Page One

Socialism may help solve power crisis 

Editor: 

A lot of people are very unclear on two important concepts: private enterprise and socialism. 

Private enterprise, or a market economy, or the profit system, is a racket, a scam, a con game. In recent months, the politicians and the power industry have combined to give us all a graphic example of how the system is used to loot and swindle all the hard-working citizens for the benefit of a greedy few. 

Authentic socialism requires three elements: a high level of industrial technology, public ownership of basic industries, and political control by the working class. Socialism has never yet existed anywhere on this planet. It is premature and immature to label a concept as dead before it has been given a fair trial. 

The socialist road may be the only rational solution to the current power crisis.  

California could take over its own power generators and transmission lines by its power of eminent domain. But in order to avoid a fiasco such as the politicians have made in San Francisco with the city-owned Hetch Hetchy power generating system, it would be necessary to put the working class firmly in control. A step in this direction would be to switch our voter registrations to help the Peace and Freedom Party to regain its ballot status. 

Marion Syrek 

Oakland 

Change orders add time  

to city projects 

The Berkeley Daily Planet received this letter addressed to City Councilmembers: 

Clever but anxious contractor tricks utilized for winning contracts, as old as the pyramids: 1. Make sure your bid is the lowest; 2. Later, demand “extras” to do job properly. 

This results in good work, but many create headaches and take longer; it shouldn’t be required for any public body to accept low bid[s], though good work can result even if this trick was “resorted to.” But there’s the risk of dealing with a fibbing contractor who may develop other “bad habits.” 

I’m happy with the temporary library in spite of massive construction south and east; I look to the re-opening of the main library; I cringe at possible massive construction west of old main library for apartments, etc. 

Terry Cochrell 

Berkeley 

Temple Beth El deserves city’s entire support 

The Berkeley Daily Planet received this letter addressed to Berkeley City Councilmembers: 

After reading the letter from Keith Carson, I decided to voice my strong opinion in support of Temple Beth El being able to build the new temple, parking lot, etc. in accordance with the current plans and with the approval of our boards, review of all the adjustments, corrections, provisions, etc. I thought Keith Carson addressed the same points I support. 

It is clear that the community has reconciled to the fact that the Temple will exist. Plans have been redone in accordance with legitimate concerns. There is another agenda it appears, and I don’t know what it is. I am not a member of the congregation, and I have never contributed to the building fund. You can rest assured that if any of the money that has been used for any of this came out of city of Berkeley funds this “process” would have been resolved months ago. We should not be using valuable meeting time, and our Council would be able to get back to the urgent issues facing our community and city. 

I have traveled up and down Spruce street for the last six years on a regular basis as I pick up grandchildren who go to nursery school at the top of Spruce. I am aware of other religious churches on Spruce as well as Cedar and Spruce. There are no parking lots provided that I have seen and no esthetic designs, landscaping, etc.  

Neighbors move around as needed. No one lives in Berkeley that I know of because the streets are easy to drive, parking available, traffic empty or housing on large lots. If people want that lifestyle they move to Contra Costa County or Marin County. People live in Berkeley because of the very wonderful community and university, diversity, interest in people and the many problems we face in this world today. Yes, we are concerned with environmental issues. Beth El has met that standard (in accordance with my awareness as a professional in the legal community). The burden, as it is called, has been met. It is time to start cooperating with all people in our community. The national Conference of Reform Rabbis which just took place which Beth El is a part made some significant additions that relate to Berkeley people. 

I am personally familiar with the creek that existed at Ashby and Domingo and Peet’s and Rick and Ann’s restaurant are now on that property. I must say that there is never a spot available in that lot and I doubt that people are concerned with the direction the fish go! The fish they are concerned with are the ones on the menu!! Fish don’t vote, pay taxes, drive, contribute to our housing problems, energy issues, HMOs, etc. Get real. Can you imagine all the good things that could have been done by Beth El with the thousands of dollars used on this excessive pressure by the community? 

I urge all the councilmembers — to support Beth El at this time. 

I do not believe that a continued dialogue is warranted, and I understand that more public hearings are scheduled. I hope they are canceled and other matters can be discussed that are pressing. 

Jae Scharlin 

Berkeley 

Trees should be at crosswalk 

Editor: 

To complete the landscape design on University Avenue, six (more trees (Acer rubrum “Red Sunset”) need to be planted in the brick median between Milvia and Shattuck Avenue. I recommend that they be placed on each side of the crosswalk at 20 feet on center both ways. It will be so nice to have trees where the people will be crossing. 

Richard Splenda 

Berkeley 

Destroy schools to save them 

Editor  

It was a pleasure to read such an informative and balanced article. You went beyond the tired cliches about stingy Prop13-oids and listened for the real reasons it's hard to get alums to contribute. I especially admire your courage to print the word “rathole.” Rathole is good. How else do you describe a system that spends $7,000 per student (plus about $1,000 more from the Feds), packs 30 kids into a classroom and still can't give them a decent education and clean toilets for $210,000 (7,000 times 30)? 

I'm afraid the only way to save public schools like these is to destroy them. Give the money back to the people — a $7,000 voucher per child. 

Then get out of the way and watch what an independent school can do with that kind of money. 

Theodore Sternberg 

Fremont