Unprotected by the Republican sycophants in Congress and his darling Fox and Friends. NATO leaders ridiculed Donald Trump for his insulting behavior and to his customary barrage of insults. Crushed and thoroughly humiliated Trump made a hasty retreat and returned home sniveling and snarling exposing his razor thin-skinned vulnerability. Traumatized by the looming impeachment, Trump had sought comfort from British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, telling him that his letter to Ukraine’s president was flawless. A thoroughly exasperated Johnson told him he didn’t care a “Brexit” about his problems. -more-

A critical issue for working people at retail establishments, particularly businesses that serve food, is the unpredictability of work schedules that many workers experience. Many employers recognize that their employees need an anticipated schedule. But many do not. The problem is very troublesome for women with children when they are told only a day or two in advance that their schedule must be changed. Also, for both men and women altering schedules disrupts the lives of all employees, who participate in joint activities with friends, take courses in college, or have other obligations that are important to them. Not least, if work schedules are frequently changed, it is psychologically unhealthy. Clearly, giving employees insufficient notice of a change in schedule is an immoral act. -more-

Impeachment shouldn't end with a narrow vote on one narrow issue, important as weakening our national security is. Trump has committed many more impeachable crimes in addition to shaking down Ukraine. The impeachment investigation is our only and best opportunity to get to the bottom of his emoluments, his electoral collusion with Russia, his ceding our foreign influence to Russia in places like Syria, his disruption of our NATO alliances, his obstructions of justice, his personal profiting from governmental expenditures at his hotels ... the list goes on. -more-

55 percent of people in California are poor or low-income—a total of 21.4 million residents. This includes 65 percent of children (5.9 million), 57 percent of women (11 million), 66 percent of people of color (15.4 million), and 39 percent of White people (6 million).

I and my son are part of this 55 million. I have Stage 4 cancer and am being held hostage by overwhelming student debt. I am on disability and cannot work more than 20 hours a week. This must stop! We need more visibility of the actual poverty that most of us live in desperately. Please hear my cry! -more-

The Community Environmental Advisory Commission (CEAC) Agenda on Thursday, December 12, 7:00 pm (Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch Library, 1901 Russell St. @ MLK, Berkeley) is pitching more "cigarette butt receptacles", commonly known as ashtrays, in smokefree commercial areas.


Ashtrays are a universal "okay-to-smoke-here" symbol, the opposite of what's needed in smokefree areas currently without signage or sporting contradictory, out-of-date signage which confuses smokers. We worked hard to make sure CEAC's 2017 pilot program was limited to four receptacles outside of the smokefree areas. But this new push not only reflects no historical knowledge of that discussion, it misrepresents Save the Bay as being in favor of ashtrays in our smokefree commercial zones. -more-

British Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn has again condemned anti-Semitism,to dispel charges leveled at him by Britain’s chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, who accused Corbyn and his Labor Party of anti-Semitism ahead of national elections on December 12. -more-

Employment for a mental health consumer, and for most people, usually brings self-esteem and self-appreciation. It brings meaning to life. It brings purpose. It gives a reason to get out of bed every morning. It brings hope for something better. -more-

Turning Over a Nude Leaf -more-

The thought of artificial intelligence in the hands of so-called public servants’, many of whom regularly ignore individuals’ rights and welfare, makes me squirm. It seems naive to assume that A.I. will not be used against us here in the U.S. -more-

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On Thursday, December 5, Matthew Shilvock, the company’s General Director, announced from the stage of San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House that 39 year-old Eun Sun Kim, who conducted the highly regarded Rusalka here in June, was named the new Music Director of San Francisco Opera. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Eun Sun Kim becomes the first woman to hold the lead post at an American opera company of major size and stature. -more-

Worth Noting and Showing Up:

The City Council winter recess is December 11, 2019 – January 21, 2020. This is the last full week of City meetings in 2019.

• The Council meeting on Tuesday items 16. Purchase of trucks, the ACTION items and Information Report 38. Audit F/U need your attention. (More comments follow the list of meetings)
• Tuesday, Dec 10 the Tool Library is closed all day and Tarea Hall Pittman South Branch Library is closed from 10 am – 6 pm, reopens 6 – 8 pm. (Planned PG&E Power outage)
• CA Dept of Housing and Community Development workshops, webinars, Community Needs Survey on Fair Housing http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1120322818772&ca=85bf47bc-da07-4971-9168-eb0199ccefb6
• Tuesday, Dec 10, Michael Mann the scientist who published the “Hockey Stick Climate Chart” https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/05/the-hockey-stick-the-most-controversial-chart-in-science-explained/275753/ is speaking in San Francisco 5pm – 7:30 pm, the event is free, but seating is limited - link to RSVP included in event info https://350bayarea.org/event/beyond-climate-denial
• Sunflower Alliance lists area meetings and Dec 9 comment deadlines to CARB (California Air Resources Board) on air pollution from Diesel Trucks and Shipping http://www.sunflower-alliance.org

• Change to Shattuck Ave Vehicle Traffic between Allston and University begins Dec 16 https://www.cityofberkeley.info/City_Manager/Press_Releases/2019/2019-12-05_Shattuck_Avenue_becomes_a_two-way_street_across_University.aspx