $20, benefits the Sierra Club. For reservations, call 526-2494. 

Simon Singh describes “Big Bang: The Origins of the Universe” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Li Onesto disucusses “Dispatches From the People’s War in Nepal” at 7 p.m. at Revolution Books, 2425 Channing Way. 848-1196. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Coltrane: A Tribute with saxophonist Howard Wiley at 9 p.m. at 21 Art Gallery, 449B 23rd St. between Telegraph and Broadway, Oakland. Presented by The Jazz House. Cost is $10. www.thejazzhouse.org 

West Side Story Remix at 7 p.m. at 4551 Broadway, Oakland. Cost is $3. 658-0967. 

Kaki King, guitarist, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Inspector Double Negative, Paris King and Friends at 9:30 at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $7. 848-0886. www.blakesontelegraph.com 

Jeffrey Luck Lucas, Sonya Hunter, Sean Hayes at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Adrian Gormley Quartet, jazz at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198. 

Moonrise & Harmony Grisman at 8:30 p.m. at Epic Arts, 1923 Ashby Ave. Cost is $5-$10.  

Sara Manning Trio at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Beth Robinson, singer-songwriter, at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Harvie S and Mimi Fox at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$18. 845-5373. www.jazz- 

school.com 

Everton Blender, reggae, at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. 548-1159.  

John Schott’s Typical Orchestra, avant folk-jazz-blues at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Betray the Species, Funeral Diner, This Song is a Mess at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

McCoy Tyner with Stanley Clarke and Billy Cobham at 8 and 10 p.m. Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $25-$35. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, JAN. 29 

CHILDREN  

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Earthcapades, jugglers, at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $3-$4. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Absolutely Abstract” Artwork by Zarmine Aghazarian, Peggy Cotton and Andrea Markus. Reception from 7 to 9 p.m. at Innersport, Strawberry Creek Design Center, 1250 Addison St. Exhibition runs through April. www.innersport.com  

“Resurrection” found object sculptures and assemblages by Gaelyn Lakin at John F. Kennedy University Arts Annex, 2956 San Pablo Ave. Reception for the artist from 5 to 8 p.m. Exhibition runs to Feb. 4. 521-0663. 

FILM 

David Thomson History of Hollywood: “Meet Me in St. Louis” at 6:30 p.m. and “The Bad and the Beautiful” at 9:05 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Japanese Mingei and the Way of Folkcrafts” a lecture by David Coates, Mingei Researcher, at 1 p.m. at Common House, 930 Clay St., Oakland. 528-0600.  

Douglas Coupland introduces his new novel “Eleanor Rigby” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Opera “Il Trittico” at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Theater. Tickets are $15-$40. 925-798-1300. www.berkeleyopera.org 

Phillip Greenlief, saxophone and Diane Grubbe, flute at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St., between Bancroft and Durant. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. http://trinitychamberconcerts.com 

Magnificat performs Charpentier’s “The Sacrifice of Abraham and the Prodigal Son” at 8 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Ellsworth and Bancroft. Tickets are $12-$25. 415-979-4500. www.magnificatbaroque.org 

Cirque Eloize at 2 and 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $26-$48. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

North Indian Classical Music Concert for Tsunami Relief with Terry Riley and friends at 7 p.m. at St. Alban's Parish Hall, 1501 Washington Ave. at Curtis, Albany. Suggested donation $35-$50. Please bring a cushion if you prefer floor seating, venue is not wheelchair accessible. Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Swing dance lesson with Nick and Shanna at 8 p.m. Cost is $13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

John Murray, singer-songwriter, at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Mitch Marcus Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Lou & Peter Berryman at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Kurt Ribak Jazz Group at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Tiempo Latino and La Familia at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Re-Ignition, Kaos, Zeitgeist, Fuzzplow at 9:30 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $7. 848-0886. www.blakesontelegraph.com 

Fred Randolph Quintet at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$15. 845-5373. www.jazz- 

school.com  

Carney Ball Johnson at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Eileen Hazel & Andrea Guskin at 8:30 p.m. at Epic Arts, 1923 Ashby Ave. Cost is $5-$10.  

Wanda Stafford Quartet at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Love Equals Death, 1208, Instigator, Cigar, False Alliance at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, JAN. 30 

CHILDREN 

Lunar New Year Celebration for the whole family with lion dancing, Taiko drumming, mochi pounding and hands-on arts activities from noon to 4 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts., Oakland. www.museumca.org 

FILM 

David Thomson History of Hollywood: “Heat” at 5 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Poetry Flash with Stellasue Lee and Alison Luterman at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. Donation $2. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

“The Art of Living Black” Artists’ talk at 2 p.m. at Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave., Richmond. 620-6772. www.therichmondartcenter.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Opera “Il Trittico” at 2 p.m. at Julia Morgan Theater. Tickets are $15-$40. 925-798-1300. www.berkeleyopera.org 

Ciaramella Composers of Liege and Burgundy 1400-1477 at 5 p.m. at MusicSources, 1000 The Alameda. 528-1685. www.sfems.org/musicsources  

Piedmont Choirs Annual Winter Concert at 3 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $10-$12. 547-4441. 

Jazz Fest 2005 featuring Faye Carrol, Sista Kee, Bandworks in a benefit concert for the King Middle School 8th grade delegation to Washington D.C. at 4 p.m. in the Martin Luther King School Auditorium, 1781 Rose St. Suggested donation $10. 289-4166, 644-4544. 

Cirque Eloize at 3 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $26-$48. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

“Ragamala Paintings” a musical performance by Rita Sahai, at 3 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

Manose, Himalayan flautist plays raga, Nepali folk, fusion and rock, at 7 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Donation $10-$20. 527-0450. 

Pappa Gianni and the North Beach Band from 2 to 5 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Flameco Open Stage with Yaelisa at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Lecture/demonstration at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $9. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Mark Hummel & The Blues Survivors at 4:30 at the Jazz- 

school. Cost is $12-$18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Mike Marshall & Choro Famoso, Brazilian swing jazz fusion, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

MONDAY, JAN. 31 

FILM 

Seeing Through the Screen: Buddhism and Film, “Waking Life” at 3 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Page to Stage, a conversation with playwright Charles L. Mee and director Les Waters at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Repertory Theater, 2015 Addison St. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Samina Ali talks about life as a Muslim woman in “Madras on Rainy Days” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Laurence Gonzales discusses “Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Poetry Express with Ian Hoffman, Victor Infante and Lea Deschenes from 7 to 9:30 p.m., at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. berkeleypoetryexpress@yahoo.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Gift Horse, fiddle duo, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

Songwriters Symposium at 8:30 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. 848-0886. www.blakesontelegraph.com 

John Jorgenson Quintet at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

TUESDAY, FEB. 1 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Lithography of Toko Shinoda” opens at the Schurman Gallery, 1659 San Pablo Ave., and runs through Mar. 31. 524-0623. www.schurmanfineartgallery.com 

FILM 

Japanese Experimental Film and Video at 7:30 p.m. at Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Theater Crossing Borders” with playwright and director Sabina Berman at 4 p.m. in Geballe Room, 220 Stephens Hall, UC Campus. 642-2088. www.clas.berkeley.edu 

Martin Jay discusses “Songs of Experience: Modern American and European Variations on a Universal Theme” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Eric Shifrin, solo piano, at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

McCoy Tyner wiith Terence Blanchard, Ravi Coltrane, Charnett Moffett, Eric Holland at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $22-$30. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Peelander-Z, The Bust, punk, at 9:30 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $5. 848-0886. www.blakesontelegraph.com 

Jazzschool Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 2 

THEATER 

Berkeley Repertory Theater, “Fetes de la Nuit” at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. Runs through Feb. 27. Tickets are $43-$55. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Surprise Me, Show Me Something Good” Local artists respond to the challenge to make themselves vulnerable. Reception at 5:30 p.m. at North and South Galleries, 5241 College Ave., Oakland. 658-1223. 

FILM 

Cine Contemporaneo: “Mundo Grúa” by Pablo Trapero, at 7 p.m. in the CLAS Conference Room, 2334 Bowditch St. In Spanish with English subtitles. 642-2088. www.clas.berkeley.edu 

Film 50: History of Cinema “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” at 3 p.m. and “Games” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Berkeley High Beats Poetry Slam at 7 p.m. in Room G-210, Berkeley High School. Sign up at 6:30 p.m. Donation $1. rayers@berkeley.k12.ca.us 

Adam Hochshild introduces “Bury the Chains: Prophets, Slaves and Rebels in the First Human Rights Crusade” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Berkeley Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik and Three Blind Mice, at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082 www.starryplough.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Opera “Il Trittico” at 7:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Theater. Tickets are $15-$40. 925-798-1300. www.berkeleyopera.org 

Wednesday Noon Concert, with the Young Musicians Program at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864.  

Jules Broussard, Ned Boynton and Bing Nathan at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Whiskey Brothers at 9 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Project Pimento, Famous Celebrities, Dreamend, 2Me, indie rock, acoustic, at 9 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $5. 848-0886. www.blakesontelegraph.com 

Tom Griesgraber/Jerry Marotta Duo, prog-rock,at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

THURSDAY, FEB. 3 

EXHIBITIONS 

Addison Street Windows Gallery Anti-Bullying Art and Essays by Berkeley Middle School students. Reception from 4 to 6 p.m. in the lobby of the Berkeley Repertory Roda Theater. 981-7546. 

FILM 

African Film Festival: “Story of a Beautiful Country” at 5:30 p.m. and “Kounandi” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Free First Thurs. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Lunch Poems Reading Series with Barbara Guest at 12:10 p.m. at the Morrison Library in Doe Library, UC Campus. 642-0137. http://lunchpoems.berkeley.edu 

Maya Khosla reads from her poetry at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720. 

Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards introduce “Grassroots: A Field Guide to Feminist Action” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Kristin Ohlson reads from “Stalking the Divine” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Word Beat Reading Series at 7 p.m. with featured readers Chris Angell and Rita Bregman at Mediterraneum Caffe, 2475 Telegraph Ave. 526-5985.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

New Century Chamber Orchestra performs Cowell’s “Variations on Thirds” at 8 p.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. Tickets are $18-$39. 415-357-1111.  

Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Vusi Mahlasela, a cappella group from South Africa, at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $24-$46 available from 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, bluegrass, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $29.50-$30.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Barefoot Nellies, all-women classic bluegrass, at 8:30 p.m. at Epic Arts, 1923 Ashby Ave. Cost is $5-$10.  

Research and Development, Japonize Elephants at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082. www.starryplough.com 

The Jennifer Clevinger Duo at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.?

On early summer mornings John Muir would climb the stairs of his house to the bell tower above the attic. Here he would meditate and survey grand vistas of fruit orchards and the sweep of hills. Admiring the 360-degree views, his gaze may have turned farther east toward his beloved Sierras. With peace of mind, he would descend to his daily work, managing the ranch and fighting to save America’s resources. 

John Muir, father of the National Park System, led a rich and well-traveled life—Scotland to Wisconsin, a 1,000-mile walk from Kentucky to the Gulf of Mexico, a voyage to California and years spent exploring the Sierra Nevadas—but the last 34 years of his life were spent in Martinez. 

John Muir National Historic Site is a nine-acre preserve, all that remains of the original 2,600 acres, consisting of a Visitor Center, Muir House, grounds and orchards, and Mt. Wanda. A visit here offers a first hand look at Muir’s most productive years, at his life as a doting father, an astute businessman and a prolific writer. 

I began my tour at the visitor center watching Earth, Planet, Universe, learning about Muir’s life and philosophies through this visually appealing video peppered with Muir’s quotes. The broad selection of Muir books and videos and the striking black-and-white vintage photographs and memorabilia further display the depth of this man. 

Using an excellent self-guiding tour booklet of the entire site, I set out to experience Muir’s final years.  

Muir’s marriage to Louie Stentzel in 1880 brought him to the Alhambra Valley, entering into partnership with his father-in-law on his fruit ranch. Viewing the orchards outside the visitor center I envisioned the ranch described on information kiosks—Percheron draft horses plowing, windmills drawing water, and Chinese workers skillfully pruning and grafting.  

A circular path past palm trees, flowers, and the apple orchard leads to the imposing hilltop structure of Muir House, a handsome 17-room Italianate house. Under twelve-foot ceilings, heated by seven fireplaces and lit by kerosene lamps, Muir raised his two daughters, entertained supporters for his cause and wrote.  

For me, Muir’s presence was strongest in his bedroom, uncurtained by request, where he would awaken to the light of the sun, and in his “Scribble Den”. Here he worked, surrounded by piles of manuscripts and books; the Sierra Club symbol, the multi-use tin cup, atop his desk; and balls of dried bread, Muir’s favorite snack, on the mantle. Urging presidents and lawmakers to establish the National Forest Service and five national parks, and helping to found the Sierra Club, he was tireless in his crusades. 

Next door in the Sierra Club Exhibit Room, vintage photos of early club outings attest to Muir’s philosophy that taking men and women into the Sierras to camp, walk and fish, to experience wild nature, would inspire them to fight for its preservation. Thanks to Muir “thousands of tired, nerve shaken people are finding that going to the mountains is going home, that wildness is a necessity and that mountain parks are useful as fountains of life.” 

It’s a lovely walk from Muir House through orchards of cherry, plum, quince, pear, apricot and orange, past the Carriage House and windmill and across Franklin Creek to the Martinez Adobe. Testament to an earlier history, the house was part of 17,000 acres owned by the Martinez family during the Spanish and Mexican land grant period. An attractive two-story house, it’s constructed of two-foot thick adobe bricks and a wood shingle roof, with views from the wide verandas overlooking the orchards. Though John Muir never lived here, it later became the home of his daughter Wanda and her family. Inside, light from large windows illuminates exhibits that chronicle the history of the Martinez area, while the spacious rooms tantalize anyone in search of a comfortable home in a bucolic setting.  

A short drive from Muir House brings you to Mt. Wanda, 325 acres with the highest peaks at 640 feet and 660 feet named after daughters Helen and Wanda. Here, Muir, foremost a botanist, sauntered with his daughters instructing them in correct botanical names. Today the 1.3-mile Muir Nature Trail begins 0.5 mile up from a poorly marked trailhead where self-guiding brochures are available. I climbed the acorn-lined trail bordered with a carpet of verdant grasses, miner’s lettuce and moss-covered boulders. Above me the branches of oak, laurel and willow formed a canopy of dark, lichen-coated branches. The Muir Trail brochure calls attention to the land today and the changes it has undergone while sharing Muir’s visions. Looking east toward Mt. Diablo Muir would have seen a broad sweep of grasslands and tree-cloaked hillsides as far as his “Range of Light,” the Sierras. What would Muir think if he were alive today? 

Muir wrote, “Wedges of development are being driven hard and none of the obstacles of nature can long withstand the march of this immeasurable industry.” Little did Muir know that his prophecy would include his own home. My imagination was far stretched envisioning Muir in this setting, today abutting Highway 4 and a mere enclave in a sea of homes and businesses, surrounded by the sights and sounds of industry. Coming to this historic site, so far removed from wild nature, brought home the importance of Muir’s fight, today more than ever. Without great efforts toward conservation, wilderness will continue to be chipped away, piece by piece. 

Extend your outing away from the highway and the past into downtown Martinez and Martinez Regional Shoreline along the Carquinez Strait.  

Downtown Martinez has that definite “old town” feel: narrow, tree-lined streets, cobbled sidewalks and historic stone buildings with plaster and brick foundations. Three blocks of browse-worthy shops, many centered around antiques, memorabilia, and collectibles, and, of course, food. It’s a pleasant stroll past windows displaying pieces of the past, including the headquarters of the Contra Costa County Historical Society. Fresh flowers, intricate quilts, homemade candy and bakery goods, aromatic coffee, and your choice of food from Mexico, China, Japan and good old-fashioned steamed hot dogs. 

I ended my day at Martinez Regional Shoreline, a large recreational complex of playgrounds, grassy fields, picnic facilities and an extensive marshland. On a cold foggy day, looking out at the water, the resident and migrating bird life far outnumbered people. Pickleweed Trail, wooden boardwalks and an eye-drawing arch bridge over Alhambra Creek call to walkers and cyclists. Trailside dedicated benches and those facing the Strait invite you to enjoy the peaceful sea of dry rushes and reeds and the open blue of the waters beyond watching mud hens and sandpipers exploring the marsh. 

Driving home on Highway 4, the beautiful green rolling hills with scattered dwellings took me back to John Muir. At the top of the bell tower, this land is what he viewed as he prepared to write. Books and articles urging man away from consuming and destroying, and toward the wise use of Earth’s resources. A great man is one who’s words live on, never losing their truth. John Muir—a great man.›

FRIDAY, JAN. 28 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Leslie Michael on “OSHA.” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $13, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 526-2925 or 665-9020. 

“Sierra Birds: A Hiker’s Guide” Dinner, lecture and slide show with author Jack Laws at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Yacht Club, One Seawall Drive. Tickets are $20, benefits the Sierra Club. For reservations, call 526-2494. 

“The Pinochet Case” a film directed by Patricio Guzmán at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the CLAS Conference Room, 2334 Bowditch St. 642-3260. www.clas.berkeley.edu 

Ice Cream Social and Family Fun Night at the Berkeley YMCA from 7 to 9 p.m. to raise funds for Save the Children and World Vision for tsunami relief. Sponsored jointly by Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action and Berkeley Youth United in Action. 658-2467. 

What Kind of State Are You Livin’ In? anarchist hip hop propaganda at 7 p.m. at the AK Press Warehouse, 674-A 23rd. St., Oakland. 208-1700. www.akpress.org 

African American Health Summit Health Expo Public nutrition and exercise health fair, free, everyone invited. From 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Oakland Marriott City Center. 

Literary Friends meets at 1:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley enior Center to discuss Limericks. 549-1879. 

Berkeley Chess Club meets Fridays at 7:15 p.m. at the East Bay Chess Club, 1940 Virginia St. Players at all levels are welcome. 845-1041. 

“Three Beats for Nothing” a group that meets to sing, mostly 16th century harmony, for fun and practice, at 10 a.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 655-8863, 843-7610.  

Women in Black Vigil, from noon to 1 p.m. at UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph. wibberkeley@yahoo.com 548-6310, 845-1143. 

Meditation, Peace Vigil and Dialogue, gather at noon on the grass close to the West Entrance to UC Berkeley, on Oxford St. near University Ave. People of all traditions are welcome to join us. Sponsored by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. 655-6169. www.bpf.org 

Shabbat with Kol Hadash at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave. info@kolhadash.org 

SATURDAY, JAN. 29 

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 845-4116. www.nativeplants.org 

Wetland Planting with Save The Bay Winter restoration activities include planting native seedlings, non-native plant removal, site monitoring, and shoreline clean-up. From 9 a.m. to noon at Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline, Oakland. 452-9261, ext. 109. dshea@savesfbay.org 

Tour and Restoration of Rheem Creek in North Richmond from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. meeting at Parchester Village Community Center, 900 Williams Drive, Richmond. Reservations requested. 644-2900, ext 109. 

Fruit Tree Pruning at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens Nursery, 729 Heinz Ave. 644-2351. www.magicgardens.com 

Land Use Forum hosted by Berkeley Alliance of Neighborhood Associations at 1:30 p.m., St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave., Fireside Rm. For further information contact Marie Bowman at mariebowman@pacbell.net 

Human Rights in Haiti with Fr. G´rard Jean-Juste, a freed Haitian political prisoner at 7:30 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison St. Suggested donation $5-$15. 558-9010. 

Emergency Response Training Class on “Shelter Operations” from 9 a.m. to noon at the Fire Dept. Training Center, 997 Cedar St. To register call 981-5606. www.ci.berkeley.ca. 

us/fire/oes.html 

“Conscious Cabaret” Awakening Consciousness through Comedy Theater with Errol & Rochelle Alicia Strider at 8 p.m. at Unity of Berkeley, 2075 Eunice St. Cost is $15, or two for $25. 528-8844. www.unityberkeley.org 

Community Sing and Lighting of the Abalone Altar with the Threshold Choir at 7 p.m. at Grace North Church, 2138 Cedar St. The Threshold Choir is composed of Bay Area women who sing at the bedsides of those who are dying. Suggested donation $10, benefit for Tsunami Relief. http://thresholdchoir.org 

“Pola’s March” with filmmaker Jonathan Gruber and Pola Susswein, with dinner and Havdalah at 6:45 p.m. at Congregation Beth El, 2301 Vine St. at Arch. Donation $10, call for reservations 848-3988, ext. 11. 

“The Cahokia Native Indians of North America” lecture at 7:30 p.m. at New Acropolis Cultural Association, 1700 Dwight Way. 665-3740. guy@acropolis.org 

Design and Build Workshop Learn the details of a successful remodeling project. From 9 a.m. to noon at Truitt and White Conference Center, 1817 2nd St. Cost is $25-$30, registration required. 558-8030. 

Pre-School Storytime for ages 3-5 at 11 a.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext.17. Ends Feb 19 

Car Wash Benefit for Options Recovery Services of Berkeley, held every Sat. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University Ave. 666-9552. 

SUNDAY, JAN. 30 

Newt Walk Join the (almost) annual trek to Sindicich Lagoons, breeding grounds for the California newt. Hike is about five miles up and over the Briones Crest. Children age 8 and up welcome. Bring lunch and liquids. Meet at 10 a.m. in the upper parking lot at the Bear Creek Rd. entrance. 525-2233. 

The Hidden World of Cryptogamic Plants An introduction to mosses, lichens, liverworts, and ferns. We will learn how to identify them, then take a walk in the garden. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Visitor Center, Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Cost is $40 members/$45 nonmembers. 845-4116. 

“Ralph Bunche and the Evolution of Human Rights” an address by Charles P. Henry, Prof. of African American Studies, UCB, at 3:25 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar at Bonita. Free. www.unaeastbay.org 

Conscientious Objection in the 21st Century Worried about the draft, military recruiters, or militarism in our schools? Berkeley Quakers invite you to presentations by Dan Seeger, plaintiff in the U.S. landmark CO decision, and Steve Morse, of Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors, at 1 p.m., at Berkeley Friends Meetinghouse, corner of Vine and Walnut. 525-2390. 

Lunar New Year Celebration for the whole family with lion dancing, Taiko drumming, mochi pounding and hands-on arts activities from noon to 4 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts., Oakland. www.museumca.org 

Jazz Fest 2005 featuring Faye Carrol, Sista Kee, Bandworks in a benefit concert for the King Middle School 8th grade delegation to Washington D.C. at 4 p.m. in the Martin Luther King School Auditorium, 1781 Rose St. Suggested donation $10. 289-4166, 644-4544. 

Family Mardi Gras Art Afternoon from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Arlington Community Church, United Church of Christ, 52 Arlington Ave., Kensington. Come make a mask and learn some of the history of Mardi Gras. Free, but reservations requested. 526-9146. 

White Elephant Preview Sale from noon to 4 p.m. at the WES warehouse, 333 Lancaster St. at Glasscock, Oakland. Benefit for the Oakland Museum. Tickets are $12.50 in advance, $15 at the door. 238-2200. www.museum.ca.org 

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace Peace walk around the lake every Sun. Meet at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712. lmno4p.org 

“The Last Sephardic Jew” a film about a young rabbi who takes a journey back into history at 2 p.m. at the BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $5. 848-0327, ext. 110. www.brjcc.org 

Tibetan Buddhism with Abbe Blum on “What is Knowledge of Freedom?” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

MONDAY, JAN. 31 

Tea and Hike at Four Taste some of the finest teas from the Pacific Rim and South Asia and learn their natural and cultural history, followed by a short nature walk. At 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. Cost is $5-$7, registration required. 525-2233. 

“Approaches to Adequacy: What Are Essential Elements of Schools?” with David Conley, Associate Professor, University of Oregon, at 7 p.m. in the Berkeley High Library, corner of Addison and Milvia Sts. 644-8549. www.berkeley.k12.ca.us 

Mystical Music, Poetry, and the Sufi Zikr at 7 p.m. at the M.T.O. Center, 2855 Telegraph Ave., Suite 101. Free but please call to reserve a seat. 704-1888.  

World Affairs/Politics Discussion Group for people 60 years and over meets Mondays at 9:45 a.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave. Join at any time. Cost is $2.50 with refreshments. 524-9122. 

Bayswater Book Club meets to discuss “Rabbi Paul” by Bruce Chilton at 6:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble Coffee Shop, El Cerrito Plaza. 433-2911. 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. Join us to work on current issues around police misconduct. Volunteers needed. For information call 548-0425. 

TUESDAY, FEB. 1 

Mid-Day Meander to see early blooming schrubs and learn Groundhog Day lore at 2:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233.  

Bird Walk along the Martin Luther King Shoreline to see marsh birds at 3 p.m. For information call 525-2233. 

“New Era/New Politics” Walking Tour of Oakland highlights African-American leaders who have made their mark on Oakland. Meet at 10 a.m. at the African American Museum and Library at 659 14th St. Tour is free and lasts about 90 minutes. 238-3234. www.oaklandnet.com/walkingtours 

“Getting Along with Your Adult Children” a participatory workshop at 7:30 p.m. at the BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $35-$40. 848-0327, ext. 110. www.brjcc.org 

“A Test of Will: A Climber’s Story of Survival” with Warren MacDonald at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Sing-A-Long every Tues. from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic. All ages welcome. 524-9122. 

Tap Into It Jazz and Rhythm Tap classes at Montclair Recreation Center, 6300 Moraga Ave., Oakland. Experienced at 6:30 p.m., beginners at 7:30 p.m. 482-7812. 

Berkeley Salon Discussion Group meets to discuss “Political Predictions and the New Administration” from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center, 1414 Walnut St. Please bring snacks and soft drinks to share. No peanuts please. 601-6690. 

Organic Produce at low prices sold at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon Streets every Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m. This is a project of Spiral Gardens. 843-1307. 

School Age Storytime for ages 5 and up at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext.17. Ends March 1 

Family Story Time at the Kensington Branch Library, Tues. evenings at 7 p.m. at 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

Brainstormer Weekly Pub Quiz every Tuesday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Pyramid Alehouse Brewery, 901 Gilman St. 528-9880. 

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. We offer ongoing classes in exercise and creative arts, and always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 2 

Groundhog Day Wildlife Walk in the Eastshore State Park to see ground squirrels, birds and talk about the ecosystem that supports so much wildlife. Meet at 10 a.m. at Sea Breeze Deli, University Avenue just west of I-80/580. Co-sponsored by Berkeley Path Wanderers, Friends of Five Creeks, Save the Bay, and the City of Berkeley’s Everybody Walks program. 848-9358. www.fivecreeks.org 

Berkeley High Beats Poetry Slam at 7 p.m. in Room G-210, Berkeley High School. Sign up at 6:30 p.m. Donation $1. rayers@berkeley.k12.ca.us 

AARP Free Tax Assistance for taxpayers with middle and low incomes, with special attention to those 60 years and older. From 12:15 to 4:15 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. This service will continue through April. Appointments must be made in advance. 526-3720, ext. 5. 

“Matrix of Evil” A documentary with footage from speeches and conversations with Cong. Ron Paul, Col. Craig Roberts, Cong. Cynthia McKinney, Frank Morales, and Alex Jones, at 7 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Free, $5 donations accepted. 393-5685. 

Berkeley Communicators Toastmasters meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 7:15 a.m. at Au Cocolait, 200 University Ave. at Milvia. For information call Robert Flammia 524-3765. 

Artify Ashby Muralist Group meets every Wed. from 5 to 8 p.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center, to plan a new mural. New artists are welcome. Call Bonnie at 704-0803. 

American Red Cross Blood Services Volunteer Orientation from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at 6230 Claremont Ave., Oakland. Volunteers are needed to support the more than 40 blood drives held each month.  Advance sign-up needed 594-5165. 

Stitch ‘n Bitch Bring your knitting, crocheting and other handcrafts from 6 to 9 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198. 

Winter Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes and a warm hat. Heavy rain cancels. 548-9840. 

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at the Berkeley BART Station, corner of Shattuck and Center. Sing for Peace at 6:30 p.m. followed by Peace Walk at 7 p.m. www. 

geocities.com/vigil4peace/vigil 

THURSDAY, FEB. 3 

Early Morning Bird Walk in Tilden Park to look for winter residents. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Tilden Nature Area. 525-2233. 

Painted Dog Project A discussion of the efforts to save these rare canids in Zimbabwe at 7 p.m. in the Marian Zimmer Auditorium, The Oakland Zoo. Cost is $20. 632-9525, ext. 142. www.oaklandzoo.org 

“World Religions and Ecology” with Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker and Dr. John Grim, both of Bucknell University, at 7 p.m. at the Richard S. Dinner Boardroom, Graduate Theological Union, Hewlett Library, 2400 Ridge Rd. 649-2560. 

“Nonviolent Resistance to U.S. Militarization in Okinawa” A presentation by Suzuyo Takazato, a cofounder and co-coordinator of Okinawan Women Act Against Military Violence at 7 p.m. in Mudd 100, Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Ave. 849-8244. 

“Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin” at 6:30 p.m. at the Ellen Driscoll Theater, Frank Havens School, 325 Highland Ave., Piedmont. Sponsored by the Piedmont Appreciating Diversity Film Series. www.diversityworks.org 

“Kingdom of the West” A video tour by air of Yellowstone, Yosemite & Glacier National Parks at 1:30 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave., Albany. 526-3720. 

Berkeley School Volunteers Training workshop for volunteers interested in helping in Berkeley Public Schools at 4:30 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. 644-8833. 

ONGOING 

Pee Wee Basketball for boys and girls ages 6 to 8, begins Sat. Feb. 5, from 10 a.m. to noon, and runs for six weeks. Fee is $25-$35. For information call Berkeley Youth Alternatives, 845-9066. sports@byaonline.org 

Albany Berkeley Girls Softball League is looking for girls in grades 1-8 to play girls softball. Season runs March 5-June 4. Scholarships available. To register call 869-4277.  

All Net Basketball for boys and girls ages 9 to 11, begins Tues. Mar. 8, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., and runs for five weeks. Fee is $10-$15. For information call Berkeley Youth Alternatives, 845-9066. sports@byaonline.org 

Dance Access & Dance Access/KIDS! offers creative dance classes for children and teens with and without physical disabilities. All classes are held at Eighth Street Studios, 2525 Eighth St. Pre- registration is required. 625-0110. alisa@axisdance.org  

Docent Training for the Magnes Museum for those interested in Jewish culture, history and art. Classes will be held on Thurs. evenings starting Feb. 3, at the Museum, 2911 Russell St. For more information contact Faith Powell at 549-6933. 

“Half Pint Library” Book Drive Donate children’s books to benefit Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland. Donations accepted at 1849 Solano Ave. through March 31. 

Taoist Tai Chi Society Beginning Level Class starts Feb. 16 at the First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. New students may register at any time. 415-864-0899 www.taichicalifornia.org 

Berkeley Rhino Rugby Club is seeking new high school age players for the Spring 2005 season. No experience required. Practices are Tues. and Thurs. 5 to 7 p.m. at San Pablo Park. 466-5113. 

CITY MEETINGS 

Commission on the Status of Women meets Wed., Feb. 2, at 7:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Tasha Tervelon, 981-5347. www.ci.berkeley. 

ca.us/commissions/women 

Fire Safety Commission meets Wed., Feb. 2, at 7:30 p.m. at 997 Cedar St. David Orth, 981-5502. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/firesafety 

Human Welfare and Community Action Commission meets Wed., Feb. 2, at 7 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Marianne Graham, 981-5416. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ 

commissions/welfare 

Commission on Early Childhood Education meets Thurs., Feb. 3, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Angellique De Cloud, 981-5428. www.ci.berkeley. ca.us/commissions/earlychildhoodeducation  

Housing Advisory Commission meets Thurs., Feb. 3, at 7:30 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Oscar Sung, 981-5400. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ 

commissions/housing 

Public Works Commission meets Thurs., Feb. 3, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Jeff Egeberg, 981-6406. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/publicworks 

?

They came, they saw, they liked. 

Berkeley’s Design Review Committee got its first look at plans for the David Brower Center and the accompanying affordable housing project Thursday and gave both a resounding seven thumbs up. 

It was the four-story Browe r Center—designed to be one of the world’s “greenest” buildings—that drew the most extravagant praise, but members had plenty of praise for the adjoining 96-unit, all-affordable Oxford Plaza housing building. 

San Francisco architect Dan Solomon, who desi gned both structures, called the project “an absolute dream commission on a crucial downtown Berkeley site.”  

The $47 million project could begin construction this year and be finished in two years, he said. 

The project is slated for construction on the site of the city’s Oxford Plaza parking lot along Fulton Street between Allston Way and Kittredge Street. The lost parking lots would all be replaced in a single level of underground parking. 

The 96-unit, six-floor Oxford Plaza affordable housing struct ure will offer 40 ground floor parking units, many featuring electric lifts that will accommodate two vehicles in one slot. No parking is planned for the Brower Center, in keeping with the organization’s pro-bike and mass transit agenda. 

The center build ing, a rounded front creation that extends from the Fulton Street/Allston Way intersection down Allston to the landmarked Cancun restaurant building adjacent to the Gaia Building, will offer offices to environmental and other organizations, green retailer s and restaurants and includes a 200-seat auditorium. 

“It’s very refreshing to see a mixed-use building that actually has substantial mixed use,” said DRC member and architect Rob Ludlow. “This is a very exciting project.” 

“We should be so lucky to have this building in Berkeley,” said member and architect Bob Allen. “When we get a really good project from a really good architect, we should refrain from dabbling.” 

“I’m actually for once going to agree with everything Bob said,” said DRC member and Landmarks Preservation Commission member Carrie Olson, drawing gasps and a quip from Dave Blake, a DRC member who also sits with Allen on the Zoning Adjustments Board. 

Olson’s main concern was the Brower Center’s failure to consider surrounding landmarks in their report. 

“This is a real thrill,” said DRC member and landscape architect Charles McCulloch. “It sort of makes my heart beat faster, 

“It’s handsome, appropriately scaled for the location and makes a persuasive case for an exception from the downtown plan” limits on building height, said architect/member Burton Edwards. 

Hired publicist Caleb Dardick organized a major turnout of supporters, just as he had done for the proposed Ed Roberts Center. 

Dean Harrison S. Fraker Jr. of UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design and chair of the school’s own Design Review Committee, called the project “a wonderful aesthetic addition to the city” that “adds an elegant urban rigor” to the city/campus border. 

“This is like a gift from the gods,” said Boona C heema of BOSS. 

Similar kudos came from the likes of former Earth Island Institute Executive Director David Phillips, Rain Forest Action Network President Randy Hayes, and prospective Gaia Building commercial tenant Anna De Leon. 

Many proponents were esp ecially excited about the Brower Center’s green building standards, which should qualify for the highest “platinum” rating conferred by the U.S. Green Building Council. 

The center features three floors of office space about the ground floor retail and ga llery area. 

By incorporating a new form of light redirecting glass that projects outside lighting across the ceilings, the second floor of offices will be passively lit to the full depth of the structure, Solomon said, with a skylight illuminating the upper level of offices. 

Natural ventilation photovoltaic cells on the roof will reduce energy consumption to minimal levels, and the usual of eco-friendly and recycled materials in construction will minimize the structure’s ecological footprint. 

In other matters, those commission’s seven enthusiastic thumbs turned fervently down for another project, a facelift-on-the-cheap to buildings at the northeast corner of Shattuck Avenue and Dwight Way. 

Owner Kenneth Matsumura submitted plans that would have cover ed much of the outer surfaces of the existing corner building, the attached building that sits between the corner structure and the Fine Arts Building—another Dan Solomon project—and a yet-to-be-constructed additional along Dwight Way, with panels of wire grillwork. 

Matsumura said the proposal was an inexpensive way of solving the otherwise costly problem of making distinctly different buildings look like one. 

Bob Allen said he had doubts that the metal add-ons would sit well atop an existing stucco surface. Chair David Snippen called it “a terrible, terrible mistake” that served to mask poor construction. 

“I can’t say anything positive about it,” said Olson. 

“It’s an insufficient renovation of an already insufficient building,” said Burton Edwards. “We can’t approve this kind of building.” 

Resubmitted plans for the Prince Hall Arms, a proposed housing structure with ground floor retail and space for a Masonic lodge at 3132 Martin Luther King, were more to the committee’s liking than earlier version, but not enough to win the committee’s approval.?

Just one week after the City Council approved the tallest building to hit downtown Berkeley in decades, an appellant has charged that Mayor Tom Bates’ meeting with the project’s developers before the crucial vote violated city rules on ex parte contact. 

The Seagate Building, approved overwhelmingly by the council last week, will rise nine stories at Center Street and Shattuck Avenue, complete with 149 apartments and rehearsal space for the Berkeley Repertory Theater. 

Visitor log records at city hall, first searched by Seagate opponent Zelda Bronstein and verified by the Planet, show that that Darrell de Tienne, the lead developer of the project had meetings at the mayor’s office as early as Jan. 20, 2004. After a second meeting Feb. 25, de Tienne and his partners with Seagate Properties, Inc. had another one-and-a-half hour meeting with the mayor and staff members April 26. 

All three meetings came while the council was supposed to be adhering to a strict law limiting contacts with advocates or opponents of projects on which the council might serve as the final arbiter, as it did on the Seagate project. 

Mayor Bates said he only met with de Tienne and Seagate principals on April 26 and that he didn’t violate the rule because they never discussed specifics of the proposed building. 

“We were very guarded not to talk about anything that might be a problem under the rule so I don’t think it was a problem,” Bates said. 

“Does anyone expect you to believe that [Bates] sat down with Darrell de Tienne for and hour and a half and never talked about the specifics of the plan?” charged Bronstein, a former chair of the Planning Commission, and the main author of an appeal to Seagate’s use permit. 

She called Seagate, which due to two space bonuses rose from five stories to nine, “the most flagrantly illegal project in Berkeley history. It’s just another example of people making decisions in high places not following the rules.” 

At the center of the controversy is a much criticized long-standing rule that limited so called “ex parte” contacts—private conversations with advocates or opponents for items on which the council might vote as an appellate body. Such contacts could prejudice a vote by giving a councilmember information not part of the public record. 

Until the council officially changed the law effective July 23 to allow for such contacts as long as councilmembers divulged their contents before a public hearing, some members of the council were known for going to great lengths to avoid any discussions of pending developments. Councilmember Kriss Worthington said he would walk out of neighborhood meetings if the participants began discussing a proposed development. 

“Prior to changing the policy, there was an iron clad prohibition on communicating with anyone about projects,” said Worthington who in past years questioned office visits by developers to his political rival, former Mayor Shirley Dean. 

But City Attorney Manuela Albuquerque said Monday that the rule was never intended to preclude any contacts with project applicants or opponents, only conversations specific to the development in question.  

“Unless the mayor gathered information about the project that was not a part of the public record, it’s really irrelevant,” said Albuquerque, adding that the Seagate appeal operated under the current rules. 

Since the council changed the rule July 23, city hall logs show three occasions—Aug. 10, Sept. 27 and Dec. 9—when de Tienne visited the mayor’s office with no corresponding disclosure form filed at the city clerk’s office detailing the content of the meeting. 

Calvin Fong, an aide to Bates assigned to the project, said the Aug. 10 meeting was with Richard Robbins, head of Wareham Development, who works with de Tienne and owns several properties in West Berkeley, but is not a partner in Seagate. Fong said he did not have a record of the other two meetings, but said Mayor Bates was on vacation Sept. 27. 

Even though de Tienne’s name appeared in the log as visiting the mayor’s office those days, Fong said the developer might have made a brief visit, while meeting with other city officials that wouldn’t require that he fill out a disclosure form. Fong did himself fill out seven disclosure forms relating to Seagate, six describing his own conversations with de Tienne, and the other his conversation with neighborhood activist Tim Hansen, who supported Bronstein’s appeal of the use permit granted by the Zoning Adjustment Board.  

›

Before the crack of daybreak, a nondescript white van cruises the residential streets of central Berkeley picking up people unknown to neighbors. 

For early risers along the residential blocks several blocks west of the downtown, the van has been a curious sight. But for city workers searching for a parking spot on far flung residential side streets, the van is a dependable lift to work. 

Since 2001, the Berkeley Police Department has spent around $12,000 annually for the van to shuttle department employees from city residential streets where they park to their jobs at police headquarters and City Hall. 

The goal, said Patrol Captain Doug Hambleton, is to provide safe transport to city employees and take some of the parking pressure off blocks adjacent to city offices.  

But several residents on the most affected block aren’t pleased that Berkeley is encouraging city employees to drive to work and monopolize parking on residential streets. 

“It’s not fair,” said Hank Clayton. “We pay the taxes. Either the workers should pay for parking or the city should build a garage. They shouldn’t park at our expense.” 

Clayton, who lives on Bancroft Way between Roosevelt and McGee streets, the nearest block to city offices that doesn’t have a two-hour parking restriction, said his block is the top prize for downtown commuters looking for a spot. It’s three blocks from the Public Safety Building on Center Street and Martin Luther King, Jr. Way. 

“It’s not just the city workers. You’ve got the postal employees, business workers, high school seniors all competing against each other,” he said. 

Clayton’s next door neighbor Tim Moellering, a Berkeley High teacher, said he stopped using his car during the day because he knew there would be no spots for him when he returned. 

“The traffic here has increased dramatically,” he said, “because people are cruising for a place to park.” 

From around 6 a.m. to just before 8 a.m., the van, driven by a part-time police employee, circles the blocks from between Martin Luther King Jr. Way to Sacramento Street, between Channing Street to the south and Addison Street to the north. The prime pick-up points are those blocks without two-hour residential preferential parking limits. 

To keep city workers and other all day parkers off his street, Clayton needed to get more than 50 percent of the neighbors on his block to sign a petition requesting the block join the city’s residential preferential parking program. Most neighboring blocks have signed up for the program which allows them to pay a fee to restrict parking to under two hours for those who don’t live on the block.  

However, last year Clayton couldn’t muster up enough signatures from homeowners. He blamed the petition’s failure on a lack of interest from two businesses on the block and a high number of absentee landlords. But several neighbors interviewed said they would rather hunt for parking spaces than pay $30 for the permit to park on their own block. 

Still, with the city currently pressuring UC Berkeley to reduce new parking construction and encourage employees to commute on public transit, Councilmember Dona Spring said the city van shuttle sends the wrong message. 

“It’s a bad example for the city to set for other government agencies,” she said. “Instead of creating a shuttle to parking lots, we’re shuttling employees to residential streets.” 

Spring said she received neighborhood complaints about the van when it first started, but that former Police Chief Dash Butler brushed aside her recommendation that the department lease space from neighboring church parking lots.  

“He said the staff was so demoralized because they didn’t have a place to park,” she said. 

Parking for police officers and other city employees was more plentiful before the late 1990s when the city built the public safety building on Martin Luther King Jr. Way, the site of two surface level parking lots. At the behest of residents around McKinley Street, just west of the public safety building, the city closed down two more staff parking lots, which are set to be auctioned off this year to residential housing developers. 

Capt. Hambleton said the police started the shuttle to offset the loss of the parking lots. 

“We were getting a lot of complaints about employees parking in the neighborhood and going to move their cars during the day,” he said. “Having the shuttle spreads cars out so we don’t have as great an impact on any one neighborhood.” 

Hambleton added that police officers’ tendency to work overtime made it harder for them to carpool or rely on public transportation. Since the city closed the four staff parking lots, it has sought to discourage employees from driving alone to work, he said. 

Employees receive free AC Transit passes, $20 monthly commuter checks to pay for BART tickets, discount parking at the center street garage for carpools and a guaranteed taxi ride home in the case of an emergency, said Matt Nichols of the city’s transportation department. 

He added that operating a parking lot shuttle would likely be too expensive for the city especially considering that employees could just hop on an AC Transit bus. The success of the city’s program in boosting public transportation use remains unknown. The last city study showing that 47 percent of city workers drove to work alone was conducted in 2001, before the city rolled out the transit incentive program.ª

The City Council Tuesday is set to approve three affordable housing projects totaling 231 units—nearly double the number developed in Berkeley over the last five years. 

Funding the three projects, Oxford Plaza, Ashby Lofts and University Avenue Senior Homes, however, required the city to exhaust its housing trust fund three years into the future, meaning Berkeley is unlikely to entertain new affordable housing projects until around 2008. 

Also on Tuesday’s agenda, the council is scheduled to vote on a plan to reduce auto lanes on a stretch of Marin Avenue and decide whether or not to send a planned five-story apartment complex and restaurant back to the Zoning Adjustment Board for reconsideration. 

“We’re very happy that the city has found a way to fund all three affordable housing projects,” said Ryan Chao of Satellite Housing. 

Satellite, which had asked for $1.9 million from the city to help fund an 80-unit senior housing project on University Avenue near Sacramento Street, appeared to have lost out on city funding last month after the Housing Advisory Commission voted 5-4 to recommend two similarly priced competing projects: Oxford Plaza, a 96-unit project set to rise beside the David Brower Center on Oxford Street and Allston Way, and Ashby Lofts, a 55-unit building slated for West Berkeley. 

With only about $4 million in its housing trust fund, the city had to stretch resources to fund all three projects. Not only is the city committing trust fund revenues for the next three years for the developments, but it is also counting on receiving $300,000 a year from a bond refinancing program by the city’s redevelopment agency and at least $200,000 won by Rent Stabilization Board in a recent court settlement.  

If that funding doesn’t materialize or the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development reduces grants to the trust fund, the city would then use up to $500,000 from the general fund reserve to back the projects. 

The proposal before the council would solve a political battle over which projects received limited city funding. Initially, the housing commission’s subcommittee recommended holding off on Oxford Plaza, only to see a majority of the commission and several members of the council push for the development because of its connection to the Brower Center. 

Nonprofit-housing developers need city money to leverage state funds needed to build. The city’s financial commitment, however, doesn’t guarantee that the projects will get built, Berkeley Housing Director Steve Barton said. 

“It’s perfectly possible that one or two of these projects will lose out in the tough competition for affordable housing money,” he said. 

A new state law will likely force the council to send a five-story restaurant and condominium development, known as the Tune Up Masters project, back to the Zoning Adjustment Board. 

When the ZAB approved the 25-unit building with 32 parking spaces on University Avenue and the corner of McGee Street, it gave the developer a 25 percent density bonus for including affordable housing. 

However, city staff and the ZAB were unaware that a state law enacted in 2003 allowed only a 10 percent bonus for condominium projects offering affordable units for those earning between 80 and 120 percent of the area median income (AMI). 

Robin Kibby, a resident who lives near University Avenue, raised the issue in her appeal of the ZAB ruling. 

Under a 10 percent bonus, the building would decrease from 25 units to 22 units and possibly lose a portion of the fifth floor, which several neighbors argued made the building too tall for the avenue. 

If the project is returned to the ZAB, city staff is recommending either that the council direct the board to compel the developer to sell the affordable units for less than 80 percent of AMI, thereby triggering the 25 percent bonus or allow the developer to build the current project by granting concessions based on financial necessity. 

The council is also scheduled to vote on a plan to reduce auto lanes on a stretch of Marin Avenue—a popular access road for North Berkeley commuters heading to I-80. Last week, the council delayed a vote on the plan after hearing from 42 residents who split on the plan’s merits.

The proposed new Berkeley Bowl at Ninth Street and Heinz Avenue comes up for a Planning Commission workshop and hearing Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. 

The Berkeley Bowl project needs commission approval because it requires both a General Plan amendment and a rezoning before construction can begin. 

Located just off heavily traveled Ashby Avenue, the project has generated controversy both because of potential traffic impacts and because it will mean a reduction in the city’s light industrial-zoned sites. 

The commission meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. 

Also on the agenda is another in a series of commission discussions on proposed amendments to the city’s Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. 

The panel will also hear a report on the county-wide Shelter and Services Survey and Special Housing Needs Plan from city Homeless Policy Coordinator Jane Micallef and Senior Housing Department Planner Tim Stroshane. 

Also on tap is a report from UC Berkeley Senior Project Manager Ken Hufferd on the university’s plans to construct a high-rise hotel and adjoining parking facility and conference center at the northeast corner of Shattuck Avenue and Center Street. 

—Richard Brenneman 



The union representing 30,000 northern California grocery workers announced Monday that it reached a contract settlement with three large grocery chains.  

After nearly five months of negotiations, union representatives said both sides agreed to a contract that does not include a two-tiered system that divides new and existing employees, one of the principal concerns for the union. 

According to Matthew Hardy, a spokesperson for the eight locals involved in the contract negotiations, the stores, which include Safeway, Albertsons’, and Kroger, had originally proposed a contract where new workers started with lower wages and would never have the opportunity to earn the top salaries that current employees do. Under the new contract, employees will be able to reach the top of the pay scale, but will have to work more hours to do so.  

Hardy said the union agreed to a similar health care proposal. New employees will not start with a health care plan as good as the one given to current employees, but will eventually acquire the same benefits if they continue to work at the stores. 

“The companies tried to change this into a permanent two-tier system,” said Hardy. “But we were able to fight that back.”  

Hardy said the union also stopped the store from using what is referred to as the “step-up” system where lower classified employees are asked to do the jobs of more senior employees. Additionally, they prevented the stores from using vendors to stock their shelves. Both agreements, according to Hardy, help protect jobs.  

The union is scheduled to hold meetings with all employees to inform them about the details of the contract. The workers are then expected to vote on the contract within the next three weeks. 

—Jakob Schillerr

A delayed district planning proposal is back on the agenda for Peralta Community College Trustees Tuesday night, when trustees will consider authorizing a six-month contract with Scala Design & Development company. 

The trustees meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Peralta headquarters at 333 East Eighth St. in Oakland, with broadcast on Channel 18 in Berkeley and Channel 28 in Oakland. 

Last December, on a motion by Trustee Nicky González Yuen, trustees tabled Chancellor Elihu Harris’ request for the $45,000 Scala contract, which would have given the Oakland-based company six months to prepare a district-wide Land Use Development report. 

Yuen said at the time that he made the tabling motion “because we need to take a slight step back in this process.” Trustees had complained, in part, that the Scala proposal did not include a resume for Scala principal Atheria Smith, and that trustees did not have enough information as to how the Scala proposal would be integrated with the district’s long-range plans. 

At the same December meeting, Harris announced that he had killed a proposed contract with IPA Solutions for a facilities management plan, and had chosen not to move forward with a Laney athletic fields development plan contract with Strategic Urban De velopment Alliance. 

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, trustees will hear a report from Chief Financial Officer Thomas Smith on the impacts of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget proposals on the Peralta District. 

—J. Douglas Allen-Taylore›

Berkeley Iceland on Monday delivered to city officials a long-awaited plan to bring its 64-year-old skating rink up to code. 

Rather than switch to a new cooling system, Deputy Fire Chief David Orth said the rink is proposing to upgrade its current ammonia-based system. 

Orth said the department was still reviewing the ice rink’s proposal. 

Last month the fire department gave Iceland officials a Jan. 8 deadline, later extended to Jan. 24, to address safety concerns about the current system, which is out of code compliance, or face a possible closure. 

—Matthew Artzˆ

A little more than a year after a district-commissioned report called for an overhaul of Berkeley Unified School District’s Special Education program, an internal report has revealed that many of the major problems still remain. 

In a presentation at the school board meeting last week, Special Education Director Ken Jacopetti said that state administrators have recently criticized the district for what it called “over-identification” of special education students as well as for a low rate of transfers out of special ed. In addition, the staff report concluded that the district’s special education classes have an “over-representation of minority students.” 

Berkeley parent Julia Epstein, one of the founders of the Berkeley Special Education Network (BSPED) which lobbied the district into commissioning last year’s consultant report, said that while the district has “many extraordinary special education teachers” and “progress has been slow but promising,” she found the problem with overidentification “appalling” and said that students “should not get dumped into the special education program” just because the “general education program in the district is not working properly.” 

Last January, Kathleen Gee of Sacramento State University and Diane Ketelle of Mills College reported to the board and district officials that the district often pushed struggling students into special education—often segregating those students from classmates and erecting walls between the special education department and the rest of the schools. 

BUSD “need[s] to rethink the organization of their services to put more resources and efforts into instruction and fewer kids into special education,” Ketelle said last year. 

The school board accepted the consultants’ report. 

But in their report to the board last Wednesday, Jacopetti and BUSD Special Education Manager Amy Buster said that, at least statistically, little has yet changed. 

“While BUSD enrollment has been declining overall,” they wrote, “BUSD enrollment has increased in special education.” The report noted that BUSD special education enrollment rose from 924 students in December 2000 to 1,091 in December 2004, and the 12.1 percent special education enrollment rate in the district was now greater than the overall state rate of 10.3 percent. The report projected that at the current rate, BUSD special education students would account for more than 14 percent of the district’s population by the end of the year. 

The report also noted that while “the state expects that 6.5 percent of special education students annually should exit and return to general education,” BUSD currently puts 0.1 percent of its special education students back into the general school population. 

That translates to one student per year, a fact which was brought home to board members when Student Director Lily Dorman-Colby revealed that last year, “I was that student.” 

BUSD Superintendent Michele Lawrence told board members that with an exit rate that low, “a child is labeled a special education student all of their school life.” 

The report also showed that African-American students were enrolled in the BUSD special education program in greater numbers than their percentage in the district—51 percent of BUSD’s special education students are black, while 35 percent of the district’s students overall are black. The numbers were reversed for white students, 18 percent in special ed to 32 percent overall. The percentages of Asian, Hispanic, and mixed-race students in special education were roughly comparable to their percentages in the district overall. 

Superintendent Lawrence called the district’s special education a “Catch-22 situation,” telling board members that if some of the money used for current special education programs could be diverted directly to the district’s schools for intensive instruction of students who are showing early learning problems, “I would be willing to bet that special education referrals would plummet, because the schools would have the resources to intervene with all of their students.” 

Jacopetti said that district is looking into pilot programs at other state school districts where instead of doing evaluations of teacher-referred students with observed learning disabilities to see if the students needed to be assigned to special education, the districts are using the 50-day state-mandated assessment period to provide intensive extra reading instruction to those students. 

“The districts are finding that many of these students are responding to that extra instruction, and their test scores are going up,” Jacopetti said. “That means they don’t have to be assigned to special education.” 

The special education report was presented to the BUSD board as information only, which bothered BSPED member Julia Epstein. 

“I was concerned that there didn’t seem to be a plan as to what to do with the information,” she said. 

Epstein said that while she was “not completely disheartened” by the special education report, she suggested that the district consider rehiring Sacramento State’s Kathleen Gee as a consultant to look at what’s been put in place since last year’s report, and to give objective advice on future actions. 

“I think that would be a good use for a small bit of money,” Epstein said. She added that while the district “seems to be pushing some things forward,” it is natural for parents of special education students—such as herself—to get frustrated with the pace of the process. “Parents tend to see things through the lens of their own children,” Epstein said. “Most of them want to see these reforms in time to be of some benefit to their children. So it’s difficult when things take five and six years to get accomplished. By that time, many of these students will be out of school.”?

Four and a half months after he came on the job, Berkeley High Vice Principal Mark Wolfe has announced his resignation for what he described as personal and family reasons. The resignation was effective immediately, and Wolfe’s last day was Wednesday of last week. 

BHS Counselor Roland Stringfellow was promoted to fill the vice principal vacancy. 

BUSD Public Information Officer Mark Coplan said that Wolfe was “a great worker” and would be missed. Coplan said that while Wolfe was “terrific at his job,” t he demands of the vice principal position were putting strains on his family. 

“When he came in the office on Thursday morning, he had his three toddlers in tow,” Coplan said. “I think that’s the first time since he got here that his wife had any free tim e to herself. That just became too difficult for them to handle.” 

Wolfe, a Berkeley native and a BHS graduate, was hired by the high school last September out of Medford, Ore., where he and his family will be returning. His last official act was particip ation in a presentation to the BUSD Board Wednesday night supporting a proposal for BHS’ third small school. 

Stringfellow, who came to Berkeley High from Fort Wayne, Ind., was also hired in September. The school administration is currently seeking a perm anent replacement for Stringfellow’s position as counselor. 

—J. Douglas Allen-Taylor›

PUBLIC LIBRARY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

In regard to your article of Jan. 14, on proposed budget reductions in the Berkeley Public Library, there are two important points for readers to keep in mind as proposals and counter-proposals are put before the Board of Library Trustees. First, the director proposes to balance the library’s budget by laying off many of the lowest paid employees (though not reducing the need for them) while simultaneously expanding middle management. The union proposes to spread the budget cuts across all employees and to reduce the overall cost of middle management. 

Second, almost everyone you see working in the library now, from the person who helps you find a book and checks it out for you, or puts it back on the shelf when you return it, to the one who decided to buy that book in the first place, or cataloged it, or even read it to your child at story time, is not a manager. Library managers are now encouraged to spend as little time as possible out on the floor with you, but rather to work entirely without public contact, while producing plans, reports, and proposals. 

Erich Keefe 

• 

UC LONG-RANGE PLAN 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

In your article on “UC Regents Approve LRDP, City Seeks Payments” (Daily Planet, Jan. 21-24) it states that the university criticized the estimate that the university costs the city $11 million per year, because the estimate “did not factor in university contributions to the city’s economy.” 

No property tax payer, who pays both an ad valorum property tax and fees and assessments for city services, has their tax bill reduced because of their contributions to the city’s economy. 

Many property tax payers also do their buying in Berkeley, adding to the city’s sales tax revenue, may hire local residents in their local business, and may even volunteer their time in the schools, on commissions, or with local non-profits. 

I have yet to hear a local property tax payer complain that their bills should be reduced because of their contributions to the city’s economy. 

If the university can win on this point, can you imagine what would happen to the city’s finances if we all tried this? 

Anne Wagley 

• 

ARTS DISTRICT  

GRAFFITI 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I am Sherry Smith, a subject of Carol Denney’s Jan. 21 Daily Planet commentary headlined “Celebrating Poetry in the ‘Arts District.” 

I did indeed remove and toss into a recycling bin as many as I could of the notes that Carol Denney masking-taped alongside Addison Street bronze poetry insets. 

And why not? 

Ms. Denney’s notes accused the 130 poets honored by the plaques of “pimp[ing] poetry for rich people’s property values”. 

She arrives at this accusation by construing that efforts to enhance the new Downtown Arts District, centered on Addison Street, are a crass use of public money to enhance private property values. By Ms. Denney’s logic, a municipality may not use its considerable zoning power, its political pressure, and especially public funds, to improve any municipal ambiance because any such improvement is by its nature bound to increase the value of downtown property.  

So I ask you to find that, on the face of it, Ms. Denney is pursuing a logical non-sequitur. I ask you to find that cities should be striving to improve themselves...at the risk of benefiting everyone. I ask you to find that Ms. Denney did an un-civil thing by calling the poets (who were paid nothing and did not seek the honor of inclusion)... “pimps.” 

At least half of the poets are still alive, and 43 were personally present and being honored in a civic arts celebration the afternoon that Ms. Denney chose to lay her charge before them that they are pimps. 

Yes, I am guilty. I removed as much of Ms. Denney’s graffiti as I could. Ms. Denney wishes to cast my act as a denial of her right to free speech. 

I believe and hope that you would have done the same in my place. 

Sherry Smith 

Member, Civic Arts Commission 

• 

MORE ON PUBLIC LIBRARY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I have lived in Berkeley since 1961—I have seen a lot of things come and go through Berkeley in that time, and sadly, I must say, not always for the better. While many of the services available in Berkeley serve a minority of our citizens amicably—the Berkeley Public Library (BPL) serves all of us each and every day. The library is a ‘pulse’ between the City and its Citizens, measuring the ebb and flow of how people are doing in this diverse town. 

The recent budget crisis to BPL is a low point for Berkeley, and without sufficient funds, the board of directors for BPL will have to make some draconian decisions that will effect the entire City of Berkeley in many ways on many levels. I hope they make their decisions carefully, weighing all points of contention with others! In my humble opinion, as one who used to work for BPL and enjoy my years of service there for the most part (1989-1994), I am somewhat familiar with this institution and how it functions. The community needs teen-librarians at the branches, less so at the Main Library; they need their library assistants and library aides to shelve the books and for circulation purposes; has anyone ever considered that if the hatchet must fall, it should fall on administration, where although these people do much behind the scenes, they are behind the scenes and do not have direct day-to-day contact with the public as a branch or reference librarian would have? Has anyone considered reducing the hours of the administration hours’ per week? Perhaps their perks and other financially related funds could be cut in these bad times; perhaps the video dept. should be reduced or eliminated to save, as there are many resources for videos in Berkeley. I urge the BPL board of directors to consider cutting where it least effects the people of Berkeley, behind the scenes with administration—reduce hours to being closed on Sunday and perhaps close libraries at 4 p.m. on Saturdays? Perhaps cut the hours to 6 p.m., rather than 9 p.m. one or two days a week.  

Please be very thoughtful to the wonderful people who work for BPL when considering these budget cuts—why is it always the workers on the totem pole that get the ax? Why not begin at the top, where after all the budgetary crisis always begins and rarely if ever ends up there. For us the public who love this institution, one of the last vestiges of a department that ALL of us can enjoy and use on a day-to-day basis, and is not one of political correctness I urge the board of BPL directors to consider these and other comments made from the employees of BPL, and not just from management. 

Mark Bayless 

• 

WEST BERKELEY BOWL 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The period for formal public comment on the initial environmental study for the proposed West Berkeley Bowl closed last Wednesday, Jan. 12. I suggest that it be re-opened and extended for two weeks, for the following reasons:  

1. The study was published on Dec. 15, the same day that the formal comment period opened. It’s unlikely that members of the public attended to land use matters during the holidays.  

2. The project is big and controversial.  

3. The city is legally required to respond only to public comment taken during the formal comment period.  

4. The public was not consulted once in the two years that city staff worked with the Berkeley Bowl’s developer.  

5. City offices were closed the week between Christmas and New Year’s weekends.  

When I raised these points in an informal conversation with Planning Director Dan Marks on Dec. 24, he told me that he expected the formal comment period to be extended. Shortly thereafter, he left for a three-week vacation out of the country. Now that he’s returned, I hope he will act on his expectations in this matter.  

Zelda Bronstein  

• 

BROWER CENTER 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Has downtown Berkeley no shame? Must we insult the memory of Dave Brower by building a parking structure with his name on it? 

The environmentalists who will occupy the Brower Center should show Berkeley and the Bay Area that they can get along without cars, without parking. The Brower Center, located within a few steps of plenty of public transit, should consist of only car-free housing and car-free office space. 

If we really must have all that parking, then please put some anti-environmental person’s name on the project. How about calling it the George W. Bush Center, and give some free space to advocates for drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? 

Steve Geller 

• 

WILLARD SCHOOL 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

What’s BUSD doing to the front of Willard? Palm trees in the middle of lawns next to mountain lilacs? It’s worse than mixed metaphors, its plant illiteracy. Add that to sprinkler heads sticking up and wired to rebar.  

Ugly in addition. 

C.N. Fang?

One day after Condoleezza Rice’s Senate confirmation hearing I curled up with the book that provides her best claim to seriousness as a scholar: Germany Unified and Europe Transformed. 

Since Rice is likely to become our new Secretary of State and her co-author Philip Zelikow may join her staff, I thought this 1995 book would give me some feel for what her conduct of American diplomacy would be like.  

The unification of Germany in 1990 was, after all, an “extraordinary episode in modern diplomacy,” and both Rice and Zelikow played roles in the process, as did Robert Zoellick, nominated as Rice’s deputy at the State Department. It was Zoellick who asked Zelikow to write the internal history of German reunification that became this book.  

Germany Unified is, then, the work of engaged scholars. While the authors’ involvement gave them a stake in putting the best face on the history they describe, it also gave them a useful close-to-the-ground look at what was happening.  

As they tell it, the story began when Mikhail Gorbachev set the Soviet bloc on a new course in 1985. Encouraging reform in both the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, he hoped to end the Soviet Union’s isolation from the international capitalist system. No one imagined that the reforms he set in motion would so quickly end the division of Germany, or dissolve the Soviet bloc and the Soviet Union itself. 

Here was a system that seemed to be fixed—a Soviet empire, a divided Germany—yet a series of quick developments undid it. No single player determined the outcome, but throughout the process Rice and Zelikow saw at work the power of forceful leadership. They give the most credit to West Germany’s Helmut Kohl. But they also note the “pivotal importance and firmness of Bush’s personal judgments.” 

A continuation of Reagan’s “crusade for freedom,” Bush’s vision of a democratic eastern Europe guided policy through the complex diplomatic maze that ended a status quo that had endured for nearly half a century.  

It is not much of a stretch to see the continuity between policy Rice helped to shape under Bush I and policy she has helped to shape under Bush II. In fact, I have wondered all along if Bush and Rice recklessly embarked on the democratization project in the Middle East out of a mistaken idea that the Middle East would be like Eastern Europe.  

If Bush II is continuing his father’s campaign to democratize the world, he is doing it in radically different style from his father. Again and again, Zelikow and Rice describe Bush I’s multilateral approach and appreciation for the sensitivities of the various countries involved, pre-eminently the most powerful players, West Germany and the Soviet Union. They present the Bush I administration as taking an opportunity to exercise leadership in this crisis—but quietly, carefully, even cautiously.  

Although they seem to approve of his style, Rice herself emerges as a voice for forceful action. 

It was Rice, along with another NSC staff member, who wrote a national security directive arguing for movement “beyond containment to the integration of the Soviet Union into the international system.” As events picked up speed, it was Rice who argued in favor of early reunification of Germany. “The Soviets would resist a more rapid pace. Yet they were in a difficult position, and Rice thought that the United States should go ahead and hit the accelerator.” 

Yet there is nothing in the book to suggest the reckless and impatient policy that has isolated the United States under Bush II. Nor, in the authors’ meticulous presentation and apparent regard for truth is there a hint of the carelessness with which Condoleezza Rice has handled facts as Bush’s national security advisor.  

As California Senator Barbara Boxer pointed out in Rice’s confirmation hearing, Rice has not only been careless of truth in her role as national security advisor but also unwilling to acknowledge what we might kindly call her misstatements. Both traits are unbecoming in a scholar and damning in a Secretary of State. As one senator pointed out during the testimony, America has suffered a steep loss of credibility in the world. 

In the end, therefore, I am not sure how much I learned from this book about how Rice might handle the Secretary of State’s job. Much stormy water has passed under the bridge since she and Zelikow wrote this book, and she has moved from a subordinate post in the shadow to a very visible place in the sun. If she could find again some of the circumspect commitment to truth we expect of a scholar, she would make a better—and more trusted—Secretary of State. 

Carol Polsgrove, professor of journalism at Indiana University, is the author of Divided Minds: Intellectuals and the Civil Rights Movement.›

Click here to view the latest work by Justin DeFreitas

Flying back from Jamaica to New York, in less than three and a half hours I went from nude, waited on and warm, to overdressed, ignored and freezing. It was an effort to put on clothes in Braco. It was equally hard to take them off once I returned to White Plains. From 85 degrees and sunny, to 1 degree with a wind chill factor of minus seven, it began to snow the moment our plane touched down at Kennedy and it didn’t stop until almost 24 hours later. The day before I was lying on the beach under a palm tree. Now I was shoveling snow from a porch in West Chester County. Where before I was sipping Piña Coladas and cooling off with multiple dips in the Caribbean, now I was drinking bad coffee and doing jumping jacks to keep warm. No one was calling me “madam” anymore or asking me if there was anything I wanted. Instead, people I didn’t know were yelling at me to get my ass in gear.  

There is a big difference in attitude between Jamaicans and New Yorkers, and it starts shortly after take off in Montego Bay, when you are forced to listen to fellow passengers complain about all the things that went wrong during their stay on the island. I personally don’t have a single complaint about my vacation, with the exception that I truly believe God invented clothes for a reason other than just keeping warm. Some people should never take their underwear off, it’s a simple as that. Forced (well not really forced, but wanting to fit in) to mingle with the nude and unclothed at the all inclusive resort my friends had brought me to, I did my best not to be too judgmental. 

But I gotta confess, it’s not easy to remain neutral about these things when male appendages and female breasts are swinging around haphazardly in front of you. What was particularly weird was to see women who from the rib cage up looked to be in their 40s, but from the bellybutton down were definitely not a day under 60.  

I had my doubts about this nudist thing before I left the tarmac at Kennedy. But my friends had outfitted me with “cruise wear” and told me to shut up and relax. Cruise wear is what you don when you go to the clothing side of the resort. You basically look like an Easter basket, all pink, yellow, green and blue. I had borrowed an outfit that morphed me into a walking palm tree, and another that I was told would make me look like “old money from Palm Beach,” but what I really resembled was a hard boiled egg dyed a rosy pink and lime green. Maybe there was a reason I should remove my clothes. 

I got used to the nudity after awhile. I even found myself participating in aqua aerobics, sans clothes though I was never tempted to play volleyball, croquet or dominoes with my fellow sun worshippers. Most of the time I curled up in a tiny ball under thick resort towels and hoped that the sun would disappear behind a cloud for a moment so that I could cool off, but it never did. And when I returned to New York, I wished for just the opposite: that the snow clouds would go away and that the sun would beam down and heat things up.  

It’s so hard to get what you really want, which is maybe why going on vacation once in awhile is a good lesson. It makes you appreciate what you’ve already got at home: temperate weather, friendly people, and clothes that don’t make you look like the Easter Bunny. As much as I enjoyed loafing about and being waited on, it’ll be good to return to Dover Street, where everyone misses me, or at least says that they do, and no one calls me madam. 

On Jan. 30 there will be national elections in Iraq. Insurgent violence will keep many Iraqis from voting and, as a result, some groups, particularly the Sunnis, will be under-represented in the new Assembly. Nonetheless, Jan. 30 represents a milestone f or the U.S. occupation, and, therefore, an opportunity for Americans to assess our prospects, to question our plan going forward. 

After the Iraqi election, there are three broad paths that the occupation might follow: America can continue with the Bush p lan to hang tough until the insurgency is defeated and Iraq enjoys a true democracy. Or, we could summarily declare victory and withdraw from Iraq. Finally, the U.S. occupation might take a radically different form—for example, by convincing the UN or NAT O to play a bigger role—one that would lead to a diminished role for our forces. 

This analysis considers the first of these scenarios, where America stays the course. 

In November, more than 60 million voters reelected George W. Bush; for many the pivota l reason was their belief that he is resolute, someone who says what he means. If Bush keeps to his word on Iraq—the U.S. will stay until it eliminates all the insurgents—then the results of the elections will bring little immediate change; the violence w ill continue unabated. 

The status quo is likely to hold for several months. Then, there might possibly be a substantial troop withdrawal, as most observers expect that the new Iraqi government, dominated by the Shiite majority, will ask for a quick end t o the occupation. The Bush administration could seize upon this as an opportunity to scale back military operations, regardless of internal conditions in Iraq and the readiness of newly trained security forces. 

Unfortunately, the most probable outcome of the Jan. 30 elections is a full-scale civil war, one where Iraqis who are now united in fighting the U.S., instead begin to fight each other. It seems improbable that America would withdraw in the midst of such chaos; or that we would abandon the Kurdish minority who occupy much of northern Iraq, as this would leave them open to invasion by Turkey. Further, the U.S. has constructed approximately a dozen “enduring” military bases in Iraq; it is unlikely that we would abandon these or simply cloister our troops inside them. 

Rather than withdraw, the Bush administration will probably muddle onward with an occupation dominated by American troops; we will continue to recruit and train Iraqi security forces, but, for the foreseeable future, our soldiers will engage in the worst fighting. 

However, many observers feel that the scope of the conflict might widen with an invasion and occupation of Iran and Syria. One of the excuses that the administration has given for their failure in Iraq is that large numbers of terrorists and weapons daily move across its mostly unsecured borders. An invasion of Iran and Syria might destroy terrorist staging areas and, in the eyes of the Bush administration, have the additional advantage of destabilizing governments that have been severe critics of the occupation. Further, an enlargement of the conflict would divert the American public from the failures of the occupation by shifting attention to what the U.S. military is good at—overwhelming infidels by means of superior tech nology. 

Of course, a strategy of expanding the scope of the occupation to include neighboring states has many possible negative consequences: our Iraq experience has proved that the American military is not an effective occupying force, and the expansion of our reach would further dramatize this (and continue to weaken our homeland security). Such a military action would, no doubt, find the United States acting alone; America would have to shoulder the entire cost of the operation, both in dollars and in casualties. Moreover, such an extreme example of U.S. unilateralism would have a profound affect on the international community; it would further alienate us from great powers such as China and Russia, and our traditional allies in Europe and Japan. At t he least, this would affect important diplomatic efforts and, most likely, have severe economic consequences, such as a rise in oil prices, further devaluation of the dollar, and a spike in interest rates. Lastly, a widening of the American presence in th e Middle East would further fuel the flames of anti-Americanism in the Arab world and strengthen support for the terrorist movement that we are trying to extinguish. 

At the moment, it seems most likely that after the formation of a new Iraqi govern ment, the occupation will muddle on as before, with an inexorable increase in American costs and casualties. This is the Bush “plan” that military experts allude to when they describe our involvement as going on for 10 or more years; operating under heavy administration censorship, they don’t put a price tag on this, but at roughly $100 billion per year, the occupation might cost more than $1 trillion. 

It’s the dreadful cost of this war, in lives and dollars, and in the loss of America’s integrity, that motivates progressives to search for a way out. 

?

Ran, Not Hit 

A woman called police Thursday morning to report that a driver had tried unsuccessfully to run her down with his car near the corner of Woolsey and California streets. 

No arrest have been made, said Berkeley Police spokesperson Officer Shira Warren. 

Bullet Through Window 

A Grant Street resident who lives near the corner of Bancroft Way called police shortly before 11 a.m. Friday to report that someone had fired a .22-caliber round through his window. He said he had no idea who fired the shot. 

Tip Jar Heister Busted 

Berkeley Police arrested a 34-year-old man toting the tip jar from Taqueria La Familia at 2971 Shattuck Avenue Thursday afternoon, just minutes after he’d entered the restaurant, pulled a knife and grabbed the jar, said Officer Warren. 

Police immediately searched the area and quickly caught the suspect toting the rather commodious container. 

He was relieved of his loot and transported to the city hoosegow, where he was booked on suspicion of armed robbery. 

Wrong Bottle 

A gang of four young men in their teens to early twenties shoved a Berkeley man and made off with the bottle he was carrying near the corner of Rose and California streets shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday. 

They were probably surprised when they discovered its contents to be good ol’ vinegar. 

Brandisher Vanishes 

A resident who lives on Prospect Street near the corner of Bancroft Way called police a 7:34 p.m. Friday to report that a man brandishing a knife had just walked in front of his house and appeared to be headed for his back yard. 

He’d departed before the black-and-whites arrived. 

Bottle Bashers Flee 

A UC Berkeley officer called his city counterparts to report that two fellows were having at each other with bottles near the corner of Telegraph and Durant Avenues late Saturday morning. 

By the time Berkeley officers arrived the belligerent bottle battlers had bolted. 

Drunk, Disorderly and More 

A couple’s dispute edged over the line late Sunday evening when police saw the woman throw the man to the ground near the corner of Telegraph Avenue and Channing Way. 

Both departed, only to surface again when officers spotted the man trying to fend off the woman. Timely intervention left the man unhurt and the woman in handcuffs, facing charges of public drunkenness, possession of an open container of alcohol and resisting arrest.

THE CYCLIST AGENDA 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I attended the Berkeley City Council’s public hearing on the reconfiguration of Marin Avenue in order to voice my opposition. Because this project came out of a bicycle hearing of several years ago I am convinced that this is the product of a vocal and obnoxious group of bicyclists who have an agenda that contravenes the interests of the vast majority. As Councilmember Worthington said, there are about 70,000 automobiles in Berkeley. The chair of the Transportation Commission showed his colors at the hearing. His characterization of all in the city who do not agree with his grand vision as losers shows that he, and I suspect the entire Transportation Commission, have an agenda that they wish to impose upon those of us who own automobiles. There must be reform of this commission and it should better represent the interests of the citizens of Berkeley. I suspect that the consultants may also share this agenda. 

The report from the traffic consultants, “City’s Notice of Intent to file a Negative Declaration for the Marin Avenue Reconfiguration Project,” is suspect. It is based upon a number of assumptions regarding the sources of traffic and potential bottle necks that are not realistic. The consultants refer to existing times of travel on Marin. They are referring to computer generated numbers based upon their model. They tell us that the field data is comparable. What does this mean? I would be more comfortable with the display of this data. We do not really know what existing times are. 

Project proponents claim that Marin will become safer with implementation. The report notes that the accident rates in the project area are below state averages. The members of the Transportation Commission, or Bike Reich, make a great deal of a pedestrian death on Marin last year. This is unfortunate, but it appears to be an anomaly. The proponents use this as manipulation and fear mongering of which they accuse others who oppose their utopian vision. Data do not support Marin as unsafe. 

There are other solutions to solving the perceived safety problem. One, would be more and timed traffic lights. This may be expensive, but Marin is an important artery and is worthy of some investment. Enforcement is another option. Apparently the Albany Police Chief says he can not reduce speed and that re engineering is required. Every time I hear a Highway Patrol officer in the media describing their efforts at enforcement they say their efforts do slow traffic. I do not know why this is not the case on Marin, other than to say the enforcement efforts are less than competent. In the old days I remember seeing three Albany Police cars in a row ready to make a U-turn at Curtis to head west on Marin and then pull someone over. I have not seen this level of enforcement lately. Just one officer lurking a couple of blocks from the freeway with a radar gun. Most police view themselves as great crime fighters and feel traffic enforcement is beneath them. I think the leaders of Albany need to light a fire under the rear end of their chief. 

I urge my fellow Berkeley residents to contact the city council and ask them to disapprove the Marin reconfiguration and negotiate with Albany to change its decision. If Albany proceeds, I would urge the Council to lobby the state to intervene as this street is too important a regional asset.  

Frederick O. Hebert 

• 

GO FIND A REAL ISSUE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

After reading the commentary by Barbara Gilbert regarding the proposed Marin Avenue reconfiguration, this north Berkeley resident is confused what her main objection is. It appears the possible loss of her speedy trip down Marin is underlying her tirade about (1) the process, (2) the Berkeley “bike lobby” (3) the City of Albany, and (4) the residents of Albany. Albany has had a very long and public debate on this subject over the past few years, and all concerned parties in Berkeley and Albany should have been aware of this. The Berkeley and Albany bike communities have focused very little time and effort on promoting this project. 

This is not a reduction from four lanes to two, but rather a reduction from four to three. Anyone who drives on this street has experienced the constant to need to change lanes from left to right and back again while traveling east or west. The presence of a center turn lane for left turns, and a broken line turn lane at intersections for right turns will eliminate this dangerous lane jockeying. That is correct—this solution will not just reduce a major safety problem (thousands of daily unsafe lane changes); it will eliminate it. 

Now that Albany is moving forward with a one year trial period, there is no logic to Berkeley not joining the experiment as well. We are only talking about five blocks of Marin Avenue in Berkeley that are not already one lane. 

Please go find a real issue to question, such as the UC expansion plans. 

Tom Fraser 

• 

SAVE THE DEBATE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Articles and letters in the last few issues of the Planet have called to mind a number of similar issues which may be instructive. Many years back the Christmas bonus at the company where my wife worked was the same for everyone, regardless of salary. When the company grew and new management came in, the bonus was made a fraction of one’s salary, so that management received a larger bonus. This was explained as being more fair, because higher paid employees need more money because they have higher expenses, with their kids going to private schools and so on. 

I was reminded of this by Barbara Gilbert’s article on the Marin avenue reconfiguration, where she rants against the ingratitude of Albany residents, and then states that “We are tired of Berkeley always being asked, in the name of some greater good, to make sacrifices that effectively enable others to avoid their fair share of the burden.” The “greater good” being in this case the safety of those who have the temerity to venture out upon Marin by foot or bicycle, while the “sacrifices” are the possible increases in time and fuel needed to commute on Marin with your car. 

Wait! Wait! There is more. Although other articles indicate that the Marin Avenue neighbors have been working on their traffic problem for seven years, Ms. Gilbert is concerned about the lack of timely notice, and blames the existence of a fifth column of traffic planners and bike enthusiasts for forcing this policy on Berkeley. 

I guess I really shouldn’t blame Ms. Gilbert for her paranoia. I myself have become extremely paranoid about George Bush and the Republican mandate. And of course there is the question whether anyone would pay attention if she had written that she knew that people had been working in good faith for seven years on the project, but she had missed the notices, and she felt that she should be given a chance to re-evaluate alternate solutions. 

Unfortunately, I think this is the point. There is more going on in this city, let alone the rest of the world, than any one individual can keep track of, let alone participate in. Not everybody is going to get their say, especially in a timely fashion. Re-striping Marin is a safety issue. Debates over best plan should not have taken the seven years that it already has taken, and they certainly should not be allowed to continue to put a safety plan on hold. The current plan includes a provision for the evaluation of its effectiveness. I respectfully submit that the debate should be saved for this second phase, and not the current phase. 

Robert Clear 

• 

IMPROVING SAFETY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Ultimately, the Marin Avenue reconfiguration is all about improving safety for all users. I am in favor of improving safety, so I am, therefore, in favor of the Marin Avenue reconfiguration. 

The speed limit on Marin is 25, most cars travel faster, and a lot travel at least 10 miles an hour faster than this limit. Marin Avenue contains multiple pedestrian generators since it is residential, with two schools and a library.  

Narrowing the roadway will serve several purposes: 

1) Distance pedestrians need to travel across traffic will be reduced.  

2) With only one lane of traffic, overall speed will slow to a safer rate. 

3) With an added center left-turn lane, left-turn vehicles will be able to remove themselves from traffic. 

4) With left-turn vehicles removed from traffic, traffic will flow more smoothly. 

5) With left-turn vehicles removed from traffic, sudden stops and unexpected movements of other cars will be significantly reduced. 

6) With bicycle lanes added, bicyclists will have a safer place to travel. 

7) Creation of the perception of increased activity along both sides of the traffic lane will also have the effect of slowing traffic.  

The City of Albany Police Chief reports that traffic enforcement to slow speeds was virtually ineffective, and expensive. Traffic engineering solutions are cost-finite, while enforcement solutions are infinite.  

The Berkeley portion of the Marin re-configuration is minimal, as is the cost. Compare this cost to the cost of a life. If it were my decision, I’d be voting on the side of protecting and preserving human life.  

It has been shown in studies that stop signs and signals are not effective on a street with Marin’s volume, where motorists tend to speed up after stopping. This stopping and starting would also increase pollution along the route. The best solution, for pedestrian, residents and motorists, is what is recommended in this Marin reconfiguration. 

Having read and heard of many similar road treatments I agree with the reports generated by engineers in this case. The Road Diet will slow traffic. Slowing traffic will not cost motorists much time overall, minimizing any potential overflow into neighborhoods.  

I would recommend that pedestrian refuges, in the form of middle islands be added, as well as sidewalk extensions or bulb-outs, when funds allow. This would serve to increase pedestrian safety especially for the oldest and youngest pedestrians, who take more time to cross the street. A recommendation to consider these additions could be added to the final council resolution. 

There are plenty of streets in Berkeley where motorists travel faster than the speed limit, creating hazardous conditions for pedestrians whether they are in a crosswalk, at a signalized intersection or crossing with the green light. When we have an opportunity to improve those conditions for the vulnerable pedestrian, at minimal expense to the city, and to motorists in terms of time and inconvenience, we should take it. 

Marcy Greenhut 

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Most honorable profession at the point of a blade. 

The last pure form.  

Mastery without effort. 

Song of the executioner. 

The art of cleavage 

and making chips fly. 

Zen in motion: 

OK. Stand the slab on end, like so. 

No teetering, blockhe ad! That's it.  

Our little champion.  

Mr. conservative smarty pants. 

Too big for his Republican britches. 

One of the hollow men.  

Just like his daddy.  

Feet wide apart. Knees a little bent.  

Heft the shank easy like, fingers loose, never tight. 

Don’t s queeze the shaft! 

Stay balanced. 

Now, address the dodgy son of a bitch: 

Mr. President, do you still insist  

there were weapons of mass  

desecration?  

OK. OK, sir. Whatever you say. But on your knees!  

Perjurers, murderers of small children,  

and loote rs of the economy  

do not pass through Peter's gate. 

Find the mark.  

We’ll cultivate that little crack.  

An opportunity waiting to happen. 

Stay centered.  

Up the maul, most excellent tool of all my days.  

Razor edge of discrimination.  

Hammer of infinite heaven. 

Bane of knots and heart rot. 

Punk nemesis. 

Hewer of the toughest grain.  

Instrument of the mighty spheres unbound. 

Avenging angel filled with disdain  

for you  

and all of your cronies and  

carpetbaggers. 

Swift retribution is coming! 

Now straight and true  

and away with him... 

( ! ) 

Omigod! 

With that stroke  

we could've thrice cut the deficit. 

Pity the poor soul.  

See! Look! It flies away… 

—Mark Gaffney 

c

The Howard Wiley Trio will perform a tribute to jazz inspiration John Coltrane this Friday at 9 p.m., presented by The Jazz House at 21 Grand Art Gallery, 449 B 23rd St., Oakland. 

While Wiley’s combo pours out the “full gamut” of sounds from the great tenorman’s legendary career, Swiss-born painter Timothy Streuli will be creating artwork on the spot. The Jazz House—homeless though not silent since Halloween, when its location on Adeline was sold—continues to produce shows for both young and veteran players, waiting for the funding to acquire a new venue.  

Reedsman Howard Wiley, a Berkeley High graduate, is known around the Bay Area as an accomplished sideman, playing with Lavay Smith, Faye Carroll, The Big Belly Blues Band and others. 

“He can play straight ahead on a standard tune, then go way out,” says Rob Woodworth of Jazz House, “He’s recorded everything from Ragtime and New Orleans dirges on up to outside jazz on the same CD. He used to come into our Tuesday night jam sessions, likes to work with kids. As a sideman, he works four, five times a week; I called him up for this gig because I think he deserves more recognition as a leader.” 

Just out of the studio after recording his first CD, Wiley will be accompanied by Darrel Green and David Ewell, drums and bass. 

True to The Jazz House mission, Woodworth says there’ll be an opening act of young players preceding Wiley’s group on the stand—or in the round: the audience will be seated around the players and painter. Streuli’s “vibrant” art can be seen at www.tstreuli.com. 

This is the second show produced by The Jazz House since losing its venue; trumpeter and Berkeley native Steve Bernstein premiered his Diaspora Hollywood Band at the Berkeley Fellowship Hall in December. 

The Jazz House was founded by Rob Woodworth in late summer, 2002, as a “place to play in the real world” for young jazz musicians—and for professionals, too. 

“The kids open, sometimes sit in with big names; they learn about the music biz, touring, how pros set up,” he says. “Most jazz venues are around bars, restaurants ... I think we’re unique in that the kids aren’t playing in a bar or in a school—they need to get out, not just go home and practice a chart, get down a handful of standards, concentrate so hard on playing the exact note. There’s not a lot of feeling in that; they need to be more free, open, play what they feel. We get them involved in a lot of improv.” 

Woodworth, who moved to the Bay Area about eight years ago, is a native of Kansas City, Mo. (“Some jazz history there; I grew up with it.”) and a lifelong drummer, though, “I don’t play so much anymore,” he says. He is the entire staff of The Jazz House organization, assisted at performances by volunteers. 

The idea for The Jazz House came to Woodworth a few years back while he was working for an arts-for-youth nonprofit. “I wanted a place where the kids weren’t just getting a book education and maybe an annual recital for a few parents—though even that’s being gutted everywhere for lack of money. And we’ve never charged admission for kids; they’re in free. I realized, too, that nine out of 10 musicians’ bios in Downbeat talk about how, as kids, they were inspired by sneaking up to a club to hear the music through the windows. Why sneak? Some young kids play better than adults at jam sessions. They’re coming up; when people hear them, they realize they’re not ‘just a kids’ group.’” 

The Jazz House was open for two years at 3192 Adeline. “From the outside, it looks like a barn or an old shed; inside, it’s a big open room, with a pitched floor—I heard it was a silent movie theater, then a general store. We put in folding chairs, a wood stage. There was no sign outside, just an old cobalt light hanging on the front of the building that looked like it had been there forever. We’d put it on when there was music going on. ‘Look for the blue light!’ We got known for looking unknown.” 

At first, The Jazz House had a few shows a week, then “it exploded, got away from me,” Woodworth says. Some weeks there’d be seven events, with a jam every Tuesday hosted by Dayna Stephens. It attracted local players with regional or national repute—Scott Amandola, guitarist John Schott, the Rova Saxophone Quartet—and international names: Sam Rivers, great saxophonist and father of the New York loft jazz scene; American-Fillipina drummer Suzy Ibarra; and experimental bass player William Parker. 

Then the building sold, and there are rumors it’ll be torn down to make way for a parking lot. 

“People call me all the time, reporting on old buildings they think would be great for us,” says Woodworth. “But anytime there’s an audience of more than 50 people, you have to really be up to code. To satisfy that, what we need is to find funding to find a place. If I wanted a coffee shop, I could open tomorrow. We’re a 501C3 nonprofit; what we need’s an angel. And grant writers, development people, and some staffing! So far, it’s been a one-man show--and I’ve got a day job. 

“I want it to remain alcohol and smoke-free, but serve a little food—before, we’d just throw some cookies on the table and put on a pot of coffee. We had about 1,300 square feet before; with a little more, we could offer teaching and rehearsal space at low cost. But mostly we need a place that’s 100 percent legit. There’re too many underground music places. You can’t create a solid program, especially for kids, when the fire marshall can close you down any moment. It was bad enough when we had to close down on Adeline. The kids get up for a show; how can I tell them, ‘We’re not here anymore, I don’t know where you can play.’” 

Berkeley filmmaker Tom Weidlinger wanted to make a documentary about international aid workers fostering self-sufficiency rather than dependency. In 2003, Weidlinger visited Action Against Hunger amid stifling heat, scorpions and malaria-carrying mosquit oes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. He decided he had come to the right place and found the right people. 

The result is Heart of the Congo, which will be shown at Herbst Theatre in San Francisco on Friday at 8 p.m.  

After the screening, Adam Ho chschild, author of the best-selling King Leopold’s Ghost about the Congo and the newly released Bury the Chains about Britiain’s abolitionist movement, will moderate a discussion with Weidlinger and Sophie Fournier, Action Against Hunger’s U.S. executive director. 

Then, Congolese singer-songwriter Samba Ngo, whose music is heard on the film’s soundtrack, will perform. Tickets are $10 for the film, or $35 for the whole event, including wine and dessert. All proceeds go to Action Against Hunger. 

The latest estimate of deaths in Congo from war, disease and starvation is 3.8 million in the past six years. That’s 15 times the number who died in the tsunami disaster, for which AAH is a major participant in relief efforts. That’s also a lot more than died in Rwanda, even in a genocide, or in Darfur, so far. 

As a friend, I was aware of Weidlinger’s mission from the beginning, suggested possible topics (luckily my advice was rejected) and received sometimes grim reports by e-mail while he was well beyond the w orld of telephones. 

My concerns were: Would the day-to-day activities of aid workers in an unattractive section of a faraway country turn into an interesting narrative? Would Tom actually live through the experience? (He got malaria and pneumonia.) Can y ou really complete a documentary by turning the cameras over to your subjects as you are being evacuated to a hospital in South Africa?  

The hour-long film speaks for itself. Western and Congolese aid workers feed children who are heartbreakingly malnour ished, but other children race joyfully through a nearby village. Wells are dug, because clean water is a basic need. Hygiene is taught. Nurses are trained. Fake nurses are discovered. Clinics are set up. Clinics are pillaged. 

In Congo, there are highs a nd lows, and one has to adjust. Sometimes, the colonial master-servant relationship reasserts itself. Tempers flare. Requests are made for gifts that, as a matter of policy, cannot be given. The gulf between those who have nothing and those who have “ever ything” is evident. 

Always, there is the shadow of terrible history—of Leopold’s atrocities and Mobutu’s dictatorship, of civil war and invasion. The current state of affairs is neither peace nor war. 

“The most important thing we can do for the Congoles e is give them courage,” says an aid worker, referring not only to violence. He is talking about facing the future in a harsh land where tomorrow is not guaranteed. The adage “teach a man to fish…’’ is applicable. Action Against Hunger establishes clinic s; Congolese will run them. 

Two expats stand out in their dedication, competence and grace under pressure—the engineer Mariona Miret and the nurse David Doledec. They also help to complete the filming. And once in a while, they even kick back. It is a re minder that they are young and that they are not Mother Teresa.  

Before Heart of the Congo, Weidlinger made documentaries about transition in Czechoslovakia (After the Velvet Revolution), bullying (Boys Will Be Men), collaboration between American and Vi etnamese theater companies (A Dream in Hanoi), and the civil rights movement (The Long Walk Home). I asked him what effect he would like his latest film to have. 

Weidlinger replied, “I hope the film will encourage people to think more critically and more deeply about the issue of humanitarian aid. As a result of the Southeast Asia crisis, there’s a tremendous outpouring of goodwill and concern. I hope that some of that concern can be transformed into a more sustained awareness of the need to respond to h unger and extreme poverty worldwide. 

“Humanitarian aid shouldn’t be just about feeding people. Charity should be linked to change—to helping people toward a self-sufficient future. We need to get away from aid which is just a Band-aid, which is primarily politically motivated and which is too easily derailed by donor countries’ political and strategic interests or, conversely, by corruption among the power structure of the recipient countries.’’  

Berkeley resident Lewis Dolinsky is a former editor and foreign affairs columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle. 

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For an afternoon excursion to San Francisco, two galleries offer lively shows this week: 

Gallery Paule Anglim 

“I don’t know that I have a style. I just have stories.” Thus Jess, speaking in 1983, who died a little over a year ago. The Gallery Paule Anglim has mounted a show of some 35 works, both “paste-ups” and paintings, the latter rarely seen. The central image of the show, reproduced here, is “The Enamored Mage,” a portrait of Jess’ companion, the poet Robert Duncan, seen (with books) in the mid-1960s. At the very opening of the show is a charming, late photo of Jess by Leo Holub; back in the second “paste-up” gallery is Jess’ inked design for Robert’s volume of poetry, The Opening of the Field. The show is well-spaced, a challenging and true delight of unusual work; it closes Saturday, Jan. 29. 

Gallery Paule Anglim, 14 Geary St., San Francisco. (415) 433-2710. Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 

The Charles Campbell Gallery 

Across town, Charles Campbell has celebrated his ninetieth birthday.  

Arriving from Los Angeles in 1947 to open an art supply and then framing shop, Charles soon exhibited the work of the young painters at and around the nearby San Francisco Art Institute. Richard Diebenkorn, James Weeks, Elmer Bischoff, Joan Brown, Gordon Cook, Nathan Olivera, Manuel Neri, Christopher Brown, and Wayne Thiebaud are only a few of the painters he has championed. His new partner in the gallery, Steve Lopez has prepared this show of almost 150 works, mostly small, packed closely on the walls of the front gallery in alphabetical order. At the rear is the sun-lit office, with much other work, where Charles presides almost everyday. 

The exhibition is a solid survey of those artists that have come, gone and returned in the over 50 years of the gallery. On the ground-floor is The Art Exchange, the gallery of Claire Carlevaro, who started in Berkeley on Shattuck Avenue and moved to San Francisco in the early nineties; treasures abound. 

The Campbell show closes Feb. 19. The Charles Campbell Gallery, 647 Chestnut St., at Columbus. (415) 441-8680. Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday noon-4 p.m. 

The Art Exchange, 645 Chestnut St., (415) 474-4955. Tuesday-Saturday noon-6 p.m.

TUESDAY, JAN. 25 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Serving the People - Body and Soul: The Black Panther Party Photographs” opens at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. and runs to March 19. 981-6100.  

“The Art of Living Black” Ninth Annual Bay Area Black Artists Exhibition opens at the Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave., Richmond, and runs through March 20. 620-6772. www.therichmondartcenter.org 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Dublin Carol” the Aurora Theater production which opens Jan. 28, will be discussed at 1 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5190. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Bandworks featuring talented youth musicians at 7:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $4. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

The McKassons, fiddling and piano in the Scottish tradition, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $15.50- $16.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Carlos Oliveira and Harvey Wainapel at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

McCoy Tyner wiith Stanley Clarke and Billy Cobham at 8 and 10 p.m. Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $25-$35. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Jazzschool Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Acting Out” Photographs by Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore opens at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way, and runs to Aug. 7. Admission is $5-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu  

“Blind at the Museum” An exhibition probing the nature of blindness and the visual arts opens at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way, and runs to July 24. Admission is $5-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

Tino Soriano “La Zafra–The Sugar Cane Harvest” photographs from Haiti. Photographer’s talk at 5 p.m., followed by reception, at CLAS Conference Room, 2334 Bowditch St. 642-2088. 

FILM 

Film 50: History of Cinema “Edison to Early Griffith” at 3 p.m. and “Games People Play” at 7:30 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Peter Carey describes “Wrong About Japan: A Father’s Journey with his Son” at 7:30 p.m. at at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Kate Coleman describes “The Secret Wars of Judi Bari: A Car Bomb, the Fight for the Redwoods, and the End of Earth First!” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Berkeley Poetry Slam with host Charles Ellik and Three Blind Mice, at 8:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5-$7. 841-2082 www.starryplough.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Wednesday Noon Concert, with The Mendelssohn String Quartet at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Free. 642-4864. http://music.berkeley.edu 

Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, with Nigel Armstrong, 14 year old winner of the BSO Young Artist award on violin, at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $22-$49. 841-2800. www.berkeleysymphony.org 

The Do or Die Kamikaze Tour, Chicano/Mexican punk with Flojos Nos Visten, and Los Kung Fu Monkeys at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Tickets are $7. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Jules Broussard, Ned Boynton, and Bing Nathan at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Ron Hacker & The Hacksaws, Daniel Castro Band at 8 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $10. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Happy Turtle, jazz-funk-lounge, at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Gomez-Mendez Duo, guitar and piano tango duets from Buenos Aires, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $15.50-$16.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Folk Revival with Mercury Dimes and Grizzly Peak at 8:30 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $5. 848-0886. www.blakesontelegraph.com 

THURSDAY, JAN. 27 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Celebrating African-American Artists with Disabilities” Reception for the artists at 6 p.m. at NIAD Art Center at 551 23rd St., near Barrett Ave., Richmond. 620-0290. www.niad.org 

“Blind at the Museum” Curators’ talk on “What Does it Mean to See?” at 12:15 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way, and runs to July 24. Admission is $5-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

Preschool Art Show works of over 200 preschoolers. Reception at 5 p.m. at Habitot Children’s Museum, 2065 Kittredge St., at Shattuck. 647-1111, ext. 16. www.habitot.org 

FILM 

David Thomson History of Hollywood: “Magnolia” at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

“Tragos” a cyber-noir thriller by Antero Alli at 8 p.m. at 21 Grand, 449-B 23rd St., Oakland. Filmmaker in person. Cost is $7-$12. www.verticalpool.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

William Powers describes “Blue Clay People: Seasons on Africa’s Fragile Edge” at 7:30 p.m. at at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Taigen Dan Leighton discus- 

ses his translation of the works of Eihei Dogen, a 13th century Zen master at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Word Beat Reading Series at 7 p.m. with featured readers Matt Wolf and Julia Vinograd at Mediterraneum Caffe, 2475 Telegraph Ave. 526-5985. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Paquito d’Rivera & The Assads, Cuban-born saxopho-  

nist, at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $22-$42. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Henry Kaiser & Grooves of Mystery at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $9. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Cheap Suit Serenaders, ragtime and jazz, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Golden Shoulders, WIllie Wisely at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082 www.starryplough.com 

Showrinho, from Brazil, at 8 p.m. at La Peña. Cost is $10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Amy & Karen, Jug Free America at 8:30 p.m. at Epic Arts, 1923 Ashby Ave. Cost is $5-$10.  

Brian Kane, solo guitar, at 8 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810.  

Selector at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

FRIDAY, JAN. 28 

THEATER 

Actors Ensemble of Berkeley, “Seduced” by Sam Shepard at 8 p.m. at the Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck at Berryman, and runs Fri. and Sat. through Feb. 19. 649-5999. www.aeofberkeley.org 

Aurora Theatre, “Dublin Carol” by Conor McPherson Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m.., Sun at 2 and 7 p.m.trhough March 6 at 2081 Addison St. Tickets are $28-$45. 843-4822. www.auroratheatre.org 

"Bridge & Tunnel" workshop performances by Sarah Jones at 8 p.m. Thurs.-Sat., 7 p.m. Sun. through Feb. 20 at Berkeley Rep’s Thrust Stage, 2025 Addison St. tickets are $30-$40. 647-2949. www.berkeleyrep.org 

Contra Costa Civic Theater, “The Mousetrap” Agatha Christie’s classic mystery Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. through Feb. 19 at 951 Pomona Ave., El Cerrito. Tickets are $10-$15. 524-9132. www.ccct.org 

Ragged Wing Ensemble “The Serpent” theater with movement, masks and puppetry, Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., through Feb. 19, at the Eighth Street Studios, 2525 8th St. Tickets are $10-$20 sliding scale. 527-8119. www.raggedwing.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“California Landscapes” by Jim Brosnahan at 6 p.m. at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church, Claremont and Russell St., also Sat from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by Options Recovery Services. www.optionsrecovery.org 

FILM 

David Thomson History of Hollywood: “Daisy Kenyon” at 7 p.m. and “Men in War” at 9 p.m. at Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Sierra Birds: A Hiker’s Guide” a dinner, lecture and slide show with author Jack Laws at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Yacht Club, One Seawall Drive. Tickets are $20, benefits the Sierra Club. For reservations, call 526-2494. 

Simon Singh describes “Big Bang: The Origins of the Universe” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Coltrane: A Tribute with saxophonist Howard Wiley at 9 p.m. at 21 Art Gallery, 449B 23rd St. between Telegraph and Broadway, Oakland. Presented by The Jazz House. Cost is $10. www.thejazzhouse.org 

West Side Story Remix at 7 p.m. at 4551 Broadway, Oakland. Cost is $3. 658-0967. 

Kaki King, guitarist, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Inspector Double Negative, Paris King and Friends at 9:30 at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $7. 848-0886. www.blakesontelegraph.com 

Jeffrey Luck Lucas, Sonya Hunter, Sean Hayes at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Adrian Gormley Quartet, jazz at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198. 

Moonrise & Harmony Grisman at 8:30 p.m. at Epic Arts, 1923 Ashby Ave. Cost is $5-$10.  

Sara Manning Trio at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Beth Robinson, singer-songwriter, at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Harvie S and Mimi Fox at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$18. 845-5373. www.jazz- 

school.com 

Everton Blender, reggae, at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. 548-1159.  

John Schott’s Typical Orchestra, avant folk-jazz-blues at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Betray the Species, Funeral Diner, This Song is a Mess at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

McCoy Tyner wiith Stanley Clarke and Billy Cobham at 8 and 10 p.m. Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, through Sun. Cost is $25-$35. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, JAN. 29 

CHILDREN  

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Earthcapades, jugglers, at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $4 for adults, $3 for children. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Absolutely Abstract” Artwork by Zarmine Aghazarian, Peggy Cotton and Andrea Markus. Reception from 7 to 9 p.m. at Innersport, Strawberry Creek Design Center, 1250 Addison St. Exhibition runs through April. www.innersport.com  

“Resurrection” found object sculptures and assemblages by Gaelyn Lakin at John F. Kennedy University Arts Annex, 2956 San Pablo Ave. Reception for the artist from 5 to 8 p.m. Exhibition runs to Feb. 4. 521-0663. 

FILM 

David Thomson History of Hollywood: “Meet Me in St. Louis” at 6:30 p.m. and “The Bad and the Beautiful” at 9:05 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Japanese Mingei and the Way of Folkcrafts” a lecture by David Coates, Mingei Researcher, at 1 p.m. at Common House, 930 Clay St., Oakland. 528-0600.  

Douglas Coupland in troduces his new novel “Eleanor Rigby” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852.  

www.codysbooks.com  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Opera “Il Trittico” at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Theater. Tickets are $15-$40. 925-798-1300. www.berkeleyopera.org 

Phillip Greenlief, saxophone and Diane Grubbe, flute at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St., between Bancroft and Durant. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. http://trinitychamberconcerts.com 

Magnificat performs Charpentier’s “The Sacrifice of Abraham and the Prodigal Son” at 8 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Ellsworth and Bancroft. Tickets are $12-$25. 415-979-4500. www.magnificatbaroque.org 

Cirque Eloize at 2 and 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $26-$48. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

North Indian Classical Music Concert for Tsunami Relief with Terry Riley and friends at 7 p.m. at St. Alban's Parish Hall, 1501 Washington Ave. at Curtis, Albany. Suggested donation $35-$50. Please bring a cushion if you prefer floor seating, venue is not wheelchair accessible. Sponsored by Sur-Laya-Sangam. 

Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Swing dance lesson with Nick and Shanna at 8 p.m. Cost is $13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

John Murray, singer-songwriter, at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Mitch Marcus Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Lou & Peter Berryman at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Kurt Ribak Jazz Group at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $3. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Tiempo Latino and La Familia at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Re-Ignition, Kaos, Zeitgeist, Fuzzplow at 9:30 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. Cost is $7. 848-0886. www.blakesontelegraph.com 

Fred Randolph Quintet at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com  

Carney Ball Johnson at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

Eileen Hazel & Andrea Guskin at 8:30 p.m. at Epic Arts, 1923 Ashby Ave. Cost is $5-$10.  

Wanda Stafford Quartet at 9 p.m. at Downtown. 649-3810. 

Love Equals Death, 1208, Instigator, Cigar, False Alliance at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St. Cost is $6. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, JAN. 30 

CHILDREN 

Lunar New Year Celebration for the whole family with lion dancing, Taiko drumming, mochi pounding and hands-on arts activities from noon to 4 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts., Oakland. www.museumca.org 

FILM 

David Thomson History of Hollywood: “Heat” at 5 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Poetry Flash with Stellasue Lee and Alison Luterman at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. Donation $2. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

“The Art of Living Black” Artists’ talk at 2 p.m. at Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Ave., Richmond. 620-6772. www.therichmondartcenter.org 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Opera “Il Trittico” at 2 p.m. at Julia Morgan Theater. Tickets are $15-$40. 925-798-1300. www.berkeleyopera.org 

Ciaramella Composers of Liege and Burgundy 1400-1477 at 5 p.m. at MusicSources, 1000 The Alameda. 528-1685. www.sfems.org/musicsources  

Cirque Eloize at 3 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $26-$48. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

“Ragamala Paintings” a musical performance by Rita Sahai, at 3 p.m. at the Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

Manose, Himalayan flautist plays raga, Nepali folk, fusion and rock, at 7 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Donation $10-$20. 527-0450. 

Pappa Gianni and the North Beach Band from 2 to 5 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Flameco Open Stage with Yaelisa at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Lecture/demonstration at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $9. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Mark Hummel & The Blues Survivors at 4:30 at the Jazz- 

school. Cost is $12-$18. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Mike Marshall & Choro Famoso, Brazilian swing jazz fusion, at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

MONDAY, JAN. 31 

FILM 

Seeing Through the Screen: Buddhism and Film, “Waking Life” at 3 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Samina Ali talks about life as a Muslim woman in “Madras on Rainy Days” at 7:30 p.m. at Cody’s Books. 845-7852. www.codysbooks.com 

Laurence Gonzales discusses “Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Poetry Express with Ian Hoffman, Victor Infante and Lea Deschenes from 7 to 9:30 p.m., at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. berkeleypoetryexpress@yahoo.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Gift Horse, fiddle duo, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

Songwriters Symposium at 8:30 p.m. at Blakes on Telegraph. 848-0886. www.blakesontelegraph.com 

John Jorgenson Quintet at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$16. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

Oh joy, it’s January and the acacias are blooming. 

You’d think it would be pure joy, all these showy yellow flowers when it’s still winter. I used to like them in a uncomplicated fashion myself, but now I have a double grudge against them. Unlike most flowers that are this showy, acacia blossoms are allergenic, and I’m allergic to them. We’ve had a few nice days, the winds are relatively lazy, and ow, my sinuses; oh, my lungs. 

My bigger grudge is with just a few species—the same ones that are annoying me personally, for the most part. Acacia dealbata, Acacia decurrens, and a smaller, shrubby, thorny relative, Acacia paradoxa, have all escaped cultivation here and invaded wildlands. I believe Acacia melanoxylon is out there too, though the state officially calls it “rare” as an invader. 

The problem with letting exotic trees replace natives is this: Wildlands aren’t ornamental gardens. Whether they look pretty to us is a minor matter. They’re workplace and pantry, as well as home, to every wild species we have—bugs and birds, fish and frogs, lizards and lions, and other plants as well. What looks like another green thing to us looks and tastes and acts very different to anyone who has to eat it, and many of our wild neighbors find an acacia, like many other exotics, completely useless. It’s as if we’d replaced everything in the grocery store with that spooky plastic reproduction food you see in the windows of sushi bars. The fact that little or nothing eats them is one reason invasives manage to invade, and often look healthier than they do in their home ranges. Biologically, they don’t pay their way. 

They aren’t standard common street trees, at least. There are a few senior specimens left along Martin Luther King, Jr. Way, just across the border into Oakland. Most of the ones I notice are in parks or yards. A couple of the species here have one oddity: when they’re young, they have the feathery compound leaves that mark acacias, but as they age they grow simple, leathery blade-shaped “leaves” which are actually phyllodes, expanded petioles. (Petioles are the stem bits that hold leaves onto twigs.) If you cut a branch back far enough that it sends out sprout from its oldest wood, it might revert to the juvenile compound leaves. Go ahead, torture them, I don’t care. 

Aside from the leaves, you can tell most of the local acacias by their yellow flowers. Some of them even smell nice, if you dare to get close enough. Bees like them. Hmph. 

The reason acacias are here is that they’re handsome plants. You’ve doubtless seen that PBS photograph of an African plain with some large animal and a graceful flat-topped tree against a rosy sunset. That’s an acacia. Maybe a periodic giraffe drive from the Oakland Zoo along Route 13 would serve as a control, and they could sell tickets to the parade route. Koa, the mighty Hawai’ian canoe tree, is an acacia. (That’s one of those that have bladelike phyllodes.) The wattles of Australia are acacias. There are about 800 species of them around the world. 

There are several Central American and African species, the swollen-thorn acacias, that house symbiotic species of ants in those swollen thorns. The ants defend the tree from insect and even animal predators by rushing out and biting the bejabbers out of them with their formic-acid-laden jaws; in turn, the acacia gives them fortified homes in the hollow, swollen thorns. 

Acacias tend to be nitrogen fixers—they have associated bacteria that take nitrogen from the atmosphere and add it to the soil. Koas even have nitrogen-fixing nodules above the ground. Making fertilizer is a good quality in a farm crop, not so much in a wildland plant here because it favors the growth of other invasives. Like many nitrogen fixers, some acacias have nutritious, relatively high-protein seeds that are traditional human foods in their home ranges. Some are being considered for cultivation, because they’re drought-tolerant, generally tough, and because tree crops use less in the way of resources in the long run. 

All very well if we were farming or even eating them. Inhaling them, though, makes it hard to appreciate those cheerful yellow posies. 

TUESDAY, JAN. 25 

Bird Walk in Tilden Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Little Train parking lot, Lomas Cantadas and Grizzly Peak Blvd. to look for birds of the grassland and great views. 525-2233. 

Return of the Over-the-Hills Gang Hikers 55 years and older who are interested in nature study, history, fitness, and fun are invited to join us on a series of monthly excursions exploring our Regional Parks. Meet at 10 a.m. at Sobrante Ridge to explore this ecosystem and visit a rare stand of Alameda manzanita. Registration required. 525-2233.  

Introduction To Sustainable Landscape Design Create an environmentally friendly oasis in your yard using the principles of sustainability. Use of native plants, recycled materials, water conserving techniques and pest control will be discussed. From 7 to 10 p.m. at the Building Education Center 812 Page St. Cost is $35. To register, call 525-7610.  

“The Future of Education Funding in California” with Ken Hall, Chairman, School Services of California at 7 p.m. in the Berkeley High Library, corner of Addison and Milvia. 644-8549. www.berkeley.k12.ca.us 

Best Ski Tours in the Sierra and Beyond with Marcus Libkind, founder of Snowlands Networks, at 7 p.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

“Epiphany West 2005: Truth and Dialogue” a conference with theologians exploring issues facing the Episcopal Church today, through Jan. 29, at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, 2451 Ridge Rd. 204-0720. www.cdsp.edu 

Ralph Nader, Matt Gonzales and Guests “End the Iraq War and Occupation” at 5 p.m. at St. Marks Church, 2300 Bancroft Way. Cost is $5-$10. 213-1569. 

Mills College MBA Open House at 7 p.m. at Reinhardt Hall, Mills College. For information call 430-3173. 

Sing-A-Long every Tues. from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic. All ages welcome. 524-9122. 

“Getting Along with Your Adult Children” a participatory workshop at 7:30 p.m. at the BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $35-$40. 848-0327, ext. 110. www.brjcc.org 

Berkeley PC Users Group Problem solving and beginners meeting to answer, in simple English, users questions about Windows computers. At 7 p.m. at 1145 Walnut St., near corner of Eunice St. All welcome, no charge. 527-2177.  

Organic Produce at low prices sold at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon Streets every Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m. This is a project of Spiral Gardens. 843-1307. 

Family Story Time at the Kensington Branch Library, Tues. evenings at 7 p.m. at 61 Arlington Ave. 524-3043. 

School Age Storytime for ages 5 and up at 7 p.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext.17.  

Brainstormer Weekly Pub Quiz every Tuesday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Pyramid Alehouse Brewery, 901 Gilman St. 528-9880. 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. Share your slides and prints and learn what other photographers are doing. Monthly field trips. 548-3991. www.berkeleycameraclub.org  

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. We offer ongoing classes in exercise and creative arts, and always welcome new members over 50. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 26 

Winter Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes and a warm hat. Heavy rain cancels. 548-9840. 

“Children of the Dirt” and “The Tour, Baby!” Special screening of two great bicycling films at 7 p.m. at Berkeley High School Community Theater, enter on Allston Way across from Civic Center Park. Cost is $10, proceeds benefit the NorCal High School Mountain Biking League. 325-6502. www.norcalmtb.org 

“The Downside: No State Money, Crumbling Cities” with Terri Waller, Research Coordinator, Assemblywoman Loni Hancock’s office and Phil Kamlarz, Berkeley City Manager at 1:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Sponsored by the Berkeley Gray Panthers. 548-9696. 

“Radical Islamist Thoelogy: What Does it Mean for the Jews” with Yitzhak Santis of the Jewish Community Relations Council at 7:30 p.m. at the BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. 839-2900, ext. 211. 

Berkeley School Volunteers Training workshop for volunteers interested in helping in Berkeley Public schools at 7 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. 644-8833. 

“Dead Man” Jim Jarmusch film of an accountant on a spiritual quest at 7 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Free, $5 donations accepted. 393-5685. 

Artify Ashby Muralist Group meets every Wed. from 5 to 8 p.m. at the South Berkeley Senior Center, to plan a new mural. New artists are welcome. Call Bonnie at 704-0803. 

Stitch ‘n Bitch Bring your knitting, crocheting and other handcrafts from 6 to 9 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198. 

Gelateria Naia Blood Drive from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 2106 Shattuck Ave. To make an appointment, stop by the store or call 883-1568.  

Tap Into It Jazz and Rhythm Tap classes at Montclair Recreation Center, 6300 Moraga Ave., Oakland. Experienced at 6:30 p.m., beginners at 7:30 p.m. 482-7812. 

“Radical Islamist Ideology: What Does it Mean for the Jews” with Yitzhak Santis at 7:30 p.m. at the BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $5. 848-0327, ext. 110. www.brjcc.org 

Berkeley Peace Walk and Vigil at the Berkeley BART Station, corner of Shattuck and Center. Sing for Peace at 6:30 p.m. followed by Peace Walk at 7 p.m. www.geocities.com/ 

vigil4peace/vigil 

THURSDAY, JAN. 27 

“The Death Penalty on Trial” with Cold Case Files executive producer and American Justice anchor Bill Kurtis, author of the new book “The Death Penalty on Trial” and UCB law professor Frank Zimring, author of “The Contradiction of American Capital Punishment,” at 6:30 p.m. at The Independent Institute, 100 Swan Way, Oakland. Cost is $15 for non-members. Reservations required. 632-1366. 

Black August Organizing Committee Fundraiser with Fred Hampton Jr., Chairman of the Chicago Chapter of the POCC, and Tarika Lewis, the first woman to join the Black Panthers, at 6 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. 658-7079. 

Berkeley Gray Panthers Older People United discussion group for elders over 75, at 1:30 p.m. at 103 Addison St. 548-9696. 

“The Legacy of the Pinochet Case” with Judge Carlos Castresana Fernández of the Central Prosecution Service Against Corruption in the Attorney General’s Office in Spain, at 4 p.m. in the Geballe Room, 220 Stephens Hall, UC Campus. 642-2088. 

“Seeds of Learning: Creating a Biblical Garden” with Shirley Pinchev Sidell at 7:30 p.m. at the BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $5. 848-0327, ext. 110. www.brjcc.org 

FRIDAY, JAN. 28 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Leslie Michael on “OSHA.” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $13, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For information and reservations call 526-2925 or 665-9020. 

“Sierra Birds: A Hiker’s Guide” Dinner, lecture and slide show with author Jack Laws at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Yacht Club, One Seawall Drive. Tickets are $20, benefits the Sierra Club. For reservations, call 526-2494. 

“The Pinochet Case” a film directed by Patricio Guzmán at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the CLAS Conference Room, 2334 Bowditch St. 642-3260. www.clas.berkeley.edu 

Ice Cream Social and Family Fun Night at the Berkeley YMCA from 7 to 9 p.m. to raise funds for Save the Children and World Vision for tsunami relief. Sponsored jointly by Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action and Berkeley Youth United in Action. 658-2467. 

What Kind of State Are You Livin’ In? anarchist hip hop propaganda at 7 p.m. at the AK Press Warehouse, 674-A 23rd. St., Oakland. 208-1700. www.akpress.org 

African American Health Summit Health Expo Public nutrition and exercise health fair, free, everyone invited. From 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Oakland Marriott City Center. 

Literary Friends meets at 1:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley enior Center to discuss Limericks. 549-1879. 

Berkeley Chess Club meets Fridays at 7:15 p.m. at the East Bay Chess Club, 1940 Virginia St. Players at all levels are welcome. 845-1041. 

“Three Beats for Nothing” a group that meets to sing, mostly 16th century harmony, for fun and practice, at 10 a.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 655-8863, 843-7610.  

Women in Black Vigil, from noon to 1 p.m. at UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph. wibberkeley@yahoo.com 548-6310, 845-1143. 

Meditation, Peace Vigil and Dialogue, gather at noon on the grass close to the West Entrance to UC Berkeley, on Oxford St. near University Ave. People of all traditions are welcome to join us. Sponsored by the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. 655-6169. www.bpf.org 

Shabbat with Kol Hadash at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave. info@kolhadash.org 

SATURDAY, JAN. 29 

“Winter Blooms!” Free garden tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden. Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. 845-4116. www.nativeplants.org 

Wetland Planting with Save The Bay Winter restoration activities include planting native seedlings, non-native plant removal, site monitoring, and shoreline clean-up. From 9 a.m. to noon at Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline, Oakland. 452-9261, ext. 109. dshea@savesfbay.org 

Tour and Restoration of Rheem Creek in North Richmond from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. meeting at Parchester Village Community Center, 900 Williams Drive, Richmond. Reservations requested. 644-2900, ext 109. 

Fruit Tree Pruning at 10 a.m. at Magic Gardens Nursery, 729 Heinz Ave. 644-2351. www.magicgardens.com 

Human Rights in Haiti with Fr. G´rard Jean-Juste, a freed Haitian political prisoner at 7:30 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison St. Suggested donation $5-$15. 558-9010. 

Emergency Response Training Class on “Shelter Operations” from 9 a.m. to noon at the Fire Dept. Training Center, 997 Cedar St. To register call 981-5606. www.ci.berkeley.ca. 

us/fire/oes.html 

“Conscious Cabaret” Awakening Consciousness through Comedy Theater with Errol & Rochelle Alicia Strider at 8 p.m. at Unity of Berkeley, 2075 Eunice St. Cost is $15, or two for $25. 528-8844. www.unityberkeley.org 

Community Sing and Lighting of the Abalone Altar with the Threshold Choir at 7 p.m. at Grace North Church, 2138 Cedar St. The Threshold Choir is composed of Bay Area women who sing at the bedsides of those who are dying. Suggested donation $10, benefit for Tsunami Relief. http://thresholdchoir.org 

“Pola’s March” with filmmaker Jonathan Gruber and Pola Susswein, with dinner and Havdalah at 6:45 p.m. at Congregation Beth El, 2301 Vine St. at Arch. Donation $10, call for reservations 848-3988, ext. 11. 

“The Cahokia Native Indians of North America” lecture at 7:30 p.m. at New Acropolis Cultural Association, 1700 Dwight Way. 665-3740. guy@acropolis.org 

Design and Build Workshop Learn the details of a successful remodeling project. From 9 a.m. to noon at Truitt and White Conference Center, 1817 2nd St. Cost is $25-$30, registration required. 558-8030. 

Pre-School Storytime for ages 3-5 at 11 a.m. at the Albany Library, 1247 Marin Ave. 526-3720, ext.17. Ends Feb 19 

Car Wash Benefit for Options Recovery Services of Berkeley, held every Sat. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University Ave. 666-9552. 

SUNDAY, JAN. 30 

Newt Walk Join the (almost) annual trek to Sindicich Lagoons, breeding grounds for the California newt. Hike is about five miles up and over the Briones Crest. Children age 8 and up welcome. Bring lunch and liquids. Meet at 10 a.m. in the upper parking lot at the Bear Creek Rd. entrance. 525-2233. 

The Hidden World of Cryptogamic Plants An introduction to mosses, lichens, liverworts, and ferns. We will learn how to identify them, then take a walk in the garden. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Visitor Center, Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Cost is $40 members/$45 nonmembers. 845-4116. 

“Ralph Bunche and the Evolution of Human Rights” an address by Charles P. Henry, Prof. of African American Studies, UCB, at 3:25 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall, 1924 Cedar at Bonita. Free. www.unaeastbay.org 

Conscientious Objection in the 21st Century Worried about the draft, military recruiters, or militarism in our schools? Berkeley Quakers invite you to presentations by Dan Seeger, plaintiff in the U.S. landmark CO decision, and Steve Morse, of Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors, at 1 p.m., at Berkeley Friends Meetinghouse, corner of Vine and Walnut. 525-2390. 

Lunar New Year Celebration for the whole family with lion dancing, Taiko drumming, mochi pounding and hands-on arts activities from noon to 4 p.m. at the Oakland Museum of California, 10th and Oak Sts., Oakland. www.museumca.org 

Family Mardi Gras Art Afternoon from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Arlington Community Church, United Church of Christ, 52 Arlington Ave., Kensington. Come make a mask and learn some of the history of Mardi Gras. Free, but reservations requested. 526-9146. 

White Elephant Preview Sale from noon to 4 p.m. at the WES warehouse, 333 Lancaster St. at Glasscock, Oakland. Benefit for the Oakland Museum. Tickets are $12.50 in advance, $15 at the door. 238-2200. www.museum.ca.org 

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace Peace walk around the lake every Sun. Meet at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712. lmno4p.org 

“The Last Sephardic Jew” a film about a young rabbi who takes a journey back into history at 2 p.m. at the BRJCC, 1414 Walnut St. Cost is $5. 848-0327, ext. 110. www.brjcc.org 

Tibetan Buddhism with Abbe Blum on “What is Knowledge of Freedom?” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812. www.nyingmainstitute.com 

MONDAY, JAN. 31 

Tea and Hike at Four Taste some of the finest teas from the Pacific Rim and South Asia and learn their natural and cultural history, followed by a short nature walk. At 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, in Tilden Park. Cost is $5-$7, registration required. 525-2233. 

“Approaches to Adequacy: What Are Essential Elements of Schools?” with David Conley, Associate Professor, University of Oregon, at 7 p.m. in the Berkeley High Library, corner of Addison and Milvia Sts. 644-8549. www.berkeley.k12.ca.us 

Mystical Music, Poetry, and the Sufi Zikr at 7 p.m. at the M.T.O. Center, 2855 Telegraph Ave., Suite 101. Free but please call to reserve a seat. 704-1888.  

World Affairs/Politics Discussion Group for people 60 years and over meets Mondays at 9:15 a.m. at the Albany Senior Center, 846 Masonic Ave. Join at any time. Cost is $2.50 with refreshments. 524-9122. 

Bayswater Book Club meets to discuss “Rabbi Paul” by Bruce Chilton at 6:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble Coffee Shop, El Cerrito Plaza. 433-2911. 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. Join us to work on current issues around police misconduct. Volunteers needed. For information call 548-0425. 

ONGOING 

Albany Berkeley Girls Softball League is looking for girls in grades 1-8 to play girls softball. Season runs March 5-June 4. Scholarships available. To register call 869-4277.  

Dance Access & Dance Access/KIDS! offers creative dance classes for children and teens with and without physical disabilities. All classes are held at Eighth Street Studios, 2525 Eighth St. Pre- registration is required. 625-0110. alisa@axisdance.org  

Docent Training for the Magnes Museum for those interested in Jewish culture, history and art. Classes will be held on Thurs. evenings starting Feb. 3, at the Museum, 2911 Russell St. For more information contact Faith Powell at 549-6933. 

“Half Pint Library” Book Drive Donate children’s books to benefit Children’s Hospital and Research Center Oakland. Donations accepted at 1849 Solano Ave. through March 31. 

Medical Care for Your Pet at the Berkeley East Bay Humane Society low-cost veterinary clinic. 2700 Ninth St. For appointments call 845-3633. www.berkeleyhumane.org  

Berkeley Rhino Rugby Club is are seeking new high school age players for the Spring 2005 season. No experience required. Practices are Tues. and Thurs. 5 to 7 p.m. at San Pablo Park. 466-5113. 

CITY MEETINGS 

City Council meets Tues., Jan. 25, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci. 

berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Civic Arts Commission meets Wed., Jan. 26, at 6:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Mary Ann Merker, 981-7533. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ 

commissions/civicarts 

Disaster Council meets Wed. Jan. 26, at 7 p.m., at the Emergency Operations Center, 997 Cedar St. William Greulich, 981-5502. www.ci.berkeley.ca. us/commissions/disaster 

Energy Commission meets Wed., Jan. 26, at 6:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Neal De Snoo, 981-5434. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/energy 

Planning Commission meets Wed., Jan. 26 at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Janet Homrighausen, 981-7484. www.ci.berkeley. ca.us/commissions/planning 

Housing Advisory Commission meets Thurs., Jan. 27, at 7:30 p.m., at the South Berkeley Senior Center. Oscar Sung, 981-5400. www.ci.berkeley. 

ca.us/commissions/housing

One of the perks of this job is that you get an early window on what lies are currently being launched in the D.C. fabrication industry. No sooner do the Republicans dream up a lie in one of their many captive think tanks than it’s on the Internet as a press release directed at editorial writers across the country. That’s how we first found out about that masterpiece of doublespeak titling, the Healthy Forests Initiative, which was a covert attack by the logging industry on the nation’s old growth forests. Frankly, we laughed at it. We didn’t believe that such blatantly untrue propaganda would find any audience among thinking people. We set our Netscape filter to deposit the Healthy Forest people’s press releases in the trash folder and forgot about it. Boy, were we wrong! It passed, with some Democrats supporting it. 

That’s why we’re taking a more serious look at this week’s reprise of another infamous doublespeak campaign, the self-styled American Family Business Institute’s press release entitled “ 2005 GOP Senate Agenda: Kill the Death Tax, Protect Family Businesses and Farmers.” Here’s where you have to keep your eye on the ball. The tax cutters got what they wanted in 2001 by re-christening the tax formerly known the estate tax as the ominous sounding Death Tax. 

The U.S. estate tax, modest by the standards of any first-world country with a respectable social safety net, is currently on hold, thanks to the Bush administration’s tax cutting mania, and the Republicans (or at least the ultra-cons who now control what was formerly the G.O.P.) want to make sure that it doesn’t come back, as it’s scheduled to do in 2010. Permanent repeal of the estate tax is opposed by, among others, Responsible Wealth, a group of socially-minded rich people, including Bill Gates’ father. Many of them were even Republicans, at least until their party was shot out from under them by the radical right. They point out in their literature that the estate tax which was suspended fell exclusively on the richest 2 percent of taxpayers—those with a net worth of at least $1.5 million per individual ($3 million for a couple). Nearly half of all estate taxes have been paid by the wealthiest 0.1 percent of the American population—a few thousand families each year. All sorts of intelligent people like Warren Buffet and Paul Krugman favor keeping some form of estate tax, though there are proposals to raise the exemption amount even higher and lower the percentage tax rate.  

The disinformation campaign waged by the Republicans seems to be working, per the AFBI press release: “Today more than 70 percent of Americans believe the estate tax is one of the most unfair taxes assessed and 92 percent of Americans feel it is unfair for government to tax a person’s income while it is being earned and then tax it again after death.” That’s probably many of the same folks who don’t believe in evolution. What’s sad is that most of them will never have any contact with the estate tax because they’re in the poorer 98 percent, not the richest 2 percent.  

And here’s the most ominous sentence in the release: “Currently, California is a target state for the American Family Business Institute. We hope to gain both of California’s Senator’s [SIC] vote on this important issue to help protect family business owners and farmers in the state from this unfair tax.”  

Oh, no, you think. Not our savvy California senators. They’d never fall for that kind of phony propaganda.  

Sen. Barbara Boxer has consistently voted against estate tax repeal, and good for her. She’s been doing really well lately overall, what with standing up with the Black Caucus to question the election results and raking Condi Rice over the coals in the confirmation hearings. If she keeps this up, we might even let her off the hook for saying she supports the death penalty, especially because she can’t do much about it as a U.S. senator.  

But you know what? California Sen. Diane Feinstein was one of the Democrats who joined the Republicans in putting across the Healthy Forests scam. And she (estimated net worth: $50 million) has supported estate tax repeal in the past. So voters who understand that some form of the estate tax, the most effective way of taxing the super-rich, is necessary to keep this country solvent should start those cards and letters off right now, in case Feinstein can be turned around before it’s too late. Lots of good talking points and statistics are available on the responsiblewealth.com website. 

—Becky O’Malley 

Wow. We never thought the city of Berkeley was such a major philanthropic organization. You probably didn’t know that Berkeley citizens annually provide scholarships to at least 1,100 UC students, but this figure was confirmed last week by Chancellor Birgeneau himself. He told the Regents that if UC Berkeley paid $3 million toward what it costs the city of Berkeley to host the University of California, that would mean depriving 300 UC students of an education. You can do the math, no matter whether your S.A.T. math scores would have gotten you into Cal or not. Since the city actually subsidizes the University to the tune of more like $11 million in uncollectible property taxes, according to Birgeneau’s figures we are now providing 1100 students with a education that they’d have to forego if UC paid its own way, as do other universities like the University of Michigan, Stanford and Yale. If we take the population of Berkeley to be in the neighborhood of 110,000 (give or take a few thousand for ease of calculation) that means that every man, woman and child in Berkeley contributes about $100 a year to this scholarship fund. Pretty generous, wouldn’t you say?  

Administrators like Birgeneau aren’t quite as public spirited as Berkeley citizens. They expect to be paid, and well paid, for their contribution to education. The recent flap over the cushy job offered to the partner of the newly hired UC Santa Cruz chancellor spotlighted the handsome compensation packages now being delivered to University of California administrators. UCSC Chancellor Denton will be paid $275,000, and her domestic partner will get an administrative position created just for her and worth $192,000 a year. The couple will also get a total of $118,750 in moving costs, for a grand total of pretty close to half a million dollars, enough, in fact, to fund about 50 students at Birgeneau’s rate.  

UCSF’s LGBTI Resources Director Shane Snowdon rightly criticized the lurid headline the San Francisco Chronicle put on the story: “Post for Santa Cruz Chief's Lesbian Lover.” In a letter to the Chronicle’s editor, he complained that “I have never seen the hiring of a husband or wife receive similarly prominent mention.” He asked “Will UC spousal hiring be front-page news under headlines like, ‘Post for Chief's Sexual Consort’?”  

It’s not the public’s business what UC administrators do in bed, but it’s very much the public’s business how much they’re paid, and if their partners are part of the package. If this particular partner hadn’t been describable as a “lesbian lover” the deal might not have made the news at all.  

Snowdon noted that “it is routine for academic institutions to hire the spouses and partners of those whom they recruit for critical positions.” Maybe so, but UCSC union leaders, as quoted in the Santa Cruz Sentinel, don’t agree with the practice. “Arrogant…unethical…insulting” were some of the adjectives they chose to describe the Denton deal, even though big compensation packages for all concerned seem to have become routine in the UC system. 

UC administrators are fond of citing the number of jobs the institution provides for the city of Berkeley as an excuse for not paying a fair share of the city’s costs. But jobs just create demand for housing and services, particularly the poorly paid jobs that the unions represent. Since the city of Berkeley is now subsidizing the university to the tune of $11 million a year, more jobs just mean more unreimbursed expenses. Housing for workers with families has been tight for years, though we’re already suffering from a glut of the kind of fancy dorms (aka “luxury student apartments” or “cash register multiples”) which quickly become tomorrow’s slums. Case in point: the ugly building on Telegraph familiarly known as BOB (Big Orange Building) which was developed and sold to students’ parents as condos. After the first couple of ownership generations, the condos got harder to sell, and they’re now rented out by an assortment of absentee owners who don’t much care about maintenance or tenant behavior, if you believe the neighbors. Since most UC workers aren’t paid well enough to live in Berkeley, and since UC does little or nothing about subsidizing their transit costs, they drive to work, and the city pays, in the form of traffic and air pollution.  

Birgeneau revealed that the city of Berkeley’s “demands” on the University, although touted by the politicians (with major spin) as very gutsy, actually amount to not much more than $3-$5 million tops, and cheap at the price. Even so, he says, he won’t pay. That’s why it’s time to get a full accounting of what the University actually owes the cities it’s in, and to press the legislature for real compensation. 

Citizen organizations to oppose university expansion have been formed in both Berkeley and Santa Cruz. They’re asking civic leaders to hold out for genuine comprehensive environmental impact reports which will reveal the full extent and document the actual cost of University of California expansion in their towns. But some Berkeley citizens are starting to fear that our mayor and council have just been using the threat of a lawsuit over the EIR for U.C.’s Long Range Development Plan as a bargaining chip in a small-stakes deal. They’re afraid that the politicians are preparing to settle for a million or two on the bottom line to bail out Berkeley’s current deficit for a year or two. That would be a major mistake. According to a widely believed story, it’s the same one made by then-Mayor Loni Hancock and then-Assemblyman Tom Bates when they agreed to settle with then-Chancellor Mike Heyman on the 1990 LRDP. If true, that’s what got the city of Berkeley into the budget hole it’s in today. Let’s not do it all over again.  

—Becky O’Malley 

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