BAM Architect Listens to Community Ideas
Tuesday morning Berkeley met the man who will help transform the face of downtown. -more-
Tuesday morning Berkeley met the man who will help transform the face of downtown. -more-
The Daily Planet will not publish on Tuesday, Dec. 26, but will be back on Friday, Dec. 29, with the annual holiday readers’ contribution issue. Thank you to all who sent in material for the issue. -more-
Raked by a legal broadside, the University of California beat a temporary retreat Wednesday, agreeing to halt development at Memorial Stadium pending a hearing in Alameda County Superior Court. -more-
There were no big surprises in the way that Berkeley voters cast their votes this year. As usual, Berkeley led the state in opposition to Republican candidates while showing continued support for abortion rights, public education, the environment and affordable housing. -more-
With the November 2006 elections recently certified, candidates are already pushing at the gate for 2008. -more-
While preservationists worry that a new downtown plan could give short shrift to landmark buildings in the city center, the planner hired to draft the document says not to worry. -more-
To some—especially incumbent Councilmember Dona Spring who clobbered him in a nasty District 4 race in November—Raudel Wilson looks like a carpetbagger. The 30-year-old banker moved to Berkeley just two years ago and now, after being shut out by Spring’s win with 71 percent of the vote, has moved out of town. -more-
As was expected, a California Superior Court judge dismissed the City of Oakland’s early attempt to throw out the Oak To Ninth referendum lawsuit late last week, with both sides downplaying the significance of the judge’s ruling. -more-
Earlier this fall, in compliance with a provision of the national No Child Left Behind Act, the Oakland Unified School District sent out some 13,000 letters informing parents of the names of teachers who do not meet the “highly qualified” standards required by the act. -more-
A study released Wednesday asserts that Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission funding policies maintain “separate and unequal” transit systems. -more-
’Tis the weekend before giftmas -more-
1. Where were you born and where did you grow up, and how does that affect how you regard the issues in Berkeley and in your district? -more-
Each of us approaches the idea of gift-giving according to our own set of standards. We consider needs, desires, cost and degree of closeness. For family we solicit suggestions, for friends we debate possibilities, for “duty” gifts we head to Sees or BevMo. We purchase, wrap and present our offerings, awaiting response. In this sense we have given a bit of ourselves. -more-
This year’s Nobel Peace prize has been awarded to Dr. Mohammad Yunus (economist, Ph.D from an American university) and to Grameen Bank, an institution he founded. His concept of micro-credit has received international recognition after 30 years of dedicated service. It is a story of giving shape to a dream. -more-
Facing a barrage of advertising and marketing ploys, adults may exhibit some childish behavior when looking for kids’ toys. Have you ever been in a stampede for this year’s must-have game or plaything? With great places to find the right toys like—The Ark Toy Store, Sweet Dreams or Mr. Mopps, the challenge of finding the right toy is much simpler to solve for Berkeley residents. -more-
Peace on earth. People talk it up at this time of year, but what’s being done to make it a reality? Quite a lot, and not nearly enough. -more-
Spy vs. spy, the gang that couldn’t poison straight, or welcome to the new Cold War? -more-
I waited a bit to comment on comedian Michael Richards’ comedy club “nigger” meltdown, in part because there were other more pressing things to write about, in part because the use of the word “nigger” in American life is a serious, long-term discussion that need not rise to the surface only when it has become the talk-show, blogsphere fad of the moment. I’ve written on the subject before, at length, and expect to do it again, from time to time. -more-
The practice of home inspection is tied, to a surprising degree, to a study of history. Some of that history is ancient and broad and some of it is as diaphanous as the study of the last five presidencies. -more-
Uh-oh. It’s the 22nd. Last-minute gift shopping! If you celebrate Solstice, you’re late already. No matter. ’Tis the season on some calendar or other, and there’s a good chance you’ve forgotten someone, maybe or the quasi-mail service lost that perfect present you found in the Fussbudgets International catalogue. You’ve just now fished it out of your spamtrap, the email notice about the Christmas party at the executive director’s husbands’ brother-in-law’s stepdaughters’ new club, and you know that if you don’t show up you’ll be nominated to that Interminable Search Committee again. And you’re the Human Resources Director’s Secret Santa, oh joy. -more-
Editorial: Humans Still Missing Peace at Home 12-22-2006
Editorial: PC or Not, Trader Joe’s is Coming 12-19-2006
Letters to the Editor 12-22-2006
Commentary: Grameen Bank: Micro-Credit for Marginalized Families By Krishna P. Bhattacharjee 12-22-2006
Commentary: The Serious Business of Play By Stevanne Auerbach (aka Dr. Toy) 12-22-2006
Letters to the Editor 12-19-2006
Commentary: Examining the Opposition to the New LPO By Alan Tobey 12-19-2006
Commentary: The 2008 Presidential Primaries: Another Inconvenient Truth By Thomas Gangale 12-19-2006
Commentary: Who’s Being Served? By Erin Wolfe 12-19-2006
BAM Architect Listens to Community Ideas By Richard Brenneman 12-22-2006
The Planet Takes a Holiday 12-22-2006
Temblor Punctuates Debate Over Stadium By Richard Brenneman 12-22-2006
How Berkeley Voted in the November Elections By Rob Wrenn 12-22-2006
Hancock to Vie for Senate Seat By Judith Scherr 12-22-2006
Downtown Plan, Landmarks Committee Near Compromise By Richard Brenneman 12-22-2006
District 4 Challenger Wilson Moves Out of Berkeley By Judith Scherr 12-22-2006
Oak-to-9th Lawsuit Will Move Forward By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 12-22-2006
Oakland Schools Mislabel Some Teachers Unqualified By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 12-22-2006
Report: Local Bus Riders Shortchanged By Judith Scherr 12-22-2006
Police Blotter By Richard Brenneman 12-22-2006
A Guide to Finding Green Gifts This Holiday Season By Judith Scherr 12-22-2006
10 Questions for Darryl Moore By Jonathan Wafer, Special to the Panet 12-22-2006
Give of Yourself This Holiday Season By Marta Yamamoto, Special to the Planet 12-22-2006
Cheerful Crowd Celebrates Stadium Grove Tree-Sitters By Richard Brenneman 12-19-2006
Zoning Board Approves Trader Joe’s Building, Project Foes Planning Lawsuit By Richard Brenneman 12-19-2006
Drayage Demolition Moves Forward; ZAB OKs Bus Yard, Condos By Richard Brenneman 12-19-2006
Oakland School Takeover Investigation Gets Key Support By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 12-19-2006
Army Subpoenas Oakland Journalist in Watada Court Marshal By Judith Scherr 12-19-2006
Woodfin Workers Protest Pre-Christmas Suspension By Judith Scherr 12-19-2006
Problems With Measure A, Says Former Peralta Counsel By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 12-19-2006
Curt Flood: 10 Years Later and No Closer To the Hall of Fame By Bill Fletcher, Jr., New America Media 12-19-2006
Law Students Help Score Win for Immigrants in Supreme Court By Rene P. Ciria-Cruz, New America Media 12-19-2006
Column: Dispatches From the Edge: Spy vs. Spy; War With Syria? By Conn Hallinan 12-22-2006
Undercurrents: Debating the Use of the Word ‘Nigger’ By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 12-22-2006
About the House: The Benefits of Solar Water Heating By Matt Cantor 12-22-2006
Garden Variety: Aunt Ron’s Holiday Advice For The Gift-Lorn By Ron Sullivan 12-22-2006
Quake Tip of the Week By Larry Guillot 12-22-2006
Column: Christmas in Las Vegas, Part One By Susan Parker 12-19-2006
Crow Talk and Chickadee Alarms: What Birds Are Saying By Joe Eaton, Special to the Planet 12-19-2006
Arts Calendar 12-22-2006
Arts and Entertainment Around the East Bay 12-22-2006
Moving Pictures: Two Films of Transformation and Enlightenment By Justin DeFreitas 12-22-2006
The Theater: Circus Finelli Clowns Around at Julia Morgan Center By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 12-22-2006
About the House: The Benefits of Solar Water Heating By Matt Cantor 12-22-2006
Garden Variety: Aunt Ron’s Holiday Advice For The Gift-Lorn By Ron Sullivan 12-22-2006
Quake Tip of the Week By Larry Guillot 12-22-2006
Berkeley This Week 12-22-2006
Arts Calendar 12-19-2006
Arts and Entertainment: Around the East Bay 12-19-2006
Arts: Hits and Rarities From the Cole Porter Songbook By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 12-19-2006
Arts: Mussorgsky’s ‘Khovanchina’ at First Congregational Church By Ken Bullock, Special to the Planet 12-19-2006
Crow Talk and Chickadee Alarms: What Birds Are Saying By Joe Eaton, Special to the Planet 12-19-2006
Berkeley This Week 12-19-2006