Extra

Massive U.S. and Israeli crimes

Jagjit Singh
Monday November 18, 2024 - 08:43:00 PM

The ongoing slaughter and starvation of Palestinians by the Israeli government marks a dark chapter in human history. Despite widespread outrage, the Biden administration continues to enable these atrocities by supplying more weapons to Israel, compounding the moral and humanitarian crisis. Both the U.S. and Israel seem to have forgotten the spiritual truth: "What you sow, so shall you reap." These actions cast a grim shadow over the future of both nations and their leaders, including Biden, Harris, Netanyahu, and especially Trump, who hypocritically claims to revere the Bible. -more-


New: SMITHEREENS: Reflections on Bits & Pieces: Make America Grate Again

Gar Smith
Sunday November 17, 2024 - 04:24:00 PM

Corporate "Reform" as a Money-making Ruse -more-


Updated: Berkeley Election Results Update

Rob Wrenn
Sunday November 17, 2024 - 03:43:00 PM

Only about 30% of ballots were counted countywide on election night. An update was posted by the county Registrar of Voter on Friday. The Registrar’s Web site says the next update will be on Monday, which is Veteran’s Day. We’ll see if that happens, but there will certainly be more updates next week. -more-


New: THE BERKELEY ACTIVISTS' CALENDAR, NOVEMBER 17-24

Kelly Hammargren
Sunday November 17, 2024 - 04:16:00 PM

Worth Noting:

The coming week is very busy as Boards and Commissions reschedule meetings around Thanksgiving week and fit in meetings before the winter recess. The City Council winter recess is from December 11 through January 20, 2025.

Ballots are still being counted. The next release is expected November 20. Over 17,000 ballots in Alameda County are left to count. You can follow election results with this link. https://alamedacountyca.gov/rovresults/252/

Go to meetings are in BOLD. -more-


Bad News from the Blue Backwoods

Don Macleay
Wednesday November 13, 2024 - 04:20:00 PM

Here in Oakland California, we had our own slip into darkness on election day.

Our local version of the reactionary backlash in the deep Democrat part of dark Blue California does not conform to the liberal-radical reputation we have across the country.

That is a good reputation that we do not deserve.

To start with, two reactionary recalls won hands down. Oakland will be without our mayor and our Alameda County will be without our progressive district attorney. They are being blamed to for high crime rates and other things that have nothing to do with them and had started literally before they were born.

Our own Oakland Local mini-Musk bankrolled the expensive signature gathering required, starting only weeks after the mayor and DA had been sworn into office, two years ago.

The subsequent, well-funded advertising campaign sounded a lot like the campaign against the progressive San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin two years ago. We all know the Trump song about how the liberals just let the criminals go without consequences and how we need to teach those bad people a lesson with harsh policing and harsher punishments. Well, the song sung around here by recall people should open them up for copywrite infringement. -more-


Ishii Likely Winner of Mayor's Race

Rob Wrenn
Friday November 15, 2024 - 05:32:00 PM

It looks very likely that YIMBY candidate Adena Ishii will be Berkeley’s next mayor. -more-


SMITHEREENS: Reflections on Bits & Pieces: Make America Grieve Again

Gar Smith
Tuesday November 12, 2024 - 10:50:00 AM

MoveOn Shares this Dire Warning:g -more-


What Broke and How to Fix It

Bob Burnett
Tuesday November 12, 2024 - 10:32:00 AM

Democrats should begin to prepare for the 2026 midterms. Before we get started, we need to understand what broke in 2024. -more-


Ishii gains on Hahn in Mayor’s race

Rob Wrenn
Monday November 11, 2024 - 08:37:00 PM

In the latest batch of votes posted by the Registrar of Voters this afternoon, Adena Ishi surpassed Sophie Hahn by 441 votes, narrowing Hahn’s lead to 633 votes. Hahn has 38.8% to 37.1% for Ishii. More importantly for Ishii, Kate Harrison’s second choice ballots in the latest batch favored Ishii 1323 to 1084 in the ranked choice count. Sophie leads in that count 17,437 to 17,055, a margin of only 382 votes, 50.6% to 49.5%. -more-


Exploring Myths and Legends about Mentally Ill People

Jack Bragen
Saturday November 09, 2024 - 03:18:00 PM

Hello dear readers. I am not here to argue with psychiatric wisdom or with established science. If you have a severe mental illness, especially one that involves psychosis, you probably need to be medicated. Medicating people with mental illness to help them (us) recover has worked since the early nineteen fifties, with the discovery of Thorazine. -more-


THE BERKELEY ACTIVISTS' CALENDAR, November 10-17

Kelly Hammargren
Saturday November 09, 2024 - 02:52:00 PM

Worth Noting:

Monday, November 11, 2024 is the Veteran’s Day Holiday.

The agenda for the November 19, 2024 City Council meeting is available for comment.

Check City website for meetings posted on short notice https://berkeleyca.gov

Go to meetings are: City Council on Tuesday, the Parks Commission on Wednesday, EBWC on Thursday and the San Pablo Specific Plan (walking) tour on Saturday November 16. -more-


Berkeley Election Results Update

Rob Wrenn
Saturday November 09, 2024 - 02:31:00 PM

Only about 30% of ballots were counted countywide on election night. An update was posted by the county Registrar of Voter on Friday. The Registrar’s Web site says the next update will be on Monday, which is Veteran’s Day. We’ll see if that happens, but there will certainly be more updates next week. -more-


Election Results as of Nov. 6 at 1 PM:

Margot Smith
Wednesday November 06, 2024 - 01:39:00 PM


Public Comment

Margot Smith for State Assembly Asks for Your Vote

Margot Smith
Saturday November 02, 2024 - 02:11:00 PM

I'm a Democrat running for our State Assembly District 14 because I object to the state housing laws that Assembly member Buffy Wicks, votes for. -more-


Trump & Johnson’s “great secret” to win the election

Jagjit Singh
Saturday November 02, 2024 - 11:35:00 AM

With the November 5 presidential election rapidly approaching, growing concerns have emerged about potential Republican efforts to manipulate the results and secure a victory for Donald Trump. At a recent rally at Madison Square Garden, Trump hinted at a “little secret” with House Speaker Mike Johnson that would significantly impact the election outcome, though he provided no further explanation.
-more-


Hahn’s Hypocrisy

Harvey Smith
Friday November 01, 2024 - 01:35:00 PM

Sophie Hahn’s recent election email message “Expanding Our Parks and Green Spaces!” takes her to new heights of hypocrisy and certainly brings into question her other campaign goals. Just start with the first sentence – “As Berkeley grows, it’s essential to invest in public spaces that serve all of our residents—especially in neighborhoods with fewer green spaces.” The South Side is the densest neighborhood in Berkeley, and plans by both the City of Berkeley and the University of California are to make it even more densely populated. Sophie was part of the council majority that voted to support UC’s efforts to destroy People’s Park, a much-needed urban green space. -more-


SMITHEREENS: Reflections on Bits & Pieces: Masks, Musk and the Red Mirage

Gar Smith
Saturday November 02, 2024 - 02:31:00 PM

Comic Strip's 'Bawdy Language'
The syndicated comic strip Luann has broken another taboo. A few weeks ago, two characters in the strip could be heard having a robust sexual encounter on the other side of a closed bedroom door. And now, on November 2, Luann became the first daily 'toon (that I know of) to close with an obscene hand gesture! Here's how it plays out. -more-


Making a Start

Marc Sapir
Saturday November 02, 2024 - 02:11:00 PM

One day before the presidential election (November 4, 2024), the Chronicle published the Open Forum piece: Trump’s power could go unchecked by Erwin Chemerinsky, preeminent liberal Constitutional Law scholar and dean of the UC Berkeley School of law. Surely, no one who read the piece learned anything they did not already know about Trump. Surely, Erwin changed not a single vote; so what’s the point? -more-


The U.S. continues to weaponize Israel’s terror groups as they continue to starve and slaughter innocent civilians

Jagjit Singh
Monday November 04, 2024 - 01:42:00 PM

As Israel continues to block lifesaving humanitarian aid to northern Gaza, international organizations are describing the siege as “apocalyptic,” warning of mass starvation and death. Rachael Cummings of Save the Children International reports from Deir al-Balah that aid groups are unable to reach northern areas, where the crisis worsens daily. Israel recently bombed a polio vaccination center in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan district, even after agreeing to a humanitarian pause for polio immunizations. The attack has intensified parents’ fears about bringing their children to health facilities. -more-


Editorial

Berkeley Mayor Backs Giant Tax Giveaway to Tech Interests

Becky O'Malley
Monday October 14, 2024 - 02:50:00 PM

Update:

The misbegotten rule change described below was postponed iuntil next Tuesday, Novenber 12. A good crowd showed up to complain about it at the previous council meeting where it was discussed, but now the same crowd needs to show up on Tuesday to do it again. -more-


Arts & Events

A Harrowing but Challenging HANDMAID’S TALE at San Francisco Opera

Reviewed by James Roy MacBean
Tuesday November 12, 2024 - 10:47:00 AM

Verdi’s UN BALLO IN MASCHERA Is A Huge Success at San Francisco Opera

Reviewed by James Roy MacBean
Tuesday November 12, 2024 - 10:34:00 AM

Opening the 2024-25 Season at San Francisco Opera, Giuseppe Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera brought together a splendid international cast under the baton of Music Director Eun Sun Kim. -more-


Mysteries and Thrillers Read in October

Bob Burnett
Saturday November 09, 2024 - 03:04:00 PM

In this month I have seven mystery/thriller novels to recommend. -more-


Events

THE BERKELEY ACTIVISTS' CALENDAR: Nov. 3-10

Kelly Hammargren
Saturday November 02, 2024 - 02:22:00 PM

Worth Noting: -more-


Back Stories

Opinion

Public Comment

Margot Smith for State Assembly Asks for Your Vote Margot Smith 11-02-2024

Trump & Johnson’s “great secret” to win the election Jagjit Singh 11-02-2024

Hahn’s Hypocrisy Harvey Smith 11-01-2024

SMITHEREENS: Reflections on Bits & Pieces: Masks, Musk and the Red Mirage Gar Smith 11-02-2024

Making a Start Marc Sapir 11-02-2024

The U.S. continues to weaponize Israel’s terror groups as they continue to starve and slaughter innocent civilians Jagjit Singh 11-04-2024

News

Massive U.S. and Israeli crimes Jagjit Singh 11-18-2024

New: SMITHEREENS: Reflections on Bits & Pieces: Make America Grate Again Gar Smith 11-17-2024

Updated: Berkeley Election Results Update Rob Wrenn 11-17-2024

New: THE BERKELEY ACTIVISTS' CALENDAR, NOVEMBER 17-24 Kelly Hammargren 11-17-2024

Bad News from the Blue Backwoods Don Macleay 11-13-2024

Ishii Likely Winner of Mayor's Race Rob Wrenn 11-15-2024

SMITHEREENS: Reflections on Bits & Pieces: Make America Grieve Again Gar Smith 11-12-2024

What Broke and How to Fix It Bob Burnett 11-12-2024

Ishii gains on Hahn in Mayor’s race Rob Wrenn 11-11-2024

Exploring Myths and Legends about Mentally Ill People Jack Bragen 11-09-2024

THE BERKELEY ACTIVISTS' CALENDAR, November 10-17 Kelly Hammargren 11-09-2024

Berkeley Election Results Update Rob Wrenn 11-09-2024

Election Results as of Nov. 6 at 1 PM: Margot Smith 11-06-2024

Arts & Events

A Harrowing but Challenging HANDMAID’S TALE at San Francisco Opera Reviewed by James Roy MacBean 11-12-2024

Verdi’s UN BALLO IN MASCHERA Is A Huge Success at San Francisco Opera Reviewed by James Roy MacBean 11-12-2024

Mysteries and Thrillers Read in October Bob Burnett 11-09-2024

THE BERKELEY ACTIVISTS' CALENDAR: Nov. 3-10 Kelly Hammargren 11-02-2024