Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Director Steven Chu has been selected to fill the Obama administration’s top energy post, according to the Associated Press and other media outlets.
By Richard Brenneman
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Director Steven Chu has been selected to fill the Obama administration’s top energy post, according to the Associated Press and other media outlets.

Extra

UC to Host Discussion on Development of Anna Head School Site

Daily Planet staff
Tuesday December 16, 2008 - 06:53:00 PM

UC Berkeley is hosting a discussion on Wednesday about the proposed development of the Anna Head parking lot site for student housing. -more-


Window-Smashing Burglar Sought by Berkeley Police

Tuesday December 16, 2008 - 12:00:00 AM

Berkeley police said today that they have a person of interest and a vehicle of interest in connection with seven daytime "window-smash"burglaries, and one attempted burglary, at homes in northwest and north central Berkeley in the last 10 days. -more-


Malcolm X Elementary Acknowledged for Closing the Achievement Gap

By Kristin McFarland
Monday December 15, 2008 - 04:37:00 PM

Berkeley’s Malcolm X Arts and Academics Magnet, an elementary school that integrates art and academics, has been awarded the Title One Academic Achievement award for 2008-2009. -more-


Prime West Berkeley Property Headed for the Marketplace

By Richard Brenneman
Monday December 15, 2008 - 04:37:00 PM

Berkeley’s largest private development site—8.2 acres adjacent to Aquatic Park—is coming on the market, and the owners want the city to ease the rules. -more-


UC Santa Cruz's Science Hill Grove Felled

By Richard Brenneman
Monday December 15, 2008 - 04:38:00 PM

The last UC Santa Cruz treesitter surrendered to campus police Saturday, moments before a chainsaw-wielding crew began to level the redwood grove they had occupied for 402 days. -more-


Neighbors Win One, Lose One In Friday Legal Actions Against Pacific Steel Casting

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Sunday December 14, 2008 - 10:27:00 PM

Neighborhood opponents of West Berkeley's Pacific Steel Casting went one-for-two in Alameda County Superior Court legal decisions on Friday, with one judge overturning a previous Berkeley Small Claims Court ruling in favor of several PSC neighbors and, in a separate action, a second judge ruling that a class action lawsuit against the steel foundry can go forward. -more-


ZAB Delays Decision on Kashani Condos

By Richard Brenneman
Friday December 12, 2008 - 05:34:00 PM

Berkeley’s Zoning Adjustment’s Board delayed approval of developer Ali Kashani’s five-story condo project at the corner of Ashby and San Pablo avenues on Thursday. -more-


Planning Commission Votes to End Downtown Fast Food Moratorium

By Richard Brenneman
Friday December 12, 2008 - 05:34:00 PM

The man residents of downtown Berkeley elected to represent their district on the city council came to the planning commission Wednesday night to make a request. -more-



Page One

Reports Say Obama Will Name LBNL Director Secretary of Energy

By Richard Brenneman
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 07:12:00 PM

President-elect Barack Obama has picked Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Director Steven Chu as the nation’s new Secretary of Energy, according to the Associated Press and numerous broadcast and wire service accounts. -more-



Council: UC Prof Should Be Charged With War Crimes

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 07:11:00 PM

With two new faces on the dais, the Berkeley City Council returned to an old subject Monday night: international affairs. The council approved a compromise proposal calling for federal prosecution of UC Berkeley Boalt Hall Law Professor John Yoo for supporting torture by the Bush administration. -more-



State Budget Crisis May Lead to Cuts in City Goverment

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 07:11:00 PM

With a growing national recession and state legislators and the governor stalled in Sacramento over solutions to California’s looming projected $28 billion two-year budget deficit, Berkeley city officials are predictably warning that the city is in for uncertain economic times. -more-



School Governance Council Passes BHS Redesign Plan

By Kristin McFarland
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 07:13:00 PM

After a daylong workshop spent honing the original proposal, the BHS Governance Council passed a redesign plan Tuesday that would put students on a new class schedule and incorporate an advisory curriculum into the school day. -more-



Planning Commission Rejects Downtown Plan’s Dwight Way Height Limits

By Richard Brenneman
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 07:14:00 PM

When city staff drew the boundaries for the new Downtown Area Plan (DAP), they made a mistake that planning commissioners are now faced with resolving. -more-



Features

LBNL Begins Environmental Review Of Scaled-down Helios Lab Building

By Richard Brenneman
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 07:32:00 PM

Changed designs for the new lab building to house the half-billion-dollar BP–funded Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI) have forced Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to launch a new environmental impact review. -more-


San Pablo Condos Top ZAB’s Agenda

By Richard Brenneman
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 07:31:00 PM

Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) members will decide the fate of two buildings on San Pablo Avenue on Thursday. -more-


Miya Rodolfo-Sioson, 1968-2008

By Ruthanne Shpiner
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:33:00 PM
Miya Rodolfo-Sioson, in a photograph taken in 1993 or 1994 in a classroom at the University of Iowa, where she was majoring in Spanish.

Miya Rodolfo-Sioson, long-time advocate for disability rights, died at 10:45 a.m. December 3, at Highland Hospital, with her brother Renato at her side. Miya was being treated for inflammatory breast cancer. She was 40 years old. -more-


RichmondBUILDS Creates Green, Solar Jobs For East Bay Cities

By Richard Brenneman
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:32:00 PM
Young RichmondBUILDs solar installation trainees take a breather as they install panels on the roof of a Richmond home.

Looking up at the wall of photos overhead, Sal Vaca said, “We want our participants to be able to come in and see someone they know, someone who looks like them.” -more-


Tribune Company Bankruptcy Doesn’t Affect Sam Zell’s Berkeley Apartments

By Richard Brenneman
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:35:00 PM

Berkeley’s biggest landlord is having trouble with one of his other businesses: the Tribune Company, publisher of the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and other media, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday. -more-


Berkeley Classified Employees Get Pay Raise But Disagree on Contract

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:34:00 PM

The Berkeley Council of Classified Employees members have received a pay hike from the Berkeley Unified School District but have yet to reach an agreement over their contract, union President Paula Phillips said last week. -more-


Nolo Press Will Remain in Berkeley

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 07:15:00 PM
The Nolo Press building in West Berkeley.

Nolo Press, which calls itself the nation’s oldest publisher of legal information for nonlawyers, will remain at its current location in West Berkeley following a decision by the business’s landlord, the Genn family, not to sell the property. -more-


Landmarks Commission Says National Register Nomination Lacks Information

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 07:16:00 PM

The Berkeley Landmarks Preservation Commission said Thursday it was unable to comment on the nomination of the Donald and Helen Olsen House to the National Register of Historic Places because the application is not complete. -more-


Details Bedevil West Berkeley ‘Project’

By Richard Brenneman
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 07:13:00 PM

Planning commissioners struggled last Wednesday with the fate of West Berkeley in a session that raised more questions than answers. -more-


Shopping Urban Ore: Dedicated to Ending Waste

By Lydia Gans Special to the Planet
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:20:00 PM
Some of the treasures to be found at Urban Ore, 900 Murray St.

To end the age of waste is the message of Urban Ore, a Berkeley institution, the business that represents the ultimate in salvaging just about everything and turning it into something that can be used. On a three acre spread just off Ashby and Seventh Street, Urban Ore has a most amazing assortment of stuff—hundreds of doors, windows, bathtubs, books, dishes, hardware, sometimes a piano or two, “collectibles” and all sorts of oddities large and small. -more-


First Person: Aging as an Art Form

By Al Winslow
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 07:21:00 PM
Al Winslow talks in Tamm’s video piece, Moment of Conciousness.

If you engage the world, by 50 or so something changes. -more-


Election Section

First Person: A Memoir of Music and Calamity

By Marvin Chachere
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 07:18:00 PM

Without music life would be a mistake. -more-


Public Comment

Letters to the Editor

Monday December 15, 2008 - 02:49:00 PM

Letters to the Editor

Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:29:00 PM

NO SECRET AGREEMENT -more-


One Neat City! Change Starts with Clean Community

By Stevanne Auerbach
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:26:00 PM

We share the excitement of “change,” but to have real change we have to start with ourselves, in our own home, yard, block, community, and city. When we look around we may see clutter, litter, and a mess. Research shows that when people see a mess, they tend to make more of a mess. People must take seriously their responsibility for litter, and not depend on politicians, sanitation workers, street sweepers, or anyone else to clean up the mess they make. -more-


Library RFID Funds and Nuclear Weapons: The Prospective Connection

By Gene Bernardi and Peter Warfield
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:27:00 PM

The Berkeley Public Library has formally requested an exemption from the requirements of the Nuclear Free Berkeley Act and the Oppressive States Compliance Resolution so it can sign a contract with 3M for maintenance of the library’s radio-frequency identification (RFID) self-checkout system. -more-


Berkeley High Reforms: Money Well Spent?

By Priscilla Myrick
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:23:00 PM

Controversial and costly changes are planned for Berkeley High School (BHS) as a way to help close the achievement gap. BHS administrators claim that the addition of advisories, block scheduling and another small school will improve standardized test scores and college preparedness for African American and Latino students. While the goal is laudable, the effectiveness of the proposed changes remains questionable at best. The BUSD Board should be critically assessing the costs of implementation of the reforms against a realistic appraisal of the benefits. -more-


City Needs Antenna Master Plan

By Michael Barglow
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:25:00 PM
Antennas on the UC Storage building in South Berkeley.

The non-profit organization I work with, Berkeley Neighborhood Antena-Free Union (BNAFU), asks all Berkeley residents to join our cause this coming Tuesday evening, 7 p.m. at the Berkeley City Council meeting located at Old City Hall, 2134 MLK Jr. Blvd. On the agenda will be telecom demands for cell antennas at two more flatlands locations, the French Hotel in North Berkeley and 1725 University Avenue. -more-


The Anti-Transit Crowd Is at it Again

By Charles Siegel
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:23:00 PM

The small minority of Berkeley residents who are die-hard opponents of Bus Rapid Transit have not changed after their overwhelming loss in the recent election, where Measure KK was defeated by a margin of more than three to one. -more-


Looking Back at 2012

By Joanne Kowalski
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:22:00 PM

As I watched the Obamadrama I was impressed by the number of connections Barack made to past presidents. President Clinton spoke at his nomination. Support from Ted and Caroline Kennedy promoted favorable comparisons to RFK and JFK. Many remarked on his similarities to FDR and Lincoln. And the Bushes showed the Obamas around the White House and gave them tips on living there. -more-


Peter Camejo’s Legacy

By Chris Kavanagh
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:21:00 PM

On Nov. 23, an eloquent and moving memorial celebration for former Green Party of California gubernatorial candidate Peter Miguel Camejo was held at UC Berkeley’s International House. -more-


Editorial

Keeping Newspapers Alive: A Few New Ideas

By Becky O’Malley
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:28:00 PM

Yes, it’s something big to worry about. This week’s announcement of the imminent bankruptcies of the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times, not to mention other papers owned by super-capitalist Sam Zell, is giving newspaper fans everywhere a lot to think about. Even here. -more-


Columns

Undercurrents—Dellums Administration: No Vendetta, Vindictiveness

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:29:00 PM

The two-year long season of criticism of Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums—some of it thoughtful and reasoned, some of it thoughtless and unreasonable—has tended to set an arbitrary standard and then judged the mayor against it. Is crime and violence in the city at a “reasonable” level, for example, or are there “enough” new retail outlets or employee-generating businesses being built in Oakland; is there enough “transparency” at City Hall, or is the mayor is putting the time and energy into his job that should be expected? -more-


The Public Eye: Obama’s First 100 Days: The Economy

By Bob Burnett
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:30:00 PM

When Barack Obama becomes the 44th president of the United States, he will face a daunting set of economic problems. Incoming presidents usually have a honeymoon period of 100 days when positive public sentiment insures passage of key components of their platform. Given a narrow window of Congressional bipartisanship, Obama’s economic priorities are clear. -more-


Wild Neighbors: Beetle Convergences and Termite Emergences

By Joe Eaton
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:09:00 PM

The early November rains made me briefly hopeful, although that didn’t last long. They also seem to have faked out some of our local insects whose life cycles are keyed to changes in the weather. -more-


Reprints: jdefreitas@berkeleydailyplanet.com

Browsing the Addison Street Gallery

By Justin DeFreitas
Friday December 12, 2008 - 10:15:00 AM

Reprints: jdefreitas@berkeleydailyplanet.com

Barack Obama's Diversity Twister

By Justin DeFreitas
Friday December 12, 2008 - 10:16:00 AM

Arts & Events

Moving Pictures: Three Versions of an Orson Welles Masterpiece

By Justin DeFreitas
Friday December 12, 2008 - 12:36:00 PM
Universal has released all three versions of Orson Welles' <i>Touch of Evil</i> in a two-disc 50th anniversary set.

Textual authenticity is a central issue in the work of Orson Welles. The director saw so many of his films altered in the editing room by his producers that only a few of his completed pictures can be said to represent his original intentions. -more-


Home & Garden

About the House—The Rules: Construction Etiquette

By Matt Cantor
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:10:00 PM

Few relationships in business or in life have the potential for spattered blood like the one held between contractor and client and it is for this reason that I would like to suggest some “rules of the road (sans rage)” for both contractor and client. While everyone likes to see themselves as being reasonable, thoughtful and fair, the truth is that we all have blind spots or simply become lazy. Watch drivers on any given day and you’ll see the proof. -more-


Architectural Excursions: Catalina, Beauty Off the Beaten Track

By Daniella Thompson Special to the Planet
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:11:00 PM
The rear of Banning House Lodge faces Catalina Harbor

The island of Catalina receives over a million visitors per year, but the vast majority of them go in summer and never set foot outside the principal town of Avalon. -more-


Arts Listings

Arts Calendar

Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:19:00 PM

Mark Jackson’s ‘Macbeth’ at Shotgun

By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:19:00 PM

Holiday Shows from Oakland Ballet and East Bay Symphony

By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:18:00 PM

‘Christmas Revels’ Return to Oakland

By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:15:00 PM

DVD releases of the films of Harry Langdon should help establish him as one of the great comedians of the silent era.

Moving Pictures: Harry Langdon: Silent Comedy's Forgotten Genius

By Justin DeFreitas
Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:35:00 PM

Events Listings

Community Calendar

Wednesday December 10, 2008 - 06:31:00 PM

Back Stories

Opinion

Editorials

Keeping Newspapers Alive: A Few New Ideas 12-10-2008

Cartoons

Browsing the Addison Street Gallery By Justin DeFreitas 12-12-2008

Barack Obama's Diversity Twister By Justin DeFreitas 12-12-2008

Public Comment

Letters to the Editor 12-15-2008

Letters to the Editor 12-10-2008

One Neat City! Change Starts with Clean Community By Stevanne Auerbach 12-10-2008

Library RFID Funds and Nuclear Weapons: The Prospective Connection By Gene Bernardi and Peter Warfield 12-10-2008

Berkeley High Reforms: Money Well Spent? By Priscilla Myrick 12-10-2008

City Needs Antenna Master Plan By Michael Barglow 12-10-2008

The Anti-Transit Crowd Is at it Again By Charles Siegel 12-10-2008

Looking Back at 2012 By Joanne Kowalski 12-10-2008

Peter Camejo’s Legacy By Chris Kavanagh 12-10-2008

News

UC to Host Discussion on Development of Anna Head School Site Daily Planet staff 12-16-2008

Window-Smashing Burglar Sought by Berkeley Police 12-16-2008

Malcolm X Elementary Acknowledged for Closing the Achievement Gap By Kristin McFarland 12-15-2008

Prime West Berkeley Property Headed for the Marketplace By Richard Brenneman 12-15-2008

UC Santa Cruz's Science Hill Grove Felled By Richard Brenneman 12-15-2008

Neighbors Win One, Lose One In Friday Legal Actions Against Pacific Steel Casting By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 12-14-2008

ZAB Delays Decision on Kashani Condos By Richard Brenneman 12-12-2008

Planning Commission Votes to End Downtown Fast Food Moratorium By Richard Brenneman 12-12-2008

Reports Say Obama Will Name LBNL Director Secretary of Energy By Richard Brenneman 12-10-2008

Council: UC Prof Should Be Charged With War Crimes By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 12-10-2008

State Budget Crisis May Lead to Cuts in City Goverment By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 12-10-2008

School Governance Council Passes BHS Redesign Plan By Kristin McFarland 12-10-2008

Planning Commission Rejects Downtown Plan’s Dwight Way Height Limits By Richard Brenneman 12-10-2008

LBNL Begins Environmental Review Of Scaled-down Helios Lab Building By Richard Brenneman 12-10-2008

San Pablo Condos Top ZAB’s Agenda By Richard Brenneman 12-10-2008

Miya Rodolfo-Sioson, 1968-2008 By Ruthanne Shpiner 12-10-2008

RichmondBUILDS Creates Green, Solar Jobs For East Bay Cities By Richard Brenneman 12-10-2008

Tribune Company Bankruptcy Doesn’t Affect Sam Zell’s Berkeley Apartments By Richard Brenneman 12-10-2008

Berkeley Classified Employees Get Pay Raise But Disagree on Contract By Riya Bhattacharjee 12-10-2008

Nolo Press Will Remain in Berkeley By Riya Bhattacharjee 12-10-2008

Landmarks Commission Says National Register Nomination Lacks Information By Riya Bhattacharjee 12-10-2008

Details Bedevil West Berkeley ‘Project’ By Richard Brenneman 12-10-2008

Shopping Urban Ore: Dedicated to Ending Waste By Lydia Gans Special to the Planet 12-10-2008

First Person: Aging as an Art Form By Al Winslow 12-10-2008

First Person: A Memoir of Music and Calamity By Marvin Chachere 12-10-2008

Columns

Undercurrents—Dellums Administration: No Vendetta, Vindictiveness By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor 12-10-2008

The Public Eye: Obama’s First 100 Days: The Economy By Bob Burnett 12-10-2008

Wild Neighbors: Beetle Convergences and Termite Emergences By Joe Eaton 12-10-2008

About the House—The Rules: Construction Etiquette By Matt Cantor 12-10-2008

Architectural Excursions: Catalina, Beauty Off the Beaten Track By Daniella Thompson Special to the Planet 12-10-2008

Arts & Events

Arts Calendar 12-10-2008

Mark Jackson’s ‘Macbeth’ at Shotgun By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet 12-10-2008

Holiday Shows from Oakland Ballet and East Bay Symphony By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet 12-10-2008

‘Christmas Revels’ Return to Oakland By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet 12-10-2008

Moving Pictures: Harry Langdon: Silent Comedy's Forgotten Genius By Justin DeFreitas 12-10-2008

Moving Pictures: Three Versions of an Orson Welles Masterpiece By Justin DeFreitas 12-12-2008

About the House—The Rules: Construction Etiquette By Matt Cantor 12-10-2008

Architectural Excursions: Catalina, Beauty Off the Beaten Track By Daniella Thompson Special to the Planet 12-10-2008

Community Calendar 12-10-2008