Six hundred and eighty six students were represented on the walls of the Berkeley Arts Center (BAC) Wednesday as part of the Berkeley Unified School District’s annual Youth Arts Festival. 

Running through April 15, the visual arts exhibit showcases budding talent from all eleven Berkeley public schools to celebrate the 7th Alameda County March isArts Education month. 

“It’s a way of reminding the community that arts is education,” said Suzanne McCulloch, program supervisor, visual and performing arts for BUSD. 

“The festival is really important for students. They actually get to see their work up on the walls of a museum. How empowering is that!” she told the Planet excitedly. 

The opening reception at Live Oak Park drew more than nine hundred children and their families who had come to compare, admire or just take a look at the range of creativity. 

“The children could see the changes in the drawings in the different grades. Kindergarten paintings were more traditional and made from cut paper or crayons. The older kids had more photography, because that’s something they learn at the high school level,” said McCulloch. 

Chalk renderings by students of Berkeley Arts Magnet (BAM) and Cragmont Elementary School were among the most admired artwork. 

“I think one of the great things about the exhibit is that it is public. It gives people in the Berkeley community a chance to come and see what Berkeley Unified kids are doing,” said BUSD spokesperson Mark Coplan. 

“People often hesitate to visit school sites. This collaborative effort between the Berkeley Arts Center and the school arts community reaches a broad spectrum of people. Also, the kids love the fact that their art is being shown in a public forum.” 

The Berkeley Arts Center has been hosting the event for the last fifteen years, said BAC Executive Director Jill Berk Jiminez, who took over from Robben Henderson recently. 

A San Francisco native, Jiminez has been a museum curator for the last decade, most recently at the Tampa Museum of Art. 

“It’s just fabulous, inspiring and beautiful to see the range of work the students put up and the world through their eyes,” said Jiminez. 

“The 250 pieces help us to know what is going on in their mind. Science and studies have shown us how important art is. But more importantly, art is an outlet for children, especially since everything around us today is a received image. We really believe in the power of art. We want to support public school children and give them a form to shape their work and express themselves.” 

After schools were informed about the March exhibit in January, art teachers selected the displays and hung them up on the walls themselves. 

“The most exciting part was to highlight art which is getting squished out from academics,” said Barbara Vogel, art teacher with John Muir Elementary School, who worked with regular students as well as two of the hearing impaired classrooms for the project. 

“We selected from art that was done throughout the school year in a balanced way,” she said. 

Funding for the visual arts exhibit comes from the City of Berkeley. Apart from the exhibit, BAC will also be hosting the Berkeley High School concert band, a poetry workshop and a youth concert on April 1, 5 and 8 respectively. 

Music 

A thousand people gathered in the Berkeley Community Theater Sunday to hear the results of a strong music education in the Berkeley schools. The Performing Arts Showcase—also part of the Youth Arts Festival—gave parents and community members a chance to see all levels of student performance in one afternoon. 

“If you have younger students, this is a chance to see all that awaits them in our middle and high schools, and if your children are older, this is a great way to look back at your own wonderful memories,” said Coplan. 

Performances by the chorus, orchestra and jazz bands from the different schools entertained the audience throughout the day with pieces as varied as Tchaikovsky’s Opus. 48 (string serenade) and Mark Williams’ “Fiddles on Fire.” 

Sponsored by the BUSD music department, the event allowed advanced school students from each grade level to perform together. 

“I think the teachers are all doing a wonderful job of guiding students and helping them hone their skills,” said McCulloch. “The one thing I would like to see at Berkeley High is a choral music program. They have chorus at the elementary and middle school levels and it would be great if students got to continue that in high school.” 

On Wednesday, March 21 the Richmond City Council voted 8-1 to have Mayor Gayle McLaughlin ask the California State Lands Commission (SLC) to require Chevron to allow San Francisco Bay Trail access to land on the south side of the I-580 corridor near its Richmond refinery.  

The trail, begun in 1987, now has acquired more than 260 miles of the 500 miles needed to allow bicyclists and pedestrians to circle the bay without competition from automobiles. The Chevron property would add a vital Richmond link, crossing I-580 at Point Richmond near the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.  

Chevron has used homeland security considerations as its excuse for not following through with a trail completion plan recommended in a 2001 feasibilty study. 

With the recent completion of the last addendum to an environmental impact report (EIR) from the Chambers Group of Irvine, the SLC is set to review the renewal of the company’s latest 30-year lease on tidal lands beneath the Chevron Long Wharf.  

Councilmember Tom Butt said he moved the council resolution “to put Richmond on the record as supporting a Bay Trail right of way as a condition of the lease’s renewal.” 

The city has long had what former Richmond mayor Rosemary Corbin has called “a complicated relationship” with Chevron, which provides more than 1,200 jobs at the 2,900-acre refinery. 

Chevron established the Richmond refinery in 1901 and built the Long Wharf in 1902 on submerged tidal lands that belong to the state, though the wharf is off-limits to the public. The Lands Commission has leased the property to Chevron since 1947. 

Tankers at the Long Wharf unload crude oil and feedstock chemicals that travel through pipelines into the refinery. Finished products—gasoline, jet, and diesel fuels and lubricating oils—are piped back out to ships. The Richmond plant has the capacity to refine up to 240,000 barrels of crude oil per day, said Chevron communications specialist Camille Priselac. 

Priselac confirmed on Monday that Chevron paid for preparation of the Long Wharf EIR, but she said that the SLC chose the Chambers Group which prepared the report. 

To the dismay of the Richmond City Council and Bay Trail supporters, the EIR concluded that the SLC cannot require Chevron to allow the Bay Trail to cross its property as a mitigation of the Long Wharf’s environment impact because the proposed trail routes lie outside the Long Wharf area. 

So for the moment, only hope connects the Long Wharf and the Bay Trail. 

The San Francisco Bay Trail was authorized by state law in 1987 to create a 500-mile route around San Francisco and San Pablo bays, going through nine counties and 47 cities. The trail provides hikers, bikers, and others with recreation opportunities and alternative routes for avoiding car traffic. By the end of 2006, more than 260 miles of the trail were complete. 

Richmond contains 24 miles of completed trail, with 17 miles still in the works. Public agencies, businesses, environmental groups and residents are working to close the gap. 

Some of the Richmond shoreline, inland from the submerged tidelands where Chevron’s Long Wharf is located, is part of a proposed Bay Trail spur from Point Richmond on the south side of I-580 to Western Drive north of the freeway. The spur would continue up the San Pablo peninsula to Castro Point, Point Molate, and the Point San Pablo Yacht Harbor. 

Existing Caltrans bike trails that cross the freeway near the Richmond-San Rafael bridge are far from ideal for a family outing. 

One trail allows cyclists to travel west from Point Richmond’s Castro and Tewksbury streets to Western Drive north of the bridge, but cyclists must ride part-way on the freeway shoulder. 

Bicyclists Dan Weinstein and Dan Doellstedt were riding on that shoulder when a car going 65 miles per hour plowed into them in September 2006. Weinstein died, and Doellstedt suffered a severe spinal injury. 

Another Caltrains bike trail runs under the bridge just west of the toll plaza, connecting the freeway’s north and south sides. 

Bruce Beyaert, steering committee chair of the Trails for Richmond Action Committee (TRAC), is passionate about closing the 17-mile gap in Richmond’s Bay Trail. Beyaert was a Chevron employee for 33 years, holding jobs that included working as worldwide environmental planning manager, and retired from Chevron in 1992. 

According to Beyaert, “Six years ago, Chevron was very cooperative and co-funded with the city a feasibility study to plan Bay Trail access to Point Molate. Now they disavow the study and refuse to cooperate.… They dug in their heels, and they’re hiding under the skirts of homeland security.” 

Beyaert is skeptical of the homeland security argument. 

He cited numbers from a Caltrans study of average daily traffic in 2005 at the bridge’s toll plaza. “We’re adding bikes and pedestrians alongside a freeway corridor with 77,000 vehicles going by, and Chevron’s saying that pedestrians and cyclists pose a grave risk to the refinery’s security. We don’t see it that way. It’s only an incremental contribution compared to 77,000 vehicles. It’s insignificant. 

“If al Qaeda comes to shoot a rocket launcher at Chevron’s Long Wharf and its pipeline,” said Beyaert, “it’ll more likely come on a panel truck than a bicycle.” 

The 2001 feasibility study identified four options for creating Bay Trail access between downtown Point Richmond and Western Drive north of I-580. Beyaert suggested that if Chevron is concerned about security, it could build Bay Trail access on its property and simply install security measures to protect the refinery.  

Priselac of Chevron said on Monday that “we continue to advocate for the trail on the north side of the freeway for safety and security reasons, and we’re happy to work with the Bay Trail and others to come to a conclusion that helps us with our safety and security.” 

Councilmember Tom Butt seemed dubious: “In 2001, Chevron objected stridently to having the trail on the north side of 580, and they agreed that the south side was the right place for it. The costs and impediments to putting the trail on the north side are considerable, but quite frankly, as long as Chevron is willing to pay for it and put it in, we won’t object.” 

Asked why Chevron preferred a southside route in the 2001 study but now prefers a northside route, Priselac said, “The discussions in 2001 were prior to 9/11, and since 9/11, the refinery’s had to comply with new safety and security regulations that we’re following from the U.S. Coast Guard. So we’re advocating for the north side of the freeway, which is already the established access.” 

Priselac explained that both the south and north routes would travel over Chevron pipes, but the southside route would “come onto the refinery property and go through an operating area.” Chevron wants to work on improving the existing Caltrans access. 

What does the Richmond City Council want from the SLC?  

Councilmember Tom Butt explained it this way: “We’re looking at the possibility of two potential actions from the SLC. They can make the right of way a mitigation requirement under the EIR, but both Chevron and the SLC’s in-house legal counsel have said that this is not possible. 

“Or the SLC can simply make the Bay Trail right of way a part of the lease. In return for leasing public lands to Chevron, the state would ask for whatever amount of money, whether $1 per year or more, plus [asking Chevron to] dedicate part of the land to public use as the Bay Trail.” This solution is the one he thinks might work. 

In a March 11 e-mail update to constituents, he encouraged locals to support Richmond by writing to California SLC members lieutenant governor John Garamendi, state controller John Chiang, and finance director Michael C. Genest to ask them to make sure the Bay Trail route is built into the renewed Chevron Long Wharf lease. 

To read about Chevron’s Richmond refinery, go to www.chevron.com/products/about/richmond. 

To read the Chambers Group EIR, see the State Lands Commission website at www.slc.ca.gov/Misc_Pages/Project_Updates_Home_Page.html. 

To learn more about the Bay Trail in Richmond, see TRAC’s Web site at www.pointrichmond.com/baytrail/trail.htm. 

To read Councilmember Tom Butt’s March 11 comments on the Chevron Long Wharf EIR, go to www.tombutt.com/forum/2007/070311.htm. 

A four-story condominium-over-retail complex may soon be rising at the corner of two of Berkeley’s busiest streets. 

That’s the hope of veteran Berkeley developer Ali Kashani and a San Francisco firm who have launched a joint plan to build a four-story building on a three-quarter-acre lot at the southeast corner of San Pablo and Ashby avenues. 

The building as currently conceived will feature up to 100 condos built over ground floor commercial space on a 34,200-square-foot lot. 

“We just closed escrow,” Kashani said Monday. 

The founder of Berkeley’s non-profit Affordable Housing Associates and now a commercial developer, Kashani has teamed with Rawson, Blum and Leon (RBL) of San Francisco. 

Kashani said the developers waited for two years while Shell Oil cleaned up the site from contamination caused by leaking tanks during the property’s earlier incarnation as a gasoline station. 

“We didn’t start until we had an agreement from Shell that they would clean up the site and agree to clean up anything that might be found in the future,” Kashani said. 

With the site clean and escrow closed, the next stage is hiring an architect and figuring out exactly how many units will go into the building. 

Berkeley architect Kava Massih “has done some studies that show the site could handle a hundred units, but we don’t know yet what the final number will be,” he said, but Massih has not been formally hired to design the project. 

“We’re a little behind on getting the design done, and we will hire an architect soon. Our hope is to get the design started in the next two to three weeks, and then develop some preliminary designs and massing studies we can show to the public two months after that.” 

One major incentive for rapid movement are the high carrying costs for holding undeveloped land, he said. 

The site is currently zoned West Berkeley Commercial, which would allow for a four-story, 50-foot-high building, Kashani said. 

Another consideration in design is the fate of the city’s density bonus ordinance, which is now undergoing revisions. But as currently planned, one-fifth of the condos will be made available at reduced rates affordable to buyers who make up to 120 percent of the area median income, Kashani said. 

RBL owns a half-billion in projects, located mostly on the West Coast, and Kashani’s Oakland-based Memar Properties is a growing force in the East Bay development scene. 

According to an RBL press release, the project will feature 100 condominiums built atop a ground floor base featuring 12,000 square feet of retail space, but Kashani stressed that those numbers weren’t final. 

Other condos 

The city will be also be getting another 53 condos, but not from new construction. 

Berkeley’s Planning and Development Department posted a list of 11 existing properties on its web site Monday identifying properties given preliminary approval for changing from rental to condominiums. 

The largest is a 12-unit building at 1901 Parker St. at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Way, followed by a 9-unit property at 1200-1214 Spruce Street at the corner of Eunice Street. The others range in size from 2 to 6 units. 

Selection is just the first of three stages in the approval process under which the city can convert a total of 100 rental units to ownership status every year. 

After selection, owners must file forms to apply for zoning inspections to ensure the buildings comply with city zoning law, and once declared in conformance, the properties must then be approved for a new map that provides the legal groundwork for final conversion. 

On properties with four or fewer units, city planning staff can approve the maps, but properties with more units must be approved by a vote of the city Planning Commission. 

A complete list of the properties is posted on the web at www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/planning/landuse/CondoConversion/default.html.

The decision by the administration of newly elected Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums to delay going forward with an Oakland Planning Commission staff plan to alter industrial zoning in portions of West Oakland is the result of a political climate shaped by lobbying from Oakland housing advocates and positions taken by Mayor Dellums’ Housing Task Force, as well as by long-term efforts of one of Dellums opponents in last year’s mayoral race, West Oakland Councilmember Nancy Nadel. 

And at the heart of the conflict is a proposed 13-acre redevelopment of industrial property on the corner of Mandela Parkway and West Grand. 

Last December, members of Just Cause Oakland, a local housing and jobs advocacy organization, sponsored a “gentrification bus tour” of West Oakland, in which top Dellums advisors and representatives of the local news media were invited to make stops at several West Oakland locations where tour organizers said low-income local residents were being pushed out in favor of higher-income newcomers. According to a Just Cause e-mail announcing the event, “the tour [was] meant to bring new decision-makers up to speed on the rapid changes under way in West Oakland and to highlight the crisis these changes are causing among low-income African-Americans and other members of the neighborhood.” 

One of the stops along the tour was the massive, abandoned, 102,000-square-foot Pacific Pipe Factory on Mandela Parkway near West Grand Avenue. 

Developers want to turn the Pacific Pipe Factory building, and the grounds of the adjacent 240,000-square-foot abandoned American Steel Building, into a 13.3-acre mixed use development. Under the name Mandela Grand Mixed-Use Project, the development proposes “a mixed-use/mixed-occupancy project that would contain a residential, custom industrial/commercial, light industrial, and retail commercial activities in a cluster of buildings on the project site,” according to the report from the Planning and Zoning Services Division of Oakland’s Community and Economic Development Agency. The project proposes light industrial uses on the first two floors of the proposed eight buildings, with 1,600 high-density residential units rising above it, among them three 300-foot residential towers. 

According to the city staff report, the project proposes “custom industrial and public access commercial uses in all ground floor spaces that would be suitable for retail, light industrial/commercial uses, custom manufacturing, artisan activities, support industries, and similar enterprises.” For the existing Pacific Pipe Building, city staff said, the project intends to develop “retail facilities such as food services, boutique shops, indoor markets, and neighborhood-serving offices on a mezzanine level.” 

Architect for the project is Hannum Associates of San Francisco. 

The project is scheduled to be built in four phases over approximately 15 years, with completion contemplated for 2022. 

But to build the project, the developers would need changes to Oakland’s zoning to allow a mixed-use project on a site that is currently zoned for industrial use. 

It was these proposed changes that were at the heart of the Planning Division staff report that was pulled from consideration by the Planning Commission subcommittee meeting last week. 

Under a timeline published by the city staff members last January, the Mandela project was scheduled for a final environmental impact report to be published in April, public hearings before the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board, the Planning Commission, and the West Oakland Project Area Committee in April and May, and hearings on both the project and the proposed zoning changes before the City Council in June and July. It is not certain how the withdrawal of the zoning change recommendation will now affect that timetable. 

Last December, Councilmember Nadel told a crowd gathered at the Just Cause tour stop at Pacific Pipe Building site that she considered the proposed development “a problem of incompatible mixed use. Mandela Parkway is being transformed in a way that is driving out long-term residents. Most of the existing residents don’t have the capital to buy the live-work spaces that are being proposed, or to set up small businesses in the spaces that are being offered.” Nadel also criticized the developers for “not being committed to any affordable housing” in the Mandela Grand Project. 

Among the listeners was former World Bank senior economist Dan Lindheim, then working on Dellums’ transition team, now serving as his budget director. Lindheim also monitored the discussion and presentations at last week’s Planning Commission subcommittee meeting where the new zoning proposals were to be presented. 

Nadel reiterated her concerns in a telephone interview earlier this month. 

“To be a healthy city, you should have a range of available development options,” Nadel said. “But Oakland only has 3 percent of our land left that is designated for industrial use in the General Plan.” Saying that was “not nearly enough,” Nadel said that the erosion of industrial land in a city that was once known for its industrial jobs threatens to “turn us into a bedroom community for San Francisco. We don’t want to be that.” 

Nadel said that it is a common belief that the manufacturing industry is dead in the United States, “but that is not true.” She named a number of growing manufacturing industries that would be desirable for Oakland, including biomedical supplies, the production of “high-end food products” such as chocolates, health food, and expensive bread, and the manufacture of solar panels and wind-turban machines. “West Oakland in particular has the large sites available that these industries need,” she said. “We need to preserve them.” 

The preservation of Oakland’s industrial land was one of the most popular issues considered by Dellums’ Housing Task Force, with task force members voting 19 to nothing (7 members abstaining) to recommend that the Dellums Administration “develop and review an industrial land conversion policy to prioritize industrial retention and prioritize rezoned industrial to residential land for affordable housing.” 

The Housing Task Force’s industrial zoning report focused specifically on the area surrounding and including the Pacific Pipe Building and American Steel Building, proposing that the city “prohibit conversions of land in the Mandela Parkway and San Leandro corridors other than in exceptional circumstances in order to ensure that Oakland retains enough industrial land to provide badly needed jobs in those areas.” 

The Task Force recommended that the city protect industrial sites that either contain existing businesses or have “high potential” for attracting such businesses, and that conversion to residential use should be allowed only if light industrial uses compatible with housing are preserved, and at least 25 percent housing is available in the conversion for low-to-extremely-low income residents. 

The staff-proposed West Oakland industrial zoning changes that were withdrawn last week included references to the industrial zoning recommendations from the Dellums Housing Task Force report, including the section concerning Mandela Parkway. 

But the Planning Division staff added that “staff believes that the proposed land use strategy for Sub-Area 16 [of West Oakland] is not in conflict with [the Housing Task Force] guidelines. Residential land uses are not replacing industrial land uses, nor is industrial land being converted to residential uses.” The staff report said that what it was proposing was consistent with the Task Force recommendation that conversion of industrial to residential be permitted if it retains residential-compatible light industry. 

But during testimony before the Zoning Update Committee last week, Housing Task Force member Andre Spearman, who served as Dellums’ campaign manager last year, accused the staff of “cherrypicking” the task force’s report to support an industrial zoning change that the task force itself did not support. 

“The staff report left out our primary recommendations and just picked up what sounded convenient,” Spearman said. Saying that the proposed zoning change would primarily benefit “one large developer,” Spearman said that “we have to look at who is driving this issue? Who is moving it?” 

While David Stoloff is out as Planning Commission chair, there’s no successor yet—despite the group’s election earlier this month. 

That’s the ruling from Berkeley City Attorney Manuela Albuquerque, who said the election was void because it violated noticing provisions of the Brown Act, which governs meetings of public bodies. 

That means James Samuels is still vice chair, and not chair—despite the vote March 14. 

Albuquerque’s ruling affirms objections raised the night of the vote by members of the commission’s minority faction, who said that the agenda failed to provide the legally mandated notice. 

Stoloff—elected chair in a controversial election less than two months ago—quit after sharp criticism for the way the election came about. 

Albuquerque said his attempt to get the commission to accept vice-chair James Samuels as his automatic successor was invalid, despite the backing of city Planning Manager Mark Rhoades. 

Albuquerque said Samuels would preside at the start of Wednesday night’s meeting until there is an election of officers and a successor to Stoloff is voted into office.  

Wednesday night’s vote will be the commission’s third election of a leader in less than six weeks, probably a record. 

There’s little doubt the results will be the same—Samuels as chair and Larry Gurley as vice-chair—given the clear-cut divisions that have marked crucial commission votes. 

Stoloff was elected chair Feb. 14, defeating incumbent Helen Burke on a five-four vote. In recent years, chairs have been elected to two successive one-year terms, but Burke served only one and had expected re-election as a matter of course. 

The day following her surprise ouster, Burke, an environmental activist, charged that Stoloff had lied to her and said he supported her re-election. While he denied telling an outright lie, Stoloff said he allowed Burke to have “a misunderstanding which I did not correct.” 

Stoloff said, “I wanted to be chair because I have a vision of what the Planning Commission can do and I believe I can be the most effective in implementing it.”  

Even Mayor Tom Bates was blind-sided by the election, said his chief of staff, Cisco DeVries, the day after the election. 

Vote challenged 

The only hint of what was coming at the March 14 commission meeting was the single item listed under the heading of Chairperson’s Report, “Reconsideration of election of Commission officers.” 

Announcing his resignation at that session, Stoloff said, “I believe I can be more effective as a member than as one of its officers. I resign effective at the end of the meeting. I expect that Jim Samuels will become chair.” 

Two members of the commission minority immediately raised challenges. 

“Because this is agendized as a reconsideration, is it appropriate to hold an election without public notice?” asked Mike Sheen, a member of the minority. 

“Because it’s an internal matter, it needs no more notice,” Stoloff replied. 

“As I understand it, David is resigning,” said Gene Poschman, another member of the minority. “I am confused that Jim Samuels automatically takes over as chair. As I read the commissioners’ handbook, the chair and vice chair have to be elected. There is no succession.” 

“Resignation is not covered in the handbook, so Roberts Rules [of Order] prevails with the vice chair taking over,” Stoloff replied. 

“Staff believe the language is appropriate and plain on its face,” said city Planning Manager Mark Rhoades, who backed Stoloff’s contention that because a resignation and replacement weren’t covered by the city’s commission manual, Roberts Rules prevailed. 

Harry Pollack, a member of the majority, then moved for an election “to avoid ambiguity.” 

“I said I expect Jim Samuels as vice chair to become chair,” Stoloff said. 

Sheen made a substitute motion, calling for a publicly noticed election for chair and vice chair “in the interest of good government.” 

Poschman seconded, but the motion failed. 

Then came a motion to “confirm” Samuels as chair, which passed on a six-three vote. 

Two candidates were then nominated for vice-chair, Gurley and Sheen, with Gurley winning five-four. Roia Ferrazares, who voted with the majority to confirm Samuels, had nominated Sheen and cast her vote with the minority. 

But following questions from Sheen, Albuquerque intervened, and the result is carried as item five on the agenda for Wednesday night’s meeting under the heading Chairperson’s Report. 

Members are being asked to vacate the March 14 election and conduct new elections “of chair and possibly vice chair if cice chair is elected chair...” 

The reason? As the next paragraph makes clear, “The city attorney has advised that the agenda description...was unclear because it failed to advise of the chair’s resignation and the need to conduct a new election.” 

Albuquerque “advised the Commission” to void the earlier election and conduct new nominations and elections. 

“The chair and vice chair have to be elected,” said Albuquerque Monday afternoon. “No one automatically assumes office.” 

Because the earlier vote was only mentioned obliquely as a reconsideration of the election and not as a resignation and new election, the Brown Act required that results of the earlier vote had to be vacated. 

Other business  

The only other significant items on Wednesday’s agenda are a hearing on zoning amendments for Telegraph Avenue to change business hours and the size and nature of commercial uses . 

The changes will allow businesses to remain open longer, allow subdivision of existing commercial spaces into smaller units and allow some changes in the number and types of businesses permitted in the avenue’s commercial district. 

Commissioners will also weigh in with their comments on the mandatory quotas for new residential unit permits for Berkeley outlined in the Association of Bay Area Government’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment. 

The quotas are one of the driving forces behind the city staff’s “hypothetical” proposal to consider adding 3,000 new units downtown now being considered by the Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee. 

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. at Martin Luther King Jr. Way.

With screaming pink banners and a clear message demanding an end to the war in Iraq, from three to 50 Code Pink women and their supporters could be found over the past two weeks camped out in Pacific Heights in front of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s home. 

“People were feeling a need to express their frustration,” Bay Area Code Pink spokesperson Cynthia Papermaster told the Daily Planet, speaking by phone from her Berkeley home on Monday morning. “We’ve been betrayed by the Democratic Party.” 

While the daily vigil in front of Pelosi’s house has ended, protesters will return on weekends until Pelosi meets with the group, Papermaster said. 

Pelosi’s push to get the House Democrats to pass the $100 billion supplemental war-spending package infuriated these activists. “That’s giving Bush exactly what he wants,” Papermaster said, contending that by using a “signing statement”—through which the president rejects parts of bills passed by Congress—Bush can justify ignoring the timetable for troop withdrawal. 

Code Pink is at www.bayareacodepink.org. 

Stiff penalties for Iraq protesters 

While Camp Pelosi protesters were able to avoid arrest, Berkeley resident Sally Hindman has been arrested four times with other members of a religious coalition when they have blocked San Francisco Federal Building doors during their monthly protest. 

“I feel very strongly [against the war in Iraq] out of my Quaker faith,” Hindman said, noting the hundreds of thousands who have been killed, injured and maimed. “I feel like I have to make a statement with my body.” 

The prosecution in federal court in San Francisco, however, has also made a statement. While people committing civil disobedience are usually given the choice of paying a fine or doing community service if they plead guilty without trial, Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Owens has disallowed community service, said Hindman, who has collected four $125 tickets.  

“They’re trying to discourage protests,” says the group’s attorney Dennis Cunningham, famous for representing protesters at the Democratic National Convention in 1968 and more recently, Earth First activists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney in their civil rights suit against the FBI.  

The cases of the arrestees, among whom are Carolyn Scarr of Berkeley and Fr. Louis Vitale of San Francisco, may end up in court, Cunningham said.  

The next San Francisco “die-in” to protest the war will be April 5 at the San Francisco Federal Building, 450 Golden Gate Ave. 

Barbara Lee votes against war spending 

Rep. Barbara Lee, Berkeley-Oakland, voted Friday against the billion dollar spending bill to fund the war in Iraq, passed by her Democratic colleagues at the insistence of Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Also opposing the bill were Democratic Reps. Maxine Waters and Diane Watson, Los Angeles, Lynn Woolsey, Petaluma, Dennis Kucinich, Ohio, John Lewis, Georgia, Mike Michaud, Maine and Michael McNulty of New York. Two Republicans, Ron Paul of Texas and John Duncan of Tennessee also opposed the bill. 

“As someone who opposed this war from the beginning, I have voted against every single penny for this war and found myself today in the difficult position of having to choose between voting against funding for the war or for establishing timelines to end it,” Lee said in a written statement. 

“While as a matter of conscience I cast my vote against the funding, I hope that the passage of this bill marks the beginning of the end of the Iraq war, but the real fight still lies ahead.” 

The Berkeley Board of Education will vote on Wednesday on hiring an architect to design the Berkeley Unified School District’s pre-kindergarten projects. 

BUSD currently has three pre-kindergartens—located at King Child Development Center (CDC), Hopkins CDC and Franklin Para Nursery on Fourth Street—which need to be remodeled, said school district spokesperson Mark Coplan. 

“The design team will help to modernize the schools and bring them up to date with the current pre-school model,” he said. 

The board will also approve advertisements to solicit bids for the King dining equipment; modernization of the King Gym; heating, ventilation and air conditioning at Oxford and Berkeley Arts Magnet (BAM) Elementary schools and Jefferson kitchen phase II. 

The King Gym modernization project is part of BUSD’s Long Range Development Plan. The campus itself was recently remodeled for $20 million. 

Grade 6 elimination at BAM 

The board will vote on eliminating grade six from Berkeley Arts Magnet. At the March 16 school board meeting, the board discussed in detail the possibility of an elimination. BAM is the only elementary school in the district which offers a sixth grade. 

Although 50 students are enrolled in fifth grade at BAM, only six have requested to stay at BAM for the sixth grade. 

Peanut Policy 

The board will also hear the policy on allergies to peanuts. Currently, BUSD does not serve peanuts in its food, said Coplan. 

“Berkeley High might be an exception, but even then the nuts are identified. Children in high school are more aware of what they are allergic to than at the elementary or middle school levels.” The new policy, he said, would enforce the practice of not serving peanuts at the elementary school level and identifying food items that include peanuts at the high school level. 

Grant approval 

The board will approve the Adult Education Grant which consists of the Workforce Investment Act, Adult Education and Family Literacy funds. They will also approve the participation in the NSF Grant on Teaching Energy in grade 4-8 Science, the 21st Century Grants—which provide funds for after-school programs—and the Neil Soto Grant which provides funds for parent/teacher involvement. 

Public hearing on deferred Maintenance Plan 

The board will hold a public hearing on the Five-Year Deferred Maintenance Plan. It will then vote on approving the plan in order to be eligible for deferred maintenance funds from the state. 

Re-enrollment 

The board will also hear a proposal to re-enroll students in grades 6 and 9. BUSD has been working to enforce a valid registration system that will keep out-of-district students from registering as Berkeley residents illegally. 

Coplan said that proof of residence at grades six and nine would be a good way of verifying whether a student lived in Berkeley or in another city. 

Contract extension 

BUSD will approve the extension of the contract with the firm Vavrinke, Trine, Day & Co. to provide independent audit services for the BUSD for Fiscal Years 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2008-09. 

There’s a contradiction often built into the job of public official—one I’ve observed over some 15 years reporting on various local governments in the Bay Area. 

Elected officials—often dedicated folks without nefarious motives—may sprint straight ahead with a passion to move a project forward. But in their rush to get the job done, the official may trample on the citizens’ right to know what government is doing and their right to give input into the process. 

Last Tuesday, the City Council met in a 5 p.m. workshop with a group of “sunshine” advocates and experts to look at how Berkeley’s government can become more transparent than California’s open meeting and public records laws require. San Francisco, Oakland, Benicia, Riverside, Milpitas, and Contra Costa County have adopted “sunshine” laws. 

Panelists included Terry Francke, an attorney from Californians Aware who has advised cities on sunshine laws; Mark Schlosberg, police practices policy director with the Northern California American Civil Liberties Union, a Berkeley resident and former member of its Police Review Commission; Jinky Gardner president of the Berkeley-Emeryville-Albany League of Women Voters. I participated on the panel as the representative of the Freedom of Information Committee of the Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California chapter. 

Panelists underscored the significant progress Berkeley has shown by having made a host of documents available on its website. Ironically, the draft sunshine law presented at Tuesday’s meeting and its earlier 23 iterations had not previously been accessible to the public. It can now be found on the city’s website by going to the March 20 special work session City Council agenda. Links to the draft are also on the Daily Planet website, along with a model San Jose ordinance—not yet adopted—and the San Francisco Sunshine Ordinance.  

During discussion of the draft document, Councilmember Darryl Moore said city staff should have involved the council. “I’ve not been part of the discussion nor any of us here on the dais,” he said, noting the council first asked staff to begin work on a sunshine ordinance in 2001. “That bothers me and disturbs me greatly; it shouldn’t take six long years,” he said. 

On April 24, the council will discuss an expanded process for adopting a Berkeley sunshine law that would include input from both open government experts and the public. 

The panel, the council and 10 or so members of the public who commented at the workshop agreed the draft ordinance needs more work. Councilmember Kriss Worthington engaged in debate with the city attorney about whether all the issues raised in 2001 had been addressed in the draft, such as creating a time certain for public hearings, writing clear council and commission agendas, and how settlement agreements discussed in closed session were to be made public before council approval. 

A key concern of panelists and some members of the community was that the draft places the city manager in the position of responding to complaints about violations of the ordinance.  

While some said a commission should be set up to oversee the ordinance—with the League’s Gardner commenting that she never thought she’d advocate for one more commission—City Manager Phil Kamlarz said that such a commission would have no teeth unless the measure was put before the voters as a charter amendment, which was done in Oakland and San Francisco. 

“Those whose actions are in question cannot be deciding what is or is not public knowledge,” said Berkeley resident Peter Sussman, also a member of the Society of Professional Journalists Freedom of Information Committee. 

But Mayor Tom Bates disagreed, saying: “If you have a commission that’s only advisory, it seems like a waste of time.” 

Gardner elaborated: “When I say an advisory commission, I think you would listen. If none of the boards and commissions has final authority and you override them all, why do we have any of them?” 

While the draft ordinance says a member of the public can take an alleged violation of the ordinance to court, Schlosberg noted that the ordinance does not provide for a successful complainant’s attorney’s fees to be paid by the city if it loses, as they are in other cities. 

Schlosberg also addressed the city’s guidelines for release of police records. A problem he noted is that they include no provision for releasing records showing the type and frequency of the use of force.  

“Getting that kind of aggregate information allows us to look at whether there’s a pattern of a certain type of force being used in ways that may not be in conformance with the way the community would want such things to be used,” Schlosberg said, adding that another omission in the guidelines was that dispatch tapes should be released to show whether calls are handled properly.  

The Oakland League of Women Voters played a critical role in writing Oakland’s sunshine ordinance and Gardner promised the assistance of the League in the Berkeley process, particularly in bringing citizens together to give their input and, after the law is drafted, to write a handbook making the laws easily understandable to the citizens.  

“After all, the public is probably the biggest stakeholder,” Gardner said. 

Model Sunshine ordinance from SJ Mercury News: 

http://www.mercurynews.com/sunshinelaw/ci_5242267 

San Francisco Sunshine Ordinance 

http://www.cfac.org/content/sunshine/sf.php 

Draft 24 - Berkeley Sunshine Ordinance 

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil/2007citycouncil/packet/032007/03-20wa.htm

Some 50 filmmakers, radio producers and writers renting studio space at the seven-story tower at Tenth and Parker streets hope that they will come away from the special City Council meeting tonight (Tuesday) with hope of minimal rent increases over six months or a year, rather than the significant increases the new landlord is demanding. 

There is a special council meeting tonight on the tenant-landlord situation at the tower best known as the Fantasy Building, slated to begin at 8:30 p.m. At the regular meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. the council will address a resolution supporting an open police complaint process, hear an appeal on a proposed five-story building at 2701 Shattuck Ave., listen to an update on the Oxford Plaza/David Brower Center and more. 

Filmmakers vs. landlord at council 

The situation at the West Berkeley property known as the Fantasy Building, as described by the tenants—mostly independent filmmakers who have rented space in the building for more than two decades—is that the new building owner, San Rafael-based Wareham Development, is jacking up the rents 40-to-100 percent, something tenants say they cannot afford.  

The proposed rent hikes are on top of rents raised about a year ago when the former owner was preparing to sell the building, tenants say. Current rents are about $3-to-$3.25 per square foot; the increase will bring rents to $4 per square foot and more. 

While tenants say the increase is unfair, bringing rents above other artist studio rents in the area, Tim Gallen, spokesperson for Wareham, says that is comparing apples to oranges.  

“Who in their right mind would treat this like any other office space?” Gallen wanted to know. There are two theaters in the space and the towers provide a view of the bay, he said.  

Robbins “doesn’t have a lot of latitude,” Gallen said. “We have to upgrade the theater if we want to attract people doing work for Hollywood people.” 

Reached by phone on Monday and asked to react to Gallen’s comments, filmmaker Rick Goldsmith, a tenant in the building, said that the small screening theaters are “absolutely adequate for my purposes as a working filmmaker.”  

Gallen’s statement shows that Wareham is looking for a different kind of tenant for the building, he said, people whose films “have nothing to do with the social issues that affect real people’s lives,” which are the documentaries that the artists at the building produce. 

In related developments, Mayor Tom Bates, Councilmember Darryl Moore, Susan Wengraf, aide to Councilmember Betty Moore and planning commissioner, and Calvin Fong, aide to the mayor, met with Robbins and Chris Barlow of Wareham Friday to discuss the leases, according to an e-mail from Fong. The meeting clarified certain portions of the leases, including parking, utility operation costs, supplementary property taxes, right to terminate the lease by the tenants, relocation within the project and security deposits, Fong said, noting that Wareham said they would put the clarifications in writing.  

Support for open police hearings 

In other matters, the council will discuss Councilmember Laurie Capitelli’s resolution to support AB1648, which would open the police complaint process, closed after the California Supreme Court said police personnel records could not be made public. The issue, on the March 13 consent calendar agenda—normally passed without discussion—was pulled for deliberation by Councilmember Gordon Wozniak, after the Berkeley Police Association president asked the council not to support the bill. 

Oxford Plaza presentation 

Housing Director Steve Barton will make a presentation on the status of the Oxford Plaza/David Brower Center project proposed for Oxford Street and Allston Way, a complex project that includes low-income family housing, retail and office space for nonprofit environmental organizations. 

Also the council will decide whether to hear an appeal of a five-story 24-unit project the zoning board approved for 2701 Shattuck Ave. Neighbors say the development is too high and should be stepped down from neighboring residences. 

Councilmember Kriss Worthington is asking the council to approve a resolution calling for the adoption of a Cesar Chavez National Holiday. 

Last week was designated the Week of Service by Berkeley High School’s (BHS) student government. It was created to give students the opportunity to give back to their community. Friday was another Red and Gold Day with the Barbecue Club and the Baking Club at lunch. The Barbecue Club is a group of BHS male seniors who cook really good barbecue. Everyone at BHS likes it. A newer addition is the Baking Club, a group of BHS female seniors who make baked goods. The money raised will go to support charities. For those of you who don’t know, Red and Gold Day has traditionally occurred sometime in October once every school year, where students dress up in their school colors and show school spirit. It is typically followed by a homecoming rally. 

Leadership decided to have another Red and Gold day, a decision that met mixed reviews, but without a rally. Some people liked the idea of another spirit day, but others thought it made the day less important by having it twice. 

Monday was school cleanup day. Students met after school to clean up the courtyard and the school’s buildings. Our school looks a little cleaner. Tuesday was Tutor Tuesday. Students went over to Washington Elementary School to tutor kids in a variety of subjects. This was a godsend to many BHS Honors Math students eager to complete their tutoring requirements by today (the end of the third quarter). Wednesday was hailed as Club Day. During lunch, more than 30 school clubs had tables in the courtyard advertising their respective clubs. Some clubs included Engineering Club, Junior Statesman of America, Key Club, Chess Club, among others. The day was wildly successful. Many clubs started or expanded their membership. Thursday was the Blood Drive. Kids who were at least seventeen were allowed to donate blood. While some people were skeptical, many offered to donate and give back to the community. 

I think that having another Red and Gold day was a great idea. Anything that brings us together as a school is good. Oftentimes many kids feel lost and unconnected to one another. After all, we have 3,200 kids at our school and that number is growing every day. People come to BHS because it's a great school. It has great kids, great classes (including many APs), great sports, et cetera. Events like the Week of Service bring all types of people together—the “parkies,” the goths, the punks, all the social groups united behind a common theme. 

Whenever there are community activities, it really is beneficial for us. With that, Happy Week of Service and thanks to everyone who participated. 

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s recent apology for his country’s involvement in the abduction of thousands of Asian women for use as prostitutes during World War II has drawn a swift response from Asian Americans. The issue has been a point of tension between Japan and its neighbors for decades, and many here question Abe’s sincerity. 

Kai Ping Liu, editor at the Chinese-language the World Journal in San Francisco, says the apology is not enough. “Japan’s imperial forces killed more than 35 million Chinese over the course of eight years, atrocities that should never be forgotten.” He says if Japan is sincere in its regret, it should sponsor the construction of a memorial to the victims of Japanese aggression similar to the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. 

Tae Soo Jung, editor at the Korean-language daily Korea Times in Oakland, questions the timing of Abe’s apology. He says it reflects Japan’s overwhelming concern with Western opinion and its disregard of the opinion of neighboring Asian countries. “Abe’s actions seem to be a gesture towards the West to avoid bad press there more than a sincere apology to Japan’s neighbors.” Like Liu, Jung says more needs to be done, including the payment of reparations and the revision of Japanese history textbooks that currently omit the country’s wartime past.  

Asian media in the United States has followed the issue closely, as many here have relatives who were affected by the war. Chinese and Korean media covered protests in Seoul and Taipei, where former South Korean and Chinese comfort women gathered at the Japanese embassy to denounce Abe’s earlier statements. In the United States, more than 70,000 Korean Americans signed a petition in support of a House bill calling for Abe to apologize for Japan’s wartime atrocities, according to the Korean-language Korea Daily. 

The non-binding resolution, sponsored by California Congressman Mike Honda, a Japanese American, urges the Japanese government to offer an official apology for the forced sexual enslavement of thousands of Asian women during WWII. In an interview with the Nichi Bei Times, Honda said it was important for Japan to reconcile with her neighbors. “Out of the 200,000 women victimized there are only about 300 left. Every day is a day that we lose an opportunity to get them an apology.” 

Harry Bang is a Korean American who has been working in conjunction with community groups in the Bay Area around the issue of comfort women. He says Abe’s apology might be a move to stop the resolution sponsored by Congressman Honda from passing. As far as what Japan must do now, Bang says Abe’s statements should be made official by the Japanese Parliament, which should then vote to pay compensation to the families of the victims.  

Seattle resident Chizu Omori, a columnist for Nichi Bei, said because most of the surviving victims are in their 80s and 90s, Japanese politicians believe time is on their side. “They think the problem will just go away in a few years,” she says, “but they are misjudging the temper of the times.” 

Los Angeles resident Kyu Sang Won, 77, scoffs at Japan’s earlier denials. He says he remembers seeing Korean women forced into the sex trade by Japan. “I saw them with my own two eyes, and I remember when they came back after the war. Their lives were ruined.” Won says an apology won’t be enough and agrees that Japan must offer reparations in the name of its victims.  

Won’s sentiments are echoed across the Asian American community. Sung Park is a Korean student studying acupuncture and integrative medicine in Berkeley. She calls Abe’s previous denials humiliating, saying, “Like the holocaust, the memory of what Japan did cannot be wiped away.” 

Shinzo Abe, who was born after the war, is Japan’s youngest prime minister ever. Masahiro Miyata, 37, a Japanese living in the United States, says Abe’s earlier denials are a reflection of his generation’s understanding of WWII. Miyata says he himself did not learn about the sex slave issue until coming to the U.S. “History classes in Japan don’t mention things like this.” He says that education is key to a better understanding between Japan and her neighbors. 

In addition to Chinese and Koreans, victims of Japanese abuses included many Filipino women taken as sex workers for the Japanese military. An editorial in the Philippine News says that while Abe’s apology may not be enough, it is a start. Referring to the Philippines’ own history under the military dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in the 1970s and 80s, the author writes that Japan’s wartime activities should serve as a reminder to the present generation of the dangers of a militarized state. 

“That regime which lasted all of two decades was capable of committing heinous crimes against its own citizens. History should teach us lessons so that the sins of the past may never be repeated.” 

Hye Rin Seok is a Korean woman who has lived in Tokyo for the past 20 years. She says the issue of sex slaves during WWII tends to be ignored by the Japanese government and the press there, and that people follow suit. Those aware of the issue insist Japan has already apologized, and that no further action is necessary. 

Peter Schurmann, a student at UC Berkeley in Asian Studies, says the issue goes beyond Asia and World War II. “As conflicts erupt in places like Iraq, Afghanistan and parts of Africa, women are at the frontlines of the violence. They are abused by opposing sides, inciting further hatred.” Schurmann says Japan must play a part in advocating for women’s rights today if it wants to show its sincerity. 

Virginia Silber was born in New York City on August 30, 1943. She died at her sister’s home in Berkeley on March 16, 2007, from metastatic lung cancer. Between those two dates lived a remarkable woman: a loving mother of Adam, a creative early-childhood teacher in the Oakland School District, and a sister, relative and friend who will be missed more than words can convey.  

Gina went farther afield after high school than the other two of us kids—to New Mexico. She lived there for 10 years, getting her BA degree and working for a while for the Bernalillo County Health Service. She adored New Mexico and made many friends there who remained in touch to her last days. She also took some time to work for Vista for a couple of years and again made life-long friends there. 

Her politics were always firmly on the left, a family tradition for our parents and for me as well. Thus we attended lots of demos, where we would each get to meet each other’s friends on the picket line. She became an honorary Grandmother Against the War recently, and would wear her button with pride. Over the years she attended the civil rights March on Washington in 1963, and alway worked for reproductive rights, Native American and Middle East justice, and much more. She continually and loudly spoke out against the Bush administration and all they represent. 

She taught for over 20 years at Hintel Kuu early-childhood center in Oakland. (This is one of the centers that are part of the Oakland School District.) Her love of the children and her interest in Native American struggles and history made this center a perfect place for her. She made close friends with the teachers, and was a Union rep for a few years at the OUSD meetings. 

Gina lived at Peace Gardens in Oakland with her son Adam. This is a Northern California Land Trust property, and the community of people who live there have been immensely important to Gina. Adam may stay in the cottage where they lived, and would know that he would be supported with love and friendship. 

Since her death, I have heard many people say that they never heard Gina say mean or critical things about others. Her cheerfulness and smile were known everywhere, and her optimistic outlook on life was contagious. The number of friends she has maintained since early childhood is astounding. A tribute to her deep friendships is the number of old friends who came out to visit when they heard she was gravely ill. We will be always grateful to them and to her Oakland, Berkeley and Santa Cruz friends for their unswerving support and love. 

Lorie Brillinger is the sister of Virginia Silber.

Oakland—When Erick Gaines leaves home for work in the morning, he makes sure he leaves with his inhaler. Gaines is a trucker and he likes it. He loves being able to set his own hours, and he enjoys the independence his job gives him. But he wishes driving a truck wouldn’t take such a heavy toll on his lungs.  

“The soot and exhaust come from everywhere; your breathing gets affected,” the 45-year-old father of four says, pulling out an inhaler from his trouser pocket, as he stands beside his truck outside one of the busiest parts of Oakland’s ports, SSA terminal. “In the last two years, I have been hospitalized two times. You get hit with pollutants from the trucks and from the terminal equipments.” 

Indeed, the strong smell of diesel fumes coming out of the long line of trucks that are inching their way into the terminal on this cool spring day fills the atmosphere. The gridlock is an all too familiar sight at California’s three largest ports, in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland, where many truckers ignore the signs telling them to turn off their engines while idling. Just a short distance away in the harbor, a thick plume of black smoke rises in the air, belched out by a ship that has just come in. 

“The ships run their engines while they are docked, for perhaps 12 hours, maybe even two days,” observed Diane Bailey, a scientist with the Bay Area chapter of the national, non-profit advocacy group, Natural Resource Defense Council. “And they run their engines on bunker fuel,” which she described as “the bottom of the barrel kind of fuel.”  

Gaines is one of several hundred truckers, most of whom are immigrants from Latin America, South Asia and Africa, who move millions of dollars in merchandise through the Port of Oakland—the nation’s fourth largest—each year. Some 2,500 trucks enter the port each day, and make a total of 10,000 truck trips. 

He is also among many who pay with their health for spending hours on what one researcher called a “sweatshop on wheels.” Without a union to represent them, and with take-home earnings that are unenviable, very few truckers can afford health insurance, said Bill Aboudi, owner of AB Trucking in Oakland. Aboudi is one of those rare truck owners who pay their drivers hourly wages, as well as health benefits. 

“When (terminal operators and port officials) hear the word, ‘trucker,’ they don’t think of a human being,” he said. “They don’t care about what all this pollution is doing to our health.” 

Study after study has shown that air emitted from the ports causes a variety of respiratory problems, and even cancer to people living in their vicinity. The Bay Area Environmental Collaborative last month released a study that documents that people living near large toxic releases bear the highest health risks. And a University of Southern California children’s health study indicates that children growing up around ports, refineries and freeways have low lung capacity. 

“Exposure to diesel particulate matter leads to high incidence of cancer,” asserted Peter Greenwald, a senior policy adviser with South Coast Air Quality Management District in Southern California, while addressing members of California’s ethnic media at a clean air workshop earlier this month in Riverside, CA.  

Citing figures from research, Greenwald said the consequences from air pollution in California are alarming. Each year, 2,400 premature deaths can be traced to goods movement, and each year, 8,200 people die prematurely from exposure to particulate matter. 

Rachel Lopez, campaign director with the Riverside County-based Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, said that “death caused by, or contributed by, pollution to Californians is more than that caused by murders, car accidents and AIDS combined.” 

Jesse Marquez, executive director of the Coalition for a Safe Environment, an activist group that seeks to reduce pollution from the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, said that the cost of air pollution in California is $200 billion. If nothing is done soon to reduce it, the cost will spike significantly. His uncle, a Southern California resident, died of lung cancer three months ago “and he never smoked a day in his life.” 

In 1999, West Oakland neighborhood groups sued the Port of Oakland for polluting the area. The port agreed to use the out-of-court settlement money of $9 million for “air quality mitigation” programs. As of now, 40 trucks have benefitted from the port’s truck replacement program, with six more in the pipeline, according to Roberta Reinstein, the port’s manager of Environmental Programs and Safety. 

That figure does not impress environmental justice advocates, or the truckers themselves. They maintain the port is not doing enough, has been too slow in spending the settlement money for what was promised, and is being unrealistic in expecting truckers to upgrade their trucks. 

“At the end of the day, there’s no financial incentive for the truckers to upgrade their vehicles,” asserted Bobbie Winston, who has been covering the Port of Oakland for his publication, Bay Crossings, for years. 

Bailey agrees. “The reason why these trucks are so dirty is the drivers make so little money,” she said, noting that the average trucker clears no more than $20,000 per year. “It’s difficult to require the independent owner to bear the cost of cleaning up their trucks by either retrofitting or upgrading their trucks. The industries that are making the money from the freight transport—the shipping companies, the Wal-Marts and the ports themselves need to pick up the tab.” 

Aboudi said the prohibitive cost of retrofitting the 12 trucks he owns discourages him from doing it. “It would cost me around $30,000 to retrofit each truck, and that is more than what I paid for the used truck,” said Aboudi, who uses every opportunity to lobby port officials for better conditions for Oakland’s truckers. 

The California state assembly last year approved a “container fee” bill introduced by Senator Alan Lowenthal that would have slapped a $30 fee on containers handled by Southern California ports to reduce congestion, speed goods movement and reduce air pollution. Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill, saying the bill should have included the Port of Oakland. Now Lowenthal has introduced a revised version of his container fee bill, this time including the Port of Oakland.  

This bill is designed to generate more than $525 million annually to help pay for improvements to the road and railway infrastructure, as well as add funding to promote clean-air programs tied to port trade throughout the state. 

The container fee is strongly opposed by retailers and ocean carriers, who fear it would divert cargo to nearby, cheaper ports in Mexico and the Pacific Northwest, as well as drive up prices on consumer goods.  

Marquez has played a lead role in forcing port officials at Long Beach and Los Angeles to agree to hold off on plans for expanding terminals at the two ports until port-generated emissions are brought down by at least 50 percent. Some of the money for the clean up will come from the $1 billion the public committed last November from a $20 billion ballot measure. 

In a few weeks, port officials are expected to unveil plans to lower the pollution levels at the two ports. One of the proposals will require ships to turn off their engines once they reach port and plug into the land power grid. Bailey said the U.S. Navy has done this with their vessels for decades. 

Trucking companies in Oakland are hoping the Port of Oakland will follow suit before more truckers succumb to the pollution. But some truckers are not overly optimistic. 

“These terminal operators think it’s their own little kingdom inside these fences. There’s no due process,” said Aboudi. 

It is idle to imagine that growing one’s own food saves money. Regardless of factoring in one’s time, the average Berkeley back yard is not sufficiently large and sunny to grow enough food for one person, let alone a family. 

Add a few food-producing animals and the cost rises accordingly. I once calculated that the cost of home-raised eggs is $7 a dozen. Admittedly my poultry eat well: organic wheat and tofu, tomatoes, lettuce, bread and milk—Wonderbread only. All other kinds are spurned, and even the price of that has tripled. 

However, the one feature of one’s own grown fruits and vegetables that is always superior to anything grown commercially, even organically, is, to state the obvious, flavor. There is simply nothing like a few peas popped from the pod as they grow, a nectarine warm in the hand and juicy between the teeth, even a freshly pulled beet. 

Then there is the watching of all this growth. Can anything compare to gazing at deep pink blossoms against a Berkeley blue sky? Checking daily on those dark green leathery leaf-rosettes that herald new potatoes? For these aesthetic and gastronomic pleasures, gardeners are willing to toil from sunrise to sundown and, a sign of the truly obsessed, after dark too. 

If they are successful vegetable growers, sooner or later they will encounter a problem, the surplus. There are two responses to one’s efforts to give it away. First of all, if one has too many zucchini (the stereotypical example), so has everyone else; it is not a surplus, it is a glut. Second, and far more surprising, is the average consumer’s mistrust, even fear, of anything home grown. 

Before I met a wonderful neighbor who trades snails for eggs (I have not seen these useful providers of protein since I acquired my first hen), I tried hard to give eggs away. There were many complaints. The eggs were too large, the shells too strong, and a funny color (blue-green). The yolks were too bright, too orange, the whites were too thick, not nice and watery like supermarket ones. And the flavor was too rich.  

Too bad! In fact, tragic. 

In spite of all the hard work, there is a carefree element to growing one’s own. Take those beets, for instance. Last year mine were sown late, in June. By the time of our Indian summer they looked horrible, as though they had some vile disease, leprosy perhaps, that caused their leaves to change from green to mottled buff and khaki. Not being a commercial grower, I could snip off these offending leaves. During the winter rains an abundance of new growth appeared. By March, on this very day in fact, a tasty crop is ready, including a few golf-ball-sized roots. Rushed to the stove, these leaves provide a whopping amount of Vitamin A and useful amounts of practically every other nutrient necessary for health, including fiber. The beet’s downside is its capacity to bind up some minerals, preventing their absorption. Eating a dairy product at the same time is recommended. 

The beet, Beta vulgaris, in the family Chenopodiaceae, is related to quinoa, Swiss chard, lamb’s quarters, epazote and spinach (which shares the same binding characteristic), among other plants. The common name for this family is goosefoot, for the shape of its leaves. It is a biennial, setting seed in the second year of growth. Every so often a virus strikes, causing crop failure. This is not for the home gardener the disaster it would be for the commercial grower. It is simply to be expected from time to time. There is no financial loss where it counts, at harvest time, no increase in cost to be passed on to the consumer, just an expenditure of time and energy that keeps the gardener’s weight down. If vegetable gardening is not at the top of the list of aerobic exercises, it should be. I do not remember ever meeting a gardener who is overweight. Crop failure can be a reminder to pay attention to crop rotation. In my rotation plan, beets follow potatoes, because potatoes leave behind deep, friable soil ideal for root vegetables. This year I hope to get the beets in earlier, by May at least. Potatoes keep for months if refrigerated, so I will harvest them all at once. 

Beet seedlings come up in clusters because three or so seeds are in each seed capsule. It is possible to separate these before sowing, so that thinning is not necessary, and soaking the seeds for a day probably speeds germination. I tend not to save their seed, as the parent plant takes up room in limited space. Beet seed is viable for several years, making the purchase of a package worthwhile 

Perhaps because they are biennials, beets survive the heavy frosts which arrive in my low-lying garden in late November and recur until February, unlike my peas, which, planted in good time for a change, and sporting beautiful flowers and lush stems, were stricken and although not destroyed, depleted. In a previous article I described the challenge of protecting peas from birds by using wire. This was a recommendation that I found exasperating and ineffective and wished I had not written it since the peas grew through the wire and the birds were waiting outside. Now I use a whirligig from Mr. Mopps. This fragile toy with aluminum sails and a handle made from a drinking straw, priced at a little over a dollar, has survived two winters tied to the top of the pea trellis and so far has given total bird-protection. But how to protect against frost? There’s always some new challenge in the vegetable plot, it seems. 

Prehistoric man is said to have cultivated the beet for the medicinal properties of its leaves. Native to the Mediterranean region, their roots as well were enjoyed by Romans. According to Internet sites (HungryMonster.com and viable-herbal.com) early Russian homeopaths touted beets as a cure for toothache and tuberculosis, while their ladies rouged their cheeks with the impermanent juice. Aphrodite indulged in them for the sake of her beauty, and if a couple should share the tasting of a beet, they will fall in love. 

Beets to my taste are delicious simply boiled in their skins for twenty to forty minutes, depending on size, left to cool in their liquid, peeled and eaten plain and warm as a side dish. A pressure cooker cuts this time in half. Cooked peeled beets sliced and dressed with red onions and vinegar make a piquant salad, as do raw beets, peeled and grated. As for borscht, without the beet it would be an undistinguished vegetable soup. 

Beets are a particularly spectacular addition to a creamy potato salad, turning the whole thing pink. Since potato salad is always a winner, the next time you are invited to a potluck, try taking this version along. Just be careful who shares it with you.  

Berkeley’s robbery rash still soaring 

Berkeley’s ongoing spate of robberies continues, according to police reports—an epidemic that has seen a rash of heists hitting targets of convenience. 

Robbers have been partial to victims with electronic gear, police say, especially those small but costly digital music players of which Apple’s iPod is the best known. 

The highest numbers logged on the Berkeley Police Department’s Community Crime View website came on the 14th, when seven robberies were reported. 

Five stick-ups were on the 12th, one on the 15th, three on the 16th, one each on the 17th and 18th, two on the 19th, three on the 20th and two on the 21st, the last date for which information was posted. 

Police report 70 robberies had occurred in January and February, compared to 47 in the same two-month period last year. 

The crime spree accelerated in March, and by the 21st had reached an average of two a day, with exactly 42 robberies logged on the web site for the first three weeks of the month.  

The March total to that date brings the yearly total to 112, and most of the crimes are concentrated on or near the city’s thoroughfares. 

Earlier this month police cautioned Berkeley residents to record serial numbers of their valuables, engrave identification numbers on expensive high-tech devices and make certain all their gear is registered with manufacturers so serial numbers can be linked with legal owners. 

Police departments typically encourage citizens to mark gear with their driver’s license number. Social Security numbers shouldn’t be used because they are not generally accessible to law enforcement. 

Berkeley police have also cautioned iPod owners to switch from the distinctive white ear pieces sold with the iPod, because they alert robbers to the presence of the gear. 

“Use old-style headphones that appear to be from low-cost or other equipment,” warned the department in a public notice issued earlier this month.

Maudelle Shirek, 96, an eight-term Berkeley city councilmember who served until 2004, was joined by dozens of friends and supporters at the ceremony Thursday afternoon changing name of Old City Hall to the Maudelle Shirek Building. 

Shirek, above, flanked by former aide Michael Berkowitz and niece Deborah McQueen, not only fought for peace and social justice, she fought for senior centers and workers’ rights, said Mayor Tom Bates.  

City Councilmember Max Anderson called Shirek “an uncompromising advocate for the poor and working class” and reminded people that Shirek had been a “midwife” to the political life of Mayor Ron Dellums and Rep. Barbara Lee.  

“I want to invite you back when we dedicate the mural,” Shirek said of a mural being painted by Daniel Galvez to be installed inside the building in April. “That will be about more than just the struggles of a poor girl from Arkansas. That will be the story of the struggle to make this a better place.” 

The last time Rick Goldsmith stood before the City Council was in 1996, when he was honored for an award-winning documentary film. 

But Tuesday night, when he addressed the council, it was to plead for help fighting powerful landlord Rich Robbins of San Rafael-based Wareham Develop-ment, who recently bought the seven-story building at 2600 Tenth St., and wants to jack up rents 40-to-100 percent over two-to-three years.  

“Our community is under siege,” Goldsmith told the  

council. 

In its regular business, the council approved a design contract for a warm water pool on the high school parking lot, made overnight parking on Frontage Road north of Emeryville a violation, put off a decision whether to appeal a property at 2701 Shattuck Ave and set a date to decide on a process to write a sunshine ordinance. 

Artists fight for workspace 

Standing behind Goldsmith as he addressed the council were more than a dozen other artists—mostly award-winning documentary filmmakers like him—many of whom have rented space for two decades or more in what is often called the Fantasy Building. There are some 50 filmmakers, writers and radio programmers who rent space in the building. 

The artists were asking for council help to pressure the powerful developer of some dozen properties in West Berkeley and Emeryville—many of them housing biotech companies—to modify the proposed rent increases, or minimally, to delay imposition of the steep increases for a year. 

Because the matter was not on the council agenda, councilmembers were not permitted to act on the request, but have scheduled a special meeting next Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. to address the question.  

They will likely decide to write a letter to Rich Robbins of Wareham, said Councilmember Linda Maio, speaking by phone to the Planet on Wednesday. Maio has met with the artists’ group several times over the last month. She and Mayor Tom Bates met with them on Monday and suggested they speak publicly at the council meeting Tuesday. 

“We didn’t know we had this treasure,” Maio said. While the artists work as individuals, they often consult with one another, both formally—they sometimes edit one another’s work—and informally as neighbors. 

“They don’t make much money,” Maio said. “We value our arts and want to do everything we can to assist them.”  

The developer insists on negotiating with each tenant separately. “The provisions [in the leases that have been offered] are very onerous,” Maio said, noting that some of the rents were as high as $5 per square feet. 

A glance at realtor Norheim & Yost’s website shows studio work spaces available for $1.50 per square foot at 2117 Fourth St.; Korman & Eng are advertising a large space zoned for light industrial or artist studios at $1.75 per square foot at 800 Bancroft Way. 

Representing Wareham, Chris Barlow also spoke at the council meeting. Objecting to those who had called Wareham an “out of town developer,” he said the company had been developing property in Berkeley for 30 years and should be considered part of the community.  

He explained the rent increases: “There’s a severe need for restoration,” he said. The building is being upgraded for fire safety, among other renovations. (Tenants complain that they were not consulted about what improvements they’d like to seen in the building.) 

“We’ve offered compromises,” Barlow told the council. Most people received letters saying Wareham needed signed leases by March 31, while letters to others required a decision by March 16. 

Barlow offered the tenants a reprieve of sorts. “We’re prepared to extend for 30 days [for them] to figure out and digest our proposals,” he said, adding that the tenants would have to pay a 10 percent increase in the short term. He then added a caveat to his proposal, saying that the extension was available “to those people who come to us and put a convincing argument before us.” 

Maio said the ultimate solution is for the artists to get together and buy their own building—but they need a significant amount of time to do that.  

In the meantime, Maio said, “We’re asking for a modest rent increase —10 percent—for a year, or at least six months so that they have some real time to figure out what they want to do,” she said. “Rich [Robbins] needs to help us get there,” she said. 

At the council meeting, Maio said Wareham should allow the tenants six months, but Barlow responded: “Six months it too long. We’ve already given them February and March.” 

After speaking to the council and listening to Barlow’s response, Goldsmith told the Planet: “We have a gun to our head. Chris’ talk tonight shows that Wareham doesn’t want to work with us.” 

Other tenants told the Planet they fear they are being deliberately pushed out. 

During the meeting Councilmember Dona Spring asked the city manager for a report on West Berkeley zoning and how the zoning might affect the Fantasy Building. Artists are given rent protection under the West Berkeley Plan, and cannot be asked to pay the equivalent of other kinds of office space or laboratory rent, she told the Planet on Thursday. 

The city is hiring a city planner to look at zoning issues in West Berkeley, according to Planning Director Dan Marks. 

Warm-water pool design contract 

In regular council business, the council approved a $125,000 contract 7-2 to do preliminary design work on a new warm-water pool, intended to give the council information on the full cost of building the pool in part of the high school parking lot on the east side of Milvia Street. Councilmembers Gordon Wozniak and Laurie Capitelli voted to oppose the contract. 

The city needs the information before it can go to the voters and private donors to ask for their support for the project. 

Councilmember Gordon Wozniak argued against the measure, which would be paid for with funds already set aside for the purpose, saying the city should heat existing outdoor pools or use a heated YMCA pool.  

And Councilmember Laurie Capitelli said the city has other “enormous, compelling needs.” 

Councilmember Dona Spring, the prime advocate for the pool on the council, called the arguments against the contract “an effort to once again sabotage warm water pool users.”  

The YMCA pool is used by people with multiple sclerosis for whom the ideal pool temperature is around 80 degrees, lower than that needed by disabled and elderly community who use the warm pool, Spring said. 

“If staff thought there were a viable alternative, they would have come forward,” Councilmember Linda Maio said. 

New laws punish bad hosts 

The council approved a two-part alcohol policy, designed to punish those who serve alcohol to underage people at parties and those responsible for loud and unruly parties. Both passed 7-1 with Worthington in opposition and Olds absent. 

The “second response ordinance” would fine responsible parties for the second and following offenses within a 120-day period, when police respond to complaints about loud or unruly parties.  

The “social host” ordinance penalizes hosts “who know or reasonably should know that minors are consuming alcohol.” 

When people report problems to police themselves, they are exempt from the fines. 

In other matters 

• The council delayed until next week an appeal by neighbors of a 24-unit building proposed for 2701 Shattuck Ave. During the discussion of the proposed five-story building, Councilmember Betty Olds said the requirement for the building to have commercial space did not make sense. “Why are we so tied to commercial on the ground floor?” she asked, noting the large number of empty retail spaces. The decision was delayed because the developer had gotten in an automobile accident on the way to the meeting. 

• The council voted unanimously to prohibit overnight parking on Frontage Road in the area north of the Emeryville border where car-dwellers often spend the night. Health concerns were sited in a staff report. 

• The council decided 6-0-1, with Wozniak abstaining and Olds and Capitelli having left the meeting, to create a process for writing a sunshine ordinance to enhance the state’s open meeting laws. 

The decision follows a council workshop on the question of making government more transparent. Suggestions for the ordinance included: 

• making the law applicable to task forces and other bodies designated by the council to do work on city policy; 

• making materials related to agenda items available in a timely way; 

• clearly stating rules for public comment; 

• having the ordinance overseen by a neutral body; 

• having public hearings at a time certain. 

The local League of Women Voters chapter will be involved in a public process that will lead to creation of an ordinance. Experts such as attorney Terry Franke of Californians Aware, will be involved as will Mark Schlossberg of the American Civil Liberties Union. (The Planet will report more on the Sunshine workshop Tuesday.)

In the wake of a sudden, sharp increase in public interest sparked by a local media report that the City of Oakland was considering zoning map changes that might further shrink its already depleted cache of industrial properties, the Planning Commission staff has pulled a report recommending changes to West Oakland industrial lands, and a commission subcommittee has postponed considering the rezoning until a larger group of city residents and officials can enter the discussion. 

During a Wednesday afternoon meeting in which the Oakland Planning Commission’s three member Zoning Update Committee had been scheduled to consider and vote on the staff rezoning plan, committee chair Michael Lighty announced the postponement, saying that “the mayor’s office has asked us to pause and reconsider this issue.” 

At issue is the potential increase in residential development in parts of West Oakland that are zoned for industrial use. The proposed changes affect an area mostly bounded by West Grand, Wood Street, 18th Street, and Poplar. Some at the meeting said they feared that the plan could lead to pressure to relax zoning in adjacent areas of West Oakland, which contains much of the city’s industrial lands. 

Committee member Doug Boxer said he was “glad the report was withdrawn because I would probably have voted against it.” 

Without a staff recommendation to consider, the committee took public comment on the issue of changes to West Oakland industrial zoning anyway, with a long series of speakers divided over whether the rezoning would revitalize West Oakland or would sink it further into an economic wasteland.  

Rusty Snow, co-chair of the West Oakland Business Land Group, said that his organization recently took a survey of property owners in the affected area and reported that “90 percent of the property owners want [mixed industrial-commercial-residential] zoning in West Oakland. It’s way overwhelming that these owners do not want to keep it industrial only. Would the city want to implement a zoning that does not have the property owners’ support?” 

And Kathy Kuhner of Dogtown Development, a West Oakland residential development company, said, “If we only allow industrial zoning in this area, no new businesses will be built. If we change that zoning, we will double, triple, even quadruple the number of businesses coming into West Oakland.” 

And Sean O’Conner, a West Oakland resident, said he supported a change from industrial to mixed-use zoning “because it’s not working the other way. Making this change will allow West Oakland to develop a soul.” 

But Bob Tuck of the West Oakland Commerce Association said that trying to mix commercial and residential in other parts of Oakland has not been successful: “See how many mixed-use developments you have with empty windows on the ground floor where the commercial components were supposed to be, and filled residential spaces rising above that.”  

Calling those developments “first floor ghost towns,” Tuck said that “we need to look at the greater needs of Oakland, and not just the wishes of a few property owners.” 

And Bill Chorneau of ACORN, a West Oakland resident, charged that “we are only here today because we have a real estate developer who thinks he can make a lot of money by putting residential development on some of this property.” Saying that “in West Oakland, we need jobs that we can walk to,” Chorneau said much of the support for the rezoning proposal comes from “short-term West Oakland residents who already have good jobs. They can afford to buy $500,000 condominiums, and they don’t need a job in West Oakland. They don’t mind driving across the bridge to San Francisco to get to work.”  

Chorneau said he supported Councilmember Nadel’s “industrial preservation ideas.” 

After the announcement of the staff recommendation postponement, Mayor Ron Dellums’ Deputy Chief of Staff, Victor Ochoa, told committee members “we are glad staff is going to take a second look at this issue. This is a major issue of great importance to the city. We’ve only just gotten into office, and we need more time to weigh in on this.” 

An aide to Councilmember Nancy Nadel said that the Councilmember also welcomed the postponement. Nadel, who represents West Oakland, has been a vocal advocate for retaining industrial zoned land in her district. 

No date or timetable was given for a Planning Commission renewal of the discussion. 

The bulk of the area in question, West Oakland Industrial Sub-Area 16, is located in an area bounded by West Grand, Wood Street, 18th Street, and Poplar, but some portions of it run as far south as 12th Street. 

But Lighty said that after a Wednesday morning article entitled “Homes vs. Jobs: Debating Oakland’s Future” appeared on the front page of the Oakland Tribune Metro section, interest suddenly spiked in an issue that has been simmering under the table for many months, causing the call from the mayor’s office and the request for postponement. 

Oakland’s General Plan, which sets overall land use policy for every portion of the city, was adopted in 1998. Changes to the zoning code to conform it to the General Plan were supposed to follow immediately afterwards, but former Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown set that as a low priority and the zoning code update went undone during his eight year administration, with conflicts between the General Plan and the zoning code causing considerable confusion in Oakland development. Momentum to update Oakland’s zoning code picked back up with the election of Ron Dellums to the mayor’s office last summer. 

Brown’s failure to follow through on zoning updates for eight years was alluded to in a backhanded comment by Zoning Commissioner Doug Boxer, who told Dellums’ Deputy Chief Achoa “the former mayor’s absence [from these zoning update meetings] in the past has been noted by me. I’m glad you’re here now.”  

At least two leading proponents of the $500 million alternative fuels program now being negotiated between UC Berkeley and BP (the former British Petroleum) have created companies that could profit from the research. 

One of the firms hired a BP vice president while the oil company was considering rival grant applications from five universities, including Berkeley. 

Specifics of the final contract are now being negotiated between UC Berkeley and BP. The university will negotiate subcontracts with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and the University of Illinois at Cham-paign-Urbana (UI). 

The result will be the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI), which will house two separate programs—academic research conducted by the lab and the two universities and a restricted proprietary section for BP-only research. 

The increasingly short path between academe and board room has been encouraged by Congress, most notably in the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, which played a leading role in the creation of what former UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Berdahl dubbed the “emergence of a substantial ‘university-industrial complex.’” 

Amyris 

One of the faculty-founded companies, Amyris Biotechno-logies, was co-created by Jay Keasling, one of the project’s highest-profile advocates. 

Amyris hired John Melos, BP’s former president of U.S. fuels operations, as its CEO in December, while the oil company was evaluating competing proposals from five universities including Berkeley. 

Announcement of the Melos hire came two months after UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National laboratory (LBNL) had applied for a $500 million alternative energy grant from BP and two months before the company declared Berkeley the winner. 

Keasling, a professor of biological and chemical engineering at the university, also holds an appointment at LBNL and is an internationally renowned scholar; he was named “Scientist of the Year” in December by Discover Magazine. 

The Amyris website states that among the former BP executive’s task for the British oil giant was “BP’s Helios rebranding”—when the firm changed its name to BP and adopted a new logo dubbed “the Helios.” 

According to the BP corporate website, the logo “was inspired by the image of a sunflower: a living organic form, reflecting our commitment to more environmental ways of producing energy. Named after the Greek god of the sun, the Helios combines the imagery of petals and leaves with a burst of radiant yellow that reminds us of the greatest energy source of all.” 

LBNL’s own alternative energy program is dubbed “the Helios Project,” and will include the BP-funded research. Keasling is the project’s co-director and has been designated as the director of the EBI’s Synthetic Biology Center  

Amyris has been widely praised for the key role the company has played in the synthesis of the highly effective anti-malarial drug artemisinin, which is now produced in a cheap, effective manner by the use of the common bacterium Escherichia coli in a genetically modified form, a process funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 

Another member of the Amyris advisory board is Harvey Blanch, a professor of biochemical engineering at UC Berkeley who also holds an appointment at LBNL and is the designated lead investigator for the EBI’s Feedstock Pretreatment Laboratory. 

Somerville companies 

Another Helios Project scientist with a direct financial stake in alternative fuel science is Chris Somerville, co-founder of LS-9, Inc., which has as its trademarked slogan, “the renewable petroleum company.” 

Somerville holds appointments at LBNL, Stanford and the Carnegie Institution, and is the designated chief of staff of the Energy Biosciences Institute, the organizational umbrella for all of the research conducted under the BP grant, which includes both academic research and proprietary research conducted by BP scientists. 

Somerville was also chief executive officer and chairman of the board of a second firm, Hayward-based Mendel Biotechnology, which is developing genetically modified crops under a contract with Monsanto, the agro-chemical transnational giant. 

He resigned as CEO earlier this year but remains as chairman of the board of directors and also serves on the company’s advisory board, according to the company’s website. 

A Monsanto vice president, Steve Padgette, serves on board of directors. 

One of the crops under development at Mendel is miscanthus, a giant grass related to sugar cane which has been featured as the probable target source of “biomass” for the creation of synthetic fuels, particularly ethanol. The plant is the species most frequently mentioned in the BP grant proposal as a source of fuel derived from cellulose. 

The plant is a native of China, where Mendel has a research program on the plant currently underway. 

Brian Staskawitz, another Berkeley professor named in the BP grant proposal, also serves on two Mendel boards, as both a director and an advisor, and Stephen P. Long, a University of Illinois plant biologist who figures prominently in the BP grant proposal, also serves on Mendel’s advisory board. 

Long is designated at the lead investigator for operations at the Feedstock Production Laboratory, which will be located in Illinois, and he, Keasling and Somerville are the three designated Faculty Scientists for the EBI project. 

According to the proposal accepted by BP, the trio “will work with BP and university leadership to develop the scientific program and establish priorities for the near term.” Other responsibilities include assisting in formulation of the research program and management plans and planning the allocation of space and resources under priorities established by university and LBNL administrators.  

Issue raised 

The issue of potential conflicts of interest was raised earlier this week during a campus forum where Keasling, Somerville and other key figures in the BP-funded project talked of the goals and fielded questions. 

Asked about possible conflicts with his role at Mendel, Somerville said that “if I assume a role at EBI, Berkeley will make sure” no conflicts of interests are permitted. “If necessary, I will separate myself from the several companies I’m associated with.” 

The same question was not posed to Keasling. 

A few minutes later, Somerville said EBI would be holding “lots of workshops for people from biotech in the area,” especially investors, which “I hope will lead to a lot of startups,” new companies created to license and exploit patents derived from research by the university and LBNL. 

While BP will have the first right of refusal on patents arising from research it funds, Somerville said the oil company favors licensing technology to startups. “They see that as enabling the development of infrastructure and a base for the biofuel industry.” 

The $500 million grant, to be divided up over the course of 10 years, will comprise the single largest source of non-government funding at the university, and has drawn criticism from some faculty and students who charge that administrators failed to heed the lessons learned from controversy generated by the last grant to drawn in such a wide range of faculty. 

The furor over a 1998-2003 contract between the Plant and Molecular Biology Division of the College of Natural Resources and Swiss agricultural chemical and pharmaceutical company Novartis ultimately led the university to commission a study by social scientists from Michigan State University. 

One of their key recommendations urged the university to “avoid industry agreements that involve complete academic departments or large groups of researchers.” 

Not unique  

Despite the proposal’s claim that EBI will be “the world’s premiere alternative energy institute,” other programs are underway in many venues, and the University of Florida is now seeking funds to build a demonstration cellulosic ethanol plant. 

The use of microbes to produce fuels isn’t restricted to Helios either. The Massachusetts-based Celunol Corporation is using a genetically modified Escherichia coli to produce cellulosic ethanol in a demonstration plant now under construction in Jennings, La.  

And earlier this week, two Israeli scientists at Tel Aviv University announced they have discovered a fungus with a gene that enables it to produce concentrated levels of ethanol from cellulose. 

The South Coast Air Quality Management District in Southern California held a day-long conference on cellulosic ethanol in mid-February, and production of bio-oil from miscanthus was included in conference materials. 

Cellulosic ethanol is also a major anchor of the Bush Administration’s farm legislation, with $2.1 billion in loans proposed to bankroll projects. On Feb. 27, Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman announced his department would spend up to $385 million in the next four years on investments in six cellulosic ethanol refineries using existing technologies from a variety of companies. One plant will be sited in Irvine, Calif. 

While EBI researchers have stated repeatedly that ethanol is only a small part of their research agenda, it is heavily cited in the proposal and is the major focus of effort by the White House to reduce the influence of President Hugo Chavez, who has been using Venezuela’s oil wealth to oppose Bush Administration efforts to make political headway in Latin America.

Manuel De Paz has a job and a community college degree. With his extended family, he is buying a home and he has dreams of investing in a family business. 

De Paz’ life, however, has not always been so filled with hope. 

Sitting in the Bancroft Way basement offices of the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant—celebrating its silver anniversary Saturday—De Paz, now the community development and education coordinator at EBSC, told the Planet his story of escape from a brutal regime in El Salvador, how he got to the United States and found help at the EBSC.  

De Paz’ horrific story is not so different from thousands of refugees who have made their way though Sanctuary’s doors since March 24, 1982. 

In his homeland, De Paz’ three siblings were killed by the military in the early 1980s. “My one brother was decapitated and the other one was cut in pieces,” he said matter-of-factly, likely having repeated the story many times. His sister was raped before she was killed and a 9-year-old cousin had his throat slit.  

During that time, refugees came from other towns to the tiny village where the De Paz family lived, which made them targets of the military, he said. 

After the murder of his three siblings, De Paz became a refugee in his own country, living in the mountains for a year, then moving to various towns, until he decided that the best course of action would be to leave the country—an older brother had made it to the United States before him.  

He was able to cross through Guatemala and into Mexico. “I had to walk day and night,” he said. “I had to ride freight trains.” De Paz said he was often cold and hungry during the five months it took him to cross Mexico.  

In Mexico, “I was caught by immigration twice and they stole my money,” he said.  

Once in the U.S., his brother took him to EBSC, where he met Sr. Maureen Duignan, now EBSC executive director, who connected him with those who could help him obtain temporary asylum, then political asylum. De Paz has finally obtained residency. 

Today at EBSC, he helps others learn many of the things he had to struggle with when he first came to the U.S.: how to access healthcare, how to apply for college and understand class schedules, where to look for work and more. He’s also working on a citizenship campaign, going back to former EBSC clients who qualify. 

He is enthusiastic about teaching new immigrants about their rights as tenants and workers. “Landlords think they can evict somebody just because they don’t have documents or don’t speak English,” he said. 

Duignan, the engine that keeps EBSC going, is a diminutive nun who lives the religion she preaches. “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall do him no wrong … we are all sojourners,” she says, with a slightly perceptible Irish accent, as she quotes Leviticus.  

While the sanctuary movement started with the flood of El Salvadoran refugees fleeing the military government supported by the U.S., it has grown to “protect, advocate for and support” people from every continent, Duignan told the Planet, noting that the newest challenge is working with recently jailed Latin American immigrants living in Richmond and San Rafael. EBSC is working to get them released on bond and linked up with legal help. 

“Right now we are facing a real crisis in our own country,” says a message on the EBSC website, written by Duignan and Mia Trusker of the EBSC steering committee. “We are witnessing the suffering of people who are being rounded up like cattle, their families torn apart in raids as some of their members are being summarily deported. They are being targeted by a campaign officially called ‘Operation Return to Sender,’ as if they were an unsolicited package. Perhaps that name in itself symbolizes the inhumanity with which our country, a country of immigrants, is now treating its ‘undocumented immigrants.’” 

Today EBSC and its student interns from Boalt Law School—this year there are 55 of them—continue to work with immigrants and refugees from Central America, but the work has expanded to include women who have escaped domestic violence and female circumcision and those persecuted in China for their spiritual practice of Falun Gong. 

“It doesn't matter where you are from—Central America or Africa—you still are human. You still have rights,” says Manuel De Paz. 

Those EBSC tends to often do not have documents allowing them to be in the country. “But there’s a law that is higher than man’s law, that compels us to reach out to our brothers and sisters,” Duignan says. 

Returning to EBSC’s roots in the early ’80s, she talks about how dicey it was for the five local churches to publicly declare sanctuary for immigrants. “That was a big risk to take at that time,” she said, noting that, while the United Nations declared people escaping from El Salvador in the 1980s political refugees, the U.S. looked at them differently, because the country supported the military there. 

Over the years, EBSC has begun to see its mission in a larger context, and tries to influence U.S. foreign and economic policies to promote peace and justice. EBSC is among those campaigning to shut down the infamous School of the Americas in Fort Benning, Ga. alleged to teach torture to Latin American military. 

Duignan has endless lists of projects—shelter and jobs for immigrants, the political situation in Haiti, improving the EBSC website. “We’re preparing for a big May Day event,” she says. 

The anniversary celebration and recommitment ceremony will be Saturday, March 24, 7 p.m. at St. Marks Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way. Donations are welcome. For information, call 540-5296.

After school on Wednesday, students at Willard Middle School were busy showing off their latest invention.  

At six-feet tall, five-feet wide and four-feet deep, the outdoor clay oven was perhaps one of the most exciting projects the sixth- and seventh-graders had got their hands—and feet—on in a while.  

It took 300 students a total of two months and lots of stomping in clay, sand and water to bring the contraption to life, said Willard garden teacher Matt Tsang. 

“It was Sofia’s idea,” said Tsang, pointing at seventh-grade president Sofia Eseudero, who was busy testing the plaster on the oven. 

Sofia quickly credits the idea to Mr. Dohrer, her history teacher. “Mr. Dohrer helped me to come up with the idea of a pizza oven. We were wondering what to do with the Wells Fargo grant and an oven seemed like a good investment,” she said. “I think this will be a more permanent addition to the school, something to add to the garden and the nutrition projects.” 

Willard is the only school in the district that has a clay oven made by students. “King Middle school has one, but they brought in someone to make it and it’s made of stone,” quipped Michael Madison, another seventh-grader. 

“I helped with almost all of it,” he says. “I mashed the clay and the sand and put everything together and then I had the idea of the phoenix on top.” 

The phoenix, which the kids will be painting black and red, is the school  

mascot. 

Sofia, along with school volunteer Yolanda Huang, studied Build Your Own Earth Oven by Kiko Denzer and contacted the author for help. 

“I think this teaches kids about historical cooking techniques and also augments sixth-grade earth and science classes as well as the nutrition program,” Huang said. “We already grow oregano and basil in the Willard garden and that provides fresh toppings for the pizzas.” 

Ten full-size cheese pizzas—baked by the sixth-graders—were ready for consumption by the end of sixth period. 

Sofia and her friends plan to make a strawberry vanilla marble cake in the oven soon. “The possibilities are endless,” she said, petting the school chickens Butterscotch and Aphrodisiac, who lay eggs for the nutrition class. “For something that costs $1,500, I think it’s pretty cool. Most of the stuff came from the garden itself. We hope to invite some of the businesses who chipped in with donations for a slice of pizza soon.” 

Located at the garden entrance on Telegraph, the area holding the oven had to be cleared of weeds, dirt and rubble. 

“We put in retaining walls first and then we built the foundation with the help of sand bags filled with the dirt we had dug up. Then we stuck all the 150 bags together and put chicken wire and stuccoed it,” said Tsang. “Inside the oven is lots of pieces of broken concrete and rocks.” 

Bernhard Masterson—an expert on earth and building from Portland, Ore., came to help the process forward. 

“We worked on a cob oven sculpture,” he said. “Cob is a blend of sand, clay, and straw that is typically mixed together using a foot-stomping method, and then applied to the growing form by hand.” After the initial cob platform was finished, and the brick floor of the oven was placed on the base, the bricks were covered with a temporary domed pile of sand.  

“We then cut a door out and took out the sand. Right now we are preparing the final layer of pigmented plaster,” said Masterson. “I just loved working with kids. Kids in mud is just something else and when food comes out of something they have created it’s just beautiful.” 

Photograph by Riya Bhattacharjee  

Bernhard Masterson, a clay oven building expert from Portland, Ore., shows WiIlard Middle School students how to insert a pizza paddle into the new outdoor oven built by the students.

On Tuesday, the Berkeley City Council rescinded an ordinance it had approved on the first reading, March 13, that would have limited the number of years a person can sit on certain commissions and would have restricted the number of commissions on which a person could sit. The vote was 8-0-1, with Councilmember Laurie Capitelli abstaining. 

Community members were set to challenge the ordinance with a petition to place a referendum on the ballot, had the council approved it on the second reading. 

The future of the measure—whether it is dead or will come back in the same or a different form—will be discussed at the April 16 Agenda Committee meeting. 

On Monday, John Selawsky, Igor Tregub, Patti Dacey, Laurie Bright and Howard Chong submitted a petition for the referendum on the ordinance to the city clerk. They would have had 30 days from approval of the law to collect 4,073 signatures.  

The measure at issue would have applied to four quasi-judicial commissions: the Housing Advisory Commission, the Landmarks Commission, the Zoning Adjustments Board and the Planning Commission and would have: 

• limited the number of years a commissioner could sit on these commissions to eight consecutive years. After a two-year break, the commissioner could be reappointed to the commission; 

• prohibited a person who serves on one of the key commissions from serving on any other board or commission, with the exception of elected boards and the Library Board of Trustees.  

Voting to oppose the ordinance on March 13 were Councilmembers Linda Maio, Kriss Worthington, Dona Spring and Max Anderson. 

Passage of the second reading of an ordinance is usually routine. Maio asked the council to delay final approval of the ordinance on second reading after the community opposition appeared, but when Councilmember Betty Olds made a motion to rescind the measure altogether, Maio supported Olds’ motion. 

Selawsky, a school board member who signed on to the referendum petition as an individual, told the Planet Wednesday that he opposes the concept of term limits.  

“I object to councilmembers telling other councilmembers what to do,” he said, noting that councilmembers who want to terminate their appointees’ terms can do so at any time. 

“It’s two-faced,” he added. “Councilmembers have no term limits or limits on the boards they serve on.” 

Mayor Tom Bates, for example, serves on the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, the Bay Area Air Quality Management Board, and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, and strongly opposed term limits when he was forced out of the assembly after 20 years.

The Berkeley Unified School District Surplus Committee is looking for five community members to serve on it. 

The committee has completed their report to the school board on the Hillside school site and six of the members will be continuing their work on the committee.  

The school board accepted the recommendation of the committee to surplus the Hillside property. It will either be sold or put on a long term lease, said district spokesperson Mark Coplan. 

The board is looking at another potentially surplus property on Sixth Street, followed by the Berkeley High School Tennis Courts, a potential site for the relocation of the warm water pool, and other properties. 

Other potentially surplus property involves some acreage on West Campus that the city and merchants would like to use for commercial development. The Oregon Street property that houses the BUSD maintenance facility is also on the list. 

“Surplus property issues are important to our schools and to the greater Berkeley community,” said Coplan. “We are looking for Berkeley residents who will bring a wide range of expertise. It can be a neighbor or even just an interested party.” 

The surplus committee is referred to as a “7-11 committee,” as it is required to have a minimum of seven, but not more than eleven members.

The yellow gloves came out Thursday morning at the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Oregon, as did the smiles and “have a good day” cheers. 

For the group of 10 and the countless commuters honking at them during the two hours of commute time, the waving and the cheering meant only one thing: remembering Mr. Charles on his 97th birthday. 

“I have a new found respect for him and his ability to be here from 7:30 to 9 a.m. everyday,” said Denisha DeLane, who organized the event. “Mr. Charles is like the Michael Jordan of waving. He kept retiring but he kept coming back. And there’s no way we are going to forget him.” 

Mr. Charles, or Berkeley’s “Waving Man” as he was widely known, first waved to his neighbor in 1962. That little gesture went on to become something of a daily ritual, not just for him but for hundreds of school kids and people on their way to work. When Mr. Charles put on his big yellow gloves and waved, people waved back and smiled. Mr. Charles kept waving until he died in 2002. 

“His was the only smile I had for the longest time,” said Mark Lence, a neighbor. “I was going through a difficult time for a while and he would be out here, in his big boots and gloves, cleaning his car and cheering me up with his smile.” 

Kathryn Kaiser, who lives in Mr. Charles’ house now, was arranging doughnuts and muffins on a table for passersby to eat Thursday. 

“It’s a privilege to live in his house,” she said. “My children grew up seeing him wave when I lived two blocks down. I think it’s wonderful to keep his memory alive. I hope we do it every year.” 

Parents who had been elementary school children 30 years ago brought their kids by Mr. Charles’ house at 2819 Martin Luther King Jr. Way to tell them his amazing story and wave. 

Celeste Fikiri, who brought her 4-year-old daughter Kasallah, reminisced about the time when Berkeley had a lot more community events. 

“We had carnivals and shows going on all the time when I was in elementary school,” she said. “That doesn’t happen any more now. The gentrification of Berkeley has led to less neighborhood gatherings. It’s as if the districts have boundaries. We need to get more involved.” 

There is talk of holding a bigger celebration next year and getting a proclamation from the city. 

“It’s about time we got together and did something for him,” said DeLane, as she waved to a lady in a black Volvo who honked twice at her. 

“I miss Mr. Charles,” the lady cried out from the car window as she zoomed by. 

“We all miss Mr. Charles,” said Sean Dugar, who had come from Oakland to wave. “My most vivid memory of Mr. Charles was in elementary school. Every time we hit this intersection, all the children would crowd into one corner of the bus just to look at him waving. He taught us that the simple act of standing on a corner and smiling can cause a lot of joy.” 

Photograph by Riya Battacharjee 

Denisha DeLane and Sean Dugar wave to passersby at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Oregon to mark Mr. Charles’ 97th birthday on Thursday.

A group of Elmwood neighbors will appeal the Berkeley Zoning Adjustments Board’s (ZAB) approval of a restaurant, bar and additional unspecified businesses at 2629-2635 Ashby Ave. to the City Council. 

If the appeal is rejected, the group will boycott the proposed restaurant and  

consider suing the city, said Raymond  

Barglow. 

The group, which is in the process of forming its own association, is angry that the ZAB ignored a petition with 375 signatures that was officially submitted to boardmembers before the March 8 hearing on the proposed project. 

“The petition was against the installation of a 5,000-square-foot restaurant in the proposed area, and bar, and other unspecified businesses. We think the Elmwood district is already extremely congested,” Barglow told the Planet on Wednesday. “The area already suffers from an intense traffic and difficult parking situation. A large-scale restaurant and bar would make the current situation worse and negatively impact residents and visitors to the neighborhood.” 

A current petition—opposing ZAB’s approval of the proposed project—states that the developer’s proposal violates Berkeley zoning law by: 

• exacerbating traffic, parking, health, and safety problems in the district. 

• violating the regulation governing alcohol consumption. 

• exceeding the official quota for restaurants in the Elmwood District. 

• violating California Environmental Act (CEQA) guidelines governing environmental impacts. 

• approving the application without knowing which kinds of businesses the developer will lease to. 

The petition can be viewed online at http://www.theelmwood.org/issues.htm. 

The city staff report to the ZAB states that the peak consumer parking for the Elmwood commercial district is during the day. 

The corner of Ashby and Benvenue was put on the city’s list of traffic hotspots because of the high number of accidents. 

Maureen Ewer, manager of the jewelry store Bill’s Trading Post, said that some of the merchants were hopeful that John Gordon—the developer of the proposed project—would provide parking during nights and weekends at the Huntmont Parking Garage. 

“More stores mean less parking for everyone,” she said. “Parking is a huge issue in the neighborhood. It’s not just the customers, people who work in the stores will need a place to park too.” 

Harry Tanielian, an employee of La Mediterranee on College Avenue, said that the restaurant has lost customers because they could not find parking. 

“Weekends are worse, but weekdays can be bad too. Parking really gets out of hand,” he said. “You go around the block ten times, and if you don’t find a place you give up.” 

Immediate neighbors, such as Louis Armstrong on Benvenue, have written to ZAB about emissions from the proposed restaurant’s cooking equipment. 

“My primary concern is the venting of kitchen exhaust via a fume hood to the roof adjacent to my house,” his letter states. 

A resident of Webster Street, told the Planet that although ZAB had stated that the developer’s proposal was automatically exempt from CEQA regulation, she felt this exemption was not warranted. 

“The planning department does not elaborate on this matter. But [the law] speaks only of ‘minor alteration.’ What Gordon did to the property was no ‘minor alteration.’ Something seems amiss here,” said Barglow. “They are not disclosing everything. I don’t even know if the entire development is going to be accessible to disabled people.” 

Tad Laird, owner of Elmwood Hardware, said that he was concerned about changes to the Elmwood. 

“I am concerned about the size and scale of the proposed project and the public process involving it,” he said. “I am concerned that individual developers have gotten away with skirting the ordinances.”  

Laird said he is troubled by the planned opening of an international clothing chain—Lululemon—in the building at the corner of College and Ashby.  

“That’s far from the kind of shopping our neighborhood is known for,” he said. “This sends a clear message about what kind of commercial development the city wants in our neighborhood.”

Even before they started talking about it, citizen commissioners and committee members heard a dramatic attack on one provision of the city’s new proposed downtown parking plan. 

Steve Wollmer, who lives on Berkeley Way near the soon-to-be-built Trader Joe’s building, fired a zinger at the start of public comments at Wednesday night’s joint meeting of the Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee (DAPAC) and the Transportation Commission.  

“We find the selling of the public commons to be somewhat disturbing,” said Wollmer. “It should start at city hall instead.” 

He was referring to a provision that urges either elimination of Residential Permit Parking (RPP) or a hike in permit fees to restrict parking on the downtown’s residential streets. 

Wollmer said street parking is critical to residents in a city where many apartments, created from divided or expanded houses, lack any parking on the property and force residents to park on the streets. 

“If you want to create hatred and dissension among the citizens who live downtown, sell the parking,” he said. 

No decisions were reached on that issue Wednesday night, during a three-hour session that focused on what parking policies the city should follow during the growth of the next two decades. 

A perennial topic of conversation, downtown parking availability will depend on decisions about how many units builders are required to create for different types of buildings. 

One given, over which the city has no control, is UC Berkeley’s expansion plan through 2020, which calls for 800,000 square feet of new construction and 1,000 new parking spaces to accommodate it. 

Current city policy requires builders of housing to create one parking space for every three dwelling units—a figure Planning Director Dan Marks said may be the lowest in the nation. 

The low requirement is part of the city’s effort to encourage use of mass transit rather than passenger cars, a policy favored by transportation commissioners. 

Members of both bodies indicated they favored the policy, and a minority urged an even tighter no-new-space policy. 

In the end, members of the two groups indicated they were sympathetic to an approach that would let market forces decide how many spaces would be required for new housing. 

Marks said one alternative might be to decouple housing from parking, allowing developers to contribute funds toward city-owned parking in lieu of building spaces of their own. 

The other policy under consideration is the amount of parking needed for non-residential uses, primarily retail and offices, which are currently required to provide 1.5 spaces per thousand square feet of floor space. 

Two scenarios 

Two model planning scenarios are being used to prepare the new plan. The high-intensity model calls for 3,000 new residential units, many in a series of 16-story point towers. 

City planning staff members have said that concentrating the potential new residential growth mandated by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) in the downtown may be the least politically costly alternative for meeting the quota. That doesn’t mean all the units will be built—a factor left largely to the market—but that the city must be willing to accommodate the ABAG numbers. 

Assuming the full number is built, the new housing would require an additional 1,000 parking spaces. 

In addition to housing, the high-intensity model would create 300,000 square feet of new non-residential uses, mandating 450 new parking spaces under existing requirements, bring the total new parking spaces to 1,450. 

A second alternative, the so-called baseline model, doesn’t allow for high-rises and calls for 1,600 units in smaller buildings and 205,000 square feet of non-residential construction with a total of 840 new spaces. 

Members of the two panels voted overwhelming to exclude from the totals the 250 parking spaces lost since the city’s last downtown plan was created 15 years ago, and a majority voted against a proposal that would have ended the requirement for new spaces for non-residential construction. 

The votes were straw polls rather than formal actions. 

Hard numbers 

During the opening comments period, Deborah Badhia, executive director of the Downtown Berkeley Association, had urged adoption of a plan calling for a balance of transportation and parking. 

The DBA, which represents downtown merchants, wants parking spaces, reflecting the desires of its membership. Berkeley’s public transportation activists have regularly urged fewer spaces. 

Wednesday’s meeting yielded some specific numbers on parking in downtown Berkeley, assembled by the staff of IBI Consultants, the firm hired by city staff to work on the plan, and presented by Bill Delo of the firm. 

Currently, the city controls 665 public off-street parking spaces, while privately-controlled spaces in lots and inside buildings accommodate 1,236 vehicles, and university-owned facilities house 348 spaces. 

There are 1,275 on-street spaces, of which 1,275 are governed by one of the city’s two types of parking meters, with an additional 375 spaces governed by RPP rules.  

Of the three city-owned facilities, the city’s Center Street garage generates the heaviest weekday daytime usage, with an average occupancy of 98 percent, with the soon-to-be-temporarily-closed Oxford Plaza lot coming second with 90 percent and the Berkeley Way lot trailing at 29 percent. 

Center Street lot use drops dramatically on weekends, falling to 32 percent on Saturday afternoon, while levels of the Oxford Plaza and Berkeley Way lots at the same time are 68 percent and 65 percent respectively. 

Several panelists said they worried about the impact of the Oxford lot closure on Berkeley’s movie theaters, and asked staff to see if they could come up with estimates of the impact. 

The Oxford lot will reopen after construction of a new underground facility is completed, but with a net loss of public spaces. The closure is mandated by construction of the new Oxford Plaza affordable housing structure and accompanying David Brower Center.

Ignoring complaints and controversy over 50 40-foot Belgian-made buses already in the pipeline, AC Transit directors this week quickly approved a staff recommendation to trade in 10 currently-operating buses for 10 more buses manufactured by the Van Hool company, even before the prototype for the original new bus order has been built and approved. 

With Director Elsa Ortiz absent, the proposed sale and purchase passed 4-1-1, with Board President Greg Harper (Ward II—Emeryville, Piedmont, North Oakland, and portions of Berkeley) voting no and At-Large Director Rebecca Kaplan abstaining. 

AC Transit General Manager Rick Fernandez said he was rushing the request through to sell 10 North American Bus Industry (NABI)-made buses five years before their scheduled retirement date because ABC Company, the U.S. distributor for Van Hool, is eager to secure them for use by the Department of Homeland Security in New Orleans. Under the proposal, AC Transit would receive an estimated $85,000 per bus as proceeds of the sale. The transit agency would also have to receive permission from the Metropolitan Transit Commission for approval of a complicated fund swap that will allow purchase of the 10 replacement buses from Van Hool. 

Fernandez said that “we are still negotiating the final amount that MTC will give us” towards the purchase of the new buses. Because of that, the staff report on the proposed sale said the fiscal impact to the district could not be determined. 

When Board President Harper suggested postponing the vote to approve the purchase, Fernandez said that would effectively kill the deal, since ABC was anxious to get the buses immediately. 

Defending the proposed purchase, Fernandez said “this is a great deal for us. We’re getting rid of buses that are going to have maintenance problems in a short time. They have reached a point in their life where they will have major expenditures.” 

But Oakland resident Joyce Roy, a frequent critic of AC Transit policy, told directors that “you are going to sell 10 buses that riders like to buy 10 that we hate. Your attitude to the public is, this is the bus you have, not the bus you want.”  

And following the meeting, Roy said that the district has built into its budget maintenance a 12 year use-life for its buses, and selling the buses before that time is not necessary. “The sale is not being driven by the actual needs of the district,” Roy said. 

The NABI buses proposed for sale were purchased by AC Transit in 2000. 

Before the vote, board president Harper expressed concern that the purchase of more 40 footers was being done without the district developing a policy of how many different sized buses it needs. 

“A few years ago, I said I wouldn’t vote for any more 40-foot buses until we determined whether we had enough 30 footers,” Harper said. “I’ve asked for a policy on how we decide between the need for 30 footers and 40 footers. I still haven’t gotten it.” 

AC Transit also operates a 60 foot “articulated” bus joined at the middle with a bending joint.

A year ago, the Peralta Community College District held its first annual Sustainable Peralta Conference at its oldest and least environmentally friendly campus, Laney College, in typically blustery March weather. Sitting in a classroom that day with a gap under the doorway so large that participants had to wear coats to ward off the brisk wind blowing under the closed door, Peralta Trustee Nicky Gonzalez Yuen, chair of Chancellor Elihu Harris’ Advisory Committee on Sustainability and the driving force behind the Sustainable Peralta project, talked optimistically about moving future construction bond money in the district toward “green” building principles. At that time, Peralta’s newest campus—Berkeley City College—was not yet built, and its $390 million facilities bond Measure A was not yet on the ballot. 

Last Friday, with talk of global warming heightened by unseasonably mild late winter weather, the East Bay’s four-member community college district held its second annual Sustainable Peralta Conference at the newly-built, environmentally progressive downtown Berkeley City College campus. 

As much as anything, that stark contrast—the planet’s weather sliding slowly toward an environmental crisis while the local community college district takes small steps to reverse old environmentally unsound practices—highlighted the opposing trends taking place in the year since Peralta began its initiative. 

This year, students and teachers from Peralta Colleges attended four workshop panels ranging from Regional Partnerships with local governments and Green Job Development to Green Curriculum Infusion and Green Facilities Transformation. In between panel sessions, the conference held fifteen minutes of what was called “structured networking” in which participants were able to sit face-to-face with workshop speakers to ask questions and trade contact information. 

Speaking at the Green Facilities Transformation workshop, Alex Ramos, an energy engineer with the Siemens Corporation, defined sustainability as “the ability to meet present needs without compromising those of future generations.” 

And Mike Matson, LEED Senior Associate with Ratcliff Architects, the designers of the Berkeley City College campus, spoke briefly of the history of growing sustainability awareness within Peralta. In answer to the question of why the Berkeley City College is not “greener,” Matson said, “when Berkeley City College was first being developed, there was not a lot of awareness of what green building meant. There was a vague interest within Peralta and the community in making this a green building, without knowing exactly what that meant. The project paralleled a time when public awareness has taken a steep curve. In 2000, there were quiet questions being raised about environmental building. Now it’s a steady drumbeat.” 

He said that Radcliff is “anticipating that Berkeley City will eventually be a LEED-certified project.” (LEED, the acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the national environmentally-friendly building rating system.) 

With the successes at Berkeley City, Matson conceded that “sustainability hasn’t completely taken hold throughout the district. The comfort level and the momentum are not quite there, yet.” At the Regional Partnerships workshop, a succession of local political leaders highlighted their jurisdictions’ commitment to environmentally sustainable projects. 

Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson said that among other county efforts, the county’s two correctional facilities, the county jail at Santa Rita and the new juvenile justice center in San Leandro, are using solar panel electricity, and said that “Alameda County has had a green building ordinance on the books for ten years. We are trying to preserve our community for our children and our grandchildren.” 

Berkeley City Councilmember Linda Maio called protecting the environment “the most critical issue of our time.” She said that much of the environmental problems stem from practices which citizens themselves can alter, and talked of the Berkeley project in which “we trained high school students to analyze energy use in homes and to then retrofit those homes. The students get course credit for it, as well as stipends during the summer. The residents just love it. It helps build real bridges between young people and seniors.” 

Assemblymember Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley), the chair of the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources, said that sustainability must be a “two-pronged effort,” taking in both the world and the people in it. 

“I read recently that if every person in the world sustained an American lifestyle, we would need five Planet Earths to support them,” Hancock said. “We’ve got to change that.” She also said that environmental protection also has to be expanded to include protection of the earth’s population. 

“Using people and then throwing them out when you don’t need them any more is no more appropriate than discarding a used can or newspaper or bottle on the street,” Hancock said. Stressing the need and value of increased emphasis on education in the state, she added that “there’s going to be an explosion of jobs in California because of efforts on green building and technology, and I want to make sure that all of our children are ready to take those jobs.” 

Hancock also announced that her assembly committee will be holding a hearing on greenhouse gases at Berkeley City College on April 14. 

Gayle McLaughlin, the newly-elected Green Party mayor of Richmond, said that her city is currently undergoing an update of its General Plan, adding two new components of project review: health and energy.  

“We will be looking at each new project in Richmond with an eye towards what is its positive or negative impact on our carbon footprint, as well as considering how the development will have an impact on the city’s overall health. Richmond is a city with a one hundred year industrial and manufacturing history, and we embrace that and want to continue to build on that. A hundred years from now, however, we want the new mayor in that time to be able to build on the tradition of a green industrial revolution that we are beginning now.” 

McLaughlin said that a Richmond green building ordinance is currently being prepared for consideration by City Council, and “a styrofoam ban is in the works following the lead of Berkeley and Oakland.” 

Commenting on McLaughlin’s presentation, Yuen, a Berkeley resident, told conference participants that “when you live in the city of Berkeley, you think you’re ‘all that.’ But very soon we may find that we are chasing Richmond on these issues.” 

Later, sitting on the edge of the stage in Berkeley City College’s atrium auditorium during a break in this year’s conference, Yuen noted a final comparison between last year’s conference and this: “continuity.”  

“Out of last year’s conference,” he said, “we developed curriculum and facilities committees that have been working throughout the year to develop proposals and programs and ideas for the Sustainable Peralta effort. The results are reflected in this year’s workshops. We’re not just talking about this. We’re working on it. 

“We’re also getting more corporate buy-in for the project as businesses begin to realize that this is the way to go,” Yuen added. 

To highlight that buy-in, the Pacific Gas & Electric company, a co-sponsor of the conference, presented a $120,226 oversized check to the Peralta District on Friday “for implementing energy efficient construction methods at Berkeley City College.”

From Golden Gate Park and the Presidio of San Francisco to the UC Berkeley and Stanford University campuses to Lake Merritt, spectacular and expansive designed landscapes abound in the Bay Area.  

One often overlooked landscape jewel lies in southeast Oakland; the bucolic, wooded, campus of the private Mills College. 

What would Mills be without its landscape—the main avenue with its double alley of plane trees, another drive lined with towering, more-than-century old, blue-gum eucalyptus, lawns and copses, gardens and hillsides, streams and ponds?  

Clear these away, and it might be just another anywhere campus.  

It’s also a place where nature imbued the educational and social culture, from annual picnics on the grounds to the traditional “senior lantern procession,” to the presidential cottage nestled at the edge of a meadow. 

Funded with a grant from the Getty Foundation, Mills has undertaken a comprehensive study of its landscape history to produce a landscape heritage plan for the campus.  

The plan schedule includes a series of four free public lectures about the development of the Mills grounds and their context in the East Bay and beyond. 

The third and penultimate lecture in the series will be given Wednesday, March 28 at Mills by landscape and cultural historian Vonn Marie May who also worked on the UC Berkeley Landscape Heritage Plan. The fourth lecture is scheduled for April 19. 

May, based in San Diego, is the prime consultant to the Mills College Landscape Heritage Plan process.  

Her talk will present the research team’s findings and tie together the historical threads of landscape and architectural design, planning, and botanical enterprise that produced the campus of today. 

In a Feb. 28 lead-up to May’s talk, local author and historian Phoebe Cutler described the origins of the Mills landscape and the originators. 

Three early 20th century figures animated Cutler’s story. All are overlooked today in East Bay and California history. 

Aurelia Reinhardt came first to Mills, in 1917.  

“A minuscule amount would have happened here without her motivation,” said Cutler of the remarkable UC Berkeley alumnus who took on the Mills presidency as a career when the untimely death of her husband, the university physician at UC Berkeley, left her a young widow with a family to support. 

Reinhardt also served as a board member of the East Bay Regional Parks District. She required each student at Mills to walk at least a mile a day within the campus grounds. 

During her presidency she closely collaborated with Howard Gilkey and Howard McMinn, both of them Cal alumni from 1916.  

McMinn studied under the legendary UC botanist, Willis Jepson, while Gilkey worked with Luther Burbank in Santa Rosa. 

“These three people together made Mills College one of the most exciting places for horticulture on the West Coast in the first three decades of the 20th century,” Cutler says of Reinhardt, McMinn, and Gilkey.  

Gilkey served as landscape architect for Mills. It was he who planted 135 plane trees along Richards Road, now the main drive through the campus and a memorable outdoor space.  

He also designed smaller landscapes around buildings, including one pond that was originally intended to have a mysterious—or perhaps whimsical—“temple to the radio” on its edge, Culter noted. 

Gilkey was active in other horticultural ventures in Oakland. He worked with the Oakland Businessman’s Garden Club to sponsor a huge annual garden show at what is now the Laney College site, planned flower beds in front of City Hall, and replanted the edges of Lake Merritt. 

He also advised on the landscape of the writer’s memorial at Woodminster Amphitheater in the Oakland Hills, as well as the Cleveland Cascade near Lake Merritt which neighborhood activists are now working to restore. 

In the 1920s and ’30s “Italianate water steps were popping up everywhere,” says Cutler (Berkeley got none, alas).  

“Today when we want to make a new subdivision we’ll make it with a Starbucks or a weight loss center, but (back then) they put in a cascade” to ornament new residential developments. 

McMinn was also prolific, but in different respects. He authored three influential books about California shrubs and trees, planned a big botanical garden at Mills—which didn’t happen in his time—and “put together the deal” which lead to the Botanical Garden in Tilden Park. 

“His books survive, many of the plants he discussed or popularized are common in the nursery trade,” Culter said.  

As a member of the Mills faculty and an on-campus resident, “he founded a very strong template for botanical studies at Mills,” Cutler says. Today, one of the newer Mills faculty is, in fact, working to establish a native plant botanical garden on the campus.  

He planted hundreds of trees, particularly native California conifers, on the Mills campus but few survive today, due in part to a dry spell in the 1930s when the saplings were still young and vulnerable. 

The Mills-specific work of these designers, and others, will be part of May’s overview of the campus development history on Wednesday, March 28. 

Her lecture begins at 5:30 p.m. after an informal 5 p.m. reception (with excellent finger food, I might add). 

The indoor setting, in Carnegie Hall on the Mills campus, is spectacular.  

This is a Carnegie-funded former library. The upstairs Bender Room, with its intricate beamed ceiling trusses and built-in glass cases, is a little-seen Julia Morgan masterpiece.  

It overlooks the central oval lawn and historic Mills Hall as well as the Julia Morgan bell tower, “El Campanil,” on the Mills grounds.  

If you arrive a bit early, you can see much of this remarkable campus in daylight as you cross it to reach the lecture venue. 

The lecture is free, but a RSVP, presumably for headcount purposes, is requested to Carrie Milligan at 430-2125 or cmilliga@mills.edu.  

Parking passes and directions can be obtained at the main entrance at 5000 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland, just off Highway 580. 

Photograph Courtesy, Mills College Photo Collection at the Olin Library  

“El Campanil” designed by Julia Morgan in 1904 for the Mills campus was one of the first reinforced concrete structures in California and withstood the 1906 earthquake. Shown here in its early days, nestled in native oak and imported eucalyptus plantings, it still stands across from Mills Hall.

The Berkeley Zoning Adjustments Board approved a mixed-use project at 700 University Ave. Thursday. 

Applicant Urban Housing Group/Essex Property Trust of San Mateo had requested a use permit to 1) demolish Celia’s Restaurant and Brennan’s Restaurant buildings along Fourth Street; 2) construct a mixed-use development with 171 dwelling units (31 below-market), 9,995 square feet of new commercial floor area and 213 vehicle parking spaces; and 3) rehabilitate and reuse the former Southern Pacific train depot—a city landmark—as the new location for Brennan’s. 

The applicant first applied for a permit on June 17, 2004, and has appeared before numerous Design Review Commission (DRC), West Berkeley Project Area Committee (WBPAC) and ZAB meetings since then. 

The approximately two-acre site of the proposed project is located within a designated commercial node in the West Berkeley Plan, and is bounded by an elevated portion of University Avenue on the north, Addison Street on the south, Fourth Street on the east, and the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks on the west. It is surrounded by older industrial and commercial buildings and some single-family residences. Currently, the Read Building mixed-use project is under construction along Fourth Street.  

The Aquatic Park Connection Streetscape Improvement Project—which includes streetscape improvements along Fourth and Addison streets adjacent to the project—is being planned by the Berkeley Redevelopment Agency to connect the Fourth Street retail area to the city’s facilities at Aquatic Park, the Marina and Eastshore State Park.  

The West Berkeley Shellmound, which was designated as a city of Berkeley landmark in 2000, “includes several parcels and portions of the public right-of-way to the north of the project site,” according to a Planning Department staff report. 

“I support Brennan’s moving into a historic building,” testified Elizabeth Wade, daughter of Brennan’s founder John Brennan. “I am comfortable with the project and the parking. I look forward to 171 new residents who will be like a breath of fresh air.”  

“700 University will be an asset to the community,” said Dave Johnson, of Christiani Johnson Architects in San Francisco, the firm responsible for the project design. 

“It will eliminate an unattractive parking lot and focus on two historic institutions—Brennan’s and the train station. It will build two new public plazas and provide a gateway to Berkeley from the University Avenue exit and a gateway to Aquatic Park from West Berkeley. The project provides development as well as shopping opportunities and new jobs for everybody,” he said. 

Johnson stressed that the new design created a direct view of the former railroad station, which was constructed in 1913 and landmarked in 2001. 

Area residents had been concerned in the past about potential impacts on archeological and historic resources, and about building height, massing and design as well as noise, traffic and parking.  

The applicant told the board that traffic caused by the development would be mitigated by a fair-share payment of $10,600 toward the cost of a new signal at Fourth Street and Hearst Avenue. 

Nick Samuelson, landscape architect for the project, said that the materials used for landscaping would complement the eclectic nature of the project. “The restoration will help to bring together the old and the new,” he said. 

Board member Terry Doran, a former school board member and teacher, asked if the 31 below-market dwelling units would be offered to city and school district employees before they were offered to the general public. 

“It is important that civil employees live in the city,” he said. The applicant remarked that a strategy would be developed to inform school employees during the pre-leasing phase. 

Board member Dave Blake said that the project was a residential project in an important commercial zone which would only add 20 percent commercial space. 

“I lament that the project is not adding any significant retail space,” he said. “I think it’s a bad use of the zoning area.” 

“When the project first came into the news, I couldn’t picture a project I could support,” said board member Bob Allen. “But I was blown away at the Design Review Commission. This is the best Berkeley could have ever seen. This is one of the few residential projects we have seen that has usable open space. It will be a wildly successful development.” 

Board member Jesse Arreguin said that he did not support the project because it was not adding to the commercial vitality of Fourth Street or providing affordable housing for families. 

“There is a need in Berkeley for affordable housing and that means three bedrooms, not one or two,” added board member Sara Shumer. 

“Yes, we do need housing for people with children in Berkeley. I hope developers stop thinking about making money and wake up to that,” said board member Jesse Anthony. “I am going with this project this time, but I am not going to go anymore.” 

Board member Michael Alvarez-Cohen remarked that he was surprised by the lack of neighborhood opposition. 

“On the other hand, the neighbors and the city are for it,” he said. 

ZAB Chair Christiana Tiedemann said that more neighborhood opposition was usually seen in the case of larger retail use projects. 

The zoning board also approved the following: 

• Request for a use permit modification by Rachel Hamilton, which allows the construction of a new single-family residence, to include the expansion of an exterior third deck, and the reconfiguration of the adjoining stairs, which encroach into the required side yard along the south property line, as well as the construction of several keystone retaining walls within the front yard at 1231 Grizzly Peak Blvd. 

• Request for an administrative use permit by Kathryn Rogers and Debbie Kim, Sogno Design Group of Albany, to convert an existing duplex to a single-family dwelling and construct a new 608-square-foot accessory building with one garage parking space and habitable home office space at 2224 Roosevelt. 

• Request for a use permit modification by Berkeley Bowl Produce to modify approved plans for a “full-service grocery marketplace,” including increasing building footprint, changing configuration of retail and storage areas, and changing parking layout, without creating any new traffic or other environmental impacts at 920 Heinz. 

• Request for a use permit by Philip J. Anderson to legalize an existing 1,036-square-foot dwelling unit at the rear of a commercial building on a 8,000-square-foot lot with 6 parking spaces, thereby creating a mixed-use development at 2948 Sacramento St. 

• Request for a use permit by Lorin Hill to convert a portion (63 square feet) of an attic to habitable use by increasing the ceiling clearance with a dormer-style “pop-out,” and reconfiguring windows at the upper story; to horizontally expand an attached garage that encroaches into a required side yard setback; and to demolish a carport in the front yard setback at 6 Nogales St. 

• Request for a use permit by Carol L. Cooper to establish a pet grooming use with an outdoor use component at 1442 Sixth St. 

The board continued the appeal of a administrative use permit to construct a 1,434-square-foot addition, via raising the existing structure approximately six feet to create habitable space on the ground level, and by expanding the footprint of the building, thereby creating a two-story, west wing appendage to the building at 2008 Virginia. 

Applicant Meskerem Tsegaye withdrew her request for a use permit modification to increase alcohol service at the Ethiopia Restaurant, at 2953-2955 Telegraph, by adding service of distilled spirits to existing service of beer and wine, and by increasing operating hours.  

March is Arts Education Month, according to press releases from the City of Berkeley, Alameda County and county education superintendent Sheila Jordan. It’s a cause everyone can get behind: kids and arts, what’s not to like? We’d like to get on the bandwagon too, before it’s too late. We believe that art is good for kids, and kids are good for art. We’ll even endorse the slogan some creative PR firm dreamed up: “Art IS education.” Of course it is. 

The efforts to limit education to readin’, ‘ritin’ and ‘rithmetic which have come out of the Bush administration are badly misguided. Children have a thirst for creative expression which goes beyond learning to read My Pet Goat. Many a child has been persuaded to stay in school because of the band or the photography class, and some have even been able to build on their arts education for lifetime work.  

But it’s easy to lose sight of what usually happens to the arts after school is over. The traditional picture of artists in the Romantic culture of 19th and 20th century Europe was immortalized in La Boheme: beautiful and young, then starving, consumptive and dead. Few seemed to survive as artists into old age. 

Artists inherit neighborhoods left to them as the rich folks move on: the Left Bank, Greenwich Village, North Beach. They move into industrial buildings where manufacturing has declined: South of Market, West Berkeley, Emeryville. But after the artists move in, others begin to find their neighborhoods attractive, and most often the creative contingent gets pushed out. Now addresses in La Rive Gauche and Greenwich Village are pricey, and the artists, most of them, are the ones who have had to move on.  

It’s happening here in Berkeley again. On Tuesday night a vigorous and articulate group of independent filmmakers told the City Council that they were facing rising rents and threatened eviction from the building at 10th and Parker formally known as the Saul Zaentz Media Center, and popularly called the Fantasy building, from the name of the record company Zaentz ran there. One after another, they read out the names of the films they’d worked on and the many awards they’d received, including Academy Award nominations, Sundance Grand Jury Prizes, Peabody Awards and others. The new owner is Wareham Properties, a big-time developer, whose representative expressed the remarkable goal of turning the property into a world-class media center—which, of course, it already is. 

A press release posted on The Bates Update (the mayor’s official city-funded website) in July of 2005 flacked an arts tour of West Berkeley: “City officials and Assemblywoman Loni Hancock to participate in tour as part of effort to find permanent affordable arts space.” The Mayor was quoted: “Local artists and crafts people are a big part of what makes Berkeley such an innovative, interesting, and creative place. They are our soul,” said Mayor Bates. “But land values are skyrocketing. We need to find ways to make sure that artists and crafts people can always afford to be part of this community.”  

Less than two years later, artists have already been evicted from two prominent artists’ communities, the Nexus building and the Drayage, as well as from smaller sites. The permit for demolition of the Drayage was on Tuesday’s council agenda. 

The 2005 press release said that Hancock and Bates were joined on the tour by Councilmembers Max Anderson, Darryl Moore, and Linda Maio. On Tuesday night Maio said she hadn’t previously known about the work that went on there, but she seemed genuinely distressed by the story the filmmakers told, and promised to help.  

The problem which councilmembers must face up to is that the development-uber-alles philosophy of the current city administration has resulted in a West Berkeley land rush which promises to cleanse the city of any remaining artist-friendly locations, to be replaced by offices and biotech laboratories. The West Berkeley Plan, which was devised in Hancock’s mayoral administration, was supposed to prevent that from happening, but it’s been under attack on her husband’s watch with his blessing. 

Artist and former Planning Commissioner John Curl was the first victim in a series of commission purges orchestrated by the Mayor’s buddy David Stoloff, who just recently arranged to dump Helen Burke and install himself as chair of the by-now staunchly pro-developer commission. Curl’s analysis of the assaults on West Berkeley which are in the works is on today’s Commentary page.  

Bates (or his press secretary) inadvertently got it right in 2005. Artists are our soul, and now we’re in grave danger of losing our soul in the Faustian bargain the city administration is in the process of making with the technology enterprises which covet West Berkeley. 

The Fantasy film-makers constitute the most formidable group of artists yet to be threatened. Their national and international reputation and work are major assets in getting publicity for what’s happening. But since most of them have not been involved in local government, they are at risk of naively relying on the feel-good promises of local politicians whose real agenda is quite different, or whose existing allegiances might overwhelm their good will toward the arts. Many civic crocodile tears accompanied the demise of Nexus and the Drayage. When the wolf (or the crocodile) is knocking on the door of the henhouse, it’s not a good idea to rely on the fox for protection.  

STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

We have to blame the downtown problem on something other than the street people or parking. I go to the San Francisco Symphony regularly, and always encounter street people as we walk from BART to Davies Hall. None of my fellow symphony-goers seem terrified by these encounters; we aren’t even bothered by the regulars who ask for spare change at the top of the BART escalator. There sure are a lot of symphony patrons who don’t require parking; there’s always a big crowd of symphony and transit patrons waiting for BART to take us home to the East Bay. 

Steve Geller 

• 

SMART GROWTH  

PARADOX 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) has been using its resources to hold workshops with the purpose of selling “smart growth” to politicians and community people. In conjunction, they have recently handed down a quota for new housing units they prophetically expect Bay Area cities to produce. The expectations for Berkeley were so high that even our city’s planning director protested. Berkeley’s downtown planners might heed the consequences experienced by the following cities.  

As reported in the Jan. 7 New York Times, the city of Vancouver has experienced an urban housing renaissance. Their “living first” motive is similar to “new urbanism” and “smart growth.” With encouragement from city planners, developers have built clusters of high density/high-rise residential towers near downtown jobs. However, the profitable use of city center land for high-rise housing has encroached on sites that should have been used for future commercial “job space.” Vancouver is now faced with the prospect of “thousands of people jumping in a car in the morning and heading off to the suburbs for a job.” 

A recent stay in Chicago revealed another twist in “smart growth.” Unrented high-rise office towers have been converted to living spaces; the resulting condos were purchased as second homes by wealthy suburbanites. They use them during the work week, but keep their suburban homes as a weekend getaway from the tumult of the city. Thus concentrating density in the central district has not created open space or farm lands. Chicago is a city with no height limit. One would think that the taxes on 60-90-story high-rise buildings would finance excellent infrastructure; this is not the case. The sidewalks are in poor shape, street signs are missing at intersections, the sewers are smelly, and the subway is dirty, noisy, and a rough ride through a 60-year-old tunnel.  

Here in Berkeley the Downtown Plan Committee is attempting to envision the dimensions and density of our civic center, while aware of the powerful influence of the University that holds a trump card veto. Beyond these factors we have the mighty Hayward Fault that has been of late reminding us of its existence.  

Modest growth reflecting the context of existing buildings, respect for historic sites, preservation of the adjacent neighborhoods, humane living conditions with amenities and necessities should be the goals for the future. The pressure from developers is great. Check out the thousands of dollars they have contributed to defeat land use measures placed on ballots by citizens in the last three elections. 

Let’s learn from other cities such as Vancouver and Chicago and be forewarned of the probable consequences of their actions.  

Martha Nicoloff 

Co-author, Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance 

• 

BOOK PRICES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I, too, feel sad to see the neighborhood bookstores go. Please understand that many people, myself included, cannot go into a bookstore and buy a new book for $25 or more. It is a luxury that I cannot afford more than once or twice a year. When I want something special, I can go online and find a book sometimes for as little as $1 or less. You have to pay for postage, and they’re not new books, but it is a way for everyone who loves books to get them. I am sorry for the stores, but it is bound to happen. 

Barbara Henninger  

• 

ALAMEDA TRAFFIC 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Mega-projects cause mega-traffic headaches, a fact that Alameda’s city officials don’t recognize or won’t admit. City officials insist on hamstringing our island with a potpourri of large, inappropriate projects that our island’s transportation infrastructure won’t support. If serious action isn’t taken—soon—Alameda residents will find themselves stuck in hour-long traffic jams when leaving the island.  

A regional mall at South Shore, Alameda Point, and Northern Waterfront are just a few of the City’s mega-projects.  

Alameda’s estuary crossings are at capacity. Traffic queues at the tubes are already significant. At the head of the queue, Catellus will get priority, and the new traffic signal installed at Tinker and Webster Street will delay everyone else on Alameda Island. Council has told residents along Otis Drive they must sacrifice their curb space for a bus route to service Alameda Point, yet those living in the new subdivisions won’t have to contend with buses on their own neighborhood streets. Once again, established Alameda residents get the short end of the stick. 

We could learn a lot from other cities, like Pleasanton and Walnut Creek, where careful traffic planning maintains peaceful neighborhood streets, and Target stores are located far away, near freeway off-ramps.  

Alameda Island will have its moment of truth—a day when there won’t be enough money to mitigate all the traffic congestion spawned by out-of-control growth. When that day comes, there will be no turning back. Our fragile quality of life will be gone forever. 

Plain talk is where truth resides. Yet, city officials overwhelm taxpayers with reams of complex documents on projects like Target that stymie even me, a professional traffic engineer. Those at the helm of Alameda city government seem bent on keeping the citizens confused. Why make it so difficult for residents to judge whether a regional mall is a good idea? Could it be that they don’t want you to know the true effects of these projects?  

Eugenie P. Thomson  

• 

LIBRARY’S  

NEW TAPESTRY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Thanks to Zelda Bronstein and the Planet for a great article about the new and wonderful tapestry in the Children’s Story Room at the Central Library. It really is a beautiful representation of all that’s great about our city and we encourage the community to come down to the Central Library and enjoy it themselves. 

Linda Schacht Gage 

President, Berkeley Public Library Foundation 

• 

UNDERCURRENTS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I am writing regarding the Friday, March 23 column by J. Douglas Allen-Taylor (“Barack Obama and the Long, Winding Road of Race”). I found his piece thought-provoking, fascinating, horrifying, and, yes, heartbreaking. I’m glad that he wrote it and equally glad that I read it. I’m also glad that he writes for the Daily Planet. I hope he will continue to work for the Planet, both as a journalist and as a columnist, for a long time to come.  

Cheers to Mr. Allen-Taylor and the Planet. 

David Mitchell 

• 

THE HOMELESS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

This is in response to two of the letters in the March 23 Daily Planet regarding the homeless. (One of these letters is headed “Public Parasitism” and the other is titled “God Bless” and applauds Mayor Bates for “finally eliminating the vermin that pollute downtown Berkeley.”)  

It is really quite amazing that even in Berkeley one can find such ignorance about the current condition which has caused homelessness. Many of the people who are on the street are either mentally or physically ill and are obviously unable to work. Many of those who have mental problems would have been in psychiatric hospitals, if President Reagan had not closed them. Others are unable to find work, because of our economy going downhill and businesses closing. President Clinton “modified” Public Assistance, so that those who need it are unable to receive any funds after they have been on assistance an aggregate of five years, total! When we still had public assistance, those in need used to be able to get a room and food stamps. 

Many years ago before all of the above happened, we hardly ever saw any homeless on the streets, not because the homeless have changed basically, but because laws of the land have become more brutal since those days! There will always be those who are more disadvantaged for one reason or another and it is up to us citizens to see to it that our laws will once again become more humane and that our more disadvantaged citizens are cared for. I do hope that the “good citizens” who wrote these letters will never find themselves in the position in which the homeless are. It can’t be much fun! 

Ilse Hadda 

• 

MASTERFUL SATIRE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Interesting pair of letters about the homeless in the last issue. Two letters so similar in tone and yet so different in intent. Which of the two, (a) expressed the writer’s true feelings, (b) was a well-crafted piece of satire? Was Andrew Ritchie, annoyed that the police couldn’t “get rid of the guy,” expressing his true feelings (maybe there is a homeless landfill somewhere), or was it Evan Magers, thanking the Mayor for finally “eliminating the human vermin that pollute downtown Berkeley”? Please reread both letters and give your answer. I’ve already made my choice and all I have to say is that Andrew Ritchie had better be a master satirist, because otherwise he ought to be ashamed of himself. On the other hand Evan Magers gets my vote for the Jonathan Swift Award if there is such a thing in the Bush era. 

One other important matter: I want to offer high praise for the work of J. Douglas Allen-Taylor and Conn Hallinan. Undercurrents and Dispatches From The Edge contain some of the finest writing on the most interesting subject matter to be seen anywhere. Thank you Daily Planet for supporting their work. 

Peter Josheff 

El Cerrito 

• 

THE BERKELEY ZOO 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Berkeley is a nice place not to have a home—assuming that you have to be homeless. That was the opinion of a homeless former employee of mine. He is single, 31 years old, articulate, HIV-positive, periodically drug-addicted, occasionally arrested, and for three years chronically homeless. Indeed, the attraction of Berkeley to persons with this demographic profile was confirmed in the 2004 Alameda County-wide Shelter and Services Survey, which found that 41 percent of the entire chronically homeless population of Alameda County received services in Berkeley. Berkeley Homeless Policy Coordinator Jane Micallef reportedly explained this excessively large percentage as a result of (1) availability of services, (2) the community’s relative tolerance of homeless people, and (3) the safety that homeless people feel in Berkeley. My former employee, Jason (not his real name), added a fourth reason: “It’s fun.” He approvingly referred to Telegraph Avenue as “the zoo.” 

Getting Jason off drugs and the street has been a struggle. He refused to move to a socially dull area such as western Washington state where housing was offered to him. In the past four years, I have given him between $4,000 and $5,000 cash in small amounts to provide temporary housing, drug treatment, and encourage productive activities because this young man has so much potential. The outcome of my efforts, and that of numerous public and private agencies, is uncertain. 

Being homeless is far from pleasant. But my experience suggests that a lax attitude toward loitering and inappropriate street behavior increases the probability that more people like Jason will find Berkeley a relatively fun place to be. The present situation that makes walking on Telegraph Avenue or downtown Berkeley unpleasant or unsafe is not a sacrifice that citizens should make in order to help the homeless. I support Mayor Bates’ proposal for a “Public Commons for Everyone.” 

Robert Gable 

• 

MARCHING AGAINST THE WAR 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Thanks to Becky O’Malley for her wonderful March 20 editorial. I have gone to numerous peace marches myself—with or without my family. They are useful but only have a limited effect in changing the course of the war and there is less attendance from those of us who passionately believe we have to take some action to end this senseless slaughter. I am also grateful to Becky for her previous endorsement of Jerry McNerney. I am convinced that the best way to make changes in this administration is to support and elect candidates in future elections such as Jerry McNerney who are totally dedicated in representing us in the House and Senate. I am adding the McNerney’s envelope to my bills to pay. We will get a lot in return. 

Andree Leenaers Smith 

• 

ANOTHER DAY IN  

SOUTH BERKELEY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I’d just like to relate a little scene I witnessed today, so contrary to the recent letter you printed lauding the restrained behavior of the Berkeley Police Department. 

So I’m riding my bike down Sacramento when a kid runs in front of me across the street. It then becomes apparent that he’s being chased by two Berkeley cops, a woman followed a few steps behind by a beefy guy. The woman is running pretty much full speed, while the man is chuckling as he hustles after her, apparently in response to some comic aspect of the chase. 

I ride on, chalking it up to just another day in the ‘hood. But wait; there’s more. 

As I continue on down Sacramento, not 30 seconds later the first of four—count ‘em—four cop cars comes screaming towards me on the opposite side, lights flashing. Four cars to chase one teenage kid. (From what I saw, my guess would be that he was probably not armed, just a frightened kid vainly trying to outrun the law.) Now, I don’t pretend to be an expert on criminology or the details of police work, but it does strike me as a tad bit overkill to have a small armada of police cars zooming to stop what? a poor hapless kid, running from the cops? By the time I left the scene, the kid had run into someone’s back yard. The chances that he was going to get away were pretty small. My point: Is it really necessary for the police to respond with such overwhelming force to the slightest provocation? I remember seeing much the same scene several years ago when I went to gas up my car and found the gas station crawling with police: six or seven Oakland cop cars. When I asked someone there what was going on, I was told that it was “a fight.” While I do appreciate having the police show up in a timely manner should I need them, with enough force to handle the situation, I question the need to ratchet up the level of response to what seem like petty infractions that could easily be handled with far less deadly force. The same goes for police chases, especially high-speed chases, such as the one I witnessed not long ago in West Berkeley; I intend to write on this subject separately soon. 

And I don’t mean by this to impugn any individual officers: that laughing cop seemed to have a pretty good grasp on the dimensions of the situation. As the other letter writer stated, I’m sure there are decent men and women on the force. I would suspect that the problem is really systemic, coming from the top command levels. And it’s certainly not confined to Berkeley, but seems to be standard police practice in the United States. What’s needed is a demilitarization of our civilian law enforcement agencies, and a serious reevaluation of their response to various recurring situations like the one I witnessed. 

David Nebenzahl 

North Oakland 

• 

PLACES OF SELF-DISCOVERY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I am preoccupied with the question of how we can make elementary school classrooms places of self-discovery for our children. Two things are lacking: a supply of teachers who love to teach, and training in restoring the self-confidence of children who come from stressful family situations. How shall we encourage the idealism of teachers? How shall we recognize the imperfect character of the home environment for many children? We want all our children to become self-learners. More is needed to achieve such goal than the No Child Left Behind Act. 

Romila Khanna 

• 

BARBARA LEE, SEAN PENN  

AND KPFA 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I attended the well-attended Barbara Lee’s Townhall meeting featuring a live speech by special guest of the congresswoman, Sean Penn on Saturday, March 24 at the Grand Lake theatre in Oakland. The next two days saw coverage of this event and/or Mr. Penn’s speech all over the Planet, so to speak. The one voice I did not hear was that of KPFA, our radical radio station in the KPFA. 

(As an aside, KPFA is in the midst of a debate whether programmers are even allowed to advocate for political candidates, rallies or protests during their particular program or even if ads can advocate political issues or candidates. This debate, mind you, is taking place right this week in Berkeley, the heart of advocacy in the state of Caifornia and possibly, the whole country.) 

Meanwhile, the Lee rally-like event that took place in Oakland, which is next door to Berkeley, had scores of television and radio people set up before the beginning of the program. Because I had been the time-keeper for several of the speakers, I had been at the program an hour before watching these media people get ready for the event. Where was KPFA? At the end of the program when Ms. Lee was being escorted out she was stopped by several media people, and one of them was a reporter from KPFA. This is all that KPFA is going to report on? Several remarks from Ms. Lee? Why wasn’t KPFA there to tape the entire program for its audience? Why are we forced to go elsewhere for important political and social information given out at events such as this one held by Ms. Lee? This is an annual event since the war on Iraq began and Ms. Lee has consistently been the leader in this country in voting against this horrible war and national outlets give her more coverage than our local radical radio station. Why is this? We as listeners have to demand more accountability from KPFA. The world is going absolutely nuts and one just wants to turn on the local alternative, radical news station to find out what is going on and what we get most of the time is world music.  

KPFA, you look so provincial. When C-SPAN is more informative about local situations than you are, then we have to reconsider the trust we have in you to keep us informed! 

Nancy Keiler 

San Francisco  

While we were still stunned and unguarded, 

Our troops were deployed, then departed. 

Will the crooks in denial 

Be forced to face trial, 

Admitting our leader’s retarded? 

—O.V. Michaelsen

The law of the jungle is survival of the fittest; the law of civilization is cooperation! 

I had walked by the same one-story office building in Hayward for over a year on my way to work, often waving good morning to the occupants, but only rarely getting a wave back. One day a woman ran from that building to my office, which was down the street, screaming, “Help! Help! He stole my purse!” “Who?” I said. She pointed to a white male running down the street. I took off in hot pursuit. He was not slowing down. He zigzagged through traffic, tried to hide behind bushes and jumped over a number of fences. I continued to follow. Eventually he jumped over a fence and I heard the sounds of dogs barking. I stopped. I was eight blocks away from where I started, out of breath and figured I had done enough. In a few minutes the women whose purse was stolen pulled up in a police car. I told the officer which direction the assailant was running and got in the back seat of the police car. He drove us back to the street we worked on. As we pulled up in front of her job, her co-workers started yelling excitedly “You got him! You got him!” Pointing at me in the backseat of the car!  

Community courage is about personal courage. It has taken individual courage to achieve the gains we’ve achieved through the civil rights, women’s rights, gay rights and ultimately the human rights movements that state we don’t want to be segregated, but welcome and encourage multi-ethnic, racial, cultural and religious participation. If we want to live in a society like that, we need to all be involved. If not in this nation, at least in Berkeley! I may be mistaken, but I thought that’s what Berkeley was all about! But here we go again!  

Now—about the Public Commons for Everyone Initiative (PCEI).  

Community standards should not just be about how the have-nots, can-nots and will-nots should and don’t behave, but also how we who are housed, well educated, well fed and paid should behave to protect the lessors if we care about an integrated and free society. 

He was grabbing her by her hair, kicking her and punching her in the face. My friend and I who were walking by grabbed him and shoved him against a wall. The women he was beating turned to us and said “Get your hands off my husband.”  

I remember Selma, Alabama, dogs, hoses, Montgomery bus boycott, sit-ins, beatings, and it all happened in my lifetime. So please don’t blame me if I sometimes question the authorities who were agents of my discrimination, and my government that sanctioned it, and who made it the law of the land. When it comes to deciding how the public should behave and who is right and who is wrong. I think America’s track record is tainted.  

She must have been close to 80 years old with a walker alone on Shattuck Avenue, near Oscar’s hamburgers. Someone she didn’t know ran up screaming in a psychotic rage, “You bitch you owe me.” She was terrified. I intervened and said, “Back off man.” Now his rage was directed at me. We argued. A car pulled over and four guys jumped out, and in a few minutes a crowd formed, and for no reason, was convinced I was harassing an old woman on the street. Fortunatelyf before I was attacked, she convinced the crowd (mob) that I was the good guy! 

Let’s call it what it is! If you don’t want to see poor people begging on the streets or if that embarrasses you to out- of-town visitors, you can’t hide it under the rug by penalizing bad behavior in one part of town but not the other. It should be a community standard, supported by community courage. If you want to stop panhandling, maybe we need to stop poverty or redistribute the nation’s wealth and stop blaming the victims. How can three people dictate the lives of 50! It’s a lack of courage, it’s our fault. If you see bad behavior, resist it, report it, and sometimes you may have to intervene. We don’t need new laws. We need each other! Community courage does not mean you have to chase people down the street or wrestle with evil doers. We need to take more interest in things beyond our selves and our immediate family. Fear is our enemy, not poor people! 

To me, public safety is not threatened by a person with a cup on a corner. And even though when I have intervened to help people in the past and been accused of being the wrongdoer, that’s the price of freedom in America and I’m willing to pay the price—are you? I’ve got your back! Do you have mine? 

Winston Burton is a member of the Downtown Plan Committee. 

By Diane Douglas, David Schweidel, Rachel Greenberg, Sunny Solis, Darryl Dickerhoff and Lori Simpson 

Wednesday night, the Berkeley School Board plans a vote on the elimination of sixth grade at Berkeley Arts Magnet elementary school (BAM). We believe that this action has serious implications for the viability of the arts program at BAM, in addition to the academic and social success of some students. 

The unfortunate fact is that only six fifth-grade families have requested BAM for sixth grade next year. BUT there is more to the story than the school district’s stated decline in interest in the sixth grade model at BAM. 

For nearly 20 years, BAM has offered an arts-intensive educational experience for children, called “Artist Time.” This program has been supported significantly by voter-approved BSEP/Measure A parcel tax funds. From kindergarten through third grade, BAM students pursue four art forms through the week—drama, dance, percussion, and visual art. In fourth grade, some arts specialization begins, and by the fifth and sixth grades, students make their choice to pursue one art form throughout the entire year. Many students who may be struggling with math and literacy skills demonstrate a profound ability to focus and concentrate on a particular art form, and they often experience a level of success that translates to better learning habits and improved academic performance.  

This year, our new school principal made sweeping changes to the Artist Time program by removing the component of specialization—without consulting the school’s BSEP committee of parents and teachers. The option of choice for the older children was removed. The fifth and sixth graders were devastated to find out on their first day of school that they would not be able to choose a specialization after working toward that end since their early days at the school. 

There are many parents and teachers who believe that having at least one elementary school in the district with a sixth grade is important. Not all children are developmentally ready for the larger middle school setting—some children benefit from an extra year of familiar surroundings. As parents of BAM sixth graders and BAM graduates, we can tell you that our sixth-grade curriculum has been as rigorous as that at the middle schools, and BAM students come to seventh grade well-prepared to succeed.  

Superintendent Michele Lawrence has said that there is data indicating that students who begin middle school in Berkeley in sixth grade do better than students who enter middle school in seventh grade. It is unclear how to interpret this statement, given that there are a large number of students coming from outside BUSD at this grade level. Nonetheless, we would be surprised if BAM’s sixth graders did not show equal or superior academic performance entering middle school as seventh graders. If you look at outstanding graduates at Berkeley High in any recent year, you will find that BAM has had more than its share. 

Many families and teachers have chosen BAM because of its strong commitment to the arts and to academics. We are concerned that our Artist Time program is being targeted as an obstacle to academic achievement, when there is abundant evidence that the arts foster achievement. When BAM was a California Distinguished School, we had high achievement and a great arts program.  

Our school went through two lengthy and wide-ranging assessment processes in recent years. There was a very broad consensus among parents and teachers about the importance of maintaining and developing a strong arts program; working to close the achievement gap; building community among students, parents, teachers, and staff; and establishing a school-wide program for resolving conflicts and promoting understanding. That extensive body of work appears to have gone by the wayside. 

The shortfall of enrollees in the sixth-grade program at BAM for next year is certainly in part a result of many decisions that have weakened our arts program and hindered communication within the school. Sixth grade at BAM may not be the choice for all but we would like to see it remain as a choice.  

We are holding a rally outside of Old City Hall before the board meeting to show our support for BAM’s unique programs. At the meeting, we plan to ask the School Board to consider a one-year moratorium on the sixth-grade program at BAM. If, next year, fifth graders are allowed to choose an arts specialization, and if teachers are allowed more voice in the direction of the school, then BAM and its sixth grade can flourish. Otherwise, we’re in danger of losing many of the teachers and families who chose BAM in part because of its thriving arts program and its superior sixth grade. The sixth grade is one of the many aspects of BAM that makes this school unique and deserving of everyone’s support. 

Diane Douglas, David Schweidel, Rachel Greenberg, Sunny Solis, Darryl Dickerhoff and Lori Simpson are parents of BAM students, and represent current and former PTA and BSEP committee members. 

Ten years or so ago, the new-born Downtown Berkeley Association flexed its taxpayer-funded muscle and pressured the City Council to pass a raft of laws against “problematic street behavior,” widely touted as responsible for local economic decline. 

The citizen panel empowered by the City Council to share the responsibility for the obvious unconstitutional aspects deferred to the city attorney, civil libertarians predictably revolted, hundreds of people wasted thousands of hours working on referendums, the issue finally floated into court, where more taxpayer-funded hours were spent arguing on behalf of, arguably, the richest people in town versus the poor. Why are we here again? The University of California has again hired an expensive consultant group, MKThink, to waste $100,000 of public funds trying to “design” the poor out of People’s Park, and Mayor Tom Bates, following in his wife’s, former mayor Loni Hancock’s, shoes, is ready for another pound-on-the-poor proposal to either ticket them, jail them, or move this already exhausted group from one part of town to the other, probably criminalizing sitting on a milk crate in the bargain. The proposal is called, ironically enough, the “Public Commons for Everyone Initiative.” 

We’re here again because the current City Council majority would rather waste the money than take a stand for civil liberties, a stand which might be construed by their constitutionally impaired business constituencies as “soft” on panhandlers, milk crate sitters, and lost kids caught between a hardened, often brutally violent home and whatever comes next. 

The current council majority doesn’t mind if local, state, or federal legal protections for the poor are manicured by the courts once again in favor of profit. That costs nothing, if you don’t count staff time dreaming up the exotic language needed to skirt constitutional protections. The payoff is looking as if you care to the business groups, such as the Downtown Berkeley Association (DBA), which have no patience with people who suggest that their customers should share the streets with the poor. They know their Rodeo Drive-style patrons have trouble spending $400 on shoes anywhere near people who obviously need new ones. 

The payoff is also in not having to look at or implicate the skyrocketing rents being asked by the DBA’s often absentee property owners, which have driven anchor businesses out of town or out of business altogether after decades of serving Berkeley’s public. The DBA property owners are the group least likely to blame themselves for making it impossible to do business in Berkeley. And the people who need their campaign funds are the least likely to point it out. It’s easier, much easier, to point a finger at the poor. 

Be assured, as this foolish raft of business-driven prohibitions takes wing, that politicians are adept at walking the delicate path required to imitate support for the local economy while simultaneously imitating respect for human rights. But don’t expect anyone along the way to ask the real questions, chief among them, “how much money is enough?” Property owners who drive out long-standing businesses with sky-high rents are less visible but do much more damage than the down-and-out fellow asking for spare change. 

Carol Denney is a Berkeley musician and activist.

Regarding the current battle at the Fantasy Building, where its new owner, San Rafael-based Wareham Property Group, is threatening Berkeley’s community of independent filmmakers with skyrocketing rents and odious-termed leases: 

Chris Barlow of Wareham had the nerve to stand up before the Berkeley City Council last Tuesday and falsely state that Wareham’s proposed 40-100 percent rent increases would “bring rents up to market level” after years of the filmmakers benefiting from the “patronage” of former building owner Saul Zaentz. Hogwash. I am a filmmaker who has rented office and editing space in the Fantasy building for the past 16 years. These are the facts: 

In early 2005, the standard room with a window in the Fantasy Building was renting for $2 per square foot, which was at or slightly above market level at the time. In May 2005, in preparation for the sale of the building, rents for those same rooms were raised across the board, to $3 per square foot for some of the rooms—a 50 percent increase—and $3.25 for others—a 63 percent increase. Today, the proposed rent increases by Wareham, to begin April 1, bump those already inflated rents, in steps, to (at a minimum) 10 percent, then 25 percent, then 40 percent, and (Wareham’s increases seem to be arbitrary) for some to as much as 100 percent of what they are now, all in as few as 18 months. The new 2008 rates would reach $4.06-$6.08 per square foot. Is this “up to market level” as Barlow claims? More like double or triple. Current market rate for similar space in West Berkeley runs about $1.50-$2 per square foot. 

Why don’t we all just move if the rates are so far above market? We will have to if the situation doesn’t change. But what we are trying to do is to keep our unique and close-knit community together. Among us, we are writers, editors, producers, directors, camerapeople, sound artists, radio producers and a non-profit agency providing media and advocacy for the deaf. We trade resources and equipment, give each other feedback on rough-cuts, provide sound design, mixing, narration and graphic design, re-write and critique, and collaborate in ways too many to mention. It is not an accident that 14 Oscar-nominated documentary films were produced by our Fantasy community, from Berkeley in the Sixties to Daughter from Danang, from Freedom on My Mind to Forever Activists: Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. Our productions regularly appear at Sundance and other prestigious film festivals, win Cine Eagle, Peabody and Emmy awards and get national TV exposure, including two American Experience PBS broadcasts in the next three weeks. 

If we are forced to disperse, Berkeley will lose a valuable community, one that has put Berkeley on the filmmaking map with the nation’s leading social-issue documentaries. We will look for a new home together, but may well have to settle on little enclaves, perhaps in Emeryville, Oakland, El Cerrito, Richmond or San Francisco. The collaborative juice—the heart of our filmmaking community—would be diminished.  

And it would be a black eye for Berkeley. What a shame to see that happen just because one out-of-town developer wants to make a buck. We need the help and support of Berkeley’s city government as well as the people of Berkeley to ensure that does not happen.  

A special session of the Berkeley City Council has been called by mayor Tom Bates to deal with this issue at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27. Join us there. 

Rick Goldsmith is a Berkeley filmmaker. 

BLACK OAK BOOKS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

It was a shock to so many of us when Cody’s closed their Telegraph store. We all know that local bookstores are in jeopardy throughout the country, endangered by chains and online book sellers, but are you aware that another Berkeley institution, Black Oak Books, is also endangered and could close? 

Black Oak not only provides quality books, one of the best selections of the classics anywhere, used books for the budget-minded, and a wonderful selection of children’s books, but it has consistently provided a lectern for important local, national and international writers—a true service to our community. 

Black Oak is looking for new partners and infusions of money, but there is something we all can do: Try Black Oak first, the next time you are browsing or looking for a particular book. If they don’t have it you then have a choice to have them order it, or obtain your book elsewhere. Books ordered from Black Oak take a week to 10 days to arrive—perhaps a couple days longer than online orders at high shipping costs that reduce savings—but unless you are in immediate need of a book, why not give them a chance? The other thing you can do is bring them unwanted books for resale, and receive either cash or trade. 

I am neither an employee of Black Oak, nor a relative—simply a Berkeley resident who has enjoyed Black Oak as my neighborhood bookstore for many years. Black Oak’s address is 1491 Shattuck, near Vine, the number is 486-0698, and you will find their website online. 

Please, let’s be community-minded and preserve this cultural resource. 

Leah Shelleda 

• 

LOCAL BOOKSELLERS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Amidst the ceaseless blizzard of global bad news this rainy Tuesday you have printed two delightful letters from women, Amy Thomas and Doris Moskowitz, who own and manage between them four bookstores. Each of their stores is an honest business, a cordial gathering place, a distinctive cultural asset, and a provider of such public services as selling tickets without fees. Another such enterprise is Cody’s, whose veteran events’ producer, Melissa Mytinger, regularly offers free or remarkably inexpensive presentations by the best authors writing books. If we value these stores—and all of our other independent bookstores—we must give them the money, or most of it, that we spend for our books. It’s that simple. That’s the support needed. The way a healthy community supports its schools and parks and gardens, its air and water—that’s how we should support our remaining bookstores. They are an inextricable element in the community web, the tangible one, more fundamentally essential and far more personally responsive than that other one. 

Bob Baldock 

Former owner, Black Oak Books 

• 

BERKELEY/ALBANY FERRY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

On March 8, the San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority solicit comments on the scope of the environmental impact report/environmental impact statement (EIR/EIS) to evaluate potential impacts of four proposed ferry terminal sites in Berkeley and Albany. Comments from this meeting and from the second March 15 scoping session held in Albany will be fully evaluated in the EIR/EIS, along with all written comments received.  

In response to the March 13 commentary, it is important to understand that federal and state environmental guidelines require that the WTA fully evaluate the impacts of all proposed sites under consideration. Accordingly, the economic considerations of a potential site near the Doubletree Hotel will be fully evaluated in the EIR/EIS. 

The commentary also expressed concern about schematics that depicted what a new ferry terminal could look like at four locations. Over the next several months, the potential layouts of all potential terminal locations will be refined to reflect comments received at the hearings and potential environmental impacts. The draft EIR/EIS that will be released in early 2008 will reflect the additional analysis. Public hearings will be scheduled to solicit public comments on information included in the draft EIR/EIS.  

The vessels referenced in the commentary are not for the Berkeley/Albany service, since the WTA can not order these boats until the EIR/EIS is completed. WTA has ordered two vessels that will be spare vessels, initially put into service to launch the South San Francisco–Oakland route until the boats specified for that route are delivered. These 149-passenger, 25-knot boats, built to 46CFR Subchapter T standards, will interchange quite well among our routes that range from seven to 11 miles. These boats cost around $8 million each and are scheduled to be delivered in September of 2008 and January of 2009. They will be 85 percent better than EPA emission standards for Tier II (2007) marine engines.  

Throughout the environmental process the WTA will continue to evaluate ridership and cost issues to ensure that Berkeley or Albany ferry service provides a cost effective transit option that increases regional mobility. For more information on WTA go to www.watertransit.org 

Written comments should be submitted by March 30 to douglas@watertransit.org. 

Shirley Douglas 

Manager of Community Relations 

San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority 

• 

CORRECTION 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

For the letter I submitted, and you published, I did not write Chancellor Heynes was a “great president.” I wrote that his eco-friendly deed of saving a grove of majestic, old trees serves as a great precedent for Chancellor Birgeneau to follow. 

Mitch Cohen 

• 

HANCOCK’S CALL FOR  

HEALTH CARE REFORM 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

It was clear from the public comments at this event that a universal single-payer health care system is what most of us want and need. So, it is depressing to hear from our state’s legislative leaders that “I don’t know how much we will be able to get done” about moving towards such a system (Perata) because there are so many “difficulties and political realities to be overcome” (Nunez).  

Let us be absolutely clear about exactly what these political realities are. They have nothing to do with “lack of political will” among ordinary Californians, who realize that insurance companies do not deliver health care and in fact prevent people from getting health care and drive up the costs. They have everything to do with lack of political will among our elected officials, who continue to depend on the generous donations of insurance companies to finance their election campaigns. The political realities really are that simple. 

It is difficult to imagine getting an affordable, universal health care system until we can offer an alternative to the financial lifeline between the insurance industry and our elected officials. Assemblywoman Hancock’s Clean Money bill—AB 583—being re-introduced this year, provides an alternative to these “political realities” bemoaned by those who find themselves unable to disassociate themselves from the interests of the insurance lobby. 

Lynn Davidson 

• 

PUBLIC PARASITISM 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Further to your various comments on the state of the streets, and what to do about the decline in Berkeley’s business districts, one prominent example of a single individual creating a street nuisance that I am surprised has not yet led to violence is the case of the panhandler—who I’m sure many people will recognize from my description— who parks himself on many occasions outside the Peets at the Berkeley end of Solano Avenue, with a doubled-up coffee cup to collect money. 

This black guy literally pursues every single person who walks on the sidewalk or goes into Peets, for hours at a stretch, with his aggressive and loudly annoying requests for money. I have asked the Peets manager on many occasions to ask the police to get rid of the guy, but he keeps coming back. He makes shopping, or even being, on that stretch of street completely unbearable. And people are even stupid enough to give him money! I feel like standing behind the guy—and I would do it if I had time—with a big sign saying, “This person is a professional parasite—don’t encourage him by giving him even a single dime.” I have talked to many friends about this particular person, and all agree that he is the most annoying and unbearable street person that any of us has ever encountered. What’s the solution? I don’t know. Probably a stern warning from the police, followed by arrest if he doesn’t take any notice. But something needs to be done to encourage this guy to desist, and to put him on some kind of alternative track! He imposes his problems on the rest of us.  

Andrew Ritchie 

• 

GOD BLESS 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I applaud Mayor Bates and the Berkeley City Council for taking a pro-business stance and moving us in the direction of finally eliminating the human vermin that pollute downtown Berkeley. The rights of commerce must take precedence over the “rights” of those who choose to live on the street. Thank God Berkeley is following the rest of the nation in applying this truth. Once the living garbage is entirely erased, our shopping experience in the city will be freed of unpleasantness, discomfort and guilt. God bless you, mayor, and God bless our valiant troops! 

Evan Magers 

Oakland 

• 

BUS RIDERS’ UNION 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Berkeley Transportation Commissioner Rob Wrenn said: “Bus riders here need to get unionized just like they did in Los Angeles.” (“Workshop Examines South, West Transportation Plan,” March 20). Your story on the community transportation workshop turned that into bus drivers.  

AC Transit bus drivers are already organized. The Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 192 fights hard for both the drivers and the entire community. Among other things, ATU 192 has taken MTC to court to challenge its discriminatory under-funding of AC Transit.  

Commissioner Wrenn was making a different point: Organized bus riders can create major change. Wrenn was referring to the Los Angeles Bus Riders Union (www.busridersunion.org), which won a civil rights law suit against the LA MTA, and achieved massive improvements in bus service.  

A bus riders union in the East Bay would be a powerful weapon in the struggle for affordable, reliable, and accessible transit service for all. 

Xochitl Marquez  

Michael Russell  

Public Advocates, Inc. 

• 

CENSORED! 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

No one will believe me, of course, but I’m convinced that my iMac is Republican! Either that, or my e-mail is being censored by Homeland Security or the FBI. Listening to the news this morning I was so riled up by the president’s defiant refusal to allow Rove to testify under oath regarding the Gonzales affair, that I went directly to my computer to complain to a friend. In my message I rather rudely, but accurately, referred to Bush as an_________. Well, I wish you could have seen my screen light up. That word came out in bright, blood red. So, I chose another fitting description: ________. Same thing. I couldn’t send the e-mail nor could I print it. A small symbol, resembling a red pepper, appeared at the top of my e-mail indicating that it was censored! Heavens to Elizabeth, whatever has happened to free speech? Am I now on a “non-flight list?”  

Dorothy Snodgrass 

Note to editor: I’ll call in the two unaccepted words. 

• 

SOUTH BERKELEY VIOLENCE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I am a resident of South Berkeley and live just around the corner from McGhee’s Market. The recent shooting outside this well-trafficked local market is just one more of the many episodes of gang and drug-related violence that besiege our South Berkeley neighborhood. Where is the outcry from the Mayor and the entire City Council, especially Max Anderson? Where is the call from city leaders for a community-based, well-funded, multi-pronged initiative to both stop violence in South Berkeley in the short-term and comprehensively and effectively address its root causes in the long-term?  

When at a mayoral debate last fall I asked (then candidate) Mayor Bates about violence in South Berkeley, he tepidly replied that compared to the murder rate in Oakland, Berkeley is not doing that badly. At any rate, thanks a lot for your leadership and engagement with the acute problems confronting this part of town. Thanks also for your compassion for the families of victims of violence in South Berkeley. I’m sure that the next time residents in South Berkeley duck bullets as they try to simply enjoy a spring evening or buy a gallon of milk, they’ll find comfort in the thought that at least they don’t live in Oakland.  

By the way, I am currently working in Gulu, Uganda, the epicenter of a brutal civil war between rebel insurgents and the Ugandan government. For the record, I’m safer walking around in Gulu than I am in my own South Berkeley neighborhood. How ironic to be sending my family e-mails from Gulu warning them not to walk a block and a half to the corner store. So Mayor Bates, for your information, Berkeley is doing worse than Gulu. Hope that helps put things in perspective for you.  

The human right to life and security extends to all, regardless of race, ethnicity, class, gender, etc. All residents—long-timers and new—living in the vibrant, multi-ethnic neighborhoods of South Berkeley deserve to have these and other fundamental rights respected. The ongoing failure of Berkeley elected officials to ensure respect for these rights is compounded by the failure of Berkeley community members “across town” to show as much concern for their South Berkeley neighbors as they do for anti-global warming and “impeach Bush” initiatives.  

It’s time for Berkeley to come together as ONE community to address the human rights crisis at our own door. Think globally. Act locally. But most of all, stop being by-standers. It exposes a deep blind-spot, callousness and hypocrisy among the otherwise caring and engaged leaders and citizens of an otherwise famously progressive city.  

Phoebe McKinney  

• 

SOUTH BERKELEY 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I am a resident of the 1700 block of Oregon Street in Berkeley. On Sunday March 11, sometime after 6 p.m., five shots were fired near McGhee’s Market located on the corner of Oregon and McGee streets. 

This is one block down from where myself, my husband and my two children live. This is one block down from the Youth Center and Grove Park. 

It was a beautiful, beautiful, early evening—unseasonably warm. So many people were enjoying the tot lot at Grove park, the baseball field, the ad-hoc soccer field on the outfield of the baseball field, the tennis courts, the basketball courts. People of all ages, ethnicities and races were lounging, talking, riding bikes. The scene was so peaceful, almost bucolic in nature. Babies, older folks—a kind of harmony. Berkeley at its finest, some would say. 

So my husband and I decided to let the kids walk over to Walgreens, about two blocks east down Oregon Street. The children left, and about five minutes later, we heard the shots. At first, I wishfully thought, “Firecrackers?” 

But my husband said, “No, gunshot.” He could hear the recoil of the guns.  

In a panic, my husband and I went outside to the porch. Thankfully, even though the children were heading east, and the shots were down the street just to the west, our children had turned back when they heard the shots. But what if Arturo, aged 12, and Rosa, aged 9, had been walking to their other favorite neighborhood destinations—McGee’s Market? What if they had been doing what they love to do on a warm evening—go to McGee’s for an ice cream? What if any of the hundreds of people who were out and about on that beautiful sunshiny Sunday, what if any of them had happened to be walking by Oregon and McGee, sometime after 6? 

I fear an impending tragedy in our South Berkeley neighborhood. There have been more drive-by shootings than usual, lately. (Yes, “than usual.” Isn’t that sad?) 

What are we to do? To be honest, I have no proposed solutions. However, I would like you to seriously listen to and consider the proposals of others who might have some effective ideas. I would like you to hear my pain, and the pain of all the other parents in Oakland and South Berkeley who fear for their childrens’ lives and wonder if they can let their children taste even a modicum of freedom, a developmentally appropriate measure of independence—just a walk to the corner store. On a beautiful, sunshiny evening. In South Berkeley. 

Diana Rossi 

• 

WAR IN IRAQ 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

How was it possible for millions of us who knew before the war started that the war that this administration was planning was illegal, but the administration started the war based on lies, anyway? By now, over 2000 American deaths and over 650,000 Iraqi deaths later, almost all Americans are aware of the facts, and the administration with the help of our so-called representatives are still “staying the course”! This is outrageous and we should all be on the streets of our United States and shout these so-called representatives (with very few exceptions) down! 

Ilse Hadda 

• 

LOW-BALLING 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

There’s no doubt that the Berkeley Daily Planet supports the anti-war movement. Numerous positive, accurate articles about the struggle to end the war and occupation of Iraq has made that clear. (Though I’m unclear about where exactly you stand on the occupation of Afghanistan. More on that some other time.) 

So I was especially stunned to read in your otherwise supportive editorial “Ending the War and Beyond” the assertion that “3,000 people did show up” at the March 18 San Francisco anti-war mobilization. Yeah, 3,000 did show up. And at least 27,000 others!  

It was the strongest showing of the anti-war movement since early 2003. One indicator of the size of the march was the snail’s pace with which we moved down Market Street. The Labor contingent I was with left at about 1 p.m. Due to the sea of humanity clogging the street we didn’t reach the Civic center until about 2:30 !  

I expect such low-balling from the San Francisco Chronicle, who originally came up from with the absurd 3,000 figure. During the build-up to the Gulf War in 1991 the largest anti-war coalition at the time actually hired an aerial photographer to counter the Chron’s notorious downplaying of our huge demos.  

But please, don’t allow this to happen again in your far more honest publication. It undercuts our efforts to end the this Imperial adventure in the “cradle of civilization.” 

Stan Woods  

Oakland 

• 

GAS PRICES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

What’s the excuse this time? Why the obscene spike in gas prices over the past three weeks? The oil industry hasn’t given us any of its usual list of excuses. 

The November elections saw corporate Republicans lower gas prices in an effort to help the Bush team and the GOP retain control of Congress. Is the latest round of price increases an effort by the oil cartel to recoup losses (lower profits) suffered in its political power play of November? 

Ron Lowe  

Grass Valley 

• 

CHANGE THE CURRICULUM 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

I know it is important to educate our children in mathematics and the sciences so that Americans can compete in the global economy. At the same time we need children who have a strong sense of themselves who will choose an ethical way of life. Art and literature are very important in the curriculum. They exercise the imagination of students and give them an opportunity to think about life values. Without art and literature in the curriculum, we can have citizens who are employed but who lack an independent sense of the meaning of their lives. In early years of their education these are the most important subjects for the young children to build the meaningful connection with the wider world and express their true feelings. 

Romila Khanna 

• 

PRIVATIZING  

PUBLIC WORK 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

A political question much discussed by the philosophers of ancient Greece and Rome has been emphatically answered in our times, at least in theory, by the notion of democracy.  

They asked: Who shall guard the guardians? [Quis custodiet …?] and we answer: We, the people, of course.  

Increasingly, however, the people’s voice fails because government agencies and departments are now prone to outsource work of public benefit to private contractors whose ears are not tuned to the people. 

For example, my brother lost his home to the Katrina disaster, then lost his rent subsidy when FEMA turned disbursement over to a private company; his landlord refused the subsidy check as being from a “third party.” This, together with more widespread Katrina/ FEMA debacles, suggests a publicly funded government/broker that puts the needy in touch with profit-greedy providers. 

In Iraq and Afghanistan there are tens of thousands of civilians engaged in military work—armed guards escorting VIPs and convoys, cooking, building, driving trucks, etc. —collecting salaries from companies under contract to the military but not bound by military regulations.  

At Walter Reed Army Medical Center deplorable conditions were due, at least in part, to the failure of a company owned by Halliburton to do the job it was paid to do.  

As privatization proliferates, a buffer grows between the elected guardians, and their guards, the people…us.  

Marvin Chachere 

San Pablo 

• 

LEAVE IRAN ALONE 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

We’re tired and we just want to be left alone. Nationally, we want Bush and Cheney and their criminal gangs removed from the White House and then punished for treason. We want all of the U.S. troops and contractors and miscellaneous Hessians removed from Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the Middle East. 

We want Iran left alone. 

We want an immediate return to 100 percent hand-counted paper ballots for all elections. We want an immediate end to right-wing Republican-owned corporations “counting” our votes electronically with secret proprietary computer software. 

We want federal taxes returned to the levels that they were under President Clinton. We want a universal single-payer federal health insurance system. We want an immediate end to the greedy gouging of our pocketbooks and wallets by HMOs, insurance companies and pharmaceutical corporations. 

In California, we want an end to left-wing liberal legislative busybodying and bullying about our light bulbs, our cats, our dogs, our fireplaces and our old cars. Assemblyman Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys), please note: cats pooping in neighbors’ yards is not a major public health issue. We want the Democrats in the state legislative to concentrate on the important issues: getting us universal single-payer health insurance and balancing the state budget each year without floating bonds, and thus sticking our tax bills onto our children and grandchildren. 

And finally, we want corporations to stop trying to put their obnoxious intrusive advertising into any public places. We do not want to be bullied with yakking video ads while we pump our gas or when we use public bathrooms. Are these corporate marketers completely insane with greed? We are already up to our eyeballs in consumer credit card debt… Any yet, they keep telling us that we need to buy more, more, more… We’re tired and we just want to be left alone.  

James K. Sayre 

Oakland 

• 

LONNIE TORRES 

Editors, Daily Planet: 

Back in February 2005 your paper as well as others ran the story about Lonnie Torres. I submitted letters to many of these organizations at the time telling them that they had the wrong guy and assured them that I was correct. Well, that time has come. Finally the truth can be told. Berkeley police never had the correct suspect in custody, and now he’s finally out. Two years later and all charges dropped. Isn’t that interesting, especially for the officer that got the award for identifying Mr. Torres as the suspect? Also, the remark that something about this arrest being the product of some kinda police work or something to that effect. Funny that I don’t see any news coverage about Mr. Torres’ release from custody. This just may be an oversight, I’m not sure. But it would make for some interesting reading on how in this day in age that this could happen to someone—spend two years in jail because someone says your the one. Especially when it happens to be a cop, who also gets an award for his efforts. Have your name slandered by every news outfit in the region, only to have the entire thing dropped, with nothing said at all by anyone. I would urge you to revisit this incident just to see what happened. Like I said, it should make for interesting reading. Thank you for your attention.  

Dave Farias

“We want to turn this into a new type of artists’ community,” said Doug Herst, owner of 5.5 acres of industrial land in West Berkeley, speaking at a special meeting at City Hall. He came over as a nice guy, and he really seemed to like artists and the arts. Sounded great. Until he unveiled the real project: a million square feet of mostly commercial, office, and residential development, with only seven thousand square feet for arts/crafts workshops, and only 20 percent of the residential units as artist live/work studios. 

Herst and his development consultant, Darrell de Tienne, want to change the West Berkeley zoning ordinance so they can replace recently filled manufacturing space with seven-story corporate and residential buildings. They want to “blur” the distinctions between residential, office, commercial and industrial. As a “trade-off” for changing the zoning code, Herst said, he would include 20 percent low-income artist live/work housing, along with 80 percent of the units at market rate for anybody. And here’s the kicker: The city already requires 20 percent inclusionary low-income in all housing projects, exactly what Herst is proposing. As the old saying goes, “They’re giving away ice in winter.”  

The special meeting was attended by members of the Civic Arts Commission, city staff, City Council representatives, and several members of West Berkeley Artisans and Industrial Companies, myself included. I asked Herst, “If you care for artists and artisans so much, why not just subdivide the property into affordable studios? That’s what artists and artisans really need.” Herst responded, “That’s not my vision.”  

The property, almost two entire blocks between Allston and Bancroft Ways and from Fifth Street to the railroad tracks, was formerly the site of Peerless Lighting, owned by Herst. In 1999 he sold Peerless to a large corporation, which retained him as manager and vice president but moved the plant to Mexico and Indiana. Herst retained ownership of the properties. 

A key part of Herst’s proposal is making regular residential units an allowable use in the mixed-use light industrial (MU-LI) district. This is contrary to the zoning code, which excludes residential uses there. The MU-LI is home to most of the city’s industries and art/artisan studios, and these uses cannot compete with residential, which generates several times the rent. Residential speculation in the MU-LI would open the proverbial gentrification flood gates and sweep arts and industries away. 

De Tienne said in order to do this project they want the city to revise the zoning ordinance to “blur” the distinctions between industrial and other uses. But West Berkeley zoning is built around exactly those distinctions. The zoning is geared to keep incompatible uses at an acceptable distance, so that industries, residents, offices and merchants can all be good neighbors. Herst wants to put artisan studios, which make noise and dirt 24 hours a day, directly across the street from upscale residents.  

De Tienne also explained that they are interpreting the newly revised definition of an arts/crafts studio to mean that they can rent those studios to strictly computer artists. However, that is contrary to the intent of the new definition, which was passed unanimously by the Arts Commission. The new definition simply includes computers among the permissible tools of artists who are otherwise eligible for arts/crafts studios. Both the old and the new definitions make a clear distinction, reserving arts/crafts studios for uses that cannot ordinarily be done in an office or home office environment, for artistic and crafts uses that make a mess or are dirty or noisy. Just as poets do not need an industrial-type studio to write poems, creative people who work only on computers do not need industrial-type studios. There is plenty of space for these office-type creative uses in all of the extensive commercial zones throughout downtown and the rest of the city, including home offices, whereas the only place working artists are allowed to do their hands-on work is in the industrial zones of West Berkeley. It’s their only habitat and it is scarce. 

Then why open up arts/crafts studios to strictly computer artists? Blurring the distinction opens up arts/crafts studios to a very large number of people, almost anybody, and thereby jacks up the rents. Since real working artists usually have very modest incomes, this interpretation of the art/craft studio definition winds up pushing them out and replacing them with upscale high-end models, people who could already afford good space. Calling this a project for real working artists becomes nothing more than a marketing ploy. 

If the city would agree to blur the distinctions between industrial and other uses, then it would be throwing out the entire underlying structure of the zoning ordinance, and the heart of the West Berkeley Plan. The repercussions would be enormous over all of West Berkeley, and every industrial and arts/crafts space would be at risk to be replaced by more upmarket uses.  

To put this in context, de Tienne is not just the consultant on this project, but has a long history of having his finger in many other upscale developments all over Berkeley, and has an enormous amount to gain by those proposed Zoning Ordinance changes. 

Look at the reality of blurring those distinctions. They want to put artisan studios directly across the street from upscale residents. Imagine those residents trying to sleep with industrial noise and walking in industrial smells. The noise and odors and dirt would get the residents up in arms, the “community” would become a war zone, and the arts/crafts (the purported focus of the development) would be either shut down entirely or subjected to hobbling restrictions.  

Herst said he came up with his proposal in part because the city’s restrictions on industrial subdivision forced him to keep the spaces larger than were rentable to industries under current market conditions. Herst claimed that there are no large industrial users looking for space in Berkeley. But how about Powerlight, which just left town because they could not find a large enough space? Did Herst ever try to accommodate them? Did the city ever try to bring the two of them together? 

Besides, new legislation to facilitate subdivision of larger spaces into smaller studios is currently wending its way through city processes with the backing of the artisan/artist/industrial sector as well as developer sector, and should be in place this year. Small industrial, artist and artisan businesses are a thriving sector, as are start-ups and recycling, and reasonably-priced spaces and studios are in great demand. If we want real artist and artisan studios, not ersatz chic, then just subdivide the warehouses and rent them at an affordable rate. That’s all real artists and artisans need. Let the artists and artisans pretty them up as they please.  

Why would the city go along with this blatant rip-off of industrial land? Because a lot of people in city hall want to transform West Berkeley into a yuppie enclave as quickly as possible. 

Under the current regime, the Berkeley artist and artisan community has been dying. The Bates administration did nothing of any consequence or substance when the Nexus artists and artisans were evicted, nothing when the Drayage artists were evicted, nothing when the 2750 Adeline St. artists were evicted. All of these were true low income artist communities. They were all evicted to make way for more profitable uses. Gentrification is the guiding development policy of this administration. The vision of the Bates administration, which loudly professes to care about artists and artisans, is a phony arts district in which working artists and artisans are replaced by artsy folks with fat wallets who want quaint artisty tourism within walking distance. 

And Bates is now doing nothing to impede the decimation of the world-class film community in the Fantasy Building, currently under attack from de Tienne’s most frequent employer, Rich Robbins’ Wareham Corporation.  

If only Bates were a little more like Ron Dellums. That’s what the progressive community was hoping from you, Tom, that you would fight for social diversity, not for the most profitable developments; that you would be guided by the struggle for social justice, not by the struggle to maximize profits. 

After the smoke, mirrors, and false promises are removed, the Herst project boils down to a huge development scheme hiding behind the facade of a few units of artist live/work. 

But there is an alternative vision for West Berkeley, a vision already embodied in the West Berkeley Plan, which was written by the community and adopted unanimously by the council. And our West Berkeley community has not given this regime the approval to dismantle that plan. That vision is based on the diverse community of creative people who are here today not being pushed out but staying and coming together to jointly improve the neighborhood to make it work for all of us. 

Why is it important to maintain industries and artisans? Because gentrification of West Berkeley would mean the loss of economic, social and racial diversity, and result in a cultural impoverishment of the city. Because globalization is destroying local economies all around the world, local people are fighting back in numerous places, and this is a key part of our local struggle in Berkeley. Because the future of the country and the world hinges on a green reindustrialization. Because Berkeley should and can be a leader in this struggle. Because the great creative depth of our city comes from the interaction of the university with a diverse urban environment. Because a locally-based economy offers strength and a dynamic quality of life that would cease to exist in a mere upscale college bedroom community.  

Because only if we retain the industrial land base, only if we preserve existing spaces for green industries, recycling, and arts and crafts, can we have a real renaissance in West Berkeley. 

John Curl is a cabinetmaker at Heartwood Cooperative Woodshop and co-chair of West Berkeley Artisans and Industrial Companies. 

Dear Mayor, 

I am writing in response to this morning’s speaker panel broadcast on KPFA’s Morning Show where you and other panel members discussed concerns around the plan you are proposing, known as “Public Commons for Everyone Initiative.”  

I understand that your office is under pressure from the business community to address the issue of homelessness in the commercial corridors. The business community likely sees the homeless community on Telegraph and Shattuck as a barrier to commercial success and as a primary cause for their deficient sales. While I would agree that homelessness may be impacting the commercial viability of Downtown Berkeley, our primary concern should be protecting the rights and enhancing the well-being of all our citizens: the homeless, families, patrons, and business owners alike. With all of these people in mind, I believe it is your office’s obligation to propose a plan that would address the problem of homelessness in a comprehensive and compassionate manner that benefits all parties concerned.  

First, it should be recognized that meeting the needs of the homeless in Berkeley must be the primary objective. As an employee of a local non-profit community clinic in Berkeley, it has become evident that the root of the problem of homelessness is lack of support services (or an inability to access those services) and a breakdown of traditional support networks. The homeless have fallen through the cracks of the traditional support systems that the rest of us depend on to keep us healthy and housed in our daily lives. The instability due to poor health care, broken families, poor educational opportunities, poverty, and other socio-economic factors have led them to living on the street. If we address these failures in health care, family cohesion, and support services, we will address the problem of homelessness at its source. Any other attempt to address homelessness through increased police efforts to physically remove the homeless from the commercial corridors will only move the problem out of plain sight. Reducing the visibility of homelessness in Berkeley could potentially make the problem worse, making it more difficult for support service workers to communicate with the communities they are trying to serve. It will also likely lead to an escalation in conflict between the homeless and the Berkeley Police. If the homeless population feels further isolated and desperate it could also lead to an increase in crime.  

Second, it should be noted that there are many factors that may be impairing Berkeley businesses on Telegraph and Shattuck and addressing any of them may have a positive impact on sales equal to or greater than homelessness. As a former UC Berkeley student, the first problem that comes to mind is a lack of businesses that target the student population. University students are generally young, low-income, and technologically savvy. Businesses that fail to properly target this large population will suffer and their loss should not be mourned. Market forces should take course and allow for the introduction of businesses that are appropriate for the local audience. Another large problem is accessibility, with Telegraph particularly in mind. The streets of Berkeley are congested and parking is limited. Improving bicycle, pedestrian, and public transportation access and increasing parking availability may greatly improve accessibility issues.  

It is my belief that the best way to address the problem of homelessness in Berkeley and simultaneously meet the needs of business owners would be to improve access to support services by raising funds for organizations like Options Recovery Services and Youth Emergency Assistance Hostel (YEAH), while also improving the accessibility of the commercial corridors. The police already have a sufficient penal code through which they can enforce the law and should not be encouraged to increasingly confront the homeless in our city. 

Carlos Rivas 

“We need a music teacher,” said the woman on the telephone in charge of hiring substitute teachers. “You know anything about music?” 

“Not really,” I said. 

“Doesn’t matter,” she answered. “The music teacher has left lesson plans.” 

“What grades?” I asked. 

“Kindergarten through fifth,” said the woman. “How hard can that be?” 

I was up for the challenge. I quickly scribbled down the school’s address and got ready. I tried to remember the theme song for Working Girl. I wanted to dress for this assignment as Melanie Griffith had done in the opening credits: sleek, tight suit and sneakers. Sneakers, I’ve got, but alas, no suits.  

While driving to the school, I went through the scales, then thought about my personal history with music. Piano lessons at seven. Drop-out by nine. But I had read the autobiography of Tina Turner (Ike was a wife beater), and the life story of B.B. King (sex at age eight and a lot of time on a tractor). Additionally, I’d seen Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Canned Heat, The Doors, Bob Dylan, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Four Tops and a host of others in live performances. Most recently I’d attended a stadium concert given by the Rolling Stones, and then there was that horrible night at The Independent with The Tubes. I’d seen the movies Lady Sings the Blues, Ray, Walk the Line and Dreamgirls. I thought I knew every lick and lyric performed by Elvis and The Beatles. How hard could today’s assignment be? 

School started at 8:30 a.m. but because I was a “Specialist” I didn’t have class until nine—15 minutes with the morning kindergarten class. By the time I found the classroom, set up my CD player, and met the children, class was almost over. We did a few wiggles and jumps and then I gave them their coloring assignment.  

“We’ve done this before,” they shouted when I handed out the Xerox sheets of cars, buses, turtles and snails. (What thing is fast? What thing is slow?). “You’ll have to do it again,” I said. Then it was time to go. 

Back to the teachers lounge for a 15- minute break, then on to first grade, where we wiggled and jumped again, but this time for thirty minutes instead of fifteen. When I handed out the same Xeroxed sheet of cars and trains, the kids complained. “We already did this,” they said. “Do it again,” I replied as nicely as possible. 

Returning to the teacher’s lounge for a thirty-minute break, I learned that my next two classes, second and third grades, were canceled. It was School Spirit Day. Classroom teachers and their charges would be upstairs in the auditorium listening to student council speeches. The other “Specialists” and I got to stay in the lounge. I read the newspaper and ate free popcorn. 

When the assembly was over, it was time for lunch. Classroom teachers had thirty minutes to gulp down their food, but as a “Specialist” I had an hour to kill.  

I did crossword puzzles and ate more popcorn. 

The next class was fourth grade. I knew what they would say when I started the lesson. “Been here and done it,” they shouted as I gave them the hand-outs, this time pictures of animals. “Color them anyway,” I said, “while you listen to the music.” 

On to fifth grade where I taught a lesson that made no sense, but we struggled through it. Since they had done it before, they were actually a big help. Then it was a rush to meet the afternoon kindergarten class, set up the CD player, wiggle for fifteen minutes and give out the coloring assignment.  

Two forty-five. School was to end at three.  

“What should I do now?” I asked the school secretary.  

“Now,” she said. “You can go home.”  

If you’re walking down University Avenue, or driving up the freeway to the Richmond Bridge, or taking a car or bike jaunt up around Clear Lake, you’ll have noticed that the redbuds are blooming. We’ve borrowed specimens of this gorgeous scarf that the Central Valley wears around its eastern and western foothills. Good idea, for landscape and ornament in the cities and for the most difficult spots along roads. 

The Tilden Park Botanic Garden has a splendid group of redbuds right along its perimeter fence, poking through sometimes as if wanting to escape, for inspiration if you need it. 

In its native habitat it’s a frequently-seen roadside tree thriving in the oddest rocky bits of soil, inching right up onto the gravel road shoulder, balancing on defiant tiptoe over a streambed gorge: Cercis occidentalis, cousin to T.S. Eliot’s and Katherine Anne Porter’s Flowering Judas.  

Our redbud has an Eastern North American cousin, Cercis canadensis; there are Asian species too, and lots of hybrids and cultivars in the nursery trade. I have a fondness for ‘Forest Pansy’ with its burgundy leaves, but that’s best for places that are more like an Eastern forest—in part shade, with good drainage but deep loamy soil and plenty of water.  

If you want a true Western redbud, look for it in a nursery that specializes in natives, or wait for one of the native-plant spring sales listed below.  

Buy as small a tree as you can stand to, say a seedling in a one-gallon nursery can or pot. It will be easier to plant because it needs a smaller hole, and will catch up to its bigger brethren who’ve been planted at the same time because it will experience less of the standard transplant setback than one that’s already older. 

Dig a broad, shallow hole for your tree, then pile some of the dirt back into the center of the hole. Don’t amend the soil. If you have serious clay, rough out the edges of the hole with your spade, so you’re not making a clay pot to confine the roots.  

Remove the tree from the can, gently spread the roots out so they won’t grow in a circle, and rest it in top of the pile in the hole. Then backfill, tamping the soil down gently. When it’s planted, the tree should be a bit higher than the ground around it, for better drainage; be sure the roots are covered, though.  

You probably won’t need to stake it. Dig a shallow moat around the edges of the hole and pile that dirt around the outside for a temporary watering basin. This should erode away within a year.  

When you have the tree happily situated, it will need water regularly for at least a year or two; after that it’s drought-tolerant.  

It grows into a small, airy tree, about dogwood-sized, and like a dogwood a sculpture of planes when in leaf. It will want full sun, especially west of the hills; it likes the sort of environment that would fry that dogwood. You’ll get more flowers if your tree lives in a slightly severe climate, particularly one with a cold snap in the winter, and cold winters bring out the best in its fall foliage, too: As Marjorie Schmidt enthuses in her seminal book Growing California Native Plants, “...the heart-shaped leaves look like valentines strung along the stems.” You’ll also get more blooms as the tree gets older.  

Redbuds rarely need pruning, but if you get ambitious or artistic, remember that they bloom on old wood and do your work just after flowering or you’ll lose next year’s show. Study your tree in winter, when the leaves have given way to the ascetically handsome red branches, to imagine its best possible shape. There’s a good chance the tree will imagine its own best form if you leave it alone. 

NATIVE PLANT SALES 

Marin Chapter, California Native Plant Society 

Tiburon Audubon Center and Wildlife Sanctuary 

376 Greenwood Beach Road, Tiburon.  

Saturday Apri 14, 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  

Regional Parks Botanic Garden  

Tilden Park, near the Brazilian Room 

Saturday, April 21, 

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Jepson CNPS Plant Sale 

Benicia Community Garden 

Military East and E. 2nd St, Benicia 

May 5, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Photograph by Ron Sullivan 

This redbud’s for you, on University Avenue.These pea-like blooms appear before the heart-shaped leaves in spring. 

Ron Sullivan is a former professional gardener and arborist. Her “Green Neighbors” column appears every other Tuesday in the Berkeley Daily Planet, alternating with Joe Eaton’s “Wild Neighbors” column. Her “Garden Variety” column appears every Friday in the Planet’s East Bay Home & Real Estate section.  

Some weeks ago, in a previous column, I promised to continue our discussion of U.S. Senator Barack Obama and race. And so we move forward, but on a roundabout road, because race in America does not follow a straightforward path. 

We begin with the story of Rosa Parks On The Bus, which you cannot go through Black History Month without hearing some reference to. It is actually a pleasing tale as it is now told, a fable, almost, with a courageous heroine, villains who are not too villainous—neither the bus driver nor the arresting police officers, after all, did Ms. Parks any physical harm—dignified protest in which thousands of Black Montgomery residents choose to walk instead of riding the bus, and a happy ending in which segregated bus seating is ended. 

But if you wish to understand the mind of African-Americans and what makes us continue to be so strangely frightening to much of the rest of the country even down to this day, you have to go back to an earlier, all-but-forgotten story about another Black woman on public transit, Araminta Davis. 

In the summer of 1865, just after the end of the Civil War, Ms. Davis—who, coincidentally, died in 1913, the same year Rosa Parks was born—was traveling by train through New Jersey to her home in upstate New York. When the conductor asked her for a ticket, she showed him a soldier’s pass. Believing that the pass must have been forged or stolen—how could a Black woman be legally issued a soldier’s pass, after all—the conductor ordered her to give up her seat. When Ms. Davis refused, politely, the conductor called for assistance to have her physically removed. It took four men to do it—Ms. Davis fought them fiercely, insisting that she had a right to be in the seat—and they eventually dumped her into the train’s baggage car, where she was locked up for the rest of the trip. Several months later, at her home in Auburn, New York, Araminta Davis was still recovering from her injuries from the train incident. 

The name Araminta Davis is not well-known in American history. Araminta was her birth name which she later changed after she escaped from slavery in Maryland, and Davis was her name from her second marriage. She is better known by another name: Harriet Tubman. 

Although Harriet Tubman is a national legend for her work with the old Underground Railroad, courting danger personally leading more than 300 African captives to freedom in the decade before the Civil War, few people know that she volunteered for service in the Union Army when the war began, working as a nurse, a scout, and a spy going deep behind enemy lines. On a New Jersey train in 1865, however, none of that helped her. To the conductor she was just a lying nigger woman, probably a thief, as well, taking up a seat to which she had no right and desecrating the memory of fallen army veterans, to boot. 

Most contemporary African-Americans have never heard of the story of Harriet Tubman’s troubles on that New Jersey train, but I suspect that most, if told the story, would not find it surprising. To be African-American is to have such incidents strewn throughout our own family histories. 

My father’s grandfather—George Allen—served in the Union Army in New Orleans during the Civil War in the Louisiana Native Guard. After he died, my great-grandmother, Leontyne Breaux Allen, applied for a widow’s pension for herself and her 13 children. For years she was denied it, on the grounds that she could not prove that the children—one of them my grandfather, Ellis Allen, Sr.—had been fathered by George. In effect, the army was accusing my great-grandmother of being a whore. Instead of the government pay she should have received, she had to support her family virtually on her own, with help only from the older children who had left home and gotten jobs. My cousin, Betty Reid Soskin, has collected reams of material from the National Archives containing testimony given to a hearing officer by priests and fellow churchmembers and neighbors who knew George and Leontyne in St. James Parish, Louisiana, and who swore that the children were his. I have copies of the documents, but have yet to read them all. Even now, more than a hundred years later, they are heartbreaking. 

On my mother’s side my grandfather, Thomas Reid, Sr., came to California in the late nineteenth century after fleeing for his life from his native Griffin, Georgia. “Trouble with the white folks,” the older ones in my mother’s family used to say, but none would be more specific. Trouble with the white folks in late nineteenth century Georgia could not be taken lightly. Reports of lynchings during that time include several that occurred in and around Griffin. In one, in 1899, Ralph Luker reports in the History News Network (http://hnn.us/blogs/comments /25530.html) that a Black man named Samuel Wilkes was accused of killing his white employer. “A crowd of 2000 people take him about a mile and a half out on the road to Palmetto” near Griffin and Newnan, Georgia, Mr. Luker writes. “Children in the crowd are sent ahead to gather up firewood. Wilkes is hung and burned. Sunday's banner newspaper headlines notified the public of the event and, after church, special trains from Griffin and Atlanta bring additional site-seers out to the Palmetto Road for the occasion. Witnesses gather charred remains from the fire.” 

For the most part, lynchings did not follow African-Americans to California, but the indignities did. My grandfather, a skilled carpenter, could not get carpentry work in the Bay Area, and so had to support his 13 children—including my mother—as a laborer and a janitor. One of his brothers, who remained in Griffin, was a skilled brickmason. Many years later, after he had died, his grandchildren took me around Griffin to show me the many buildings he had constructed which, because of Georgia’s segregation laws, he could not enter once they had been completed. 

Meanwhile, in the Bay Area, my father, Ernest Allen, Sr., joined the Oakland Fire Department in the late 1940s, during a time when the OFD was strictly segregated. African-American fireman were limited to assignment to West Oakland’s Engine 22, and were not allowed to rise to officer’s positions. In 1952, when my father asked to be transferred to an East Oakland station to be closer to our family, his transfer was denied, and when he filed a complaint to the chief, he was suspended. According to a recent scholarly article by former UC Berkeley student Sarah Wheelock, the Oakland African-American labor leader C.L. Dellums, uncle of Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, “called the suspension an ‘administrative lynching’ and ‘an attempt at intimidation of the Negro firemen in the department.’” My father became a plaintiff in a lawsuit to desegregate the Oakland Fire Department. One the lawyers later became Oakland’s first Black Mayor, Lionel Wilson. They lost the lawsuit, but shortly afterwards, the OFD broke up its policy of segregated assignments. 

But not its policy of indignity towards Black fireman. Wheelock quotes Sam Golden, one of the early African-American OFD pioneers who fought to bring Black firemen into the department: “It was August 5, 1955, that was the day they integrated and I went to 29 Engine,” Mr. Golden said. “The first day I went there, I checked in with the captain. The captain called me into his office and told me what I could do and what I couldn't do. One of the things I couldn't do was eat with them. I had to bring my own mattress out and sleep on the watch bed whenever I was on watch. We were told that we had a special bed that we were sleeping in. There was another black firefighter on the other shift, and we both slept in the same bed.” 

By that time, my father was no longer welcome in the Oakland Fire Department. He had cashed in his city pension, and resigned. 

This is my family history. I doubt if it is appreciably different from most African-Americans, whose family roots go back to the slave trade, and then through slavery, and the hundred years of terror that followed the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of the Civil War. It is intertwined with our searches to uncover our family histories and genealogy, but much of it involves personal memories, as well—once, for example, after we got a flat tire in West Oakland and did not have a spare, watching police in West Oakland make my father sit on the curb for a half hour in front of his two sons while they checked to make sure the car actually belonged to him. My father was a property and business owner at the time, but that did not help him evade police suspicion. He was Black. 

Such memories invoke anger in most African-Americans, historical anger, inherited anger, suppressed in order to keep our sanity and go about our day-to-day business without going off, but anger that never completely goes away. My father died with that anger. I will, too. It is one of the legacies of being African-American in these latter days. 

Because he does not have that history, that African-American anger is not present in Barack Obama. This African-American anger cannot be manufactured, or transferred. It is burned into us like the old slave brands, in a crucible of history and memory and experience. It is an unsettling and a frightening thing, both to African-Americans ourselves and to our white brothers and sisters and neighbors and co-workers and friends, even when its source is not recognized or its essence manifested in any observable action. And because Mr. Obama does not have that inherent African-American anger, he is attractive to our white brothers and sisters in this country in a way that no African-American of our time will ever be. 

But that is a subject we will have to further explore in another column. 

Economics is a wonderful and fascinating field. When I think about the things I’d like to study as I get older, it keeps getting pushed higher up on the list. The fun thing about it is that it’s at work everywhere around us. As long as money or goods are flowing through a system it’s there and from my very prejudiced vantage point it appears to me no more prevalent or relevant than in the world of construction. 

I always laugh and roll my head back when I read stories in the press about enormous civil projects that have cost over-runs of 100 percent accompanied by time delays and white collar arrests of paper pushers who sloughed cost overruns into their Cayman Island accounts. It makes the contractors look good. Certainly many people have a story of woe involving a contractor who turned out be a scoundrel but as I have often beaten into the tabletop, it’s not the way most of them are and certainly isn’t a function of evil. Contractors are JUST like everyone else. Most are trying to their best and most do pretty well but only a few are top flight.  

Also, a few are going to be incompetent, varying with the trade; that is, licensed electricians are rarely stupid and most are both bright and committed. Roofers, on the other hand run from superb to pathetic. I suspect this is because roofs don’t kill people and you don’t have be too bright to nail roofing onto plywood. Of course, this remark is deceptive (like the problem) because roofing, done responsibly and well is actually fairly complex but since you can get away with something that looks like roofing (and who climbs up there to look, anyway) without knowing the finer points, we end up with more than a few roofers who stay in business while producing a shoddy and economically inadequate product. By the way, amazingly, most cities, while issuing permits for roof replacements do NO inspections of these jobs (are you shaking your head?). 

A better roofer may charge 20 percent more for their work but may well produce a product that requires almost no maintenance and lasts 30-100 percent longer. While it seems as though this is a no-brainer, most buyers of these services don’t do much shopping and don’t ask critical questions or contact referrals. Thus, we all end up with lots of subcompentents in the marketplace. If we all did more research, they would just wash out with the tide. Apparently people don’t just get the government they deserve, they also get the marketplace they deserve. See, I’m an economist too (look ma, no Ph.D.) 

But, as usually, I’ve managed to completely evade the point I want to make so I’ll just mosey on back to where I lost my place. The thing I’d like to discuss, and it IS about economics, is within the financial theory of construction costs. When I see houses being sold, they’re often suffering from what might be called, empty-pocket syndrome, or the theorem of ever-shortening shrift.  

Redmodelings I see often appear as though the money ran out about 3 weeks too early and all the nice things that could have been done near completion were either omitted or done in such a slip-shod manner that the best of what they could have been is lost. It’s not only sad, it’s really stupid, economically speaking. Had this same project been economically planned to allow for it’s actual scale, the final measures could have made the work shine. 

When we build a house, there’s a lot of money that goes into a foundation, framing, plumbing and wiring but these, in the end, are not the parts that make us “oo” and “ah.” They’re the subtext. The presumptive. The parts that excite us about a house are mostly the things that get added in the very last days of construction. Now, this isn’t to say that good massing (shape and size of the building and its rooms) as well as good fenestration (window placement) don’t help to make a great house (and these are clearly things set at the beginning of the project). But even when these features are present, the detailing and appointing of these rooms makes all the difference. 

It seems to me that so many of the houses of the 1960 and ‘70s make this argument for me. They may have huge rooms and dramatic siting and views but they leave me blah because they lack detail. Now this was institutionalized in this time period and very much their misbegotten intention but for many of us doing projects today, the same sort of thing happens inadvertently. 

We plan a wonderful project and complete all the big rough parts and then, just around the time we should be picking out great appliances, counter-tiling and flooring, the money starts to run out. Instead of picking great finishes, the parts we’ll actually see and feel, we are forced to short ourselves on the very things that will make the project satisfying and valuable. Worse, we often run out of labor dollars near the end, forcing many important tasks to be passed along to someone cheaper and less skilled. This often results not only in a loss of appeal but also in longevity and quality far short of what a reasonable end-of-job budget would have allowed. 

Finishes, as we might call them, including finish carpentry (moldings, baseboards, built-ins), flooring, counters, painting, appliances and all the things that we do toward the end of the project. These are not only expensive (for seemingly small units of area), they’re also time consuming. The final parts of a construction project can often take half the budget and half the time to complete but these should not be seen as nuisances or cost over-runs. Rather, we need to revise our thinking so that we see the physical mass of construction as being a staging for this vital set of details. 

This modern thinking is a very large part of why modern houses don’t look like old houses. It’s economics. We see square footage as the primary feature of houses today while the quality of detail was the central criteria a hundred years ago and even more in the distant past. 

So how do we actually make this work? Well, one important dictum is to scale your project accordingly. If you want real quality, start off by bidding for it. Make it clear to your architect, contractor or subcontractors that you want “finishes” done well and that you want to begin budgeting for great tile and wonderful windows early on. Build-in all of these costs and leave an extra, secret, sum of money set aside for changes or other budgetary slip-and-falls that are likely to occur before completion.  

Most jobs have some cost over-runs and most clients are asked to accept some disappoint before the job is done, in order that all the bills get paid. If you’ve set something aside, you’re more likely to be able to answer these dilemmas with “Well, I think I can come up with a little extra to make sure that I get it the way we planned.” Don’t say that too often or they’ll figure out where the spigot is. 

Most importantly, don’t try to build or remodel to the max. Part of why Small is Beautiful is that it’s complete, fully nourished and well budgeted. It’s economics. 

By the way, part of what we’re talking about here is the European model and certainly the Japanese model. Do less. Do it better. Make it last and get every penny for your dollar. 

Good contractors end up learning this (if they didn’t know it to begin with). Architects often understand this but can’t always get their way with clients or contractors. 

Really bad contractors not only don’t know it, they often seem unable to finish properly despite repeated requests for extra money. A well organized and experienced contractor can end up being cheaper in the end simply because they know how to control expenditures. 

We’ve covered a lot of ground here and it may be a little hard to digest all at once, but if I can leave you with only one nugget to hold onto, it would be that when you take on any sort of construction job, whether it’s jacking the house, remodeling a kitchen or simply hanging some shelves, that you allow plenty of time, money and labor for what looks like the last 10 percent.  

I think it’s safe to say that it ain’t. 

Got a question about home repairs and inspections? Send them to Matt Cantor at mgcantor@pacbell.net.

Russian Roulette? 

Would you do it? Put the gun to your head? After all, the law of averages is in your favor. Of course not.  

But we know the Hayward Fault is more than 20 years overdue and geologists tell us that we are probably in for a very major quake when it ruptures. Like along the lines of the 1906 San Francisco quake. 

So we can play the very dangerous game of hoping the law of averages will stay in our favor the rest of our lives, or we can do the prudent things to protect ourselves, our families, and our homes: have our retrofits checked, have an automatic gas shut-off valve installed, secure our furniture, and put together or buy an emergency kit. 

Not really so daunting, is it? And imagine the alternative. 

Larry Guillot is owner of QuakePrepare, an earthquake consulting, securing, and kit supply service. Call him at 558-3299, or visit www.quakeprepare.com.

TUESDAY, MARCH 27 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Tell on on Tuesdays Storytelling at 7:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts. Cost is $8-$12 sliding scale. www.juiamorgan.org 

Freight and Salvage Open Mic at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $4.50-$5.50. 548-1761.  

Irvin Muchnik, with special guest Josh Kornbluth, talks about “Wrestling Babylon: Piledriving Tales of Drugs, Death, Sex, and Scandal” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Laury Hammel, co-founder of Business Alliance for Local Living Economy will read from his new book at 7 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 528-3254. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Zizoo at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054.  

Singers’ Open Mic with Ellen Hoffman at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. 841-JAZZ.  

Randy Craig Trio at 7:30 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Jazzschool Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Alan Snitow, Deborah Kaufman, and Michael Fox present “Thirst: Fighting the Corporate Theft of Our Water” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Georgann Brennan reads from “A Pig in Provence” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Writing Teachers Write, monthy reading at 5 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Music for the Spirit with Ron McKean on harpsichord at 12:15 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway. 444-3555. 

WomenSing Chorus at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $10-$20. 925-974-9169. 

Pat Metheny with Brad Mehldau Trio at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $30-$58. 642-9988.  

Echo Beach at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $7. 841-JAZZ.  

Karabali at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Salsa dance lessons at 8 p.m. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

The Flux at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Nicole and the Sisters in Soul at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

Roy Hargrove Quintet at 8 and 10 p.m. through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $18-$24. 238-9200.  

THURSDAY, MARCH 29 

THEATER  

Dell’Ate Group “Second Skin” a one-woman show by Joan Schirle at 7:30 p.m. at Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon St. Free. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Berkeley, Her Land, Her Gift of Early Neighborhoods” an illustrated lecture with Richard Schwartz at 7:30 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Tickets are $15-$20. 848-4288. 

Lionel Shriver reads from “The Post-Birthday World” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Tom McNamee reads from “Alice Waters and Chez Panisse” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Elline Lipkin and Sandra Lim, poetry, at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Pierre Bensusan at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761.  

Modesto Bresenio Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

Julie Lloyd, singer/songwriter, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

BeatBeat Whisper, Snowblink, All My Pretty Ones at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

Pachanga Primavera, benefit for Chicano Latino scholars at UC Berkeley, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5-$7. 849-2568.  

Headnodic & Raashan Ahmad at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low. Cost is $5. 548-1159.  

Built for the Sea, Minipop at 8:30 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $10. 763-1146. 

FRIDAY, MARCH 30 

THEATER 

Altarena Playhouse “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” Fri and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 1409 High St., Alameda, through April 1. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553.  

Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company “unconditional” A movement/theater piece Fri. and Sat. at 7:30 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. at Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St., Oakland. Tickets are $12-$20 sliding scale for adults and $6 for youth under 18. 597-1619. www.destinyarts.org 

Masquers Playhouse “She Loves Me” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Masquers Playhouse, 105 Park Place, Point Richmond. Tickets are $12. 232-4031. www.masquers.org  

Shotgun Players “Blood Wedding” Thurs.-Sun. at 8 p.m. at the Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., through April 29. Tickets are $17-$25. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

Virago Theatre “Orphans” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at BridgeHead Studio, 2516 Blanding Ave, Alameda, through March 31. Tickets are $10-$15. 415-439-2456.  

EXHIBITIONS 

“Bridal Fantasies: The Fashion of Dreams” Opening Reception at 6 p.m. at Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles, 2982 Adeline St., through August 4. Open Mon.-Sat. noon to 6 p.m. 843-7178.  

“Memories in Beads” Beaded garments, handbags and decorative pieces on display at Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles. Opening reception at 6 p.m. at 2982 Adeline St. 843-7178.  

FILM 

“The Greater Circulation” A film by Antero Alli at 8 p.m. at Grace North Church, 2138 Cedar St. Cost is $6 .464-4640. www.verticalpool.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Chris Hedges talks about “American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. 559-9500.  

Steven Hockensmith reads from “On the Wrong Track” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. www.codysbooks.com  

African Alkhemic Spoken Word at 7 p.m. at Black New World, 836 Pine St., West Oakland. Tickets are $25. For reservations call 444-2907. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Li Chiao-Ping Dance “Home Works” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$15. 925-798-1300. 

Phoenix Rising: A Piano and Flute Duo at 7:30 p.m. at Pro Arts, 550 Second St., Oakland. Tickets are $10-$15. 868-0695. www.bayareabach.org 

Different Strokes Jazz Duo with Yehudit Lieberman, 5 string violin and Beth Snellings, 'cello at 8 p.m. at the Giorgi Gallery 2911 Claremont Ave. Tickets are $112-$15. 848-1228. 

Carmen Prieto and Lichi Fuentes, original and traditional Latin American songs, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $15-$18. 849-2568.  

“Almost Famous” jazz musical performed by Cathi Walkup and Shana Carlson at 8 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Cost is $10-$15. www.hillsideclub.org 

Rhonda Benin & Soulful Strut at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Stompy Jones at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. East Coast swing dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $13. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Jill Knight, singer/songwriter, at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Chookasian Ensemble at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Ira Marlowe and Stevie Barsotti at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

The Panhandle, 86, The Shut-ins at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082. www.starryploughpub.com 

The Locust, Daughters at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

Blackberry Soup at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Will Bernard/Will Blades Trio at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Roy Hargrove Quintet at 8 and 10 p.m. through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $18-$24. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, MARCH 31 

CHILDREN  

East Bay Children’s Theater “Rumplestiltskin” at 10:30 a.m. and 1 pm. at James Moore Theater, Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. Tickets are $7, children under 2 free. 655-7285. 

Farmyard Stories and Songs with Tara Reinertson at 11 a.m. at the Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Amy Myer at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $4 for adults, $3 for children. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Ravioli the Clown celebrates National Reading Month Sat. and Sun. at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. 452-2259. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Botanicals and Beasties” Photographs and drawings by Neil Tierney. Reception at 2 p.m. at Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company “unconditional” A movement/theater piece at 7:30 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. at Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St., Oakland. Tickets are $12-$20 sliding scale for adults and $6 for youth under 18. 597-1619. www.destinyarts.org 

Inti-Illimani at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $20-$32. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Li Chiao-Ping Dance “Home Works” at 8 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $10-$15. 925-798-1300. 

Puerto Rican Women “La Bomba es nuestra” at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$12. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Mal Sharpe Quintet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Celu with Molly Thomas and Friends at noon at Cafe Zeste, 1250 Addison St. at Bonar, in the Strawberry Creek Park complex. 704-9378. 

Dave Lionelli and Nomi at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Women in Song “Local Treasures” with Beth Robinson, Audrey Auld Mezera, Elaine Dempsey, Megan McLaughlin Patty Espeseth at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $17.50-$18.50. 548-1761.  

The Acid Reggae Xperience at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$15. 845-5373.  

Kurt Ribak Jazz Group at 9:30 p.m. at Albatross, 1822 San Pablo Ave. Cost is $5. 843-2473. www.albatrosspub.com 

Nicole McRory at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

Greg & Esperanza Pratt, folk and swing, at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. Cost is $7. 558-0881. 

The Highway Robbers, Blue Mire, Carrie Clark & the Lonesome Lovers at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082.  

David Jeffrey’s Fourtet at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Forced March, Absolute Rulers at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, APRIL 1 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Line Drawings of Oakland Landmarks” by Daniel Ling at . at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave., through April 30. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

“A Gathering of Greatness" Allegorical photographs of famous people in the Pere-Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, by Dorothy Levitt Mayers. Reception at 1 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes, 4499 Piedmont Ave., Oakland. 228-3207. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

DuEwa M. Frazier, Aimee Suzara and Ellen Hagan read their poetry at 7 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $8. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Poetry Flash present Betsey Andrews reading from “New Jersey” and Brian Teare reading from “The Room Where I Was Born” at 7 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Measha Brueggergosman, soprano at 3 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $42. 642-9988.  

Twang Cafe presents a night of all bluegrass with The Mountain Boys, 5 Dollar Suit, Wagon at 7 p.m. at Epic Arts, 1923 Ashby Ave. Cost is $10. www.twangcafe.com 

“Highland, Heath and Holler” Celtic music’s voyage to Appalachia at 7 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $20-$32. 642-9988.  

Bandworks Concert at noon at Ashkenaz. Cost is $5, children under 12 free. 525-5054.  

Reptet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $7. 841-JAZZ.  

Conflict, Scarred for Life, Anima Mundi and others at 8 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $10. 763-1146. 

Philips Marine Duo at 11 a.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Antelope, Black Fiction at 8:30 p.m. at the Uptown Nightclub, 1928 Telegraph, Oakland. Cost is $5. 451-8100.  

MONDAY, APRIL 2 

EXHIBITIONS 

“Bridal Fantasies: The Fashion of Dreams” at Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles, 2982 Adeline St., through August 4. Open Mon.-Sat. noon to 6 p.m. 843-7178.  

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Clemens Stark reads at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Poetry Express with California Poet Laureate Al Young at 7 p.m. at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. berkeleypoetryexpress@yahoo.com 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Berkeley Contemporary Chamber Players “Berkeley New Music Project” at 8 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $4-$12. 642-9988. 

Happy Trails Benefit for the Halleck Creek Riding Club for the Disabled at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761.  

Smyrna Time Machine at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Balkan dance lesson at 7:30 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054.  

Conflict, Scarred for Life, Anima Mundi and others at 8 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $10. 763-1146. www.oaklandmetro.org 

Tito Y Su Son De Cuba at 8 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$15. 238-9200. 

BERKELEY’S LAND AND EARLY NEIGHBORHOODS 

The Berkeley History and Architecture Series begins this week with Richard Schwartz, author of Berkeley 1900 and Earthquake Exodus 1906, speaking on “Berkeley: Her Land and Her Gift of Early Neighborhoods” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. The series will continue every other month, on the last Thurday of the month. $15-$20 for each reading; $45-$60 for the series. For information call Arlene Baxter at 848-4288. 

DESTINY ARTS  

YOUTH PERFORMANCE 

Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company’s new movement theater piece combines hip-hop, modern and aerial dance, rap and spoken word in the exploration of issues of family, gun violence and global warming. Performances are Friday and Saturday at Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St., Oakland. $12-$20, sliding scale for adults and $6 for youth under 18. 597-1619. www.destinyarts.org. 

PFA SCREENS DISNEY’S SILLY SYMPHONIES 

Russell Merritt, author of Walt  

Disney’s Silly  

Symphonies: A Companion to the Classic Cartoon Series, will introduce a program of Disney’s Silly Symphonies at 3 p.m. Saturday at Pacific Film Archive as part of PFA’s ongoing Matinees for All Ages series. Merritt will be available to sign copies of his book, which will be on sale at a discount for PFA patrons. Tickets: $4-$8. 2575 Bancroft Way. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu.

A career-spanning exhibit of the gorgeous and haunting photographs of Henry Wessel, documenting his visions of the landscape, people and light of California and the West, is on display at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art through April 22. 

Wessel, a New Jersey native, borrowed a Leica camera and fell in love while he was a psychology student at Pennsylvania State University. He opened a portrait studio in 1967, the year after he graduated, and soon after was heading west, photographing the journey.  

He arrived in California in 1970 and soon after moved to Point Richmond, where he could afford to buy a house. “For the next 30 years I made all my photography expenses against the house,” he said with a chuckle. “I now have a large mortgage on a house I once bought outright.” 

Wessel, 64, said his approach is simple: He looks for things that interest him and he takes a picture. 

“I’m a still photographer, which means that what you see in my photographs exists in the physical world. I am just recording what I’m standing in front of with as much fidelity as the medium allows,” he said. “It’s my pleasure, it’s how I make sense of the world and get through my day. For me, the most interesting place is the physical world. It’s like if we took a walk and I pointed out to you the things I see that interest me—that’s what I do with my photographs.” 

So how does he know when he sees something that will make a good photo? 

“I don’t know,” Wessel said. “If it’s something in the world that I can’t ignore, that catches my attention, I take a picture of it. Of course, 99 percent of the time what I do is a failure, it doesn’t work out. I have to wait to see how it comes out as a photo, because then it’s no longer the world itself, but a photo of it.” 

The SFMOMA exhibit comprises more than 80 prints spanning Wessel’s entire career, including some early photographs being exhibited for the first time. 

“I plan to work another 40 years so I don’t want to think of it as a retrospective; I call it a survey,” he said. 

Over the years, he said, his approach to photography has changed little. 

“It’s to record the physical world, light on surface,” he said. “I want my style to be transparent. I don’t want people who see the show to think about my style, but to just see the image on the wall, to just see it and have a physical reaction.” 

Wessel still shoots with a Leica film camera, just like the one with which he began his career. He doesn’t object to digital photography and has tried shooting with a digital camera, but said he prefers making photographs the way he always has. 

“As long as I can still get film and paper, I’ll use them,” he said. “What differentiates a photographer is not the equipment, it’s not the quality of the print, but the distinctness of the insight that is manifest in the photograph. It’s about establishing a connection and having that present in the work.” 

HENRY WESSEL: PHOTOGRAPHS 

On display through April 22 at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third St., San Francisco. www.sfmoma.org. 

Photograph: Courtesy San Francisco Museum of Modern Art  

Henry Wessel’s San Francisco, 1977 is on display as part of a survey of the photographer’s work at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

With surprisingly little fanfare to date, the dry winter of 2006/2007 has brought two important new books exploring the character of the Berkeley community. 

Jonathan Chester’s Berkeley Rocks: Building With Nature, and Jon Sullivan and Contee Seely’s Berkeley One and Only both deserve accolades for their sensitive, creative, and particularly well illustrated portraits of local life and scenery. 

Berkeley Rocks is a smart, handsome volume. It’s an intelligent read and an elegant coffee table book. 

Once visually prominent on undeveloped hillsides, most of the curious rock outcroppings in the eastern part of Berkeley were later absorbed into backyards, pocket parks, gardens and even basements, and can take a bit of searching to locate.  

Chester draws on the expertise of—and gives well-deserved credit to—several local experts and geologists who have parsed out the natural and human history of these remarkable works of nature. 

An early chapter on the origins of the rocks shows the interesting muddle—igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary—underlying the Berkeley landscape.  

Far from being from one geological family, Berkeley’s rocks represent a baker’s dozen of types from “Meta Graywacke” to “Claremont Chert,” all tossed about and shaped by tectonic uplift, local volcanoes (yes, there were several of those), and the inexorable shaking and shifting along the Hayward Fault. 

The natural history section and early photographs of the rocks are first rate but Chester’s primary theme is not how the rocks came to be, but what humans have done with them, particularly when early practitioners of the “Bay Region” architectural tradition began to embrace Berkeley’s boulders rather than blast them out of the way.  

In fascinating and affectionately crafted chapters he guides the reader from native Californian uses of the rocks, to the spread of American-era streetcar suburbs in the early 20th century, to the work of present-day architects and artisans who continue to shape Berkeley’s rock environment. 

The heart of the book is a beautifully photographed series of portraits of Berkeley homes, old and modern, showing how their past and current residents have used and appreciated the rock outcrops that erupt in their yards, driveways, garages, stairwells and even—in one case—bathroom and shower. 

Berkeley Rocks is an elegantly conceived and executed book. The contemporary photographs are crisp and striking and there are readable maps and nicely selected historical images, and an inviting, page-turning, layout.  

If Berkeley Rocks is a polished tribute, Berkeley One and Only is more of a homemade valentine.  

I mean that in a most positive way. Photographer Jon Sullivan clearly loves Berkeley and spent several years documenting not only fixed beauties but ongoing events and ephemeral occasions. 

The interwoven themes of the hefty volume range from The Big Game to in-studio portraits of several local artists and their works to Berkeley neighborhoods in the spring.  

There’s a chapter devoted to aerial photographs of Berkeley, shot by Sullivan from the open window of a small plane. That section alone makes the book worth getting if you want to peer down on the ever changing local landscape from on high. 

A number of Berkeley’s most important architectural edifices and landmarks are fittingly portrayed, but Sullivan also turned his camera on humble homes, one-car garages, cement hoppers, and the innards of complex experimental equipment at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. 

Several pages expansively vignette the annual How Berkeley Can You Be? parade, while local murals—including several now vanished—receive their own lavish photo documentation, including no less than four gorgeous pages picturing the monumental and landmark “People’s Bicentennial History of Telegraph Avenue” on Haste above Telegraph. 

Berkeley One and Only might be considered primarily a picture book, but short chapter introductions and detailed captions provide a fair amount of commentary and background information. 

Neither a panorama of half the city nor a close-up of a picturesque fallen leaf in the UC Botanical Garden escape Sullivan’s camera.  

And he has an eye for turning a mundane setting—a stairwell at the Downtown Berkeley BART station for instance, or the fading paint of the “ghost advertisement” on a brick wall—into surprisingly poignant images. 

Sullivan is catholic in his portrayal of not only the physical character, but also the special cultural life, of the Berkeley community. In the future, this book will serve as important documentation of several aspects of Berkeley’s life half a decade to either side of the turn of the century. 

People—Berkeley High School athletes and graduates, local park and library patrons, the late “Waving Man,” BART commuters, a City Council public hearing audience, churchgoers, teenagers sitting on the curb on Telegraph—figure vividly into his Berkeley tapestry.  

From the upper Russell Street Halloween extravaganza, to the Berkeley Flea Market, to a group of pregnant women exercising in the Downtown YMCA pool, here is Berkeley in all of its quirkiness and special character. 

One small discomfort with Berkeley One and Only has to do with the printed character of some of the color photographs. Here and there colors seem a shade off or too saturated—the oranges too reddish, the greens overly vivid, for example.  

I’m neither a photographic nor a printing expert, but my guess is that something about the production process didn’t measure up to the quality of the original photographs. This may bother some readers. 

Also, I try to be a stickler for local historical accuracy, and neither book passes completely unscathed.  

Both get elements of early UC history mixed up, a fault as correctable as it is unfortunately common in local histories. 

I’m disappointed Jonathan Chester didn’t note or describe three of the most important early rock walls in Berkeley which lie at the edges of the UC campus: Le Roy and Hearst below Memorial Stadium and Dana and Bancroft.  

All are prominent 19th century creations and the third one embraces the old First Unitarian Church, where several of Berkeley’s bohemians and early rock enthusiasts worshiped.  

Including them and their history along with a more thorough treatment of William Smyth, whose Fernwald estate at the top of Dwight Way was one of the earliest and most important places Berkeley rocks were used in landscape architecture, would have made Berkeley Rocks a more complete treatise. 

I hasten to add, though, that none of these flaws is fatal. 

Both of these are fine books, and I anticipate they will represent the current decade well in the future libraries of local history as well as on the bookshelves of today’s Berkeleyans. 

Berkeley One and Only 

By Jon Sullivan with Contee Seely. 

Command Performance Press, Berkeley. Hardcover, $35. 

Berkeley Rocks: Building With Nature By Jonathan Chester.  

Ten Speed Press. Hardcover, $35. 

Much of the North Berkeley rock-integrated territory covered by Berkeley Rocks will also be the special focus of the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA) annual house tour this coming May.

“Stop in the Name of Love, or, Until the War Is Over, Nobody Gets Over.” The subheads of the African-American Shakespeare Co.’s production of Lysistrata say it all—as director Rhodessa Jones amplifies, “Lysistrata is a cry for peace by women driven to change the world using the ultimate weapon!” 

Aristophanes’ ancient bawdy comedy has long been the rallying cry of civilian peace movements in the West, especially since the time of the Popular Front in the 1930s. Its tale of women conspiring to withhold their charms from their warrior husbands until peace (and love) are sued for is sampled by Jones and her crew at San Francisco’s Buriel Clay Theater in the African-American Art and Cultural Complex in a string of vignettes from the old masterpiece with tableaux in shadow-play, riding on a wave of music. 

“I did it for myself,” confesses Jones during her pre-show remarks. “If you like it, tell your friends; if you don’t—mind your own business!” 

This Lysistrata-ish attitude is aided and abetted by an array of performers, including a jazz singer (Cheryl Bennett Scales in the title role), an actor-playwright (Maikiko James as the Goddess of Peace), a stand-up comedian (Shareef Allman as the hapless camoflage-clad Cinesias), a musical theater performer (Viessa Keith-Queen as Lampito), a couple of shadow puppeteers (Sheila Devitt and Nicole Podell) and other performers from around the Bay and the country (Tamika Kai Chenier as Myrrhine, Leslie Ivy as the Koryphaios, Karen Marek as the Old Woman and Desiree Rogers as the Magistrate). 

The combination of these various backgrounds and levels of stage experience, coupled with the “bitty” nature of the show, one routine after another, give it the spirited quality of a kind of vaudevillized pageant, rather than a full staging of a venerable classic. The cast, like the director, is having fun—but for a purpose. Action and language switch back and forth from references to the classical Greek, specifically Athenian, state of things, and arise out of a swirl of present-day popular culture, the miasma of Iraq, well-represented by shadow images and live actors in silhouette. 

The music and singing is both recorded and live, coming from a variety of sources, from James Brown to Jimi Hendrix’s stratospheric bending of the national anthem, from Middle Eastern song to the very apt recessional, Aretha’s “Do-Right Woman.” 

The music leads to some funny business, as the warlike men in shadow-play (the puppetry mentored by I Made Moja, a collaborator with Larry Reed’s brilliant ShadowLight Productions) find their awkward military strutting reduced to a kind of funky-chicken walk in their unsatisfied desperation before they throw in the towel. 

There are a few moments when the text of ancient comedy wryly becomes sit-com-ish, as when Shareef Allman as Cinesias and Tamika Chenier as Myrrhine get into it. Cinesias demands—then pleads for—his connubial rights, “right here on the ground” (in front of the Parthenon?) as his sly wife eggs him on, finds excuses, and dances away to other things, as her fraught spouse cries out her name in anguish, sounding like “Maureen! Maureen!”  

So it all could be right next door, which is one purpose of the show. The other is demonstrated, literally, by the speeches and chants against the present Iraq debacle, some authored by the cast. This Lysistrata succeeds because of its own exuberance, but the play has always been a rallying cry, and that’s how this version works best.

If you’re walking down University Avenue, or driving up the freeway to the Richmond Bridge, or taking a car or bike jaunt up around Clear Lake, you’ll have noticed that the redbuds are blooming. We’ve borrowed specimens of this gorgeous scarf that the Central Valley wears around its eastern and western foothills. Good idea, for landscape and ornament in the cities and for the most difficult spots along roads. 

The Tilden Park Botanic Garden has a splendid group of redbuds right along its perimeter fence, poking through sometimes as if wanting to escape, for inspiration if you need it. 

In its native habitat it’s a frequently-seen roadside tree thriving in the oddest rocky bits of soil, inching right up onto the gravel road shoulder, balancing on defiant tiptoe over a streambed gorge: Cercis occidentalis, cousin to T.S. Eliot’s and Katherine Anne Porter’s Flowering Judas.  

Our redbud has an Eastern North American cousin, Cercis canadensis; there are Asian species too, and lots of hybrids and cultivars in the nursery trade. I have a fondness for ‘Forest Pansy’ with its burgundy leaves, but that’s best for places that are more like an Eastern forest—in part shade, with good drainage but deep loamy soil and plenty of water.  

If you want a true Western redbud, look for it in a nursery that specializes in natives, or wait for one of the native-plant spring sales listed below.  

Buy as small a tree as you can stand to, say a seedling in a one-gallon nursery can or pot. It will be easier to plant because it needs a smaller hole, and will catch up to its bigger brethren who’ve been planted at the same time because it will experience less of the standard transplant setback than one that’s already older. 

Dig a broad, shallow hole for your tree, then pile some of the dirt back into the center of the hole. Don’t amend the soil. If you have serious clay, rough out the edges of the hole with your spade, so you’re not making a clay pot to confine the roots.  

Remove the tree from the can, gently spread the roots out so they won’t grow in a circle, and rest it in top of the pile in the hole. Then backfill, tamping the soil down gently. When it’s planted, the tree should be a bit higher than the ground around it, for better drainage; be sure the roots are covered, though.  

You probably won’t need to stake it. Dig a shallow moat around the edges of the hole and pile that dirt around the outside for a temporary watering basin. This should erode away within a year.  

When you have the tree happily situated, it will need water regularly for at least a year or two; after that it’s drought-tolerant.  

It grows into a small, airy tree, about dogwood-sized, and like a dogwood a sculpture of planes when in leaf. It will want full sun, especially west of the hills; it likes the sort of environment that would fry that dogwood. You’ll get more flowers if your tree lives in a slightly severe climate, particularly one with a cold snap in the winter, and cold winters bring out the best in its fall foliage, too: As Marjorie Schmidt enthuses in her seminal book Growing California Native Plants, “...the heart-shaped leaves look like valentines strung along the stems.” You’ll also get more blooms as the tree gets older.  

Redbuds rarely need pruning, but if you get ambitious or artistic, remember that they bloom on old wood and do your work just after flowering or you’ll lose next year’s show. Study your tree in winter, when the leaves have given way to the ascetically handsome red branches, to imagine its best possible shape. There’s a good chance the tree will imagine its own best form if you leave it alone. 

NATIVE PLANT SALES 

Marin Chapter, California Native Plant Society 

Tiburon Audubon Center and Wildlife Sanctuary 

376 Greenwood Beach Road, Tiburon.  

Saturday Apri 14, 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  

Regional Parks Botanic Garden  

Tilden Park, near the Brazilian Room 

Saturday, April 21, 

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

Jepson CNPS Plant Sale 

Benicia Community Garden 

Military East and E. 2nd St, Benicia 

May 5, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Photograph by Ron Sullivan 

This redbud’s for you, on University Avenue.These pea-like blooms appear before the heart-shaped leaves in spring. 

Ron Sullivan is a former professional gardener and arborist. Her “Green Neighbors” column appears every other Tuesday in the Berkeley Daily Planet, alternating with Joe Eaton’s “Wild Neighbors” column. Her “Garden Variety” column appears every Friday in the Planet’s East Bay Home & Real Estate section.  

TUESDAY, MARCH 27 

Tuesdays for the Birds Tranquil bird walks in local parklands, led by Bethany Facendini, from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Today we will visit Briones Regional Park. Call for meeting place and if you need to borrow binoculars. 525-2233. 

Women: America’s Greatest Untapped Natural Resource Lecture and discussion with Jerri Lanfe at 1 p.m. at Laney College Forum, 900 Fallon St. Oakland. Part of Women HerStory Month. Cost is $7-$12. http://laney.peralta.edu/womensherstorymonth 

“Maquilopolis” Screening of the documentary on globalization through the eyes of Tijuana’s factory workers at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Berkeley City College, 2050 Center St.  

“Forced Displacement and the Merowe Dam: The Other Human Rights Crisis in the Sudan” with Ali Askouri, Sudanese human rights activist at 7 p.m. in the Morgan Lounge, Morgan Hall, UC Campus. Sponsored by International Rivers Network. 848-1155. 

“Finding Your Roots on the Web” A class on genealogy research at 7 p.m. in the Berkeley History Room, Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. To register call 981-6148. 

Zoo Ambassador Training Orientation The Oakland Zoo is looking for volunteers to help teach visitors about the zoo and the animals. Training from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Oakland Zoo. For information call 632-9525. 

Free Diabetes Screening from 8 a.m. to noon at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Do not eat or drink anything for 8 hours beforehand. 981-5332. 

National Nutrition Month Cooking Demonstrations at 3 p.m. at the Tuesday Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Derby St. at Martin Luther King Jr. Way. 548-3333. 

Glucometer Demonstration from noon to 3 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Berkeley School Volunteers Training workshop for volunteers interested in helping the public schools, from noon to 1 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. 644-8833. 

Berkeley Home Safety and Repair Program presentation at 1:15 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5190. 

“Across the Atlas Alaskan Adventure” A video by Pietro Simonetti and Greg Cook at 7 p.m at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Berkeley PC Users Group meets at 7 p.m. at 1145 Walnut St., near the corner of Eunice St.  

Tuesday Tilden Walkers Join a few slowpoke seniors at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot near the Little Farm for an hour or two walk. 215-7672, 524-9992. 

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. 848-1704. www.ecologycenter.org 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 548-3991.  

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28 

Teach-In and Vigil Against American Torture every Wed. at noon at Boalt Hall, Bancroft Way at College Ave.  

“Health Care for Everyone: Plans or Scams” with Jessica Rothhar of Health Access at the Gray Panthers Membership Meeting, North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. 548-9696. 

Walk, Talk, Buck the Fence What’s at stake in the Ecology of Berkeley’s Strawberry Canyon A walk at 5 p.m. every Wed. with Ignacio Chapela and expert guests to discuss what is at stake in the proposed steps for the filling of the Canyon by the UC-LBL Rad-Labs, and now British Petroleum. http://canyonwalks.blogspot.com  

“How to Shop Consciously: The Better World Shopping Guide” with Dr. Ellis Jones at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave, near Dwight Way. 548-3402.  

“The Aging Eye” a free lecture with Dr. Erich Horn, opthamologist, at 9:30 a.m. at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Cafeteria Annex B and C, 350 Hawthorne St., Oakland. 869-6737. 

New to DVD: “Children of Men” at 7 p.m. at JCCEB, 1414 Walnut St. Discussion follows. 848-0237. 

Bayswater Book Club meets to discuss “Games People Play” By eric Berne at 6:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, El Cerrito. 433-2911. 

El Grupito, a group for practicing and maintaining Spanish skills, meets at 7:30 p.m. at Diesel Books, 5433 College Ave., Oakland. 653-9965. 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes and a warm hat. Heavy rain cancels. 548-9840. 

Stitch ‘n Bitch at 6:30 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

THURSDAY, MARCH 29 

“Berkeley, Her Land, Her Gift of Early Neighborhoods” An illustrated lecture with Richard Schwartz at 7:30 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Tickets are $15-$20. 848-4288. 

“Fight in the Fields” A doumentary on Cesar Chavez and the farmworkers’ struggle at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-2220. 

Teen Book Club meets to discuss the books we could not live without at 4:30 p.m. at the Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue at Ashby. Bring a book to share. 981-6107. 

Family Story Time for children ages 3-7 at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, North Branch, 1170 The Alameda, at Hopkins. 981-6107. 

World of Plants Tours Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at 1:30 p.m. at the UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. Cost is $5. 643-2755.  

FRIDAY, MARCH 30 

Impeachment Banner Fridays at 6:45 to 8 a.m. on the Berkeley Pedestrian bridge between Seabreeze Market and the Berkeley Aquatic Park, ongoing on Fridays until impeachment is realized. www. Impeachbush-cheney.com 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Ismail Khaldi, Deputy Consul General of Israel in SF on “Pluralism in Israel Today” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. 526-2925.  

What is Wheat Gluten in our Foods Doing to Us and our children if it is killing cats and dogs? Free documentary screening by Ann Marks at 1 p.m. at Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 528-6267. 

“This Black Soil” a film about the struggles of an impoverished community in Virginia, at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., midtown Oakland. Donation $5. www.HumanistHall.net 

“Finding Your Roots on the Web” a class on genealogy research at 11 a.m. in the Berkeley History Room, Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. To register call 981-6148. 

Oaxaca & Chiapas Report Back at 7 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists 1924 Cedar St. Donations accepted. 528-5403. 

Circle Dancing, simple folk dancing with instruction at 8 p.m. at Hillside Coommunity Church, 1422 Navellier St., El Cerrito. Potluck supper at 7 p.m.. Donation of $5 requested. 528-4253. www.circledancing.com 

SATURDAY, MARCH 31 

“The Art of Beekeeping in Your Backyard” A presentation by the Alameda County Beekeepers Association at 10 a.m. at 2418 California St. Cost is $10, reservations required, call Jim at 845-2419 or Heiko at 549-3377. 

Farmyard Stories and Songs with Tara Reinertson at 11 a.m. at the Tilden Nature Center, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

“Native Plants, Native Americans and the Spanish” A walk and discussion of the encounter between the two cultures from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, 2465 34th Ave., Oakland. 532-9142. 

Outdoor Gardening with Cacti and Succulents from 9 a.m. to noon at the UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. Cost is $25-$30. Registration required. 643-2755, ext. 03. 

Solo Sierrans Walk in Codornices Park Meet at 3:30 p.m. at the top of the Berkeley Rose Garden on Euclid Ave. Walk lasts about 1.5 hours and includes some steps. Rain cancels. 647-3513. 

Mt. Wanda Wildflower Walk Join a Park Ranger for a walk in the hills where John Muir took his daughters. Terrain is steep, wear walking shoes and bring water. Rain cancels. Meet at 9 a.m. at the Cal-Trans Park and Ride lot at the corner of Alhambra Ave. and Franklin Canyon Rd., Martinez. 925-228-8860. 

Alameda County Commission on the Status of Women Summit with Congresswomen Barbara Lee and Nancy Pelosi and workshops on domestic violence, breast health, and women in politics. From 1 to 6 p.m. at the Fremont Marriott, 46100 Landing Parkway, Admission is free, but registration required. 259-3871. 

Zoo Ambassador Training Orientation The Oakland Zoo is looking for volunteers to help teach visitors about the zoo and the animals. Training from 9 to 1 p.m. at the Oakland Zoo. For information call 632-9525. 

CopWatch Know Your Rights Training Movie Night Learn your rights with the police and police observation from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Grassroots House, 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

Understanding Chronic Fatigue at 11:30 a.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

“Preserving Home Ownership Forum” Learn how to avoid defaults, forclosures and protect your credit at 9:30 a.m. at Preservation Park, Ginn House Meeting Room, 660 13th St., Oakland. Sponsored by the California Association of Mortgage Brokers. 339-2121. 

Petite Pooches Playgroup for small dogs from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., one block north of Solano on Ensenada at Talbot. 524-2459. 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732.  

Around the World Tour of Plants at 1:30 p.m., Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. 643-2755. 

Car Wash Benefit for Options Recovery Services of Berkeley, held every Sat. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University Ave. 666-9552. 

SUNDAY, APRIL 1 

Specialty Nursery Plant Sale, sponsored by California Horticultural Society, with thousands of rare and unique plants, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lakeside Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave., Oakland, off Grand Ave., beside Lake Merritt. Cost is $3 for park entrance, free admission to plant sale. www.calhortsociety.org 

Family Exploration Day at the Oakland Museum of California with information on the peregrine falcon recovery efforts and special family tours of the Bringing the Condors Home exhibition, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Oak and 10th St., Oakland. Cost is $5-$8. 238-2200. 

Cancer Prevention and Survival Cooking Class from 1 to 3 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Oakland, 2501 Harrison St., Oakland. Free, but registration required. 444-8511. 

“Creating Collaborative Resistance to the Israeli Occupation” with Dr. Dalit Baum, Israeli peace activist, at 2:30 p.m. at the Berkeley Public LIbrary, Third Flr Community Meeting Room, 2090 Kittredge St. Suggested donation $10, no on e turned away. www.bayareawomeninblack.org 

Health Care Reform: Acts for Justice as a Spiritual Practice Soup supper at 5:30 p.m., program at 6:15 p.m. at Epworth United Methodist Church, 1953 Hopkins. Sponsored by Berkeley Organizing Congregations for Action. Free, but RSVP requested. 267-7131. 

Holistic Pet Evaluation from 1 to 4 p.m. at RabbitEars, 303 Arlington Ave., Kensington, behind Ace Hardware. Free, but appointments required. 525-6155. 

Easter Egg Painting from 2 to 3 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Free Hands-on Bicycle Clinic Learn how to keep your bike in excellent working condition through safety inspections, from 10 to 11 a.m. at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace Peace walk around the lake every Sun. Meet at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712. lmno4p.org 

Tibetan Buddhism with Santosh Philip on “Advanced Kum Nye: The Joy of Being” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812.  

MONDAY, APRIL 2  

Help with the Frog Survey Learn to recognize frog calls and help with Friends of Five Creeks’ every-other-year frog survey, at 7 p.m. at the Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin, Albany. For information call 848 9358. www.fivecreeks.org 

Cancer Prevention and Survival Cooking Class at 6:30 p.m. at Keller Williams, 4341 Piedmont Ave., 2nd Flr., Oakland. To register call Lori at 531-2665. 

Red Cross Blood Drive from noon to 6 p.m. at East Pauley Ballroom, MLK Student Union, UC Campus. To schedule an appointment go to www.BeADonor.com (code UCB) 

ONGOING 

Tax Help at the Berkeley Public Library Sat. from 11:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the South Branch. Call for appointment. 981-6260. Also every Tues. and Thurs. at the West Branch from 12:15 to 3:15 p.m. Call for appointment. 981-6270. 

CITY MEETINGS 

City Council meets Tues., March 27, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Civic Arts Commission meets Wed., March 28, at 6:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7533.  

Energy Commission meets Wed.,March 28, at 6:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5434.  

Planning Commission meets Wed., March 28 , at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7484.  

Police Review Commission meets Wed., March 28 at 7 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-4950.  

FRIDAY, MARCH 23 

THEATER 

Altarena Playhouse “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” Fri and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 2 p.m. at 1409 High St., Alameda, through April 1. Tickets are $17-$20. 523-1553. www.altarena.org 

Berkeley Rep “To the Lighthouse” at the Roda Theater, 2015 Addison St. and runs through March 25. Tickets are $45-$61. 647-2917 

.Central Works Theater Ensemble “Lola Montez” Thurs.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 5 p.m. at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant Ave. through March 25. Tickets are $9-$25. 558-1381. www.centralworks.org 

Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company “unconditional” A movement/theater piece Fri. and Sat. at 7:30 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. at Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St., Oakland. Tickets are $12-$20 sliding scale for adults and $6 for youth under 18. 597-1619. www.destinyarts.org. 

Shotgun Players “Blood Wedding” opens at 8 p.m. at the Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., and runs Thurs.-Sun. through April 29. Tickets are $17-$25. 841-6500. www.shotgunplayers.org 

“The Apple Tree and Other Forbidden Fruits” musical and dramatic vignettes Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. and Sun. at 1 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, One Lawson Rd., Kensington. Tickets are $15-$20. 525-0302, ext. 309.  

Virago Theatre “Orphans” Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. at BridgeHead Studio, 2516 Blanding Ave, Alameda, through March 31. Tickets are $10-$15. 415-439-2456. 

FILM 

“Manda Bala” (Send a Bullet) the Sundance FIlm Festival prize winning documentary, with Jason Kohn, director, at 7 p.m. at Andersen Auditorium, Haas School of Business, UC Campus.  

LunaFest Film festival by and about women at 7 p.m. at Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon St. Oakland. Part of Women HerStory Month. Cost is $7-$12. http://laney.peralta.edu/womensherstorymonth 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Oakland East Bay Symphony at 8 p.m. at Paramount Theater, 2025 Broadway, Oakland. Pre-concert lecture at 7 p.m.. Tickets are $15-$62. 652-8497.  

Shen Wei Dance Arts at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $26-$46. 642-9988.  

UCB/UCLA Contemporary Jazz Collaborative at 2 p.m. at Hertz Hall, UC Campus. 642-9988. 

Jeff Chandler and Allegro Ballroom “Top Hat Club” at 8 p.m. 5855 Christie Ave. Tickets are $35, or $50 with dinner. 655-2888. 

Lloyd Gregory & Friends, jazz, blues, R&B, at 8 p.m. at Everett and Jones, 126 Broadway, Oakland. 663-2350. 

Sandy Cressman & Her Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $12. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Tempest, Golden Bough and Caliban, Irish rock, at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $15. 525-5054. 

Judy Wexler, jazz vocalist, at 8 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave. 548-5198.  

Claudia Schmidt at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $19.50-$20.50. 548-1761.  

Erin English & Joe Ridout, Nick Zubel at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

Mirthkon, Fuxedos, Fuzzy Cousins at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082.  

Set it Straight, Dance for Destruction, Bright White Noise at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $5. 525-9926. 

Sol Spectrum at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790. www.beckettsirishpub.com 

Eleven Eyes at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Rachelle Ferrell at 8 and 10 p.m., through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $26-$30. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

SATURDAY, MARCH 24 

CHILDREN  

East Bay Children’s Theater “Rumplestiltskin” at 10:30 a.m. at 1 pm. at James Moore Theater, Oakland Museum of California, 1000 Oak St. Tickets are $7, children under 2 free. 655-7285. 

“Strega Nona Festival” A play based on the characters from Tomie dePaola’s books at 3 p.m. at Arts First Oakland, 2501 Harrison at 27th., Oakland. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 children 444-4755. www.stagebridge.org 

Los Amiguitos de La Peña with Ingrid Noyes & Paul Shelasky at 10:30 a.m. at La Peña. Cost is $4 for adults, $3 for children. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

“Silly Symphonies” film screening with author Russell Merritt in person at 3 p.m. at the Pacific Film Archive. Cost is $4-$8. 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu 

SF Circus Center Clown Conservatory “Experiment! The Excitement of Science” at 2 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $5-$8. 925-798-1300. 

Buki the Clown celebrates National Reading Month Sat. and Sun. at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. at Children’s Fairyland, 699 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. 452-2259. 

THEATER 

Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company “unconditional” A movement/theater piece at 7:30 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. at Malonga Casquelourd Center for the Arts, 1428 Alice St., Oakland. Tickets are $12-$20 sliding scale for adults and $6 for youth under 18. 597-1619. www.destinyarts.org 

Playback Theater in Celebration of Women at 8 p.m. at Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon St., Oakland. Cost is $8-$18. For reservations call 595-5500, ext. 25. 

EXHIBITIONS 

Native American Artist Spencer Nutima from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1573 Solano Ave. 528-9038. www.gatheringtribes.com 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Rhythm & Muse Young Performers’ Night, in coordination with Berkeley Arts Center’s Youth Arts Festival, at 7 p.m. at 1275 Walnut St., between Eunice & Rose Sts., behind Live Oak Park. 644-6893.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

American Bach Soloists Early Cantatas at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $16-$42. 415-621-7900 americanbach.org 

Trinity Chamber Concerts “The Sorrowful Mysteries” music of Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber at 8 p.m. at Trinity Chapel, 2320 Dana St. Tickets are $8-$12. 549-3864. 

Shen Wei Dance Arts at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $26-$46. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

“One Soul Sounding” Spring Equinox Concert at 7:30 p.m. at Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1330 Lakeshore, Oakland. Tickets are $15-$22. 654-3234. 

Jeff Chandler and Allegro Ballroom “Top Hat Club” at 8 p.m. 5855 Christie Ave. Tickets are $35, or $50 with dinner. 655-2888. 

A Night of Cuban Folkloric Music hosted by Jesus Diaz, featuring Sandy Perez, John Santos, Eric Barbera, Colin Douglas and Chris “Flaco” Walker at 9 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10. 849-2568.  

Robin Gregory & Her Trio at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Martin Pendergrast and Friends at noon at Cafe Zeste, 1250 Addison St. at Bonar, in the Strawberry Creek Park complex. 704-9378. 

West African Highlife Band at 9:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. African dance lesson at 9 p.m. Cost is $15. 525-5054.  

Agualibre at 9 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Cost is $10-$15. 548-1159.  

Jai Uttal & Donna DeLory at 7:30 p.m. at Rudramandir, 830 Bancroft Way at 6th St. Tickets are $25. 496-6047. www.Rudramandirtickets.com  

Mariospeedwagon and Lemon Juju at 7:30 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344. www.nomadcafe.net 

Equal Opportunity Employment at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Ramblin’ Jack Elliot at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761.  

Michael Wilcox & Friends at 8 p.m. at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$15. 845-5373.  

Project Move, Jern Eye, Kristo at 9 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $10. 763-1146. 

Nicole McRory at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

Dale Miller & Friends, folk at 8 p.m. at Spuds Pizza, 3290 Adeline St. Cost is $7. 558-0881. 

Montana, The Oceans of Fire, Halcyon High at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $7. 841-2082. 

Elysia, A.G.A.T.G., Moria at 8 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $5. 525-9926. 

SUNDAY, MARCH 25 

CHILDREN 

“Strega Nona Festival” A play based on the characters from Tomie dePaola’s books at 3 p.m. at Arts First Oakland, 2501 Harrison at 27th., Oakland. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 children 444-4755. www.stagebridge.org 

SF Circus Center Clown Conservatory “Experiment! The Excitement of Science” at 2 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $5-$8. 925-798-1300. 

EXHIBITIONS 

“El Corazón de la Communidad: The Heart of the Community” A new public art installation painted by Joaquin Alejandro Newman and honoring two Oakland community activists, Carmen Flores and Josie de la Cruz, will be unveiled at 2 p.m. at the Carmen Flores Recreation Center, 1673 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland.  

THEATER 

“Exit Cuckoo” Lisa Ramirez’s one-woman show on motherhood at 7 p.m. at Julia Morgan Theater, 2640 College Ave. Tickets are $32-$52. 925-798-1300. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Socially Responsible Shopping with authors Ritchie Unterberger, Ellis Jones and Allan Holender at 6 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Poetry Flash presents Carl Dennis at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Prometheus Symphony Orchestra at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 114 Montecito Ave., Oakland. Free, donations accepted. www.prometheussymphony.org  

Temple Choir Concert at 3 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland Sanctuary, 2619 Broadway. 444-3555. 

Dvorak and the American Indianists Piano Concert with Seth Montfort, at 5:30 p.m. at Giorgi Gallery, 2911 Claremont Ave. Cost is $15. 415-362-6080. 

Chora Nova “Romance and the Part Song” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, Dana and Durant. Tickets are $10-$15. www.choranova.org 

Jewish Music Festival Community Music Day at 8 p.m. at JCCEB, 1414 Walnut St. Tickets are $7-$24. 800-838-3006. www.jewishmusicfestival.org 

Gilberto Gil, Brazilian pop music, at 7 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $36-$62. 642-9988. www.calperfs.berkeley.edu 

Gillette & Mangsen at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761. www.freightandsalvage.org 

Brazillian Soul at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $9. 841-JAZZ. www.AnnasJazzIsland.com 

Emma’s Revolution & Jon Frommer, labor songs, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $10-$20 sliding scale. 849-2568. www.lapena.org 

Rova Saxophone Quartet at 4:30 at the Jazzschool. Cost is $12-$15. 845-5373. www.jazzschool.com 

Skatalites at 9 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cost is $20. 525-5054. www.ashkenaz.com 

Lion of Judah, Never Healed, Justice at 5 p.m. at 924 Gilman St., an all-ages, member-run, no alcohol, no drugs, no violence club. Cost is $7. 525-9926. 

MONDAY, MARCH 26 

FILM 

“Jazz on a Monday Afternoon” Films and discussion on Jazz Vocalists at 2 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St., 3rd flr. 981-6100. 

Japanese Anime: Women as Heroines Multi-media presention at noon at Laney Tech Center, F170, 900 Fallon St. Oakland. Part of Women HerStory Month. Cost is $7-$12. http://laney.peralta.edu/womensherstorymonth 

LunaFest Film festival by and about women at 7 p.m. at Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon St. Oakland. Part of Women HerStory Month. Cost is $7-$12. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend discusses “Failing America’s Faithful” at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Donation $10. 559-9500. 

Edmund Zimmerman and Rick Prelinger read at 7:30 p.m. at Moe’s Books, 2476 Telegraph Ave. 849-2087. 

Ira Nowiski shows slides and talks about his book “Ira Nowiski’s San Francisco: Poets, Politics, and Divas” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698. www.blackoakbooks.com 

Cathryn Jakobson Ramin talks about “Carved in Sand: When Attention Fails and Memory Fades in Midlife” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Poetry Express open mic theme night on “grandmothers” at 7 p.m., at Priya Restaurant, 2072 San Pablo Ave. 644-3977. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Musica ha Disconnesso, traditional Italian music, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Michael Chapdelaine at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage Coffee House. Cost is $18.50-$19.50. 548-1761 www.freightandsalvage.org 

Rachel Z and Z Trio at 8 and 10 p.m. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $10-$14. 238-9200. www.yoshis.com 

TUESDAY, MARCH 27 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Tell on on Tuesdays Storytelling at 7:30 p.m. at Julia Morgan Center for the Arts. Cost is $8-$12 sliding scale. www.juiamorgan.org 

Freight and Salvage Open Mic at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $4.50-$5.50. 548-1761.  

Irvin Muchnik, with special guest Josh Kornbluth, talks about “Wrestling Babylon: Piledriving Tales of Drugs, Death, Sex, and Scandal” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Laury Hammel, co-founder of Business Alliance for Local Living Economy will read from his new book at 7 p.m. at Pegasus Books Downtown, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 528-3254. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Zizoo at 8:30 p.m. at Ashkenaz. Cajun dance lesson at 8 p.m. Cost is $10. 525-5054.  

Singers’ Open Mic with Ellen Hoffman at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. 841-JAZZ.  

Randy Craig Trio at 7:30 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

Jazzschool Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

Alan Snitow, Deborah Kaufman, and Michael Fox present “Thirst: Fighting the Corporate Theft of Our Water” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Georgann Brennan reads from “A Pig in Provence” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Writing Teachers Write, monthy reading at 5 p.m. at Nomad Cafe, 6500 Shattuck Ave. 595-5344.  

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Music for the Spirit with Ron McKean on harpsichord at 12:15 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, 2619 Broadway. 444-3555. 

WomenSing Chorus at 8 p.m. at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way. Tickets are $10-$20. 925-974-9169. 

Pat Metheny with Brad Mehldau Trio at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall, UC Campus. Tickets are $30-$58. 642-9988.  

Echo Beach at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $7. 841-JAZZ.  

Karabali at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low, 2284 Shattuck Ave. Salsa dance lessons at 8 p.m. Cost is $5-$10. 548-1159.  

The Flux at 8 p.m. at Jupiter. 848-8277. 

Nicole and the Sisters in Soul at 9:30 p.m. at Beckett’s Irish Pub, 2271 Shattuck Ave. 647-1790.  

Roy Hargrove Quintet at 8 and 10 p.m. through Sun. at Yoshi’s at Jack London Square. Cost is $18-$24. 238-9200.  

THURSDAY, MARCH 29 

THEATER  

Dell’Ate Group “Second Skin” a one-woman show by Joan Schirle at 7:30 p.m. at Laney College Theater, 900 Fallon St. Free. 

READINGS AND LECTURES 

“Berkeley, Her Land, Her Gift of Early Neighborhoods” an illustrated lecture with Richard Schwartz at 7:30 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Tickets are $15-$20. 848-4288. 

Lionel Shriver reads from “The Post-Birthday World” at 7 p.m. at Cody’s Books on Fourth St. 559-9500. 

Tom McNamee reads from “Alice Waters and Chez Panisse” at 7:30 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Elline Lipkin and Sandra Lim, poetry, at 7:30 p.m. at Mrs. Dalloways, 2904 College Ave. 704-8222. 

MUSIC AND DANCE 

Pierre Bensusan at 8 p.m. at Freight and Salvage. Cost is $20.50-$21.50. 548-1761.  

Modesto Bresenio Quartet at 8 p.m. at Anna’s Jazz Island, 2120 Allston Way. Cost is $10. 841-JAZZ.  

Julie Lloyd, singer/songwriter, at 7 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

BeatBeat Whisper, Snowblink, All My Pretty Ones at 9:30 p.m. at The Starry Plough. Cost is $5. 841-2082 www.starryploughpub.com 

Pachanga Primavera, benefit for Chicano Latino scholars at UC Berkeley, at 8 p.m. at La Peña Cultural Center. Cost is $5-$7. 849-2568.  

Headnodic & Raashan Ahmad at 9:30 p.m. at Shattuck Down Low. Cost is $5. 548-1159.  

Built for the Sea, Minipop at 8:30 p.m. at Oakland Metro, 201 Broadway. Cost is $10. 763-1146. 

EAST BAY SYMPHONY AT THE PARAMOUNT 

The Oakland East Bay Symphony will perform Rimsky-Korsakov’s bright, melodic  

Scheherazade and one of the orchestral suites of  

Shostakovich at 8 p.m. Friday at the Paramount Theater. The concert will be preceded by a lecture at 7 p.m. $15-$62. 2025 Broadway, Oakland. 652-8497. 

FAMILY MATINEE AND ICE CREAM SOCIAL 

Stagebridge  

presents the 16th annual Family  

Matinee and  

Ice Cream Social 

at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with the “Strega Nona Festival.” The beloved characters from Tomie dePaola’s popular “Strega Nona” stories come to life on stage in this new production, featuring actors age 9 to 85.  

Oakland-based Stagebridge is the nation’s oldest senior theater company. It uses theater and storytelling to bridge the generation gap and to promote positive attitudes toward aging. Arts First Oakland, 2501 Harrison Ave., Oakland. Adults $10, children $5.  

For reservations and ticket  

information, call 444-4755 or visit www.stagebridge.org. 

A BIT OF JAZZ ON A  

MONDAY AFTERNOON 

The Berkeley Public Library continues its free film and  

discussion series about innovators and developments in jazz moderated by musician Dee Spencer from 2-4 p.m. Monday at the downtown library’s Community Room. The event features rare footage in combination with more familiar images to illuminate the depths of jazz in pursuit of a group discussion. 2090 Kittridge St.

After more than 25 years in the movie business, John Malkovich has carved out a unique niche for himself, a cinematic netherworld equal parts post-modernism and cult of personality.  

His charisma has always been apparent, whether adding a dash of suave cruelty to Dangerous Liasons (1988) or mercurial menace to In the Line of Fire (1993). But it has been his more recent, more adventurous work in smaller, independent films that has firmly established his reputation as something of a maverick. 

Malkovich plays the lead role in Color Me Kubrick, a quirky little film based on true events that opens this weekend at Shattuck Cinemas in downtown Berkeley. He plays Peter Conway, a con man who passed himself off for months as legendary film director Stanley Kubrick, swindling a string of star-struck victims along the way. He took money from them, slept with them, promised them roles in his films, even offered them financial backing for their own endeavors.  

Director Brian Cook and screenwriter Anthony Frewin were there as the real-life drama unfolded, the former as Kubrick’s assistant director, the latter as his personal assistant. Frewin in fact was responsible for screening the calls that started coming in from irate strangers who would have Kubrick’s head for having fleeced them in the days and weeks previous, in ramshackle bars and nightclubs and taxicabs all over London.  

There are many paths that could be taken in adapting such material for the screen. The story could easily lend itself to a psychological drama about a man who seeks escape from his dreary existence by adopting the identity of a famous recluse; or a noirish melodrama of a con artist operating in seedy bars, with plenty of narrow escapes and shady intrigue; or a journalistic mystery perhaps, with reporters unraveling the sordid tale of a smooth-talking seducer taking money and favors from down-and-out would-be stars all over London. 

Instead the filmmakers have opted for another approach, one that contains elements of all of the above while playing up the absurdist aspects of the story in the creation of a film that poses more questions than it answers. They have chosen to emphasize the humor and depravity of Conway’s ruse without attempting to divine the motivations behind the charade, electing to make a piece of light entertainment rather than a probing drama. They’ve taken more than a few liberties with the tale, embellishing here and there and working with Malkovich in fashioning the already eccentric Conway into a character even more flamboyant and inscrutable.  

The film doesn’t present Conway as a master con artist; he’s clumsy, he gets caught now and then, and when he does escape it’s more often the result of luck rather than cunning. In fact, the character, like the real-life man, doesn’t even know much about Kubrick or his films and doesn’t bother to do much research. Instead he relies on instinct, improvising the character anew with each new situation. An interesting study could have been built upon the various incarnations of Kubrick that Conway creates: For some victims, he portrays the director as a suave sophisticate, sometimes with a British accent, sometimes with Malkovich’s own jaded purr; for others he presents Kubrick as a brash New Yorker, or an arrogant Las Vegas lounge lizard; for still others, a mild-mannered upper-crust American, weary of recognition and thus traveling under an assumed name. On a whim he decides which incarnation best suits his victim and then proceeds to soften him up, flattering him with the attention of one of the world’s best-known but least-visible film directors. 

The movie is episodic and slightly discursive, never dull but often rambling. Cook and Frewin never quite manage to find the thread which could pull the whole thing together. Instead the film merely revels in Conway’s deceptions, true and otherwise, taking pleasure in the eccentricity of the man and his brazen scams and infusing them with wry comic touches. For instance, iconic musical themes from classic Kubrick films appear throughout, often providing ironic counterpoint to the action. A particularly effective example shows Conway, after a night of Kubrick-fueled deception and debauchery, stumbling downstairs from his low-rent hovel, crossing the street past the “Bleu Danube” adult shop, and tossing his dirty clothes into an open machine at the laundromat—all choreographed to the delicate strains of Johann Strauss’ On the Beautiful Blue Danube, the piece used to such great effect in 2001: A Space Odyssey.  

The inspired decision to cast Malkovich is the film’s saving grace, adding a whole new dimension to the proceedings. Since Being John Malkovich (1999), the actor’s image—eccentric, bemused, arrogant, slightly bored but always enigmatic and vaguely dangerous—has in a way become the subject of many of his films. Thus Cook and Frewin are able to employ the actor’s self-relexive persona as a hook on which to hang the film’s increasingly surreal episodes, bringing layers of complexity to an already strange tale. For it isn’t merely Malkovich playing Conway, but rather it is Malkovich playing “John Malkovich” playing Peter Conway playing Stanley Kubrick. And the kaleidoscopic tone becomes even more mind boggling in a scene where Malkovich-as-Malkovich-as-Conway-as-Kubrick regales dinner companions with tales of conflicts with studio management over the casting of John Malkovich in the lead for his next film.  

Color Me Kubrick could have benefited from a more direct narrative, a more conventional through-line to tie together its absurdist humor and flights of eccentric fancy. Instead it relies on the cult of Malkovich, showcasing the actor’s strange mystique. It may not be a great film, but if you count yourself among the cult, it’s quite a ride. 

COLOR ME KUBRICK 

Directed by Brian Cook. Written by Anthony Frewin. Starring John Malkovich. 89 minutes. Not rated. Playing at Shattuck Cinemas. 

Photograph: John Malkovich plays a Stanley Kubrick imposter in Color Me Kubrick.

On Tuesday, March 27, at 7 p.m., Laury Hammel, co-founder of Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE), will read from the inspiring new book he co-authored with Gun Denhart, Growing Local Value: How to Build Business Partnerships That Strenghten Your Community at Pegasus Books in downtown Berkeley.  

The authors are preaching (in an un-preachy voice) what they have practiced. Hammel is the owner and president of The Longfellow Clubs, four New England health and recreation clubs. Gun Denhart co-founded the Hanna Andersson children’s clothing company in Portland, Oregon. Both entrepreneurs built flourishing firms whose success had a lot to do with their innovative community programs. 

While people often think of community activism in terms of philanthropy or volunteer work, Hammel and Denhart show how every aspect of a business—from product creation to employee recruitment to vendor selection to raising capital—can be set up to benefit both the bottom line and the local community. 

Each of the book’s seven chapters offers lessons in building a meaningful and profitable relationship with a key stakeholder group: customers, investors, nonprofits, government, other businesses, employees and the environment itself. Those lessons are illustrated by vivid case histories drawn from a wide range of industries located all over the United States. The authors are keenly aware of the challenges facing small and medium-sized independent entrepreneurs; they tell what worked—and what didn’t.  

For this reader, it’s these stories that make this book compelling. A few examples: Rejuvenation Lighting in Portland, Oregon, established a home-buying program for its employees. TAGS Hardware of Cambridge, Massachusetts, mails every new resident in town a coupon offering a free trash can and a duplicate house key and sends out “free light bulb cards” to frequent customers. Hammel’s Longfellow Clubs helped an inner-city indoor/outdoor tennis club founded by African Americans to get back on its feet with generous donations of time, money and expertise. 

Growing Local Value has a local angle: published by a San Francisco firm, Berrett-Koheler, the book is part of the Social Venture Network Series. Closer to home, the chair of the Social Venture Network is Berkeley consultant and author Mal Warwick, whose letter to the reader serves as the book’s preface. 

According to the press release, after his reading Hammel will lead a discussion on sustaining a thriving downtown in any community. That, of course, is a topic of utmost importance in today’s Berkeley. It’s not one addressed in Growing Local Value. But the author’s imaginative, can-do approach to “value-based entrepreneurship” and his personal track record make me eager to hear his ideas about revitalizing city centers and—what is crucial for for Berkeley—about creating a vibrant retail economy.  

Hammel founded the nation’s first business association of socially responsible businesses in 1988, the New England Business Association for Social Responsibility. He started BALLE with Judy Wicks, owner of the White Dog Café in Philadelphia. Both he and Wicks will be speaking at BALLE’s 2007 International Conference, to be held in Berkeley from May 31 to June 2. Hammel’s appearance at Pegasus is sponsored by Berkeley’s two BALLE networks, the Berkeley Business District Network and the Sustainable Business Alliance, as well as by Sustainable Berkeley. 

LARRY HAMMEL 

Pegasus Books, 2349 Shattuck Ave. 

For more information, contact Gina at  

Pegasus: 528-3254 or pandorabks@sbcglobal.net. Information about BALLE is available at www.livingeconomies.org or (415) 255-1108. 

It all begins “after hours” with the simplest of games: “Anyway, Bette Davis turns around, puts down her groceries and says, ‘What a dump!’ I want to know the name of the picture!” demands Martha, and husband George teases her in a patronizing deadpan. But when he announces a nightcap, Martha rasps, “Are you kidding? We got guests coming over!” 

And so the real games begin, more and more in earnest, as a faculty couple of a small New England university town entertains the newcomers met that night at the president’s party, with self-importance, sentiment and language itself flayed like skin protecting vital organs, in Edward Albee’s night of games to end ‘em all, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, mid-run in an engaging production at Alameda’s Altarena Playhouse. 

“You’re always springing things on me.” George, the history teacher, plays the passive-aggressive wounded party. Yet it’s he who takes the lead early as grandmaster, archly admonishing all comers—until the cat’s out of the bag, and the real confrontations begin.  

“I warned you not to go too far,” he cautions Martha, who shoots back, “I’m just beginning!” 

Director Richard Robert Bunker has led his well-cast quadriga of academic drayhorses, all pulling in different directions, through an unusually thoughtful gauntlet. Albee’s masterpiece, bristling with hostility and power plays, is often acted out nearly over-the-top from the start. This version takes a different tack: the Shock and Awe of ’60s revelatory primal scenes has had the veneer stripped off; it’s not Liz and Dick at it again, but something deadlier, a war of attrition that’s continued long after the real revelation should have set in. 

There’s tension alive in every line, but the menace is somehow quieter, and maybe deadlier. The double-binds and blinds can be scrutinized more by the engrossed audience, who laugh at the genuinely funny—if dire—exchanges of the first two acts like a malign situation comedy. As it gets gamier, a few holdouts in the house light up at the telling black humor of a collision between the old and the recently married, as well as the adroit sarcasms that degenerate to bodyslams about careerism, “family values” and the death of love. 

Sue Trigg, who brilliantly directed last year’s Death of a Salesman at Altarena, is an exceptional Martha—Martha who rasps out “I don’t bray!”—cackling, coarse, randy, taking the piss out of George, sometimes barreling drunkenly cross-stage, sometimes arching like a cat ... complemented by suavely underhanded Robert Rossman as George the fake-out artist, bending words around like spoons to juice the truth out telepathically.  

Their weird duet—Martha’s soliloquy on the eve of their absent, much-spoken of son’s twenty-first birthday, while George intones the Requiem—is a high point, yet one not dizzy with histrionics as much as deadly accurate, real irony.  

The younger generation’s not to be slighted in the face of this habitual carnage: Jamie Olsen plays Nick with a patronizing smirk that widens into a half-condescending, half-shellshocked leer as the proceedings suck him in and spit him out. As Honey, his “slim-hipped” wife, fated to play the dummy in this four-handed bluffing match, Lisa Price begins as an ex-sorority girl three sheets to the wind, vacant-eyed, drowsy, flashing an empty grin and tittering at everything, finally dancing alone like a snockered Isadora Duncan as cheerleader, before stretching out on the cool bathroom tiles and peeling the labels off brandy bottles. 

“If I can’t do my interpretive dance, I don’t want to dance with anyone!” Honey declares—and George invites: “Let’s just sit here and watch.” And that’s what we do in the audience, siding with no one, as they play Humiliate The Host, Hump The Hostess, Get The Guests—and the final game of George and Martha’s declared Total War: “There’s something in the bone ... and that’s what you gotta get.”  

That’s the game, the marriage, the career—all the shared secrets—turned inside out for all to see. And whether George is just a gutless wonder or perhaps novelist-manqué, or Martha just a bitch or really the one who wears the pants, the end still puts to bed all the sound and fury we were so lately laughing and wincing at, these characters left only with each other as they leave the stage. 

WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF 

8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through April 1 at Altarena Playhouse, 1409 High St., Alameda. $17-$20. 

523-1553. www.alterena.org.

Economics is a wonderful and fascinating field. When I think about the things I’d like to study as I get older, it keeps getting pushed higher up on the list. The fun thing about it is that it’s at work everywhere around us. As long as money or goods are flowing through a system it’s there and from my very prejudiced vantage point it appears to me no more prevalent or relevant than in the world of construction. 

I always laugh and roll my head back when I read stories in the press about enormous civil projects that have cost over-runs of 100 percent accompanied by time delays and white collar arrests of paper pushers who sloughed cost overruns into their Cayman Island accounts. It makes the contractors look good. Certainly many people have a story of woe involving a contractor who turned out be a scoundrel but as I have often beaten into the tabletop, it’s not the way most of them are and certainly isn’t a function of evil. Contractors are JUST like everyone else. Most are trying to their best and most do pretty well but only a few are top flight.  

Also, a few are going to be incompetent, varying with the trade; that is, licensed electricians are rarely stupid and most are both bright and committed. Roofers, on the other hand run from superb to pathetic. I suspect this is because roofs don’t kill people and you don’t have be too bright to nail roofing onto plywood. Of course, this remark is deceptive (like the problem) because roofing, done responsibly and well is actually fairly complex but since you can get away with something that looks like roofing (and who climbs up there to look, anyway) without knowing the finer points, we end up with more than a few roofers who stay in business while producing a shoddy and economically inadequate product. By the way, amazingly, most cities, while issuing permits for roof replacements do NO inspections of these jobs (are you shaking your head?). 

A better roofer may charge 20 percent more for their work but may well produce a product that requires almost no maintenance and lasts 30-100 percent longer. While it seems as though this is a no-brainer, most buyers of these services don’t do much shopping and don’t ask critical questions or contact referrals. Thus, we all end up with lots of subcompentents in the marketplace. If we all did more research, they would just wash out with the tide. Apparently people don’t just get the government they deserve, they also get the marketplace they deserve. See, I’m an economist too (look ma, no Ph.D.) 

But, as usually, I’ve managed to completely evade the point I want to make so I’ll just mosey on back to where I lost my place. The thing I’d like to discuss, and it IS about economics, is within the financial theory of construction costs. When I see houses being sold, they’re often suffering from what might be called, empty-pocket syndrome, or the theorem of ever-shortening shrift.  

Redmodelings I see often appear as though the money ran out about 3 weeks too early and all the nice things that could have been done near completion were either omitted or done in such a slip-shod manner that the best of what they could have been is lost. It’s not only sad, it’s really stupid, economically speaking. Had this same project been economically planned to allow for it’s actual scale, the final measures could have made the work shine. 

When we build a house, there’s a lot of money that goes into a foundation, framing, plumbing and wiring but these, in the end, are not the parts that make us “oo” and “ah.” They’re the subtext. The presumptive. The parts that excite us about a house are mostly the things that get added in the very last days of construction. Now, this isn’t to say that good massing (shape and size of the building and its rooms) as well as good fenestration (window placement) don’t help to make a great house (and these are clearly things set at the beginning of the project). But even when these features are present, the detailing and appointing of these rooms makes all the difference. 

It seems to me that so many of the houses of the 1960 and ‘70s make this argument for me. They may have huge rooms and dramatic siting and views but they leave me blah because they lack detail. Now this was institutionalized in this time period and very much their misbegotten intention but for many of us doing projects today, the same sort of thing happens inadvertently. 

We plan a wonderful project and complete all the big rough parts and then, just around the time we should be picking out great appliances, counter-tiling and flooring, the money starts to run out. Instead of picking great finishes, the parts we’ll actually see and feel, we are forced to short ourselves on the very things that will make the project satisfying and valuable. Worse, we often run out of labor dollars near the end, forcing many important tasks to be passed along to someone cheaper and less skilled. This often results not only in a loss of appeal but also in longevity and quality far short of what a reasonable end-of-job budget would have allowed. 

Finishes, as we might call them, including finish carpentry (moldings, baseboards, built-ins), flooring, counters, painting, appliances and all the things that we do toward the end of the project. These are not only expensive (for seemingly small units of area), they’re also time consuming. The final parts of a construction project can often take half the budget and half the time to complete but these should not be seen as nuisances or cost over-runs. Rather, we need to revise our thinking so that we see the physical mass of construction as being a staging for this vital set of details. 

This modern thinking is a very large part of why modern houses don’t look like old houses. It’s economics. We see square footage as the primary feature of houses today while the quality of detail was the central criteria a hundred years ago and even more in the distant past. 

So how do we actually make this work? Well, one important dictum is to scale your project accordingly. If you want real quality, start off by bidding for it. Make it clear to your architect, contractor or subcontractors that you want “finishes” done well and that you want to begin budgeting for great tile and wonderful windows early on. Build-in all of these costs and leave an extra, secret, sum of money set aside for changes or other budgetary slip-and-falls that are likely to occur before completion.  

Most jobs have some cost over-runs and most clients are asked to accept some disappoint before the job is done, in order that all the bills get paid. If you’ve set something aside, you’re more likely to be able to answer these dilemmas with “Well, I think I can come up with a little extra to make sure that I get it the way we planned.” Don’t say that too often or they’ll figure out where the spigot is. 

Most importantly, don’t try to build or remodel to the max. Part of why Small is Beautiful is that it’s complete, fully nourished and well budgeted. It’s economics. 

By the way, part of what we’re talking about here is the European model and certainly the Japanese model. Do less. Do it better. Make it last and get every penny for your dollar. 

Good contractors end up learning this (if they didn’t know it to begin with). Architects often understand this but can’t always get their way with clients or contractors. 

Really bad contractors not only don’t know it, they often seem unable to finish properly despite repeated requests for extra money. A well organized and experienced contractor can end up being cheaper in the end simply because they know how to control expenditures. 

We’ve covered a lot of ground here and it may be a little hard to digest all at once, but if I can leave you with only one nugget to hold onto, it would be that when you take on any sort of construction job, whether it’s jacking the house, remodeling a kitchen or simply hanging some shelves, that you allow plenty of time, money and labor for what looks like the last 10 percent.  

I think it’s safe to say that it ain’t. 

Got a question about home repairs and inspections? Send them to Matt Cantor at mgcantor@pacbell.net.

Russian Roulette? 

Would you do it? Put the gun to your head? After all, the law of averages is in your favor. Of course not.  

But we know the Hayward Fault is more than 20 years overdue and geologists tell us that we are probably in for a very major quake when it ruptures. Like along the lines of the 1906 San Francisco quake. 

So we can play the very dangerous game of hoping the law of averages will stay in our favor the rest of our lives, or we can do the prudent things to protect ourselves, our families, and our homes: have our retrofits checked, have an automatic gas shut-off valve installed, secure our furniture, and put together or buy an emergency kit. 

Not really so daunting, is it? And imagine the alternative. 

Larry Guillot is owner of QuakePrepare, an earthquake consulting, securing, and kit supply service. Call him at 558-3299, or visit www.quakeprepare.com.

FRIDAY, MARCH 23 

City Commons Club Noon Luncheon with Dr. Anna Barbara Moscicki on “Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine.” Luncheon at 11:45 a.m. for $14, speech at 12:30 p.m., at the Berkeley City Club, 2315 Durant St. For reservations call 526-2925.  

“Hybridizing Irises” Larry Lauer will discuss his breeding program and new seedlings at the Sydney B. Mitchell Iris Society meeting at 7:30 p.m. at Lakeside Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave., Oakland. Free. 277-4200. 

“Impacts of War, Paths to Healing” Panel discussion with experts to help service members better manage their return from combat, at 7 p.m. at First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way. Free to veterans and their families, $10 suggested donation for others. Daylong workshop for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and their families follows on Sat. 415-387-0800. www.cominghomeproject.net 

“50 Years Is Enough” with Sameer Dossani speaking on the IMF, War, Class, and Migration in U.S. foreign policy at 7 p.m. at the Connie Barbour Room, upstairs at the Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1606 Bonita. 525-5497. 

Film Festival for Diversity “That’s a Family” at 6:30 p.m. in the Longfellow Middle School Auditorium, 1500 Derby at Sacramento. Free, including dinner and child care. Presented by the Berkeley PTA Council. 644-6320. 

CopWatch Movie Night “A Legacy of Torture” and “Mumia Abu Jamal: A Case for Reasonable Doubt.” Potluck at 6 p.m. at the Grassroots House, 2022 Blake St. 548-0425. 

“Homeland” A film on the Native American struggle to preserve their resources at 7:30 p.m. at Humanist Hall, 390 27th St., Oakland. Donation $5. www.HumanistHall.net 

Banff Mountain Film Festival at 7 p.m. at Wheeler Auditorium, UC Campus. Tickets are $13-$15 available from REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

“Are We Winning the War Against Colorectal Cancer?” at 6:15 p.m. at Alta Bates Summit, 450 30th St., Room 2810, Oakland. Free, but RSVP requested. 869-8833. 

Circle Dancing, simple folk dancing with instruction at 7:30 p.m. at Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St at University. Donation of $5 requested. 528-4253. www.circledancing.com 

Kol Hadash Humanistic Judaism Family Pot Luck at 6 p.m. at the Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave. Please bring dinner food appropriate for children, and non-perishable food for the needy. 428-1492.  

SATURDAY, MARCH 24 

Open the Little Farm Join us to greet the animals in the morning and help the farmers with their chores at 9 a.m. at Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

Berkeley History Center Walking Tour “The Rise and Fall and Rise of Telegraph Ave” led by Steve Finacom at 10 a.m. Cost is $8-$10. For information on meeting place and to register call 848-0181. 

Spring Equinox Meditation Walk from 9 to 11 a.m. in Tilden Park. Meet at the Tilden Nature Area. 525-2233. 

Neighborhood Peace Rally from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the corner of Acton and University, sponsored by Strawberry Creek Lodge Tenants Association. 841-4143. 

Spring in the Ponds Put on your rubber boots and come explore the underworld of the fresh water ponds, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Park. 525-2233. 

“Cerrito Creek Work Party” Join Friends of Five Creeks to help remove invasive weeds to restore a creekside willow grove. Wear shoes with good traction and clothes that can get dirty. Meet at 10 a.m. at Creekside Park, south end of Santa Clara Ave., El Cerrito. 848-9358. www.fivecreeks.org  

Mt. Wanda Bird Walk Join a Park Ranger for a walk in the hills. Terrain is steep, wear walking shoes and bring water and binoculars. Rain cancels. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Cal-Trans Park and Ride lot at the corner of Alhambra Ave. and Franklin Canyon Rd., Martinez. 925-228-8860. 

Townhall Meeting with Congresswoman Barbara Lee Topics of discussion will include legislation to bring the troops home and end the war, efforts to stop a U.S. preemptive strike on Iran, and what you can do to end the war and work for peace, from 10 a.m. to noon at Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave., Oakland. 452-3556. 

East Bay Sanctuary Covenant 25th Anniversary at 7 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2300 Bancroft Way. Free, but donation accepted. www.eastbaysanctuary.org 

“Impeachment How To” Presentation and Planning Session with Carol Wolman and Jack Rasmus, author of “The War at Home” at at 6:15 p.m. at Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists, 1924 Cedar St. Suggested donation $10. 845-4154. 

“Is Peace Possible?” with Steve Masters, Brit Tzedek V'Shalom National co-chair of Advocacy at 7:30 p.m. at JCC of the East Bay, 1414 Walnut St. Donation $5. sf-bayarea@ 

btvshalom.org 

“Brainiacs” Interactive neural anatomy lesson for children at Hall of Health, 2230 Shattuck Ave., lower level. Program for grades K-2 at 1 p.m., and for grades 3-6 at 2:10 p.m. Cost is $5. 705-8527. 

“Pirate Radio USA” a documentary about the underground world of illegal radio in America at 6 p.m. at the Long Haul Infshop, 3124 Shattuck. 540-0751. 

East Bay Baby Fair Information for new and expecting parents from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the JCCEB, 1414 Walnut St. 540-7210. 

Study Medicine in Cuba Information Fair from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Laney College, 900 Fallon St., Oakland, Room 401 A and B. 219-0092. 

“Karma & Dharma” with Dr. Toshikazu Arai of SOAI Univ., Japan, at 10 a.m. and again at 4 p.m. at the Jodo Shinshu Center, 2140 Durant at Fulton. 809-1460. 

Hopalong Animal Rescue Come meet your furry new best friend from noon to 3 p.m. at 2940 College Ave. 267-1915, ext. 500. www.hopalong.org  

Produce Stand at Spiral Gardens Food Security Project from 1 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Sacramento and Oregon St. 

The Berkeley Lawn Bowling Club provides free instruction at 10:30 a.m. at 2270 Acton St. 841-2174.  

Free Garden Tours at Regional Parks Botanic Garden Sat. and Sun. at 2 pm. Regional Parks Botanic Garden, Tilden Park. Call to confirm. 841-8732.  

Car Wash Benefit for Options Recovery Services of Berkeley, held every Sat. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lutheran Church, 1744 University Ave. 666-9552. 

SUNDAY, MARCH 25 

Shoreline Discovery Walk along Wildcat Creek Regional Shoreline with Bethany Facendini, naturalist, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Call for meeting place. 525-2233. 

Family Hike in Miller Knox to discover life on the rocky shore, from 10 a.m. to noon. Meet at Ferry Point. 525-2233. 

“Open Garden” Join the Little Farm gardener for composting, planting, watering and reaping the rewards of our work, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tilden Nature Area, Tilden Park. Cancelled only by heavy rain. 525-2233.  

Garden Spring Start Day Help start the People’s Park Community Garden from noon to 4 p.m. Organic gardening demonstration at 2 p.m. 658-9178. 

Tree Stories in the Grove with Redwood Mary at 2 p.m. in the Memorial Oak Grove. jeanmudge@comcast.net 

Permaculture Bike Tour of gardens involoved in the Food and Environmental Justice movement in West Oakland, featuring examples of urban farming, remediation of toxic soil, green and natural building, graywater systems, neighbor cooperation, and community activism. Meet at 1 p.m. at the West Oakland BART Station. 295-2641. isisferal@yahoo.com 

Forum on the City Budget hosted by Berkeley Citizens Action with Mayor Tom Bates at 4 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst. 549-0816. 

“Women’s Global Agenda: Peace-builders and Activists” A conference hosted by the United Nations Association - USA East Bay Chapter with Charlie Toledo, Chairman of the Women’s Intercultural Network at 2 p.m. at the Community Center at Harbor Bay Isle, 3195 Mecartney Road, Alameda. For more information visit www.unausaeastbay.org 

Spring Equinox Celebration at 2 p.m. at Dream Institute, 1672 University Ave. Cost is $10-$20. 845-1767. 

Berkeley City Club Tour of the “Little Castle” designed by Julia Morgan at 1:15, 2:15 and 3:15 p.m. at 2315 Durant Ave. 883-9710. 

Socially Responsible Shopping Habits and Business Practices with Richie Unterberger at 6 p.m. at Black Oak Books. 486-0698.  

Berkeley Cybersalon “Life After TV” with execs from Dabble, Brightcove, Fiber-to-the-Home Council, and MobiTV, at 5 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St.Cost is $10. www.hillsideclub.org 

“Rumi: Preposterous Paths to Joy, Service, and Facing Death Without Fear” with Victoria Lee at 9:30 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley, 1 Lawson Rd., Kensington. Community poetry reading at 1 p.m. 525-0302, ext. 306. 

Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace Peace walk around the lake every Sun. Meet at 3 p.m. at the colonnade at the NE end of the lake. 763-8712. lmno4p.org 

Tibetan Buddhism with Barr Rosenberg on “Longchenpa’s Teachings about the Bodhisattva Way” at 6 p.m. at the Tibetan Nyingma Institute, 1815 Highland Pl. 843-6812.  

“Symbolism of the Passover Seder Plate” with Rabbi Chaim Mahgel-Friedman at 11:30 a.m. at Afikomen Judaica, 3042 Claremont Ave.  

MONDAY, MARCH 26 

Women’s Health Issues Lecture and discussion at 1 p.m. at Laney College, Classroom B210, 900 Fallon St. Oakland. Part of Women HerStory Month http://laney.peralta.edu/womensherstorymonth 

Berkeley CopWatch organizational meeting at 8 p.m. at 2022 Blake St. Join us to work on current issues around police misconduct. 548-0425. 

TUESDAY, MARCH 27 

Tuesdays for the Birds Tranquil bird walks in local parklands, led by Bethany Facendini, from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Today we will visit Briones Regional Park. Call for meeting place and if you need to borrow binoculars. 525-2233. 

Women: America’s Greatest Untapped Natural Resource Lecture and discussion with Jerri Lanfe at 1 p.m. at Laney College Forum, 900 Fallon St. Oakland. Part of Women HerStory Month. Cost is $7-$12. http://laney.peralta.edu/womensherstorymonth 

“Maquilopolis” Screening of the documentary on globalization through the eyes of Tijuana’s factory workers at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Berkeley City College, 2050 Center St.  

“Forced Displacement and the Merowe Dam: The Other Human Rights Crisis in the Sudan” with Ali Askouri, Sudanese human rights activist at 7 p.m. in the Morgan Lounge, Morgan Hall, UC Campus. Sponsored by International Rivers Network. 848-1155. 

“Finding Your Roots on the Web” A class on genealogy research at 7 p.m. in the Berkeley History Room, Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St. To register call 981-6148. 

Zoo Ambassador Training Orientation The Oakland Zoo is looking for volunteers to help teach visitors about the zoo and the animals. Training from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Oakland Zoo. For information call 632-9525. 

Free Diabetes Screening from 8 a.m. to noon at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Do not eat or drink anything for 8 hours beforehand. 981-5332. 

National Nutrition Month Cooking Demonstrations at 3 p.m. at the Tuesday Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Derby St. at Martin Luther King Jr. Way. 548-3333. 

Glucometer Demonstration from noon to 3 p.m. at Elephant Pharmacy, 1607 Shattuck Ave. 549-9200. 

Berkeley School Volunteers Training workshop for volunteers interested in helping the public schools, from noon to 1 p.m. at 1835 Allston Way. 644-8833. 

Berkeley Home Safety and Repair Program presentation at 1:15 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5190. 

“Across the Atlas Alaskan Adventure” A video by Pietro Simonetti and Greg Cook at 7 p.m at REI, 1338 San Pablo Ave. 527-4140. 

Berkeley PC Users Group meets at 7 p.m. at 1145 Walnut St., near the corner of Eunice St.  

Tuesday Tilden Walkers Join a few slowpoke seniors at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot near the Little Farm for an hour or two walk. 215-7672, 524-9992. 

Fresh Produce Stand at San Pablo Park from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Frances Albrier Community Center. 848-1704. www.ecologycenter.org 

Berkeley Camera Club meets at 7:30 p.m., at the Northbrae Community Church, 941 The Alameda. 548-3991.  

St. John’s Prime Timers meets at 9:30 a.m. at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Ave. 845-6830. 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28 

Teach-In and Vigil Against American Torture every Wed. at noon at Boalt Hall, Bancroft Way at College Ave.  

“Health Care for Everyone: Plans or Scams” with Jessica Rothhar of Health Access at the Gray Panthers Membership Meeting, North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. 548-9696. 

Walk, Talk, Buck the Fence What’s at stake in the Ecology of Berkeley’s Strawberry Canyon A walk at 5 p.m. every Wed. with Ignacio Chapela and expert guests to discuss what is at stake in the proposed steps for the filling of the Canyon by the UC-LBL Rad-Labs, and now British Petroleum. http://canyonwalks.blogspot.com  

“How to Shop Consciously: The Better World Shopping Guide” with Dr. Ellis Jones at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave, near Dwight Way. 548-3402.  

“The Aging Eye” a free lecture with Dr. Erich Horn, opthamologist, at 9:30 a.m. at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Cafeteria Annex B and C, 350 Hawthorne St., Oakland. 869-6737. 

New to DVD: “Children of Men” at 7 p.m. at JCCEB, 1414 Walnut St. Discussion follows. 848-0237. 

El Grupito, a group for practicing and maintaining Spanish skills, meets at 7:30 p.m. at Diesel Books, 5433 College Ave., Oakland. 653-9965. 

Walk Berkeley for Seniors meets every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. at the Sea Breeze Market, just west of the I-80 overpass. Everyone is welcome, wear comfortable shoes and a warm hat. Heavy rain cancels. 548-9840. 

Stitch ‘n Bitch at 6:30 p.m. at Caffe Trieste, 2500 San Pablo Ave., at Dwight. 548-5198.  

THURSDAY, MARCH 29 

“Berkeley, Her Land, Her Gift of Early Neighborhoods” An illustrated lecture with Richard Schwartz at 7:30 p.m. at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St. Tickets are $15-$20. 848-4288. 

“Fight in the Fields” A doumentary on Cesar Chavez and the farmworkers’ struggle at 7 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2530 San Pablo Ave. 548-2220, ext. 233. 

Teen Book Club meets to discuss the books we could not live without at 4:30 p.m. at the Claremont Branch Library, 2940 Benvenue at Ashby. Bring a book to share. 981-6107. 

Family Story Time for children ages 3-7 at 7 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, North Branch, 1170 The Alameda, at Hopkins. 981-6107. 

World of Plants Tours Thurs., Sat. and Sun. at 1:30 p.m. at the UC Botanical Garden, 200 Centennial Drive. Cost is $5. 643-2755. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu 

ONGOING 

Tax Help at the Berkeley Public Library Sat. from 11:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the South Branch. Call for appointment. 981-6260. Also every Tues. and Thurs. at the West Branch from 12:15 to 3:15 p.m. Call for appointment. 981-6270. 

Berkeley Youth Alternatives Girls Basketball Age 15 and under league begins April 11 and 18 and under begins April 13. From 5:30 to 8:30 at Emery High School, 1100 47th St. Emeryville. Cost is $175 per team. 845-9066.  

CITY MEETINGS 

Parks and Recreation Commission meets Mon., March 26, at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5158.  

Zero Waste Commission Mon., March 26, at 7 p.m., at 1201 Second St. 981-6368.  

City Council meets Tues., March 27, at 7 p.m in City Council Chambers. 981-6900. www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/citycouncil 

Civic Arts Commission meets Wed., March 28, at 6:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. Mary Ann Merker, 981-7533.  

Energy Commission meets Wed.,March 28, at 6:30 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-5434.  

Planning Commission meets Wed., March 28 , at 7 p.m., at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-7484.  

Police Review Commission meets Wed., March 28 at 7 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center. 981-4950.